Read Hunter's Montana Bride (Montana Ranchers and Brides #8) for Free Online Page B

unease in his gaze.
    "I've got so many questions," Hunter said after a while.
    "I know you have. You must be wondering what's happening," Gretchen said.
    Hunter frowned. "That's quite an understatement. It's not every day a man gets a surprise like this," he said glancing down at Lewis.
    "Nor two similar surprises," she said laying a hand on the side of the basket. Hannah looked comfortable bundled up in the blankets.
    "And a wife returning," Hunter said peering intently at her.
    Gretchen felt the heat rise to her face. He'd always had a particular way of looking at her which had never failed to have an effect upon her. And now was no different. It looked like some things never changed, no matter what the circumstances.
    "How have you been all these months?" Hunter asked with genuine concern filling his gaze.
    Gretchen smiled at him."I've been fine, Hunter. Just fine. Considering."
    Gretchen saw him nod. He had always been such a sensitive and understanding man. They were amongst the qualities which had drawn her to Hunter in the first place. That, and the fact that he was the most handsome man she had ever set eyes on.
    His eyes narrowed. "It must have been difficult for you."
    "It wasn't easy. I'll admit that. But I had help. That made things a little more bearable."
    Hunter's eyes flickered from side to side, betraying a mind desperately seeking a way to understand, to comprehend what was happening. "But. Did you know you were going to have twins? Did you feel anything...different?"
    Gretchen smiled at his question. "Not really. I didn't feel anything in particular. I didn't know for sure until late on. When the doctor told me there were two heartbeats I just assumed he meant mine and the baby's."
    Hunter rocked Lewis gently. He glanced away and she thought he must have so many questions he wanted to ask her. But she wasn't sure how many answers she could give him.
    She saw him swallow and his eyes narrow, as if considering the next thing he should say. When he finally spoke it was with barely restrained tension in his voice. "I came looking for you."
    Gretchen lowered her eyes. She gazed down at Hannah lying there in the basket, sound asleep. She knew Hunter was keeping his voice quiet, not wanting to disturb either of the sleeping babies. "I know you did."
    "But no-one would tell me where you'd gone. Or even why you'd left."
    Gretchen saw his jaw tighten and she heard him draw in a deep breath.
    "It was difficult," she said, knowing immediately that her answer wasn't anywhere near enough to satisfy Hunter.
    "How difficult could it have been to get some kind of message to me? Give me some reassurance that you were safe. That you were okay," Hunter said, his voice rising slightly.
    Gretchen glanced down at Lewis. Hunter seemed to sense the message contained in that look, because he took yet another deep breath and she could see he was once again trying to restrain himself.
    "If you had known where I was, and what was happening, would you have stood by and just let things be?" she asked.
    Hunter frowned and his eyes revealed a mind searching for a response. There was a long pause and then he spoke.
    "If I'd known where you were and that you were going to give birth to my children there isn't anyone who could have stood in my way," he declared. "No-one," he said with utter finality.
    Gretchen felt a shiver up her spine as she listened to his determined, firm words. She didn't doubt that what he'd said was the truth. Had never doubted his capacity to do whatever he thought was best for Gretchen.
    What would he have done if he'd have known where she was? People reacted strangely to the truth. She'd learned that. So, for the moment she decided she would try to answer as many of his questions as possible. But she knew she could only go so far.
    "Then I was right," she said.
    Hunter looked quizzically at her.
    "I knew that you couldn't possibly know what I was going through. I knew that if you found out you would come and stop