Joshua's Montana Bride (Sweet, Clean Western Historical Romance)(Montana Ranchers and Brides Series) Page 2

  He stopped outside the mercantile and peered inside. He saw women choosing fabric from long patterned rolls laid out on a large table in the middle of the store. None of them looked like Laura.

  Joshua sighed in frustration. He'd only been in Helena less than an hour. He'd just about exhausted all the options of where he could find her. But he knew she was here. Laura's mother had been certain of that much.

  He thought about earlier that morning, back at the Thorne ranch, just outside Great Falls. Joshua had come to visit. It had been a visit he'd been putting off for a while. There was important business he had to discuss. An important question to ask. Maybe the most important one he'd ever asked.

  When he'd arrived, the ranch had been unnaturally quiet. Laura's older brother, Eli wasn't at home and the housekeeper had greeted Joshua at the front door looking ashen faced. Joshua wondered what had happened. Whatever it was it was clearly bad news. Maybe today had been a bad day to choose for a visit. He'd been just about to leave when he'd heard an anguished cry from within. Going into the parlor, he'd found Belinda Thorne prostrate on the divan, a letter in her hand.

  With the help of the housekeeper they'd calmed Laura's mother down and after much persuasion, crying and swooning, gotten the truth from her. The reason for the upset was Belinda's daughter, Laura.

  "She's run off," Belinda had uttered with a sob. "To get married! To a stranger."

  Joshua had sat back on the divan, while the housekeeper, Mrs. Cole, had tried to console Mrs. Thorne. He'd felt distinctly awkward and out of place. He'd hoped his visit would deal with a long standing issue that had been pressing on his mind for a long time, but he'd ended up being witness to a family trauma. The urge to help warred within him as strongly as the desire to make his excuses and leave. He'd known the Thorne family for many years. He hated to see Belinda Thorne in this state.

  The letter Mrs. Thorne held in her hand explained that Laura, twenty-one years of age, and apparently as foolish as she could be, had decided to run off and marry a lawyer in Helena. Mrs. Thorne had let out a gasp and thrown a hand to her forehead, declaring pained words about the shame that her beloved daughter had brought on her family.

  No amount of calming words and reassurance would console the distraught mother.

  When Joshua had eventually asked when Laura had run off, Mrs. Thorne looked at him with wide, reddened eyes. That very morning Laura taken the train to Helena, before anyone had even known about her foolish actions.

  Joshua had thought for a while before making the suggestion that had immediately leapt to his mind. Eventually he'd reached out a hand and taken Mrs. Thorne's shaking hand in his own. The offer he'd made had transformed the grieving mother in an instant.

  Joshua would go by train to Helena and find Laura. He would bring Laura back to the ranch, to the loving and forgiving care of her mother. The whole episode would be forgotten, and nothing more would be said about it.

  The relief that had spread across Mrs. Thorne's face had brought a gladness to Joshua's heart. He'd always had an affection for the kindly woman. He didn't want to see her suffer. Mrs. Thorne had been helpful to Joshua on so many occasions, despite the fact that their respective ranches were neighbours, and in some respects, rivals. At least that was how Eli Thorne always made Joshua feel. Belinda Thorne, in contrast, had always tried to help Joshua whenever she could, and he'd never forgotten her many kind gestures during the lean years when he'd been building up his ranch into the successful spread he now owned.

  In the end Joshua decided he'd do whatever it took to find Laura, if it would spare Belinda Thorne the obvious grief she was feeling.

  So here he was, striding up and down the main street of Helena, searching for Laura and finding no sign of her. He'd been to the church and found that no weddings had taken place. Laura had gotten a head start on him, taking an earlier train. The letter Belinda Thorne had given him merely hinted that a meeting had been arranged for that afternoon somewhere in Helena. But there were no details, just that it would take place that afternoon.

  Joshua thought of the real reason he'd visited the Thorne ranch that morning, and a stab of worry jabbed into his middle. He had to get Laura back to her family. That was where she belonged.

