Hannah: A Bride For Cowboy Warren (Mail Order Brides For The Doyle Brothers Book 1) (4 page)

Pa was feeling better and Warren felt a tangible relief. He was even out in the parlor by the fire reading a book when Warren came back inside after feeding the horses that morning. The smells of bacon and pancakes made his stomach growl.

“Have a seat, I’ll get a plate for you.” Hannah bustled about the kitchen and Warren felt that same sense of pride and admiration he felt before. She had taken to ranch life like she was made for it.

“How are you this morning?” he asked.

She brought his plate and a steaming mug of coffee and smiled down at him. “I’m doing well. And you?”

“Good.” He took a sip of coffee. “Everything is looking good with the cattle today. That’s something to be thankful for.”

She walked back to the stove to get a cup of coffee and paused. She turned back to him, her stomach nervous and her heart fluttering.

“Warren, I have a question.”

He was beginning to see that this was a habit. He liked the fact she asked a question to ask another question, and it made him smile. He sat back in his chair and took a bite of bacon.

“What’s that?”

“I was wondering. Would you teach me how to ride?” She bit her lip then added, “Horses, that is.”

He let out a laugh. “What else would you ride?”

The pink tinge in her cheeks made his smile broaden. “Well, not cows.”

“Oh, good to know,” he said. “And of course. We can start this afternoon.”

“Really?” she said. Her eyes widened in happy surprise.

He cocked his head to the side. Why was she so surprised he would agree to help her? That bothered him more than just a little. He didn’t want her to feel like a stranger in their own home. He wanted her to know that he would provide anything for her as long as she would just ask.

“Of course,” he made sure she was looking at him before he continued. “I’ll do anything for you, Hannah.”

She smiled and her cheeks reddened again. She turned and poured her coffee and sat with him at the table.

They ate in awkward silence and then he stood. His chair scraped along the floorboards. “I’ll come and get you later this afternoon.”

“Thank you, I look forward to it.”

He strode to the door and pulled it open and the fresh fall air was crisp against his skin. He sucked in a deep breath and made his way to the barn to take care of a few tasks he’d put off while they moved the cattle.

Though his hands and body moved to the rhythm of the work, his mind remained on Hannah. Her hesitance to ask him for anything bothered him. Then again, he couldn’t blame her. He wasn’t sure how to show her he cared for her. He had the best intentions, but something would come up or she would be busy and he would feel awkward around her and it was easier to just smile and walk away.

Benjamin walked into the barn and called him. “Need a hand?”

“Sure, just moving some of this hay around up here.”

His youngest brother climbed the ladder like a monkey and popped up at the top in seconds. Though he was slightly shorter, he had the same strong build and dedicated work ethic. It was a Doyle trait.

Hannah fit in because she had that trait too. It was a good quality.

“What’s that look on your face?”

“Huh?” Warren asked. “What look?”

“That love-sick puppy look,” Benjamin said. He laughed and slapped Warren on the arm.

“You go on now,” Warren said as he lifted another bale of hay and tossed it toward the edge of the mow.

“How are you and
Mrs. Doyle
doing?” Benjamin wiggled his eyebrows.

“None of your business.” Warren made his way to the bales he had moved, cut the twine holding them together and tossed clumps of the fragrant hay to the barn floor below with a pitchfork.

“Oh come on,” Benjamin said. “I’m just teasing. But really, I’m envious.”

This caught Warren’s attention and he stopped. “What?”

“I’ve been thinking.” He cleared his throat, partly from the dust and partly to get his thoughts right before he spoke. “It would be nice to have a wife.”

“Aren’t you a little young to be thinking about marriage?” Warren scratched the back of his head as he eyed his brother. He wasn’t sure if he was serious, yet.

“Nah,” Benjamin said. “I can’t think of anything better than to have someone to talk to and spend time with—when you’re not working me to death, that is.”

“Why brother, I think you’ve gone soft,” Warren said. He reached out and ruffled his brother’s hair as Benjamin pushed his arm away.

“Hardly,” Benjamin said. “I just know a good thing when I see it.”

They went back to work but Benjamin’s words replayed in Warren’s mind. Warren knew a good thing too, and he was beginning to see that he needed to make sure Hannah knew what she was to him. She was the best thing in his life.

Hannah paced the floor in the kitchen and wrung a dishtowel in her hands. She was excited to spend more time with Warren, but now she was worried. What if he taught her and that was it? Her mind was racing with other ways she could get him to spend time with her.

“Stop that pacing and come sit down,” Pa said good-naturedly. “You’re making me nervous.”

She smiled and went into the parlor. “You’re right. I am nervous.”

