Love Inspired Historical October 2013 Bundle: A Family for Christmas\The Secret Princess\Taming the Texas Rancher\An Unlikely Union (66 page)

Chapter Twenty-Nine

D
aniel looked up at the bright sun, which was straight overhead. They’d worked all morning cleaning up the butchered calf. He’d given most of the meat to the men and taken the rest up to the big house.

He and Cole had tried to track the poachers but had lost their trail along the river. All morning he’d thought of Hannah and knew he owed her an apology for his rude behavior. Tornado pulled at the bit, wanting to go faster. Daniel held him at a steady walk.

What was he going to say to Hannah? Should he confess he loved her? Tell her that he’d been praying over the words she’d said the night before? Explain that it would take time for him to understand his new feelings toward her and God? He leaned against the saddle.

The sound of children’s laugher could be heard as he got closer to the school. Assuming they were at recess, Daniel was shocked when he saw them walking in a straight line, holding a chicken, with some holding two.

Hannah was leading them. She held four hens upside down by their feet, two in each hand. Where had she gotten the hens? He stopped Tornado and watched as they passed, seemingly unaware of him and the horse.

Daniel could hear the hens clucking now. He spotted Opal’s granddaughters in the line. Daisy cuddled a hen close and stroked its head. Mary walked beside a ten-year-old boy who held a hen in each hand, the same way Hannah carried hers.

“Stay in line, children. You older ones make sure the younger pupils are keeping up. Once we get these chickens put away, we’ll start on reading.”

Groans filled the air. “Can’t we have a break, Miss Young?” one of the children asked.

“No, we cannot. All we have done today is chase these poor hens around. We need to get some schoolwork done.” She glanced in his direction, raised one chicken-filled hand and gave a sort of wave.

So she had known he was there. He called to her, “Miss Young, what, may I ask, are you doing?”

Hannah stopped walking. The children stopped, too. “Why, can’t you tell, Mr. Westland? We’re taking your hens home,” she called back.

“I see that. But how did you get them?”

“Someone was gracious enough to leave them in the school for me to find.” Hannah began walking again. “Come along, children.” Her students followed her like baby ducks.

Daniel felt the hair on his arms and neck stand on end. Was she saying someone had broken into the school and left the chickens inside? What if she’d been there?

He fell in line after the last child. When they got to the henhouse, Hannah put her chickens inside and then instructed the children to do the same. She supervised, and assisted them if they needed help. The kids seemed to be having fun as they laughed and watched the chickens reacquaint themselves with their home.

“You’ve all done such a wonderful job, why don’t we go to the house and see if Miss Opal has any cookies we can have?” Daniel suggested.

Though his question drew a loud, excited response from the little ones, Hannah frowned. “I don’t know if Opal made cookies today, Mr. Westland.”

The children all became quiet at this new information. He grinned at them, then answered, “I was just up at the house and the smell of sugar cookies tells me she did.”

Once more the children shouted happily. “My grandma makes the best cookies,” Daisy yelled above the cries and laughter.

Hannah laughed, too. “Well, thank you, Mr. Westland. I do believe we’ll take you up on your kind offer.” She lined the children up again, from youngest to oldest, and marched them toward the ranch house.

Daniel couldn’t help but admire the way she worked with the kids. After they each received a cookie, Hannah took them out to a tall oak tree and had them sit down in the cool grass to enjoy their snack. When everyone seemed content, he pulled Hannah to the side.

“I’m sorry for the way I spoke to you this morning, Hannah. I was worried about the chickens and the men who had taken them, and I came across as bossy. I’m sorry.” He laid a hand on her shoulder and looked deep into her eyes.

She smiled up at him. “Thank you.”

He gently squeezed her shoulder and then dropped his arm, tucking both hands in his back pockets. “The chickens were in the school when you got there?” He hoped he sounded casual.

“Yes, and so was Buttons. I know I put her in her pen this morning, but someone let her into the house with the chickens.” She watched the children eat and play. “But, I can’t figure out why.”

“I can. They probably thought he’d accidently kill one, and then once she tasted the blood she would kill the others.” Daniel felt sick to his stomach at the thought of what Hannah would have found if Buttons had done that.

“Oh, that’s horrible.” She shook her head in disgust.

Daniel nodded. “I agree, but whoever is doing these things isn’t nice.”

Hannah turned her attention back to him. Her blue eyes searched his face. “What else happened?”

How did she know something else had happened? Was he that easy to read? Or did she just have a sixth sense about these things? “Someone killed a calf in the west pasture.”

“Oh, Daniel, I’m so sorry.” Hannah glanced at the children again.

Now was the time to make his suggestion. “Hannah, I think you should move here with Mother, or come live with me.”

Her head snapped back around. “What? Why?”

He pulled his hands from his pockets and pushed his hat back. “I’m worried about you living alone. Those men were in the schoolhouse today.” Daniel wanted to just tell her she didn’t have a choice, but he expected she’d come to that conclusion on her own.

“No. I won’t give them the satisfaction.”

That wasn’t what he expected. Why couldn’t she be sensible and do as he asked? He studied her profile as she watched the children. Her lips had thinned and her jaw was set. In this mood, he doubted he could talk her into moving. Daniel knew when he was whipped. “Please, think about it.”

The children were getting restless. Hannah looked at him. “I’ll think about moving in with your mother. You and I will have to be married before I move in with you.”

“That’s all I can ask.” He knew that Hannah was never going to be alone at the school again. If she didn’t move to his mother’s, then he’d guard her every night and put a guard on her every day. Now that he’d found her, Daniel couldn’t let someone take her from him.

* * *

Hannah spent the rest of the afternoon thinking about Daniel’s request. The thought that someone had been in her living space gave her the willies.