  After giving Belinda Thorne his promise that everything would work out fine Joshua had left instantly for the train station at Great Falls, his business at the Thorne ranch unfinished. There would be time for that after he'd found Laura Thorne and taken her home to the safe keeping of her mother and brother.

  Joshua couldn't imagine what had possessed Laura to do something as foolish as arrange a secret wedding. She and Joshua had known each other for years. He'd watched her growing up, developing from a boisterous young girl into a feisty, spirited, attractive woman. And attractive she was. There was no denying that. Although Joshua was a few years older than her, that hadn't stopped Laura from teasing him on visits to the Thorne ranch. He'd taken the ribbing from her in good spirits. It seemed to Joshua that in the last couple of years, every time he went to the ranch, Laura never missed an opportunity to taunt and make fun of him.

  They were friends. That was all. His close ties to the Thorne family had meant he'd spent a lot of time around Laura. He knew what she was capable of. And that worried him almost as much as the fact that he'd left Belinda Thorne looking like she was about to suffer an apoplexy.

  Where was Laura? He thought of her in trouble and it spurred his searching to a greater urgency. He had to admit that in the last couple of years the thought that Laura might be more than a friend had passed through his mind on more than one occasion. And there was one thought that had pressed insistently upon Joshua.

  Laura Thorne had grown up to be a mighty pretty, even gorgeous, young woman.

  Joshua guessed there was no-one more beautiful in this part of Montana. But he'd kept his distance. His relationship with the Thorne family had always been built on trust, and he hadn't wanted to do anything to spoil that. It was too important to him. Belinda Thorne had been good to him, helping him build up his ranch in the way that only a good, well intentioned neighbour could. And Joshua had always held Belinda Thorne in the highest possible esteem. She had helped him out in legal and money matters, hooking Joshua up with important and influential men in Great Fall. Without that help he might never have built up his ranch to the extent that he had.

  And now Belinda's daughter had gone and done the most foolish thing that anyone could imagine. She'd run off and was about to do some kind of crazy thing.

  Joshua owed it to Belinda Thorne to do his utmost to find her errant daughter.

  He thought about Laura, and recalled the many instances of her strong, even uncontrollable spirit. Her determination to do what she wanted had always amused him. It had been tempered by her growing up. Slightly. But she still had a fire inside her that made her exciting to be around.

  Joshua had always had trouble dealing with her feisty nature. But, the truth was, he'd always found her determined and forthright ways appealing in the most confusing and confounding way imaginable.

  Joshua sighed at the memories of their times together. He had to find her; had to stop her doing whatever she'd come here to do.

  Joshua made his way down the boardwalk, back toward the station. When he'd jumped off the train earlier that afternoon he'd almost expected to see Laura seated in the station, weeping and abandoned, waiting to take the train back home, repentant and filled with remorse.

  But there had been no sign of her.

  Finally he came to the hotel. There was a restaurant adjacent to the hotel reception area. A window gave the diners inside a view of the main street. It would be the last place he'd search before he'd take some time to consider what to do next.

  As he strode up to the entrance of the hotel Joshua almost collided with a tall, thin man who thrust his way out through the main door. Joshua took a step back and murmured a quick apology, but the man didn't even look at Joshua, and headed off down the boardwalk. Joshu
a watched him and wondered what had made the man so agitated.

  Taking a step away from the door, Joshua peered into the restaurant and his heart skipped a beat. Joshua saw a familiar, delicate, but proud face.

  It was Laura.

  She looked indignant, even angry. Her mouth was set in a tight expression that Joshua had seen on many an occasion. It meant trouble for anyone on the receiving end. Laura was seated, alone, at a table in the corner, surrounded by diners who in various ways were doing everything in their power to avoid looking at Laura. She looked so vulnerable, so defenceless.

  Joshua glanced quickly down the boardwalk. A thought flashed into his mind. Surely that hadn't been the man she'd intended to marry. If it was him, why was he striding off like that? Maybe he was rushing to the church to arrange matters for their wedding. But the man hadn't looked too happy. And judging by Laura's expression, she was feeling something similar.

