The Ranger Takes a Bride

by Misty M. Beller

  When Emmaline pushed open the door to the house, Señor O'Brien met them in the hallway. "Would you ladies like to come into the den? We have some news to share."

  News? Was it something private meant only for his wife and daughter? Perhaps she should go make herself useful in the kitchen. After all, she was the only one in the group who wasn't really family.

  She was halfway down the hall when a deep voice called out. "Alejandra. Señorita Diaz."

  His voice. It froze her feet, but sent her heart racing. Slowly, she swiveled in the direction from which it came.

  There he stood. Edward. A sort of half-grin quirked one side of his mouth. "Won't you come hear the news?" He extended an elbow.

  But she couldn't take her focus from his eyes. They spoke to her. Called her. Sent a warmth through her chest as if she were the most important person who existed in his life. How could a simple look say so much?

  She found her feet moving of their own accord, carrying her to him. His gaze tracked her progress, never leaving her own. He slipped her hand into the crook of his arm, and guided her through the open door. His warmth radiated through the cloth of his sleeve, seeping through her body. She floated on air, walking next to this man.

  A few gazes turned to them, and Alejandra noticed a twinkle in Anna's as she observed them. Edward escorted her to a wing-back chair, and Alejandra slipped into the soft cushion, heat finding its way to her face. She didn't quite have the nerve to meet his gaze with so many people around.

  "It's been such a pleasure to have you ladies visit today." Señor O'Brien stood by the fireplace as he spoke in Spanish. Then with a warm smile at Tía Laura, who nestled on the couch next to Mama Sarita, he translated the words into American.

  Scanning the rest of the group, he continued in Spanish. "It's not been healthy for my Anna to try to keep up with this house and cooking for the men, in her condition. Even with Emmaline here to help." He reached to tweak his daughter's nose as she snuggled next to her mother. She scrunched it in response, bringing a deep chuckle from him. This child was one of the cutest Alejandra had seen.

  He addressed the group again. "So I'm very pleased to announce that Mama Sarita and Alejandra have agreed to join our little group, and share more of the cooking skills we sampled tonight." His gaze found first Mama Sarita, then Alejandra. "We look forward to your coming."

  His words hit her like a blow to the head, leaving stars across her vision and a fuzziness in her mind. Join their group? What did that mean? A hand slipped around her shoulders, and Alejandra looked up into Mama Sarita's concerned face. The woman crouched down in front of Alejandra and leaned close to her ear so only Alejandra could hear the words.

  "Mija, I'm sorry I didn't ask you first, but it sounded like the perfect solution. You've been concerned about finding a job, and the O'Briens need help. They're paying us good money, and we'll live here in the big house."

  A paying job. Hadn't she hoped to find employment where she and Mama Sarita could work together as cooks or housekeepers? But she'd never quite envisioned this. Another ranch like Las Cuevas. Except the O'Briens, and even the vaqueros, seemed like good people. And then there was Edward. Did she want to be so near to him?

  A groan pierced her thoughts as Anna pushed herself up from the chair next to Alejandra. Señor O'Brien was quick to reach out and help her, but Anna had one hand propped under her belly and another at her back. There was no way she could keep up with cooking and cleaning for the herd of vaqueros that had been in the dining room tonight. And caring for her daughter, too? Anna needed them. There was no doubt. And likely she'd need even more help when she had the babe.

  She turned back to Mama Sarita, then released a long breath. "Sí. We'll stay and work here. It's good."

  At least she hoped so.

  Chapter Eight

  The next day, Alejandra perched on the wagon bench next to Mama Sarita and Tía Laura again, this time with all of their possessions folded into two bags in the bed behind them. The ride had grown long and silent. Surely they were nearing the ranch. At first, Mama Sarita tried to keep up cheerful conversation. But the knot in Alejandra's stomach silenced her. What if Alejandra couldn't keep them safe on this ranch? If something happened to Mama Sarita here, she could never forgive herself.

  After a while, the three of them settled into melancholy silence. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Tía Laura grasp Mama Sarita's hand. Was Tía Laura concerned for them? Or just sad to see her sister leave? What would it be like to have a sister? Not even decades apart could break such a strong bond. Would her own mother have given birth to another child if the French soldiers hadn't cut her life short?

