The Rancher’s Bride Arrangement (Brides 0f Inspiration Book 1)

by Maya Stirling

  “You’re riding with me,” Eugenie said firmly.

  “I don’t think that’s necessary,” Johanna objected.

  “No arguments, Johanna,” Eugenie stated.

  Zane smiled at Johanna. “I have to remind you that my mother likes to get her way. In everything.”

  Johanna sighed and shrugged. “Okay.”

  As she started to move past him, Zane gently caught her arm. “That was quite something,” he told her.

  “I did tell you I was used to dealing with problems outdoors, didn’t I?”

  He nodded. “You sure did.”

  Johanna shrugged. “I may not have dealt with a cattle stampede before, but I know how to get a horse’s leg out when its stuck in a hole in the ground.” She smiled at him. “Comes from working on a farm for years.”

  Zane saw Eugenie’s eyes narrow. Thankfully his mother didn’t make any comment. There would be time for that later, he told himself.

  He helped Johanna up onto his mother’s horse. Johanna wrapped her arms around Eugenie. She looked right at home, Zane told himself.

  He tied the reins of Johanna’s horse onto his saddle, mounted up and then they were all on their way back to the ranch.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  Back at the ranch, when they started to fuss over her, asking her if she needed anything done to her painful leg, Johanna couldn’t do anything to get them to stop. It seemed like nothing was too much. Johanna finally gave in and agreed to put her feet up for a while in the sitting room. Coffee and cake was brought.

  Eugenie told Caleb and the brothers about what had happened. At first Caleb was upset that Zane and Eugenie had let anything bad happen to Johanna. But, when he heard about how Johanna had dealt with the situation, Caleb’s stern demeanor soon changed from anger to admiration.

  Zane disappeared for a while as Johanna rested and listened to Eugenie. But, when Zane came back into the sitting room, she could see he’d changed clothes and freshened himself up. Johanna had to admit he looked handsome.

  As he stood listening to his family talking over the events at the herd, Johanna couldn’t help thinking about how Zane had acted out there. He’d shown genuine concern for her. And he’d put himself at great personal risk to reach her.

  Maybe that wasn’t so surprising, after all, she told herself. It was clear to her, from what she knew about the Buchanan family, that they were good people. She believed that Zane wouldn’t have let anything happen to her. Which she found gratifying. Because it meant that the truth she’d revealed to him hadn’t changed his opinion of her.

  As she sipped her coffee and gazed at him, she wondered why that was suddenly so important to her. Why would Zane Buchanan’s approval mean so much? Had the events of the last days forged some kind of a bond between them?

  But there were still so many unanswered questions, she told herself. He now knew about her past. Or as much of it as there was to tell.

  But, did he have unrevealed details of his own? She’d seen the dark hesitancy in them, and still wondered what had caused that.

  Finally, it was getting late and Johanna knew she would have to go back to Sophie’s house. Preparations were made, a buckboard was fetched. Before she knew what had happened, she was being helped up onto the buckboard seat and Zane was lifting himself up and seizing the reins.

  Johanna looked at Zane. “You’re taking me back to Inspiration?” she asked.

  Zane nodded emphatically. “I am.” He lifted his brows. “Any objection to that?”

  Johanna shook her head and suppressed a quiet laugh. “No.”

  Then the whole family were bidding her and Zane farewell, and the buckboard was heading down the trail and away from the ranch.

  After a few minutes, Zane turned to Johanna. “You sure about that foot?” he asked.

  She moved it. “It’s okay,” she replied. “It feels a little tight inside the boot, but I’m sure it’ll be fine a day or two. Your mother looked at it. She said it’ll be fine.”

  Zane nodded. “I’m glad to hear that. Because, my family is planning on holding a dance out here next weekend.”

  “A dance?” she asked.

  “Just a few friends from Inspiration and all of the hands on the ranch, of course. And the family.” He lifted a brow and glanced at her. “And you’re invited.”

  “Me?”

  He looked down at her foot. “You’re foot will be healed, won’t it?”

  She nodded. “I suppose so.”

  “Then I’ll take it that you’re coming,” he said.

  She paused before replying. “A week is a long time.”

  He frowned. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “Nothing. But look at what’s happened since I got here. And I’ve only been here a weekend.”

  “We don’t waste time out here,” Zane explained.

  “I can see that,” she said and smiled.

  Zane gazed out along the trail and fell silent for a few moments. He seemed suddenly thoughtful.

