Ethan saw Chloe's face flush. She halted in front of the mercantile and gazed disbelievingly at him. He'd arrived just in time to catch her before she'd left town. He was glad of that, because he had something he needed to say to her. Something which had been on his mind ever since she'd been at the ranch that morning.
"Mr Armstrong," she gasped.
Ethan took a few steps toward Chloe. "I thought we were on first name terms," he stated giving her his best, friendly grin.
Chloe lifted a hand and fussed with a loose curl of hair beneath her green bonnet. "Ethan," she breathed quietly. Her voice cracked slightly as she said his name. It looked like she'd been taken by surprise, Ethan reflected. He liked the way she looked when she was surprised, he told himself. In the mid-afternoon sun, her skin had an attractive glow. But, her eyes shone with a mixture of curiosity and concern. Her gaze shifted hesitantly toward the door of the mercantile. Ethan wondered who else was inside. He asked himself if Chloe was worried someone else might see her with him.
"If this is a bad time, I can go," Ethan suggested, starting to move away from Chloe.
"No. It's fine," Chloe said abruptly, lifting a gloved hand.
Ethan halted and then moved a step closer to Chloe. Once again, he glanced at the carriage. "You been buying Christmas gifts for the whole Buchanan clan?" he asked, trying to make sure it didn't sound like he was prying.
Chloe's brows furrowed in that way he'd found so appealing earlier in the morning. "I've been buying things for the Christmas decorating I'll be doing at the ranch." He sure did like the way she looked when she was annoyed, he told himself. That struck him as a curious thing. Something he'd have to think about later. She glanced conspiratorially toward the mercantile door. In a low voice, she added: "And I've got an idea for what I can do up at your family's ranch."
Emotion flared in Ethan. He cleared his throat and shuffled his booted feet on the wooden boardwalk. "About that, Chloe," he murmured. "I did some talking to my pa. After you and Mrs Buchanan left. Just like I said I would." He paused longer than he would have liked.
Chloe peered inquisitively at him. "And?"
Ethan's throat felt suddenly tight. He looked around, checking that no-one could hear what they were saying to each other. Chloe's eyes were open wide with expectation. There was one thing he knew for sure. He liked it when she looked at him like that. "Could we go somewhere else and talk for a while?"
Chloe frowned. "What about?"
"I'll tell you once we can talk in private." Ethan looked across Main Street at the wide window of the cafe. It looked quiet inside. "Maybe we can go over there and have some tea," he said nodding in the direction of the cafe.
Chloe followed his gaze. She paused a long moment, obviously weighing up whether she wanted to be seen in public with him, talking over tea and cakes in the town's favorite cafe. Maybe it was worth the risk. She nodded. "Okay," she said abruptly.
Trying to contain his delight, Ethan smiled cautiously at Chloe. "Let's go, then."
He escorted Chloe across Main Street. At one point he had to cradle her elbow gently in his hand and speed her up, helping her to avoid an oncoming rider who refused to slow down. As he moved quickly toward the boardwalk, he savored the feeling of her elbow in his hand. Touching her had set off a rush of sensation. He schooled his features, eager she shouldn't notice her effect on him.
They made their way into the cafe and took a seat by the window. Other than two elderly ladies seated in the corner, it was a relief to Ethan there wouldn't be too many folks to listen to what he had to say to Chloe. Even then, he told himself he'd make sure he kept his voice low. What he had to say to Chloe was best kept private.
Tea and cakes were ordered. Once they'd been brought, and tea poured into white china cups, Ethan leaned his elbows on the table and gazed across at Chloe. During the wait for the tea, Chloe had repeatedly glanced out the large window. It was as if she was worried she'd be seen here with Ethan.
She sipped some tea, placed the cup back down on the saucer and met Ethan's gaze. "What did you want to tell me?"
Ethan sighed. "I spoke to my pa. About your idea," Ethan said evenly.
"And? What did he say?"
Ethan cleared his throat. "He wasn't too pleased about it."
Chloe's mouth opened and her eyes widened. "He's not going along with it?"
Ethan shook his head. "For the moment, I don't think he is."
"Why?" Chloe's furrowed brows betrayed her disappointment.
Ethan glanced across at the two ladies in the corner of the room. They weren't looking his way. Thankfully, there were some noises coming from the kitchen. They'd serve to make it harder to overhear what he had to say to Chloe. "You have to understand my pa. He's had a difficult time this year. Things haven't gone his way." Ethan leaned closer to Chloe. "First, there was taking possession of the ranch. That was hard enough. Then, there was the problems with your relatives." Ethan saw Chloe's mouth open, a ready objection on the tip of her tongue. He lifted a hand. "I didn't mean that in a bad way. I know what's been going on at the ranches hasn't been easy for anyone."
"From what I hear, the trouble has all been coming from one way," Chloe objected. She pointed a finger at Ethan. "Your ranch."
