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  THE RANCHER'S REUNION BRIDE

  Brides of Inspiration

  Book 9

  By

  MAYA STIRLING

  DESCRIPTION

  1881

  Lauren Munro has returned with her widowed father to her relatives' ranch near the town of Inspiration, Montana. A year ago, at the wedding of her cousin Wyatt to Victoria Baxter, Lauren fell head over heels for Victoria's handsome brother, rancher Gabriel Baxter. But all that is in the past. Lauren and Gabe didn't part on good terms. This time Lauren isn't planning on staying long enough for Gabe to break her heart again.

  Rancher and family head, Gabe Baxter's world comes crashing down when he receives a shocking ultimatum. He must find a wife as soon as he can. And there is only one woman who can heal Gabe's wounded heart. And she's back in town. But not for long.

  With time running out, can Gabe and Lauren find the love that God wants for them?

  The Rancher's Reunion Bride is a standalone FULL LENGTH NOVEL in the Brides of Inspiration series. It can be read on its own and as part of the series. It is a clean and wholesome historical Christian romance with inspirational themes of faith, family and love. And it has a guaranteed heart-warming happy ending. This novel contains characters from The Rancher's Christmas Miracle.

  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.

  © 2019 Maya Stirling

  Honor thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.

  Exodus 20:12

  Dear Reader,

  This is the first story about the three Baxter brothers who run a ranch to the south of Inspiration. Victoria Baxter, sister to the brothers, featured in The Rancher's Christmas Miracle. I wanted to write a story which shows what happens when parents finally let go of their adult children and allow them follow God's will for their lives. Gabe and Lauren, who are the focus of this story, must find a way to do just that as they forge their own bonds of love.

  The novel takes place in spring 1881, soon after the events of The Rancher's Christmas Wish.

  The Brides of Inspiration series will continue with the story of Kyle Baxter.

  Love

  Maya

  CHAPTER ONE

  Inspiration, Montana

  April 1881

  This wasn't going to be easy, Gabriel Baxter told himself as he rode down the trail and into the yard of the Munro Ranch. It was a bright sunny Tuesday morning in the middle of April. Gabe drew in a deep breath and glanced up at the big, azure blue, Montana sky. He felt his nerves ease slightly. He could feel spring in the air. His favorite time of the year. A time for new beginnings, and for an awakening from the harsh cold of winter. A time for hope and hard work. Holding onto the reins of his horse with one hand, Gabe gently touched the pocket of his thick jacket. He heard the soft crackle of the paper inside his pocket. The letter which had changed everything. Ruining his calm, nerves twisted in his gut as he thought about what that letter contained.

  Lifting his head and gazing at the sky, Gabe offered up a prayer. Lord, guide my steps. I know the way promises to be hard, but with You by my side, I know that nothing is impossible.

  Glancing toward the Munro ranch house, Gabe saw his sister Victoria emerging through the open front door and step out onto the porch. Gabe couldn't see many of the ranch hands around the yard or surrounding buildings. The place was quiet. Briefly, Gabe wondered why that could be. He figured half-brothers Josh and Wyatt would be out on the rangeland, working hard this morning. The Munro spread was smaller than the Baxter ranch. But that didn't mean there wasn't plenty to do every day of the year. Ranch life was an all-year-round affair. That was as it should be, Gabe told himself. And it was how things should be back at the Baxter ranch, even if his two younger brothers, Kyle and Landon, didn't always see things that way.

  His sister was dressed in a plain white shirt, buttoned to the collar and cuffs, and a brown skirt which flared around her booted feet. She lifted a hand and waved at Gabe as he drew his horse to stop by the hitching rail. Victoria's smile was broad and genuine. She looked like a perfectly happy wife. Which was exactly what she was. She and Wyatt Munro, co-owner of the ranch, had married a year before. Things seemed to be going perfectly for them both. Married bliss. It was possible, Gabe reflected as he dismounted from his horse. Just maybe not for him. Gabe tried to make sure his features didn't betray the turmoil churning inside him. He wondered how Victoria would take the news contained in the letter stuffed in his pocket.

  Victoria came toward him. "I didn't expect to see you here this morning," she said and hugged him warmly. Up close, her pretty features positively glowed with an inner delight. She looked calm, this morning. Gabe was a head taller than his sister, but locked inside Victoria's petite frame was pure Baxter feistiness. "Grace has gone into town. I'm looking after Ryan while she's gone," Victoria told him.

  "I guess this is a surprise visit," Gabe admitted, forcing himself to smile.

  "You aren't the only surprise visitors we have this week," Victoria declared.

