Love Inspired Historical October 2013 Bundle: A Family for Christmas\The Secret Princess\Taming the Texas Rancher\An Unlikely Union (48 page)

“Let’s get a pot of tea in front of you and I’ll tell you everything,” Levi answered.

Hannah nodded. A sick quiver churned her already unsettled stomach. She prayed it was simply because she hadn’t eaten since the early hours of the morning, but knew it was her normal reaction to forthcoming bad news.

Daniel growled between gritted teeth. “Don’t you think I should be the one to tell her?”

They walked toward a large building with the name The Eating House painted over the door. The fragrance of fresh bread drifted from an open window, which sported red-and-white curtains. Hannah’s stomach growled.

Levi followed them and chuckled. “You should, but I didn’t think you would.”

Daniel ignored his brother. He released her arm and yanked the door to the restaurant open. His green eyes blazed in Levi’s direction.

Hannah entered in front of the men. The rich fragrances of coffee and roasted meat filled her nostrils, but she ignored them. Her mind circled the question: What secret was Daniel Westland withholding from her?

Once more he took her arm, and began to direct her to the back of the room. They passed wooden tables and chairs. Salt and pepper shakers were the only objects on the tables. She was happy to see that the tabletops looked clean.

Why wouldn’t Daniel tell her? What had he been keeping from her in his letters? She’d thought him an honest and hardworking man. The letters had hinted at long hours and a busy life. Hannah had been looking forward to working by his side.

Now dread caused her hands to shake. Daniel stopped at the last table and held out a chair for her. She laid the flowers down, slid into her seat and then clutched her hands together in her lap.

What did she really know of the Westlands? Had she allowed her romantic thoughts to put her in a mess of hot water? A new knot developed in the pit of her stomach as Hannah realized her friend Eliza might have been right. Becoming a mail-order bride might have been a bad idea.

Chapter Two

D
aniel noticed Hannah’s limp for the first time as he guided her to the back of the room. The sweet scent of honeysuckle drifted from her as he pulled out a chair and waited until she was seated before gently pushing it forward. Hannah Young was not what he’d expected. He knew from her letters that she was a schoolteacher, but he hadn’t expected her to be a stubborn woman or to have a limp. Maybe he should put her back on the stagecoach and send her home to New Mexico. Ranch life was too hard on a healthy person, let alone someone with a disability. He wondered if it caused her pain, and realized that, come winter, she might suffer in her joints.

Levi hurried around the table and sat with his back to the wall, opposite Hannah. His knowing grin forced Daniel to reconsider his earlier thought. If he sent Hannah home, then he’d have to start his hunt for a bride all over again, giving Levi time to marry and have the first child.

Daniel thought about the conversation they’d had earlier in the week. He regretted taunting his brother and telling him he could always work on the ranch once he won it. The realization that Levi could still win and that the tables could easily be turned, and he’d be the one staying on and working for his brother, caused Daniel to frown. Would he be able to do such a thing?

The owner of The Eating House, Bertha Steward, hurried to their table. “Well, I declare. Daniel and Levi Westland, and who is this lovely young woman?”

Daniel made the introductions. “Mrs. Steward, this is Miss Hannah Young.”

Bertha handed each of them a menu. “Nice to meet you, Miss Young.” She wiped her hand on a flour-covered apron, and then extended it for Hannah to shake.

“Please, call me Hannah.” She took Bertha’s hand and smiled. “I’m not a big fan of formality.”

The older woman laughed. “I like her, boys.” Then she turned her attention back to Hannah. “You must call me Bertha. What would you like to drink?”

Hannah laid the menu to the side. “I’d like a cup of hot tea, if it’s not too much trouble.”

“No trouble at all. Boys?” Bertha tucked a graying strand of light brown hair behind her ear.

Daniel felt a grin ease onto his face. All his life Bertha had called him a boy. Even though he was now thirty-three, she still saw him as the six-year-old who used to beg her for cookies. “Coffee, black, please.”

“Levi?”

“I’ll have the same as Daniel.”

“I’ll be right back.” Bertha hurried away to fill their drink orders.

Hannah studied the list of foods. “If everyone is as nice as her, I’m going to like it here.” She lowered the menu and grinned at Daniel.

