The Rancher’s Second Chance Bride Read online

  THE RANCHER'S SECOND CHANCE BRIDE

  Brides of Inspiration Book 3

  By

  MAYA STIRLING

  A Reunion Leads to a Test of Faith and Love

  Former sweetheart to a rancher, Honora MacLeish suffers a terrible tragedy and returns to the ranch where she grew up.

  She aims to renew her life and find healing with the help of her faith and the kindness of her relatives.

  But it isn't going to be easy now that she's living so close to the rancher she had to leave behind a year ago

  Wild at heart rancher, Reese Buchanan must marry to save the family ranch.

  He never thought he'd be reunited with the beautiful woman he once courted.

  Now she's back, he's determined to make amends for the mistakes of the past.

  And that includes making sure she's never far from his side.

  It's a second chance at love for them both.

  But can they break down the barriers that keep them apart?

  Especially now that danger threatens the future of both their families.

  The Rancher's Second Chance Bride is a standalone FULL LENGTH NOVEL in the Brides of Inspiration series. It is a clean and wholesome historical romance with inspirational themes of faith, family and love. And a guaranteed happy ending.

  Copyright

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

  No part of this book may be reproduced or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written permission of the publisher.

  © 2018 Maya Stirling

  O continue thy lovingkindness unto them that know thee; and thy righteousness to the upright in heart. -Psalm 36:10

  Dear Reader

  I hope you enjoy reading this novel. I wanted to write a story which tells a story of the journey to forgiveness and making amends for past mistakes. Honora and Reese have plenty of barriers to overcome after their reunion. It's my hope that this story shows how perseverance, hope and faith can help us triumph when faced with the trials of life.

  If you would like to know when the next novels in the Brides of Inspiration series become available please sign up for my new release email announcements.

  The next novel will be The Rancher's Bride Surprise and will be available very soon.

  Thank you for reading

  Maya

  Just click here to sign up

  CHAPTER ONE

  1875

  "You want me to marry?" Honora MacLeish exclaimed to her Aunt Mabel across the dining table in the kitchen of what used to be the MacLeish ranch. The ranch Honora's own parents had owned outright until almost year ago when the unfortunate decision to leave had been taken by Honora's father. "And that's why you wrote to me and suggested I come back from California? So that I could marry someone," Honora added, her voice straining with incredulity. She gasped and shook her head. She'd barely been in the house an hour, and the conversation had already turned to matrimony.

  Honora gazed at the silver-haired woman. Aunt Mabel's even, smiling features had an expectant look. Honora tried desperately to come to terms with the suggestion she'd just been given by her beloved aunt.

  Marriage? What had given her late mother's sister such an idea? Did she think her niece was some kind of mail order bride, having been called home by an articulate and carefully worded letter? Or that she would even be interested in an arranged marriage to a stranger? For that matter, did Aunt Mabel already have someone in mind?

  Honora frowned. She'd only just arrived at the ranch, and she was already hearing about proposals for arranged marriages. Her own marriage. Something bristled inside her. That wasn't why she'd come back. No. The reason for her return was much more complicated than that. Much more urgent.

  "I did try to explain in my letter, Honora," Mabel said in a kindly and patient voice. "After what happened, I wasn't going to let you stay in San Francisco all on your own." Mabel's shoulders shook at the thought. "The very thought kept me up at nights." She gave Honora a stern, almost motherly look. "No," she exclaimed firmly. "This is where you needed to be. And nowhere else. I wasn't going to hear another word about it. Not until you agreed to come back." Honora saw a sudden sadness in Mabel's eyes. "My sister would want it this way."

  "I know mother would have wanted you to help in any way you can, Aunt Mabel. But, you didn't mention anything about marriage," Honora said softly.

  Aunt Mabel lifted a brow. "Would you have got on the train if I had told you?"

  Honora shrugged. "Perhaps not." Honora gazed across at her aunt. "But, marriage, Aunt Mabel. That's such an important thing to think about. Right now, I'm just glad to be home." It felt odd to say those words, Honora reflected. However, it was true. She did feel like she had come home. The ranch was where she'd spent the happiest years of her life. So far.

  Mabel's eyes narrowed and she smiled sagely. "A great deal has happened in Inspiration since you and your parents left for California," Mabel replied.

  "What kind of things?"

  Mabel shrugged. "A whole lot. Good and bad." Mabel's lips tightened and she became suddenly silent. Honora wondered why her aunt would do that. Mabel was being evasive, and there had to be a good reason.

  Honora scoffed. "Inspiration isn't the kind of town where anything happens, Aunt Mabel." Honora frowned. "Ever," she added emphatically. "You know that. It's quiet. Too quiet, sometimes."

