Seven Brides for Seven Texans Romance Collection

by Amanda Barratt

  She sighed. “I’ve never truly known what Jenny thought. In some ways we were close, but vastly different in others. She’s more spirited and independent.” More stubborn and picky. Rebekah sighed, her heart breaking. Where was her sister? Was she safe?

  Austin reached out to grip her shoulder, his gaze serious. “This isn’t your fault, either. So don’t try to take the blame.”

  She nodded, but she still couldn’t help wonder if she’d done her best to help her sister after their mother died. Please, God, keep her safe. “What do we do now?”

  “I’ll gather up the men, and we’ll go after her.”

  “I want to go, too.”

  Austin’s lips pursed as he shook his head. “You’ll slow us down. You don’t know how to ride astride, do you?”

  “I rode a few times when I was a girl. Please, Austin.”

  He took hold of her hands, sending delicious warmth scurrying up her arms, across her shoulders, and settling in the pit of her stomach. “I know you want to help, but our best chance to catch up with Jenny is to ride fast. We can’t do that if you go.”

  She frowned but nodded. He was right, even if she didn’t want to admit it. “When you find Jenny, are you going to bring her back?”

  He shrugged. “I can’t force her to return. She’s a grown woman and able to make her own choices.” He gazed past her then motioned to someone, and she turned to see several of the ranch hands exiting the barn. One jogged up to Austin.

  “What do you need us to do, boss?”

  “We believe Miss Evans’s sister rode off with Cody. We need to find them. Get the other men, tend to the most basic chores, grab some food, and then meet me at the house in say … twenty minutes.”

  “Right, boss.” The man’s expression darkened as he looked at her. “Sorry about your sister, ma’am.”

  “Thank you.” She watched him trot back to the other men, said something, and they scattered in different directions.

  “I need to eat then get going.” He started toward the house, and she hurried to keep up.

  “I’ll admit I’m worried about my sister. This isn’t the first time Jenny made a bad choice.” But it was the first time she’d run off. She bit the inside of her cheek and looked at Austin for a moment. “Surely you don’t want to marry her after this.”

  He flicked a sideways glance at her. “I can’t think of that now. Besides the fact Jenny ran off, Cody stole two of my horses, and in Texas, that’s a hanging offense.”

  She hated to think of any man hanging, especially someone her sister might care for. Suddenly her heart bucked, and she stared at Austin.

  “What?”

  “What about Jenny? Could she also hang?”

  Austin’s expression softened. “Not too likely. Texas hasn’t hanged many women.”

  “But she stole your horse…”

  “Brody said he saw Cody alone with the two horses, so in my book, he’s the guilty party. I imagine Cody sweet-talked her into going with him.”

  “I’m so sorry for all the trouble we’ve caused your family.”

  “I’m the one who wrote to your sister first, after seeing her ad in the newspaper.”

  Rebekah stared out at the peaceful hillside where cattle and several horses grazed. How could Jenny have run off with that man when she was already committed to marry Austin? It cut her to the quick to think Jenny might have fallen for a man who had no qualms about stealing from the men who employed him. It sure didn’t speak much to his character. Did Jenny truly have feelings for Cody, or was he just a way to get her out of marrying Austin? She shook her head. What a fool her sister was to choose a poor cowboy thief over an honorable man like Austin. Her heart broke for him. It broke for herself, because she didn’t know if she’d ever see her sister again. She’d come to accept leaving her sister here, knowing she’d be safe and well cared for, but having Jenny riding off into the unknown was something altogether different. What would become of her sister? Her hands quivered, and tears burned her eyes.

  Austin stopped at the bottom of the porch steps and turned to her. “Hey now, tears won’t help a thing.” His palm slid down her arm to grasp her hand. “Don’t fret. I’ll do my best to find her.”

  “Thank you.”

  The door opened and Travis and Annie rushed out. “Perla told us that Jenny is missing.”

  Austin nodded. “Gone is more like it. She packed some things and rode out with Cody—we think.”

