The Rancher’s Devout Bride

by Maya Stirling

  Matilda smiled softly at Jake and Grace. "Now that we're all here, Emma wants to talk to us all," Matilda announced and turned to look at Emma. "Isn't that right, dear?"

  Emma nodded and cleared her throat. She glanced nervously down at her hands, clasped in her lap. She was dressed in a plain cream gown. Seeing the slight shadows beneath Emma's eyes, he figured she might not have slept too well last night. At least they both had that in common, he told himself.

  Emma smiled at Matilda and then over at Grace and Jake. "I'm glad you're all here, because I have a confession to make." Emma looked straight at Jake. "It's something I shared with Jake, last night, at the social."

  Both Grace and Matilda peered at Jake. He didn't like being the center of attention, and this time was no exception. "We did talk, last night," Jake confirmed. He saw Matilda's brows furrow. Grace just looked like she wasn't at all surprised.

  Emma drew herself up, lifting her chin. "The thing is, I have to explain my circumstances," she said. "Our circumstances. I mean, the children and I." Emma swallowed and glanced quickly at Jake. "You see, Bethany and Clara are not my children."

  Emma let the words settle in the air for a moment. Jake saw her glancing from Grace to Matilda. Emma's cheeks colored, as if the emotion of the moment was taking hold of her.

  "Whose are they?" Grace asked softly.

  "That's thing, Grace," Emma said. "We don't know."

  "We?" Matilda asked.

  "The Foundling Society doesn't know who are Bethany and Clara's real parents," Emma said quietly. "They're orphans."

  Jake heard his mother gasp and saw her lift a hand to her open mouth. "Orphans?" Matilda exclaimed from behind her hand.

  Emma nodded. Her brows knitted, she peered at Matilda. "The Society rescued them from the street. No-one knows who are their real parents. Not even the children."

  This time it was Grace's turn to draw in a deep, sharp breath. "The poor little dears," Grace moaned. It wasn't often Grace's cool demeanor was broken, but Jake could see that it had been shattered this time.

  "My goodness!" Matilda exclaimed. "I can hardly believe it." Jake hadn't seen his mother as affected like this in a long time.

  "It's true," Emma confirmed.

  "How did they come to be in your care, Emma?" Grace asked.

  Emma glanced at Jake. "That's what I explained to Jake, last night."

  "Maybe you should tell them what you told me, Emma," Jake suggested.

  Emma nodded, smiling gently at Jake. That look washed away some of the hurt he was still feeling after last night. He saw Grace and Matilda exchange a quick glance. Maybe they were wondering what had happened between him and Emma.

  Before either of them had a chance to press for more details, Emma proceeded to recount her story of the disastrous arrival in Billings and the difficulties she and the children had experienced. This time she included an account of the stagecoach ride and the trouble she'd had. The eyes of both Matilda and Grace widened as they listened. Hearing the story a second time, here in the quiet of the ranch sitting room, brought home the seriousness of what Emma, Bethany and Clara had gone through.

  Finally, Emma finished speaking. She looked expectantly from Matilda to Grace and Jake. "That's about all I can say."

  Jake peered at his mother and saw visible distress written across her features. Grace's head was lowered. Jake was sure he could see moistness in Grace's eyes, even though she was doing her best to hide that fact.

  Matilda frowned at Emma. "So Jake and Grace rescued you from the stagecoach?"

  Emma nodded. "Pretty much." She glanced at Jake and Grace. "If it hadn't have been for them, I don't know where the children and I would be."

  "And that awful man!" Matilda exclaimed. She peered at Jake and Grace. "You two did the right thing," she stated and nodded her head emphatically.

  Jake and Grace exchanged a pleased look.

  Matilda wiped her nose with a handkerchief and plopped her hands defiantly in her lap. "Well, you're all here now. And that's the most important thing."

  Emma shook her head. "The Foundling Society have asked me to return east. And they want me to bring the children back there with me."

  Matilda shrieked. "Never!" she cried. "They can't ask you to leave. Now that you've found a place where you and the children can all be happy." Matilda gazed incredulously at all three of them. "Surely they cannot be serious about such a proposal. Don't they understand how happy the children are here?"

  Emma smiled sadly. "I can't keep them here. I don't have the legal right to do so."

  "Is that right?" Matilda demanded looking at Jake.

  "I'm not a lawyer, ma. But I think Emma's correct," Jake said. "The way things stand, it looks like Emma has no other choice but to follow her employers' instructions."

  "But, the children," Grace complained. "What about their wishes? Won't anyone ask them what they want?"

  "They're too young to have any say in the matter," Emma explained. "There's no other solution."

