The Rancher’s Spirited Bride

by Chloe Carley

  “Sis, where are you going?” Shawn called after her as she started down the aisle with Mark.

  Sara Jane turned around and Mark stopped as well. “To tell the preacher how much I enjoyed his sermon today.” She smiled at Mark and then strode down the aisle, stopping when she reached Pastor Russell and Mark’s mother.

  Carl blew out his breath as they followed her. “Did you catch what the preacher was even talking about today?” Shawn asked him.

  “Not really. Guess we better hope he doesn’t ask us anything specific,” Carl muttered.

  Carl bit back the words that wanted to spring forth when he reached the pastor’s side and overheard Mark’s mother speaking in a pious tone and doing her best to impress the good preacher with how religious she was. Pastor Russell didn’t seem impressed and Carl hid a smile as the man did his best to end the conversation. Cecilia Lawry didn’t seem to be taking the numerous hints the pastor offered her to move along.

  Carl stepped forward, slapping Pastor Russell on the back and forcing Cecilia to move or risk coming into contact with Carl’s back.

  “Well,” she humphed.

  Carl gestured for the preacher to exit the building before him. Pastor Russell didn’t wait but stepped out into the daylight and immediately descended the staircase, talking to people as he wished them a good afternoon. The clouds were beginning to move closer and Carl figured they’d have snow before nightfall.

  Carl and Shawn stopped when they reached their horses. “We’ll be taking off now,” Carl called to the pastor as he grabbed the reins of his mount and stepped up into the saddle.

  “Gentlemen. Thank you for the rescue.”

  Carl grinned. “No problem.” Carl saw Sara Jane and Mark Lawry heading for a wagon and moved to intercept them.

  “Sara Jane,” he called.

  She looked up and scowled. “What?”

  Carl said, “We’re heading back to the ranch. Do you need a ride?”

  Sara Jane pasted on a fake smile and shook her head. “Why, no, but thank you for asking. Mr. Lawry has kindly invited me to lunch with himself and his mother…”

  “Er, well, I was thinking maybe just the two of us could take a small picnic basket and find a nice spot to enjoy nature while we eat?” Mark corrected her.

  Sara Jane looked at him with a frown and then told him, in a soft voice Carl could barely make out, “Your mother must chaperone …”

  “Of course,” Mark quickly replied, eyeing Carl and Shawn. “Then that’s settled.” He told the men, “I’ll see that she gets home later this afternoon.”

  Shawn cleared his throat and then stared Mark down. “Make sure it’s sooner than later. Sara Jane, we’ll see you this afternoon.”

  Carl held her gaze for a moment longer and then followed Shawn as their horses moved away from the church. They were mostly quiet as they began their ride back to the ranch, Carl’s mind unable to stop thinking about Sara Jane spending any time with the new schoolteacher. Carl didn’t like the man’s mother, which also seemed to be the general consensus amongst most of the women in town. He also didn’t like the man.

  There was something about the man that just didn’t ring true. If it weren’t for the fact that Sara Jane was remaining in town and the Lawry’s were staying at the boarding house, Carl would have been forced to stick around to keep an eye on Mark. He knew Sara Jane could handle herself, but he already considered her his responsibility.

  “Maybe we should stay in town,” Carl suggested to Shawn, slowing his horse to a sedate walk.

  “So that you can check up on Sara Jane?” Shawn inquired with a smirk.

  Carl asked, “Tell me you trust that man.”

  Shawn pursed his lips and then shook his head, tipping the brim of his cowboy hat back. “Can’t say that as I’d be lying. Of course, I don’t know him, so maybe he has some redeeming quality only Sara Jane has seen thus far.”

  “Sara Jane doesn’t know the man. They only met a few days ago,” Carl argued. “So … should we go back?”

  “Under what guise? You know how Sara Jane would react if she found us spying on her.”

  “She’d have both our skins,” Carl answered.

  “She’ll be okay,” Shawn commented. “It’s just one afternoon.”

  Carl nodded and nudged his horse to move at a faster pace. He just hoped Sara Jane wasn’t planning on spending lots of time with Mark. He didn’t think he could sit idly by and let that happen, even knowing that trying to stop her would put her on the defensive and start a fight he’d never asked for. Sara Jane hated being told what to do, and if she knew how much her spending time with Mark bothered Carl, she might very well ignore her own feelings just to vex him. That was a complication he wanted to avoid. For now.

  Chapter 9

  Sara Jane watched Shawn and Carl ride off, a niggling voice in her head telling her she should be with them, but she ignored it and turned her attention back to Mark, who still had a hand on her elbow. She pulled her arm free and took a step back. “So …”

  Mark looked very pleased to have her to himself and he led her over to the wagon where his mother was impatiently waiting. Cecilia gave Sara Jane a strange look and then asked her son, “What’s going on?”

  “I thought we might have a small picnic together.”