He felt the impulse to respond, but managed to keep it under control. The last thing he wanted was to have an argument in public with Chloe. He suppressed a smile, meeting her steady gaze. Chloe sure knew how to stand up for her own opinions. "The final straw was when he fell off that horse. We still don't know how it happened. He was on his own when it happened, one day, out on the rangeland. Some of the ranch hands found him. He won't talk about it." Ethan sighed and shook his head. "As I said before. My pa can be mule-headed at times."
Sympathy softened Chloe's features. "Pride can be a terrible thing," Chloe said. "The Lord doesn't want us to be like that."
"I think it's more than just pride," he said. "More like some kind of undeserved misfortune. We've always been a devout family. I suppose my pa feels angry his life has changed like that. I think he believes it shouldn't have happened."
"Sometimes these things are sent to test our faith," Chloe said. "Hardship and trials can make us grow in virtue. Make us better people."
Ethan hadn't thought about Chloe's faith. The subject hadn't come up. His own faith had been formed by his parents, long before coming to Inspiration. Mostly it had been his mother who'd made sure that Ethan and his sister, Gretchen, developed a strong faith. His father hadn't been without faith, either. They'd all been regular church-goers. But, since the mysterious fall from the horse earlier this year, Ethan had heard his father complain at times about how his suffering didn't make sense, given how religious the whole family had always been.
"I'm not sure my pa can see it that way. Not being able to remember things properly. Especially recent events. Those are the only ones he has problems recalling." Ethan sighed, feeling all the pain of the last few months. He hated seeing his father suffer. But, maybe Chloe was right. Perhaps there was a reason for all of this. "We've always been a religious family," Ethan added.
"Trusting in God is important," Chloe said and then smiled. "But, I guess you already know that."
Ethan nodded. There was a quiet wisdom about Chloe's manner. Wanting to shift the conversation away from himself, Ethan spoke: "What about your parents?" he asked. "Do they live in Salt Lake City?"
Chloe's gaze softened. "My parents passed away a few years ago," she said bluntly.
Ethan chided himself for his clumsiness. "I'm sorry. Do you have any brothers or sisters?"
Chloe smiled weakly and shook her head. "I was their only child. The only family I have are the Buchanan folks."
For a moment, Ethan was lost for words. He hadn't realized Chloe was so alone in the world. It couldn't have been easy dealing with the death of both parents.
Chloe continued: "I've had to build my life up on my own." She smiled. "With plenty of help from God, of course. Thankfully, there ha
ve been opportunities for me in Salt Lake City." Her voice trailed off and she looked thoughtfully out of the cafe window.
Ethan wanted to ask her for more information, but he could sense by the expression on her features that she might prefer not to divulge any more to him.
However, as if determined to prove him wrong again, Chloe continued: "Back in Salt Lake, I work in a dressmaker store. I've been there for about three years. I like my work. And I get to meet lots of good people."
He wanted to ask if those people included any interested gentlemen, but he restrained the urge to probe her further. Instead, he simply said: "I guess that gives you plenty of chances to use your talents," Ethan suggested.
Chloe's eyes narrowed and she tilted her head. "I suppose it does," she said softly. "I take care of lots of things around the store. Not just the dressmaking. Arranging displays of gowns. And I get to make sure the store window display is attractive for passing customers." She took another sip of tea and placed the cup down. Looking steadily at him, she asked: "Where did your family live before coming to Inspiration?"
"Colorado. We had a small spread there, but pa wanted something bigger," Ethan explained. He laughed quietly. "Pa has always been ambitious. Always wanting something better for us." Ethan sighed quietly.
Ethan saw Chloe lean her elbow on the table and rest her chin on her flat palm. Her eyes narrowed with interest as she listened to him. "I can't fault him for trying to make our lives happy," Ethan continued. "He wanted to see Montana. Pa heard ranching was good here. We came into some money after his brother died. I guess the prospect of a better life made the decision for him."
"And you?" Chloe asked.
"What about me?"
"Did you want to come to Montana? Or didn't you have a choice," she concluded in a matter-of-fact voice. "Did you consider striking out on your own instead of coming here?"
Ethan thought a few moments before replying. Was she teasing him? Or was she truly interested in his past? She seemed genuinely curious about his life. That was something new for Ethan. There hadn't been anyone in Inspiration who'd showed this much interest in him and his past. "We've always been a happy family," he explained. "Maybe I didn't want to break that up. In any case, ranching has always been my life. It's all I know. All I can do."
Chloe said, "Hmm," thoughtfully, a sound which made Ethan think she wasn't entirely convinced about that last thing he'd said. "I believe everyone has a God-given talent. Sometimes we don't know what it is until we're pushed into a situation where we have to make a choice."
Speaking of choice, Ethan knew he had to deal with his father's refusal to allow Chloe to come to the ranch. He didn't want to tell her just how vehement his father had been about denying any Buchanan a chance to spend any time at the ranch. Let alone fixing the place up for Christmas.
Before he had a chance to say anything about that, Chloe leaned back and gazed out the window. "I better be getting back to the ranch," she announced.
