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

by Maya Stirling

  Finally, he arrived at the steps which led up to the station platform. He jumped off the horse and raced up the steps. The train was standing on the station. One door was open and into that door was stepping Johanna, pushing her bag ahead of her into the compartment.

  Zane’s heart quickened and he started to run along the platform. His boots hammered loudly on the wooden platform. The rhythmic pounding was almost as fast as his heart.

  Just as she was about to step into the carriage, Zane called out. “Johanna!”

  He saw her hesitate and turn to look in his direction. Her eyes widened and for a moment she seemed genuinely surprised to see him. Then some kind of resolve took hold of her and she started to step inside the carriage.

  “Wait,” he cried out.

  The guard, a small elderly man dressed in a dark uniform stepped down from the train’s engine. He saw Zane racing toward Johanna’s carriage. “You traveling?” he called out.

  Zane slid to a halt alongside the open door of Johanna’s carriage. “No. I’m here for someone else,” he shouted.

  The guard lifted his pocket watch, peered at it and then looked sternly at Zane. “We can’t be waiting long. There’s a schedule.”

  Zane lifted a hand. “Just give me a minute,” he shouted.

  Inside the carriage, Johanna was looking right at Zane. She was standing all alone in the carriage. Already, her eyes were moist with emotion.

  Zane reached out a hand. “Johanna. Don’t leave,” he cried.

  She frowned and looked suddenly confused. “What are you talking about?” she replied.

  Zane placed his booted foot inside the carriage. He stretched both hands out. “There’s been a terrible misunderstanding,” he said.

  Johanna gasped. “I don’t think so, Zane,” she breathed. Her face was suddenly pale. She shifted on her heels, and for a moment he thought she might tumble to the carriage floor. He stepped inside the carriage and took her hands. They were cold. The instant he took her hand she steadied. But there was still consternation in her eyes.

  Johanna gazed at Zane as if she could hardly believe he was standing inside her carriage. Was he really the last person she’d expected to see here?

  Zane felt her fingers curl around his hand. For a moment he thought she was even glad to see him. That simple gesture of taking hold of his hand caused a flicker of hope to come to life inside him.

  “Why have you come?” she asked in a weak voice.

  He frowned. “To stop you from going. Why are you leaving?”

  Her mouth opened, almost as if that was the last question she might have expected him to ask. And when she finally answered him, he felt his heart sink to the pit of his stomach. “Because you want me to go, Zane,” she said.

  Now it was his turn to look shocked. He breathed out harshly. “I don’t want you to go, Johanna,” he managed to say. He’d never said anything with such urgency before. Not in his life.

  Once again, her brows furrowed. She examined him, almost like she was trying to tell if he could be lying to her. His only hope was that, during the last few days, she’d discovered that he’d never lie to her. That he only wanted what was best for her.

  “But, Barnes told me you wanted rid of me,” Johanna said.

  Zane drew in a sharp breath and felt the same sudden rage he’d felt when he’d been speaking with Barnes. “That’s not true, Johanna,” Zane managed to say. “Barnes has tried to play a trick on you.” Zane paused and lowered his voice. “On us,” he added softly.

  “Trick? What do you mean? He told me you were willing to pay me money if I left.”

  Zane shook his head. “It’s a lie, Johanna,” he breathed, desperation in his voice. “I don’t want you going anywhere.”

  “You didn’t tell Barnes to offer me money?” Johanna asked. Zane heard the beginnings of hope in her voice.

  “No. I would never do anything like that,” he stated firmly. “Never.’ Zane squeezed her hands gently. “Not to you, Johanna. Not to anyone.”

  The expression on her features softened slightly. Once again, hope flared into life in his breast. Maybe there was a chance this could work out, he told himself.

  Johanna shook her head and smiled wryly. “I knew it couldn’t be true,” she murmured. She gazed into Zane’s eyes. “Something deep inside told me that you’d never do anything like that. That was why I went to Barnes this morning and told him he could keep the money.” Johanna’s eyes sparkled. “His money.”

  Zane moved closer to Johanna. Her hands felt warmer now, and he glad about that. “But why did you still think about leaving?” Zane asked. “Even after refusing the money.”

  Her eyes narrowed. “You didn’t come to me.”

