Free Zack's Montana Bride (Sweet, Clean Western Historical Romance)(Montana Ranchers and Brides Series) by Maya Stirling

future the children were to have would be influenced profoundly by the choices Zack and Lydia made for them. And one of the choices they would have to make would be what kind of married couple they were going to be in front of the children. It was important that the children saw that Zack and Lydia were happy together. Close and content as a married couple.
    "You're right, Lydia. Those kids are ours. There's nothing more important than their happiness," he said.
    Lydia smiled at his words. "I know. And I'm glad that they're here." Lydia ran her eyes around the narrow confines of the hallway. "This house feels...safe."
    Zack moved closer to Lydia and he saw her eyes widen. "I'm pleased you feel that way. I meant what I said when I made that promise to you. After today, I hope you believe me," he said.
    Lydia's eyes narrowed slightly. "Of course I believe you, Zack. And I told you, being here means a lot to me. And to the children." Lydia glanced toward the children's bedroom.
    Zack leaned in closer. Lydia rested against the wooden panelling of the hallway, gazing up at him. She looked so beautiful here in the subdued light of the hallway, still dressed in the delicate fabric of her wedding gown, which seemed to glow softly white in the confines of the narrow passageway.
    "It's been a beautiful day, Zack," Lydia said.
    "It has, Lydia. The best day of my life."
    Zack saw a flicker of something cross her features. There were a more playful screams from inside the girls' bedroom and Lydia glanced over toward the closed door.
    "A beautiful wedding day," she repeated.
    Zack leaned against the panelling and slid closer to Lydia. She didn't make any attempt to back away from him.
    "Wedding days only last until midnight," Zack said.
    Lydia frowned slightly. She looked at him, questions hovering in her gaze.
    "I guess they do," she said flatly.
    "And then wedding days become wedding nights," Zack said softly.
    There was a very long pause. They both looked at each other. Eventually Zack said the words which had been hovering in the back of his mind for a long time. For many nights.
    "The bunk house doesn't seem like a place for a man on his wedding night," Zack said quietly.
    He saw Lydia's eyes widen and her lips were drawn in to form a thin, tense line. She didn't say anything in response. Lydia wrapped her arms around herself.
    "It's mighty cold out there," Zack said with a smile. Lydia didn't smile back in the way he'd expected. She didn't immediately match his playful tone. In fact, Zack thought she looked downright worried.
    Lydia glanced again toward the door to the girls' bedroom. Her eyes shifted from side to side. It seemed to Zack that she was deliberating, considering how she should respond to what he thought was an entirely appropriate suggestion. But he didn't like the look in her eyes. Not one bit. That wasn't the expression he'd expected to see.
    After a pause, Lydia looked at Zack and spoke in a quiet, calm voice. "I understand what you're saying, Zack. I really do." She glanced to the side again, this time at the door to her bedroom. What could be, indeed should be their bedroom. If she wanted it to be that way.
    Zack leaned back. "I'm sorry, Lydia. I didn't mean to make you feel uncomfortable."
    Lydia reached out a hand and wrapped her fingers softly around his arm. "You haven't made me feel uncomfortable at all, Zack."
    He sighed and shook his head. "Tell you what. I'll head on down to the bunk house..."
    Lydia's eyes widened. "You can't do that. I don't want you to do that," she insisted.
    Zack froze and looked at Lydia. "But. I thought..."
    "I'm not having my husband spend his wedding night in a bunk house." Lydia said moving toward her bedroom door.
    Zack watched her open the door. "The girls will be expecting their mother and father to sleep in the same room together. Wouldn't you agree?"
    Zack frowned at her. "What are you saying, Lydia?"
    Lydia glanced into the room and paused. After what seemed like an eternity