Heartland Courtship. Lyn Cote

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      Chapter Three

      On the dusty drive home, Rachel felt unsettled again. She tried not to think of those first few days on the journey here when nothing had seemed right and she hadn’t been able to eat. And sitting beside this handsome man who’d stood up for her added more confusion.

      “How soon could I move into my cabin?” she asked, forcing herself to stop musing.

      “Just need a day or two to get it cleaned out and fix the roof.”

      “I will do the cleaning so thee can concentrate on the fixing.” She had succeeded in staking her homestead claim. She should be experiencing relief but she wasn’t. Her stomach churned. What’s wrong with me?

      The ride home passed much more quickly than the ride to the homestead and then to town. The hot sun beat down on Rachel’s shoulders and bonnet. But she found herself more aware of Mr. Merriday with every mile. She hadn’t expected him to abet her in town. Also she’d seen in Mr. Ashford’s expression that having the Southerner work for her would be frowned on. Well, so be it.

      When Noah’s cabin came into view, Rachel’s heart started jumping oddly. She stiffened her self-control and tried to remain unmoved as Brennan helped her down from the wagon with his usual courtesy, which was not usual to her.

      Noah hailed them from outside his woodshop. With their little boy in her arms, Sunny opened the door and greeted her warmly.

      Rachel burst into tears.

      Everyone rushed forward as if she’d fallen, which shamed her. She turned away, trying to hide her face.

      Sunny came to her and grasped her elbow. “Come. I’ll make you some tea.”

      When Rachel looked up, the two men had disappeared with little Dawn and only she and Sunny went to the bench outside the cabin. Rachel sat while Sunny went inside. The toddler in his dress rolled in the grass, playing with his toes. Tears dripping down her face, Rachel watched him, envying his innocence.

      Soon Sunny handed her a cup of tea and sat beside her. “Was the land agent very rude?” Sunny asked conversationally.

      “Of course he was.” Wiping her eyes with her hankie, Rachel tried to keep bitterness from her tone, but failed. “Why are men so...?” Words failed her.

      Sunny made a sound of agreement. “They certainly can be.”

      Rachel sipped the sweet, tangy tea. “Life would be easier if I just went along with what’s expected of me,” she finally admitted.

      More tea. “Yes, but would that be easier on you?”

      “No!” Rachel’s reply flew from her lips.

      “Then you will just have to thicken your skin.”

      Rachel sighed. “I thought I had.”

      “It’s just this starting out part. Everyone here will get to know you, begin to see that you’re a good person. You’ll become part of the town and then they’ll resent anybody who disparages you.”

      Rachel turned to Sunny. “Really?”

      “Yes, that’s how it happened with us.”

      “Really?”

      Sunny beamed at her. “Noah’s the preacher now.”

      For some reason, Rachel couldn’t swallow a chuckle. Then the two of them were laughing out loud.

      In a while, no doubt drawn by the sounds of mirth, the men approached, looking as if the women’s behavior mystified them. And that only caused Rachel and Sunny to shake with more laughter.

      * * *

      The next day Brennan climbed the ladder onto the roof of Rachel’s cabin, no clouds masking the hot sun. He crawled across the rough surface till he reached the spot where he thought the leak was. Three wooden shakes or shingles had blown loose.

      His lady boss was humming below, sweeping out her cabin. And soon Noah would arrive to start work on the large oven Miss Rachel needed for her business. The question over whether to add a kitchen to the cabin had been debated completely. Finally a summer kitchen connected by a covered walkway to the cabin had been deemed best.

      Thinking of Noah, Brennan found himself filled with potent envy. Noah Whitmore had it all—a place of his own, a pretty wife and two great kids.

      Reminiscence of a time when he’d thought Noah’s kind of life would always be his life goaded him. Lorena’s slender arms slipped around his neck and her soft voice—

      Then the worst happened—one of his infrequent СКАЧАТЬ