The Rancher’s Second Chance Bride

by Maya Stirling

  Reese frowned. "What kind of a proposal, Calhoun?"

  Calhoun took a few steps toward Reese. "I'm interested in this ranch, Buchanan," he explained.

  "What do you mean, interested?" Reese responded.

  Calhoun halted next to Honora who was glaring at him like she wanted to give him a piece of her mind. "I'd like to buy this place."

  Honora exploded. "You aren't buying a single part of this spread, Calhoun," she blurted, lifting her chin and facing him directly. "What makes you think we would even think of selling?" Honora's face was suddenly red. Reese couldn't recall ever seeing her like this. "And to the likes of you."

  Calhoun narrowed his eyes. "What could you know about me, ma'am. According to what I heard, you've been away a long time. You're almost a stranger here."

  Reese saw Honora's jaw tighten. Her eyes widened and color rushed to her cheeks. Reese knew he had to intervene before she dug an even bigger hole for herself. There were ways of dealing with the likes of Calhoun.

  Reese advanced toward Calhoun, but the other man simply held his ground as he watched Reese step forward. "You ain't serious, Calhoun. You got as much chance of getting your hands on this place as you do getting one single acre of Buchanan land."

  Calhoun was completely unmoved by Reese's words. "You and I know that isn't true, Buchanan," Calhoun said slowly. "There's plenty ways I can get my hands on your family's ranch. That situation isn't over. Not by a long shot."

  "Why, you!" Reese roared, tightening his fists and closing in on Calhoun. But, Honora stepped between him and Calhoun. Reese halted and glanced at Honora. He just about managed to contain the impulse to put Calhoun on his rear in the dust. It wasn't the first time he'd wanted to do that, and he was sure it wouldn't be the last.

  Mabel came racing over from the porch and took hold of Honora's arm. "Come away, dear," she said to Honora. "There's no sense in getting yourself riled up like this. Mr Calhoun was just leaving," Mabel said sharply. She gave Calhoun a look that Reese thought would have cowed any grown man.

  Calhoun looked at Rufus, who had remained standing at the open front door. "You heard my offer, Ferguson. It stands. For now, at least." Calhoun peered at Mabel and Honora. "I hope these fine ladies let the man of the house make the right decision," he sneered.

  That remark drew a shriek of outrage from both Mabel and Honora.

  "Calhoun," Reese barked. "One of these days you're going to go too far."

  "And then what, Buchanan?" Calhoun replied, giving Reese a defiant look. "You going to have me run out of Inspiration?" He rolled his eyes. "Last time I checked, I owned most of the town." He laughed and shook his head as he walked toward a horse which was tied to the hitching rail.

  Calhoun got up onto his horse and peered down at each one of the people glaring at him. Then he fixed Rufus with a firm look. "You know where to find me," he said to Rufus.

  With that, Calhoun tugged on his reins and rode out of the yard, heading back in the direction of Inspiration.

  "What was all that about, aunt?" Honora demanded. "Why did that horrible man come out here? "

  Reese almost laughed out loud when he heard the way Honora described Calhoun. He'd never heard a truer description of Calhoun. She and Mabel walked to the porch. Rufus stood at the open door. There was a worried look on his face. Reese figured he knew he had trouble coming from the two feisty women who were drawing him looks.

  "Seems like your uncle gave him the impression there'd be a welcome for him here," Mabel said. She raised a brow at Rufus. "You owe us all an explanation," she stated firmly. "Or maybe you'd prefer you and me have a cozy chat in private." Rufus bowed his head and said nothing. Mabel glanced at Reese. "Last thing I want to do is spoil the good time these two had over at Zane and Johanna's place. How was it?"

  Reese exchanged looks with Honora. If only Mabel knew about the conversation he and Honora had shared on the way back. It hadn't all been good times this afternoon.

  Honora spoke before Reese had a chance to say anything. "It was lovely, aunt," she said abruptly. "Zane and Johanna were real nice to us." Honora smiled at Reese. "Weren't they, Reese."

  He was taken aback by her sudden friendliness toward him. Maybe she was just trying to make sure the afternoon didn't get any worse than it had done. A visit from Calhoun was enough to ruin anyone's day, Reese reflected.

  "My brother and his wife sure have a good thing going," he agreed smiling warmly at Honora. "That cabin of theirs is sure pretty. They're making a real home from home."

  Welcoming that good news, Mabel smiled at Honora. "See? I told you it was a good idea for you to go there today."

  "You were right, aunt. It was worth going."

  Reese saw Honora smile at him and nod as if she appreciated the fact that he was going along with her. Hiding the hurt they'd shared on the way back. Maybe she thought her aunt and uncle had enough to deal with. The last thing they needed was even a hint of the discord between himself and Honora. That would have just made a bad day even worse. He felt like they were sharing a secret. Just like they done, so many times in the past.

  Rufus turned and started to make his way back inside the house. Before he'd made it through the door, Mabel called out to him. "We ain't selling Rufus Ferguson," she said sharply. "You here me?"