  Joshua turned and gazed into the restaurant. Laura still hadn't seen him. She was trying her best to look composed and failing miserably. Any minute now she would stand and make her way out. Joshua thought quickly about what he needed to do. If there had ever been a time in his life when he had to be persuasive, it was now.

  And it was then that Laura spotted him. Her mouth dropped open in obvious shock. Joshua tried to smile at Laura. He couldn't hear her voice, but he distinctly saw her lips form his name, and a look of disbelief spread across her features.

  Then, suddenly, Laura reached down, grabbed a bag, stood up quickly, and started to race toward the door of the hotel.

  In an instant Joshua knew that Laura had no intention of greeting him. On the contrary, she looked like she had a mind to put as much distance between herself and Joshua as physically possible.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  Laura knew she had to get away. Why had he come for her? What business was it of Joshua McKenzie's what she did with her life? Maybe he hadn't actually come for her. Perhaps it was just a coincidence. But she knew that couldn't be true. The expression on his face had told her that he'd been relieved and even pleased to see her.

  Laura grasped her bag tight in her hand. She thrust the door to the hotel open and ran out onto the boardwalk. Her best chance was to mingle with the crowd on the boardwalk. Maybe she could lose him. She had no idea where she was going. Just that she had to get away from Joshua.

  Laura emerged onto the boardwalk and twisted her head down the street, determined not to look in Joshua's direction. She'd taken only a few steps when she felt a firm hand seize her arm.

  She heard a deep, soft voice, both familiar and unwelcome, in that moment. "Laura. Wait. It's me. Joshua."

  Laura whirled and looked at him. His green eyes were locked on her, his brows furrowed, his square, wide jaw firm and determined looking. His face was the last thing she wanted to see right now. "Leave me alone," she cried, trying to pull away from him.

  His grip was firm, but gentle. "Wait, Laura. Hear me out," he said, his voice as persuasive as always.

  Laura took his hand and tried to wrench his fingers from her arm, but he still wouldn't let go. A few passersby frowned at the sight of the tall, wide shouldered handsome cowboy grasping the arm of a distraught, pretty young woman.

  Laura saw that Joshua just ignored the querying looks, so intent was he on holding on to Laura.

  "I don't want to speak to you," she cried out.

  "I know you're upset. I understand what you're doing here," he said.

  How could he understand? Joshua couldn't possibly know why she was here. "What do you mean?" she demanded.

  Joshua leaned in, drawing Laura closer to him. "Your mother sent me," he said in a low voice.

  Laura felt her feet go numb. There was a long pause. "Mama?" she said eventually.

  Joshua's brows furrowed. "Your mother asked me to come and find you."

  Laura was momentarily lost for words. She peered into Joshua's eyes, searching for any sign of a lie. He couldn't be telling the truth. Laura's mother would never have sent him after her. If anyone would have come to find her, it would have been Eli. Maybe Joshua coming hadn't been the worst thing after all, she thought. Laura could only imagine how Eli would have handled the situation. Joshua was different from Eli. She'd always known that.

  "Why would she do that? Where was Eli?"

  "Nowhere to be found. Guess he was working somewhere on the ranch. Maybe that was for the best," he said quirking a brow.

  Laura didn't want to give him an answer to that. Everyone knew about Eli's temper. But still she had an overwhelming desire to get away. Even from Joshua.

  She glanced down at his hand and he let her go. Once she was freed, the impulse to run subsided for the moment. Laura looked up into his eyes and saw a patient understanding there.

  Joshua glanced around. "We need to talk," he stated.

  Laura's heart was still thundering and her throat felt as tight as it had been in the restaurant.

  "Can we walk? I need to speak to you," he said.

  Laura's breath was still fast and short. Maybe some time to compose herself would be useful. "Fine. We can talk. I need to get my breath back," she said raising a hand to her throat.

  Joshua smiled. "You always were a faster runner than me," he said.

  She refused to smile at him, not wanting him to think that he was even beginning to win her over. "Let's just walk, and you can tell me what you've come to say to me," she said.

  Joshua frowned and nodded. "Okay. That sounds good to me," he said gesturing with a gentlemanly hand. "After you."

