The Rancher’s Marriage of Convenience

by Maya Stirling

  "You're asking me to believe that you come over all godly?" he sneered. She could see by the sudden darkness in his gaze that he wasn't buying it.

  When she shook her head, his eyes widened in surprise. "It's nothing new, Jesse," she said slowly. "My faith was inside me all this time. It was waiting to be reborn. It just needed a good man to help me see that fact." She peered intently at Brown. "And Gideon is that man. I know that now."

  She heard Brown drawing in a long, deep breath. His jaw tightened and his gaze flashed with indignation. He took a step toward her, but she held her ground.

  Then he paused and shook his head. "Well, that's a pity. Because I've got other ideas."

  Then he lifted his head and whistled. The sound echoed down the length of the street. From a side alley a buckboard emerged. A man on the seat steered two horses. The buckboard rolled up the street and came to a stop next to Brown and Rosalind. In the back of the buckboard there was a dark tarpaulin and ropes.

  Fear gripped Rosalind. She glared at Brown who was now advancing toward her. "What do you think you're doing, Jesse?"

  "What I have every right to do," he replied. "I'm claiming what was mine in the first place."

  The driver jumped down off the buckboard and advanced toward Rosalind. Now was the time to run, she told herself. She'd tried to face him down, but Brown was clearly determined to do her harm. He wanted to take her. It was that simple. Horror took hold of Rosalind. She knew if she cried out help would arrive. But the two men were moving fast. Help might not arrive in time.

  She turned and glanced back toward the Cameron house. A few hundred yards. She could run fast. That was all it would take. If she moved quickly enough she'd make it, she told herself.

  She turned to face Brown and his accomplice. They were almost upon her. She thought about throwing the plate in Brown's face, but that wouldn't hold him for more than a few moments.

  "Jesse. Think about what you're doing," she pleaded. "You can't get away with this." Her voice cracked with emotion.

  He shook his head. "I think I can," he replied. He glanced around the street. "There's no-one here to stop me."

  Now, both men were almost upon her. She had to make a decision. She drew in a deep breath, determined to yell out and try to bring people to their windows. But, before she could do so she heard the rattling of wheels and a voice calling out.

  "Rosalind!"

  It was Gideon.

  She gasped and peered into the gloom. Rosalind looked past Brown and saw another buckboard racing down the street toward her. There were three figures perched on the seat. She recognized all three of them. Gideon, Nathan and, most perplexingly of all, young Jack. She didn't even wonder why he was here. She was just overwhelmed with relief.

  Brown whirled around. She heard him grunt and then he flicked his head, signaling for his accomplice to make a hasty exit. The man started to run toward his buckboard but Nathan's voice called out a warning and he froze in his tracks.

  Gideon's buckboard slid to a halt in the soft earth. He leaped down and came running to Rosalind. Without a moments hesitation he curled his arm around her waist and drew her close to him. "Are you okay?"

  She nodded hastily, peering into his bright eyes, seeing the concern there. "I'm fine." It felt good to be in his arms.

  "You sure?" he asked, pulling her against him like he never wanted to let her go.

  "I'm sure," she confirmed.

  Gideon glared at Brown. "What's the meaning of this, Brown?" Gideon barked.

  "Just having a little chat with Miss Grover," he stated.

  "A chat, huh?" Gideon responded, clearly not believing a word. Gideon glanced again at Rosalind. His furrowed brows told her he didn't like any of this.

  Brown nodded and glanced hesitantly at Nathan who had moved to his side. Nathan's hand settled on the handle of his gun and his attention shifted from Brown to his accomplice. Jack had remained seated on the buckboard. He was watching the scene with clear interest.

  Nathan went across to the other buckboard and tugged on the tarpaulin and ropes. He squinted at Brown. "You weren't thinking about doing something stupid now, were you?" he asked.

  Brown shifted on his heels. "My partner and I are leaving town tonight. We need somewhere to put my belongings. Keep them safe for the journey back to Helena."

  Gideon frowned. "I thought you were going out on the train tomorrow morning?"

  "Change of plan," Brown offered. It didn't sound convincing.

