He almost wanted to laugh, but he managed to keep his frown on his face. Who in the world would think everything left was West? He was surprised she didn’t end up going in huge circles. It was crazy enough to be the truth, but that didn’t make up for the fact that she was on the ranch.
“Where are you going from here? And since you didn’t mean to go to Texas where were you going in the first place?”
Orla walked overtook her sister’s hand and gave him a childlike stare. She had the same blue eyes as her sister, but her hair was a golden blond.
“Is something wrong? You don’t seem very happy, Mister. I found a place that has some pretty flowers would you like me to show you?” She looked at him expectantly.
“Yes, there are lots of pretty flowers around but I don’t have time for you to show me right now.”
Orla tilted her head and her shoulders slumped. “Ciara is always too busy too. You have very nice horses. They come to visit every day. I like talking to them.”
“You’re joking right?” As soon as he saw fear in her eyes, he was sorry. “What I really meant to say was how many do you feed and where do you feed them? That I have time to see, if you’d like to show me?”
Brogan glanced toward Ciara and watched as she smiled at Orla and put her arm around her shoulder.
“I think we should just leave. I can see we’ve made you angry and we don’t want to trouble. I’m sorry as can be about being on your land. But the fence was already down, and we didn’t see any horses until that first evening. Orla talked to the horse and the next thing we know we were getting daily visits from horses which I assume are yours. If you wait here for a bit, I’m sure they’ll come to you. Orla you must pack up now.”
Orla narrowed her eyes and gave him a big frown. “We have to go because of you, don’t we? This is the best place we’ve been in a long, long, long time. We try and try to find safe places to sleep at night and it’s difficult. I point to a spot and Ciara will shake her head and say no. Then we have to ride in the wagon for a long time before she finally says yes. She thinks if we go back to St. Louis, we can find jobs. Mister do you have any jobs?”
Ciara gave him a sad smile. “I’m sorry we aren’t asking you for jobs. We’re quite capable of taking care of ourselves. Maybe you could just point me in the right direction. It shouldn’t take long for us to pack up and again I’m sorry.”
He wasn’t sure what was wrong with Orla, but she acted much younger than she was. She was sweet and Ciara seemed unhappy and weary. It was a long way to St. Louis, and they didn’t have jobs lined up. They were bound to get themselves into a whole lotta trouble. But he couldn’t offer them a place to stay, he just wanted to be alone, he never wanted to be in a position to have to trust another person again.
He watched for a moment while Ciara started putting everything back into the wagon. He swung down off Prince and began to help her. Their lack of supplies stunned him. They wouldn’t even make it out of the state Texas. Sending them on might be sending them to their deaths. What to do what to do? He could help them without getting involved. It should be easy enough. He didn’t have to interact with them perhaps he would just have to talk to them once in a great while.
He whipped his head around at the sound of pounding hooves. Stepping away from the wagon he smiled in astonishment. From what he could tell his whole herd was coming toward them. He’d never seen the like and for a moment he didn’t think they would stop. He raced toward Orla ready to scoop her up and put her in the wagon but before he had a chance, the horses stopped.
The horses didn’t come up to him. They all waited for Orla to pat them on the nose. She stole his horses. They used to surround him but now he was being ignored. The nerve of these horses he raised. But the way Orla’s laugh tinkled, calmed his jealousy. He’d never seen anyone so happy before and it amazed him. What was it like to have a carefree moment to laugh in delight?
Brogan quietly walked to Ciara’s side. “She sure has a way with horses. It’s almost magical to watch. Has she always been that way?”
She gave him a rueful smile. “She was thrown from a horse when she was fourteen and she forever remained fourteen. Sometimes it’s hard to look at her and know she’s much older than that. I expect she’ll be living with me for the rest of our lives. Good thing I like her.” She chuckled softly.
“Why don’t I hitch your horses to your wagon and have you follow me to the house? I bet the two of you could use a rest from the grueling traveling. I understand if you don’t trust me I never trust anyone either but I believe your story and truthfully you don’t have enough food to get much further in your travels.”
She looked pensive for a few minutes and then nodded. “Are you offering us jobs? We don’t take charity we work for what we have.”
“There’s always too much to do on a ranch and I’m doing it on my own. So, any help would be welcome.”
“All right, I accept and thank you. We’ll stay in the wagon. As soon as we’ve worked enough for the supplies, we need will get back on the trail. Trail, I would’ve been back in St. Louis if there really was a trail to follow.”
