The Rancher’s Bride Blessing

by Maya Stirling

  "But our meeting has only just begun," Lydia objected.

  "I think I've made my contribution for today, Lydia," Abigail replied. "Let me know if there is anything you want me to do. Provided it doesn't involve Mr MacKendrick."

  Abigail told herself Noah was no longer a fitting subject for discussion at the Benevolent Society. He could look after himself without their assistance.

  She bid everyone farewell and left Lydia's house. Abigail got in her carriage and made her way to Main Street. It was still early, and the street wasn't busy yet, even though it was a Saturday. Passing the hotel, she almost expected to see Noah emerging from it. Just like he'd done that first day she'd met him in town. He wasn't anywhere to be seen.

  Moving on up the street, Abigail was passing the General Store when she saw two figures emerging. She gasped and her hands tightened around the carriage reins.

  Noah.

  He was talking with a swarthy complexioned man who was dressed in dark gray pants, matching shirt, boots and Stetson. Something about the stranger triggered a vague sense of recognition. Noah was turned away from Abigail so he hadn't seen her. Her first impulse was to turn the carriage around and go over to talk with Noah.

  But, something about the way he was talking with the man didn't look right. Noah's shoulders were tense and his hand movements were quicker than she'd seen them. Whatever it was they were discussing it must have been important, Abigail realized. After having defended him like she'd just done, Abigail wanted to speak with Noah. Maybe now wasn't the right time.

  Abigail turned the carriage around. Time to get back to the ranch.

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  Sunday morning was clear and sunny. Abigail was in her room, getting ready to go to church with her mother, Grace and Jake when she heard a carriage rolling into the yard. Peering out her window, she saw Noah drawing his carriage to a halt in front of the porch. He was all dressed up in his Sunday best. He wore a suit she hadn't seen before. Perfectly fitted to his broad shoulders and wide chest, the tasteful light gray jacket looked good on him. Matching pants and shiny boots completed the outfit.

  He stepped down from the carriage, holding his Stetson in his hand. As if sensing Abigail was watching him, Noah's gaze flicked upwards to her window. Abigail jerked away from the window, but not before seeing a broad smile appear on Noah's face. Rushing to finish her preparations, she took one last look in the mirror. Her modest gray dress almost matched the color of his suit. She placed her bonnet on her head and adjusted it carefully until she was satisfied.

  Abigail heard hurried footsteps in the hall outside her room. The door flew open and Grace rushed in. Grace wore her regular church dress, a plain, dark blue gown and small bonnet. "Did you see who's here, Abi?" Grace asked breathlessly.

  Abigail nodded. "I surely did."

  Grace grinned. "He must have come to take you to church."

  "That's neighborly of him, don't you think?"

  Grace frowned. "More than neighborly, I'd say."

  Abigail tapped Grace playfully on the arm. "Now, what are you suggesting?"

  Grace's features flushed pink. "Nothing." She strode to the window and gazed down. "He sure does look handsome in that suit of his, though, doesn't he?"

  Abigail fussed with her bonnet, gazing at herself in the mirror. "Must be one of those fancy outfits he's used to wearing. I imagine he owns plenty of them."

  Abigail glanced at Grace and wondered if her sister was buying the act she was putting on. Pretending to be uninterested in Noah was proving to be hard work.

  Grace came back to Abigail's side. "What are you going to say?"

  "How would I know? I don't even know what the question will be, Grace," Abigail teased her sister. Grace frowned.

  Abigail was sure Noah had come to offer to accompany her family to church. And more particularly, to get a chance to be with Abigail. She wondered what her mother would say once she found out that Noah was waiting downstairs.

  Grace grabbed Abigail by the arm and dragged her toward the open door. "Let's go." Abigail allowed herself to be pulled out to the hallway. She stumbled as she made it out the door, and Grace released her. "What's the hurry?" Abigail asked Grace, but Grace was already heading for the top of the stairs.

  Abigail followed Grace down to the hall. Outside, on the porch, she found Noah talking with Jake. Since her return two nights ago, Jake hadn't spoken a word about Noah. He'd avoided every attempt by Abigail to talk with her brother about what had happened between him and Noah. Looking at them both now, facing each other, Abigail guessed that Jake was still determined to keep a wary eye on Noah.

  Seeing Abigail emerge from the house, Noah's gaze fixed upon her. When he smiled, she felt a familiar warm sensation in her middle. The same one she'd felt down at the river. When he'd kissed her. He looked genuinely pleased to see her.

  "Good morning, Abigail," Noah said casually. She saw Noah glanced nervously at Jake.

  "Morning, Noah," Abigail replied taking a step closer to him and Jake.

  From behind her, Abigail heard her mother's voice. "Here you are," she said looking at Abigail. "Mr MacKendrick would like to accompany us all to church, this morning. Isn't that generous of him, girls?" her mother said.

