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

by Maya Stirling

  But it had been no use. He hadn’t been able to get her out of his mind. And, especially, he hadn’t been able to stop thinking about the way she’d looked at him when he’d admitted his mistake.

  Because he knew it had all been a terrible mistake. A grievous misunderstanding.

  When he’d watched Johanna driving that buckboard away from the ranch, his first instinct had been to go after her. But he’d restrained himself, knowing that it wouldn’t be kind to make her distress even worse. She’d looked so hurt when he’d confessed to holding back some of the truth. The look on her face had made him feel as if a tight fist had taken hold of his heart.

  Sometimes a man just had to keep himself in check, instead of making an even bigger fool of himself. Zane figured he’d already done enough of that.

  Once she’d gone, he’d considered going straight into town and having it out with Brett Calhoun. Thinking about how he’d treated Johanna had made Zane boil with indignation. But, he knew it wasn’t for him to seek justice. That was reserved for a higher power, he’d told himself, not for the first time in his life. Restraint was the sign of a godly man, his father had always told Zane. And this had surely been a time that called for restraint. But it sure wasn’t easy to do so, Zane told himself.

  Because Zane knew that if he’d gone into town that day, something bad would have happened. And then where would his family be? Everyone was relying on Zane to get this right. They needed him to keep his head clear, to act like the man he’d been brought up to be.

  So, Zane had held back, waiting for another time when justice would no doubt be served in the way that God wanted. The last two days had been hard. Staying away from town had been just about the hardest thing he’d done in a long time. He felt it had been necessary. Johanna had told him she needed time to think. That she needed to consider what all of this meant and what she should do.

  These two days on the ranch had been the longest he’d ever known. Time had dragged slow and heavy. At night, in the big house, over dinner, he’d avoided answering any questions about Johanna. He’d seen the curiosity on the faces of every one of his family members. They were dying to know what was happening between himself and Johanna.

  He knew what he wanted. Knew that he’d made his own mind up to take Johanna as his wife. There was so much about her that he liked. So much he knew he still had to discover about her.

  But that was okay, he told himself. He sensed that with time, and with the grace of God, their hearts could come closer together. His affection for Johanna had grown each time he’d been with her. In the little moments they’d spent together. Like on the ranch and in town. And watching her with his family.

  Now that she wasn’t a part of his daily life he felt as if something important had been taken out of his existence. He wondered how that could be that a woman who was a virtual stranger could touch his heart so profoundly. Maybe it was because she was simply one of the prettiest women he’d ever seen, he told himself. But, even as he considered that, he knew that wasn’t the reason.

  No.

  Johanna Henderson had found her way into his heart because of something far more important than mere beauty. Johanna was possessed of a fighting spirit, a powerful soul whose strength had been forged in hardship.

  Zane respected that, because he knew what it meant to struggle to come to terms with the hardships of life. He knew how it felt to keep going no matter what the tribulation.

  And, there was one other thing which Johanna had done to him since she’d arrived. No longer did Zane dream of disappearing into the wilderness. His wanderlust had faded. He knew the ranch was where he should be, because this was where God had placed him. And, as if to confirm that, God had brought this amazing woman here, into his life.

  The truth was, deep down inside himself, Zane knew that he would never have left the ranch. That wanderlust had been about running away from the responsibilities which had been placed on his shoulders after the death of his older brother.

  But all of that had changed now. Johanna’s presence had changed all that.

  Zane knew that he wanted her as his wife. All that remained was to find the right moment, the correct circumstance. Then he would ask her and, hopefully, she’d say yes. Because if she did, he’d just about the happiest man in Inspiration.

  On the Friday, late in the morning, Zane returned from working with the herd. He drew his horse up to a halt outside the big house. As he tied it up, his mother came rushing out of the front door. Eugenie looked flustered, her eyes wide and her cheeks pink.

  “Zane. Thank goodness you’re back. I was going to send one of the boys out to get you,” Eugenie said breathlessly. Zane frowned, feeling concerned about the state his mother had gotten herself into.

  Zane took gentle hold of his mother’s arm. “What’s the matter, ma?”

  “I just got back from town. I was there to buy some ribbon from the store,” Eugenie said. She gasped and shook her head.

  “What’s wrong, ma?” Zane asked. He felt a knot of dread twisting in his gut. Something bad must have happened, he told himself.

  “I saw Johanna,” his mother exclaimed.

  “Where?” he asked, desperate to know.

