Love Inspired Historical October 2013 Bundle: A Family for Christmas\The Secret Princess\Taming the Texas Rancher\An Unlikely Union (60 page)

Chapter Twenty-One

N
ormally after breakfast, Hannah returned to the schoolhouse and spent the next two hours preparing for the children to arrive. Not today. Today she was going to ride Clover around the ranch. She wanted to check the fence lines and see for herself what the excitement was about.

Not that there would be any excitement, she thought as she mounted Clover. The little mare blew air through her nostrils and seemed to grunt. Hannah wondered if the small animal was getting too old for this type of activity.

Since no one else was about, Hannah decided to see what other horses might be available. She dismounted and walked Clover back inside the barn, returning her to her own stall.

Hannah’s eyes adjusted to the dimness and she began to walk toward the back. A brown head hung over the back stall and she frowned. She’d never noticed the horse before and made her way to that stall.

The pretty brown mare had no markings on her face, but her big brown eyes stared at Hannah. She patted her nose before leaning over the stall and looking at the rest of the horse, which nickered and swung her head, bumping Hannah on the shoulder. She laughed and nuzzled her face against the brown mare’s nose. “How would you like to go for a little ride this morning?”

Another soft nicker was her only answer. Hannah smiled and returned to Clover. She took off the bridle and saddle and headed back to the brown mare. Would Daniel be upset with her for taking this horse instead? She didn’t think so. At least she hoped not.

As she worked, getting the saddle on, Hannah told the mare what a beautiful horse she was. She ran her hands over her legs and belly, mindful of where her own feet were at all times.

The horse quivered and her ears twitched as she listened to Hannah’s soft voice. Once saddled and ready to go, she led the mare out of the barn.

Hannah rubbed her nose once again. “Since I don’t know your name, I think I’ll call you Brownie.” She eased to the side of the horse and got on as quickly as possible.

Brownie sidestepped a couple times and shook her head. Hannah patted her neck and murmured words of comfort. She walked her about the yard for several minutes, letting the horse get used to her weight and voice. Then Hannah did something she’d wanted to do for a long time.

She started the mare off with a gallop and then let Brownie have her head. With the wind whipping through her hair, they raced across the pasture and into the woods.

Hannah’s youthful days of riding came back to her. She felt free again and happy. Memories of racing her horse through the woods and jumping logs and streams came flooding back to her.

With her knees, she directed the mare, riding low in the saddle. The thrill and feelings of freedom rushed up in her stomach and placed a big smile on her face. This was the life she loved; this was the life Hannah wanted.

They shot out of the wooded area and into another pasture. Birds flew for cover and Hannah laughed. She reached forward and patted Brownie’s neck again. They made a good team.

The yell came from her left. “Woo! Woo!”

Hannah turned her head and saw the black stallion bearing down on them. She gently began pulling back on Brownie’s reins. As the horse slowed, she sat up straighter in the saddle.

“What do you think you are doing?” Daniel demanded, coming alongside her.

“Riding.” Hannah beamed at him.

“On this horse?” he exclaimed.

Hannah patted Brownie’s shoulder. “What’s wrong with this horse?” she asked.

Daniel frowned. “Well, up until today no one could ride her.” His voice took on a note of awe. “What did you do to her?”

“I talked to her, stroked her and asked nicely if she’d like to go for a ride.” Hannah laughed at the expression on his face. “Seriously, I didn’t do anything unusual, but I do like her. What’s her name?”

He pushed his hat back and stared at the horse. “She doesn’t have one. I was planning on selling her.”

Hannah’s heart sank. She liked this horse. They seemed to have connected. “Oh. I didn’t know.” Brownie stomped and pawed at the ground.

Daniel shook his head. “You like her, don’t you?”

She nodded. “Do you already have a buyer for her?” Hannah picked up the brown strands of mane and ran them through her fingers.

He turned Tornado around. “Yes, but I don’t think I’ll sell her, after all. It seems she has found someone who can ride her.”

