Read Forever in Love (Montana Brides) for Free Online

steering wheel, frowning at everything and nothing at the same time. “Why did you leave so suddenly when you were eighteen?”
      “I’ve forgotten.” Like hell she had, but she wasn’t raking over something that had happened nearly a decade ago.  
    “I’m not going anywhere in a hurry,” he growled. “With all the ice on the road it’s going to take us at least another forty minutes to get into town. If you think you can hold out that long, go ahead.”
    “I don’t need to hold out. I left because I had to start my scholarship.”
    “You never came back, apart from when Sally and mom wouldn’t take no for an answer.”
    She leaned forward and turned the radio on. Country music filled the cab, but it couldn’t drown the guilt thumping inside her body. “I was busy.”
    Nathan moved faster than the clouds cart-wheeling over the mountains. The music stopped. “I might have believed that once. But I don’t believe it now.”
    She looked outside, staring at a crop of spindly trees standing tall and naked under the blue sky. “We’ve had this conversation before.”
    “It’s not called a conversation when I’m the only one doing the talking.” She’d managed to dodge his questions once, but the growl in his voice told her she wouldn’t be able to ignore him again. “I left because I had to.”
    “You didn’t leave. You ran.”
    Amy frowned. Old habits were hard to break. “It was for the best.”
    He grunted. “Maybe, maybe not. Are you planning on leaving again?”
    “No.” Everything she’d worked so hard for had begun to disappear the moment Catherine arrived on her doorstep. All the years of studying, the endless hospital rounds and dealing with Saturday night drunks hadn’t amounted to much. Nine years after leaving Bozeman she’d returned. But this time she had her sister to look after and a lot of broken dreams pushed to the back of her heart.  
    She turned the radio back on. Nathan didn’t move. She tried to focus on the music instead of the thoughts skimming around her head. At some point she’d given up believing in herself. She’d accepted the life she was living and it had been enough. But not now, not when her sister’s future was at stake. She wanted more for Catherine than second best and she’d come to Montana to find it.  
      “So what’s the job Stan offered you?”
    Amy gazed down at her hands. They were gripping the edge of the seat so tightly that it was a wonder she didn’t leave fingerprints in the foam. She took a deep breath and released some of the tension running through her body. “He needs a physician at the hospital. One of his doctors left two months ago and he hasn’t been able to find a replacement. He’s happy for me to work three days a week. It’s only a six month contract, but it’s a start.”
    “What will you do with Catherine while you’re working?”
    “There’s a daycare facility attached to the hospital. I’m going to take a look at it today. Why did you have to come into Bozeman?”
    He cleared his throat. “I’ve got some supplies to pick up from Jake’s Hardware. I could look after Catherine while you have your meeting with Stan.”
    Amy glanced quickly across the cab. Nathan had already done more than he’d wanted to. “Thanks for the offer, but we’ll be okay.”  
    “You don’t think I can take care of her?”
    “No…I mean…yes. I know she’d be safe with you. I just don’t want to put you to any trouble.”  
    His lips squeezed together in a stubborn line. “It’s no trouble. How long will you be?”  
    “Stan’s going to explain what I’ll be doing, then show me around the hospital. It shouldn’t take more than an hour.”
    “I’ll drop you off and meet you outside his office at about twelve. If Catherine gets hungry I’ll find her some lunch.”
    “Are you sure?”
    “You sort out a job and I’ll see you back at the hospital.”
    She looked over her shoulder. Catherine had fallen asleep,