  Alejandra's fingers found their way to the scar on her cheek. That had been the worst day of her life. When the soldiers had ripped her from her mother's arms, she'd tried to fight back. They'd only laughed and hit Mama so hard she cried out. And then one of them pulled out that awful sword. She could still see the blood. Hear Mama's scream. More blood. Everywhere. Mama's blood. The burn on Alejandra's cheek as they'd tried to shut her up. Mama!

  Alejandra bent over herself as a sob escaped. Why did it happen? How could God let the evil soldados murder her mother? A warm touch settled around Alejandra's shoulders. Mama?

  Alejandra forced her eyes open. Mama Sarita. This woman had filled the void created that awful day. Alejandra leaned her head against Mama Sarita's shoulder, and drew in a deep breath.

  By the time they pulled into the ranch yard at the Double Rocking B, Alejandra had composed herself. She nodded to the kind old man who helped them from the wagon. Was his name Juan? Yes, that sounded right.

  Anna met them at the door with a bright smile. "I can't tell you how excited I am to have you here. Your company…not just the extra help." She quickly translated her words into American for Tía Laura, then beamed at her aunt's chuckle.

  As soon as they'd hung their cloaks on the pegs in the hall, Anna turned and motioned for them to follow her. "Emmaline's taking an early nap, so the house is quiet right now. I'll wait till she's up before I show you to your rooms, if you don't mind. I'm heating your chicken tortilla soup from yesterday for lunch. It was sooo good. I thought you might like something warm after riding for hours in the cold. The men are working in the North pasture again today so they won't be back until tonight."

  She paused her chatter long enough to turn and throw a grin at them. "It was handy to have the leftover tamales to send out with them for lunch. You're both so clever. Have I told you how thankful I am you’ve agreed to come stay with us?"

  Alejandra bit back a smile. Maybe this would be good for them all.

  Emmaline woke up while they ate, and stumbled into the dining room with hair rumpled and a cloth doll tucked under one arm. She stopped and took in the sight of the women sitting around the table, her sleepy gaze ignoring their greetings. She charged forward, and headed straight for…Alejandra. Before Alejandra knew what was happening, the child climbed onto her lap. Her hands instinctively wrapped around the little girl, and snuggled her close.

  "I think she's found a friend." Anna placed another bowl of soup in front of them.

  Alejandra soaked in the little girl smell while Emmaline ate. There couldn't be anything better than the love of a child.

  Alejandra could have sat and snuggled with Emmaline all day, but Tía Laura rose and began stacking dishes to carry to the kitchen. Emmaline slid from Alejandra’s lap to help her aunt.

  Tía Laura spoke to Anna, something about "rooms," "Emmy," and "bowls." Anna nodded and motioned for Mama Sarita and Alejandra to follow her. "Come, I'll show you to your rooms."

  Elaborate railing lined the staircase, carved from the richest cherry Alejandra had ever seen. A layer of dust filled the crevices of the carving, but with a little polishing, no doubt the color would come to life.

  At the top of the stairs, Anna turned right and opened the first door she came to, leaning against it as she paused to catch her breath. It must be hard to climb so
many steps carrying so much extra weight in her middle. "I thought Mama Sarita might like this room. It belonged to Jacob's Aunt Lola for many years." Anna's voice seemed to catch at the memory. "She helped raise him and was my dearest friend when I first came to the ranch. It's been hard since we lost her last year." Her voice dropped to a whisper at the end.

  A strong urge welled in Alejandra's chest to reach out and touch the other woman. Lay an understanding hand on her shoulder. She knew what it was like to lose a dear friend. But would that be appropriate toward her employer?

  Before she could make up her mind, Anna turned to face Alejandra, a forced smile coming through the tears in her eyes. Anna reached a hand to Alejandra's back, the same way Alejandra had almost done to her. "You know what it means to lose a good friend, too. It's such a comfort to have you both here."

  How had she done it? Not only had Anna set aside the boundaries of being an employer and made Alejandra feel like a friend, she'd put into words exactly what Alejandra wanted to express.

