Taming the Texas Rancher

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“It’s going to take me a little while to get everything on your list boxed up if you’d like to walk over to the school and meet him,” Carolyn offered with a knowing look.

Hannah nodded. “I would like to introduce myself to him. He will probably know where the ranch children are in their studies.” She glanced about the store. It would be nice to just browse, but that could wait for another day. “Would you let Mr. Westland know I’ve walked up to the schoolhouse?”

“I will. You might beat him back. The men at the livery love to talk.”

A man at the back of the room made a huffing noise. “And you womenfolk don’t.”

Hannah peered at the gentleman who had spoken. A twinkle lit his grayish-blue eyes. He appeared to be in his late sixties or early seventies.

“Now, Pa...” A stern warning sounded in Carolyn’s voice. “You best pay attention to your checker game or Doc Bryant is going to beat you again.”

The man opposite her father laughed. He was younger, probably in his thirties, and as handsome as sin. His brown hair was a little wild and his brown eyes were as soft as a doe’s. “Ole Phil here has already lost.” He removed his opponent’s last checker.

“Well, it’s those womenfolks’ fault. They were talkin’ too loud,” Phil answered as he frowned down at the board.

Dr. Bryant stood and clapped a hand on his shoulder. “Thanks for the game, Phil. I need to be heading out to the Larson place. Jack Larson has a nasty cut on his leg that needs tending.”

“Thanks for letting Mr. Westland know where I’ll be, Mrs. Moore,” Hannah said, turning to leave.

The doctor beat her to the door and held it open. As they stepped out onto the boardwalk he asked, “Mind if I walk with you for a bit?”

“You are free to walk wherever you please, Mr. Bryant,” Hannah answered kindly. She wondered why the doctor wanted to walk with her.

“The Larsons live just over the hill from the schoolhouse. We’re going in the same direction,” he said as he slowed his steps to match hers.

Had he read her unspoken question on her face? She looked down and noticed his empty hands. “Won’t you need your bag?”

“Not for this visit. I’m basically going to check the wound and make sure it’s clear of infection. Whatever I might need, Mrs. Larson will have on hand.” He grinned across at her.

The doctor was handsome, but Hannah couldn’t help but compare him to Daniel. Her future husband had a rugged quality about him that she discovered she appreciated more than the doctor’s clean-cut look and soft brown eyes. Hannah looked to the schoolhouse that now stood a few feet away.

“Thank you for accompanying me to the schoolhouse, Doctor.” Hannah hurried her footsteps. When she had climbed the steps, she turned back to him.

He grinned and bowed at the waist. “The pleasure was all mine.” Then the doctor put his hands in his pockets, whistled a merry tone and walked away.

She watched him go. Yes, if she’d had to choose between the two men, Daniel Westland would have been her first choice. The doctor reminded her too much of Thomas and the scar he’d left upon her heart.

Chapter Eight

Daniel sat across the table from the minister. They’d met by the livery and then walked over to The Eating House. Sitting at the table, he held his coffee and blew into it. “I thought I’d be a married man by today, but Hannah wants love before marriage.” He sipped the bitter brew. “And Ma seems to have lost her mind. She insisted I get a bride, but when I brought one home she wouldn’t even let her stay in the same house.”

Reverend Robert Lincoln shook his head and laughed. “I imagine your mother thought that if Hannah didn’t have a place to live, she’d marry you, and the two of you would move into that big house you had built. You did ask Hannah to marry you again, didn’t you?”

Daniel lowered his cup. “You mean after Ma kicked her out?”

“That would have been a good time to do so, don’t you think?” The minister’s twinkling blue eyes revealed he’d already guessed Daniel hadn’t thought of that.

Why hadn’t he? Had he subconsciously avoided marrying Hannah? The impulse to smack himself on the forehead overwhelmed him, and he did just that. “No, I took her to the new schoolhouse.”

The preacher chuckled. “Where is she now?”

