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

she spoke to Zack. "I think for our first night together we can be here," she said pointing inside the room.
    Zack went to the door. Lydia stepped inside the room and turned back to him. Zack paused at the door. The double bed was certainly wide enough for both of them, even if Zack now understood exactly what Lydia was trying to tell him. What she was saying had the ring of truth about it. In fact, there was no other way that they could even consider spending their wedding night together than this. They could share a bedroom, even if the manner in which they were about to share the bed wouldn't be the norm for a wedding night.
    Nothing more had to be said. Zack could see the uncertainty in Lydia's eyes. He could even appreciate what it must have taken for her to even suggest that they share a bed when there had been no physical closeness between them since she had arrived.
    And tonight would be no exception.
    They would share a bedroom. But, Zack's heart sank when he closed the door behind him with the cold, hard realization that his first night with the only woman he had ever loved would involve him keeping his back to her throughout the entire night.

CHAPTER EIGHT

    Lydia opened her eyes with a start. The bedroom was dark. The only light in the room came from the soft glow of the full moon. Lydia realized that she was not alone in the bed. The remnants of sleep faded away and she recalled the conversation from earlier in the evening.
    The look on Zack's face as she'd told him he could sleep in the same room as her.
    They'd tucked the girls into bed and blown out the candles and readied themselves to settle down for the night. Things had been awkward, but Zack had conducted himself like a gentleman, only entering the room when she'd let him know she was tucked up in bed.
    Lydia shifted her head. The sound of Zack's breathing behind her was soft and regular. Lydia glanced behind her and saw Zack's wide shoulders. He was lying on top of the blankets she was snuggled under. He had a thin sheet drawn over himself and he was fully dressed with his back turned to her.
    Lydia pulled the blankets up around her shoulders. Zack sighed in his sleep and shifted momentarily and then settled back down again.
    Lydia frowned. How could she have done this to him? Accepted his offer that he should sleep with his back to her all night, keeping his clothes on, and sleeping on top of the bedclothes.
    For tonight at least.
    Lydia knew that things would change as she and the children became accustomed to living on the ranch.
    Our ranch, she thought, correcting herself.
    Zack had told her, in no uncertain terms, that she should consider the Buchanan ranch as belonging to her every bit as much as to him.
    Lydia was a Buchanan now. All of her children would be Buchanans from now on. The sooner she got used to that, the better for all of them.
    What did that mean? How had life taken such a turn for herself and the girls? It all seemed so unfair. Daniel had been taken away so suddenly, the illness overcoming him with alarming haste. And then the discovery that, for as much as her former husband had maintained the appearance of being a fine upstanding man, he hadn't been able to leave his wife and children provided for after his death.
    It had been the harsh realties of economics which had finally driven Lydia to reach deep into her past and claw out the only hope she and the children would have for survival. And Zack had delivered on his promise. He had simply kept his word with barely a hint of hesitation.
    Lydia could see how Zack felt for her. She could see it in his eyes, the way he smiled at her, the constant little attempts to get close to her.
    So, how come she found herself so compelled to push him away? Why couldn't she just accept that the man who was next to her, in the dark, on their wedding night, was a man she could trust completely, a man with whom she could be certain to find a long and lasting happiness?
    Lydia closed her eyes. There