  Moisture clouded her own eyes as she stared at this kind American woman. All she could manage to choke out was, "Sí." But she could see it in Anna's eyes. She understood.

  When Anna led her to the next door and motioned for her to step inside, Alejandra sucked in a breath at the sight before her. This wasn’t what she’d expected.

  The large, sturdy pine bed dominated the middle of the room. Its exquisite quilt had a star design, pieced together from red like the stain of blackberries, forest green, and blue as vibrant as a bluebird.

  “Oh,” she breathed, stepping forward to caress the soft fabric. A flash of color in the corner of her vision brought Alejandra's attention to the windows, where curtains of the same rich red material hung from the twin windows on either side of the bed. An arm chair rested under the glass on the left, and a pine bureau and mirror to match sat in the opposite corner. The room breathed an aura of comfortable luxury.

  "This is the chamber I stayed in when Jacob's father first hired me to cook for the ranch. I loved it then." A smile touched her voice. "I haven't brought myself to change anything. Not even the quilt."

  "It's perfect." Alejandra spun to face Anna, moisture stinging her eyes again. "Thank you, Señora O'Brien. You've given so much to Mama Sarita and me. I hope one day we'll be able to repay you."

  Anna stepped forward and pulled Alejandra into a hug. A real hug, although the fullness in her midsection kept them apart. When Anna leaned back, the moisture in her eyes matched that in Alejandra's. "The only thing I want from you, Alejandra Diaz, is the gift of your friendship. And I will treasure it always."

  ~ ~ ~

  Once they'd settled in, Alejandra helped Mama Sarita with the evening meal. Anna sat in a kitchen chair, and Emmaline snuggled her doll in a miniature quilt.

  "It's time for my baby to sleep now," the little angel said in a high, make-believe tone. She started a soft humming, and rocked the little bundle with enough force to make the cloth baby seasick.

  "Are you sure I can't help with anything?" Anna asked for the third time. If it weren't for the exhaustion evident in the dark hollows under her eyes, Alejandra would have been tempted to let her chop peppers just to feel useful. But Anna needed to rest.

  "The food is under control." Mama Sarita spoke up, her tone patient and reassuring. "But you can help by telling us how the ranch runs. I did not see rooms for the vaqueros in the main house, no? They sleep in one of the other buildings?"

  Anna nodded. "Yes, Jacob built onto the bunkhouse last year. All the men sleep out there except Edward, when he's home. When he's here, he sleeps in Jacob's old room upstairs at the other end of the hall. He'll be leaving for another assignment tomorrow, though." Anna's voice tightened.

  Edward slept in the main house? But, of course he would. Still, that would put him just down the hall from her. And what had Anna meant by an assignment? Could she ask? No. She was here to work, not learn more about that handsome cowboy. "We'll need to clean the bunkhouse, too, sí?"

  "No." Anna shook her head. "Monty runs a tight ship and makes the men clean up after themselves. Even makes them do laundry every week. I go in and do a thorough cleaning in the spring and fall, but otherwise I stay out of the bunkhouse." She shrugged. "I know it's hard to believe, but it stays neater than the big house at times."

  She leaned forward and tugged on Emmaline's braid. "Certainly cleaner than this one's bedroom."

  Emmaline touched a finger to her lips and spoke in a loud whisper, "Shhh. Clara's sleeping."

  ~ ~ ~

  It's a good thing Alejandra and Mama Sarita worked together for the evening meal, because they barely had all the food ready in time. It was the twelfth of December, Día de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe—the day to honor Our Lady of Guadalupe. For the celebration, they'd prepared some of the traditional feast recipes.

  As she carried the tray of buñuelos, Alejandra inhaled the unique aroma of cinnamon and anise. Of all the smells that took her back to happier days in her childhood, this was her favorite. The simple balls of yeast dough were easy enough to make, then fry, and smother in sweet cinnamon sauce.

  The vaqueros probably hadn't tasted any in quite a while, and maybe never any as good as the recipe her madre passed down. She wasn't able to find any canned guava on Anna's shelves, so she used apples instead for the sauce. Hopefully, the taste would still be good.

  Regardless of the outcome of the buñuelo sauce, tonight they would celebrate.

