Nathan’s Montana Bride (Sweet Historical Mail Order Bride Romance) (Montana Ranchers Brides series) (3 page)

Abby was surprised to see how happy Lucius was. He normally wasn't this happy, except if there was the prospect of some financial advantage to be had. Although he wasn't a parsimonious man, he knew the value of money and always tried to instil that appreciation in his two beloved daughters.

Abby and Florence took their place on the divan which faced the fireplace. Abby felt the warmth of the room and loosened the collar of her gown.

Lucius looked at Abby. "My dear. How are you today?"

"I'm fine father."

"You were out this morning with Florence. Did you have a pleasant time?"

"Indeed we did father."

Lucius had an expression on his face which Abby had seen many times before. It was an expression that told her he was about to present her with a surprise. She'd seen that glint in his eye whenever birthday gifts were about to be revealed. But today was no-one's birthday.

Lucius looked directly at Abby and cleared his throat. "My dear. As your father, you know that I always have your best interests at heart. Everything I have ever done has been to ensure that you have a secure and bright future ahead of you," he said.

Abby smiled. "And I have always been very grateful to you for everything you have done for me."

Lucius nodded. "As a part of ensuring your future you are aware that I have had to refuse the advances of some entirely unsuitable young Bostonian men. On your behalf of course."

Abby felt her cheeks color. It was suddenly even hotter in the room. She hesitated before speaking. "I wasn't...aware...that you had done that on my behalf, father," she muttered shyly.

"In fact I have come to the conclusion that young Bostonian men are thoroughly unsuitable for either of my daughters," he said.

"What do you mean?" Abby asked.

"I mean they are not suitable as husbands. The present generation's morals are the lowest I have ever seen. And it is my duty to protect you and Florence from that," he stated.

"As you know I have come to believe that the great move West has been beneficial for our nation. Some of our best young men have gone out there." He tapped the book on his lap.
 
"I have done extensive research and am convinced that the future of our nation lies there."

Abby looked at Florence and frowned. What on earth was he talking about?

Abby's mother, Elizabeth, coughed and put down her knitting. "I think you best be getting to the point Lucius. I can see the girls are wondering where you are going with all this," she said in a quiet, steady voice.

"Indeed I shall," said Lucius. "It comes down to this, Abigail. I have recently received representations from a very fine young man, who has significant holdings out West. I have made my enquiries and I am assured that he is a man of unimpeachable character. He has in recent years made the move out West and has made his fortune in the ranching business. This is a business which I believe represents the best of our nation. And the men in that business are the solid core of our country"

Abby felt as if a stone had settled in her stomach. It couldn't be! Could it? It was simply too much of a coincidence.

"What are you saying father? I'm not sure I understand."

Lucius Long leaned forward and looked at his daughter. "I'm saying I have found the perfect man who I believe is most suitable to be your husband."

Florence let out a squeal next to her and Abby felt her body suddenly become very heavy. Abby's breath left her in a gasp and she gripped the fabric of her gown.

"You have found me a husband? A rancher from out West?"

Lucius grinned. "Indeed I have."

"And have you met this man?" Abby asked, barely able to speak.

"I have. I would hardly suggest this man to you if I hadn't first met him, would I?"

Abby glanced at her mother. Surely this must be some sort of parlor room game they were playing.
 

Elizabeth smiled reassuringly at Abby. "He's a very charming young man. As your father says, he has all the finest qualities we could hope for in a husband for you Abigail," she said.

"He has offered to bring you West and make you his bride. I think I speak for your mother when I say that we think it is a most wonderful idea," Lucius said with a nod to his wife.

This cannot be happening, Abby said to herself. She could barely bring myself to ask this man's name, because she already knew who they were speaking of. But she asked the question that was burning her lips.

"I also believe that certain promises were made and subsequently broken. Now you know what I think about giving your word, Abby," Lucius said, giving his daughter a stern look.