  “Cody! Why, that charlatan—” Travis’s dark eyes flashed.

  “Yep. He’s not getting away.”

  A muscle ticked in Travis’s jaw. “I can check in town since I have to go to my office, and I can keep my eye out for them in case they show up later.”

  “I’ll ride with you. I want to see if they got on the stage.” Austin’s voice faded as the men entered the house.

  Annie’s sad expression almost made Rebekah cry. “I’m really sorry, Rebekah.”

  “I can’t but help feel this is my fault.”

  “Why would you think that? Jenny is well old enough to know her own mind.”

  “I was so determined that we’d both find a husband before we were homeless that I didn’t listen to my sister. She truly wasn’t ready to marry, but since my fiancé had said she couldn’t live with us, she didn’t have a choice.”

  Annie took hold of her hand. “It would seem she did, and she found a way to get what she wanted.”

  Thoughts buzzed Rebekah’s mind like a colony of hornets whose nest had been disturbed. Had Jenny taken a fancy to Cody and decided he was the man she wanted? Or had she merely sweet-talked him in to doing what she wanted him to do? What would be the cost of his compliance? Her stomach clenched. Had her sister made another disastrous choice?

  Chapter Eight

  Rebekah awoke from a troubled sleep. After lunch, Annie had insisted she stop pacing the front porch and rest. She tried, but disturbing dreams had haunted her—one where Jenny was on trial for stealing a horse. Rebekah’s clothes stuck to her body, and she longed for some fresh air. She quickly rearranged her hair and smoothed down her hopelessly wrinkled dress, and went looking for Annie.

  Women’s voices drew her to the parlor. As she stepped around the corner, she took in the sight of five women, standing in the middle of the room. They hadn’t noticed her yet.

  “Well, are you going to keep us all in suspense?” A tall woman who looked part Mexican jiggled the arm of the chatty dark-haired woman Rebekah remembered from the hotel.

  “I feel bad sharing it, all things considered.”

  “Please!” Ella—or was it Emma—stood with her hand resting across her belly. Rebekah guessed her baby would come in another month or two.

  “Yes, do tell.” Annie clapped her hands.

  The short woman nibbled her fingernail and nodded. “All right. I will only because I can’t not tell you.” She grinned widely then took a deep breath. “I’m almost certain that Houston and I are going to have a baby.”

  Rebekah jumped at the squeals that filled the room. The four women bounced around Cora-belle. Cora-lou. Cora-something, all chattering at once. After a long minute of everyone trying to talk over the other, the Mexican woman noticed her and whispered something. The women instantly quieted, and the soft swish of fabric echoed across the big room as they turned in unison.

  Annie hurried toward her, a big smile on her face. “I’m sorry if we disturbed you, but Coralee just shared the most wonderful news.”

  Coralee. That’s her name. She looked at the short, dark-haired woman. “Congratulations. That is happy news. Please, don’t allow my presence to put a damper on your excitement. I’m headed to the porch and was merely surprised to see so many ladies here.”

  Annie took her by the arm. “I know you’ve already met most of us, but let me introduce you again. Everyone, this is Rebekah Evans.” She walked up to the dark-skinned woman, who was the tallest of the group. “This is Caro, and she is married to Chisholm.”

 
Caro’s coffee-colored eyes brightened. “It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance.”

  “Thank you. It’s nice to meet you, too.”

  Caro’s expression dimmed. “I was very sorry to hear about your sister.”

  “Thank you.” She smiled at the kind woman.

  Annie turned her away from Caro to face the other Hart woman she hadn’t yet met. The thin, green-eyed woman was only an inch shorter than Rebekah. “This is Jane. She’s married to Crockett.”

  Jane smiled. “Happy to make your acquaintance.”

  Rebekah nodded. “Me, too.”

  “And you’ve met the other ladies, Emma and Coralee. Emma is the wife of Hays, who is one of the three blue-eyed bothers, and the youngest. Makes him easy to remember.”

