He looked from one woman to the other. “I’m sorry, Hannah, I didn’t mean to insult you. Mother, stop laughing.” His jaw tightened and he reached out and grabbed Hannah’s hand. “If you will excuse us, I need to talk to Hannah in private.” Relief and anger fought for control of his emotions. Anger won. Why hadn’t she stayed at the school as he’d told her to?
Her hand felt small and warm in his as he pulled her across the room and out the front door. Just as he shut the door behind him, he heard his mother call, “Play nice, Daniel.” Her laughter followed them down the steps.
He slapped his hat back on, grabbed Tornado’s reins as they passed the stallion and continued on across the yard.
“Daniel, slow down.” Hannah pulled against his hand.
“I’ll slow down once I get you back to the school,” he answered, continuing at his fast pace.
She dug her feet into the earth.
Daniel growled deep in his throat. Turned around, scooped her up and then seated her up onto Tornado’s saddle. Confused blue eyes searched his face before he mounted behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist.
Hannah clung to the saddle horn. Her hair had come down from his rough treatment and curled about her shoulders.
Tornado took off like a shot across the yard, through the strand of trees and then on past the school. Her hair brushed against his face. The soft material of her dress brushed his arm.
She called over her shoulder, “I thought you were taking me to the schoolhouse.”
He ignored her. Right now all he wanted to do was ride with the wind in his face. He wasn’t sure who he was angry with, her for disobeying his orders or himself for caring so much about what could have happened to her. What if she’d been kidnapped? Hurt?
She relaxed against him, releasing the saddle horn. Why? Did Hannah trust him not to let her fall? He’d never understand women. She had no reason to trust him, and yet here she sat with her back resting against him, her eyes closed and her head on his shoulder.
Daniel pulled Tornado to a walk.
Hannah opened her eyes and looked at him. “Why are you so angry?”
He leaned forward and answered in a low, throaty voice, “Because I told you to stay at the school.”
She moved forward in the saddle. “And I told you I can take care of myself.”
“Hannah, there is danger on a ranch this size. Anything could happen to you. Just this morning we found 2 of our cows and their calves butchered in the west pasture. Someone is on Westland lands who shouldn’t be.” He guided Tornado up a steep hill. Hannah slid back against his chest once more.
She reached up and cupped his jaw. “Does this mean you were concerned for me?”
“Of course I was concerned for you.” Her fingers felt soft against his cheek. The urge to lean into her touch was tempting.
She dropped her hand as Tornado lurched to the top of the rise. The big stallion snorted and shook his head. Daniel pulled him to a halt.
Below was his house, the home he’d hoped to be sharing with Hannah already. He loved this spot. The structure stood in a grove of oak trees, with a stream running alongside, far enough away not to flood the place but close enough that he could listen to its music. A meadow lay in front of it and in the evenings deer would come and drink from the stream.
“Oh, Daniel, what a beautiful place,” Hannah said, her gaze taking it all in.
He didn’t respond with words, not sure what to say. Daniel eased Tornado down the incline toward the house, where he stopped the stallion and slipped off his back. Reaching up for her, he answered. “This is our home, Hannah.”
Once on the ground she stepped out of his arms and walked to the front porch. “Our home?”
Daniel came up behind her and placed his hands on her shoulders. “Yes.”
“I thought your mother started this contest at Christmas. That was only 6 months ago, Daniel. You built this place that fast?”
He looked at the large house, which was shaped like a capital L. It had taken longer than 6 months to get it finished—more like 8. “No, I started working on this house last fall. I completed it a couple of months ago.” At the time he’d started building it, it had been for him alone. Now he knew he’d be sharing it with Hannah. The thought both annoyed and pleased him. Get it together, Daniel. You are marrying for the ranch, not for love.
* * *
“Oh, I see,” Hannah said. She’d hoped he’d built the house with her in mind, but now knew that wasn’t possible. To hide her disappointment she asked, “Can we go inside?”
Daniel gave her shoulders a gentle squeeze. “Sure can. I want to show you what I added after I started writing to you.” He grabbed her left hand and pulled her forward.
So there was something in the house that he’d created with her in mind. Hannah smiled. They climbed the 3 low steps and he opened the door.
He held it for her. Hannah passed him and the scent of leather and the outdoors enveloped her. She smiled up at him, and then turned to see the room she’d just entered.
It was a nice-size living room, with a big fireplace against the back wall. A large brown chair sat beside the hearth, but there was no other furniture. She could see that the room opened into the kitchen and a dining area. The fresh scent of wood filled her with a sense of happiness, something she couldn’t really explain.
Hannah walked to the kitchen. It was a spacious room, but again wasn’t furnished, and she frowned. It was almost as if Daniel had never really planned on living in the house. She turned to him and asked, “Where is the furniture?”
A light pink color moved up his neck and into his face. “I was waiting for you to get here and planned on letting you pick out the furnishings.”
She walked over and hugged him. “Daniel, I think that’s one of the nicest things you’ve said to me.”
His arms wrapped around her and he hugged her back. “I haven’t been very nice, have I?” He chuckled.
Hannah pulled out of his embrace and slapped his arm. “That’s not what I meant and you know it.”