  Johanna looked out across the landscape, savoring the sight of the colors, feeling the breeze on her skin as the buckboard sped along at a steady pace.

  Zane turned to Johanna. “I’ve been thinking about what you told me back there,” he said.

  “You have?”

  Zane nodded. “I can understand why you did what you did.” His brows furrowed. “Keeping it to yourself. At least for a while. It can’t have been easy for you.”

  “When I went to Sophie’s sister, Faith, I didn’t know what to say. I saw the ad in the local newspaper in Philadelphia, saying that brides were wanted out west.”

  “That must have taken you by surprise,” he said.

  Johanna shook her head. “Not really. I’ve heard about women coming out west. But with husbands already arranged for them. What Faith and Sophie are trying to do for Inspiration is different, I guess.”

  “Sophie looks like she’s on a mission,” Zane admitted. “And it sure makes it easier, and safer, for the women who’ll be coming. I’ve heard some pretty bad tales about those arranged marriages.”

  She sighed. “I don’t know why, but, when she explained the whole thing, it just seemed to call to me.”

  Zane smiled. “I know what it means to heed a call. No matter where it comes from.” Zane glanced upwards. “Especially from Him.”

  Johanna nodded. “Faith was so kindly. She was considerate to me. I guess, with my aunt being so mean to me for so long, I was relieved to find someone that expected something good for me. And when I found out what she and her sister, Sophie were trying to do, I just felt that I’d arrived in the right place at the right time. I can’t explain it.”

  “You don’t have to,” Zane said. “Grace works what it will.”

  Johanna thought for a few moments. “I’m glad I came,” she said in a quiet voice. At first, she wasn’t sure if he’d heard her.

  But then he turned and smiled. “I’m glad you came,” Zane said in a steady voice. “Real glad.”

  Johanna felt her cheeks flush slightly. She smiled back at him and then turned her head away from him so she could hide the look of delight she had on her face. It looked like he’d meant it, she told herself.

  Zane sat up straight and cleared his throat. “And I have something I want to tell you,” he said. He quirked a brow. “Since we’re telling each other all about ourselves,” he said. “About our pasts. That is what we’re doing, right?”

  Johanna nodded. “Sure,” she said, trying to seem casual. But, suddenly, she felt a twist of nerves turning in her stomach. She wondered what he was about to tell her.

  “I’m not really the eldest brother,” Zane said slowly, as if he couldn’t quite get the words out.

  Johanna turned to him. “You’re not?”

  “I had a brother who was older than me,” he explained.

  “Had?”

  All of sudden she knew this wasn’t going to be easy for him. He’d finally decided to explain the reason for his hesit
ancy that time in the restaurant.

  “Cal was my brother,” Zane said, his voice heavy with emotion. “He passed years ago. But it seems like yesterday to me.”

  Johanna instinctively reached out and placed a hand on Zane’s arm. “I’m so sorry, Zane!” she exclaimed.

  He glanced at her hand and then smiled at Johanna. “It was a long time ago. Years.”

  For a moment, she didn’t know what she could say. What she should say. It seemed they both had tragedies in the past. And they’d both been reluctant to talk of them.

  “You must miss him, so much.”

  Zane nodded. “Not a day goes by when I don’t think of Cal. Pray for Cal.”

  “That must have been so difficult for your parents,” Johanna suggested.

  “It sure was,” Zane said. “I remember when it happened, they were both grief-stricken. My brothers, too. But they had their faith to pull them through. Like I had. A strong faith that kept us all going.”

  “What was he like?” she asked. It seemed like the right question to ask. The most respectful one she could think of.

  “He was the finest young man I’ll ever have the privilege of knowing,” Zane said. “He was brave, kind, and there wasn’t a thing he wouldn’t do for you. Ma and Pa loved him. So did we all.”

  The wheels of the buckboard hit a bump on the trail. Johanna grasped onto the side of the seat and held on tight until the buckboard settled down.

  Zane seemed relieved being given the chance to reflect for a few moments. Johanna decided not to ask Zane how Cal had lost his life. If Zane wanted to share that, then it would be up to him.

  For now, it seemed like Zane felt he’d said all he wanted to say. Maybe he’d felt the need to tell her, after she’d spoken about her parents. Did that mean they were equal now? That all their secrets were out in the open?

  Even as she asked herself that last question, she knew how foolish it was to think that she and Zane could know all about each other after only a few days. But, it did confirm her sense that their friendship was moving along at a rapid pace.

