A Christmas Miracle for the Rancher: A Historical Western Romance Novel

by Etta Foster

  In the letter wrapped safely inside the envelope, Louise was telling him whether or not she would meet him. If she was willing to come out to visit and see him.

  She would see him, his face and his hands and his clothes. She would see the ranch, the garden, and the horses. She would see the large house that hadn’t had a woman’s touch in years, and she would see plains that went on for days outside the house windows.

  There was a lot she would see.

  But Richard didn’t know if she would like any of it.

  Realizing he was only driving himself crazy, Richard grunted and pulled out the letter.

  He couldn’t keep tossing out his thoughts, at least not until he knew what she had decided.

  “Another letter?” Jacob came up to him and tossed two bags of oats into the cart. “How long are you planning to write the old woman?”

  Richard’s eyes ran over the page again in disbelief.

  It was one of her shorter letters, but he didn’t mind.

  It was the content written in ink that mattered most to him, not the amount of it.

  He inhaled deeply, stunned at her reply. She wanted to come. Louise had agreed to come visit him.

  “Just one more.” Richard turned to his brother with a grin. “She’s coming out here to see me. She’s really coming, Jacob. Have you got any change?”

  His brother took a step back. “I do. Why do you want the money?”

  Richard put out a hand. “I told her I’d pay for her travels here. Hand it over, would you? I only need a couple of dollars.”

  But Jacob scoffed.

  Shaking his head, Jacob fiddled with the wallet in disbelief. “Dollars? Why would you pay for her passage? Why is she even coming out here? Don’t be a fool about this, Rich.”

  “I’m not. I know what I’m doing.”

  “Do you? You’re a fool sending money to someone you’ve never met. Mark my words, she isn’t going to come out here.

  “She’ll just take your money and move on to someone else. Maybe she’s not a fat ugly old woman. But she has got to be a thief.”

  Frowning, Richard took a step toward his brother. Something stiffened in his shoulders, not liking that tone. A small wall of tension gathered around them.

  That kind of language wasn’t necessary.

  He put out his hand again. “I’m not asking for your opinion. Now hand it over.”

  “You’re being a fool,” Jacob groaned. But he tossed the wallet over. Running a hand through his hair, he continued. “You’re going to regret this.”

  Richard caught the wallet in the air, tucking it away before Jacob could change his mind.

  Then he smiled and reached out, nudging his brother. The best way to get rid of tension, after all, was simply to make it go away.

  “Thank you for your opinion.” He tried to soften the atmosphere with a light-hearted tone. “But you need to have a little more faith. She’ll come. Trust me.”

  Richard glanced around. “I’ll only take a minute to send my letter out. If there’s more bags then, I’ll come back and help.”

  His brother sighed loudly as though in annoyance. “Fine.”

  But he didn’t really mean the attitude. Richard knew he couldn’t.

  He offered a wink and turned around, back to see the postmaster.

  Jacob would most likely be in a better mood when they got back on the road and were headed home. They didn’t usually travel this late in the day.

  Perhaps they wouldn’t do that again. But it had been perfect timing, and Richard couldn’t deny that. He found himself whistling on his stroll as he carried the letter in one hand and the wallet in the other.

  Good things were coming to them. He could feel it in the cold, crisp air.

  Chapter 5

  A week after Louise had gathered the courage to send her letter of acceptance, Richard Hanson had sent his final letter.

  The letter contained funds for a train ride out to Oklahoma.

  That next afternoon, Louise had gone out on errands for the family. And she had dropped by the station to purchase herself a ticket.

  Glancing across the supper table, she caught her younger sister Lorelei raising an eyebrow.

  After making sure neither of her parents were paying attention, she gave a short nod of confirmation and turned back to her green beans.

  She had purchased a ticket to go west.

  The very idea sent a shiver down her spine. She could hardly believe it.

  December had reached the family before she knew what had happened, and she was about to spend the week before Christmas with the man she had been writing to for a few months now.

  It nearly felt scandalous. Her cheeks blushed at the very idea of meeting him.

  He sounded so hopeful, so curious, so eager for life that it took all her constraint not to write ten-page letters every time. There was so much she wanted to ask him, so much that she wanted to say.

  Any hesitation she had earlier about meeting him had faded away with the soaring hope of having a real conversation with him.

  Even in her prayers, she felt a spark of hope.

  She prayed nightly for Richard and his health, and a warmth would settle over her shoulders.