  “A picnic? Son, I’m not sure the weather is conducive to such an adventure today. Those clouds look …”

  “… ominous,” Sara Jane added. “It will snow before morning, and it’s a bit chilly out here. A picnic …?” she let her words hang in the chilly air, watching Mark consider his options.

  Mark glanced up at the sky and then pursed his lips for moment in thought. “Why don’t we eat at the boarding house and then we can take a ride later?”

  Cecelia’s expression showed her distaste for her son’s suggestion, but Sara Jane wasn’t sure if it was the boarding house, or her, his mother objected to. When Mark’s mother blatantly ignored her, trying to monopolize Mark’s attention entirely, on their drive back to the boarding house, Sara Jane believed she had her answer. Mark’s mother didn’t like her. The feeling was mutual, but Sara Jane had been raised to respect her elders, so she did her best to keep her feelings to herself.

  Part of her wished she’d now gone back to the ranch with the others. Luckily, the women at the boarding house had prepared plenty of food for one more place at the table. Mark seemed put out that he and Sara Jane weren’t having a small, intimate dinner by themselves, and were instead seated around the long wooden dining table with the others. Sara Jane, however, was relieved.

  Lunch was a happy affair, except for the fact that the women expressed a desire to join in the Sunday church activities. In a small town like Rio Arriba, most everyone attended Sunday church services. It was the one day of the week when chores were minimized, and everyone came together for a common purpose. Now that the women of the former brothel were on their way to becoming upstanding members of the town, they deserved the right to be accepted and a chance to show how much they’d changed.

  “Polly. Jasmine.” Sara Jane waited until she had their attention and then she announced, “I’d like to invite you to attend Sunday services with me next week. Everyone else is invited as well.”

  The women looked at one another and then shook their heads. “Sara Jane, it’s one thing to expect people to acknowledge us on the boardwalks, but there’s no way they would allow us to enter the church. In case you haven’t heard, we’re considered heathens. Beyond redemption.”

  Sara Jane smiled and shook her head. “No one is beyond redemption. I’ll even have Pastor Russell come by this week and speak with you, if that would help?”

  “The preacher isn’t going to come here,” Polly told her.

  Sara Jane watched the other women nod their heads in agreement. She smiled at them and then met all of their eyes before saying, “Pastor Russell will be here to see you all before the week’s end. I’ll come by next Sunday half an hour before services begin and we will
all walk to the church together.”

  “Sara Jane, they’ll kick us out.”

  “No,” she shook her head, “they won’t. I’ll see to it. Now, I should think a week would be more than enough time for all of you to come up with something suitable to wear?”

  Sara Jane smiled as the conversation turned to dresses and fabrics, pleased with herself and the progress that this project of hers, Riley’s, and Lily’s was making. She heard Cecelia clear her throat and turned her head to see the woman watching her with narrowed eyes. “Did you have some advice to offer?”

  Cecelia shook her head and then lowered her voice to a whisper, meant only for Sara Jane’s ears. “You’re wasting your time. Good Christian women will never associate with women like them.”

  Sara Jane felt her temper rise and closed her eyes and counted to ten before placing her napkin on the table and standing up. “Ladies, if you will excuse me. Lunch was wonderful, but I should really head back to the ranch before the snow arrives.”

  Mark scrambled to his feet as well, his meal only partially eaten. “I thought we were going to take a small drive …?”

  “The ranch is more than enough drive for me,” Sara Jane informed him. “Please, finish your meal. I’ll wait for you and your mother in the sitting room.”

  She exited the dining room, determined not to upset the women who finally had something to look forward to. If Cecelia Lawry wanted to spout her hatred and judgmental opinions, she would have to do so where Polly, Jasmine, and the others couldn’t hear. She took a seat on the settee, admiring the green and gold brocade pattern and wondering how such an elegant piece of furniture had found its way to Rio Arriba.

  She was still thinking on similar things when Mark joined her, his hat in his hand and his coat already on. “I’m just heading out to retrieve the horse and the wagon. I’ll be right back.”

  “Take your time,” Sara Jane informed him.

  She once again let her mind drift, her thoughts going to the Indians and Carl’s promise that they were long gone. That should have set her mind at ease, but just the thought of running into the Indians had Sara Jane’s palms sweating and her pulse racing faster than normal. I’m not afraid. I’m not afraid. I’m not afraid.

  “Sara Jane?”

  When a hand touched her shoulder, she jumped and then raised her hands up to protect herself before realizing it was only Mark trying to get her attention.

  “Sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you.”

  “No, I had just let my mind drift. Ready to go?”

  He smiled and nodded, offering her his elbow as she stood up from the settee. She gingerly placed her hand on his forearm and then paused at the front door. “Where is your mother?”

  “Mother wasn’t feeling well and has retired to her bed.”

  Sara Jane glanced up the stairs and then shook her head. “Mr. Lawry, this is highly inappropriate.”

  “Mark, please.”