Daniel groaned. “Over at the general store buying supplies.” He picked up his cup again and cradled it in his hands. “I don’t know the first thing about making a woman fall in love with me.” He stared into the dark liquid.

A serious tone entered the preacher’s voice. “Be yourself, Daniel. A woman wants to know the real man, not someone made up to please her.”

He looked into the minister’s eyes. “You don’t understand. If Levi’s mail-order bride shows up and he marries her and they have a baby first, then my brother inherits the ranch. Not just a corner of it—the whole thing.” Daniel heard the desperation in his voice and avoided the other man’s gaze by looking out the window.

Gentleness entered the preacher’s voice. “I know the terms of your mother’s demands, but I also know a woman’s heart.”

Whose heart did the reverend think he knew? His mother’s? Or Hannah’s? Had his mother been trying to push them into marriage? Daniel hadn’t really spoken to her about what had happened the day before.

And then there was Hannah. She’d seemed to enjoy the ride into town and had even teased him. If Daniel continued to be open with her and tell her about his life, maybe she’d fall in love with him and be ready to marry before Levi’s mail-order bride arrived.

“I do believe you are right.” He gulped the rest of his lukewarm coffee and stood. “Thanks for letting me bend your ear, Reverend, but I think it’s time I go pick up my future bride.”

Daniel paid for the coffees and then headed back to the general store. The bell over the door jingled as he entered. Several boxes lined the counter, with his name printed on each wooden crate.

“That little gal sure can shop.” Phil Carlson stepped out from behind the counter. “Carolyn had to run to the bank, but said to tell you she put everything on your account. Want me to help you carry these to your wagon?”

Daniel looked about the store. He and Mr. Carlson were the only ones there. “I got it, thank you.” He reached for the nearest box. “Did Miss Young go with Mrs. Moore to the bank?”

Mr. Carlson walked in front of him to the door. He pulled it open before answering. “Nope. She and the doctor were headed to the schoolhouse last I saw her.”

Daniel carried the box to the wagon and looked toward the school. Children played in the yard, but he couldn’t see Hannah, the doctor or the schoolmaster.

“Doc seemed awful interested in Miss Young. He beat me at checkers and then hightailed it out of here with her,” Mr. Carlson called from the doorway.

Daniel headed back inside for the next box. The doctor was a single man and about his age. Was he interested in Hannah? They’d just met; surely the doctor hadn’t taken a liking to her that quickly. Daniel scooped up the crate and walked back outside.

As he passed, Mr. Carlson added, “Miss Young seemed in a hurry to meet the schoolteacher, too. When my Carolyn told her about all his books, she decided to go see him. I never did cotton to reading. Suppose some folks enjoy it, but I’d rather be playing board games.”

Daniel set the crate in the bed of the wagon and headed back for the last one. It made sense that Hannah would be interested in the schoolmaster’s books. She was a teacher herself. But why would the doctor go with her?

He crossed the store threshold again. Mr. Carlson asked, “Would you like to play a game while you wait for her to come back?”

Daniel wiped sweat off his brow and then replaced his hat. “No, thanks. I think I’ll go get Miss Young and then head on back to the ranch. Tell Mrs. Moore thank you for me.”

Her father grumbled something and then walked back inside.

Daniel climbed aboard the wagon and turned the horses toward the schoolhouse. Both the doctor and the schoolteacher were single and about his age. Were they competing for Hannah’s attentions? And if so, where did that leave him?

As far as he knew, only the minister and Daniel’s family were aware that Hannah was his mail-order bride. The ranch hands knew also, but none of them had come to town yet and leaked the news. He pulled the wagon to a stop a few feet away from the school.

Children laughed as they played chase and other games in the schoolyard. He took the steps two at a time. The door was open, so he walked inside.

Hannah and the teacher were looking down at the big desk positioned off to the right, at the front of the room. She glanced up at Daniel and offered a dazzling smile. Her eyes seemed to sparkle with excitement. “Mr. Westland, I am learning so much about the children on your ranch.”

