The Rancher’s Bride Arrangement (Brides 0f Inspiration Book 1)

by Maya Stirling

  Micah grunted. “Five? But, there’s only one.”

  Caleb shook his head. “The middle part will always be ours. Your ma and I. The boundaries each contain a portion of the spread. And each one has its own conditions of occupation.”

  “You mean like each side of the spread has to be occupied separately?” Reese asked.

  Caleb nodded. “North. South. East and West.”

  “Why can’t we just claim the whole thing is occupied?” Zane asked. He knew the answer his pa would probably give, but he felt he had to ask the question, anyway.

  “Not good enough. Each side of the spread need to have an individual home built on it. And it needs to be occupied by someone. And not just anyone. They have to be a particular type of person. If not, it needs to be let go.”

  “You aren’t thinking of selling,” Gideon snapped.

  “Fat chance,” Caleb grunted. “This land is ours, and I ain’t letting it fall into anyone else’s hands. Especially the likes of Calhoun.”

  There was a collective groan around the table.

  “Calhoun isn’t going to take anything that belongs to us,” Zane declared. Each of his brothers nodded in full agreement. “What’s it going to take, Pa? What kind of person do we need to occupy the spreads on the boundary?” Zane asked.

  Caleb sighed and glanced at Eugenie. “That’s where you boys all come in.” Caleb drew in a deep breath, as if he was preparing himself for the worst.

  Before Caleb could utter the words he obviously found so troubling, Eugenie cut in. “What your pa is trying to say is quite simple, boys,” she said. She ran her gaze from one to the other, a gentle smile on her face.

  Zane leaned back on the seat and prepared himself for what was to come out of his mother’s mouth. The words he knew would change everything. For them all.

  Eugenie leaned her elbows on the table. “The only way we can guarantee that we hold onto the entire spread is if each of you do something you’ve all been putting off.” Eugenie’s brows furrowed. “Until now.”

  “What’s that, Ma?” Gideon, Micah and Reese all said at once.

  Zane prepared himself for the ruckus he knew would ensue any moment now. His heart was pounding.

  “You’re all going to have to get married,” Eugenie said calmly. She fixed Zane with a penetrating look. Zane felt his insides begin to tumble. “And, being the eldest, you’re going to have to be the first to get yourself a wife, Zane Buchanan.”

  CHAPTER FOUR

  “Forgive me for saying, Johanna, but you do look quite at home here on the ranch,” Sophie observed, sounding surprised.

  “You think so?” Johanna replied.

  Sophie’s eyes narrowed. Johanna worried that she’d been asking Sophie too many smart questions for someone who had claimed never to have spent any time on a farmstead or ranch spread.

  Wandering around the ranch, Johanna had seen a lot she could understand. The familiar ways of the outdoors. The steady, diligent work of the ranch hands. Years before, back East, her younger years had been spent on a Pennsylvania farm. Her parents’ farm, to be exact. That meant she knew what it meant to work the land. To care for animals.

  But she’d decided not to mention that to Sophie. Nor to her sister, Faith. It hadn’t been a good fit with Johanna’s story, the one she knew had gotten her the interview to come to Montana in the first place.

  Johanna thought about what she’d told Sophie’s sister. That she was from a decent neighborhood, that she lived with her aunt, and that she’d been brought up in a society home. She’d said that she’d fallen on hard times recently. Which was true. Life had become difficult. However, not for the reasons she’d suggested.

  The whole truth was different. It wasn’t strictly speaking a lie. Life with her aunt had become almost impossible. And she’d needed a way to escape that life. So, Johanna had stretched the facts a little. She still felt guilty about what she’d done. But maybe there’d be a way to explain things. Once her life had worked out. But her story had served her well, and meant she could come out here to Montana where a new start awaited her.

  They were walking back up the hill from visiting the cookhouse down by a long wooden building where the ranch hands bunked. She and Sophie halted outside the open door of the barn. From inside, Johanna could hear the sounds of the horses in their stalls. It was a familiar sound that tugged on her memory. She felt an impulse to go inside the barn and see what she could do.

  Johanna had to admit that the ranch was impressive. Obviously a great deal of work had gone into the place. A team of ranch hands as well as the family had shaped the place into something she knew would last. She remembered what it felt like to make something out of a place like this. To take raw land and make it fruitful. Just like God wanted. Johanna respected what had been made here.

  Johanna dragged her attention back to the present moment. It had been about a half hour since Zane had disappeared inside the big house. Still, there was no sign of any of the family members. Johanna wondered what was going on inside the house.