Her attention went back to the house. She stepped out of the kitchen and into the dining area. A bay window took her breath away with its beauty. It allowed a lot of light into the room. She gasped. “Oh, Daniel, it’s beautiful. I love the window.”
A smile creased his face. He stood with his hands in his back pockets and rocked on his heels. “I hoped you would. At first it was just a small window, one I thought you could put a flower box on. But the more we wrote, the more I realized you’d be the type of woman who enjoyed lots of sunshine.”
She walked to him until they were standing inches apart. Hannah stared up at him. “You added it because of my letters to you?”
His hands came out of his pockets and he stopped rocking. “I wanted you to be happy. You said in one of your letters that you were looking forward to living on a ranch again because you missed the open spaces and the sunshine.”
This time Hannah impulsively rose on tiptoe, cupped his handsome face in her hands and kissed him. His arms snaked around her and he returned the kiss, until she pulled away and said, “Thank you.”
He released her reluctantly. “Want to see the rest of the house? I’m interested to see if any of the other rooms will garner more kisses.”
She saw the teasing glint in his eyes. “I do, but don’t expect kisses in every room.”
Daniel took her hand again and escorted her through the rest of the house. There was a small staircase that led upstairs, where 3 bedrooms had been built. She noticed there was no furniture in any of those rooms, either.
When they came back downstairs, she realized they hadn’t explored the rest of the first floor. Daniel dropped her hand and let her precede him into what proved to be a large bedroom. There was a huge bed in the center and a chest of drawers against one wall, with a basin and water pitcher sitting on top.
Hannah realized this was the master bedroom. She saw an armoire sitting against the other wall wit
h a dressing table beside it, and knew it was meant for her. He’d done the room in soft blues and greens. The wedding-ring quilt covering the bed reminded her that he’d prepared this room for them.
He cleared his throat. “There is another room through that door.”
She turned to see that he’d leaned against the doorjamb. His arms and ankles were crossed, and his deep green eyes studied her. Hannah felt her face flush, and turned away.
The next room was smaller, but it, too, had furniture. A small dresser and bassinet lined one wall. He’d covered the window with light blue curtains.
She walked over to the bassinet and looked down to find a small pillow and blanket covering the little mattress. Had Daniel dreamed of the day when a baby would sleep there? Or had this been part of winning his mother’s contest?
Hannah turned to face him but saw that he hadn’t followed her. She retreated from the room and discovered him missing from the bedroom, as well. Daniel wasn’t in the living room, either. The house held no sound, so she assumed he’d stepped outside.
She walked back to the dining room. Her feet carried her to the window that he’d taken such pains to put in for her. Hannah loved the house. She loved the thought of living there happily forever. Daniel had admitted earlier that he was concerned for her. Could he fall in love with her? And if so, would it be an unconditional love?
Hannah took one more look about the dining room and then turned to leave. Would they share more kisses in this house or was she doomed to be disappointed? Lord, if it be Your will, please let him love me, and let me be wise enough to know what real love is and what it isn’t.
With that silent prayer, Hannah closed the door of the house and went in search of Daniel.
Chapter Sixteen
Daniel stood by the stream’s edge, letting Tornado drink his fill. What had Hannah thought of the nursery? He’d hoped it would be a room she’d enjoy. He thought they could have the babies close when they were little, and then eventually move them to the bedrooms upstairs. Once the last child was up there in his or her own room, Hannah could convert the nursery into a sewing room or sitting room.
Ducks floated on the stream, creating a sense of peace within him. He couldn’t help but wonder, what would it be like to have children with Hannah?
He’d enjoyed the 2 kisses they’d shared and felt as if they would be compatible once they were married. She was smart, beautiful and had a quick sense of humor. To his way of thinking, any children that might come from their union would be much like her. He’d built the house with 4 spare bedrooms and had thought they could have 3 children and an extra room for a guest.
Daniel picked up a piece of driftwood and drew circles in the sand at the water’s edge. In his mind’s eye he envisioned little ones playing along this bank. Their children would have black hair and blue eyes or brown hair and green eyes. If he was lucky, he’d have a little girl who looked just like Hannah. He smiled at the thought.
When he was building the house, he’d thought about children a lot. They’d seemed unreal and no threat to his plan to not fall in love. But now, with Hannah in the house, looking down on the bassinet, he’d grasped just how real a family would be.
How would he guard his heart from loving them too deeply? Daniel honestly didn’t think he could, and that scared him. If he couldn’t guard his heart, then there was always the chance it could be broken. With small children on a ranch there was always the danger of one of them getting hurt, or worse, dying.
Was that part of the reason he hadn’t left Hannah in town and sent off for a new bride? As long as she refused to marry him, his heart was safe from both her and any future children they might have.
He felt as if a thunderstorm was building in his brain. If he didn’t marry before Levi and have the first grandchild, then his brother would get the ranch. Daniel knew he wanted it himself. But to have the ranch, would he take a chance on love, and on losing another loved one to the hazards of ranch life?
Thankfully, it seemed as if Levi had given up on sending off for a mail-order bride. Daniel had bought 6 months with Hannah, but after that, what was he going to do?