He noticed the paper menu shook slightly. Was Hannah Young nervous? Scared?

“They are.” Levi laid his menu down and grinned across at him. “Well, are you going to tell her? Or shall I?”

The teasing in his brother’s eyes irritated Daniel. “Don’t you have someplace else to be?” He hoped his brother understood he wanted him to leave, without him actually coming out and saying it in front of Hannah.

Levi’s dimples winked. “No. Since I haven’t eaten today, I’ll stay here and have lunch with you two.” He smiled at Hannah and sat up straighter in his chair.

Daniel gave him his most irritated look. There were times when he wanted to strangle his little brother, and one of them was now.

Bertha arrived with the drinks and took their orders of roast beef stew and fresh bread. Daniel was aware of Hannah’s gaze upon his face. He felt heat enter his neck and cheeks.

“I’ll have your food right out.” Bertha gave them all a big, toothy smile, took the menus and headed back toward the kitchen.

Daniel gulped his coffee, scorching his tongue in the process. He sputtered and grabbed for his napkin. More heat filled his face and neck. Could this day get any worse?

“Since my big brother seems to be having a hard time getting the words out, I’ll explain why we both need brides.” Levi picked up Hannah’s hand and held it in his. He made a show of looking deeply into her eyes.

Daniel made a mental note to throttle his baby brother when they got back to the ranch. “I—”

Before he could say anything more, Levi interrupted. “Back in December, our mother made a declaration that whichever son got married and had the first grandchild would inherit our family ranch.” His solemn gaze met Daniel’s, the teasing light no longer there.

Hannah gasped and pulled her hand from Levi’s grasp. Her eyes grew large and her breathing became rapid. Was she going to have a spell right there?

Daniel could only imagine what was going through her mind. Her green eyes screamed shock and disbelief. He’d planned on telling her once they were married and settled comfortably in his new house. Why did his mother’s words have to sound so cold when spoken out loud?

His bride-to-be cleared her throat before taking a delicate sip of her tea. She lowered the cup. “I see.”

Did she really? Daniel didn’t think so. The Westland Ranch should rightfully be his. He was the oldest, worked the hardest and he’d poured his blood, sweat and tears into the land. Daniel doubted any woman could understand.

Hannah turned her gaze to Levi. “In your letters to Miss Summer, did you tell her why you wanted to get married?”

He nodded his head, his gaze focused on his coffee cup. Daniel could almost hear his brother thinking that he shouldn’t have written that part of his letter. If he hadn’t, Millicent Summers might have arrived, too.

Hannah cleared her throat again, drawing his attention from his brother. “So why didn’t you tell me?” Her soft voice held a sharp edge.

Daniel captured her gaze with his and sighed. “Would you have come?” He didn’t think so, and in this instance supposed he hadn’t been truthful with Hannah. He sent a silent prayer heavenward asking forgiveness.

His not being honest and her stubbornness would probably cause him to lose his ranch.
Lord, please help Miss Young and me work through this. I don’t want to lose my ranch.

* * *

Had she mistaken God’s gentle nudge to answer Daniel Westland’s ad? Hannah studied his handsome features. Strong jaw line, firm chin and the prettiest green eyes she’d ever seen. All that aside, Hannah had to ask herself, would she have still come had she known his real reason for taking a wife?

Truth be told, she probably wouldn’t have. Getting married was one thing, but expecting a child immediately afterward was another, unless they were in love. And they were not. It was bad enough when her fiancé had left her at the altar. What would have happened had they gotten married, she came up with child and then he’d decided he didn’t love her and left?

Hannah had thought she was doing God’s will when she’d answered Daniel’s ad. Now she had to wonder about that, as well. If she had known why he was looking for a bride, and it had still been God’s will for her to come, Hannah knew she would have obeyed the voice of her Lord.

Heat filled her face as she realized that a number of minutes had passed since his question. She raised her chin and answered, “I would like to think that if God had deemed it so, I would have.”

Bertha chose that moment to make her way to their table. She balanced three plates of food, a small basket of bread, silverware and a pot of tea on the large tray she carried.

