Taming the Texas Rancher. Rhonda Gibson

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СКАЧАТЬ I relish, either. But it is what happens when a man places a mail-order bride ad and a lady accepts the offer. I did not agree to any other terms. I have a ranch to run, and the sooner we get this...” for a moment he faltered for words “...this marriage thing over with, the better. Now come along.” He reached for her arm, figuring the tone he’d just used with her had scared more than one cowpoke into doing what he ordered.

      She stepped back out of his reach. Determination laced her blue eyes and she responded in a stern manner of her own. “I don’t think so, Mr. Westland. I sent a letter and told you my stipulations. By sending me tickets to come here, you agreed to those terms.”

      Daniel spread his legs and planted his fists on his waist. He ignored the grinning Levi, who’d taken a sudden interest in them. His sibling no longer resembled a dejected hound dog.

      He turned his gaze from his little brother and focused on her. “Miss Young, I did not receive your letter and would never have agreed to your demands. Did you or did you not answer my mail-order bride ad?”

      She offered him a sweet smile. Her blue eyes sparkled in the morning sunlight, much like a woman’s jewels. Daniel felt sure she was about to say that it was all right and she’d be happy to marry him on the spot.

      Instead, Hannah said, “Yes, I did. And I only did so because I thought you agreed to my terms. I’m sorry to hear that you didn’t get my letter, but the terms still stand. I am not trying to be a demanding woman, Mr. Westland. But I will not be forced into a quick marriage.”

      Sweetness dripped from her lips, but determination filled her eyes. He could tell this woman was giving no quarter in their disagreement. He also realized they were gathering more attention than a bucking bull on Main Street.

      He ground his teeth and scowled at his brother, who grinned back at him. This was not working out as Daniel had planned. “Come along. We’ll discuss this over lunch.” He walked back to her luggage and jerked it up.

      Leave it to him to pick a bride who wanted to marry, but only for love. Why hadn’t he gotten the missing letter? In the last one he’d received she’d said yes, that she’d like to come to Granite and meet him. Had she mentioned a long engagement? No, he felt sure he’d have remembered it if she had.

      Upon reflection, he realized she’d said “meet” him, not marry him. His assumption that all mail-order brides had to get married might have cost him his ranch.

      * * *

      Hannah followed behind Daniel Westland. His straight shoulders and tight jaw screamed of his anger and confusion. She believed him when he’d said he hadn’t gotten her letter, but Hannah held fast to the dream of marrying for love.

      She’d already been left at the altar once because the young man didn’t love her. It was too bad he’d decided to tell her so in front of all their friends and family. It was a hard lesson, but she’d learned it well. Now Hannah refused to marry a man until she was sure of his love and she heard him proclaim the words I love you with his own lips. Hannah didn’t think it was too much to ask.

      “Miss Young?”

      She turned to see a smiling Levi Westland strolling beside her. He looked a lot like his older brother, with the same green eyes, even white teeth and sandy-brown hair. Only where Daniel’s was short, Levi’s touched his collar, and twin dimples winked from his cheeks. He was shorter than his brother by a few inches. “Yes?”

      He cleared his throat and spoke in a louder-than-necessary voice. “If my brother isn’t willing to agree to court you, I will. I’ll even wait until you fall in love with me before we marry.” Levi held out the wildflowers he’d been holding tightly, and offered her a bright smile.

      If the situation had been different, Hannah would have laughed at the comical way he’d gallantly made his announcement. Levi seemed very sure that he could make her fall head over heels in love with him. Her gaze moved to Daniel as he lifted both her bags into the buckboard. What did he think of his brother’s declaration?

      Hannah took the flowers Levi offered and smiled sweetly at both men. “Thank you, Mr. Westland. I’ll keep that in mind.”

      A low growl came from Daniel as he turned from the buckboard. Hard green eyes swept over his younger brother.

      “Levi, leave Miss Young alone.”

      Mischief danced in Levi’s face. His dimples deepened as he grinned. “Why, big brother? Have you changed your mind already?”

      Daniel ignored him and came to stand in front of Hannah. “Would you like to eat at the hotel dining room? Or The Eating House?”

      She squared her shoulders and asked, “Which is more private and offers a pot of hot tea?” Had Daniel changed his mind? She didn’t think so. From the set of his jaw and the fire in his eyes, she’d almost bet that he hadn’t.

      “Probably The Eating House,” he said, stepping to her side and cupping her elbow in his callused hand.

      She marveled at the gentleness of his touch. Even though he was mad enough to spit nails, Daniel’s hand betrayed none of the anger Hannah was sure he was feeling.

      Levi moved to the other side. “I think pot roast and fresh bread are the special today,” he offered as he grinned across at Daniel.

      Hannah felt small as she walked between the brothers. She straightened to her full height of four feet eleven inches and was still almost a foot shorter than Levi. Daniel towered a few inches over his brother, making her feel even smaller.

      Aware of the limp she’d attained as a child, she tried to keep her footsteps strong and even with theirs. So far neither Daniel nor Levi had mentioned her slight hobble; perhaps it wasn’t as important to them as she had feared it would be.

      Normally Hannah would have relished the silence among the three of them, but when she’d made the decision to start a new life, she’d also decided to become more sociable. Talk more, express more, live more.

      So to break the tension-filled stillness she asked, “Mr. Westland, who is Millicent Summer?” She turned her gaze on Levi.

      He cleared his throat and looked away. “She’s the woman who answered my mail-order bride advertisement. It seems I’m not the only one who had that idea.” Levi cut his eyes toward his brother once more.

      Hannah followed his gaze. Daniel continued walking, but his jaw worked and his lips had thinned. Confusion warred within her. “But why did you both send for a mail-order bride?” She looked about the small town. Maybe there just weren’t enough women to go around here in Granite, Texas.

      “Let’s get a pot of tea in front of you and I’ll tell you everything,” Levi answered.

      Hannah nodded. A sick quiver churned her already unsettled stomach. She prayed it was simply because she hadn’t eaten since the early hours of the morning, but knew it was her normal reaction to forthcoming bad news.

      Daniel growled between gritted teeth. “Don’t you think I should be the one to tell her?”

      They walked toward a large building with the name The Eating House painted over the door. The fragrance of fresh bread drifted from an open window, which sported red-and-white curtains. Hannah’s stomach growled.

      Levi followed СКАЧАТЬ