  Did Zane think the same as her? Was this revelation an indication that he accepted that his friendship with Johanna was more than that? That there was another step he could take toward making her his bride? If so, what was holding him back, now? Because this afternoon had changed the way she thought about him. And the way she was feeling about the whole idea of marriage.

  Now that he knew the full history of her humble life, he must realize that the impression she’d accidentally given of being some kind of society woman was utterly false. There had been no lies. It had just taken them both a long time to open themselves up to one another.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  “Did you hurt your leg?” Sophie asked Johanna as she hobbled tentatively up the garden path with Zane by her side. He was holding onto Johanna’s elbow, cupping it gently in his gloved hand. She hadn’t dissuaded him when he’d made the gesture as she’d come down off the buckboard. And she was glad. She had to admit that she liked it when he showed that he cared for her.

  Sophie came down off the steps and glanced quizzically at Zane. “What happened?” she asked concernedly.

  “I think I’ll let Johanna tell you,” Zane said.

  Johanna saw Sophie glance down at Zane’s hand. He saw her look, and quickly dropped his hand away.

  “Let’s get you inside,” Sophie said wrapping an arm around Johanna’s shoulders.

  “Really. I’m okay,” Johanna said. “My ankle is just little bit stiff. It’ll be fine after some rest.”

  Johanna walked up the four wooden steps and onto the porch. The door was opened and she went inside. She turned and saw Zane standing on the porch. He tipped his hat. “Hope you get better quick,” he said and grinned at her.

  “Why don’t you pay us a call?” Sophie suggested. “Give us a couple of days.”

  Johanna wasn’t exactly sure, but the prospect of having to wait two days before he could see Johanna again didn’t seem to please Zane. “Okay. I’ll do that,” he forced himself to say hesitantly.

  Then he turned and started down the steps. The door was closed and Sophie led Johanna into the sitting room.

  Johanna sat down on the sofa and took off her boot. Sophie examined Johanna’s foot with all the care of a concerned sister. “Looks like a mild bruise. What caused it.”

  “A cow,” Johanna said.

  “What!” Sophie exclaimed.

  “I got hit by one of the cattle in the Buchanan herd.”

  Sophie sat back on the sofa and stared disbelievingly at Johanna. “Now this I have to hear.”

  Johanna told Sophie all about the visit to the herd and about the stampede. Sophie’s face turned white as she listened to the details. And, when Johanna told Sophie about how she’d dealt with the horse’s leg being stuck, Sophie’s brows furrowed.

  “That was reckless, Johanna,” Sophie said. There was a mild scolding tone in Sophie’s voice.

  “Not as much as you’d think, Sophie,” Johanna replied.

  “What do you mean?”

  Johanna sighed and leaned back against the soft back of the sofa. “When I met your sister, Faith, I told her I was from a society family.”

  Sophie lifted a brow. “So?”

  “Well, I’m not.”

  Sophie crossed her arms. “Really,” she said in a flat voice.

  Johanna shook her head and explained all about living with her aunt for the last few years. And all about her growing up on a farm. And how her parents had passed away leaving her with no other options in life. Especially after the farm had been taken away.

  For some strange reason, unlike Zane, Sophie didn’t seem in the slightest bit surprised.

  “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you the whole story,” Johanna confessed.

  Sophie squinted at Johanna. “You don’t have to apologize. You haven’t been lying to me at all, Johanna. I knew all about your background before you came out here.”

  “What!” Johanna exclaimed.

  Sophie nodded. “You don’t think Faith and I would bring a pretty young woman out here without doing some basic checks.”

  “You checked up on me? How?”

  Sophie waved a hand. “You don’t need to know the details of how. I knew all about you growing up on a farm.”

  “But, I thought you believed I was from a Philadelphia society home.”

  Sophie nodded. “And you are. At least you have been for quite a while. But, Faith was so impressed by you during your first meeting with her, that she decided to dig a little deeper. Just to make sure.”

  “Make sure what?”

  Sophie smiled. “That you were as perfect as we thought you were.”

  Johanna felt her cheeks flush with embarrassment. Sophie had known all along about Johanna’s farm upbringing.

  “You let me make out that I knew nothing about outdoors life?” Johanna exclaimed. “Everyone up at the ranch must have been thinking I was some kind of spoiled, prim little woman who was horrified at the thought of ranch life.”