  His mother swallowed nervously. Zane had never seen his mother like this.

  Ever.

  “She was coming out of the bank,” Eugenie said. “And she was carrying a big bag. She looked like she was planning on going somewhere.”

  “What do you mean, ma? Going somewhere?”

  Eugenie nodded. “She was walking in the direction of the train station.”

  “The station?” Zane exclaimed. “What’s she doing going there?”

  Eugenie’s eyes widened. “Maybe she’s leaving,” she stated.

  Zane squinted at his mother. “She can’t be,” he ejaculated.

  “Why else would she be walking to the station with a bag?”

  “I don’t believe it,” Zane said sharply.

  “I know what I saw.”

  “And you didn’t think to stop? Ask her what she was doing?” Zane asked.

  Eugenie shook her head. “I didn’t think about it until I was almost halfway home. I figured she might be just out for a walk.”

  “Carrying a bag?” Zane asked incredulously.

  “I know, son. I should have realized,” Eugenie pleaded.

  “When does the train leave?” Zane asked.

  “Midday,” Eugenie said.

  Panic turned a hard knot in Zane’s gut. Johanna leaving? Maybe he’d done more damage than he had realized, Zane told himself. This couldn’t be happening.

  “You need to go there, son,” Eugenie said grasping his arm. “Stop her from doing something you’ll both regret.”

  Zane grunted and kicked the dirt. “I’ve been a fool, ma,” he exclaimed.

  “Never mind that, Zane. You need to get there. And pronto.”

  “You’re right,” Zane agreed. He kissed his mother on the cheek. “Don’t worry ma,” he said. “It’ll be okay. I know it will. She’s going to be my wife. And there’s nothing in the world that’s going to stop me making that happen.”

  Eugenie smiled broadly. “I knew it,” she said brightly. Her eyes shone with joy. “I’m so proud of you, Zane,” she said.

  “I know you are, ma,” he said. “But I have to go.”

  “Of course,” Eugenie said.

  And then Zane was running toward the stable. Urgency had seized him, driving his steps fast and hard. He readied his horse quicker than he’d ever done before.

  He rose up onto the horse and rode out across the yard, waving to his mother.

  He hit the trail and started to race along it as fast as he could make his palomino move. There had to be a simple explanation to all of this. Maybe even a misunderstanding. He wondered where Sophie was. Or even whether she even knew about the situation.

  Because this was about as bad as Zane could have imagined.

  The woman he intended to take as his wife jus
t might be running out on him.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  Johanna stood alone on the platform of the train station. She heard the sound of the approaching train. The wailing of the train’s whistle exactly matched the mournful sensation in her heart. The train would be rolling into the station within minutes.

  She was leaving, and nothing was going to change her mind. The bright, clear sky might as well have been of the darkest blue for all she was concerned. She felt a terrible heaviness in her spirit. It had all come to this. All her efforts had been fruitless.

  Well, at least she had tried, she told herself. At least she had come all the way out here with hope in her heart. And that had surely taken courage, she reflected. It had been a great leap into the dark, but it had all been for nothing.

  Johanna thought about what awaited her back East. Probably she could go back to her aunt. Even if it meant she would have to show some contrition, Johanna was sure her aunt would forgive her for leaving so abruptly. Perhaps she had even missed Johanna. Although, on second thoughts, and thinking about how cold-hearted her aunt could be, Johanna thought that her aunt wouldn’t be at all pleased to see her.

  An uncertain future. That was what awaited her, Johanna told herself.

  Johanna thought about her trip to the bank only a short while ago. She’d felt it necessary to tell Barnes once and for all that she had no intention of accepting the money. And, even more, she wanted him to know that she was leaving of her own free will. It was her choice and had nothing to do with any kind of rejection by Zane Buchanan.

  Her heart ached again, even as she thought about Zane. How could she have been so wrong? How could she have fallen for the sweet attentions of the rancher? It seemed that she had been completely taken in. Zane had made a fool of her, playing along with an elaborate charade.

  It was really that simple.

  Johanna had sneaked out of the Cameron house, determined that Sophie wouldn’t know Johanna’s plans to leave Inspiration. Johanna didn’t blame Sophie in the slightest. The sheriff’s wife had acted graciously and generously toward Johanna. And for that, Johanna had to be grateful. She’d said so in the little note she had left on the kitchen table for Sophie.

