The Wrangler's Mail Order Bride (6 page)

A
fitful night’s
sleep had resulted in Clara feeling anxious all morning, and when the time came for them to go to the ranch, she’d almost changed her mind and stayed back.

But there was something about Hank—something about that house, that family—that drew her to it. Suzanne had been right. She did like Hank and wanted to know more about him. The only way to do that would be to spend time with him, so she got in the buggy behind Suzanne and they headed toward the ranch, the twins sitting between them.

Beau Archer had gone into Tucson to see his attorney, Rosemary informed them when they arrived at Archer Ranch, and Clara breathed a sigh of relief.

“Hank’s at the barn and said for you to go on down when you got here,” she said as she eyed Clara warily.

Clara had made it a point to smile and be as unthreatening as she could, but it wasn’t working so far.

Suzanne raised her eyebrows at Clara and nodded toward the door, grabbing the twins’ hands. “Thank you, Rosemary. We’ll just head that way,”

“Goodness, what did I do to her?” Clara asked as she shut the door behind her. “You’d think I’d stolen her boyfriend…oh. They don’t want to lose him.”

“They sure do look up to their big brother. That may be a part of it, if they think you’re taking him away. I guess that’s not too unusual.”

Suzanne laughed as the twins broke away from her, running at full speed as they spotted Hank down by the barn.

“Be careful, girls. I’ll be right there.” Suzanne looped her arm through Clara’s and tugged at her bonnet. “This should be interesting. The last time, I think Hank was exhausted after his experience with them. Maybe this time will be a little less…frantic.”

“Frantic?” Clara tugged at her own bonnet, wondering if her unruly, red hair was behaving and staying tucked underneath.

“Well, you know the girls are lively, and they really kept him on his toes. I must say, though, he was great with them. He made sure they were safe and followed his directions. Just watch and see what you think.”

Hank had each girl by the hand and walked through the barn, horses on each side of him in their stalls. Clara stopped for a moment, listening as each horse gave a soft neigh as he passed. She shook her head, thinking of the horses in Chicago and how she’d heard the same from them.

“Uncle Hank, I want to ride this horse,” Lucy said, breaking away and trying to reach the nose of a very large, brown horse who intently watched Hank’s movements.

Hank picked her up so she could stroke the horse’s nose and said, “Lucy, this is Tracker. He’s bigger than ten of you put together. He’s very nice, but I think we need to find somebody a little smaller.”

“Here’s one smaller,” Lucy said as he put her down, sending her running to the opposite of the barn.

Lily stood in the middle of the barn, looking from one row of stalls to the other. “Uncle Hank, can I ride one of these over here?” She pointed to the bank of stalls on the side that Tracker was on.

Hank raised his eyebrows and bent down to Lily. “And why would that be, Lily?”

“I…I don’t know. I just like these better.”

Lucy came over and said, “Yeah. They’re prettier.”

“Ah, prettier. Well, on this side of the barn are horses I broke. The other side—those horses I don’t know so well.”

Lucy’s eyes flew wide open. “You broke horses? Why, Uncle Hank? That’s not nice,” she said as she folded her arms over her small chest.

Hank’s laugh sent a warmth through Clara that surprised her. He reached down and tugged on Lucy’s braid as he walked further along. “Not that kind of broke, Lucy. Breaking a horse means something different. And different things to different people,” he said as he stroked the nose of each horse he passed by. “It really means teaching them how to do what they need to do.”

“Oh, good. I wouldn’t want the horses to be hurt,” Lily said, putting her hand in Hank’s.

“Neither would I, Lily,” he said, squeezing the little one’s hand.

Clara and Suzanne followed behind along the bank of stalls that Lily had chosen and stroked the noses of several of the horses as she passed by.

“Don’t horses frighten you, Clara? I mean, I can handle horses that I know, but some of them are pretty unpredictable, and sometimes they make me nervous.

They both jumped as one of the horses behind them, on the opposite side of the barn, kicked the door holding him in and reared his head, neighing loudly.

“Like that?” Clara said, reflexively taking a step backward, away from the horse.