  Gabe lifted his brows. "Really?" There was a mischievous look in Victoria's eyes which put Gabe instantly on his guard. Her blue eyes were bright and her cheeks were flushed pink. He knew that look, had seen it plenty of times growing up in the Baxter ranch over the years. It usually meant trouble.

  Victoria scooped her arm inside his and started to lead Gabe toward the front door of the ranch house. "We have a couple of very special visitors," Victoria announced quietly. "You remember who came to the wedding last year?"

  Gabe felt his heart quicken. Of course he remembered Victoria and Wyatt's wedding. How could he possibly forget that wonderful, warm spring day? And how could he possibly forget the woman he had met on that day? A woman he had not seen in the year since, but had not forgotten? Not for a instant. Lauren Munro wasn't the kind of a woman a man could forget in a hurry. Not that Gabe had ever wanted to forget the days he'd spent with Lauren immediately following his sister's wedding. Suspicions aroused, he knew what Victoria was about to tell him next.

  "Lauren and her father arrived yesterday," Victoria declared, halting on the porch. Gabe could see his sister examining him for even the hint of a reaction, but Gabe schooled his features with determination.

  "Is that so?" Gabe replied, trying his best to sound only casually interested.

  "I thought you would have been excited," Victoria said tilting her head slightly. Gabe knew Victoria wanted to say even more, but she was holding her curiosity under strict control.

  "Is there any special reason why they've come?" Gabe asked casually.

  "You'll find out soon enough," Victoria replied firmly. Gabe didn't know what to make of that. It sounded vaguely mysterious.

  Gabe shrugged. "It'll be nice to see them again."

  Victoria lifted a brow. "They're around here somewhere." Victoria peered through the window of the ranch house and into the sitting room.

  Panic briefly flared inside Gabe. The original reason for his visit took hold of his mind. He drew Victoria away from the window, stepping out onto the yard again. "There's something I have to talk to you about, Victoria. It's about ma and pa." He led his sister toward the corral, near the stable, on the far side of the yard.

  Victoria's brows furrowed. "Have you heard
from them?"

  Gabe nodded and drew out the letter from his jacket pocket. "I got this."

  "How is Aunt Mabel doing? "

  "Well, that's the good news." Gabe smiled. "Seems like she is getting better. For the moment."

  "So when are mother and father coming back to Inspiration?"

  Gabe sighed heavily. "That's the problem I came to speak to you about," he announced grimly. He saw Victoria's brows furrow with visible worry. "You don't need to be concerned. There's nothing wrong. They're not in any trouble," he added quickly. Victoria's features softened with relief. "But there is something in the letter which I need to tell you about," Gabe added softly. He glanced back toward the ranch house hoping that no one was watching him and Victoria. He needed some privacy if he was going to be able to share the contents of the letter. The last thing he needed was for someone to come out of the ranch house at this particular moment.

  Victoria glanced at the letter. "Let me read that," she said taking the piece of paper from Gabe's hands. Gabe watched Victoria scan the single sheet of light brown paper. He heard her gasp quietly as she reached the end of the carefully written text. That last paragraph contained the kicker, Gabe reminded himself.

  Victoria lifted her gaze to Gabe and stared incredulously at him. "Do they really mean this?"

  Gabe nodded. "It looks like it," he replied. "I know it's hard to believe, but you know how much they want this for me and my brothers."

  Victoria folded the letter carefully and turned away from Gabe clearly affected by what she had just read. Gabe recalled how he'd sat yesterday at the Baxter ranch house, in the parlor, reading the letter just like his sister had just done. He already knew how hard it would be for Victoria to believe what the letter contained. He still hadn't come to terms with it himself. Nor had he even had a chance to share the news with his two brothers, Kyle and Landon. Gabe wondered how Kyle would take this. His younger brother, wild at heart, and eager to strike out on his own in the world, would be the one who'd probably take this the hardest. Gabe knew he may have a battle on his hands if was to try and persuade Kyle.

  Victoria turned and faced Gabe. Her face was pale with shock. "Marriage?"

  The word hit Gabe like a physical blow. He wasn't sure he'd ever get used to hearing that word. Especially in connection with himself. He nodded. "Don't you remember how they used to talk about it all the time? For all of us? You, me, Landon and Kyle? Of course that was before you and Wyatt got married." Gabe removed his Stetson and ran a hand through his dark hair. "We both know how determined our parents can be, don't we?"

  Victoria's eyes widened and she nodded. "We sure do. Do you think they're serious?" Gabe tilted his head and lifted a brow. He didn't need to say anything else. Victoria understood perfectly. She sighed and nodded. "You're right. It looks like they've decided the time has come." Victoria smiled. "Maybe they've seen how happy me and Wyatt are, and they just want the same for you, Kyle and Landon."