She set the tray on the empty table next to theirs and then skillfully positioned everything before them. The rich aroma of the stew floated to Hannah as Bertha worked. When she had everything where it should be, she grinned. “Will there be anything else?” she asked.

“I think that about does it. This smells wonderful, Bertha. Thank you,” Levi answered for them all.

Daniel nodded his thanks as well, but kept his eyes trained on Hannah. “Just holler if you need anything,” Bertha replied, leaving to greet a couple who’d entered the restaurant.

After saying a quick prayer of grace over their meal, Daniel continued their conversation. “Now you can see why we have to get married today.” He picked up his spoon as if to say the matter was closed.

“No, I don’t.” He started to protest and Hannah raised her hand to stop him. She struggled to keep her voice strong and even. “I will not get married without being courted or without love. Your mother said you have to get married and have a child. I never agreed to her terms, even if you did.” She picked up a piece of bread and tore it in two.

Hannah focused on the bread. What if he said, “Fine, I’ll order a new bride who will do what I tell her to”? Would Levi be willing to court her, as he’d declared earlier? Hannah instantly rejected that thought. She refused to come between brothers, especially since, from what she could gather so far, their mother had already placed one invisible barrier between them. Hannah wouldn’t do the same.

The desire to get up and walk out pulled at her. She fought the need to run. But where would she go? If only she could return to Cottonwood Springs.... But even as the thought teased her, Hannah knew she couldn’t.

The people of Cottonwood Springs thought she’d tried to have a romantic relationship with one of their local teens, so they’d stripped her of her job, and most of the local gossips had lost all respect for her. Everyone seemed to have turned against her except her two best friends, Rebecca Billings and Eliza Kelly.

No, she couldn’t return there. Self-doubt began to plague her. Was it foolish to hold out for love? Should she up and marry Daniel Westland just to have a roof over her head?

She thought about her limp and all the years she’d been teased, ignored or pitied because of it. Hannah wanted to prove to Daniel that she’d make a good wife. That she could work on the ranch and not be a hindrance to her husband. She wanted him to love her, not just feel sorry for her.

Hannah wanted love, she wanted security and she wanted respect from her husband, not pity. To have those things, she felt that she had to insist on courtship and the words “I love you” said before they said their vows. With that thought in mind, she squared her shoulders and lifted her head.

Her gaze clashed with that of Daniel, who seemed to have been studying her. Hannah lifted her chin even as despair ripped through her heart, taking her breath away. Did Daniel realize how much power he held over her at this moment? She prayed with all her might that he did not.

Chapter Three

H
annah still couldn’t believe that Daniel had simply nodded and begun to eat his meal after she’d told him that she hadn’t agreed to his mother’s contest. Shock must have shown on her face, for Levi had grinned and winked at her. Then he, too, had turned his attention to the food in front of him.

When they’d left town in Daniel’s buckboard wagon, Levi had followed on a white stallion. Every so often Hannah would hear the animal snort and Levi reassure him with gentle words. She wondered what had happened to Millicent Summer. Had the other woman gotten cold feet? Or would she show up in a couple days? If she did arrive, would that give Levi an advantage over Daniel’s chances of winning the ranch?

“Oh, it’s beautiful out here,” Hannah said, bouncing along on the seat of the supply wagon. Red, blue, yellow and purple wildflowers dotted the deep green, grassy pastures. Cedars, elms and other short, bushy trees and shrubs peppered the landscape.

“Are we on Westland land now?” She gripped the bench she was sitting on tighter.

Daniel nodded. He’d been quiet the whole trip. Hannah wasn’t sure if that was his normal nature or if he was punishing her for not marrying him immediately.

Levi brought his horse alongside the wagon. “We like it. Pa worked hard to settle this land and build the house and barn.”

She noticed that he looked over her head at Daniel. What was Levi thinking? Since she’d come along, did that mean he’d lost the contest their mother had set into motion? Heat filled her face as Hannah remembered the rules of the game. The first one to get married
and
have a grandchild would inherit the ranch.

If it all relied on her having a child, then Levi was still in the contest. She’d not marry without love and would never consider having a child without marriage first. To redirect her thoughts, Hannah asked, “How long ago was that?”

