Love Inspired Historical October 2013 Bundle: A Family for Christmas\The Secret Princess\Taming the Texas Rancher\An Unlikely Union (55 page)

Dishes were passed around the table and plates were filled. Hannah listened as Daniel told his mother and brother that the west fence line had been cut and that several head of cattle had to be gathered up.

“Levi, you and Sam will be mending the rest of the fence while Cole and I corral the new spring calves. Tomorrow we’ll start branding.” Daniel stuffed a slice of ham into his mouth and looked at Hannah.

A frown marred Levi’s face. “Seems I get the fence-mending job again. How many times does that make this month, Daniel?” he asked.

His brother swallowed. “They have to be fixed, Levi. It’s a part of ranching. You know that.”

“Yes, but it’s also your favorite job to give to me,” Levi retorted.

“Would you rather muck out stalls? I’m sure Adam would trade you jobs this afternoon,” Daniel answered around a piece of buttered bread.

Bonnie spoke up. “Boys, we don’t argue at the table and we don’t argue in front of our guest.” She used her eyes to indicate she meant Hannah.

“Hannah’s not a guest, Ma. She’s my fiancée,” Daniel retorted.

Bonnie placed her fork and knife on her plate. She looked Daniel squarely in the eye and said, “Until the ring is on her finger or I dos are said, Daniel Westland, she’s a guest.”

Hannah wanted to melt into the floor. She hated being the center of attention, and right now all eyes had turned to her. What did one say at a time like this? She searched her mind for any etiquette she might have read or been taught in school that would apply to a situation such as this. None came to her rescue.

What she wouldn’t give to be in her room at the schoolhouse, munching on an apple, a hunk of cheese and a slice of bread right now.

Desperation filled her as she silently prayed.
Lord, please help me to get through this meal.

Chapter Twelve

H
annah was thrilled when Daniel pushed his chair back and thanked his mother for a hearty meal. She laid her napkin down and started to rise.

“Not so fast, Miss Young. Around here, everyone helps with chores, and since you ate at our table, you can help with the cleanup.”

Her heart sank.

Daniel growled, “Ma.”

“Don’t you sass me, young man,” Bonnie warned. “You’re the one who pointed out she isn’t a guest here.”

Hannah turned to face him. “It’s all right, Daniel. Your mother is right.”

She could tell by the look on his face that he was still ready to argue with his mother. Hannah tried to reassure him. “Really, I will be perfectly fine cleaning the kitchen. It’s the least I can do after such a fine meal.”

Daniel took her by the hand and pulled her through the kitchen and to the back porch, away from the rest of them. “You do not have to clean the kitchen, Hannah.”

“Look, if it will help your mother come to terms with us eventually getting married, I’ll wash every dish in this house.” Hannah offered him what she hoped was a silly grin and prayed that he couldn’t read on her face the panic she was feeling.

He swept his hand over her cheek and tucked a wayward strand of hair behind her ear. “You really want this to work, don’t you?”

The feel of his rough palm on her face and the deepness of his voice had her heart fluttering. “Of course. All I’m asking for is unconditional love.”

Her words hung between them. Was it really too much to ask? Was she being unreasonable? He nodded, turned and walked away.

Hannah steadied her heart and thoughts. She had a mother to face, and wasn’t sure how she’d fare during the encounter. But true to her word, she would try to help Bonnie Westland come to terms with the idea that her eldest son would someday marry her.

An inner voice taunted,
Then why not marry him now?
It was obvious that they would eventually marry. Hannah pulled her head up. No. She would wait until she felt sure Daniel loved her above all else, even the ranch.

She entered the kitchen to find Opal already at the sink.

“Would you mind getting the other plates for me, Hannah?” she asked, swishing the tea glasses in the soapy water.

Hannah smiled even though she dreaded entering the dining area, where she felt sure Bonnie Westland waited. “Not at all. I’m happy to help.” She walked through the door with her head held high.

The room was empty. It looked as if Bonnie Westland had decided not to help out in the kitchen. Hannah released a sigh of relief and began collecting dirty dishes.

She reentered the kitchen and said, “Here you go, Opal.”

The housekeeper was sitting the cups on the counter to air dry. “Just put them down here.” She indicated the counter to her left.

Hannah did so and then turned to go collect the remainder of the food. “I’ll be right back to start drying,” she said.

