Joshua's Montana Bride (Sweet, Clean Western Historical Romance)(Montana Ranchers and Brides Series) by Maya Stirling Read Free Book Online

both sat down on the wide wooden porch seat. Laura did her best to keep her distance without making it too obvious.
    Joshua glanced at the gap between them and smiled. "You don't need to be frightened of me. I'm not going to bite," he said.
    Laura frowned. "I'm not scared of you."
    "Not even after what your mother just said?"
    "My mother's obviously not feeling well."
    "So you think she doesn't mean what she said?"
    "I didn't say that. She's probably just tired. Not thinking straight."
    Joshua shook his head. "I've known your mother a long time and she always thinks straight about everything. She sees things other people can't," he said.
    "What are saying, Joshua?"
    "Just that what she said up there maybe needs some considering," he said quietly, his voice slow and deep.
    Laura turned and faced him. "Are you suggesting that you're taking what she said seriously?"
    Joshua looked up at the sky and took in a slow, calming breath. He breathed out gently and looked at Laura. His green eyes pierced into her, unyielding, holding her attention. When he spoke it was with a quiet authority and conviction that she had never heard from him before. "I'm saying that I'm of a mind to grant your mother her wishes," he said.
    The words clutched at her heart, so tight that she felt the breath ease out of her body and time seemed to stand still. Laura became aware of the sounds of the approaching night. The distant insects seemed to be calling to her to run to the fields, to be anywhere except here, next to Joshua. His eyes didn't waver for a second as he searched for a reaction, any response or clue. Laura felt her body begin to shake.
    "What exactly are saying, Joshua?" she managed to say after what seemed like an eternity.
    Joshua slid over and took Laura's hand in his own. She felt the hardness of the skin, but it contrasted oddly with the gentleness of his grasp. The proximity of him made her feel something that was entirely new, completely unexpected. She gazed into his eyes.
    "I'm asking you to become my wife, Laura Thorne," he said. His voice was even and emphatic. Once he'd said the words his lips tightened into a thin line. His face became impassive, expectant.
    There was a ringing in Laura's ears. She felt herself sway and she withdrew her hand from his grip, steadying herself by holding on to the seat.
    "What did you say?" she finally managed to utter. Her own voice seemed to come from a very long way off.
    "I'm proposing a marriage, Laura. That's what I'm doing," he said.
    Laura stood up quickly. Joshua reached out and took her hand, holding on to her. "Don't go Laura."
    Joshua rose from the seat and stood facing her, still holding her hand. Laura let her fingers rest in his grasp and looked into his eyes.
    Joshua smiled at her. "I'm sorry if I'm being discourteous, or too forward. But I don't rightly know any other way to say what I'm saying. What your mother said up there touched me deeply," he said.
    "But why? We don't love each other. How can we become man and wife?"
    Joshua took in a deep breath. His jaw tightened. "That wasn't going to stop you today, was it?"
    Laura closed her eyes and twisted her head away from him. "That was different," she said.
    "How? The man was a total stranger."
    Laura opened her eyes and locked her gaze on Joshua. "Friends can't get married. That's why," she stated.
    Joshua frowned. "What do you mean? Just because we've known each other all these years we can't become man and wife? That's nonsense. Especially when you think of what's going on up there," he said gesturing to the upper floor of the ranch house.
    Laura glanced up in the direction of her mother's bedroom. "That's not what she really thinks..." she tried to say but Joshua interrupted her.
    "She means every word. And what happens if we don't marry and she doesn't pull through?" Joshua said emphatically.
    Laura closed her eyes again trying to shut out the images, the feelings that suddenly came crowding in upon her. But she couldn't hold