  He froze and turned to face his wife. Rufus glanced nervously from Reese to Honora. Plainly, he was embarrassed by everything which had happened. "I hear you, Mabel," he admitted in a weak voice. Reese could see that Rufus knew he'd done wrong. Or maybe it was more serious than that. Reese knew that Rufus had ideas of quitting the ranch. He'd heard rumors as such when he'd been speaking to some of the ranch hands in town. Until now, Reese had assumed it was all just idle talk. Gossip. But, maybe, Calhoun had gotten wind of Rufus' intentions.

  Ideas were running around Reese's mind. Notions about what it would mean if Calhoun did manage to get his hands on the Ferguson spread. Since it adjoined the Buchanan land, there might be a whole lot of trouble that would come from that one single transaction. Reese didn't like it. Not one bit.

  Rufus drew Reese a dirty look. "Don't go getting any funny ideas, Buchanan," he said with a suddenly acid tone of voice. It was almost as if he was using Reese to deflect from his own mistake.

  "Why would I have any ideas, Rufus?" Reese asked.

  "You know what I mean," Rufus replied. "You Buchanans never have liked the way we run this spread. Maybe Calhoun isn't the only one to have an eye on taking this over."

  Reese stared incredulously at Rufus. "You're joking, right?" he snapped.

  Rufus shook his head. "I am not."

  "We've got no interest in interfering in you making a livelihood here, Rufus. You know that." Reese saw Honora staring at him. "We might have had some differences these past few months, but that doesn't mean we'd do anything to take over the spread." Reese glanced at Mabel. "We're trying hard to hang onto what we've got. We don't need trouble. And we're not looking to cause any."

  Reese hoped what he'd said sounded convincing. Rufus' accusations were plain ludicrous. There was no substance to them whatsoever.

  In spite of that, he saw Honora gazing at him, uncertainty in her eyes. Surely she didn't believe any of this. The only troublemaker at the ranch had been Calhoun. He was the only one the Ferguson had to keep their eye on. He felt he'd overstayed his welcome. He'd done what he'd agreed to do. Honora was home safely. And now it was time for him to leave. Apart from which, the suspicious look on Honora's face was cutting him up.

  Reese tapped the front of his hat. "I'll be getting along," he announced. He looked at Honora and smiled at her. "It was a pleasure, Honora."

  She gazed at him, blank-faced. The mask had gone up again, he told himself. It felt like nothing he did any more was right. Definitely time to be going, he told himself.

  He strode to his horse and got up onto the saddle. Judging by the tense looks being exchanged between Rufus and Mabel, Reese knew there might be fireworks tonight at the Ferguson ranch. W
ith one last glance at Honora, Reese turned his horse and sped away from the ranch house.

  CHAPTER TEN

  "You aren't really thinking of selling this place, Uncle Rufus, are you?" Honora asked as she emerged later that evening out onto the front porch. Rufus glanced up at Honora, rolled his eyes, and sighed. He didn't say anything immediately. He just turned his head away from her. Maybe he'd had enough of questions for the moment, she told herself.

  She'd known she'd probably find him out here after a dinner which had been later than usual. And, sure enough, he was seated on his favorite bench, a cheroot between his lips, and a glass of his preferred whiskey in his hand. She decided not to say anything about the drink. If her mother had been here, she would have proclaimed about the evils of drink. But, that was all in the past now, she told herself.

  Rufus still wore the rough pants and loose-fitting plaid shirt he'd been wearing during his work on the spread after Reese had left. A shotgun was propped up against the wall alongside the bench. She wondered why he'd felt the need to bring a gun outside with him. Sometimes work was a handy substitute for having to stay at home and talk about difficult matters. And that had certainly been the case this afternoon, Honora reflected.

  It was dark now, and the evening was cool. The sky was ablaze with stars and she could hear the sounds of unseen insects out there. In the soft light, she saw a couple of the ranch hands making their way to the bunkhouse over past the stables. The cookhouse was emptying gradually as the men were finishing off their meal after a long day's work out on the spread. It was the end of another long day on the ranch.

  It would have felt peaceful if it hadn't have been for the leftover tension of Calhoun's visit. And the unsettled feeling she had after her confrontation with Reese. She hadn't told anyone about that. She figured her aunt had enough to deal with after what Rufus had gone and done. And that was why she had come out here. She wanted to find out if what her aunt had told her was true.

  Honora wrapped her arms around herself and glanced down at the empty place on the bench next to her uncle. "Mind if I sit there?" she asked.

  "Be my guest," he said gruffly. She sat down and leaned back against the bench. Rufus puffed on his cheroot and remained silent.

  Honora sat patiently, thinking what she could say to her uncle. Finally, she decided to get things off her mind. "You didn't answer my question," she said firmly.

  He glanced at her and raised a brow. "What makes you think I owe you an answer, Honora?" he asked.

