The Rancher’s Christmas Wish (Brides 0f Inspiration Book 8)

by Maya Stirling

  "He told me it looked like you were upsetting Chloe," Reese accused. Reese's brows furrowed menacingly. "Why'd you do that, Armstrong?"

  "That wasn't my intention," Ethan replied defensively. "I was just there hoping to meet with Zane. You and your brothers have taken to making yourselves scarce. But we need to sort this whole problem between our families," Ethan declared. "We need to talk. Before this all gets out of hand."

  Reese frowned. "The only way that'll happen is if you do something stupid, Armstrong. And judging by what you've been doing since you moved in this summer, I don't think we'll have to wait too long for that to happen."

  Not for the first time today, Ethan restrained himself. During that last few weeks it seemed that every time he talked with a Buchanan things didn't go according to plan. Maybe they weren't willing to listen to reason. Ethan tugged on the reins and shifted his horse so it was facing homeward. "Look, Reese. I'm sorry I set foot on your land. I'll be on my way."

  Reese held up a gloved hand. "Hold on, there," he barked. "Just so we understand each other." Reese lowered his head and peered at Ethan. "You stay clear of this ranch. And well away from my cousin, Chloe. You hear?"

  Suddenly unwilling to be lectured, because the day had already given him enough frustrations, Ethan met Reese's challenging gaze. "She's a cute one, your cousin," Ethan proclaimed, lifting a brow. He sat up straight in his saddle and faced Reese. "Real cute," Ethan added, just for effect.

  Upon hearing Ethan's words. Reese's brows shot up in a line. "What did you say?" he exclaimed angrily.

  Emboldened by the reaction he'd drawn out of Reese, Ethan continued. "I figure Chloe is the just about the prettiest woman in Inspiration this Christmas," he said. Ethan gave Reese a wry smile. "I assume she's unattached," he added.

  Reese's reaction was instant. "Why you! I ought to teach you a lesson in being civil. That's my cousin you're talking about."

  Ethan shook his head. "Seems to me, your cousin can take care of herself. From what I can tell, she has a mind of her own." Now feeling like he was getting carried away with himself, Ethan grinned and met Reese's incandescent glare. "And that's a mind I might just look forward to getting to know a little better."

  Reese jerked in his saddle. Ethan feared Reese was intent on doing something rash. Before Reese had a chance to act, Ethan kicked his horse, jerked the reins and was soon racing down the trail leaving Reese behind in a cloud of dust. One glance behind him reassured Ethan that Reese wasn't going to pursue him. Ethan smiled and made sure his horse kept a steady pace. It felt good getting the better of a Buchanan. Especially since doing so hadn't involved any kind of violence. In Ethan's experience, quick wits were usually more effective at fixing arguments.

  A short while later he crossed the boundary between the Buchanan spread and the Armstrong rangeland. Ethan slowed his horse. He'd be back at the ranch house soon. The day hadn't been the success he'd intended. He'd hoped that Zane Buchanan would have seen sense. Perhaps even agreed to put an end to the feud between the two families. Ethan sighed. Maybe more time was needed before that would happen.

  Then a thought flashed through his mind. He halted his horse and laughed quietly to himself. Perhaps the day hadn't been a complete failure, after all, Ethan told himself. Thinking back to his argument with Reese, Ethan realized he'd done something which earlier this morning would have seemed unthinkable. As he considered what he'd done, Ethan felt a strange mixture of excitement and trepidation course through his body. It was too late to go back on his word, now. He'd given that to one of the Buchanan brothers. And they never forgot anything.

  Ethan moved his horse on and shook his head, scarcely able to believe what he'd done. He'd declared an interest in courting a beautiful, unmarried Buchanan woman.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  "I'm going over to the Armstrong ranch, this morning, Chloe," Eugenie announced in the parlor soon after breakfast on Chloe's first morning since her return. "Would you like to come with me?"

  Taken aback by her aunt's sudden declaration, Chloe was momentarily lost for words. She thought about the prospect of meeting Ethan Armstrong again. Realizing it might make for an awkward encounter, she tried to find the right words so she wouldn't offend her aunt. "I was planning on spending some time getting to know the ranch again." Chloe knew her words sounded unconvincing, but they were the best she could come up with. "Perhaps I'll start thinking about preparing for Christmas."

  Seated across from Chloe next to the roaring fireplace, Eugenie smiled warmly. "I know how eager you are to start helping us get ready. But, I thought it might be nice if you were to accompany me to our neighbors. Especially after what happened yesterday at the station," she said. Her brows furrowed. "I'm sure Mr Armstrong might like to take the opportunity to offer you an apology."

  "Apology?" Chloe exclaimed. "What on earth for?"

  Eugenie tilted her head. Her eyes brightened. "He was quite rude to you. Even if he only wanted to talk with Zane, that didn't give him the right to place you in such an awkward position, caught between two ranchers arguing over a problem that's no concern of yours."