  “That, and his quick smile,” Emma said.

  “And if you remember, Coralee is married to Houston.”

  Coralee stepped forward, smiling. Her dark ringlets bounced as she moved. “It’s such a pleasure to see you again, even though the circumstances aren’t the best.”

  Rebekah felt taken aback by their warm welcome after all the trouble her sister had caused. Even now their husbands were out searching for Jenny. “Thank you all for your kindness.”

  The women gathered around, each trying to talk, asking her questions.

  Coralee cleared her throat loudly. “Ladies, please. I have a favor to ask.” Her expression turned serious. “Houston and I don’t plan to inform the men about the baby just yet. He agreed that I could tell y’all since I simply couldn’t keep from it and had to tell someone. But we want to wait a little longer to announce our news to the men—possibly until Thanksgiving or Christmas.”

  Rebekah stepped back as the women assured her they would keep her secret and talked turned back to the baby.

  From her viewpoint just inside the parlor she noticed Perla come around the corner at the far end of the hall, carrying a tray.

  Rebekah moved closer to the women. “Ladies, Perla is coming. Unless you want her to know, too, you might want to change the topic.”

  Coralee grasped her hand. “Thank you for the warning, and no, not yet.”

  Perla entered the room, and everyone quit talking. The older woman stopped and eyed them suspiciously but then smiled. “I brought you some tea and gingerbread.” Comments of appreciation flitted around the room, and the ladies each took a seat. Annie tugged Rebekah down on the settee next to her, thwarting her escape outside.

  Once Perla had left and they all had tea, Emma squealed. “I’m so excited that our baby will have a cousin.”

  Several of the women smiled. From what Austin had said, all of them were newlyweds. It wouldn’t surprise Rebekah if there were more announcements of babies before long. A part of her wished that she could be there when it happened.

  Talk turned to the Christmas Eve Ball.

  “It’s one of the highlights of the year,” Annie said, her hazel eyes bright with excitement.

  Footsteps sounded on the porch, and the room grew quiet. The front door banged open, and Robbie ran down the hall. The gangly boy skidded to a halt, barely able to keep from falling. His arm hit his hat, sending it rolling toward the door. He turned into the parlor, his cinnamon hair flopping in his eyes. “Someone’s coming!”

  The bell above the door of Travis’s office rang as Austin walked in. His brother strode in from the back and slowed his steps when he saw him. “Did you find them?”

  Austin shook his head. “They’re not here. Our horses are at the livery, though. Seems Cody left them there with a note saying he’d only borrowed them.”

  “That’s good that he returned them. At least we won’t have to get the Rangers after him.” Travis scratched his ear. “So what now?”

  “I checked at the stage office, and Cody and Jenny were on the one that left just before we got to town.”

  “Are you going after them?”

  He shrugged. “Don’t know. Jenny left a note for her sister.”

  Travis leaned against the wall, arms crossed. “Did you read it?”

  “No.”

  “Don’t you think you should? It might determine whether or not you should ride after her and bring her back.”

  “I can’t marry her after this.” Austin sighed. “If I brought her back, it would only be for Rebekah’s sake. But what good would that do? Jenny would probably only leave again.”

  “I’m sorry. I know that puts you in a real tight bind with Pa’s deadline looming so close.” He rubbed his hand over his jaw. “What about the other sister?”

  Austin narrowed his eyes, not sure what Travis meant. “What about her?”

  “Have you considered asking her to marry you?”

  He had to admit the idea sounded better than he thought it might, but given the circumstances … “She’s engaged. She only came here to be with Jenny for the wedding.”

  “That’s unfortunate. What are you going to do? I can’t believe Pa would actually turn you and Bowie out just because you didn’t find a bride by the end of the year.”

  “I’m not willing to take the chance. I’ll marry, one way or another.”

  Travis pushed away from that wall, crossed the room, and stopped in front of him. He placed his hand on Austin’s shoulder. “I know how important the ranch is to you, but I can tell you honestly, the love of a good woman is far better. It’s worth taking your time to find the right one.”

