The Rancher’s Beloved Bride

by Maya Stirling

  Her father and the pastor shook hands. The pastor greeted Veronica warmly and all three of them made themselves comfortable on the sofa. The pastor let them know that coffee would be provided.

  Her father seemed eager to begin the conversation. Veronica saw him grasp his hands tightly together. He seemed suddenly nervous. "I'll get straight to the point, pastor. I came here today to speak plainly to you." Her father glanced at Veronica. "And from my heart. Because of that, I thought it wise to bring my daughter, Veronica." Dominick sighed. "She knows me as well as anyone. And, since I've come to talk with you about our future in this town, I figured I'd like her to hear what I have to say to you. And to hear your advice."

  The pastor nodded sagely. "If it's advice you seek, I'm not sure I can guarantee I'll provide the reassurance you seek, Mr Flint."

  "Please call me Dominick, pastor," her father requested, ignoring the pastor's cautious reply.

  The pastor lowered his head in acknowledgement. He gestured with an open hand. "Please continue," the pastor instructed.

  Her father glanced nervously toward Veronica. She wondered if he'd thought carefully about what he was about to say. He certainly hadn't given her any inkling of what he wanted to say to the pastor.

  "I've given a great deal of thought to what you said to me on Sunday," her father said. "And to what you spoke about in your sermon. The fact that God forgives anyone who truly repents with a contrite heart."

  "That is indeed the truth," the pastor said. "No matter what we have done in our lives, there is always the hope of redemption."

  Veronica heard her father exhale a long, heavy breath. It was as if the pastor's words had hit him like a physical blow. She glanced at her father and saw his brows furrow. "In my past, I have done things which I truly regret," her father said quietly and evenly. "Back in Chicago, I had to compete with other men. I was forced to do things which made some men hate me. They became my enemies."

  Dominick glanced at Veronica. She knew how hard his life had been. Every since she'd been a small girl, she'd overheard her parents discussing the kinds of problems which came with the success her father had enjoyed in the construction and property business. And, as an adult, Veronica had never doubted her father had made many enemies over the years. She reached out and clasped his hand in hers. "Father. You don't have to talk about this if you don't want to," Veronica said.

  Dominick shook his head. "I have to. The time has come."

  "Do you really want me to stay?" she asked.

  He settled his hand on her arm. "I brought you here so you could understand." Glancing at the pastor, he added: "So the pastor could really know who it is who wants to give him money."

  "What!" Veronica exclaimed.

  Her father smiled gently at Veronica. "To help make the church the best it can be for this fine community."

  Veronica glanced incredulously at Pastor Joseph. The pastor smiled at Veronica. "It's true. Your father made the kind offer on Sunday. It seems God has touched his heart."

  "You're going to pay for church improvements?" Veronica asked incredulously. "Why?"

  Dominick's brows furrowed. "Because the time has come for me to give back to the Lord all that I have taken from others. And if that means the church in this town can accommodate everyone who wants to worship, as one people, then I hope that will allow me to make a humble start at redeeming myself."

  "There's more to finding forgiveness than signing a check, Dominick," the pastor said.

  "I know that, pastor. But I have to make a start somewhere," Veronica's father replied.

  The pastor leaned forward. "Then open up your heart to the Lord, Dominick. He has brought you here for a reason."

  "He's brought me to Montana for a reason, pastor," her father said quickly. "To Inspiration." He glanced at Veronica. "I know that now. And I know that this is the place where my family can finally find peace. Where they can leave behind the darkness of the past." He sighed. "You know my daughter lost her husband a few years back. She's a widow and has a beautiful young daughter of her own to look after."

  Veronica felt her cheeks flush with heat. Her father's directness had taken her aback. "Father. Perhaps the pastor doesn't want to know all about my misfortunes."

  "On the contrary, Veronica," the pastor said with a reassuringly calm voice. "I like to know as much as possible about the members of my congregation. Especially if they've suffered great tragedy. And there aren't many difficulties greater than losing a husband and being left with a young girl to bring up." His kindly eyes regarded her with great sympathy. "You have my most sincere commiserations."

  "Thank you, pastor," Veronica said.

  "And, you have my utmost respect. It cannot be easy being a mother and without a husband to support her." The pastor looked at her father. "But, I can see how much you are loved by your parents. That is a blessing from the Lord."

  Veronica smiled at the pastor. She knew he was right. And she was sure he understood her pain. He'd no doubt encountered great suffering in others while he'd been a pastor out here on the frontier. Unlike the privileged back in the city, folks out here weren't sheltered from that suffering. And she was positive Pastor Joseph had witnessed plenty of hardship.

  The pastor's wife brought in the coffee. After it was served, she left the room. Placing his cup back down on its saucer, the pastor looked her father straight in the eye. "On Sunday, when you came to speak with me, I have to admit I was unsure," he said. "I did not know the extent of your pain, nor your fervent desire to show contrition. But I can see that you're serious about wanting to ask for forgiveness."