  Jake gazed steadily at Emma. There was another solution, he told himself. It had already occurred to Jake this morning. Maybe now wasn't the time to bring it up. There was already enough emotion in the room without making things worse. And besides, after last night, he wasn't sure any suggestions of marriage would find favor with Emma. She already had enough to deal with today. Maybe after church, he could find a chance to bring up the subject.

  The conversation continued for a short while, and then it was time to leave for church. It was agreed that nothing would be said to the children about what had been discussed. That was wise as far as Jake was concerned.

  Once they were all ready, they got on the carriages and started to head down the trail toward church.

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  Emma and the children sat on the front pew of the church. Next to Emma sat Grace and Matilda. Alongside them sat sister Abigail and her husband Noah. That meant that the children were sitting right in the middle between Emma and Jake. Glancing around the inside of the church, Emma saw the rest of the Buchanan family over on the other side.

  She'd finally met Caleb and Eugenie outside, before everyone had made their way into the church. They were a lovely couple, and she could see how proud they were of their four sons, each of whose wives were currently attending to little ones on their laps. The church was filled with the delightful sound of the voices of the most recent additions to the Buchanan clan in addition to the quiet murmurs of the regular churchgoers.

  The church was packed. Jake had been right when he'd told Emma that the townsfolk of Inspiration were devout. Near the back, Emma saw Judd Foley seated, alone, in the corner. He lowered his head in acknowledgment to Emma. She thought his smile was a little wary. Maybe, last night, he hadn't been insulted by her sudden running off, Emma reflected. Still, from what she had gathered, Judd Foley might be the type of man who wouldn't take a hint when it came to matters of the heart. Nor, perhaps the kind who would take no for an answer. He'd shown his interest in her and, judging by the way he was looking at her this morning, his ardor hadn't cooled. Not even slightly.

  Grateful the service was about to begin, Emma faced the front and stood as the pastor made his entrance. She encouraged Bethany and Clara to stand. Thankfully, both girls were obedient, holding their hymnbooks tightly in the hands. They looked delightful in their white gowns. Emma was relieved to see that the girls seemed happy to be at church this morning.

  As she sang, Emma glanced at Jake. His eyes flickered momentarily in her direction. She felt her cheeks flush with heat and dragged her gaze away from him. After the conversation with his family up at the ranch, Jake had been quiet throughout the journey into town. And, when they'd all had to wait before entering the church, she'd noticed he'd frequently averted his eyes when she'd glanced at him.

  Emma wondered if the events of last night had made him think twice about her situation. She'd come down from her room this morning intending to speak with him, but had been disappointed to
find that he'd left the ranch house before everyone had risen from bed. It had occurred to her that maybe he was trying to avoid her. That perhaps last night had been the ending of something.

  After the opening hymn, the pastor began his homily, which was on the topic of justice. The pastor spoke about how everyone had the duty to treat others with kindness while meeting our obligations. Also that, as a part of being just, we had to have a prompt will to do those things pertaining to the service of God. Emma asked herself if, in helping the children, she'd served God to the best of her ability. Had she been just to the children, making decisions with prudence and good judgment? She hoped she had, although she accepted that she couldn't have the final say in that matter.

  All through the remainder of the service, Emma's mind drifted time and again to the events of the previous night. She wished everything had gone more smoothly. Telling Jake her story had been difficult. And, at first he'd shown her a great deal of respect and sympathy. None of that had surprised her.

  But, when she'd allowed him to kiss her, the whole world had seemed to shift beneath her. The sudden sense of disorientation had been both intoxicating and shocking. Maybe those same feelings had triggered Jake's reaction. His pulling away from her had hurt.

  Had he realized his mistake? Had his sudden desire to turn his back on her been a sign that he'd decided that their friendship could be nothing more than that. A brief acquaintance, soon to be forgotten, once she'd left Inspiration?

  Or did he have other things in mind? Perhaps, reasons not to marry anyone at all. She'd already heard about his reluctance to get involved with anyone. That had made his sudden interest in her, last night, all the more surprising.

  Emma knew one thing, though. She had a decision to make. The hardest challenge she'd ever had to face. For now, she and the girls were in Inspiration. But, for how long, she couldn't be sure. At some point in the next few days, Emma knew she'd have to give some thought to booking passage for the three of them.

  Right now, she didn't even want to think of that possibility. Glancing at the children, seeing them watching the pastor, listening intently, with clear joy on their faces, Emma wondered how she could possibly tear them away from all of this. Her heart ached at the very thought of how they would react if she were to tell them.

  The pastor offered a few moments to everyone in the church to offer up their own private prayers. Emma lowered her head and closed her eyes. God, grant me wisdom, she prayed silently. Grant me understanding, so that I may know what is best. The true course I must follow. You have led us to this place, and provided for myself and the children. Since I want to follow Your will in everything, I ask that you show me the way. Grant me understanding, so that I may choose with wisdom. I wish to walk the path the Lord has laid out for me.