Levi’s horse tossed his head. He patted the beast’s neck and then answered, “About twenty years ago now. I was only ten when we settled here. Daniel was thirteen, so he can tell you more about how life was when we first moved to Texas.” His gaze shifted from her to Daniel, to a house that stood to their right in the distance and then back to her. “I think I’ll ride on ahead. See you in a little while.” With those words, Levi nudged his horse onto a dirt road and into a trot.

They continued on in silence. Once more, Hannah wondered if Daniel was a quiet man by nature. If so, he and Levi seemed to be complete opposites.

For a brief moment their eyes met. Tension crackled in the air between them. She jerked hers from his and looked at what she now knew was the Westland Ranch.
Lord, please help us,
Hannah silently prayed.

“I hope you will like it here, Miss Young.” His low voice was like an answer to her prayer.

Hannah slowly returned her gaze to him. Daniel’s lips twitched as if he’d thought about smiling but at the last minute changed his mind. He faced forward once more.

This was more difficult than she’d thought it would be. “I’m sure I will like it just fine.” Hannah straightened her skirt and focused on the pretty scenery.

Sturdy oak and cedar trees towered above her on both sides of the driveway that led to the house. The wind filtered through the tall grass, giving her the illusion she was riding in a sea of green. Beauty abounded all about her. If only things were different between her and Daniel, she’d enjoy her surroundings more.

Hannah took a deep breath and then blurted, “Would you stop the wagon for just a moment?” Her hands began to tremble.

Daniel pulled back on the reins and turned to face her. His green eyes searched hers.

To halt the shaking of her hands, Hannah clasped them together on her lap. “When I answered your letters, I thought we had an understanding of what we both wanted. You wanted a wife and I wanted to be a wife, but I wanted us to be in love before we wed.”

He nodded. “Go on.”

“But since you didn’t get the letter explaining about the courtship, and didn’t understand the terms of the agreement, I feel as if we are total strangers. Is it possible to start over?” Hannah held her breath. She hated confrontations like this. She released the pent-up air in a gush of words. “Or should I simply ask you to turn the wagon around and take me back to town?”

There, the question was out. Now Daniel Westland could decide if he wanted to court her, and he could do it on his own terms. Although giving him an escape put her in a bad situation. She had no idea what she was going to do once they returned to town.

He surprised her by asking, “Why would you want to go back to town? I thought we had an agreement.” His gaze continued to study her face.

Hannah wondered if he really didn’t understand. “I know you aren’t happy that I want to wait to get married. And since you didn’t get the letter, I don’t want you brooding and blaming me because things haven’t worked out the way you planned. So I was thinking, maybe it would be better if I returned to Granite.” She swallowed hard to ease the lump in her throat.

She couldn’t hold his gaze one moment longer, so she shifted and looked straight ahead, to the two-story white house with a wraparound porch. Movement to the right caught her attention and she watched as Levi dismounted from his horse beside a red barn. Hannah could see a vegetable garden on the left side of the house; small green shoots were poking through the rich soil.

So this was the Westland Ranch. She’d waited weeks for this glimpse of a Texas ranch. Her heart gave a little lurch at the thought that at any moment, Daniel was going to turn the wagon around and take her away from the place she’d planned on making her future home.

A heavy sigh drew her gaze back to him. “I’m sorry, Hannah. I haven’t made you feel welcome. To be honest, I really don’t know how to act now. When we were going to be wed, I figured we’d work through the details of married life, but now...” He rubbed the knuckles of his right hand with his left palm and sighed again. “I just don’t know what to do or how to do it. I’m sorry. I haven’t been very friendly.”

Hannah felt hope swell in her chest. “Is there a chance we can start over?” She captured her bottom lip between her teeth and waited.

His green eyes searched hers. “That’s just it—I don’t feel as if we’ve started anything.” He looked toward the house. “I’m a man who thought he had a plan, but now that’s changed.”

“I see.” The words caught in her throat. Hannah licked her lips and looked toward the ranch house in turn.

A harsh laugh tore from him. “No, you don’t. If Levi marries before me, he’ll get the ranch.” Daniel took one of her hands in his and tugged on it to get her attention. When she looked at him, he continued, “I’ve worked hard all my life on this spread. My blood, sweat and tears are in the soil. Hannah, I can’t let Levi have it.”