  "Mr Armstrong doesn't need to apologize to me, Eugenie," Chloe said. "I wasn't in the least bit offended. He obviously has a lot on his mind. What with the trouble around the ranch."

  Eugenie shook her head. "That still didn't give him the right to intrude upon your privacy like that." Eugenie ran a hand across her neatly pinned-back silver hair. "Zane was quite furious when we got back to the ranch."

  Chloe thought about the lunch and dinner she'd shared with the entire Buchanan family the day before. If Zane had been annoyed at Ethan Armstrong's conduct, Chloe hadn't seen any sign of it. All throughout the two meals in the ranch dining room, Zane had been the perfect example of an eldest cousin. Courteous, polite and good-humored.

  She'd risen early this morning, eager to start her first day back at the ranch. Outside, on the porch before breakfast, she'd breathed in the chill morning air, savoring the sense of freedom now that she was far away from Salt Lake City. The ranch had been quiet, only the faint noises of ranch hands stirring awake over at the bunkhouse and the gentle sounds of horses in the stable.

  Chloe turned to the flames in the fireplace and lifted her hands, warming them. She felt the comforting heat settle over her in waves. The heaviness she felt after the huge breakfast she'd just eaten was beginning to make her feel sleepy.

  "I wouldn't want Zane being concerned on my account," Chloe said.

  "He's just trying to make sure you have the best possible Christmas," Eugenie stated with a smile. "His heart's in the right place."

  "I know that, aunt," Chloe admitted softly. She gazed lovingly around the parlor taking in the sight of the familiar furnishings. "It's already perfect. I'm glad to be back. I can't wait to start helping around the ranch. Get it ready with decorations and all the things we love at Christmas."

  Eugenie nodded. "That's your gift, Chloe. Some of the ranch hands still talk about those decorations you put up in the bunkhouse, last year. I guess they'll be expecting more of the same this year."

  "I'm glad they liked them," Chloe replied.

  "Expectations are high," Eugenie stated with a smile. "They'll be hoping you'll do the same."

  "I have some ideas," Chloe admitted.

  "Your mama did a fine job bringing you up, Chloe," Eugenie said. "She always used to tell me you had an eye for beauty. You were always drawing and sketching and painting. Brightening the home up with your artwork and your designs for decorating. Always finding ways to make your family's home feel special."

  Chloe saw the melancholy look in Eugenie's eyes. She reached across and took her aunt's hands. "Mama was always encouraging me. I guess it's why I love Christmas so much. It gives me a chance to let loose my creative side."

  Eugenie nodded and scoffed. "You sure let it loose last year, Chloe. Caleb still talks about how pretty the ranch house was over the Christmas time. Said, he'd never seen anything so beautiful. Made him
want Christmas to continue all year round."

  Chloe smiled enthusiastically. "I have some new ideas for this year."

  "You do?" Eugenie asked, her brows lifting with delight.

  Chloe nodded. "But, I'm keeping it all secret for now."

  Eugenie nodded and patted Chloe's hand reassuringly. "You do that, Chloe. I know we can trust you to come up with something real special."

  "I promise not to disappoint you, aunt Eugenie," Chloe said softly.

  Eugenie shook her head. "You never let us down, Chloe," she said. "You better believe that." Eugenie paused for a few moments. Chloe could see her aunt deliberating over what to say next. "It must be a welcome relief after your misfortune in Salt Lake City," she said finally.

  There was a long pause, broken only by the crackling from the fireplace. Chloe felt an even greater heat race to her cheeks. She hadn't expected her aunt to discuss the recent disappointment. The greatest disappointment of her life, Chloe told herself. She had hoped to put off any talk of that unpleasantness. At least for a day or two. Maybe it would be wise to get it over and done with, Chloe told herself. Then she could move on with making the most of Christmas. "Mr Jackson made his intentions quite clear to me before I left," Chloe said. "The cancellation of the engagement was done swiftly. As far as I was concerned, it was for the best. For both of us."

  A pained expression settled across Eugenie's features. "Still, my dear. What he did wasn't right. He didn't behave like a gentleman."

  Chloe sighed and nodded abruptly. "Perhaps it turned out for the best," she admitted. "I'd rather have found out the weaknesses of his character before we went through with the proposed marriage." Just using that last word triggered familiar painful feelings in Chloe. She peered across at her aunt. "I believe God may have saved me from a very unfortunate union, aunt Eugenie."

  Eugenie nodded emphatically. "I think you may be right, Chloe. If, as you told me in your last letter, Mr Jackson had harbored sentiments for another woman in Salt Lake City, then I think the Lord did protect you by allowing you to discover your intended husband's unacceptable conduct."

  Chloe nodded and thought about the events from the summer through to November. A marriage had been planned for the coming springtime between her and a certain Mr Julius Jackson of Salt Lake City. He had courted Chloe throughout the summer and into the fall. He was a prominent businessman in the city. She'd met him at a social event. At first, Chloe had been flattered by Mr Jackson's charming attentions. In fact, even at one point, she believed she had developed feelings for the moderately handsome, comfortably prosperous thirty-year-old man. Things between her and Jackson had progressed until marriage had seemed a natural outcome.