He closed his eyes, and immediately the night of his sister’s death came racing back. He and Levi had returned during a thunderstorm and found her small, trampled body in the barn. Remembering took his breath away.
Gracie Joy had only wanted to comfort her pony, of that he was certain, but instead the little Shetland had pushed her down and run over her in his fear. The doctor said she’d died instantly, but he wasn’t so sure.
“Daniel?” He opened his eyes to find Hannah staring at him. “The house is very nice.”
He tried to smile, but the action felt stiff upon his face. “I’m glad you like it.” And he was glad. But now that she was here, and it all seemed so real, Daniel was beginning to think he should have bought a house in town. At least there the children would be safe from ranching dangers.
“Do you think we can go back now?” she asked, eyeing Tornado doubtfully. It was clear she didn’t want to get on the horse again.
Daniel picked up the reins and walked toward her. She backed away. He stopped and asked, “Want to talk about it?”
“You’ll think I’m… Well, I don’t know what you’ll think, but I feel foolish.” She tucked a wayward strand of hair behind her ear.
He reached out and grasped one of her hands, which felt cold in his. Daniel gently pulled her to him. “I know Tornado scares you, but you didn’t seem to mind riding on him this afternoon.”
She didn’t drop his hand, but moved to the right, placing Daniel between herself and the big stallion. “I don’t mind riding Tornado.”
Daniel began walking. “Then what are you afraid of?”
“Promise not to laugh?” she asked, twisting her free hand in her skirt.
“I’ll do my best.”
Hannah pulled her shoulders back, raised her chin and said, “I’m afraid he might step on my foot.”
She’d never told him how she’d acquired the limp, but Daniel thought he knew now. “You’ve been stepped on before?” he asked.
“Yes, when I was a kid. A stallion tromped on me.” Hannah continued to stare straight ahead.
“I’d like to know what happened. Can you talk about it?” Daniel asked. Again his thoughts went to the possibility that someday his child could be hurt by a horse or bull, or bitten by a snake. The dangers of ranch life were endless.
Hannah nodded. “I was ten years old and my father and I were gathering the cattle out of the back pasture. I’d climbed off my horse and was trying to pull a calf out of the mud when Pa rode up. I’d gotten the calf out and had just turned to get back on my own horse when something spooked Blaze. He stepped sideways and my ankle ended up under his hoof.”
She looked off into the distance, but not before Daniel saw the tears welling in her eyes.
“Pa said I screamed and passed out. When I woke up, the doctor was there, and I heard him tell my father and stepmother I’d probably never walk on that foot again.” She took a deep breath. “But he was wrong.” Determination laced her words. “I wasn’t about to let a little limp keep me from working beside my pa on our ranch.” A tear escaped and ran down her cheek.
Daniel stopped walking and turned her to face him. He wiped the tear away with his thumb. He looked deeply into her eyes and could see the hurt little girl there. “What happened next?” Something told him the worst was yet to come.
Her voice cracked as she said, “Pa didn’t want me anymore. As soon as I could walk, he sent me away to school.” Tears streamed down her face and her bottom lip began to tremble. The broken words tumbled from her lips. “He didn’t love me anymore, Daniel. He wanted to get rid of me. I’d always thought he loved me, but he didn’t.” She sobbed, “He’d only used me as a ranch hand.”
Daniel gathered her into his arms, then rubbed her back and held her tight. No wonder Hannah was asking for unconditional love. If she truly believed her own
father didn’t love her, how could she trust someone else to?
As she sobbed, he decided to see if he could find her parents and reunite Hannah with her family. Daniel couldn’t help but think that maybe her father had sent her away out of fear of her getting hurt even more.
Wasn’t that what he might have done? Now that he could see the pain it was causing Hannah, Daniel knew he could never send a child away. Which still left him wondering what he was going to do about the ranch and about marrying Hannah.
* * *
After several minutes in Daniel’s arms, Hannah calmed down. Her tears slowly dried and she was left feeling foolish once more. She’d never cried about her father’s rejection. Why did she have to choose now to do so?
She eased away slowly. “I’m sorry, Daniel.” Hannah turned from him and wiped at her damp face with the dirty sleeve of her dress. She really was a mess today.
“There is nothing to be sorry for, Hannah. Your parents hurt you.”
She wanted to tell him it wasn’t her parents, just her father. Her mother had died 6 years earlier and her father had remarried. When she’d left home, Hannah had had a 4-year-old brother and a 2-year-old sister. Caught up in remembering them, she almost forgot about Daniel until he tugged on her hand.
He waited for her to face him, and then continued, “We all have things in our past that have hurt us. Thank you for sharing yours. I promise if we ever have children, I will not send them away.”
Hannah didn’t trust herself to speak. His kindness was bringing up the flood of tears again and she refused to let it burst a second time in front of him. She ducked her head and nodded.
“Are you ready to go home now?”
Home. She looked at the house behind them and wished it was home. Wished she and Daniel didn’t still have things to work through before they could make it their home. “Yes, please.” The words came out soft and tearful, something Hannah decided she couldn’t control at this moment.
Taming The Texas Rancher Page 11