  "This used to belong to my family," she replied.

  "But, it doesn't anymore," Rufus snapped. "This is mine."

  "And Aunt Mabel's, too," Honora countered.

  "Sure, it is," he retorted.

  Honora gazed at him, hardly able to believe the sharpness in his voice. By the light cast from the window behind them, she saw the tiredness in his eyes. The weariness she'd seen on that first buckboard rode back from the station was still evident. He'd changed so much from the kindly man she'd known. The man who her father had deemed fit to hand over the ranch. She wondered what had happened to cause such a change in Rufus.

  She paused, realizing they'd gotten off on the wrong foot. It felt like they'd just sparred, misunderstanding each other completely.

  Honora sighed and turned to face her uncle. He took a sip of his whiskey and avoided her gaze as he spoke. "No sense in talking about Calhoun," he declared. "I've done enough of that with your aunt."

  "And what was the conclusion?" Honora asked, determined he wasn't going to stop her from pursuing the truth.

  Rufus glanced at her and frowned. "You don't give in so easily, do you?"

  Honora shook her head. "I do not. I was taught that the truth is worth fighting for. And that has always been the way I prefer. My faith gives me all the strength I need to keep going."

  Rufus' expression changed somewhat. She thought she could see the flickering of the tiniest respect in his eyes. "Your aunt was telling me about that faith of yours." Rufus sighed. "I guess it has been a comfort to you at this difficult time."

  "It certainly has," Honora replied. "I don't know if I could have coped otherwise."

  Rufus grunted. "I can understand that," he said. "There was a time when faith made a difference in my life. But that was a long time ago." His voice was suddenly soft, as if he was recalling another part of his life. Honora wanted to know more, but thought better of probing.

  Her aunt had never spoken about Rufus' past faith. Only his current lack of it. Maybe that accounted for the difficulties he was experiencing adapting to ranch life. And for the fact that he had been willing to even listen to someone like Calhoun. The difference between her aunt and uncle couldn't be more stark, she told herself. Honora told herself that finding a marriage where both husband and wife saw eye to eye on matters of faith was difficult out here in the West.

  Hardship affected people differently, she told herself. For some it brought them closer to God. With others, it was the opposite. Hearts could be hardened by suffering. She knew that, even if her own experience had been of the former kind. Her faith was stronger now than it had ever been.

  Rufus reached down to the floor and lifted the bottle and paused, regarding it with sudden reluctance, one brow lifted. Instead of pouring another drink, he sighed, bent down and set the bottle back down on the wooden floor of the porch. Honora suppressed any sign of the satisfaction she felt as she watched him do that.

  Rufus sat back and gazed up at the star-strewn sky. "Times like this, I can see why folks like to live out in a place like this," he murmured. He sighed contentedly. "It sure is pretty. And peaceful."

  "God's graciousness knows no limits," Honora said. "It's there for all to see. If they only open their eyes for a moment. And really look." She turned to Rufus. "Do you know that you can't see the sky like this if you're in the city?"

  Rufus lifted a brow. "Yeah?"

  "The lamplights make it hard to see. Of course you can see some of the stars. But the city blocks many of them out." She thought for a moment. "A bit like what the city does to people's souls."

  Rufus glanced at her. He appeared genuinely interested in what she was saying. "Not a place for the Godly, then," he suggested.

  Honora smiled softly. "You could say that."

  "That's why you came back here?" Rufus asked.

  Honora sighed and shook her head. "No. I came because this is where I belong. Here I can feel the presence of God in a way that I never could back in the city."

  Rufus nodded, his mouth turning downward. "I haven't felt that since I came here," he admitted.

  Honora turned and faced him. "Don't you go to church? The pastor delivers some real fine sermons from what I recall."

  That statement shifted something inside Rufus. His eyes darkened. "I don't hold no truck with men who give sermons." His voice dropped to a gruff mumble. "Life don't always match up with what they say."

  Honora tried to guess what that might mean. Had Rufus been the victim of something dreadful in his past? Something that had involved a pastor or some other disappointment? Before she had a chance to ask, Rufus reached down, lifted the bottle and stood. He looked down at her. "I'll be saying goodnight, Honora. It's been nice speaking with you. Even if you and I don't have some things in common, you still have a place here on this ranch. Nothing that happened today changes any of that."

  Suddenly she couldn't control herself. "But, what about Calhoun? You can't let him do anything to spoil this, Uncle Rufus."

  He smiled and shook his head. "We can talk about that some other time." It was clear he wasn't going to be drawn on the subject.

  Rufus walked away and headed back into the house. Alone now, Honora reflected on the events of the day. In many ways it had been a momentous day. Of course, there had been the conversation with Reese. That had been difficult enough. She wondered if he really understood why she'd said those things to him. Why she'd asked him to stop courting her. Because she was sure that was what he intended doin
g. Winning her hand in marriage. She'd seen the way he'd looked at her while she'd been at Zane and Johanna's cabin.