“Yes, like that. They’re so very big and could really hurt somebody.”

“I have to say I haven’t been around too many, but no, I’ve not felt afraid. Somehow, I feel very calm around them.”

Hank looked up and smiled as Suzanne and Clara made it to where he was with the girls. He stood, wiping his hands on his pants and tipping his hat. “Hello, Clara, Suzanne. Nice to see you.”

Hank replaced his hat quickly, but not before Clara could see his ears flush, and she smiled behind her hand.

“I’m mighty sorry about yesterday, Clara. I had no idea that was going to happen, and Pa and I had some pretty strong words after you left.” Hank passed the twins back to Suzanne as he opened one of the stall doors, his head down.

Suzanne’s gaze caught Clara’s and she batted her eyelashes, making Clara laugh. “Hank, how about I take the girls out to the arena and we wait for you to saddle up?”

“Huh?” he said, turning back to Suzanne. “Oh, that would be great. I’ll have the horse saddled up in a minute and I’ll meet you out there.”

He looked quickly at Clara and then turned back to the horse, a beautiful white one, brushing it in long strokes. As he set the brush down and reached for the saddle blanket, Clara said, “Hank, I’d like to apologize, too, for our abrupt departure. I’m afraid I was just so surprised that I didn’t know what to do. I’d been looking forward to talking with you later, and that just took me completely by surprise.”

Hank chuckled grimly, shaking his head. “You and me both. I had no idea that was going to happen. I would have stopped it if I had.”

“I can see why he would be in a rush—I think. It is your property, isn’t it?”

Hank shook his head slowly. “Yes, it’s supposed to be. And yes, there is a timeline, but it’s another couple of weeks out, so there’s a bit of time to let you make sure this is what you want. I’m mighty grateful you’re even considering it.”

He nodded at her as he threw the saddle on the horse and tightened the leather straps beneath its belly.

“I’d like to get to know you better, Hank, but I’m more than willing to consider it.”

He threw his head back and his deep, rich laugh made her skin tingle. She wondered if he could sing, too, like his sisters.

“Well, if you’re still interested after that fiasco, you’re pretty courageous.”

“I don’t scare easily, Mr. Archer, but I do have my limits.”

He leaned over the back of the horse, his eyes intent on hers. “All joking aside, Clara, I really would like to get to know you, too. Would you join me for dinner tonight? I’d like to take you out.”

“Oh,” she said, the butterflies returning after a lengthy absence when they’d been replaced by worry. “That would be lovely, Hank.”

He smiled broadly, his white teeth flashing in his tanned face. “Thank you, Clara. We’ll have a chance to talk, then. Can I fetch you at six o’clock?”

“Yes, thank you. That’s perfect,” she said as she left the stall.

Hank finished saddling the horse, the bridle in place. “By the way, this here is Regalo.”

“Regalo?” she asked, running her hand down its smooth nose. “He’s beautiful.”

“Yes, he is.”

She thought she saw his face cloud yet again as he pulled his hat further down his forehead. He led the young horse in the direction Suzanne and the girls had gone.

She followed him, stopping short as she rounded the corner behind him. In front of her stood a large, fenced arena with benches placed on one side under a stand of trees. Suzanne and the girls sat in the shade, Lucy and Lily jumping up as soon as they saw Hank heading in their direction.

Clara sat down beside Suzanne as Hank lifted Lily into the saddle and placed her hands tightly on the saddle horn. He walked beside her as he guided Regalo into the arena, slowly leading him around the fence line in a big circle.

“Lily doesn’t look too sure about this,” Clara said, squinting to see Lily on the other side of the arena.

Suzanne pulled at her sleeve and bounced her knee as she watched Lily round the final curve. “No, she’s not near as wild about it as Lucy. She always thinks it’s a great idea until it’s time to actually get on the horse. Probably what I would do, too.”

Lucy’s had her nose up to the fence and was hooting and hollering her sister’s name as she rounded the arena and came closer.