“Don’t be. Warren is a fine teacher and a quick learner himself.”

“I’m not sure there’s much he can learn from me he doesn’t already know.”

“I’m sure there’s plenty for him to learn, dear.” Pa wagged a finger at her.  The gleam in his eyes was encouraging. He knew his son and what Warren needed. She had to trust that his idea was the right thing.

The door opened and Hannah sat up straight. Warren walked in with purpose in every step and a determined look on his face. It wasn’t intimidating, just confident.

“Are you ready?” he asked.

“Yes.” She stood, sending one last look at Pa before turning back to Warren.

“You two have fun now,” Pa said.

“We will,” Warren called back. He held the door open for her and then led the way across the open yard toward the barn. “We’re going to start on old Mae here.”

He gestured toward a dark chestnut horse tied to the fence near the barn. Mae looked friendly enough, but Hannah felt her hands tremble from nervous excitement.

Warren walked her through the steps she’d need to know to bridle then saddle a horse, and then explained the basics of horseback riding.

When he was done he tossed up his hands saying, “I think that’s it.”

Her eyes widened in fear. “That’s it? You’re going to make me ride Mae by myself?”

Warren put his head back and laughed. “Of course not. I just wanted to see how you’d react.”

His eyes settled on her and his gaze softened as he took her in. He stood with one hand on the saddle next to her and the other casually propped on his hip. He was close and her heart beat in response to his intense gaze.

“So you’ll ride with me?” She felt the heat in her cheeks again and prayed he wouldn’t notice.

“Yes,” he said, “We can start out together if you want.”

He climbed up on Mae and then reached down to help her up. She slid into the space behind him and he told her to clasp her arms around his middle.

She slipped her arms around him and locked her hands together. The moment the horse started to move she gripped him more tightly.

“Easy there,” he turned his head back and spoke to her in a voice that sounded like he was being choked. “I’d like to be able to breathe.” He laughed and she knew he was teasing her. She gave his arm a playful slap but wrapped it back around his midsection.

She loosened her hold and grinned. “Sorry.”

They started out with a ride around the yard so she could get used to the gait of the horse. When he thought she had the feeling for the animal, he suggested they go for a short ride. She agreed and he set off in the direction of the river.

Hannah watched the scenery around her. The trees were large and filled with leaves that painted every color in the rainbow. The cool breeze invigorated her and filled her with a sense of belonging. She loved it here on Ruby River Ranch and she never wanted to leave. She didn’t want the ride to end. Warren pulled Mae to a stop at the edge of a river and hopped down. He held his hand out to Hannah and helped her down.

“How was your first ride?”

“Wonderful,” she said.

He reached up and brushed a stray curl of her hair out of her face. She smiled up at him and hoped he could see her feelings written on her face. The flutter of nerves alighted in her stomach. Should she tell him now how she felt? Should she ask if he felt the same way?

He turned toward the river to lead Mae for a drink from the river. Before she realized it he had taken her hand. It was warm and secure and she followed him.

They stood and looked down at the cold current rushing past. She adjusted her hand so that their fingers were intertwined, and she felt secure, as if he was her anchor in the stream of life. There would be rushing rivers, maybe even floods, but they could weather the storms together. Or so she hoped.

“Warren,” she looked up at him, “I have a question.”

He pulled his gaze away from the river and surrounding lands and met hers, a smile forming on his lips at her familiar words.

“And what would that be? Do you want me to teach you how to rope cattle now?”

She laughed saying, “Maybe, but not today.” Her laughter was light and fresh and it made him smile.

“Oh good, I was thinking maybe we could spend some time getting to know one another.” His words surprised her. Did he really mean what he had said?

“Really?”

“Yes, but what was your question?”

She looked down, ashamed that she’d been about to pour out her heart and he had already made plans to get to know her better. She had rushed ahead and now she was stuck.

“Hey,” he used his free hand to gently turn her chin up, “You know you can ask me anything, don't you?”

“I feel silly now.”

“Don’t, Hannah. Just ask.”

She took a steadying breath then blurted out, “I want to know what you think about me.”

He looked surprised and turned to face her. “What do you mean?”

“I don’t know.” She looked away and tried to hide her embarrassment. “I’ve tried to do everything right and to be a good wife but…I hardly know you and I don’t even know if you
want
me to be your wife and—”

Her words were interrupted as his lips met hers, and he pulled her close. His lips were soft and he drew her close with a hand at the back of her waist. She felt safe and secure there in his arms, protected from everything. In his arms she felt wanted and loved.