  Abigail flinched a little at being referred to as a "girl", but she pushed any objections to one side. Matilda was all dressed up in her Sunday church outfit, a pleasing and modest dark brown gown with matching bonnet. As she slid on her gloves, Matilda glanced at Jake. "You and Grace can come with me, Jake," Matilda said firmly. "We'll take that," she added pointing to the carriage over by the corral.

  Jake's mouth opened, an instant objection hovering on his lips. But one stern look from their mother soon changed his mind.

  Jake, Grace and Matilda got onto the carriage while Abigail joined Noah on his. Soon they were all heading away from the the ranch.

  Abigail and Noah rode in silence for a while. The sun beat down on the wide expanse of Buchanan rangeland. The air was cool and fresh against her skin. Sitting alongside Noah, merely being in his presence, Abigail couldn't help feeling a pleasing comfort and relaxation. Noah held the reins tightly. His gaze was fixed resolutely on the trail and the carriage ahead of them. After a few minutes, he still hadn't said anything to her. She was beginning to wonder why he was being so silent.

  Although he wasn't saying anything, she felt he was acutely aware of her presence. That he was holding himself back for some reason. Waiting for the right moment. Searching for the right words to say to her on this fine and beautiful Sunday morning ride to church. Maybe, knowing her whole family were a short distance ahead, he was only trying to make a good impression.

  Finally, she couldn't stay quiet any longer. "This is a pleasant surprise," she said. "What gave you this idea?"

  "I told you I'd be going to church," he responded, his attention still fixed on the trail.

  "There is a way straight into town without coming by here. You do know that, don't you."

  He shrugged. "It seemed like a good idea to come and bring you into town." He sighed. "I didn't know I was going to get complaints."

  Abigail frowned and peered at him. "I'm not complaining," she objected.

  Still not looking at her, Noah tilted his head. "Sounds like you might have preferred me to use that other trail."

  Emotion swirled inside her. "Now, don't go getting all uppity with me, Noah MacKendrick," she moaned. She narrowed her eyes, seeing the corner of his mouth crease with the hint of a smile. Her jaw tightened as she realized that, yet again, he was teasing her. "I suppose you think that's funny."

  Finally, Noah turned his head and looked at her. His eyes were bright with mischievousness. He nodded. "Had you going there, didn't I?"

  Abigail pouted her lips and furrowed her brow. Folding her arms, she turned her head away from him. He was definitely playing with her. She didn't want him to see how annoyed she was. "At least my mother's pleased about it. That's something."

  Glancing bac
k at him, she saw that his brows had risen. "And you're not?" He didn't look convinced.

  Abigail nodded. "Of course I'm glad you came, Noah. Mama likes you. Grace thinks you're pretty fine, too." Abruptly, and peering at Noah, she added. "Although I can't imagine what they see in you."

  "You think they don't see anything in me worth admiring?" Noah asked.

  Abigail squinted at him. Now he sounded cocky, she told herself. Perhaps she was seeing another side to him, this morning. The privileged side. Had he been hiding that from her all this time? Abigail shrugged. "Can't say, really. Mama hasn't spoken about you since the other night."

  "I am disappointed," he said with a casual mocking tone in his voice. "Here was me thinking I'd made a good impression. Seems like I've been fooling myself."

  Abigail hesitated, wondering whether she should say what had popped into her mind. Deciding to risk it, she said: "Mama did say one thing."

  Noah glanced at Abigail. He looked genuinely curious, now. "What was that?"

  "You have good manners," she said evenly.

  Noah's brows rose. "Well, that's a start. Although, I have to say, I'm not surprised. It took me long enough to acquire them."

  Abigail stared at Noah, open-mouthed. For a moment, she was lost for words. Now he was beginning to sound arrogant. As if he wasn't even surprised at her mother's favorable opinion of him. "I think I'm beginning to see Jake's point," Abigail exclaimed.

  "Let me guess," Noah said. He lifted his gaze up to the sky. "I'm a spoiled Easterner who has no business starting up a ranch in these parts. Let alone hanging around his precious sister." Noah glanced at Abigail. "Is that close?"

  She felt her cheeks flush with heat. "I am not asking you to hang around, as you put it," Abigail retorted.

  Noah lifted his chin and nodded slowly. She could see he was still trying to stop himself from smiling. "You've changed your tune, Abigail. Haven't you forgiven me, yet, for letting you fall into the creek?"

  Abigail groaned. They were going to talk about that. All over again. "It wasn't your fault. I was just clumsy."

  "I did notice that," Noah said.

  Abigail whirled around and grunted. "You're not supposed to say that."

  Noah smiled at her. "Only trying to be agreeable, Abigail," he explained.