  Men trickled into the dining room as she placed the platter on the table. Alejandra stepped back to examine the expanse of overflowing serving dishes and utensils. Were they missing anything? The whipped sour cream was there. Tortillas. Rice. Chicken marinating in its spicy tomato sauce. Tortas, another festival favorite. Everything seemed to be in place.

  "Come and sit now, mija," Mama Sarita whispered from behind. "The dinner is perfect."

  Alejandra obeyed as the rest of the group settled into chairs. Her gaze strayed toward the seat Edward had occupied yesterday, but it stood empty. Was he out with the herd still? Anna had said something about an "assignment," but hadn't she said that was tomorrow? His absence shouldn't create this pit of disappointment in her, should it?

  After Señor O'Brien spoke the prayer, the men scooped food onto their plates and dove into the fare with abandon. Alejandra could only stare as they devoured what had taken her and Mama Sarita all afternoon to make. Had they never eaten good food before? Or was this the way they always consumed their meals? Could they even taste the rich flavor of the cuaresmeño peppers in the sauce?

  Conversation was minimal as the sounds of fork against plate overtook everything else. The old man called Juan was the first to speak. "This feels like a fiesta, sí?" His dark eyes twinkled.

  Mama Sarita answered, "It's a celebration day, is it not? Día de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe."

  Juan formed the sign of the cross upon his chest. "Señora de Guadalupe. She is our country's symbol for everything that is good. I'm honored to live by the river called by her name."

  What? A river named for the Virgin Guadalupe? "What river, Señor?"

  Anna interjected an enthusiastic answer before Juan had a chance. "Oh, you have to see the Guadalupe River, Alejandra. There's a beautiful spot that borders our land to the northeast. If I could, I'd take you out there tomorrow. Or maybe we could ride in the buggy…" She looked to her husband as she spoke, and her voice trailed off when he shook his head vehemently.

  Turning a weak smile back to Alejandra, she continued. "Or maybe one of the cowboys can show you." And then her face brightened like a sun's ray. "Edward. I'll ask Edward to take you to the river the next time he's here for the day. He had to ride into Seguin this afternoon, and then he'll leave for an assignment tomorrow morning. But he should be back in a few days."

  So that's why Edward's chair was empty. Dare she ask what an assignment was? It sounded like he'd be leaving town for it. Maybe she could question Anna later when there weren't so many ears
around.

  "I'll never forget the time our family traveled to the Villa de Guadalupe Hidalgo to celebrate the Virgin Guadalupe's appearance all those years ago. The festival was amazing." Juan held up one of the fried bread balls from his plate. "And the buñuelos were my favorite. But not so good as this." To prove his point, he popped the round sweet in his mouth, his face scrunching into a look of pure pleasure.

  Alejandra bit back a smile, as warmth flooded her chest. These people showed such appreciation and emotion. She'd never seen anything quite like it.

  Would Edward do the same?

  Chapter Nine

  Alejandra shuffled around the table the next morning, setting a white ironstone plate at each chair. The dishes were beautiful, with wide fluted edges and delicate leaf prints pressed into the sides. She'd never used anything so lovely. And to put them out for the vaqueros to eat from? It seemed loco.

  "If that food tastes as good as it smells, I'm sorry I have to miss it."

  The deep male voice resonated across the room, sending Alejandra at least three inches off the floor. Her heart stopped for a split second, then thundered in her chest. "What in the world?" She spun toward the voice.

  There stood Edward Stewart. He was halfway across the room, but even from this distance she could see his mouth quirked, exposing one of his dimples. "Sorry if I startled you." He held up a cloth sack. "Just came by to pack some food before I head out."

  Head out? Alejandra blinked to clear her mind. He was leaving already? She pushed herself into action. Striding forward, she reached to take the sack from him. "I'll pack lunch for you. Will you stay for breakfast before you go?"

  She was close enough now to touch him, and warmth crept up her neck at his nearness. She couldn't look at his face, so she kept her gaze on the sack as he handed it to her. He wore a gun today, like that day he'd saved her in San Antonio. But had he worn it the other day when they first visited the ranch? Not that she remembered. It was probably a good idea for him to be armed when he traveled, though.