The Rancher’s Bride Arrangement (Brides 0f Inspiration Book 1) Read online

  Nathan fell silent for a while.

  The buckboard made its way up the main drag. The dusty street was wide and on each side there was a wooden boardwalk. Along its length, parts of the boardwalk were sheltered by overhanging wooden coverings. Johanna could imagine the boardwalk would be a favorite place for couples to stroll of an evening. It was springtime now. The worst of the winter would have passed. She wondered if such an experience awaited her. With her new husband.

  Whoever he was to be.

  More than a few curious looks were sent in her direction. Nathan tipped his hat to some of the townsfolk.

  They passed the jailhouse. There was a horse tied up on the post outside the jailhouse door.

  “My humble place of work,” Nathan said with a sly grin. “Thankfully, the cells are empty, right now.

  Although my deputy is no doubt finding plenty to keep himself occupied.”

  Johanna saw that the town had just about everything anyone would need to lead a decent life. There was a general store, a livery, a hotel, a bank and even a dress store. And, there were two saloons. One on either side of the street. From inside them, as they passed, Johanna could hear raucous sounds. She knew from bitter experience that saloons were invariably open all day and night. Maybe that was where all the trouble came from in the town, she told herself.

  The buckboard took a turn and headed up a side street, eventually halting outside a two level, white-boarded house with high windows. There was a picket fence enclosing a small garden. A tall tree cast shade across the gate.

  “Welcome to our home,” Sophie said with obvious pride in her voice.

  Nathan jumped down and proceeded to take Johanna’s suitcase into the house.

  Johanna followed Sophie into the house. Johanna placed her valise down and drank in the sight of the welcoming home. After the train ride, it felt to good to be back in someone’s home. It had been a long time since she’d felt comfortable anywhere. Not since she’d lost everything. And certainly not since she’d been living with the aunt who’d made Johanna’s life so miserable this past year. But all of that was behind her, now, Johanna told herself.

  “What do you think?” Sophie asked gazing around the hallway. There was a narrow staircase, a corridor leading to the rear of the house and two open doors. Through them she could see a kitchen, neat and tidy, on one side and a sitting room on the other.

  “It’s beautiful,” Johanna said. And she meant it. There was a scent of flowers in the house and the whole thing just felt so homely.

  “Let me show you to your room,” Sophie said. Johanna followed her upstairs. There was a door open and Nathan emerged. He grinned, pretending to nurse a hurt shoulder. Sophie shook her head. “You’re getting soft, Nathan,” she said.

  Johanna followed Sophie into the room and gasped. It was beautiful. A wide bed took up most of the room. There was a tall wardrobe, already open, a chest of drawers, a small writing table by the window, and a dressing table with a large mirror.

  It was everything she could possibly need, Johanna told herself. Her enthusiasm was tempered by the realization that this would only be her temporary residence. Until she was married. And then, who knew where she would end up. All she could hope for was that it would be as nice as this.

  “I hope you’ll be comfortable,” Sophie said. She went to the door and peered at Nathan. “I’m going to help Johanna unpack,” Sophie said to a clearly relieved Nathan. He nodded and headed for the stairs.

  Sophie closed the door. Johanna sat down on the edge of the bed, feeling the springy softness beneath her.

  “I’ve got something to tell you, Johanna” Sophie said sitting down next to Johanna. “And it’s pretty exciting.”

  “Oh. Really?” Johanna said.

  Sophie nodded. “I want to take you to meet someone. This afternoon.”

  “So soon? But I only just got here,” Johanna exclaimed.

  “I know,” Sophie replied. “And I know you’re probably tired.” Sophie glanced at Johanna’s middle. “We’ll get some food into you and then we can go visit someone quite special.”

  “Who?” Johanna asked.

  Sophie lifted a brow, looking triumphant. “The man who’d like to take you as his wife.”

  CHAPTER TWO

  “Zane!”

  He tried to pretend he couldn’t hear his brother’s voice, but Zane Buchanan knew why Reese had been sent to find him. The meeting was about to start and Zane had thought he could avoid the whole thing by staying down here with the cattle.

  Hiding would be the more accurate word to use, Zane admitted to himself. A man could always find somewhere on a ranch to keep himself occupied. Especially a ranch as big as Circle Cross.

  He heard Reese calling out to him one more time. Reese’s voice drifted across the wide field. The cattle lowed quietly, unsettled by Reese’s advance.

  Still, Zane resisted the urge to turn and face his brother. Zane heard the pounding of hooves as Reese bore down upon him.

  Zane lifted his gaze up to the wide, blue Montana sky. He tipped his hat back and leaned against the pommel of his mount’s saddle, gazing at the distant mountains, crystal clear in the late afternoon light.