  Gabe scoffed. "They sure have a strange way of going about it," he observed. "Couldn't they have just asked us to find wives? Instead of this?"

  Victoria handed the letter back to Gabe. "You know how often they tried to find suitable wives for the three of you," she said grinning. "I seem to recall that every time the subject of matrimony came up, the three of you suddenly found some work around the ranch that needed doing urgently."

  Gabe gave Victoria a weary look. "Are you saying that me, Kyle and Landon are scared of being married?"

  Victoria rested a hand against Gabe's arm. "If it's the difference between staying here and going back East, I think there is only one choice for you to make."

  Gabe knew she was right. Victoria had a sensible head on her shoulders. Being the second oldest Baxter sibling, she was a year younger than Gabe. It wasn't easy being the eldest Baxter sibling, Gabe reflected. And now he'd been handed the ultimate responsibility. He was being asked to set an example to his younger brothers. With them to follow as soon as possible, of course. He wondered how they would take the news. If he was any judge of his two younger brothers, he figured the answer might not be encouraging.

  Gabe unfolded the letter and glanced at the words which his mother had written on the small piece of paper. The words which promised to change Gabe's life for good. They seemed almost matter-of-fact, casual, now that he re-read them.

  "Now that your aunt is beginning to improve, for the moment, your father and I have come to a decision. We intend to remain here in Philadelphia. For the time being. We will not be returning to Inspiration. Life here in Philadelphia suits us. You know that your father believes that the time has come for the three of you to marry. I also believe that. We've talked about this with you, Landon and Kyle. Without much success, I might add. The Lord says, wisely of course, there comes a time when the children must leave the bosom of their parents and find lives that please God. That time has come, Gabriel.

  "Here is what we propose. If all three of you find wives before the summer has ended, then we will keep the ranch. There is plenty of room on the ranch for three families. Look what the Buchanan family have done. Ranch life is good for families.

  "Wives must be found, Gabriel. You know that as well as I do. The Lord wants you, Landon and Kyle to become family men. It's time to put aside the things of your younger years. To take responsibility for your own lives.

  "In the event of all three of you marrying, then your father and I are of the opinion that you and your wives will take over the running of the ranch. If you all marry, your father and I will thank God for bringing joy and delight into the life of our family. We're sure you'll make the best decision for us all, Gabe."

  Sincerest wishes

  Your mother, Miriam

  Gabe swallowed as he finished reading the words. It was an ultimatum. Nothing else. He realized his hand was shaking slightly. Life at the Baxter ranch was all he had ever known. Could it be true? That his parents had finally run out of patience with their three sons and were willing to settle for a life back East?

  "Uncle Gabe!" Gabe lifted his head on hearing his name being called out by a very familiar voice. He turned and saw young Ryan running toward him from the ranch house door. The seven-year-old boy, adopted son of Josh and Grace Munro, was grinning broadly as he scurried across the yard. But it wasn't only the sight of Ryan that brightened Gabe's spirits. His heart quickened when he saw who was following close behind.

  Lauren Munro strode steadily and confidently behind Ryan. Gabe swallowed and glanced at Victoria. His sister was watching him carefully, judging his reaction with narrowed eyes. "Well, look who's here," Victoria said in a wry tone of voice.

  Ryan's tiny footsteps thundered across the yard. The boy tumbled forcefully against Gabe's legs. Gabe patted Ryan on the shoulders and playfully mussed the boy's hair. "Look at you," Gabe exclaimed glancing hesitantly toward the advancing figure of the woman he'd thought of every day this last year. Worryingly, Lauren didn't smile at Gabe. He glanced down at Ryan who was smiling back up at him. "What have you been up to?" Gabe asked Ryan.

  The boy turned and looked at Lauren. "Lauren and I were out back in the garden," he explained.

  As if sensing that Gabe wanted to welcome Lauren in his own way, Victoria stretched out her arms. "Come here, Ryan," she said.

  After giving Gabe one brief glance, Ryan went to Victoria. Lauren halted in front of Gabe. Now his heartbeat really was thumping. His pulse was thundering in his ears and, for a moment, his mind was utterly blank. The truth was, he had been taken aback by just how beautiful Lauren was. Of course he hadn't forgotten the perfection of her even features or the easy grace with which she held herself. She was dressed in an elegant green gown. Her blonde hair was tied back in a neat bun; her blue eyes flashed bright with barely concealed curiosity; her bow-shaped lips, full and red, pouted, betraying a hint of annoyance. Her expression was stony-faced. She wasn't pleased to see him. He could tell that. It was understandable, given the way their friendship had ended a year ago.

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