Forever Dreams (Montana Brides) Read Online Free

could have sworn they’d passed the boundary of the Triple L Ranch over ten minutes ago, but she still couldn’t see the homestead.  
    Trent pointed at what would have been a large lake, but the water level was so low that it looked more like a crater on the moon. “The runoff from the mountains feeds a couple of large, spring fed creeks. And the water from the creeks irrigates the entire ranch. At the moment we’re in the middle of a draught so the lakes we’ve created are only a third full at best.”
    “When did it last rain?”
    “A couple of months ago. Every summer it gets worse. We’re not as bad as other ranches, but it has the same impact. Feed prices skyrocket and we’re on water restrictions.” He gazed out of the window, looking across the fields toward the mountains in the distance. “Even with a draught, the land’s still amazing. If you want to go out hiking I’ll give you a map of some of the trails around the ranch. Yellowstone National Park’s only a short trip away. You’ll find some great walking tracks through there.”  
    “What about Yogi Bear? Does he ever come visiting?”
    “It’s not the grizzlies you have to worry about, it’s the wolves. Especially high in the mountains.”  
    Gracie swallowed. Apart from her mom’s dog, Tornado, she’d never been particularly fond of four legged canines. Most big dogs looked her in the eyeballs, and even though she was pretty quick, four legs could outrun two human feet any day. Skipping the long walks and concentrating on something a bit closer to the house, like fishing, suddenly took on more appeal.  
    “Do you have other people working on the ranch like I am?” Gracie asked.
    Trent’s hands tightened on the steering wheel. “You mean like a dude ranch?”
    “Exactly. Campfires, cattle roundups and horse trails. I bet there are heaps of people who’d enjoy seeing Montana in all its glory.”
    “You’re an exception. Group visits aren’t going to happen here. This is a working cattle ranch, not an amusement park.”
    She knew she’d said something wrong as soon as she looked at Trent’s clenched jaw. “I didn’t mean to offend you.”  
    “You didn’t offend me.” His death grip on the steering wheel relaxed as he settled back into the seat. “My brother’s been trying to convince me to set up a dude ranch, but I’m not buying into all the cowboy hype. We earn our living off the land, not people.” She couldn’t understand Trent’s reluctance to open his home to strangers, but then she didn’t understand much about his life. From what she’d seen so far, she was just glad he’d decided to let her stay on the ranch.  
    The driveway turned toward a clump of tall pine trees. Peeking out from above green branches she could see the top of a stone chimney. As a house came into view, Gracie swallowed a lump in her throat.  
    Oh, my. Special didn’t even come close to describing the incredible home.If ever a house lived and breathed the Wild West, then this was it. She’d seen pictures of log cabins, but never any of this size and beauty.
    Spread over two levels, the log house sheltered under a high pitched shingle roof. An enormous stone chimney, in the centre of the house, teased her imagination into dreaming of roaring fires in the depth of a snow covered winter. The side gable was made entirely of glass, supported by wooden beams shaped like spokes on a wagon wheel. A veranda wrapped around the front of the house, creating lots of comfortable nooks to take in the glorious view of mountains and pasture.Her jaw dropped when Trent stopped the truck by the entrance. “This is your house?”
    “Yep.”
    “You live here all by yourself?”
    “Sort of. Mrs. Davies, our housekeeper, has got her own living quarters attached to the far side of the house. Jordan moved into the bunkhouse a couple of months ago, but most days he comes across to raid the pantry. Apart from that, I’m on my own.”
    Sliding out of the