  So beautiful, he told himself. Like every time he gazed out across this land, he felt something call to him. Something deep inside him tugged at his soul, drawing him away. It was like a physical longing. It had been inside him for years. And now he was probably going to be asked to consider giving up all of that wanderlust.

  Once and for all.

  Zane sighed heavily. Maybe there was no way to get out of attending the family meeting. Nerves twisted in his gut. He knew what it was going to be about. Knew what he would be asked to agree to.

  Finally Reese drew his mount to a halt alongside Zane. “Pa’s calling for you, Zane,” Reese said, out of breath now after riding the half mile out from the ranch house.

  “I know he is, Reese,” Zane snapped. “I ain’t coming.”

  Reese’s eyes widened. “You can’t stay out here. We’re all ready up at the house,” he complained.

  Zane could just imagine them all seated around the long table in the sitting room. The whole family. His parents. His other two brothers, Micah and Gideon. He could just imagine what they’d be thinking. There’d be eager expressions on their faces if he walked into the room. And, no doubt, one or two disapproving looks, Zane told himself. But, that couldn’t be helped. He was determined to stay out here.

  “Seems we’re getting a visit,” Reese stated. “Sheriff Cameron came and told us his wife is bringing someone out to the ranch this afternoon.”

  “What!” Zane could hardly believe what he’d just heard.

  “Someone who came in on the train today,” Reese added.

  Zane’s jaw tightened and he groaned. “I knew it,” he snapped.

  “Knew what, Zane?” Reese probed.

  “I heard all about this last week. From Cyrus. He heard Nathan talking about it in the jailhouse. That Sophie had someone coming out to Inspiration.”

  Reese laughed. “Poor gal,” he said. “Doesn’t know what she’s letting herself in for.”

  Zane gave Reese a look. “That ain’t funny, Reese. How can Nathan allow his wife to be doing this.”

  “Bringing wives to Inspiration?” Reese asked.

  Zane sighed and nodded. “It doesn’t make a lick of sense, if you ask me.”

  “I guess it’s because the sheriff got himself a mail order bride. Maybe he thinks every one of us should have the same as he has.”

  Zane grunted. “Some folks just can’t leave well enough alone, can they?”

  “Sophie is pretty, though, ain’t she?” Reese said.

  Zane lifted a brow. “Don’t tell me you’re getting interested in taking a bride for yourself, Reese.”

  Reese shrugged. “Maybe Pa’s right. Maybe it’s time.”

  “For what!” Zane ejaculated. “To tie us all down to the ranch? So we can’t get to do what we feel in our
bones is the right thing to do?”

  “It’s family, Zane,” Reese replied. “I’d have thought that was important. Especially since you’re the older brother. Surely you can understand pa wanting the best for you. For all of us.”

  “By marrying us all off?” Zane said sharply. He shook his head and leaned even heavier down onto the pommel. He wasn’t going to budge. Not one inch.

  Zane gazed out across the wide plain. Close to where he and Reese were, there was the trail which led to the town. And, right now, along that trail, about a half mile away, Zane could see some plumes of dust rising, probably from the wheels of a buckboard.

  Reese turned and narrowed his eyes. “Hey. Looks like our visitors have arrived,” he said.

  Zane sighed. He leaned back and gripped the reins of his horse tight in his curled fingers. He had a decision to make. He could just wait here. Or he could take off, thereby making sure everyone involved knew exactly what he thought of this crazy idea.

  “What do you say we go and welcome them,” Reese said enthusiastically. Although he was only a year younger than himself, Zane couldn’t help thinking sometimes that, at twenty-six, Reese was way too eager to settle down.

  “I don’t know, Reese. Maybe they’d be unsettled by that,” Zane objected.

  Reese seized the reins of his mount and twisted his horse in the direction of the trail. “I’m going. Even if you’re not.”

  Zane reached across and took hold of Reese’s arm. “Now hold on there, Reese. How do you know this is a good idea?”

  “I’m just being polite,” Reese replied and smiled.

  “Sure you are,” Zane said lifting a brow and released Reese’s arm. “Being civil is something you’re real good at, isn’t it,” Zane added with a wry grin.

  “I want to see who travelled all the way from Philadelphia without even knowing who she’s going to marry.”

  That last word sent shivers up Zane’s spine. “Well, it ain’t going to be me. I can tell you that for sure,” Zane stated.

  Zane glanced in the direction of the advancing buckboard. In spite of himself, what Reese had just said had triggered curiosity in Zane. Maybe it wouldn’t cause any harm by just being polite. Then, at least Zane would have one up on his family who had yet to meet the woman who’d just arrived in Inspiration with the intention of finding a husband.