  Laura clutched her bag and straightened. "I haven't changed my mind about going home," she said.

  Joshua nodded. The vaguest hint of a smile on his face provoked a brief rush of indignation inside her which she struggled to control. He didn't think she was being serious. But, he didn't understand. She couldn't go home. Not after what had happened.

  They started to walk along the boardwalk. They suddenly looked like any other couple out for an afternoon stroll. Laura snapped a look at Joshua. She'd forgotten just how tall he was, and how wide his shoulders were. It must be all that hard labor on the ranch. The kind of hard, outdoor work which she hated to be around. Every one of the townsfolk of Helena looked well dressed, clean, elegant. There was none of the crudeness about them that she'd had to live with on the ranch.

  Joshua didn't say anything to Laura. He seemed to be giving her time to compose herself, clear her thoughts. He'd always been considerate. It had been something that had often irritated her. She couldn't understand how a successful rancher as Joshua so obviously was, could be so calm, so quietly focused and determined. But that was what he was like. What he'd always been like, as long as Laura had known him.

  They walked on, saying nothing to each other, and Laura gradually started to feel calmer, more settled. Eventually she asked the question which was starting to burn in her mind. "Why did you come after me?" she asked.

  Joshua's mouth tightened, and he took a moment to consider his reply. "I believe you're coming home," he said simply.

  Laura stopped and gazed up at him, a look of incredulity written across her face. "Home? I don't think so."

  Joshua sighed. "Now, Laura. You know this isn't right."

  Laura's eyes narrowed. "I can do what I want. You can't stop me," she stated.

  Joshua nodded. "That's right. You're a free woman. You have a mind of your own. And I respect that. I always have," he said.

  Laura was taken aback by the directness of his statement. "You respect it? So why did you come chasing after me?"

  Joshua frowned and looked away, saying nothing, apparently lost in thought. After a moment he turned and looked at Laura, his eyes narrowed, sincere. "I came here because of what happened to your mama after she heard you'd ran away," he said bluntly.

  Laura's mouth opened and she found that the power of speech had briefly deserted her.

  Joshua's green eyes peered into her, searching for some kind of reaction.

&
nbsp; "What do you mean? What's wrong with my mother?" she managed to ask at last. Her hand went involuntarily to Joshua's arm.

  Joshua sighed and glanced around. He waited a moment until there was no-one near them. "You running away has given her an apoplexy," he said quietly.

  "An apoplexy? She's sick?" Laura demanded. Her heart started to thud and she couldn't take a breath.

  Joshua reached out a hand to steady her. "She took your leaving bad, Laura" he stated. His eyes had widened in concern.

  Laura reached an arm up to her throat. Suddenly swallowing was as difficult as breathing. "My mama is sick?"

  "When she found out you'd run off, she near as darn fainted dead away. Me and the housekeeper had a hard time settling her. I had to convince her everything was going to be fine. It wasn't easy. She was in a real state," he said.

  "Where was Eli?"

  "Out on the ranch," he answered.

  "So he doesn't know what I've done, yet?"

  "I don't rightly know, Laura," he responded.

  The sound of her name on his lips brought her attention back closer to the moment. She'd always liked the way he said her name. There was a soft, gentle tone to it that had always calmed her spirit. And now was no different.

  "But my mama is okay. Isn't she?" she pleaded, her eyes searching his face.

  Joshua glanced down at her hand. "I left in a hurry. When I said goodbye she looked as pale as anything. She seemed to be settling down. But I can't say for sure that she's okay."

  Laura closed her eyes and tried to figure out what she should do. She didn't even know what she could do, now that she'd dug this hole so deep.

  "Oh, mama. What have I done to you?" Laura ejaculated, her voice filled with anguish. The thought of her dear mother, ill and distraught, apparently on the verge of a nervous collapse, threatened to overwhelm Laura.

  Joshua leaned in closer. Laura caught the scent of him, a mixture of soap and the leather of his waistcoat. "You haven't done anything that can't be fixed, Laura. Your mother loves you. That's all. She doesn't want to see anything bad happen to you," he said quietly.