She raised her chin and wet her lips with the tip of her tongue. He was asking her to give up her dream of being respected and loved because he wanted a piece of dirt. “And I can’t marry you right now, Daniel.”

He dropped her hand. “Because you want love?”

“Yes. I want to fall in love. I want to be the center of my husband’s world. I won’t settle for less.” Having love jerked from her before had hurt her too deeply to take the chance it would happen again. Tears filled her eyes. She couldn’t bring herself to finish that thought with,
and I want you to forget I have a handicap. I want to be treated like a normal human being.

Hannah sighed. Where was she going to go? It was obvious she wouldn’t be staying here. Daniel wanted only the land—he didn’t really want a wife.

“We have time, Miss Young. Levi’s mail-order bride didn’t arrive today. Until she does, I am willing to court you. I can’t promise you love, but maybe we can become friends.” He rubbed his chin. His five o’clock shadow scratched against the calluses on his hand. “I’ve heard that friends have been known to fall in love and marry. Who’s to say it won’t happen with us?”

Hannah mulled his words over. She needed time. If Daniel was willing to court her, she’d use the borrowed time to pray and decide what to do about her future.

* * *

Daniel watched her face closely. Did she realize her thoughts flittered across her delicate features like a butterfly flutters from flower to flower? Even before she nodded her consent, he knew she’d agree.

He also knew it was a stretch, but maybe he could make her fall in love with him and he’d still win his ranch. He offered her a grin. “Good. Are you ready to go meet the rest of my family?”

She ran a trembling hand over her hair and readjusted her hat. Hannah turned to look at the house. “I believe so.”

Reaching across to her clasped hands, Daniel gave them a gentle squeeze. “You will do fine. My mother is going to love you.”

As for him falling in love with her, he had no intentions of doing that with anyone. With Hannah having a limp, like his sister, he couldn’t allow her to enter his heart. He’d made the decision to take care of Hannah, and keep her off the ranch and out of harm’s way.

But as for loving her...

Daniel didn’t think he could lose another person he loved to ranch life. His sister, Gracie Joy, had been ten when she’d been killed. He tried not to relive that night, but the memories started flooding his mind and he couldn’t stop them.

Gracie Joy had loved the ranch and wanted a horse of her own. Because she’d had one leg shorter than the other since birth, their mother had insisted they get her a Shetland pony instead of a full-size mare. He’d tried to explain that Shetland ponies were often mean-spirited and had no sense of personal space, but his mother hadn’t listened.

The morning they’d gone to get the little Shetland, Gracie Joy had been thrilled, and rode with Daniel over to the Carlsons’ ranch to get him. She’d listened carefully how to care for the little horse, and had named him Lightning because of a white blaze that ran down his nose in a zigzag pattern. Mr. Carlson had laughed, and then explained that Lightning was afraid of storms.

After a week, Daniel began to doubt his own judgment of the pony. Lightning and Gracie Joy took to each other like kittens take to fresh milk.

And then it happened.

A storm blew in from the west. In his rush to get the newborn calves in out of the wet weather, Daniel and Levi had hurried to the pastures to gather them. Gracie Joy remembered that Mr. Carlson said Lightening was afraid of storms, and she’d sneaked out to the barn.

When Daniel and Levi returned, they’d found their little sister’s broken body inside Lightning’s stall. The doctor said it looked as if the little horse had kicked her in the head and then run over her chest in his hurry to get out of the barn. He said Gracie Joy probably never even felt the impact.

Daniel sighed. If he had been there, then Gracie Joy wouldn’t have gone to the stables. If he’d refused to get the Shetland as he’d first planned, she would still be alive.

A soft voice pulled him from the nightmare of memories. “Daniel, are you all right?”

He looked into Hannah Young’s heart-shaped face. Soft blue eyes studied him with concern. Daniel cleared his throat. “I’m fine.”

He released her hands and focused on guiding the horse to the house. If he lost his heart to Hannah, and she died, too, Daniel was sure he’d not survive. In desperation, he turned to the Lord.
Father, I don’t know why You have allowed this woman to enter my life, but I will do my best to make her happy and keep her safe. But please don’t ask me to love her.