Warren drew back from their kiss and his eyes searched hers. He wanted her to understand how he felt. He knew he wasn’t good with words and that actions sometimes spoke louder anyway. He hoped she knew how he felt now, but he wouldn’t assume that anymore.

He kept his arms around her and leaned back only far enough to look into her eyes. He relished her closeness and the sweet scent of lavender that always seemed to swirl around her. It was clear to him that his feelings had grown deeper toward her, and he regretted every moment he’d let pass by to tell her.

“Hannah, I’m not very good with words.” He frowned and looked over her head at the mountains in the distance. “I’ve spent a long time on my own and I’ll be honest and say I hadn’t planned on getting married.”

He hated that he saw sadness in her eyes at that truth, but he needed her to see the whole story so she could understand.

“I’ll also admit that I wasn’t sure how you’d adjust to life on the ranch.” He reached up and tucked another stray hair behind her ear. “But you've done better than I ever could have imagined. And through this whole time you’ve been nothing but brave and a hard worker. I don’t deserve a woman like you as my wife.”

“That’s not true.” She rested one hand against his chest by his heart and cupped her other hand against his stubbed cheek. “You’re a good man, Warren Doyle. You take on the responsibility of an entire ranch
and
you love your family well, better than any man I could have wished for. I only hope that we continue to get to know one another better, and I can help you with some of that burden.”

“You already have, Hannah.” He bent down and kissed her again. When he pulled back he met her gaze. “I want you to know that no matter what happens, I will be here for you.”

“And I will be here for you, Warren.”

She wrapped her arms around him and lay her head on his chest as he held her close. The beat of his heart turned into the sound of a fast approaching horse and he broke their embrace. In the distance they saw Lewis riding toward them at full gallop.

“I don’t like the look of this.” Warren felt a wave of uneasiness wash over him at the approach of his brother. His mind instantly went to his father and he gripped Hannah’s hand more tightly.

Lewis’s horse skidded to a stop and he clung to his hat to keep it from flying off. “We’ve got trouble, Warren.”

Warren stepped forward and Hannah moved with him. “What is it? Is it Pa?”

“No, he’s as grouchy as ever,” Lewis wiped his arm across his brow. “It’s the cattle. The herd we just moved. There’s something wrong.”

A sense of dread dropped full-force on Warren. He’d heard of ranchers dealing with cattle disease but he never had that misfortune…yet. He looked down at Hannah and was sad that their time at the river would needed to be cut short.

Before he could say anything, she said, “Let’s go. This is important.”

Warren felt a love for her now. He knew that’s what it was and the feeling was overwhelming. It wasn’t just this one instance, but everything of who Hannah was. Without hesitation or thought to his brother standing there he bent down and kissed her again.

“Oh come on you two,” Lewis said, laughing. “There’ll be time for that later.”

They broke apart and Warren smiled at the deep red hue on his wife’s face. Yes, there would be plenty of time to get to know one another better. They had a lifetime ahead of them.

Hannah kept the coffee on late into the night, anxiously waiting for the brothers to return. She was on her second cup when the door burst open with a rush of cold air. The three brothers stomped their feet to get warmth back into them and peeled off their coats.

Warren came straight to her while the others went upstairs to bed. He took her hands gently in his cold ones. “I'm sorry we were gone so long.”

“It’s fine.” She tried to convey the truth with her eyes. She really did understand. She tried to rub some warmth into her husband’s hands. “How are the cattle?”

“It’s not looking good.” He frowned and looked out the window. “We have several herds spread out over our land, and each has over a hundred head. One of our hired hands found a few dead cattle from the herd we just moved. They had been on the neighbor’s land where the fence was broken and one of the dead cows had his brand on it. We think it brought Texas Fever into our herd.”

“What does that mean?” She wasn’t an expert in cattle diseases, but any kind of fever didn’t sound good.

He sighed and ran a hand through his matted hair. “I means we’ll need to quarantine that herd and pray that the winter eradicates the disease. If not, we could lose a quarter of our stock—maybe more.”

“I’m so sorry, Warren.” She saw the fatigue on his features and lifted her hand to cup his still-cold face. “We’ll face this together.”

He pulled her close, the scent of leather and beeswax encircling her as his arms did.

“We will,” he said, kissing her on the forehead. “I don’t know how I could do this without you by my side. Just a few short weeks ago I was fine on my own, but now I can’t imagine my life without you.” It was in that moment she knew.

“And I’m happy to be here with you. New York City broke me down, but it’s here on Ruby River Ranch that I have found my new life.”

“Life…and love.” His words were a gentle whisper against her lips.

His kiss carried with it the confidence of his love. The storms of life would come, but she knew they would weather them all together.