Hank stopped, holding the reins to his side and wrapping his arm around Lily’s back, her knuckles white as she clung to the saddle. He bent and whispered something in her ear, and Clara’s heart warmed to see her smile and lighten her grip on the saddle just a little.

“Lucy, remember what I told you about yelling so much when Regalo comes by? He’s just new to this and we don’t want to scare him.”

Hank caught Suzanne’s eye and she walked over to Lucy, grabbing her hand and pulling her onto her lap as she sat on one of the benches. “Let’s just quietly wave as they come by,” she said.

Lucy waved frantically—but silently—as Lily passed by on Regalo, looking a bit more relaxed. They circled the arena one more time before Lily turned to Hank and said, “Can I be done now?”

Hank chuckled and lifted her down off the horse, flipping his reins through the fence and walking her over to Suzanne. “You can be done any time you want, little one.”

Lily ran to her mother and buried her face in her skirts as Suzanne smoothed her hair. “You were very brave, Lily. Mama’s proud of you,” she said gently.

“Come on, Lucy, your turn,” Hank called, patting the saddle as she ran over, her arms raised to be lifted up and a smile from ear to ear.

“Interesting they’re so different, isn’t it,” Clara said. She watched Lucy bounce up and down on the saddle as Hank whispered to her. Lucy turned to him, his eyes never leaving her as she settled onto the horse and calmly finished her two trips around the arena.

“They sure are. I’m so glad that Hank has such a good way with both of them. Look how fast Lucy calmed down. She doesn’t normally settle that quickly with anybody—besides you,” she said, turning to Clara and smiling.

“Oh,” Clara said, surprised. “I didn’t know that. But he does have a way with them both.”

As they circled around the arena the second time, Hank looked up and smiled, waving in their direction. “Oh, look, he’s waving at you,” Suzanne said.

“Me? He’s not waving at me.” Again, those butterflies that seemed to have taken up residence in her stomach fluttered.

“Well, he’s not waving at Lily,” Suzanne said as she pointed to Lily who had fallen fast asleep on her lap.

They stood as Hank tied Regalo to the arena fence and walked Lucy over to the benches.

“Mama, that was so fun. I want to do that every day.” Lucy jumped up and down, tugging at Hank.

“We’ll see, little one. I think I heard I’m heading out on the trail pretty soon so it’ll have to wait until I get back.” He stood up and tousled her hair.

“Another cattle drive?” Suzanne asked as she walked with the girls toward where the buggy was tied up.

Hank took off his hat and rubbed the back of his neck, his forehead wrinkling in a frown. “I’m afraid so. After Pa and I had our…er…discussion last night about the wedding, he told me that we should be heading out in not too long.”

“Maybe that’s why he was in such a hurry,” Clara said as she helped the girls into the buggy and climbed up behind them.

“No, I don’t think so. I mean, sure, he’d want us to get married before I go, but I don’t think he’s considered that it might be difficult for you here all alone if I did head out with the crew on the drive. Not the sort of thing that he’d think about. Not anymore, anyway,” Hank said, pulling his hat back on and glancing up to the house.

“Girls, thank Uncle Hank for taking you on a ride today,” Suzanne said as she climbed in the buggy and took the reins that Hank handed her.

“Thank you, Uncle Hank,” the girls chorused, waving frantically from the buggy.

Hank smiled and tipped his hat to them. “It was my pleasure, ladies. Anytime I can oblige, I’d be more than happy to. And it was very nice to see you again, Clara,” he said, his laugh lines crinkling as he smiled up at her. “I look forward to seeing you tonight.”

Clara’s cheeks blushed as he backed up, giving Suzanne room to get the horses moving. He’d turned the buggy around already and they were all situated to head home so she headed down the drive, the twins waving until Hank was no longer in sight.

“Tonight?” Suzanne asked, her eyebrows wiggling up and down as she looked at Clara.

“Stop. It’s just dinner. He asked me out to dinner, that’s all.”

“Can we go, Mama?” Lucy asked, tugging at her mother’s sleeve.

“No, sweetheart. This one’s just for grown-ups,” she answered, batting her eyelashes again at Clara as she turned out the gate of the Archer Ranch.