Zack's Montana Bride (Sweet, Clean Western Historical Romance)(Montana Ranchers and Brides Series) by Maya Stirling Page A
Authors: Maya Stirling
Tags: Romance, historical 1800s
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as loud as before. Kate cocked her head to one side at Lydia and then chased after her sister. Lydia watched them racing out of the parlor and shook her head.
How was she going to cope with this for a whole winter? Was she going to survive it? It was such a change for everyone, not least for Lydia herself.
Lydia picked up the book and tried to resume reading, but her mind couldn't settle on the tiny printed pages.
Where was Zack?
That was all she could think about. She tried to understand what had happened at the breakfast table earlier, but could only put it down to a misunderstanding. That was what it had been. Zack just hadn't understood her. That was all. The prospect of spending the day with him had been enticing. It had filled her with a gentle anticipation. But, why had she refused his suggestion? What had held her back from devoting the day to being with him?
It was the same reason she had been pulling away from Zack since she'd arrived. The same compulsion to maintain at least some distance between them.
Lydia still wasn't completely comfortable being around Zack. She still hadn't left the past behind. The more she thought about the past, the more it seemed like an insurmountable barrier to her ever being truly at ease with her new husband. And that wasn't in any way Zack's fault. It was her own fault. Her own choice. And she knew it.
The way he'd looked at her as he'd headed out the door had made something clutch at her heart. It hadn't been a harsh look, nor had it been a look of admonishment. The time they'd all spent at the breakfast table would have made that impossible.
No. The look that he'd given Lydia as he'd headed out to work had been one of sadness and regret, even loss. Lydia's refusal to spend the day with Zack looked like it had cut him to the core. And that was why Lydia had spent the morning trying to distract herself with a book while keeping an eye on the children. That was why she was trying to avoid the truth that her first morning as the wife of Zack Buchanan had been spent without him.
Lydia figured there was only one thing she could do. The same thing she'd always done when she'd messed up.
Fix the darned thing.
If she'd been unfair to Zack Buchanan there was only one thing she had to do. Make it up to him. Show him that his new wife was trying. Let him know that she was determined to try and put the past behind her. Now that they were together, now that this family had a home, a place of it's own, Lydia knew that she owed it to Zack to show him that she was trying real hard to make their family strong.
Lydia knew that she had to find some way to show Zack that the future meant something to her. She had to show him that the only future that really meant anything to her was the one that Lydia and Zack were destined to share together.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Zack arrived home to find everyone waiting for him in the parlor. Once he had removed his jacket what welcomed him, and what made him feel a warm glow of appreciation, was a scene of one happy family awaiting the arrival of their father from work.
The children were all seated on the rug in front of the fireplace, attired in neat dresses and bows in their hair. They were gazing at him with wide eyed, expectant looks. Lydia came to him when he entered the room extending a welcoming hand to him. She had a smile on her face that looked completely genuine and unreserved. Looking at her made a warm hand wrap itself around Zack's heart.
"We've been waiting for you." She gestured to the fireplace. "Come. Warm yourself."
Lydia turned to the children. "Give your father some space to get close to the fire," she said.
Daisy and Kate scooted to one side of the rug. Gretchen raised her eyes and gave Lydia a look that spoke of momentary revolt.
"Gretchen. Join your sisters over on that side," Lydia said.
"It's okay, Lydia. I'm not that cold. In any case, it's getting a bit milder outside. I've known worse," he admitted.
"Lunch is nearly ready,"
How was she going to cope with this for a whole winter? Was she going to survive it? It was such a change for everyone, not least for Lydia herself.
Lydia picked up the book and tried to resume reading, but her mind couldn't settle on the tiny printed pages.
Where was Zack?
That was all she could think about. She tried to understand what had happened at the breakfast table earlier, but could only put it down to a misunderstanding. That was what it had been. Zack just hadn't understood her. That was all. The prospect of spending the day with him had been enticing. It had filled her with a gentle anticipation. But, why had she refused his suggestion? What had held her back from devoting the day to being with him?
It was the same reason she had been pulling away from Zack since she'd arrived. The same compulsion to maintain at least some distance between them.
Lydia still wasn't completely comfortable being around Zack. She still hadn't left the past behind. The more she thought about the past, the more it seemed like an insurmountable barrier to her ever being truly at ease with her new husband. And that wasn't in any way Zack's fault. It was her own fault. Her own choice. And she knew it.
The way he'd looked at her as he'd headed out the door had made something clutch at her heart. It hadn't been a harsh look, nor had it been a look of admonishment. The time they'd all spent at the breakfast table would have made that impossible.
No. The look that he'd given Lydia as he'd headed out to work had been one of sadness and regret, even loss. Lydia's refusal to spend the day with Zack looked like it had cut him to the core. And that was why Lydia had spent the morning trying to distract herself with a book while keeping an eye on the children. That was why she was trying to avoid the truth that her first morning as the wife of Zack Buchanan had been spent without him.
Lydia figured there was only one thing she could do. The same thing she'd always done when she'd messed up.
Fix the darned thing.
If she'd been unfair to Zack Buchanan there was only one thing she had to do. Make it up to him. Show him that his new wife was trying. Let him know that she was determined to try and put the past behind her. Now that they were together, now that this family had a home, a place of it's own, Lydia knew that she owed it to Zack to show him that she was trying real hard to make their family strong.
Lydia knew that she had to find some way to show Zack that the future meant something to her. She had to show him that the only future that really meant anything to her was the one that Lydia and Zack were destined to share together.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Zack arrived home to find everyone waiting for him in the parlor. Once he had removed his jacket what welcomed him, and what made him feel a warm glow of appreciation, was a scene of one happy family awaiting the arrival of their father from work.
The children were all seated on the rug in front of the fireplace, attired in neat dresses and bows in their hair. They were gazing at him with wide eyed, expectant looks. Lydia came to him when he entered the room extending a welcoming hand to him. She had a smile on her face that looked completely genuine and unreserved. Looking at her made a warm hand wrap itself around Zack's heart.
"We've been waiting for you." She gestured to the fireplace. "Come. Warm yourself."
Lydia turned to the children. "Give your father some space to get close to the fire," she said.
Daisy and Kate scooted to one side of the rug. Gretchen raised her eyes and gave Lydia a look that spoke of momentary revolt.
"Gretchen. Join your sisters over on that side," Lydia said.
"It's okay, Lydia. I'm not that cold. In any case, it's getting a bit milder outside. I've known worse," he admitted.
"Lunch is nearly ready,"
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