But she also enjoyed her freedom. She and Bonnie had become friends, but Hannah couldn’t forget that Daniel’s mother was the reason she was living in the schoolhouse to start with.

She wasn’t surprised after school when Bonnie rode up on her horse. Moments later, she entered the building.

“Good afternoon, Bonnie. What brings you out here?” Hannah had learned that Daniel’s mother was a straightforward person who appreciated the same characteristic in others.

Bonnie came forward and sat in one of the front desks. “Two reasons. One, to say thank you for bringing the hens home, and two, because I want to invite you to move into the ranch house.”

Hannah asked the question that burned in her mind. “Did Daniel put you up to asking me?”

“No. As soon as I heard what happened this morning I knew it wasn’t safe for you to live alone here. I know I wasn’t the most sociable person when you first came, and I’m sorry about that. I really would like it if you’d move into the house.” Bonnie ran her finger over one of the grooves in the wood of the desk.

Hannah knew how hard it was for this woman to ask, and she was grateful for the invitation. “I’ll think about it, but honestly, I’d rather stay here and face my fears.”

“Do you realize how much alike you and I are?” Bonnie asked, looking her in the eye.

Hannah laughed. “I suppose we are a little.”

“A little, nothing. You know your own mind and don’t back down until you’re good and ready. I’m the same way.” Bonnie stood to leave. “But Hannah, I’ve often regretted not using common sense in some of my decisions. Please don’t make the same mistakes I have.” With those words, she walked out the door.

What had she meant? Did Bonnie think Hannah was acting foolishly by staying? Maybe she was. Was she being prideful in thinking she could take care of herself? All her life she’d done things on her own. Why did this have to be any different?

Memories of being held hostage with her friends Rebecca and Eliza sent a fresh chill down her spine. Even then she’d tried to be brave and strong. Until today, she’d not let those memories frighten her. She’d put on a brave front for her friends and believed that God would keep her safe.

For the first time in a long time, Hannah was scared. She silently prayed,
Lord, I have to be strong. I will continue to lean on You and believe that You will keep me safe.

* * *

Daniel rode into town with a heavy heart. Hannah still refused to move out of the schoolhouse, and Levi hadn’t been home in three days. Daniel’s job today was to find his brother, apologize and see if he would return to the ranch.

Why did everyone in his life have to be so stubborn? His mother’s anger at the rift between him and Levi caused her to stubbornly refuse to talk to him about anything other than the basic workings of the ranch. Levi’s stubbornness kept him in town, when he should be home, working. And Hannah’s determination to prove she could take care of herself had Daniel’s gut in knots.

He’d already stopped at the hotel, looking for Levi, and been told to check at the new boardinghouse on Elm Street. Daniel mounted Tornado, all the while wondering when the boardinghouse had opened.

From the looks of Elm Street, several businesses had popped up over the past week or so. He scanned each sign as he passed it: Bob’s Mercantile. A Sewing Room. The Bakery.

He stopped in front of the next business, a three-story house with a wooden sign on the front lawn that proclaimed Beth’s Boarding House and Restaurant. He recognized the simple scroll design around the name as Levi’s handiwork.

Tornado’s saddle creaked as Daniel stepped out of it. He tied the stallion to the hitching post and walked up to the boardinghouse and restaurant. A bell dinged over his head as he entered.

The fresh smells of baking breads and pastries filled his nostrils. A large wooden counter rested against the back wall, with another of Levi’s signs hanging behind it that read Registration Desk. To his right was a stairway that he assumed led up to the rooms for rent, and to his left a door opened to a dining area filled with tables and chairs.

Daniel walked to the dining room door. A long glass counter rested just inside, with fresh baked cakes, cookies and pies temptingly displayed. His mouth watered and his stomach rumbled.

“I see you’ve found me,” Levi said from behind him.

He turned to look at his brother. “It would appear so. I’m hungry. How about lunch?”

Levi nodded. “Sounds good. Beth makes the best meat loaf in town.”

Daniel followed him to a table beside the window. A young woman hurried over and offered them coffee. She poured it into their cups and asked what they’d like to order.

“We’ll have the meat loaf special, Beth,” Levi answered for the both of them.

Daniel smiled up at her. “I’d like a slice of pie, also.”

“I’ll be back with your food in a few minutes.” She left their table and headed for the kitchen.

“She seems awful young to be running a business,” Daniel observed as he watched her leave.

Levi laughed. “Beth’s a little older than you’d think.”

“Single?”

“Widowed.” He blew on his coffee.

Daniel did the same. “Interested?”

“Nope, just a friend.”

“You make friends fast. I don’t recall her living here.” Daniel sipped at the hot, strong brew.

Levi set his cup down. “You didn’t come to town to talk about Beth Winters. What are you here for, Daniel?”

The moment he’d been dreading had arrived. “I came to apologize and ask you to return to the ranch.” He swallowed hard. “I need you.”

A smile brightened Levi’s face. “Yes, you do.”

“This is serious, Levi. After you left, Cole found a butchered calf in the west pasture. And every day more and more of our cattle are disappearing.” Frustrated, Daniel ran his hand over his neck. “Also, someone broke into the schoolhouse and put the chickens inside. Hannah wasn’t there, but she could have been.”

Levi sobered. “That is serious. I’ve been asking around and we seem to be the only ranch getting hit. Why do you think that is?” He raised an eyebrow, as if to tell Daniel he must have made an enemy.

An older couple entered the restaurant and took a seat several tables over from them. Beth returned with their food and silverware. After serving them she headed to the new customers’ table.

Daniel said a quick prayer over their food before answering. “It would appear to be an inside job. The bandits seem to know where we are at all times.” He picked up his fork and started to eat.