“Thank you, Hannah.” Opal dumped the plates into the water. “This job seems to get bigger and bigger.”

Hannah laughed “Well, you do have an extra cup, plate and silverware today.”

The woman joined her in laughter “I do, don’t I?” She waited until Hannah returned, juggling food bowls and platters. “I’m glad you stayed for lunch. I’m sure Bonnie wasn’t expecting that.”

Did Opal enjoy seeing her employer upset over an extra lunch guest?

“You have spunk. Bonnie likes folks with spunk. She’ll warm up to you real fast once she gets the notion out of her head that Daniel isn’t going to marry that Crawford girl.”

Hannah set the food on the sideboard, not sure what to do with it. She picked up a dish towel and began drying glasses and plates. “I hope you are right.”

“I know I’m right,” Opal declared. “Can’t say I blame Daniel for looking outside town for a bride. The girls around here are too immature for grown men. They giggle and try to catch those boys’ eyes every time they go to town. Not that I’m accusing anyone, but I’d say those young ladies are looking for rich husbands. Yep, can’t blame Daniel for placing that ad.” She tsked and handed Hannah another wet plate.

Hannah looked about the spacious kitchen while she dried. It had every modern appliance money could buy. The Westlands probably had more money than the whole town of Granite. Was that why all the local girls wanted to marry the Westland men? And if so, was Opal right about the reason Daniel and Levi had gone outside of their town looking for wives?

She pulled her thoughts from the two men. “Where is Mrs. Westland?” Hannah asked the question that had been silently plaguing her since she’d realized Bonnie wouldn’t be helping with the dishes.

Opal grinned. “She’s headed to her quilting bee this afternoon.”

For a brief moment, Hannah wished she’d been invited to the bee. It would have been fun to meet with other women and sew.

But then again, it was probably for the best that Bonnie hadn’t asked her. The women would have been curious not only about her being a mail-order bride but about her limp. At times like this, Hannah missed her friends. Eliza and Rebecca never asked a lot of questions about her limp, and had accepted her for who she was, not what she looked like or how she walked.

“There. Done!” Opal tossed the dishwater out the back door.

Hannah put the last plate away and then scooped up the broom. “I’ll sweep and then head on back to the school. I really should be working on lesson plans.”

Opal rested a hip on the counter. “When are you starting classes?”

“Monday morning.” She moved about the room, swinging her broom.

Opal’s words took her by surprise. “Then I suppose Bonnie will want to call the monthly ranch meeting before supper.”

That old familiar feeling of dread crept up into Hannah’s stomach. She stopped sweeping and asked, “What is a monthly ranch meeting?”

Opal looked at her as if she’d grown two horns. “A meeting where we all get together and discuss important things that impact everyone living on the ranch.” She said it as if she were explaining to a child why he or she shouldn’t touch a hot stove.

“Oh.” Hannah swept the dirt out the back door and replaced the broom.

“I take it Daniel hasn’t told you about this Sunday?” Opal asked, pulling out a chair at the small table.

“No.” Even as she said it, Hannah knew whatever the housekeeper had to reveal about Sunday wasn’t going to be pleasant for her.

Opal indicated she should sit down. Once Hannah had done so, the older woman settled in also, then began. “Sunday morning we all load up and go to town for worship service. Usually it’s me, my daughter’s family, Bonnie, Daniel and Levi. Now you will be riding with us.” She paused, waiting for a reaction from Hannah.

“That’s lovely. I’m looking forward to attending church on Sunday.” Hannah listened carefully as Opal continued.

“This is the first Sunday of the month, the day we always have the ranch meeting. Bonnie and I will pack a light picnic and we’ll eat it on the way home. Once here, the work begins. We usually have a big barbecue dinner, where we supply the meat. At the end of the meal Bonnie gives out any information that might be important for the families to know.”

“That’s very nice,” Hannah murmured, when Opal paused again.

“Yes, and this Sunday she plans to announce your and Daniel’s engagement, and that you’re the new ranch schoolteacher. She’ll want to know what time the children should arrive and when the parents can expect them to be home.”

Hannah felt her face lose all its color. “She’s going to announce our engagement?”

“I thought that part might bother you a mite.” Opal moved to the stove and pulled a teakettle from the back.