  Gideon released Rosalind and moved toward Brown. "You weren't planning on taking what doesn't belong to you, were you? Because if you were, I'm sure the sheriff might like a word with you. Over at the town jail."

  Brown's gaze met Gideon's in a steady, implacable challenge. The tension between the two men could have been cut with a knife. Finally, Brown shook his head. "As I said. We're moving on out. Nothing for you to be concerned about, Buchanan." Brown glanced at Rosalind. "Miss Grover and I know where we stand." Brown's shoulders sank. "It seems I made a wasted journey."

  In spite of his apparent climbdown, Gideon still remained facing Brown. "I think you did," Gideon replied not taking his eyes off Brown.

  Brown peered at Gideon. "You got yourself a fine lady there, son," he said. "But I think you know that already."

  Gideon glanced at Rosalind. "I surely do," he responded. She felt her heart glow warmer just by the way he was looking at her.

  Brown lifted his hat and smiled at Rosalind. "Ma'am. A man has to know when he's beaten. And I certainly know that now."

  Rosalind stared at Brown. Tonight had been his final move. A last attempt to claim what he thought belonged to him. And he had failed. She could see the defeat in Brown's eyes, even if he was trying hard to disguise it.

  Brown walked to the buckboard. Nathan watched him with a wary eye. From behind Rosalind she heard a door open. She turned and saw Sophie come out of the Cameron house. She came running toward the gathered group. There was real concern on her face.

  When Sophie reached Rosalind's side she spoke to Nathan. "What's going on?"

  Nathan looked up at Brown who had taken his seat on the buckboard alongside his unnamed helper. "This gentleman is just leaving Inspiration. And he ain't coming back." He peered up at Brown. "Isn't that right?"

  Brown glanced at Rosalind. "That's right," he replied. He tipped his finger to his hat, one last time, and then tugged on the reins, turning the buckboard back in the direction of Main Street.

  As she watched Brown's buckboard heading off, Rosalind felt a huge wave of relief sweep over her. It was finally over. He was going and he was never coming back. She believed that because, after all she'd been through since arriving in Inspiration, she wasn't the same person Brown had known at Helena. Now she was Gideon's and, with his help, she had reawakened her faith.

  Brown's buckboard turned into Main Street and was lost to sight.

  Gideon came to Rosalind. "I only have one thing to say after all that," he murmured.

  Rosalind smiled at him. "What, Gideon?"

  Then he did something which took her by complete surprise. He took both her hands in his, sank down onto one knee and gazed lovingly up at her. "Rosalind Grover. Would you do me the great honor of agreeing to become my wife?" he said in a voice which was firm and clear.

  Sophie gasped and lifted a hand to her mouth. Rosalind felt tears well up in her eyes as she gazed down at the handsome rancher who had just proposed to her. What could she say to such a proposal? The only answer which came to mind. The only words she really wanted to say.

  Gideon's eyes were wide with expectation. Rosalind glanced from Sophie to Nathan and to Jack. All of them were smiling broadly and waiting for her answer.

  Rosalind looked down at Gideon. "I will marry you, Gideon Buchanan," she announced, her voice shaking with emotion. Gideon's features broke out into a broad smile. He stood and faced her. His eyes were bright with joy.

  "You will?"

  "Yes!" she exclaimed smiling broadl
y at him. She'd never felt such joy in her whole life. Her heart was pounding faster than it had ever done before. For some reason, maybe because she didn't know what to do next, didn't know what she could say, she lifted the plate, pulling back the cloth. "We made you some apple pie," she said.

  Gideon glanced down at it and licked his lips. "That sure looks tasty," he said.

  Then Gideon glanced at Sophie, Nathan and Jack. "You don't mind if I seal this with a kiss, do you?"

  All three grinned, turned their heads away, and then Rosalind kissed her husband-to-be. A kiss that was as sweet as apple pie.

  EPILOGUE

  "This is where we'll build our new home," Gideon said as they drew their horses to a halt on a ridge that looked down onto the wide valley. Rosalind gazed down onto the lush landscape, taking in the sight of the narrow river that hooked around a broad expanse of trees. She could see the flat area near the river where the cabin would be built. Already there were signs of the construction, cut logs strewn around the area which had already been flattened.