Instantly, Ethan felt something sink like a heavy stone in his middle. He'd been enjoying himself more than he'd realized. Now she was leaving, he was already thinking about how he could see her again. After paying for the tea and cakes, he and Chloe headed back over to the mercantile.
Standing in front of the mercantile, Ethan glanced through the window at the nativity scene which was the focus of the display. "Say, that's mighty pretty," he commented.
Chloe followed his gaze. "It's beautiful," she agreed. "Perfect for a Christmas at the ranch."
For a moment, Ethan was sure she was about to add something else, but her lips tightened and she turned away from the window. Now, she just looked awkward, he told himself. As if she couldn't wait to get away. He escorted her to the carriage. Resisting the urge to assist her up onto the seat by taking her hand, he watched as she took her place, seizing the reins.
Chloe looked down at him. "Thank you for the tea, Ethan," she said softly.
He loved the sound of his name on her lips. He felt his heart racing. Just gazing up at her beauty made him feel suddenly like a little boy again, smitten by the pretty girl in the schoolroom. He felt his face flush red. Touching the brim of his Stetson, he stepped back from the carriage and up onto the boardwalk. "I suppose we'll be running into one another, again," he suggested.
Chloe smiled and nodded. "I hope your pa comes around to the idea of making Christmas special this year. There's no need for our two families to be at loggerheads. Especially at this time of the year."
Knowing she was absolutely right, Ethan nodded firmly. "I couldn't agree more."
Chloe smiled one last time. Then she flicked the reins and, within moments, her carriage was speeding up Main Street. As he watched the carriage race up the street, Ethan sighed heavily. There'd been so much he'd wanted to say to Chloe. Maybe he'd get other chances to do so before Christmas came. He knew he had his work cut out for him if he was going to persuade his father to let a Buchanan onto his land. There had to be a way, he told himself.
Having witnessed what Chloe was like, seen the charm and gentleness of her nature, Ethan was sure he wanted to see her more often. He didn't doubt that, given a chance to meet Chloe, and speak with her, his father might come around. Might see sense. But, the only way that would happen would be if Ethan found a reason for Chloe to spend time at the Armstrong ranch. A legitimate reason.
Ethan turned, and his gaze settled on the nativity scene for sale in the window of the mercantile. The one about which Chloe had expressed so much interest. And, just at that moment, the beginnings of an idea stirred in the back of Ethan's mind.
CHAPTER TEN
Late in the morning, the day after meeting Ethan in town, Chloe was in the parlor of the Buchanan ranch awaiting Eugenie and Caleb's return from a shopping trip. Chloe had chosen to stay at home, so she could begin some of her preparations for the Buchanan family Christmas. The bright morning sun streamed through the windows. A warm fire filled the room with pleasant heat. Strewn across the parlor floor carpet were long, twisting lines of expertly tied brightly-colored red and green ribbons. Chloe planned on pinning them along the walls in the parlor. They would add festive color to the room. She gazed around the room, momentarily savoring the peace and happiness she felt. It was so good to be back in the Buchanan home. This place was more of a home to her than the small apartment she rented back in Salt Lake City.
Since meeting Ethan the day before, Chloe had been thinking about what he'd said to her about his father, Jake Armstrong. It seemed that the heart of Ethan's father had been hardened against God. The pain of the sudden change in his circumstances had weakened not only his memory, but also Jake's faith. It wasn't the first time Chloe had come across such a reaction to misfortune. In her church at home, she knew of a number of folks who'd experienced similar challenges. Illnesses. Injuries. Financial hardship.
Chloe had seen how people could react to such difficulties. For some, it was the chance to deepen their faith. While others chose to turn away from God, certain that their suffering was evidence either of God's disfavor or, even worse, an opportunity for doubt in His existence. Chloe knew that hardship could be turned to good. She knew that Jake Armstrong needed help to see his problems as a chance to seek God's help. Not to turn his back on the only source of true help in the world.
As she sat at the parlor table, knotting the ribbons together, Chloe offered up a quiet prayer for Jake Armstrong.
Lord, grant Jake Armstrong the understanding to see what You want of him. Give him the wisdom to see that hope in You is the only way forward. If it be Thy will, grant him good health and recovery. And a softening of his heart so that he may, once again, know Your love. Amen.
Chloe heard the rattling of wheels in the yard. Looking out the window, she saw the carriage driven by Caleb. Next to him sat Eugenie. Chloe went outside to greet them. There were boxes and bags stacked behind the carriage seat. Chloe felt her heart sink a little as she examined the packages stacked there. Yesterday, on her return, Ch
loe had mentioned one very important thing to Eugenie. The beautiful nativity scene in the mercantile window. Eugenie had told Chloe she might buy the nativity scene when she went into town with Caleb. But, right now, there was no sign of it on the back of the carriage.
The Rancher’s Christmas Wish (Brides 0f Inspiration Book 8) Page 7