Dizziness enveloped Hannah. She’d agreed to the engagement but hadn’t expected it to be announced officially. What if she changed her mind? What if Daniel did? Would he have to officially break it to the ranch hands on a Sunday evening, as well?

Opal thrust a mug at her. “Here, drink this.”

Hannah’s hands shook. She took a sip of the hot beverage, a delicious mixture of honey, lemon and tea. The warmth from the hot drink helped soothe her shattered nerves. “Thank you.”

“It’s really not that bad. You were planning on marrying the boy, weren’t you?” Opal sipped from her own mug.

How did she answer that? It was one thing to make an arrangement with Daniel that they’d only marry if they fell in love, but explaining it to Opal made her feel childish. “I...”

“You know, I overheard Daniel explaining to his mother how he sent off for you as a mail-order bride. He said there’d been a misunderstanding and that the wedding wasn’t going to happen immediately. Why do you suppose that is?” Her brown eyes bored into Hannah’s.

Hannah straightened in her chair. “I think you already know.”

Opal lowered the cup. “Nope, he wouldn’t tell his mother. But he did say to get JoAnna Crawford out of her mind as future daughter-in-law material.”

Hannah studied the design on her mug. So Daniel had spoken to his mother about her, but not given a reason as to why they weren’t married yet.

She sighed. “This may sound foolish to you, Opal, but the reason I didn’t marry him the moment I stepped off the stage is because I want a man who will love me unconditionally.”

“That is wise.” The older woman stared out the window.

“Do you really think so?”

“Yes, but you should have told the boy before you arrived.”

Hannah heard the disapproval in Opal’s voice. “I did. Only Daniel says he didn’t get my letter, so when I got here he was a little taken by surprise.”

The housekeeper laughed. “I’m sure he was. Like his mother, Daniel likes things done the way he’s planned, and he hates when the plans have been changed. Always has.” She sipped from her cup and then smiled at Hannah. “I think you are just what that boy needs.”

She didn’t want to tell Opal she wasn’t so sure. Daniel sometimes acted warm and caring, but then seemed to pull away. As he’d done outside on the porch. One moment he’d seemed concerned for her, but then when she’d mentioned falling in love, he’d pulled back.

Why couldn’t Daniel love her? Was it because of her limp? Or had he been expecting a stronger woman? One who could get on a horse without using a porch?

Chapter Thirteen

D
aniel paced the barn like a caged lion. Why did his mother have to be so stubborn and demanding? Why couldn’t she just for once accept things the way they were?

“If you keep that up, I’ll have to spread more hay in here just to cover the poor floor.” Jeb sat a few feet away, chewing on the end of a hay straw.

“Jeb, you’ve known Ma a number of years. Why is she acting so rude to Hannah? Doesn’t she realize that the meaner she is to her the harder it will be for me to get Hannah to marry me?”

The old man chuckled. “Have you ever thought that might be her plan?” He pushed himself off the bale of hay and put his floppy hat on his gray head.

Daniel stopped pacing. “Why? What does she have against Hannah? They’ve just met.”

Jeb shook his head. “Think about it, son. If you don’t marry Hannah and you marry JoAnna Crawford, what do you have to gain?” He picked up a pitchfork and began tossing hay into the stall.

Daniel frowned. “More land?”

“Adding the Crawford spread to yours would be very profitable to both your mother and Mr. Crawford.” Jeb paused to lean on the fork handle.

“So that’s it.” Daniel took his hat off and slapped it hard against his thigh. “That woman is not going to meddle in my life.”

Jeb’s throaty laugh filled the barn. “She’s been meddling in your life since the day you were born. What’s going to stop her now?” He returned to his work.

Daniel stared at the old man. Normally Jeb didn’t say more than ten words a day. So why was he being so chatty today? “I will.”

The old hand just shrugged and continued working. Daniel tightened the cinch on Tornado and led him out to the barnyard.

Adam was helping Daniel’s mother up onto the buckboard. She glanced his way and frowned. Determined to ignore her, he mounted the stallion. He always felt better at this height.

Cole rode up beside him. “I hope you don’t mind, but I’m sending young Adam to town with your ma.”

He turned the black toward the west pasture. “Why? She’s fully capable of driving the buckboard.”