  “What!” Zane gasped.

  “After we argued up at the ranch, you didn’t come,” Johanna explained. “I waited,” she added in a sad voice.

  Zane looked at her incredulously. “But I thought you wanted time on your own. To think things through,” he said. “That’s what you told me when you left the ranch. I was just giving you what you wanted. Some time to think,” he added.

  “When you didn’t show, I thought you’d given up the idea of us being married,” Johanna explained. “I figured maybe you’d had second thoughts.”

  Zane shifted closer to her. Now he was close enough that, if he wanted, he could wrap his arms around her. He restrained the impulse, but he still knew he wanted to hold her. Now that he’d come this far, he wasn’t going to let her go. There had been enough misunderstandings already, he told himself. It was time for some plain truth.

  Zane gazed into Johanna’s eyes. “I haven’t given up on us getting married, Johanna,” Zane said.

  He saw her eyes widen, as if his bold words had surprised her.

  “On the contrary. I am more sure about one thing today than I have been since we met,” Zane said.

  “What’s that?” Johanna asked.

  He saw her eyes soften, taking in the sight of him with a tenderness that had only been hinted at before. But now it was real. There was no mistaking the affection in her gaze. And he was so glad to see that expression in her eyes. It made saying what he knew he had to say a whole lot easier.

  Zane went down on one knee and gazed up at Johanna. Her mouth opened and her eyes were wide with surprise as she looked down at him.

  “I would be very much honored, Johanna Henderson, if you would agree to become my wife,” Zane said.

  Johanna smiled, warmly and genuinely, at Zane. She turned her head away and, for a long moment, seemed lost in her thoughts. Then she lowered her gaze to him. “Your wife?” she asked.

  Zane nodded slowly. “Nothing would make me more proud, and more happy, than if you were to marry me, Johanna.”

  He knew he meant every word he’d just said. The prospect of losing her was unthinkable now. She’d come into his life and now he wasn’t going to let anything, nor anyone, stop him from making her his own.

  Johanna closed her eyes for a long moment. She was thinking it over, he told himself. His heart was pounding and his throat was suddenly so tight he couldn’t swallow.

  Her eyes opened and she smiled at him. “You know I’m going to have to get used to ranch life, don’t you?”

  Zane felt his entire body relax. He knew what that meant. She wasn’t just teasing him. She’d made her decision.

  Zane stood quickly. He shifted closer to her. “I think you can handle just about anything,” he murmured. “Including me.”

  Johanna tilted her head. “Is that a fact?” she asked gently.

  Zane nodded. “We’ll find out, won’t we? If you marry me.”

  Johanna gazed into his eyes. “I’ll marry you, Zane Buchanan,” she said softly.

  Zane had never heard sweeter words in his life. Joy leapt in his heart. He felt light-headed.

  But, before he’d had a chance to react, the train’s whistle blew, sharp and loud. Startled, Johanna jerked, her body crashing against Zane. He wrapped his arms around
her waist, holding her gently. It felt like they both belonged in each others’ arms. Johanna didn’t try to move away from him. She rested her hands on his shoulders and gazed into his eyes.

  Zane knew what was coming next.

  He leaned his head forward and kissed Johanna’s lips. He savored the tender, moist warmth of her lips. The kiss seemed to last forever, and he didn’t want it to stop.

  A voice from behind them ended the kiss abruptly.

  “You folks staying on the train?” the train’s guard asked.

  Zane turned to the man and smiled. “I think we’re both getting off at this stop,” he said. Zane turned and faced Johanna. “Isn’t that right?” he asked.

  Johanna smiled and nodded. “Seems like Inspiration is my last stop, after all,” she said.

  And then Zane led Johanna out of the carriage and onto the platform. The guard placed her suitcase on the platform next to Zane and Johanna. Zane lifted her case with one hand and then wrapped his arm around Johanna’s waist as they both walked along the platform.

  The train left the station, a cacophony of noise and steam.

  Ahead of them was the peace of the town and, beyond that, a new life on the ranch, and a future given to them both by the grace of God.

  EPILOGUE

  A week later, Johanna walked arm in arm with Zane out of Inspiration’s church, and into the bright afternoon sunlight. She smiled at her new husband and he smiled right back at her.