Daniel looked over his shoulder at her. His smile melted a small place in Hannah’s heart.

“You mean I can keep her?” she asked, turning Brownie around to ride beside Daniel.

He nodded. “I think I’ll ask Levi to build a lean-to behind the schoolhouse. If you want her, she will be your responsibility from now on.”

Hannah laughed again. “Thank you, Daniel. I love her.” She patted the horse and was rewarded with a soft neigh. The horse tugged at the reins. Hannah gave her her head and a small kick. “I’ll race you back to the barn!” she called over her shoulder, and they took off running.

* * *

Daniel followed. He held Tornado back, knowing the black stallion could easily overtake them. Seeing Hannah and the little mare racing across the pasture earlier had just about given him heart failure. He’d thought the animal was out of control, but then saw Hannah handle her with grace and style.

The woman never ceased to amaze him. He’d forgotten to ask what she was doing out on the range this morning, but guessed at this point it didn’t matter.

Her black hair whipped out behind her and she turned in the saddle to see where he was. She laughed again, merrily, and the little mare seemed to pick up speed. Today Hannah wore a beige blouse with a tan riding skirt. Her blue eyes had flashed joyfully when he’d said she could have the mare.

How was it that the horse had taken to Hannah? Ben Wilder, the ranch’s horse trainer, had been trying to break her for months. It seemed Hannah had successfully mounted and ridden the horse within minutes of meeting her.

Once more Daniel couldn’t help but admire his mail-order bride. It amazed him that Ben had brought the mare in from the training barn a couple nights before and suggested Daniel sell her to Mr. Johnson, because she couldn’t be broken for riding but Mr. Johnson needed a broodmare. When Daniel had agreed, Ben made the arrangements. Now Hannah was riding the horse as if they’d been together for years.

He shook his head. Thankfully, Mr. Johnson was a neighbor. Daniel decided he’d ride over to the Johnson place and tell him personally that he’d changed his mind. He’d sold a couple of horses to the man before, with Ben’s assistance, and knew his neighbor would understand.

Hannah and her horse were farther away now; Daniel grinned and gave Tornado his head. He felt the stallion’s muscles bunch up under him and braced for the jolt of speed. Horse and rider passed Hannah and the little mare just seconds before entering the barnyard.

The dirt flew about them as the horses came to a stop. Hannah jumped from her mare, laughing. “You had me worried there for a moment. I thought you were going to try to be gentlemanly and let me win.”

“Me, gentlemanly? Never!” He laughed, too, as he dismounted. “You are a very good rider, Hannah.”

She led the mare into the barn. “You sound surprised.”

“I am, a little.” Daniel helped her take the saddle off. “Would you like to go out to the canyons with me after the kids get out of school?”

Hannah smiled. “I’d love to.”

* * *

Daniel found himself watching the clock for the rest of the day. He’d enjoyed riding with Hannah that morning and wanted to spend more time with her. He told himself it was because Levi had mailed off his letter to his future bride, so his own time was running out. Daniel had to make Hannah Young fall in love with him.

When he arrived at the school, she was waving goodbye to her last student. Hannah smiled in his direction and waved again, this time at him.

Daniel nudged Tornado on toward the schoolhouse. He held a lead rope and tugged it to get the little mare to follow. Hannah’s horse snorted but did as he bade.

A few minutes later, Hannah returned and shut the door behind her. She came down the steps with a smile on her pretty face. “Hi, Daniel. I didn’t think school would ever get out. I’ve been looking forward to seeing the canyons all afternoon.”

He noticed she’d changed from her dress to the beige top and tan riding skirt she’d been wearing that morning. “Well, I hope you didn’t get your hopes up too high. They are just canyons.” Daniel handed her the reins.

“Hey, Brownie, did you miss me?” Hannah nuzzled the horse’s nose with her face. “They are part of the Westland Ranch. So I’m sure they are beautiful.” She pulled herself into the saddle.

