Taming the Texas Rancher. Rhonda Gibson

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СКАЧАТЬ voice Hannah answered, “I’m fine.” She straightened. Earlier, Daniel had said he was fine, too, but Hannah wondered again what had put that haunted look in his eyes.

      His brother reached forward and brushed a strand of hair from her eyes. “You sure?” Levi’s gaze studied her.

      “What’s going on in here?”

      Hannah jerked her eyes from Levi’s. Daniel stood in the doorway, staring at them. Anger seemed to radiate from the man like hot sun off a flat rock. She sighed and looked back to Levi, who dropped his hand.

      “Are you feeling any better?” he asked, just loudly enough for her to hear.

      “Yes, thank you,” she whispered back.

      Levi winked at her and then muttered, “Then time to have fun with my brother.” In a robust voice he said, “I’m sorry, big brother, I thought since you left Miss Young standing in front of the house, it was all right for me to get to know her a little better.”

      Daniel stalked into the barn. He passed Levi and came to a stop at Hannah’s side. “Get to know her like a sister-in-law and not like a sweetheart and we’ll be just fine.”

      Levi tilted his head. “And if I decide to give you a little competition and see if she’d rather marry me, what then?”

      Hannah couldn’t believe what Levi was saying. She’d not led him to believe she’d choose him over his brother, but that’s what he was insinuating. The first time they were alone, she was going to set him straight. She refused to come between the brothers. Although from the looks of things, they didn’t seem very close. Still, Hannah planned on setting them both straight.

      * * *

      “I suppose that is up to Miss Young. She’ll have to decide the right thing to do.” Daniel directed Hannah to the barn door, leaving his brother standing there staring after them. Had he just called Levi’s bluff? Or ignited the flame of competition in him? He wasn’t sure.

      And what about Hannah Young? She’d stared up at him like a newborn calf at its mother. Had she expected Daniel to fight his own flesh and blood over her? He continued propelling her across the yard toward the house. “Mother is waiting for you.”

      Hannah pulled her elbow from his hand. Anger flashed in her pretty blue eyes. “And whose fault is that?”

      “I didn’t say it was anyone’s fault.” If he lived to be a hundred, Daniel would never understand women. First his mother was angry with him for bringing home a mail-order bride, and now Hannah was angry with him, too.

      She huffed. “No, you implied it was mine.”

      Daniel straightened his shoulders. “Well, you did run off to the barn with Levi.”

      “Because you left me standing in the front yard as if I was a stray puppy and not your fiancée. By the way...” she paused, then squared her shoulders, too, and tilted her head back to look him in the face “...I did not run.”

      “You two stop that squabbling and get in here! You’re acting like children,” his mother called from the front door.

      He had the satisfaction of watching mortification wash over Hannah’s face. His pleasure was brief as his mother continued, “Wipe that smirk off your face, young man.” She turned and stomped back inside the house, leaving the door open.

      Daniel assumed that if she’d left the door ajar, his mother was getting over being mad. He’d known she wouldn’t be too happy about him marrying a girl from anywhere else but Granite, but he hadn’t expected her to be this angry.

      His gaze moved from the door to Hannah. She looked ready to bolt. Once more he took her arm and propelled her toward the house. “Ma will be fine and so will you. You know, if we were already married, she wouldn’t be able to say much.”

      Hannah seemed to ignore his comment. “You told her we aren’t married yet?”

      He followed her up the porch steps. “Sure did.”

      She sighed. “Good.”

      Daniel followed her over the threshold and swung the door shut behind them. Hannah stopped suddenly, causing him to bump into her, almost knocking her to the floor. He reached out and pulled her back against his chest and stomach.

      Bonnie Westland stood in front of them with Hannah’s suitcases propped in front of her. Her arms were crossed and her mouth was set in a hard line. She hadn’t looked at him like that since he was a little boy. And then it had been a baby skunk and not a girl he’d brought home. “Daniel, I suggest you take your future bride back to town. She’ll not be staying under my roof.”

      Chapter Five

      Hannah gasped at the venom in the older woman’s words. She thought Daniel’s mother would have been happy that her oldest son had brought home a prospective bride. Hadn’t she been the one to set up this contest? Hannah squared her shoulders and asked, “May I ask what you have against me, Mrs. Westland?”

      Bonnie’s eyes narrowed. “No, you may not.” She looked over Hannah’s head at her son. “Get this woman out of my house now.” With that, she spun on her booted heels and stomped up the stairs.

      The way she’d said “woman” made Hannah feel dirty. She spun on her heels in turn and stepped around Daniel. As she did so, Hannah saw that his mouth was gaping open and his eyes were wide. Obviously this wasn’t normal behavior from Bonnie Westland.

      Still, it hurt.

      Hannah fought tears.

      She stopped at the porch railing and looked out over the Westland Ranch. Cows grazed in the pastures and horses stood in the corrals. A pond could be seen in the distance and dots that might be ducks floated on its watery surface. Chickens scratched in the dirt. Several fruit trees stood off to one side, with blooms of various colors promising a healthy harvest. To Hannah it was the most beautiful place on earth.

      “I’m sorry for my mother’s brisk behavior. Normally she is not this ill-mannered.”

      Hannah turned her head and looked at Daniel Westland. His dazed expression spoke volumes about his confused feelings. She sighed. This day hadn’t gone well. “Maybe she’s right.”

      “No, she isn’t.” Daniel’s gaze moved to the orchard. “She wanted me to marry and I will. But I will chose who I wish to wed.” His chin rose stubbornly. The glint in his eyes matched that of his mother’s.

      “But where will I stay?” Hannah didn’t know what else to say. Right now she was homeless, and disliked by the only woman she’d seen on the place.

      “The schoolhouse.” He picked up her bags and headed down the steps.

      “You have a schoolhouse?” Hannah hurried after him. “Won’t the schoolteacher need it?”

      “School’s not running right now.” Daniel continued across the yard. His feet carried him over a grassy pasture to the edge of the orchard.

      Hannah picked up her skirts and hurried after him. The sounds of a gurgling stream played in her ears as she looked СКАЧАТЬ