He must know something, she said to herself. He knows I gave my word to someone. And that I broke my promise. But he doesn't know why. He can't know why I did that. She had to know who he was talking about, although deep down she knew there was only one person it could be.
 

"What is the name of this perfect gentleman rancher?" Abby asked trying to disguise the pain in her voice.

Lucius looked at Abby. "His name is Nathan Grantly. And I have arranged for him to call on us this evening."

CHAPTER FOUR

Nathan settled back in the carriage and rested his arm around Emma's tiny shoulders. He looked out the window at the dimming light of the evening. It was late for Emma to be out and he would have preferred to have made this visit to the residence of Lucius Long during the day, but this would have to do.

Nathan didn't like the city. He didn't feel at home in the confines of the metropolis. Back at the hotel he had felt sheltered from the madness of the city. And he had been determined to protect Emma from the sights and smells of Boston. He couldn't wait to get back to the ranch; he craved a return to the wilds of Montana where a man's spirit wouldn't be stifled the way it was here.

But first he had a wife to claim.

He'd received the message from Lucius that he would be welcome to make a visit. The message also insisted that Nathan bring his daughter, Emma. There would be special cake for her.
 

Nathan had known it would come to this. When he had contacted Lucius Long about his proposed marriage to Abby, Lucius had been hesitant and unconvinced. They had arranged to meet at Lucius' office two days before. Nathan had tried to explain his predicament, but Lucius had been more interested in Nathan's credentials and his financial status.
 

The whole meeting had had the feeling of an interview for a position.

Nathan had explained that Lucius' daughter Abigail had secretly answered an announcement Nathan had placed for a mail order bride. The very mention of mail order brides had put Lucius into a state of near apoplexy.
 

He calmed down, though, once Nathan explained that Abby had at first said she would marry Nathan. But then, due to some unknown circumstance, she seemed to have changed her mind. Nathan had no idea why she had done that and neither did Lucius.

Abby's father struck Nathan as someone who understood the traditional values of life. What it was coming down to was that Nathan was asking for Lucius' blessing to make Abigail Long his wife. It seemed unlikely, but Nathan learned during their discussion that Lucius had his own ideas about what was best for Abby.

"How long 'till we get there," Emma said, interrupting Nathan's recollections of his meeting with Lucius.

Nathan glanced out the window. "We'll be there in a few minutes," he said to his daughter. He drew her close to him and she smiled up at him.
 

"Will we see Abby?"

"I sure hope so."

"Is she gonna be my new mama?"

Nathan was taken aback by Emma's forthrightness. "I hope so. We'll soon find out."

"Gee. I hope she says yes," Emma said peering out the window at the passing houses.

Nathan nodded. "I hope so too Emma. I really do."

Abby lay flat on her bed in a state of near shock. What was she going to do? Her father had just about arranged a marriage on her behalf. No. That wasn't it at all. Her father had rearranged a marriage Abby had already called off.

And now she faced the prospect of Nathan Grantly coming to her house and proposing. What was she to do?

She could do the obvious. Run away. But there was nowhere for her to go. She wouldn't survive on her own. And the shame and worry it would bring to her parents would be unbearable.

She could simply refuse but the alternatives to Nathan were so disgusting that she could hardly bare to think about it. Carlton Fisker came to mind and she shivered.

Down in the parlor that afternoon her father had gone on to lecture Abby about what it meant to give your word to someone. She'd heard it so many times from him but now it seemed different. In his estimation a person's life was governed by their word. A promise to marry was a promise which could not broken without the most dire consequences.

She had tried to say that she hadn't given Nathan a promise to marry, but Lucius had refused to accept that, being in possession of her own letters to Nathan, in which she had agreed to become Nathan's wife.

The entire situation was unspeakable. But really she only had herself to blame for the whole thing.