  Veronica saw the tightness in her father's shoulders ease. He leaned forward, listening intently to every word the pastor said.

  "And because I believe you are sincere in seeking redemption, I am willing to allow you to help with the extension to the church," the pastor declared quietly.

  Veronica heard her father sigh with relief. He smiled at her and she smiled back at him. His eyes glimmered with delight.

  The pastor raised a hand. "However. I would like you to speak with me about your past sins. That way we can seek true forgiveness together." The pastor's eyes narrowed. "Are you willing to do that with me?"

  Dominick Flint nodded emphatically. "I am, pastor."

  The pastor smiled and looked from Veronica to her father. "Then let us begin," he said.

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  Kyle knew something wasn't right when he saw Vogel glancing quickly up and down the length of the boardwalk before ducking quickly into the alleyway next to the hotel on Main Street.

  Having decided to go to the mercantile to place an order for supplies before going home, Kyle had been making his way along the boardwalk in the direction of the hotel after finishing the riding lesson with the group up at the livery. Seeing Vogel here in town had surprised Kyle. But what had really caught Kyle's attention was Vogel's suspicious manner. It wasn't every day you saw a man acting like that, Kyle reflected.

  After Vogel had disappeared up the alley, Kyle hastened his pace. Feeling the curiosity building up inside him, he wondered what had brought Dominick Flint's assistant into town. On Sunday up at the Flint place, Vogel hadn't been friendly toward Kyle. Not at all. In fact, there had come a point during Kyle's tour of the Flint estate when Flint himself had ordered Vogel to go back to the house. The man had made a nuisance of himself the whole time Flint and Kyle had spent riding around the estate. Every one of Kyle's suggestions about how to turn the place into a ranch had been met with expressions of disagreement from Vogel. At first, Kyle had assumed that was just how things were between Vogel and Flint. After all, they had a history of business dealings going all the way back to Flint's years in Chicago. Kyle assumed Flint would always take Vogel's advice. But that hadn't been the case at all on Sunday. From the moment Kyle and Flint had started discussing the changes which could be made to the Flint rangeland, Vogel had insisted on sticking his nose into the conversation. Eventually, Flint had lost his
cool with Vogel. After that, Kyle had concluded that Flint's wishes for the development of his own property might not be finding favor with his oldest associate.

  Reaching the entrance to the alleyway, Kyle hesitated before looking down its length. He waited until some folks had passed by and then leaned his head around the corner of the hotel building. He didn't like what he saw.

  Vogel stood at the far end of the alleyway. But he wasn't alone. Two tall men, roughly dressed, with hats tugged low, and packing guns in their holsters were leaning in close and listening to something Vogel was saying. Ducking his head back lest they see him, Kyle frowned. What would Vogel be doing talking with jaspers like that? The two men were clearly bad news. After his recent run in with horse thieves Kyle had developed an extra sense for troublemakers. And he reckoned that, right now, Vogel was busy talking with two such types.

  Figuring Vogel might be emerging from the alleyway any moment now, Kyle headed into the reception area of the hotel and waited. A few moments later Vogel walked past the open door. Kyle stepped outside and saw Vogel heading up the boardwalk at a brisk pace. The man looked like he was in a hurry to get somewhere fast. Kyle started to follow Vogel, hoping the man wouldn't turn around and see he was being tailed. Luckily he didn't. Vogel took a left and Kyle raced quicker, anxious not to lose him. When he reached the corner of the street, Kyle realized it was the street which led to the church. The tree-lined street was quiet. Kyle hung back a while longer before starting to follow the solitary figure.

  To make sure he wasn't seen if Vogel turned around, Kyle used the trees on one side of the street for cover. Luckily Vogel didn't get the sense he was being followed. Kyle wondered why the man would be heading to church. He'd seen how uncomfortable Vogel had looked on Sunday when he'd attended church. Vogel didn't strike Kyle as a regular churchgoer.

  Finally Vogel reached the end of the street. There was a carriage outside the house which Kyle knew belonged to the pastor. Recognizing the carriage, Kyle breathed out harshly and took cover behind one of the nearby trees.

  He asked himself what Dominick Flint was doing visiting the pastor. Concluding it must have something to do with Flint's conversation with the pastor on Sunday, Kyle concluded Vogel must have acted as driver to his boss. Kyle watched Vogel take his seat on the carriage. He looked like he was settling in to wait for a while. Thinking to make his way back to the livery, Kyle started to make his move. Cautiously stepping from behind one tree toward another, he halted when he heard the sound of a door opening. Voices drifted on the air and Kyle pressed himself against the tree. He saw the pastor shaking hands with Dominick Flint. Pleasantries exchanged Flint stepped away from the open door.