  Guests were lined up on either side of the church steps. On her left were the entire Buchanan family. All of them were smiling at the newlyweds. Johanna was sure she saw tears in Eugenie’s eyes. There was also a proud expression on Caleb’s rugged features.

  On her right were Sophie and Nathan, as well as Hettie from the ranch who was smiling as broadly as anyone. Johanna stepped gingerly down the steps, holding on tight to Zane’s arm. They both stepped onto the lawn in front of the church. She turned to face everyone. None of them looked in any hurry to leave. There would be a big wedding reception up at the ranch. Johanna couldn’t wait to dance with her new husband. Celebrations would go on for a long time.

  “Thank you all for coming,” Johanna said.

  Zane nodded. “I second that. I have to agree with my new wife,” Zane said and grinned at Johanna.

  There was laughter from the guests. Then Caleb spoke up. “You’ll have to get used to that in future, Zane,” Caleb said with obvious good humor. There was more laughter at that remark.

  Zane shook his head. “I know,” he agreed. He gazed into Johanna’s eyes. “I got myself a firebrand here for a wife.”

  Johanna smiled at him. “Really?”

  Zane nodded. “And I’m not complaining one bit.”

  This drew appreciative noises from all the guests. Zane was learning how to say the right things, Johanna reflected. She would just have to get used to all his compliments, she told herself. That wasn’t going to be hard. Since he’d asked her to marry him at the station last week, they’d both been doing a lot to get to know one another. Johanna had spent every day up at the ranch.

  Almost every waking hour, in fact. And, the more she’d gotten to know Zane Buchanan and his family, the more she realized she’d made the best decision of her life in deciding to stay in Inspiration and become his wife. Johanna also realized she’d come perilously close to making the worst decision of her life. If she had left him, she knew she would have regretted it.

  She ran her gaze around the gathered guests. These were people she would spend the coming years getting to know, becoming close to them, sharing everything that life offered. And being grateful for everything that God graced them with. But she knew she’d made the right choice. Zane was a wonderful man, and his family had already made Johanna feel incredibly welcome.

  Hope had returned to her life. And joy.

  As far as Calhoun and Barnes were concerned, sheriff Nathan hadn’t been able to formally charge either man with a crime. At worst, they’d conspired to play a trick on Johanna. And there was nothing the sheriff could do about that.

  For Johanna it would be a lesson she’d never forget. Of course Zane had wanted to deal with it in his own manner, but Johanna had persuaded him that forgiveness was more important than personal revenge. And he’d agreed.

  In any case, she reminded herself, there would be other battles to fight in the coming months if the Buchanan family were to retain complete control over their ranch. There would have to be another marriage in the family. And soon.

  As if reading her mind, Zane lifted his chin and called out to his three brothers. “Who’s next?”

  Reese, Gideon and Micah all turned pale. They exchanged looks with one another and remained resolutely silent.

  Caleb smiled. “We’ll do something about it,” he said. “Real soon.”

  Johanna turned to Sophie who was standing next to Nathan. “What about it Sophie?” Johanna asked. “Any ideas?”

  Sophie squinted at Johanna. “Sure. I’m already working on the next bride for Inspiration,” she said. Sophie ran her gaze along the line of the three brothers and smiled. “I think you’re going to approve,” she said.

  Johanna had to stifle a laugh when she saw the wide-eyed expressions on the faces of the three Buchanan brothers. It wouldn’t be long before one of them was married, she reflected.

  Zane laughed. “Never mind, boys,” he said. “Take it from me.” He gazed lovingly at Johanna. “It’ll be the best thing you’ll ever do.”

  Then Zane leaned down and kissed Johanna.

  As she lifted her chin and savored his kiss, she told herself that Zane was absolutely right.

  Marrying him was the best thing she would ever do.

  THE END

  THANK YOU

  Thank you for reading The Rancher’s Bride Arrangement. I hope you enjoyed the novel.

  The Brides of Inspiration series will continue over the coming weeks with the following titles. All of the Buchanan brothers will find themselves a bride.

  The Rancher’s Marriage of Convenience (Book 2 in the series)

  The Rancher’s Second Chance Bride (Book 3 in the series)

  If you would like to know when the next books are available please sign up for my new release email announcements.

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