  Johanna heard the wail of the train’s whistle and saw a white puff of smoke billowing above the nearby treetops. She steadied herself and prepared to leave.

  ****

  Zane rode into town.

  Fast.

  The boardwalks were busy on both sides and Zane had to avoid running a couple down as they were crossing from one side of the street to another. He shouted an apology at the startled couple, and coaxed his mount on up the street.

  Just as he neared the turn for the Cameron house he saw the bank door open. Barnes stepped outside onto the wooden boardwalk. For a moment, Zane thought Barnes looked pleased with himself. There was a curious grin on his face. But that grin disappeared instantly when he saw Zane. Barnes’ eyes widened and, for a moment, it looked like he was going to retreat into the bank.

  Although he knew time was against him, Zane pulled his palomino to a halt in front of the bank amidst a cloud of dust. He had to know why Johanna had come to the bank.

  Zane raced up the steps and grasped Barnes by the lapels of his jacket. The little man glared up at Zane.

  “What’s this about, Barnes?” Zane demanded. “My mother said she saw Johanna coming out of your bank a short while ago. Why was she here?”

  Barnes shook his head. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, Buchanan.”

  Zane roared and tightened his fists around the material of Barnes’ jacket. Any moment now he would rip the jacket off the man’s body, Zane told himself.

  Barnes’ face was white with fear.

  “Tell me the truth, Barnes,” Zane demanded. “Has this got anything to do with Calhoun?”

  Barnes tried to shake himself free, but failed. “I don’t know what you mean.”

  Zane heard the whistle of the approaching train. He turned his head and peered up toward the far end of the street. “You’re lying!” Zane ejaculated sharply.

  Zane released Barnes and ran a hand through his hair, pacing back and forth in front of the other man. Barnes took a few steps backward, with the obvious intention of seeking refuge in the bank. One look from Zane made Barnes freeze on the spot.

  “Why did she come to see you?” Zane demanded. Seeing no reply was forthcoming from the man, Zane advanced toward Barnes. “And what made her go to the station?”

  Barnes’ eyes widened and shifted in the direction of the train station. Zane leaned over Barnes, peering down at the man, seeing the fear in his eyes. For a moment, Zane saw calculation in Barnes’ eyes.

  Barnes swallowed. “She’s leaving,” he said, his voice cracking with emotion. “And she ain’t coming back.”

  Shock rippled through Zane’s body. Leaving! For good?

  Zane glared at him. “Why? What could you have told her that would make her do that?”

  The corner of Barnes’ mouth creased with a sardonic smile. “That you wanted her out of Inspiration.”

  “What!” Zane roared. He restrained the impulse to seize Barnes again. “What are you talking about?”

  Barnes’ smile widened. “She thinks you were prepared to pay her to leave.”

  Zane frowned, hardly able to believe what the man had just said. “Pay?”

  Barnes nodded. The train whistle sounded noisily. This time Zane could hear the train slowing as it started to arrive at the station. He didn’t have much time left. He had to make a decision. Barnes was spilling the beans. For the moment. Zane knew now what had happened. Barnes and probably Calhoun had hatched some scheme to offer Johanna money to leave.

  “Are you trying to tell me that she accepted money to leave Inspiration? And it was because she thought it was coming from me?” Even as he uttered the words, Zane could hardly believe what he was saying.

  Barnes nodded. “Women like money,” he said with an acid tone of voice.

  Zane’s jaw tightened. This time he did seize Barnes again. He clutched the lapels of Barnes’ jacket. Zane stared into Barnes’ eyes. Thoughts of what he could do flashed into Zane’s mind. For a long moment the eyes of the two men met in a steady showdown.

  Zane didn’t believe what Barnes was saying. Johanna would never have taken money in exchange for the promise to leave. Never.

  Deep inside himself, in a way he could hardly understand, he knew she wasn’t capable of that. There had to be another explanation for her visit to the bank. Maybe she’d been tricked. Whatever it was, Zane knew time was running out.

  Zane knew it was not for him to take revenge on Barnes. But, the emotion sweeping through his body was making it real difficult to retain his self-control.

  Zane was snapped out of the moment by the sound of the train coming to a halt up at the station. Realizing that he was almost out of time, he cast Barnes aside and saw the man stagger backwards and crash against the door of the bank. There would be time for details later, Zane told himself.

  Zane leaped onto his horse and pounded up the remaining short distance to the station. It was just about the longest journey he’d ever made. It felt like time had slowed down to a crawl.