“Yes, but I got to thinking about it. What if whoever cut the fences was still hanging about? I’d hate to send our womenfolk off alone.” Cole slumped in the saddle, his hat pulled low, the picture of ease.

Daniel nodded in agreement, noticing the extra rifle attached to the other man’s saddle. He had been so focused on Hannah that he hadn’t considered the bandit who’d cut his fence might mean harm to his family, too. Drat! That woman was already consuming too much of Daniel’s thoughts.

He pulled Tornado to a halt. “Hannah’s at the house, and as soon as she’s finished, I’m sure she’ll be heading to the school. Maybe one of us should stay behind and escort her home, as well.”

A slow grin spread Cole’s lips. “Yeah, I thought of that, also. Levi has agreed to take her back.”

“I’ll take her back,” Daniel growled. He turned the black horse toward the house.

Levi rode out to meet him, a toothy smile on his face. He stood up in the stirrups and called over Daniel’s shoulder to Cole, “Told ya he wouldn’t cotton to me being the one to take her home.”

Daniel shook his head as Cole and Levi rode away, laughing. He turned Tornado toward the barn. Hannah probably wouldn’t ride him, and since his mother had just taken the buckboard, Daniel saw no other way of getting her back to the school other than walking.

“Back already, boss?” Jeb stepped out of a stall toward the back of the barn.

He slipped from the stallion’s back. “Yep. You still in the mood to talk?”

“Depends.”

“On what?” Daniel began to take off the stallion’s saddle.

“You, I reckon.”

He leaned against the horse and looked at the old man. “Have you ever been in love, Jeb?”

“Once.”

“Did she love you?”

“Said she did.” Jeb sat down on a bale of hay and picked up a feed sack and a needle with thread.

Daniel turned his attention to caring for his horse. “How did you make her fall in love with you?” He didn’t want Jeb to see his face, so he stayed behind Tornado.

A snort sounded from Jeb’s direction. “What kind of fool question is that?” he asked.

“The kind I need an answer to. Hannah wants me to fall in love with her, and her with me, but for the life of me I can’t figure out how to make all that happen.” He prayed Jeb would keep their conversation to himself. The last thing he needed was for the men to know that he was asking advice on romance from Jeb.

“Aw, so that’s the reason you didn’t come home married. Me and the boys were wonderin’ about that.” He poked the needle through the fabric.

“I’d just appreciate it if you didn’t share this conversation with the boys.” Daniel placed a feed bag over Tornado’s nose.

“Don’t see no call to tell them your business, boss.” Jeb continued sewing.

“So?”

Jeb looked up from his stitching. “So what?”

“So how do I make her fall in love with me?”

“Aw, well, son, you don’t.” He went back to the sack.

Daniel sighed. “Then what do I do? She won’t marry me until she falls in love with me, and I have to be in love with her.”

“Back in my day, if a man wanted to marry a gal, he asked her pa. Nine times out of ten, they’d be married by supper.” Jeb chuckled.

If only it were that simple. “Well, it doesn’t work like that anymore,” Daniel said, sighing.

Jeb laid his work aside and came to stand beside him. “Son, treat her like a real lady. Give her flowers, buy her small gifts and listen to her when she talks. But if you want her to fall in love with you...” he paused and laid a hand on Daniel’s shoulder “...then be yourself. Don’t try to act like someone you aren’t.”

The old man started to walk out of the barn. “Jeb? One more question.”

He turned around. “All right.”

“What does it feel like to be in love?” Daniel had to know what it was he was looking for in himself before he could confess his love for Hannah.

“Some men say they can’t eat, but I never went off my feed. And some say they kind of feel sick, but I never felt that way, neither.” He stared at the hay at his feet and swirled his boot in it. A faraway expression crossed his face.

Daniel heard himself whisper, “What about you? What happened to you?”

Jeb’s old gray eyes came up to meet his. They were filled with tears and memories of long ago. “I gave up everything to be with my Lilly. On the day I realized I could lose her, my heart ripped. She became my heart, and my life, and I never looked back. I believe that’s true love.” He walked out the barn door.

Daniel realized he didn’t really know the old man.

Jeb had been the first hand his pa hired when they’d moved here. Even then he hardly ever spoke, but had always been ready to listen. When Daniel’s father died, Jeb had been there to guide him on how to run the ranch. The more Daniel learned about ranching, the more the old man had pulled back. Now Jeb was the handyman. He stepped in when needed. It dawned on Daniel that he’d never told the old man what to do. He didn’t need to; Jeb always stayed busy.