  However, all Chloe's hopes had been dashed when she'd discovered Mr Jackson had been encouraging the affections of another woman on the other side of town. Things had come to a head very quickly and the engagement between Chloe and Mr Jackson had been terminated. It had all been very painful and unpleasant. And it had been one of the main reasons why Chloe had been so eagerly looking forward to Christmas at the Buchanan ranch. The original intention had been to bring Mr Jackson with her. But those plans had been scrapped after the discovery of his unfaithful conduct.

  Her aunt was right, Chloe reflected. The Lord had rescued her from a disastrous marriage which would no doubt have ensured years of misery. Chloe's pain was mixed with true gratitude that God had seen fit to protect her. That God had brought her back to the Buchanan family so she could find a way to begin to heal. To put her life back together. Maybe going out this morning with her aunt might provide her with a fresh opportunity, after all.

  "Is there any other reason you're visiting the Armstrong ranch?" Chloe asked.

  Eugenie's brows furrowed. "You heard all about the feud which has broken out between our two families," she said.

  Chloe nodded. "Surely it isn't so serious that it has become a feud."

  Eugenie nodded. "Unfortunately, that's exactly how Ethan's pa, Jake Armstrong sees it. He's been the one who has been keeping it going. He had an accident in October. Took a fall form a horse. Jake still sees the disagreement between our two families as some kind of range war."

  Chloe gasped. "Surely there hasn't been any shooting," she exclaimed.

  Eugenie sighed and shook her head. "Not for the moment. Until now, we've only argued over boundary rights and a few times when cattle have ended up on the wrong side of the fences. Among other things." Chloe saw real concern written on her aunt's features. "My worry is that the arguments will escalate to violence."

  "Oh no!" Chloe gasped. "We can't let that happen."

  "Jake Armstrong is a bull-headed man," Eugenie said. "And no mistake. He's convinced we're doing him wrong. He's not going to back down. And he's been encouraging his son, Ethan to take a hard stand against us Buchanans."

  "Ethan seemed reasonable, yesterday," Chloe offered, thinking about the kindness she had glimpsed behind the handsome rancher's eyes.

  "I think Ethan is more thoughtful than his father," Eugenie admitted. "But, this feud has to end." Eugenie sat up straight in her chair and gripped the sides. "And I, for one, am determined to put a stop to it."

  "How are you going to do that?" Chloe asked.

  Eugenie frowned and shook her head. "I don't know." Eugenie gave Chloe a piercing look. "Yet. But, there has to be a way to make Jake Armstrong see sense. And for my boys to calm down. They have to realize we need peace between ourselves and the Armstrongs. They're our neighbors. And that ain't going to change any time soon."

  "Maybe it being Christmas will help," Chloe suggested casually.

  Chloe saw Eugenie's eyes narrow. "What did you say?"

  Startled by the sudden question, Chloe's brows shot up in a line. "Perhaps some Christmas cheer will help bring everyone to their senses. You know, make them realize that it's no use continuing this feud."

  Eugenie lifted a hand and cradled her chin thoughtfully. She seemed lost in thought for a few long moments. Then, she stood and gazed down at Chloe. Her gaze was filled with undisguised appreciation. "I would like you to come to the Armstrong ranch, Chloe," Eugenie said. "Will you?"

  Chloe stood and faced her aunt. "If you like," she agreed.

  "Good," Eugenie exclaimed and then started toward the door. Chloe followed, wondering what her aunt had in mind. One thing was for sure. It involved a visit to the Armstrong ranch. And that meant meeting Ethan all over again.

  CHAPTER SIX

  "We've got visitors," Ethan's father, Jake Armstrong announced. Jake was standing by the parlor window. Ethan went to his father's side, leaned a hand on his shoulder and peered through the window. He saw a buckboard rolling into the yard in front of the Armstrong ranch house. Ethan's breath hitched in his chest when he saw who was sitting on the buckboard seat. Eugenie Buchanan held the reins and, right next to her was seated the figure of her niece, Chloe Forsyth. The younger woman was dressed in a fine-looking green coat and matching bonnet. Eugenie was driving the buckboard so fast that Chloe had a hand on top of her bonnet lest it be blown off.

  Ethan's father looked at him. "What's a Buchanan doing on my land?" Jake asked gruffly.

  "Beats me," Ethan replied.

  Jake started to make his way toward the parlor door. "Hold on there, pa," Ethan said loudly.

  Jake halted and faced Ethan. "What is it?"

  "Maybe you should let me go out there first," Ethan suggested. "See what they want."

  "You think I can't handle talking with the Buchanan woman?" Jake said tersely.

  Ethan examined his father's features for a moment. His father looked tired. Even more so than usual. He hadn't slept too well last night. His father's heavy-jowled features looked pale. His dark hair was unkempt and he was dressed in a wrinkled plaid shirt and jeans. Before the accident, his father had always dressed neat and tidy. But, since then, he'd let his appearance slip.