  Finally, the service was ended and everyone made their way out of the church. Congregating out in the wide yard in front of the church, Emma chatted with the wives of Jake's cousins. Grace and Abigail joined in until it became a veritable gathering of all the Buchanan women. Emma was acutely aware that she was the only woman in the group who was not a Buchanan. But that didn't prevent them from making her feel she was a full member of the family on this sunny Sunday morning. A great fuss was made of all the little ones. Infant cries for attention echoed across the yard drawing out appreciative moans, and admiring smiles, from many of the churchgoers.

  The Buchanan men huddled over by the large tree. Every once in a while, Emma saw Jake glance over in her direction. Something about the way he looked at her told Emma that he liked seeing her involved in talking with all the other Buchanan women.

  Then, Emma saw a familiar figure walk over to Jake. It was Sophie Cameron, the woman who Emma remembered meeting when she and Grace had been in Main Street. The day Emma had discovered about the impending arrival of the young woman seeking a husband in Inspiration. Specifically Jake, she reminded herself.

  A feeling of unease flared in Emma's middle as she saw Jake lean his head closer to Sophie Cameron and listen to what she was saying. Then, suddenly Jake straightened and stared at Sophie. Even from where she was standing, Emma could see that Jake's eyes had widened with obvious incredulity.

  He and Sophie chatted a short while longer, and then Sophie headed off toward a tall, good-looking man who was wearing a sheriff's badge. Emma supposed that was sheriff Nathan, Sophie's husband, about whom she'd heard so much over the dinner table at the ranch.

  Emma saw Jake make his excuses to the other Buchanan men and begin to walk away from the church. Her curiosity stimulated, she decided to follow him. Catching up with him halfway up the street, she called for him to stop.

  Jake turned. When he saw Emma approaching he glanced up at the heavens, and she was sure she heard a sigh easing out of him.

  "Can I talk to you?" Emma asked.

  "I'm just trying to get a few moments to myself, Emma," he replied. "I need to think." There was tension in his shoulders. His features were grim. He hadn't looked like that in church, Emma told herself.

  Worry flamed into life inside Emma. "Is there something wrong?"

  Jake sighed heavily and shook his head. "I just got some news." Jake peered into Emma's eyes. "I guess you want to know what Sophie just told me," he admitted in a flat voice. These days, he was always one step ahead of her, she told herself. Or was it that he could read her mind?

  She clutched her Bible in her hands and gazed at him. "Was it some kind of bad news?"

  Jake smiled wryly. "Depends how you want to look at it, I guess."

  Emma hesitated, unsure whether she should press him for more. But, he hadn't exactly run from her. From that she guessed he might want to share what he'd learned. "You want to tell me?"

  Jake's eyes narrowed. "I'm not sure you want to know. Seeing as how you already said you and the girls will be leaving Inspiration." He shrugged. "I don't see that there's much point."

  His words stung her, almost as much as his attitude. He seemed out of sorts. Not his usual affable self. All the quiet good humor he'd displayed earlier had evaporated.

  Jake glanced in the direction of the crowd in front of the church and then tilted his head. "Let's walk a minute," he suggested.

  Emma walked alongside him, patiently waiting for him to open up to her. In spite of what had happened last night, he was still willing to share things with her. She asked herself if she should be encouraged by that. Maybe everything between them hadn't broken down, as she'd feared.

  He took a while. As if lost in his thoughts, Jake was silent as they both walked slowly up the street. It felt good to be walking by his side.

  Finally, satisfied that they were far enough away from the church, Jake halted. Emma gazed up into his eyes, seeing definite sadness in them. Dark shadows revealed he hadn't slept much last night. Just like her. Seemed like they were getting good at making each other unhappy, she reflected wryly. Even though they'd only recently met. And, soon, might be parted forever.

  "Sophie told me the other newcomer is arriving sooner than we thought," Jake said. "You know, the young woman who's coming here to find a husband." He frowned. "She'll be here tomorrow."

  Emma nodded. "Tomorrow?"

  Jake nodded and ran a hand though his hair. His features masked with worry. Now he looked really out of sorts, she told herself. As if just telling her that simple fact had thrown him off balance.

  "Isn't that sooner than you thought?" Emma asked.

  Jake nodded and said nothing.

  "What's her name?" Emma asked.

  Jake frowned. "Why would you even want to know that?"

  Emma shrugged. "In case I meet her while I'm in Inspiration this week. I don't want to be rude."

  "You're planning on introducing yourself?" Jake asked disbelievingly.