  “But if I do that, I’ll have nothing to give her.”

  Travis pursed his lips. “Not nothing. You’ll have yourself—and in the eyes of most who know you, that’s a lot.”

  Austin barked a harsh laugh. “Thanks, but women want houses, security, not a man with empty pockets.”

  “Guess maybe it’s time to take things to the Good Lord.”

  The bell chimed again, and Austin moved out of the doorway as Miss Spanner, the town gossip, entered, holding one hand in the other. She glanced at him then at Travis. “I burned my hand on some hot grease.”

  Travis stood aside and gestured toward the rear of his office. “Come on back to my exam room and let me check it.” He cast Austin an apologetic look.

  Miss Spanner paused at the doorway and turned back. “Is it true your bride ran away with another man?”

  As Austin rode into the ranch yard, Miss Spanner’s question still nagged him. If she knew about Jenny, the whole town—maybe even the county—did by now. He’d be the laughingstock of southern Texas before long. And except for Bowie, he’d be the only Hart brother who hadn’t landed a wife. Sighing loudly, he dismounted. He tied his horse and the two he’d picked up at the livery to the hitching post rather than heading to the barn, knowing Rebekah would be dying to hear news of her sister. He still hadn’t read Jenny’s note and wondered what it said.

  The front door opened, and Rebekah rushed out. She hurried down the stairs and stopped in front of him, her eyes dim. “You didn’t find her.”

  “Not exactly, but she left this for you.” He pulled the note from his vest pocket and handed it to her. “She and Cody left the horses at the livery and caught the morning stage.”

  Her hands quivered as she unfolded the paper and read the short note. Her chin wobbled. “It says not to follow her. That she wants to be with Cody. Then just the word sorry.” She crumpled the paper and gazed up at him. Her miserable expression cut him to the quick. “What are we going to do?”

  He glanced at the house and saw several of his sisters-in-law staring out the parlor window and two others at the open door, looking concerned. “Let’s take a walk.” He held out his arm, and she took it without hesitation.

  He headed toward the pasture where the cattle grazed. They’d be within sight of the others for propriety sake but out of hearing range. Once they’d reached the fence, he stopped and turned to face her. “There’s not much we can do. I can try to find her and bring her back, but from what I know of your sister, she’d be spitting mad and just leave again.”

  “I honestly can’t belie
ve Jenny would do such a thing. She’s always been headstrong, but this is deplorable.” Rebekah turned her sad blue eyes on him as she clutched his arm. “I’m so sorry for the horrible predicament this puts you in. What will you do?”

  He had no idea. “I don’t know. Need a little time to think.”

  “I should probably pack my bags and leave. My presence will only make everyone uncomfortable, all things considered.”

  The thought of her leaving created a crevice in his heart so wide it hurt. Was it possible he’d actually developed feelings for Rebekah? Or was his desperation to marry causing the ache? “There won’t be another stage today.”

  She nibbled her lip.

  “It won’t bother anyone for you to stay here, but if you’d be more comfortable, I can take you to town and rent a room at the hotel.”

  She looked as if she were fighting to not cry. “I truly hate to ask you to do that, but I think it would be for the best. My family has created enough trouble for everyone here.”

  Rebekah Evans was a kind woman who put others before herself. She was lovely, inside and out. If she weren’t already engaged, he’d seriously consider asking her to stay. But she was, and he couldn’t hurt another man like he’d been wounded, by stealing his bride. Austin nodded and held out his arm again. He’d take her to town, and then he needed to find himself another bride.

  But his heart sure wasn’t in the task.

  Rebekah sat on the side of her bed in the lonely hotel room, staring at the floor. Her heart ached. But was it from her sister’s abandonment or Austin’s? He’d rented her a room, escorted her upstairs, and then said good-bye. Her chin trembled. She’d never see him again—the man she was sure now that she loved.

  If only he’d asked her to stay. She would have with a happy heart.