He almost laughed, but he reined it in before it happened. Food; she probably cooked and cooked well at least that was the hope. “I think we should set up a few ground rules. I’m off limits. I like being alone and I dislike chatter. That doesn’t mean that you have to avoid me I’m just warning you I might avoid you. You need to know it has nothing to do with you.”
“We can respect your privacy. I’d best go tell Orla or I’ll never get her away from horses.”
Chapter Two
The house surprised her. It looked fairly new, but the barn seemed to have weathered many years. There wasn’t much growing near the house and somehow it made the house look lonely. She pulled the wagon around to the back of the house and stopped. It looked like a good spot. There were oak trees that could provide them with shade and keep the scorching sun away.
“I can’t believe we’re living here. Ciara I just love this house. Do you think I can have room my own?”
Ciara smiled at her sister. “We’ll be staying in the wagon for a little while. Remember how we talked about being able to trust somebody and to never be alone with any man?” She waited for Orla to nod. “Brogan lives here alone. He seems very nice, but we don’t know him. I’m sure as the days go by, we will find out if we can trust him or not. So, I’ll say it again I don’t want you to be alone with him. If he tries to kiss you or touch you, I want you to let me know right away. I love you Orla.”
Orla gave her a warm smile before she hugged her. “I know the rules to be safe. I love you too Ciara. Do you think I could go into the barn to see more horses?”
“We have to remember that this is Brogan’s ranch. If we want to do anything, we need to get his permission.”
“You mean he’s gonna be like our dad?”
Ciara’s lips twitched and she couldn’t help but laugh when Brogan came out of the back door of his house and heard them. He looked to be at a loss for words and finally she took pity on him and stopped laughing.
“No not like our dad. It’s just always polite to ask first.”
Orla mumbled as she shook her head. “Not allowed to do anything ever.”
Ciara exchanged an amused glance with Brogan.
“I’m sure you will be plenty to do around here that will make you happy.” She grew serious she would have to tell Brogan about the rule of not being alone with Orla. She understood, but she didn’t understand at the same time and all it would take would be one slick cowboy to ruin Orla.
“Can I go to the barn?” Orla asked eagerly.
“Sure, you want me take you down there?” Brogan asked.
“I have to go alone.” Orla started walking towards the barn.
His brow furrowed as he gazed at Ciara. She felt the heat of his gaze as she watched Orla make her way to the barn. She might as well tell him the rules.
“Orla’s not allowed to be a
lone with any man. She looks like a woman and any man would think she was a woman but she’s still a girl. I’m just afraid for her. I’m afraid someone will take advantage of her so I’ve made the rule that she can’t be alone with any man. I know it might seem strange to you but it’s the only way I know to protect my sister.”
Brogan nodded. “I understand, it’s a good rule. There are too many people out there that will take advantage of others. And it’s amazing how many people lie. I’ll try to keep the rule in mind but it’s not the biggest ranch.”
“That was easier than I thought. Usually a man would say my ranch my rules. You’re different from others I’m not exactly sure how but you are. In a good way.” Her face heated she was babbling on like an empty-headed woman. “I’d be happy to make dinner if you’d show me the kitchen. Please let me know if I or Orla overstep boundaries you may have. It’s not easy to get along with the people you don’t know. I just don’t want us to be in the way. Oh, and one more thing, feel free to tell us to leave. I have no idea if I’ll be working to be here for a night or a week but if you’ve had your fill just let me know.”
His eyes widened as he looked her up and down as though taking her measure. “A straight shooter I like that. Come on I’ll show you the kitchen.”
He led her through the back door and into the kitchen. The wooden floors weren’t even marked up. The counters didn’t have familiar knife marks and the stove was one of the newer ones with the hot water reserve in the back. It was so clean she wondered if it had been used before. The shelves were loaded with dinnerware that didn’t fit him at all. They were far from the tin plates she and her family had always used. But the yellow flowers on the plates were cheerful.
She walked over to the sink and was thrilled to see the indoor water pump. She had heard of them, but she’d never used one. “Do you have a root cellar?”
Brogan pointed to the floor. “It’s right under there but it’s empty. I have most of the food supplies in the closet over here.” He walked to the closet, turned the knob and opened the door.
She’d never seen anything like it; a place for everything. It was a big closet and she stood inside marveling at the selection of supplies he had. She turned red and glanced over her shoulder at him. “I shoved you out of the way didn’t I? My ma taught me to be a lady and I’m sorry I shoved you.”