  It didn’t matter what he looked like, she had decided long ago, for she knew his heart. That was what mattered.

  Silver clattering onto the table caught her attention.

  It caught everyone’s attention.

  Everyone turned to Lorelei who sat on one side of the table by herself.

  She smiled innocently at everyone, picked up her fork, and returned to her carrots.

  But then Lorelei gave Louise a pointed look before brushing a strand of dark hair from her face.

  It took Louise a moment to understand the raised eyebrow. The girl was wondering when she was leaving.

  She shifted in her seat uncomfortably and glanced around to make sure no one was paying attention. Biting her lip, she glanced down at her crowded plate. There was so much going on inside her mind now that she could hardly make herself eat.

  “Three days,” she mouthed silently before pausing to take a sip of water.

  The conversation had been silent so far, an easily manageable skill between the girls since their childhood.

  Supper was usually run quietly in the Moreau household unless they spoke of the Sunday sermon or had other important news to share.

  But after Louise mouthed the timetable, her sister couldn’t help herself.

  “You’re leaving in three days?” Lorelei’s green eyes widened as she gasped aloud.

  Their older sister and mother jumped at the loud tone. Louise’s heart clutched as she froze, her cup just before her lips, as she shot a glance at her father.

  He paused in the midst of chewing his beef for a moment, only a moment, and then continued eating.

  But his posture had stiffened as he straightened up and glanced between the two girls. Tension built around the table as they waited for the inevitable.

  Louise glared at her younger sister, but by then it was too late. And everyone else had their eyes on her.

  “Where are you going in three days?” her father asked her.

  “I… I don’t know wh-what she’s talking about,” Louise stammered anxiously.

  Her mind moved as quickly as a train as she tried to think.

  While she knew she would have to tell her parents and announce her choice, she was still working on how she wanted to present the news.

  It would be accomplished best in the evening when everyone was settled, and her parents were relaxed.

  Not in the middle of supper like this.

  Ransacking her brain to remember her proposal and argument in defense of her actions, Louise felt panic clutch her throat.

  She couldn’t recall a single word. Why was she going to meet a stranger in Oklahoma? Why did she think that was a good idea?

  Louise set the cup down, her cheeks turning pale.

  Mr. Moreau, head of the fami
ly, slowly put his fork down. That was never a good sign.

  Lorelei winced in the corner of Louise’s eye. But it was too late to take it back.

  “Three days away is Monday,” he said as he pulled out his napkin to wipe his hands. “Where are you going, Louise?”

  She swallowed and licked her lips. “I… I’m only…”

  “Oklahoma. She’s going to Oklahoma.”

  “Lorelei!” Louise whipped her head around and glared at the girl. “Stop it.”

  But her sister gave her a hopeful smile and nod, like she thought she was helping.

  As the youngest, Lorelei was able to charm her parents into almost anything. But that didn’t provide any guarantees, and especially not for Louise.

  A lump formed in her throat as she cheated a panicked glance at her mother who probably wouldn’t say anything and then turned back to her father.

  The man was staring at her.

  It made her glad she was sitting, otherwise her knees would be knocking.

  He wasn’t going to be happy that she was making choices on her own like this. She knew that.

  She had just hoped to find a way to work around it.

  “Why do you think you’re going to Oklahoma? And pray tell, how did you expect to travel there?”

  “She’s visiting Mr. Hanson,” Lorelei supplied helpfully. “He’s a very kind man.”

  Louise threw her sister a stern look, but the girl couldn’t seem to understand.

  As her parents started at that announcement, Louise knew the jig was up. No more secrets. Her heart hammered loudly now in her chest as she tried to find the right words.

  “A man?” her older sister Luanne butted in with a scoff. “You’re not courting anyone.”

  Trying to catch her breath, Louise fiddled with her fork and plate. “I- I am. I mean, almost. Well, sort of. He’s a good man. Richard, he owns a ranch in Oklahoma and he’s invited me to visit him.”

  “Where did you meet him?” her mother asked her incredulously. “When did this happen?”

  But her father cut over her loudly, “That won’t be happening.”

  Turning between her parents who sat on either side of the table, Louise desperately tried to rein in the conversation before it got out of hand.

  Even though it already felt like she was losing.

  “No! I mean, yes, I am,” she tried to say it bravely. “I have a ticket. I’ve started to pack. It’s only for a week or so. We’ve been writing for a long time and- and it’s what I want.”

  “That doesn’t matter,” Mr. Moreau said dismissively. “You’re not going.”