  Even as she said those words, Honora knew, secretly, that was actually one of the reasons why she had agreed to come back to Inspiration. She was seeking peace and a chance to recover from her recent tragedy.

  Mabel shook her head and tutted repeatedly. "Now, on that score you are completely wrong, Honora. There's been a whole lot going on in our little town." Mabel frowned. "And not all of it good, I have to tell you."

  Honora felt concern twist in her middle. "Like what?"

  Mabel leaned back on her chair, lifted the coffee cup and took a sip. Then she placed the cup back down on the saucer. "Well, for starters, there's been that business with the Buchanans."

  "What's going on with them?" Honora asked hesitantly. She tried not to sound too eager, but there was a part of her which was desperately curious. The Buchanans had been a big part of her life before she'd gone away.

  Mabel shook her head and sighed. "It's been real difficult for that family in recent weeks. But you know what the Buchanans are like."

  She certainly did. The knot of concern in Honora's middle twisted even tighter. The Buchanans. Simply hearing that name was enough to trigger emotions she'd been fighting against since the day she'd left Inspiration on the train. She resisted the urge to respond to the mere mention of the name of the family that owned the spread which adjoined the western edge of the MacLeish ranch. She didn't want to know anything about Buchanans. And especially about one member of the family in particular. Images flashed into her mind, memories of difficult times, memories of good times. She pushed them firmly away. Honora was relieved when her aunt spoke again.

  "And, even worse, you know that Brett Calhoun character," Mabel continued, her features displaying disgust.

  "What's he been up to?" Honora asked. She knew all about Calhoun and his nefarious activities in the past. In the months before leaving Inspiration, Honora had heard some stories about the things Calhoun had been getting up to. Bad things. Possibly illegal things. She hadn't believed any of the gossip at the time. But, judging by Aunt Mabel's sour expression, it looke
d like the rumors had been true.

  "He's a troublemaker, and no mistake," Mabel said, shaking her head. "If he isn't running that establishment, which shall remain nameless, that caters to the worst appetites of the men in this town, gambling and suchlike," she said, rolling her eyes, "then he's busy finagling at the bank or interfering in the lives of the decent folk of our community." Mabel sighed. "It's terrible what that man gets away with. Ungodly, I tell you."

  Honora nodded at that last comment. She reflected that she and her aunt shared at least one thing. They disapproved of the morally corrupt and ungodly elements which had found their way into Inspiration in recent times. It had been Honora's own faith which had pulled her through the recent hard times out in California. She knew she wouldn't have survived without it. It had been her faith which had led her to return to Inspiration, in search of peace. In search of renewal. For a moment, she wondered if that was going to be possible.

  "I heard some bad stuff about Calhoun, before I left," Honora admitted. "I didn't think he'd last this long."

  "Even with Sheriff Nathan on his tail, and others, it seems Calhoun is just a law unto himself," Mabel said. "Calhoun's a wily fox. No-one seems to be able to pin him down. It'll take something special to stop him from spreading his evil in our town."

  Honora could believe that. The law-abiding folks of Inspiration were too tolerant for their own good. She thought about the kindness, the gentility, the warmth of most of the God-fearing people in the town. Those qualities had been in short supply during the eleven months she'd been in California. San Francisco had felt like another world. And, Honora had to admit, she had missed that spirit of community while she'd endured the harsh, unfriendly environment to which her parents had taken her.

  Feeling suddenly nervous about the direction of the conversation, Honora stood, went to the kitchen window and gazed out at the yard. Bright sunshine shone down on the wide expanse of rangeland which stretched toward the horizon. Amongst the outbuildings, the stables, the cookhouse, the ranch hands' bunkhouse, she saw the small corral where she had herself spent so much time. A single black horse was being led around by an attentive ranch hand. She could see her Uncle Rufus, his booted foot jammed on the wooden fence, leaning casually against it, talking animatedly with one of the ranch hands.

  Unease flickered into life as Honora regarded him. Uncle Rufus had collected her from the train station this afternoon and brought her back to the ranch. But, during the entire journey on the buckboard, riding through rangeland which evoked all sorts of memories for Honora, he'd been unusually quiet. That was out of character for her uncle, she'd reflected. During the ride from the station, she'd become convinced that there was something worrying him. His normal happy demeanor was completely absent. At first, Honora had thought it might have something to do with the painful circumstances of her return from San Francisco. But, maybe there was more to it than that.

  "How has Uncle Rufus taken to being a rancher?" she asked.