What did she really think of Nathan anyway? Her meeting at the hotel had revealed so much about him. He was very good looking, seemed intelligent and sensitive to the needs of others. He was certainly a good father judging by the relationship he had with Emma. And he was sure handsome. In fact he was probably the finest looking man she had ever been close to.
 

When he had touched her hand the sensation she had felt throughout her body had been something she could not recall every feeling before.

And his eyes! Those eyes just saw into the depths of her soul, she thought. There was a shine and twinkle to them that made her shiver.

What puzzled Abby was how Nathan had come to know Lucius. She guessed Nathan must have sought out a meeting with Lucius. The strength of her father's approval of Nathan could only have been gained after at least some kind of significant meeting.

But how determined Nathan was to have Abby!

What kind of man must he be if he was willing to go to such lengths to claim her as his bride. For that was what he was doing, wasn't it? Claiming her. It sent a rush of sensation through her when she thought of being claimed by a rancher. What a thought!

And now he wanted to spirit her away from her life in Boston and set her up in Montana as his wife and the mother to his daughter.
 

The thought of children brought a lump to her throat and she tried to swallow. Her heart skipped a beat and for a moment she felt the familiar faintness that those thoughts created in
 
her.

Children.
 

He would want more children.

That single thought made her roll over on the bed, and bury her face in the covers.

After making herself as ready as she could possibly be, Abby waited in her room. She sat in front of her dressing table and listened to the sounds of the street through the open window. Eventually she heard a carriage draw up. She heard the sound of Emma's excited voice and smiled to herself. Emma was a sweet child. Could Abby bring herself to be Emma's mother? That thought made Abby feel something deep down. She tried to push it away but the sensation wouldn't budge.

Abby heard the heavy sound of the door knocker and footsteps on wooden floors, welcoming voices, and finally the soft, gentle voice of her mother calling on her to come down.

Abby checked herself in the mirror and made her way down.

She paused at the door to the parlor. There was laughter from inside. They were waiting for her. This was the moment in her life when she would have to make a decision. The choice would determine the course of her life. She felt the weight of the moment.

She pushed on the door and entered the room.

Nathan and Emma stood as Abby entered the room. Her parents sat on opposite sides of the fireplace. Everyone seemed so pleased to see Abby. Florence came to her sister and guided her toward Nathan and Emma.

"Pleased to see you Mr. Grantly," Abby said, extending a hand.

Nathan took her hand and Abby once again felt the rush of sensation at his touch, this time over the entirety of her body.

"Miss Long. It's a real pleasure to be here this evening. I have to thank your father for the very kind invitation," he said.

Nathan's stature was such that he seemed to fill the room with his presence. He was even taller than she recalled from earlier. Now, in the smaller confines of the parlor, he seemed so much more intimidating.

"The pleasure is all mine, Mr. Grantly."

Pleasantries were exchanged and the conversation was civilised and amenable. Abby thought it very odd that a man who owned a Montana ranch could fit in so comfortably to such a cosmopolitan situation. But then she was becoming used to being surprised by Nathan.

Abby's parents seemed excited and impressed by Nathan. He artfully guided the conversation answering many questions about his life in Montana; the challenges of maintaining a prosperous ranch; the joys of a life close to nature; the pleasures of a more simple life.

All of this seemed like manna from heaven to her father and Abby had to acknowledge that Nathan had a special gift when it came to making the case for life in Montana.

Abby was even beginning to find the prospect appealing.

Tea was brought and Emma devoured the tasty cakes with childish excitement. Nathan had to warn her not to eat too much in case she made herself sick. Abby noticed that Emma followed her father's advice.

Once all the civilities had been attended to there was a pause. Abby's parents stood slowly and gestured to Florence.
 

Nathan looked at Emma and nodded wordless instruction. It was if everyone already knew what to do. Abby found it disconcerting, to say the least.

"Are we going to the dining room?" she asked her mother.

Elizabeth shook her head. "No my dear. We think it will be a good idea to give you and Nathan some time together. We'll all be in the drawing room."