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

girls might need my help in the stable. I must go to them."
    Lydia made to step away from him, but Zack gently took her arm.
    "Lydia. Tell me what's wrong," Zack asked.
    She sighed and looked at him, her gaze suddenly distant, transformed from what it had been minutes before.
    "I'd be happy to help you arrange the wedding at your earliest convenience," she said.
    "The minister has already told me he can carry out the ceremony as soon as we wish," Zack said.
    Lydia nodded. "I think the girls will need some outfits. They didn't bring anything suitable for a wedding. For myself, I already have an outfit which will be appropriate," she said.
    Zack felt his stomach turn at the calm sound of her voice, the way she seemed to be pushing him away.
    Finally, he could see that there was nothing to do but agree with Lydia's suggestion.
    With a glance, Lydia turned and strode off toward the stable and Zack could only take a seat on the porch and, with a sinking heart and a mind filled with questions, watch her walk slowly away from him.

CHAPTER FIVE

    Lydia was nervous and she knew exactly why that was.
    Today was her wedding day.
    She sat on the buggy and gazed far ahead at the trail which would deliver her to Great Falls, and to the church where the marriage ceremony would be carried out. Lydia felt her heart skip a beat. Zack sat next to her, the reins held tight in his hands, looking more elegant, more handsome than she had ever thought possible. He turned and smiled at her and she responded with a hesitant one of her own. Zack looked nervous too and that gave Lydia a moment of relief. She wasn't alone. Never would be from this moment on.
    Lydia glanced back at the other buggy behind them. Ned was steering it and the children were crammed onto the seats, Daisy and Kate next to Ned, Gretchen and Mrs. Brodie in the rear. They were all smiling and looked eager and excited at the prospect of a wedding.
    The past few days had been a whirl of activity. Somehow Lydia's marriage to Daniel seemed to have been a much simpler affair. She couldn't remember there having been so much to prepare. They'd made frequent long trips into town to buy material for dresses and all the sundries that were needed to make sure that the day to come would be truly memorable.
    Lydia turned and settled her gloved hands in her lap and tried, once more, to maintain at least the illusion of composure. But her insides were tumbling and those butterflies in her stomach just wouldn't stop fluttering, no matter what she told them.
    Lydia glanced once more at Zack. He looked so darned handsome in his fine tailored dark suit, waistcoat, neatly pinned collar and dark, shiny boots. He looked like a prosperous ranch owner, a man who knew what to do in life. Lydia felt a tingle of pride as she looked at him.
    When she'd seen him earlier that morning, standing by the side of the buggy, fixing the colorful pink and blue ribbons along the side, Lydia thought she'd never seen a man look so elegant, so self assured. The only thing that concerned her right now was how tired he looked. The dark rings under his eyes spoke of nights without sleep, and she was sure it wasn't just because a bunk house full of men would be a noisy place to try and settle.
    Since asking her to marry her a week ago, he'd spent every night sleeping in the bunk house, with the ranch hands. He'd explained that there just wasn't enough room in the ranch house for all of them. He didn't want to ask Mrs. Brodie to give up her room. Neither did he even mention the possibility of him sleeping in the same room as Lydia. Not with the children crammed into the room across the hall. In any case, it wasn't unusual for Daisy to become troubled during the night and need to go to Lydia.
    So, Zack had spent the last week sleeping in the draft ridden, cold wooden shack that was the employees accommodation block.
    Only on a couple of those cold nights had Daisy come to Lydia. So, she had spent most of the nights on her own,