Forever Dreams (Montana Brides) Read Online Free Page A

truck, Gracie stared at his beautiful home.  
    Trent reached into the back seat, grabbing a few of the bags. “Come on in and I’ll show you where you’ll be sleeping. I’ll get the rest of the shopping later.”
    The inside of the house was every bit as wonderful as the outside. The ceiling in the foyer soared high above Gracie’s head. Golden timber logs bathed the house in a warm and welcoming glow, seeping deep into her tired body. As Trent moved up the staircase she ran her hands along the wood, absorbing the essence of what made this home special.  
    She thought about her mom’s house back in New Zealand. The one-hundred-year old villa had been her sanctuary. It had given her a sense of peace when her life had been a tumble of emotions, and stability when her world crumbled around her. Trent’s house gave her the same feeling of protection. She felt like she’d flown over eight thousand miles from home and found a haven for lost souls.
    “You’re awfully quiet back there. Is everything alright?”
    “I don’t know what to say. Your home’s beautiful.”
    Turning at the top of the stairs, he grinned at the stunned expression on her face. “Nice to know something can leave you speechless, little one.”
    “Be nice, Mr. McKenzie.”  
    A deep rumble of laughter filled the stairwell.  
    “Is that you, Trent?”
    Trent looked behind him, smiling at a woman coming out of a room further along the landing. “Mrs. Davies, come and meet Gracie.”
    Mrs. Davies walked toward them. She had a kind face that looked as though it laughed easily, and a shiny cap of silver hair that had been cut by someone with a good eye for fashion. But best of all she was only an inch or two taller than Gracie.
    “Welcome to the Triple L, Gracie. Please call me Adele. Trent and Jordan have called me Mrs. Davies their entire lives and they refuse to call me anything else.”
    “Hi, Adele. It’s nice to finally get here.”
    A warm smile lit the housekeeper’s face. “Your bedroom’s all ready for you. There are fresh towels in the bathroom and if you get cold during the night there are extra quilts in your closet.   If you need me for anything just head downstairs and follow the hallway as far as it goes.”
      “Thank you.”  
    “You’re welcome.” She turned toward Trent. “Dinner’s all cooked and waiting in the kitchen.”  
    Trent nodded. “Thanks, Mrs. Davies. I appreciate you helping out at short notice.”
    “It’s no bother. You’d better show Gracie her room before you drop all of those shopping bags on the floor. I’ll see you tomorrow morning.”
    Gracie followed Trent into a room further along the landing. A huge bed with a brass headboard sat against one wall, piled high with blue and white cushions. A vase of bright yellow daisies sat on a white chest of drawers, and a rocking chair took pride of place in another corner.   But it was the view of the mountains that drew her across the room to the window.  
    Trent left Gracie’s clothes on the bed and stood beside her, nodding into the distance. “That’s Beartooth Mountain. If you look hard you can just make out Granite Peak. It’s the highest point in Montana. All of the ranges in front of us are part of Yellowstone National Park.”
    He stood in silence while she took stock of her surroundings.  
    “I take back any misgivings I might have had about coming here.” A little catch caught the tail end of Gracie’s voice. “This is the most incredible place I’ve ever seen.”
      “Don’t talk too soon.” Trent crossed his arms and scowled at the land. “Some folk get mighty sick of looking at the same view. Being isolated on a ranch in the thick of winter can drive people crazy. It’s not an easy life if you’re not used to it.”
    How anyone could get tired of looking at such amazing scenery was beyond Gracie. As she turned from the window, a huge yawn locked her jaw in place.
    “You’re tired. Why don’t I leave you to get