  Sara Jane nodded once and then dropped her hand from his elbow and took a step away. She continued, “I’m not sure how young women behaved where you lived last, but single young women do not travel with unattached men they are not related to in Rio Arriba.”

  Mark cocked his head to the side. “Did you not ride back to the ranch with that man … Carl … just yesterday? I was given to believe he worked on the ranch and wasn’t related to you.”

  Sara Jane replied, “Carl isn’t related to me; however, he’s lived at the ranch since we were both kids. Folks are used to seeing us together.”

  “And if they were to see you and I together, alone, they would think something different?”

  “You know they would. Besides, you begin classes tomorrow morning and giving the townsfolk a reason to question your morals isn’t a very good way to start.” Schoolteachers were held to a very high moral standard and any hint of impropriety could cost Mark his job.

  “Well, my mother is not coming back down the stairs today. What do you propose we do to fix this situation?”

  Sara Jane heard the sarcasm in his tone, but chose to deal with the problem at hand. “I’m sure a few of the girls would be willing to ride along with us.”

  “Why would we need more than one chaperone? Surely their reputations cannot be hurt any worse than they already have been.”

  Sara Jane felt her anger rise and placed her hands on her hips. “Actually, their reputations could be damaged were they to be found traveling alone with you, as could your own. I was under the impression you hoped this teaching position would last for a while?”

  “Of course, that’s what I’m hoping, but I cannot be responsible for the vile thoughts others might have of me.”

  “You can certainly make sure you don’t give them a reason to talk,” Sara Jane told him, suddenly gaining understanding for where her pa’s stance on dressing like a lady whilst in town had come from. “The women living at the boarding house are trying to get their lives back on track and need all of the help we can give them.”

  “Of course,” Mark told her. “I apologize, my comments were thoughtless. We can certainly take two of them with us and to be honest, I will welcome having the company on the ride back to town.”

  Sara Jane beamed a smile at him, her anger fading away. She glanced at the sky and her smile slipped a bit. “Those clouds are bringing a bunch of snow. We should go so that you and the others can get back before the storm arrives. Let me go round up Polly and Jasmine.”

  Sara Jane walked to the kitchen and found the ladies all standing around sipping tea and talking quietly. “Polly and Jasmine, would you please accompany Mr. Lawry and myself on a short trip out to the ranch?”

  Polly looked shocked and asked, “Are you asking us to be your chaperones?”

  “Exactly. As for why I need both of you, it would not be seemly for only one of you to return to town with Mr. Lawry, therefore, I require two of you to accompany us.”

  Jasmine nudged Polly and grinned at her. “Did you ever think you’d see the day when someone asked us to be chaperones? And we’re headed to the Lazy L ranch. You might see …”

  “Shush.” Polly slapped Jasmine’s arm lightly.

  Sara Jane said, “So, will you act as my chaperones?”

  Polly chuckled, “Of course. I wonder what the old biddies of town would have to say about this?”

  “I, for one, hope they do see us,” Sara Jane told the entire group. “The days of you being judged for past events are over. The meal was delicious, and I absolutely adore the way you’ve rearranged the furniture in the sitting room. It’s very warm and inviting.”

  “Thank you,” Stephanie answered quietly. “For … well … for everything. Mrs. Pedersen came to see me yesterday and asked me to come and help her in the mercantile.”

  “That’s wonderful news,” Sara Jane told her. “Ladies, you are on your way. Next week, you’ll attend church services with me, and we’ll really give the town gossips a reason to talk.”

  The women all smiled at that and Sara Jane couldn’t wait to tell Riley about it. “It’s getting ready to storm. You’ll both need your warm coats,” she told Polly and Jasmine as they followed her from the kitchen. They quickly retrieved them and then all three ladies stepped out and joined Mark at the wagon. It was time for Sara Jane to get back to the ranch. As for whom Polly was hoping to see there, that was a mystery Sara Jane couldn’t wait to discover

  Chapter 10

  Polly and Jasmine allowed Mark to help them into the back of the wagon, where they seated themselves quietly. He then came around and assisted Sara Jane up into the front. His hand lingered a bit too long on her elbow, and she resisted the urge to pull it away. Instead, she folded her hands in her lap and waited for him to join her.

  He was quiet as he directed the horse out of town, only choosing to speak to her after sliding a bit closer on the wooden seat. “I was hoping to have some time to speak with you alone,” he murmured.

  “What about?”

  “Sara Jane, I’ve neve
r met anyone quite like you. I must say, I was very impressed with your family’s ranch. It’s very admirable for you to have helped out so much. Your brothers were very complimentary about your accomplishments.”

  Sara Jane wondered where he was going with this conversation. She frowned slightly when he reached over and took one of her gloved hands in his own. “I hope you’ll consider spending more time in town now. With me.”

  “Mr. Lawry…”

  “Please, call me Mark. I would really like to hear you say my name.”