He liked that she thought his ranch was beautiful and admitted to himself that the canyons were a favorite spot of his. As a kid he had camped there and pretended the small valley was his own.

Daniel and Tornado took the lead. After they crossed the stream behind the schoolhouse, Hannah pulled up beside him. “It is beautiful on this side.”

The soft fragrance of honeysuckle once again greeted Daniel’s nose. He’d begun to associate the scent with Hannah. Did she have a perfume that smelled of honeysuckle? Or was that her innate scent?

His gaze drank in her natural beauty. Hannah’s skin was flawless. Her hair shone in the sunlight and her eyes sparkled with excitement. “Yes, it is,” he stated, not thinking of the scenery around them but of her.

“What was it like growing up here?” she asked.

Daniel grinned. “You mean when we weren’t working?”

She gave a peal of laughter. “Well, yes. I’m sure as a kid you didn’t think the work was much fun at all. But I’m sure it wasn’t always just work.” She pushed a strand of black hair off her forehead and grinned.

“You’re right. We did have free time. When we first moved here, Levi and I explored every inch of this land. I fell in love with it. On this ranch I feel free and close to God. I’m my own man here, everything is mine and I don’t have to answer to anyone but God. Levi enjoyed it, but I think even then his heart was elsewhere.” Daniel bent to avoid a low-hanging limb.

“What do you mean?”

“Levi likes building things, always has. He started with small traps. He’s caught rabbits, squirrels, quail and a few times he caught skunks that were hanging around the chicken house. Later, he began to build bigger things. Pa was happy to let Levi oversee the construction of the barns and other outbuildings. The only thing I’ve ever seen him balk at is building fences.” Daniel chuckled and added, “He hates that.”

Hannah laughed with him. “I bet I can guess what his punishments were when he misbehaved.”

Daniel nodded. What was it about Hannah’s laugh that caused his heart to skip a beat? He decided not to ponder the question for too long. There were some things that were best left alone. “That and a trip to the woodshed.”

They cleared the tree line and he could see the canyon in the distance. With his boot heels, Daniel urged Tornado to go a little faster. “It’s not too far now.”

He led the way across a small meadow and up a series of slopes. The canyon cut between some small hills. Green treetops and bushes concealed it from view.

Daniel smiled when he heard the expected gasp that sprang from Hannah’s lips when they topped the ridge above the lush valley. His eyes drank in her beauty as excitement and wonder danced across her delicate features.

“Oh, Daniel. It’s beautiful.”

He had to agree with her. The small waterfall that fell from the side of the wall into a pool below fed a stream that ran through the gorge. Green grass, trees and flowers added to the beauty and wonderment of the canyon floor. It was one of his favorite places, and he’d known Hannah would love it, too.

Tornado picked his way down the small trail that led into the chasm. Brownie followed close behind. There were several animal trails like this one that entered the valley, and Daniel knew every one. As a teenager, he had spent the night here many times.

He knew that each morning the stream drew deer, foxes, quail and other wildlife to it. In the evening, the same animals would return. Often in the middle of the night he heard raccoons washing their food in the water.

At the moment, birds and butterflies flittered about. Wildflowers swayed in the breeze and bees buzzed close by. He’d always imagined this was what heaven would look like.

Hannah slipped off Brownie’s back. Her rich blue eyes drank in her surroundings. “This place is beautiful. I’m surprised you didn’t build your house here.” She walked to the stream and knelt down. A fish jumped a few feet away, causing her to laugh.

Daniel enjoyed the sound and walked over to join her. “I thought about it, but in the winter it’s not as beautiful and it’s harder to get out.” He knew this to be a fact, but didn’t want to tell her he’d gotten snowed in one night while camping. It had been the coldest three days of his life.

As if she understood, Hannah nodded. “I can imagine. I’d hate to get snowed in down here.” She looked around her. “But if you did, it looks like there are some small caves in the walls to shelter in.”

Her observation surprised him. “Not many people noticed those caves.”