  Her tongue felt heavy as she desperately looked around the table for support.

  Louise caught her mother’s gaze as the woman hesitated, glancing between her husband and middle daughter.

  “I don’t know,” her mother started slowly. “I think it might be good for her to get out of the house. It’s the holidays, and she’s been doing so well. It could be a treat for her.”

  Her support for the idea shocked everyone at the table.

  Louise could feel herself glowing in delight.

  But before she could thank her mother, hands slapped on the table as the head of the family stood up and glared at them.

  The man was furious.

  He scowled as his face turned red. “We don’t know who this man is! And when have you been writing to this man? I never said that you could do such a thing.”

  “I don’t need your permission for everything,” Louise found herself saying before she could help herself.

  “And I told you, he’s a good man. He paid for my ticket and I won’t waste his money. If we get along well, then we will be getting married. I- I’m telling you, and I’m not asking.”

  She didn’t know where the courage had come from to say such a thing, but it surprised everyone. They stared at her in amazement.

  Her father shook his head. “Married? You’re just a child! Louise, you don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “I married at her age,” her mother reminded them in a soft voice, nearly a whisper. But she sounded assured and kept her head up. “Timothy, think about this.”

  In the uncomfortable silence, Luanne dropped her silverware forcefully on the table as she crossed her arms.

  “Are you seriously considering this? Louise can’t do this! I’m the eldest, and I’m still not married. I should be first! Why would Louise get to do anything before myself?”

  “You didn’t write him,” Lorelei pointed out. “Louise found him in the ads looking for a mail order bride.”

  “Thank you, Lorelei,” Louise said through gritted teeth. “But you’re not exactly helping me here.” She turned to her father and tried to smile hopefully.

  “Father, please. You know how careful I am. Wouldn’t it be good to have me out of the house for a few days?

  “Think about it. I’m of marriageable age. Two of my school friends already have children. I needed to meet a man somehow.”

  Her older sister groaned. “But what about me? I should be first!”

  “Age doesn’t necessitate much,” their mother pointed out carefully and then gave her husband a pointed look. “Age doesn’t imply wisdom nor goodness in every influenced decision. Timothy, I think this could be an excellent idea. We’ve talked about this.”

  He snapped before she could finish the words. “Not like this! Of course we will get our daughters married off. But when the time is right and- and in the manner that we choose.”

  “It’s a changing world,” Louise begged them. “It’s not like it was for you. There’s the entire west to consider.

  “Father, I want to go. Even if I don’t end up marrying him, it would be good for me. And you know it.” She didn’t know such a thing, but she hoped it would do the trick.

  For a moment, it appeared to work.

  The man grunted angrily as he dropped his gaze to the table he was still leaning on. He wasn’t happy about it, and everyone could see that.

  Louise felt her heart beating furiously in her chest as she held her breath and waited for his next words.

  Everything depended on his approval, after all. He led their family. He had to know then, she told herself, that she had to do this.

  “She’ll go no matter what you say,” Lorelei added softly.

  Louise closed her eyes for a moment before giving the girl yet another look. Her words weren’t helping no matter what she said.

  Though she loved her family, her sisters could both be exasperating.

  Giving their father an ultimatum was never a smart choice.

  She sent up another quick prayer, begging the Lord that he might see reason. He kept talking about how the home was too crowded with his growing girls.

  It really was time they were all married. Surely, he had to understand how important this was to her and how good it could be for her. He had to see reason.

  They all listened as the only man in the room inhaled deeply and then slowly let it out.

  Then he straightened up and gave them all a serious look. His brow furrowed and his mustache only made his frown deeper. “Fine, you may go. But Luanne will go with you as a chaperone.”

  Louise’s heart began to soar in his first statement, unable to believe he would agree.

  Her mouth turned dry as she opened her lips to thank him.

  And then she realized what else he had said and turned to her sister in horror.

  Luanne wore the same look.

  The two girls stared at each other, unable to believe what had just happened.

  Louise scrambled around her brain for ideas and protests, but she couldn’t find one. She already knew her father would have a defense for anything she tried to say.

  Once he made a decision, it was final.

  And she had already made her decision. She was determined to find her way to Oklahoma to meet Richard Hanson once and for all.

  No one was going to stop her. Not even if she had to drag her older sister
with her.

  It wasn’t what she had hoped, Louise knew, and there would be frustration and misery between her and her sister. One way or another, she was going to meet Richard Hanson in Oklahoma.