  Her aunt came to Honora's side and peered out through the window. "Not too good." She sighed. "I'm afraid my husband isn't really the ranching type," Aunt Mabel admitted.

  Honora glanced at Mabel. "But I thought he said he always wanted a spread of his own," she said. "Isn't that why he took the land deal over from my pa? So he could fulfill one of his dreams?"

  Mabel looked suddenly sad. She sighed heavily. "That's the problem with your uncle, my dear. He's a good man. And no mistake. His heart is in the right place." Honora looked at her aunt and saw a wistful softness in her green eyes. "But, he's always had dreams, things he cherished. Until he finds out just how much hard work is involved. That, maybe, his expectations might not be realistic. Then, it doesn't take long for his enthusiasm to wane."

  Honora peered out at her uncle. Now that Mabel mentioned it, there did seem to be a kind of heaviness in Uncle Rufus' demeanor. During the ride to the ranch, Honora had noticed a hang-dog expression, a weariness, she'd never seen before on Rufus' features. A tiredness in his eyes. She wondered why that could be. Maybe something had happened while Honora had been away. Trouble on the ranch. Or perhaps her uncle was ill. She couldn't figure out what it might be.

  "Even though this is a small spread, compared to the one the Buchanans own, it still takes a whole lot of work to keep it a going concern," Mabel explained.

  "But, I thought Uncle Rufus loves the outdoors," Honora said.

  Mabel nodded. "He does. It just that, perhaps this life isn't as exciting or rewarding as he'd thought."

  Honora frowned. Her assessment of Uncle Rufus had been right, after all. She made up her mind to talk to him about it at the earliest opportunity. "Maybe I can do something to help out."

  Aunt Mabel squinted at Honora. "You?"

  Honora tilted her head. "Before pa took us to San Francisco, I did pretty much everything around here," she reminded Mabel. "There wasn't any part of the ranch where I didn't help out." Honora smiled. "Pa used to complain I was turning into a tomboy." Even as she uttered the words, Honora felt the bittersweet quality of the memory of her late father's observation.

  Mabel ran her gaze down the length of Honora's petite frame and lifted a brow. "You're no tomboy, Honora. You've grown into a beautiful woman of one and twenty years," she said with an appreciative smile.

  Honora frowned. "I'm no better than any of the girls in Inspiration," she complained.

  Mabel shook her head disapprovingly. "Don't go putting yourself down. The Lord doesn't approve of false displays of humility."

  Aunt Mabel scarcely missed a chance to refer to Scripture, or some aspect of her faith, whenever she wanted to make a pointed remark. It was another reason Honora had made the decision that the ranch had been the only place she wanted to go after the tragedy at San Francisco. She hoped her aunt's faith would help her come to terms with what had happened. Help her to accept the sudden change in her life. Help her face the future, whatever God had planned for her.

  Mabel laid a gentle hand on Honora's shoulder. "Don't you worry yourself, dear. You've had more than enough to deal with, recently." Mabel's features lit up with a kindly smile. "You just take your time to settle in. Now that you're home, there's nothing for you to worry about. Me and your uncle love you. You know that, don't you."

  Honora felt her eyes moisten. "I know, Aunt Mabel. And it means a whole lot to me."

  "I'm glad," Mabel replied. "You belong here, Honora."

  Honora smiled back at her aunt, wishing she could feel the same in her heart. If only her father hadn't decided upon his ill-advised escapade. If only he hadn't insisted, then he and Honora's mother would both still be alive. But, they weren't. And there was no escaping that hard truth.

  Overcome by emotion, Honora hugged her aunt. She felt a sudden comfort, a reassurance, overwhelm her. A hint that her aunt's words might just be true. Maybe her aunt was right, Honora told herself. Perhaps this was where she should be. At least it would be a place to make a new start. And that was something to be grateful for. God had brought her back here for a reason.

  Aunt Mabel gazed into Honora's eyes. "Do you want me to help you to unpack your trunk?"

  Honora shook her head. "Maybe later. I can do it on my own." Honora glanced out the window. "I might just take a ride around the ranch. I'm itching to see it all again."

  "I think that's a grand idea," Mabel agreed. Mabel held on to Honora for a long moment. There was sudden emotion in her aunt's eyes. Honora could tell that her aunt had something important she wanted to say. "It was such a tragedy, Honora. My heart is broken at the loss of my precious sister. But, it cannot possibly compare to the pain you must be feeling at losing a mother and a father. So sudden." Mabel shook her head and sighed. "So very sad."

  Honora felt emotion tighten her chest. She rested her hands on her aunt's shoulders. "Aunt Mabel. I can't thank you enough for letting me come back to the ranch. Really, I can't."