He grinned at her showing his deep smile lines. He probably smiled often before the war. He didn’t seem to be much of a smiler now.
“Well I would call it more of a push and a shove. I don’t know many women who would be so excited by a food closet. But considering how low your supplies are I can understand. You and Orla are welcome to help yourself to whatever you want. I eat here or there.” He ducked his head. “I don’t know how to cook so I tend to eat beans out of a can. But I do know how to roast meat but only over an open fire.”
“Well that is more than my father ever knew about cooking.” Her eyes misted for a moment thinking of her father. She missed both of her parents so very much. But in a way they saved her, and Orla’s lives.
“Now how is this supposed to work? Say Orla is in the barn, but I need to do something in the barn what should I do?”
“Gently tell her she has to leave and just tell her it’s the rule. She’ll understand. It’s been a bit of a trial always watching over my sister, but I love her so very much. She finds delight the smallest things and she always shares them with me. I just wish oh never mind.”
“No what were you going to say? You can talk to me I don’t have anyone to tell your secrets to.”
She hesitated for a moment. Why not? “I wish that someday she could be married and have children of her own but that will never happen. And I have found that most men won’t marry if she’s part of the bargain.”
Brogan tilted his head for a moment. “Men have said that to you? I don’t see why it would be a hardship. Are you a mail-order bride? Is that why you were going West?”
It was her turn to smile. She had suggested being a mail-order bride, but her parents were too upset about the idea. “No, there’s no one waiting for me.”
The door opened wider. “I’m always waiting for you and I always will be.” Orla crossed the room and gave Ciara a hug.
Orla let go and she gazed at Ciara with great excitement in her eyes. “You have to come to the barn Ciara! You must. There are baby horses with their mamas, and they have two cows imagine two cows! I saw a rooster, chickens, three pigs, and I even saw a goat with two little goats. Do you think the bigger goat is the mama goat?”
Ciara watched Brogan’s lips twitch. She was used to it though and it didn’t make her laugh anymore she just enjoyed Orla’s excitement. “Two cows you say? I think you’ll have to show me after we cook supper. I have a few things I want to show you too. Come look the water pump inside.” Both women went to the sink and Orla laughed.
Ciara glanced at him over her shoulder.
He nodded and tipped his hat to her before he turned and went outside.
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About the Author
Sexy Cowboys and the Women Who Love Them...
Finalist in the 2012 and 2015 RONE Awards.
Top Pick, Five Star Series from the Romance Review.
Kathleen Ball writes contemporary and historical western romance with great emotion and
memorable characters. Her books are award winners and have appeared on best sellers lists including: Amazon's Best Seller's List, All Romance Ebooks, Bookstrand, Desert Breeze Publishing and Secret Cravings Publishing Best Sellers list. She is the recipient of eight Editor's Choice Awards, and The Readers' Choice Award for Ryelee's Cowboy.
Winner of the Lear diamond award Best Historical Novel- Cinders' Bride
There's something about a cowboy
Other Books by Kathleen
Lasso Spring Series
Callie’s Heart
Lone Star Joy
Stetson’s Storm
Dawson Ranch Series
Texas Haven
Ryelee’s Cowboy
Cowboy Season Series
Summer’s Desire
Autumn’s Hope
Winter’s Embrace
Spring’s Delight
Mail Order Brides of Texas
Cinder’s Bride
Keegan’s Bride
Shane’s Bride
Tramp’s Bride
Poor Boy’s Christmas
Oregon Trail Dreamin’
We’ve Only Just Begun
A Lifetime to Share
A Love Worth Searching For
So Many Roads to Choose
The Settlers
Greg
Juan
Scarlett
Mail Order Brides of Spring Water
Tattered Hearts
Shattered Trust
Glory’s Groom
Battered Soul
Romance on the Oregon Trail
Cora’s Courage
Luella’s Longing
Dawn’s Destiny
Terra’s Trial
Candle Glow and Mistletoe
The Kabvanagh Brothers
Teagan: Cowboy Strong
Quinn: Cowboy Risk
Brogan: Cowboy Pride
The Greatest Gift
Love So Deep
Luke’s Fate
Whispered Love
Love Before Midnight
I’m Forever Yours
Finn’s Fortune
Glory’s Groom
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Quinn: Cowboy Risk: The Kavanagh Brothers Book Two Page 12