  Then Kyle gasped. Veronica followed her father out onto the porch. She shook hands with the pastor and then father and daughter made their way to the carriage. Kyle frowned, wondering why Veronica had accompanied her father to this meeting with the pastor. Moments later the carriage roared past the tree behind which Kyle was hiding. He restrained the urge to glance out from behind the tree and see Veronica. He figured if she'd seen him hiding, there would have been awkward questions to answer.

  Soon the carriage disappeared up the street and turned into Main Street. As Kyle hurried back toward the livery to collect his horse, he thought about what he'd just witnessed. There was no doubt in Kyle's mind that Vogel was up to something. He hadn't just wandered down that alley by mistake. And the two men Kyle had seen talking with Vogel were a type with which Kyle was familiar. They looked like tough men, used to a hard life. More important than that, they reminded Kyle of the kind of men who didn't respect the law. Why was Vogel hanging around with those types? And why had Vogel sneaked off like that? Kyle hadn't heard Vogel mention to Flint that he'd wandered off while Flint had been inside the pastor's home. Flint probably had no idea that Vogel had taken his chance and, hastily and furtively, met with the two men.

  Kyle had no doubt Flint could handle himself. During his conversation with Flint up at the house on Sunday, Flint had hinted at his own hard life back in Chicago. Flint hadn't shared everything with Kyle. Just enough for Kyle to conclude that Flint had always been able to look after himself.

  However, there was someone else on Kyle's mind as he made his way up the boardwalk toward the livery. Kyle was troubled by the fact that Veronica had to live under the same roof as Vogel. Kyle knew Vogel might be up to something he needed to hide from his boss. Kyle wondered what he could do about it.

  Striding up the boardwalk, the solution came to him. It had been given to him by Flint himself. And, although Veronica had resisted it, Kyle knew it was the only way he would be able to find out more about Vogel. The fact that it would mean Kyle and Veronica would get to spend more time together was merely a bonus. A very welcome bonus, Kyle told himself.

  Kyle decided he'd be spending a whole lot more time up at the Flint place. Flint wanted his advice and Kyle would give him it. And Flint wanted Kyle to teach Veronica and Molly how to ride properly. Thinking about doing that brought a smile to Kyle's face as he reached the livery.

  Curt looked up from a bench near the open doors of the livery. "What are you smiling about?" he asked Kyle.

  Kyle shook his head and made his way toward his horse. "I'm going to be busy over the next few days, Curt," Kyle said as he lifted himself up onto his horse. Glancing down at Curt, he saw his friend's puzzled expression. "Dominick Flint needs my help. And I've decided to give it to him. Whether he likes it or not."

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  On Thursday morning, soon after breakfast, Veronica's mother glanced out the window of the parlor at the Flint home. "Is that Kyle Baxter riding up to our place?" she asked. Turning to face Veronica, Augusta added. "I didn't know he was coming today, did you?"

  Veronica gasped quietly and rose from the sofa where she had been reading a book. Racing to the window, she peered out the window and saw Kyle riding his horse across the wide yard. Veronica's heart started thundering. Why had Kyle come? He hadn't been back since Sunday. Since that kiss in the garden, she reminded herself.

  Augusta looked at Veronica and furrowed her brows. "I had no idea he was planning on coming here, mother," Veronica announced making her way back to the sofa and depositing her book down on the side table.

  Footsteps sounded out in the hallway. Her father and Vogel appeared. "Is that Kyle I see out there?" her father asked.

  "It sure is," Augusta replied.

  "That's good news," Dominick stated, sounding genuinely enthusiastic. "I've got plenty of questions for him." Her father rubbed his hands together as if he was savoring the chance to talk about business. Veronica had seen that look on her father's face plenty of times before. But not here in Inspiration. The truth was, her father was a different man now. After yesterday's conversation with the pastor, her father's spirits had lightened considerably. Recalling her father's fervent words, Veronica told herself her father must have felt like he'd been relieving himself of a great burden. She'd held his hand as he'd talked about his past, revealing some things she hadn't know. There had been pain in his eyes. But afterwards she'd seen a new brightness in his eyes. And that brightness was still there this morning.

  Dominick thrust open the front door. Veronica heard her father and Kyle exchange greetings. Vogel stood to one side, remaining quiet. Then she saw Kyle follow her father and Vogel into the parlor. Kyle was dressed in what she figured must be his rancher garb. Brown buckskin jacket; plaid shirt; tight-fitting blue jeans and dark brown boots. Kyle held his Stetson in his hand. Just looking at him, seeing how handsome he looked, she felt her face flush with heat. Her breath hitched in her chest. Why was it that the charming rancher was still able to affect her like this? Hadn't Sunday's misunderstanding in the garden been enough to put an end to all that foolishness?

  Kyle greeted Augusta politely and courteously. Then his gaze settled on Veronica. "Morning Veronica," Kyle said. His voice was deep and steady, with not a hint of awkwardness or hesitancy in it.

&nb
sp;