Daniel tried to wrap his mind around Jeb’s advice. If he understood correctly, then there were only three things he had to do to make Hannah fall in love with him: take her flowers, buy her small gifts and listen when she talked. He smiled, figuring even he couldn’t mess that up. And with him doing those things, she’d believe he loved her deeply. So both of them would be happy.

After putting Tornado away, Daniel stood at the barn door and waited for Hannah to come outside. He inhaled the various ranch scents of hay, dirt and livestock.

Here was where he wanted to remain. His eyes scanned the house, the yard, the corrals, the chicken coop and the vast pastures that stretched in every direction. He’d worked hard to keep his father’s dream alive.

Everyone called him boss, but Daniel knew who the real boss was. His mother. If he could get Hannah to marry him and they had a baby within the next year, Daniel felt sure the ranch would be his, and then he really would be the boss and owner of the Westland Ranch.

Hannah stepped out of the kitchen door, seemingly unaware that he watched her. Her cheeks were flushed and she appeared to be deep in thought. She’d almost walked passed him when he said the first thing that came to mind. “A penny for your thoughts.”

Her head came up and her eyes shone. “I’m not sure they are worth a penny, Daniel.”

He moved to her side and smiled. “Tell me what they are and I’ll decide the value.” He took her elbow and began strolling in the direction of the schoolhouse.

She pulled her arm from his grasp but continued walking with him. “I was thinking of all the things I need to do to start school on Monday, and I was wondering what the ranch hands are going to say when your mother announces our engagement on Sunday. The thought entered my mind that falling in love may not be a simple thing for either of us, and I was wondering if I should just go to town and find a job and forget this whole business of being a mail-order bride.”

So she was having doubts about their future. Daniel didn’t want her to go back to town. It wasn’t because he loved her, but he did care for her. And what would she do there in town? “I’d say your thoughts are worth more than a penny,” he volunteered, as they continued to walk.

“You think so?” Doubt filled her voice.

He nodded. “Let’s take them one at a time. Your first thought was about the job ahead of you, preparing for school. Haven’t you taught before?” He knew from her letters that she had, but wanted her to see that she would have no trouble preparing for the job ahead.

“You know I have.” Her forehead furrowed in thought.

Daniel stopped under a large oak tree. “Then you will have no trouble getting started on Monday. As for the announcement on Sunday, everyone is going to love you and be pleased that we are planning to marry.” He reached out and ran the back of his hand over her soft cheek. “Opal, Cole and Levi already like you. You have shown them that you are a kind person, Hannah. The others will feel the same.”

Her eyes turned to pools of blue. He cupped her chin in his hand and looked deeply into their depths. In a softer voice he said, “As for it being hard to fall in love, we won’t know until we give it a try. I’m still willing to work on it. Are you?”

She nodded. “I just don’t want you to feel I’m being unreasonable.”

“I won’t lie to you—I am disappointed that we didn’t get married when you arrived. But I also realize that your needs and feelings are important to you. I don’t want you to feel forced into a marriage that you will be unhappy in. So let’s agree to get to know one another and try to make it a happy union.”

Hannah took a step back from him. He missed the feel of her face in his hand and the sense that she was focused totally on him.

“All right. But to be fair, let’s agree that if we don’t have some feelings for each other by the end of six weeks, then I will return to Granite and you can begin a new search for a bride more suitable to your needs.” She looked up at him, sorrow filling her eyes.

Daniel took a deep breath and then exhaled. “I can’t agree to that, Hannah. Six weeks isn’t enough time.”

She started to protest and he stopped her. “No, I’ll only agree to your terms if you make it six months.”

“But Daniel, Levi could marry, and then where will you be? I’ve been giving this a lot of thought. I know you love this ranch and don’t want to lose it.”

She’d thought about him and his love for the ranch? It both surprised and pleased him that she’d considered his feelings. He stepped forward and took both of her hands in his. “You’re right, he might, but I don’t think that he will.”

“But what if he does?” Her hands felt cold in his.

What would he do? Daniel stared into her pretty blue eyes. He’d have to make Hannah Young fall in love with him as fast as possible, and to do so, he’d start by kissing her.