  They were both silent for a while after their exchange. Finally, Noah spoke: "Anyway. You having nothing to worry about me and Jake. Your brother and I have reached a truce."

  Abigail folded her arms. "I didn't know there was a war on."

  "After what happened the other night, we had to do some serious negotiating," Noah explained. "Your brother wanted to give me a lesson I wouldn't forget." Noah smiled at Abigail. "At least, that's the way he put it to me."

  Abigail's mouth opened in shock. "He didn't threaten you, did he?"

  Noah shook his head and laughed. "Jake wants the best for you. I can understand his point of view. He's probably looked after you all his life. Isn't that right?"

  Abigail sighed. "I guess you're right. Especially these last couple of years. Since we came to Inspiration. Every time one of the young hopefuls in town show any interest in me, Jake isn't far behind." She smiled. "Just making sure it all stays decent," she added jokingly.

  Noah smiled. "That's what you call a real brother. Someone who'll do whatever it takes to make sure his sister is okay. Must be nice having a brother like that." Noah's gaze softened.

  Abigail realized the conversation had strayed into personal territory as far as Noah was concerned. He had no brothers or sisters. She couldn't imagine what that must be like. All she'd ever known was being surrounded by siblings and, for most of her life, both of her loving parents.

  Being an only child couldn't have been easy for Noah. All the expectations for the family had rested on his shoulders. The hopes. The duties. And he'd refused them, turning his back on a secure future, a privileged one, in favor of what some people would consider an uncertain prospect. But, more than once, Noah had told her he was sure this was the place where God wanted him to be. Accepting that had taken faith, she told herself. A confidence in His guiding hand.

  Ranching could be a risky business. Weather, disease and unfriendly rivals could all conspire to make a man's life more than difficult. Impossible. There were moments when she feared for him. Worried it all might prove to be too much. But, if Noah's faith was as strong as she suspected it was, somewhere deep inside her, Abigail had no doubt he would fight hard to cooperate with God's grace.

  "How many young hopefuls have there been?" Noah asked, interrupting her thoughts. It was an inevitable question for him to ask. For a moment, she regretted having mentioned it.

  "One or two," she replied. "Nothing serious, though. Just whippersnappers."

  He nodded thoughtfully. "I know the type. Think they're the king of the world."

  Abigail laughed. "That describes them, perfectly."

  "Will any of them be at church, this morning?" he asked.

  Abigail shrugged. "Maybe."

  Noah glanced at her and quirked a brow. "Want me to have a word with them?" He grinned. "Scare them off for you?"

  Abigail giggled. "I don't think that's necessary, Noah." She shuffled closer to him and scooped an arm inside his. She felt his muscles tighten beneath the fabric of his jacket. His brows rose and he glanced down at her arm. Now it was his turn to be lost for words. "I think just being with you will be enough to give them second thoughts."

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  Pastor Joseph had completed the service, and the whole congregation was exiting the church when Noah heard his name being called out. Surrounded by Matilda, Grace and Jake, he turned and looked back into the church and saw Caleb Buchanan waving a hand in Noah's direction.

  Holding gently onto his right arm, being jostled gently by the crowd exiting the church doors, Abigail glanced up at Noah. "I think Caleb wants a word with you, Noah," she said.

  "Think you might be right," Noah replied.

  Noah and the rest of Abigail's family made their way down the church steps and out onto the yard. There was a flurry of activity around them as dozens of churchgoers chatted and socialized. There were friendly faces all around Noah. Children raced, giggling and playing, making their presence known. Abigail released Noah's arm as a pair of wild-eyed children tumbled to the ground next to her. She laughed and helped them onto their feet, only to see them run off again, yelling excitedly. Noah grinned. Sundays were happy in Inspiration. And no mistake.

  Waiting for everyone to exit the church, Noah reflected on the last hour. Upon arriving at the church, Abigail had insisted Noah join her and her family on their regular seat near the front. Before the service had begun, he'd seen all the other Buchanans arrive and take possession of an entire pew of seats. Smiles and friendly greetings had been exchanged. One or two curious looks had come Noah and Abigail's way as they'd taken their seats alongside each other. Maybe gossip was spreading, Noah admitted to himself. It didn't really matter to him though because sitting next to Abigail in the church on this fine Sunday was the nearest thing to a perfect day as he could imagine.

  The service had been thought-provoking. Pastor Joseph had talked about pride. How it could lead someone into sin. Into trouble. Noah had tried to remain steady in his seat as he'd listened to the kindly pastor declaim about the dangers of giving in to the temptation of thinking so well of ourselves that we forgot God. He was the source of every grace in our lives, Pastor Joseph had stated. Although we were required to play our part as best we could, ultimately He was the source of everything good in our lives. Listening to the pastor, Noah had reflected that almost every word could have been aimed right at him.