  Courtesy of Sophie Cameron, of course, Zane told himself. She was Inspiration’s first mail order bride. Zane wondered if there was any chance Sophie would be the last.

  Zane could hear the wheels of the buckboard now. They were rattling on the hard earth of the trail, heading up the hill toward the rise where he and Reese were stationed. He could see the familiar figure of Sophie as she held onto the buckboard’s reins. Next to her, Zane could just about make out the figure of another woman.

  “Let’s go,” Zane said to Reese. He moved his horse on, heading for a part of the trail that crested the rise.

  As Zane made his way toward the trail, he saw Sophie begin to slow the buckboard. It drew to a halt in a plume of dust just as he and Reese pulled up. Next to Sophie, Zane saw the young woman clutch at the collar of her green dress. With her other free hand, she held on tight to the edge of the wooden seat. Her features were stern.

  Zane figured the newcomer would look more at home on an expensive buggy, rather than a plain, old buckboard. As if reading his mind, her gaze flashed in his direction. Perhaps the little lady wasn’t used to being looked at by a humble rancher. If that was the case then why was she even here?

  “Afternoon, Sophie,” Zane said tapping the brim of his hat.

  “Good afternoon, Zane,” Sophie said. She nodded to Reese. “You two out here working?”

  “That’s what we’re here for, Sophie,” Zane said. “Just doing our jobs. Day in. Day out.”

  Zane looked at the other woman. “And who might I be welcoming onto Circle Cross today?”

  If he wasn’t mistaken, Zane told himself that the newcomer had just peered back at him in a quite disapproving manner. All the Easterners Zane had ever known had all thought they were superior to anyone who lived in Montana. Especially on a ranch.

  Sophie snorted. “I was hoping for some more formal introductions at the ranch,” she said. “But, seeing as how you’re both here, I suppose now is as good a time as any.” Sophie turned to the other woman. “Gentlemen. This is Miss Johanna Henderson. She has come all the way from Philadelphia. In fact, she just got off the train this afternoon.”

  “Couldn’t wait to see how ranch folks live, uh?” Zane teased.

  Miss Henderson’s brows furrowed. This time the ridges above her eyes were deep enough for a man to fall into. Her lips twisted into what Zane thought was a surprisingly cute pout.

  Zane had to admit that her features were pleasing. Even pretty, he told himself. Her eyes were a striking blue, flashing with life, and her soft-looking blonde hair was tucked neatly beneath her bonnet. The only thing which spoiled her appearance was her stiff manner. Or perhaps the hard, wooden seat wasn’t something she was used to, Zane reflected. Maybe she’d lived an easy life. If that was the case, then the last place she belonged was on a ranch.

  “Pleased to make your acquaintance,” Miss Henderson announced. Her voice sounded tight, as if she was holding back her true emotions. Or maybe she was just tired after her long journey, Zane told himself.

  Zane lifted his hat and bowed his head. “I am very glad to meet you, ma’am,” he said.

  When he looked at her again, he saw that she knew he hadn’t been entirely serious.

  “Mr. Buchanan,” she replied curtly.

  “We’re all friends here today,” Sophie said brightly. “Let’s all be on first name terms. What do you say, Johanna?” Sophie asked.

  Johanna nodded. “Why not.”

  “Nathan told us you were coming,” Zane explained.

  “I sent him,” Sophie replied, nodding. “I didn’t want it all to be a complete surprise.”

  “I don’t think they’ll be surprised at all, up at the ranch,” Zane said. “In fact, they’re waiting.” He turned to Reese. “Isn’t that right, Reese?”

  “Sure.”

  “Then let’s go,” Sophie exclaimed. She flicked the reins and the buckboard jolted forward. Zane saw Johanna gripping onto the side of the seat again as the buckboard lurched along the trail.

  Zane shifted his horse around to the side of the buckboard alongside Sophie. The last thing he wanted was to be forced to engage in any kind of civil conversation with Miss Johanna Henderson. He left that to Reese, who didn’t waste a moment before making his horse trot alongside the buckboard next to the newcomer.

  Sophie glanced up at Zane. He knew how wily Sophie could be. And there was a look in her eyes which genuinely worried Zane. At times like these, Zane had to admit that Sheriff Nathan was a lucky man. Finding a wife as smart and as beautiful as Sophie must make Nathan feel like God had truly blessed him, Zane told himself.

  That was all well and good. For others. But not for Zane. There were other things to which God was leading him. Of that he was sure. He felt it in his heart every time he gazed out across the wondrous Montana landscape. The longing to wander had been planted in him, and he didn’t want to ignore it.