So they were back to addressing each other formally. He moved to the front pew and sat down. “I’m glad to hear that, Miss Young. Are you about finished here?” Daniel watched as the schoolmaster studied Hannah’s profile. He didn’t care for the way the man’s gaze seemed to take in her every feature.

“I think so.” She straightened and picked up several books.

Jonah stood also, his white teeth flashing in a smile. “I’m so glad you came by to see me today. If you have any other questions, please feel free to stop by. I’d love to visit with you again, when we have more time.” He held a piece of paper out to Hannah.

She took it and smiled back. “Well, I will have to return these books, and I’m sure Mr. Westland wouldn’t mind if you came out and looked over my small collection.”

Jonah followed her around the desk. “I might just take you up on that offer.”

Daniel stood. His eyes bored into the schoolteacher’s. “We’ll be glad to see you.” At the moment he felt anything but pleased to invite the man out to his ranch. But the invitation had been made, and there was no reason to deny him a visit.

Other than the fact that he was handsome, not married and kept looking at Hannah as if she was a fresh flower ready to be picked. Daniel took her elbow and escorted her out to the wagon, very aware that Jonah followed.

“Thanks for everything,” Hannah called as Daniel helped her onto the high seat.

The teacher nodded and gave the school bell cord a good tug. The sound of it ringing filled the little town.

Daniel climbed up beside Hannah and slapped the reins over the horse’s back. There was something about Jonah that he didn’t quite like. Could it be he didn’t trust him because of his obvious interest in Hannah? Daniel mulled over the idea.

He looked back at the schoolteacher, who was talking to the children as they entered the building. He was a big man who wore jeans and boots. A white shirt covered his wide shoulders. Daniel turned his attention back to guiding the horse home. Jonah’s appearance was more that of a rancher or lawman than a teacher.

Trying not to be obvious, Daniel glanced in Hannah’s direction. She seemed absorbed in the book on her lap. Her hair shone in the midday sun. The back of her slender neck was exposed, revealing creamy white skin. He had to admit that Hannah Young was a fine-looking woman. Why hadn’t she already married?

She chose that moment to look up. “Oh, we’re heading out of town.” Disappointment filled her voice.

Daniel pulled back on the reins. “Was there something else you needed to do while we’re here? I can turn us around.”

Hannah closed the book. “No, I just assumed we’d be having lunch in town. But since we are already on our way, I’ll fix us a snack from the supplies.”

“I’ll turn the wagon around.” He really didn’t want to. The fence on the west side of the ranch needed to be looked at, and he had a herd of cows over there that he wanted to check on, also.

Hannah’s soft laughter took him by surprise. “No, I can tell you have work to do. My pa used to get that same look on his face when he had chores that needed doing but didn’t want to disappoint Ma. Trust me, I’ll be fine eating from the supplies, and so will you.” She turned on the seat and rummaged through the boxes.

Daniel grinned and clicked his tongue to get the horse started again. “I take it your pa was a rancher.”

* * *

They hadn’t talked about her family in their letters and Hannah dreaded the questions she knew were now coming. She turned back around and sat down on the seat. Their fingers brushed when she handed him a green apple. “More like a farmer. He doesn’t hold as much land or livestock as you do.”

The apple crunched as Daniel bit into it. The scent of green sweetness drifted to her. She took a much smaller bite of her own fruit and chewed.

Daniel swallowed and then asked, “Where is his spread?”

“Missouri.” She took another bite to avoid adding to her answer.

Daniel nodded, as if he understood she didn’t want to talk about her family. “I hear that is beautiful country.”

“Pa says Missouri is the closest he can imagine that heaven will look like. The trees are tall, and in the summer the grass is deep green and the sky royal blue, with fluffy white clouds. But my favorite time of the year is autumn. The leaves turn colors and it’s like God got out His paintbrush and began to work.” Hannah turned and found Daniel studying her face. She felt heat enter her cheeks and looked away.