  "It's perfect," she breathed.

  Gideon glanced across at her and smiled. "I thought you'd like it."

  He gripped his pommel, leaned across and kissed her. She was going to have to get used to being kissed every day, she told herself. That wasn't going to be too difficult.

  When their lips parted she looked at him, feeling the same affection she'd felt every day since the wedding had taken place two weeks before. They were living up at the ranch's big house. But it wouldn't be long before their new cabin would be finished. And then her new life with Gideon would really begin.

  "Let's go down and have a closer look," he said. He rode off quickly and she raced after him. Their horses thundered down the slope, side by side. She looked across at Gideon and giggled in a way she hadn't done since she'd been young. He smiled right back at her.

  This was how it had been with them since the wedding. Every day seemed like a blessing. She knew how close she had come to losing all of this. Now, every day she woke up, she prayed and thanked God for all the graces He had bestowed upon her. He had given her a godly husband and made of her a devout wife. She knew there were plenty of trials ahead, but she had no doubt that she and Gideon would face those with a spirit of togetherness and unity forged by their shared faith.

  She drew her horse to a halt alongside his. He leaped down and came to her, stretching his arms up, his eyes wide with expectation. She let herself tumble into his arms, and he enclosed her in his warm embrace.

  "Mrs Buchanan," he murmured as he gazed deeply into her eyes.

  "Mr Buchanan," she teased back at him.

  Then he kissed her again, this time with more ardor. More passion.

  They parted and walked to the river, hand in hand. She never wanted him to let her go. And she knew he wouldn't.

  For a while, they held onto each other, content to simply enjoy the beauty of the place. Then he turned to her. "I was talking to Reese, this morning," Gideon said. "Seems like a ranch which borders ours is occupied again."

  "Again?" she asked.

  "It was left empty when the family moved West, to California." Gideon looked suddenly thoughtful.

  "What is it?" she asked.

  "The thing is, the person who has taken over the ranch is someone Reese knew before," Gideon said.

  "What do you mean?" Rosalind asked. "Were they friends?"

  He shook his head. "More than friends."

  "Really?"

  He nodded. "Yeah. The girl who has come back to Inspiration and taken over the ranch is a girl Reese was in love with."

  Rosalind nodded. "And he's glad to see her?"

  Gideon sighed. He shook his head. "She can't stand him. Seems they had some problems before she left with her parents. But now she's back."

  "Isn't that a good thing?"

  Gideon narrowed his eyes at Rosalind. "How so?"

  "If she's back, and they were in love, then what's to stop them getting married," she said. It sounded so simple. So straightforward. "The Buchanans need another bride." Rosalind smiled. "Number three," she added cheerily.

  "I don't think that's going to happen," Gideon said.

  "Why not?"

  "As I said. They don't get along."

  Rosalind thought a moment and then glanced at Gideon. "This could be a second chance. For both of them."

  Gideon cleared his throat. "Try telling Reese that. I think the last person he wants to be anywhere close to is the woman who broke his heart."

  Rosalind frowned. "We'll have to see what can be done."

  Gideon gazed at Rosalind. "Now, hold on there. I know you, Sophie and Johanna are dead set on getting another wife in the family. But, you need to know that Reese is one difficult customer."

  Rosalind pouted at him. "I think we can work on that," she declared mischievously.

  Gideon smiled and took her in his arms. "Poor Reese. He doesn't know what he's in for, does he?"

  Rosalind shook her head slowly. "Nope."

  "You are really something. You know that, don't you?"

  She lifted a brow. "Is that so?"

  "Yup," he said. His eyes twinkled with good humor and something more.

  And then Gideon kissed her.

  THE END

  Coming Soon

  The next novel will be THE RANCHER'S SECOND CHANCE BRIDE.

  THANK YOU

  Thank you for reading The Rancher's Marriage of Convenience. I hope you enjoyed the novel.

  The Brides of Inspiration series will continue over the coming weeks with The Rancher's Second Chance Bride (Book 3 in the series)

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  Brides of Inspiration series.

  Book One

  The Rancher's Bride Arrangement