  Eugenie had explained to Sophie and Johanna that the family were just having a meeting, and that it wouldn’t take too long. She’d assured them they’d be finished in a short while. But still, no-one had appeared at the front door to invite her and Sophie in.

  Johanna and Sophie returned to the corral and leaned on the wooden fence.

  “You said there was a reason why you brought me out here today,” Johanna asked Sophie.

  Sophie looked uneasy for a moment. She kicked some dust beneath her boots and, for a moment, avoided eye contact with Johanna. “Here’s the thing, Johanna,” Sophie said. “I was invited out here today by Caleb Buchanan. He’s the owner of this place, and the proud father of four fine looking sons. Ranchers each one of them.”

  “Zane and Reese aren’t the only ones?” Johanna asked.

  Sophie shook her head and smiled. “Not by a long shot. There’s Micah and Gideon. Zane’s the oldest. He’s the bossy one.”

  Johanna scoffed. “I noticed. He’s also kind of rude, I thought,”she said. “Although maybe I’m judging him too harshly.”

  Sophie shook her head. “He’s strong-minded. And he’s a wanderer, too. Zane likes to be on his own. A lot.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “He’s got a taste for the wilderness life. Not one for being tied down.”

  Johanna gazed around the ranch. “How can he not love a place like this?” she asked incredulously. “It’s almost perfect.”

  “He’s a man,” Sophie stated. “And, as such, he has a mind of his own.” Sophie smiled warmly. “Maybe he needs a good woman to make him see sense.”

  Johanna felt her cheeks flush with heat. She told herself it was maybe the fact that she’d been out in the sun most of the afternoon that had caused it. But, even as she played with that thought, she knew it wasn’t true.

  Zane Buchanan was, indeed, a fine looking man. He seemed older than Johanna’s twenty-two years. She thought about how he’d eased himself out of the saddle and strolled casually toward her. He had broad shoulders, and muscles that had been forged through hard work. His skin looked toughened by the sun. That just made his green eyes, filled with such kindness, so much curiosity, all the more fetching, all the more captivating.

  “He’s old enough to make up his own mind,” Johanna said, dragging her attention back to the present moment.

  “He’s twenty-seven years old,” Sophie said. “Around these parts that means he’s spent too many years avoiding his responsibilities. Particularly when it comes to fetching himself a wife.”

  “Surely there must have been someone,” Johanna probed, trying to sound disinterested.

  Sophie shrugged. “I haven’t been here long enough to know for sure. According to Nathan, Zane’s always been a bit of a loner. Likes to disappear for days on end.” Sophie looked away toward the distant mountains. “Out there. Anywhere but here on the ranch.”

  “Doesn’t that disappoint his p
arents?” Johanna asked.

  “It sure does. But they can’t do anything to stop him. Except appeal to his sense of family loyalty,” Sophie said.

  “He and his mother seem pretty close,” Johanna observed.

  Sophie smiled. “Eugenie is the one who is really in charge around here.”

  Johanna laughed. “Isn’t that always the way.” She started to continue. “I remember,” but then cut herself short.

  Sophie’s eyes narrowed. “Remember what, Johanna?”

  Johanna waved a hand dismissively. “Nothing, Sophie. It just reminded me of someone I used to know. A family member. A long time ago.”

  Johanna felt a wave of melancholy sweep through her. Just as always, whenever she thought about the past. Her past. The one from which she was trying to escape. The one from which she needed to move on.

  Of course, this wasn’t the time to start talking about her real family. The one she had lost so tragically. She hoped that Sophie wouldn’t press her for any more details. That needed to remain private. For now.

  Seized with the idea to change the subject, she turned and faced Sophie. “So, why did you bring me here today?” Johanna asked again.

  Sophie smiled. “You won’t let it go, will you?”

  Johanna shook her head and leaned closer to Sophie. “Are you going to tell me something about how one of these ranchers is looking to get married?” she probed tentatively.

  “I’ve heard a rumor,” Sophie said. “Nathan hears just about everything that goes on in these parts. He is Sheriff, after all. So, it’s natural, I guess.”

  “He must know all the secrets,” Johanna said.

  Sophie leaned against the top of the corral fence. “He sure knows most of what goes on.”

  Suddenly the conversation was interrupted by the sharp sound of the front door to the big house being opened. Johanna and Sophie both turned to see who was emerging.

  The door was slammed noisily shut and Johanna gasped when she saw Zane Buchanan standing there on the porch close to the door. His face was red and he was breathing fast, as if trying to contain his emotion. He looked like he might have been involved in some kind of argument, Johanna told herself. Inexplicably, Johanna felt an impulse to go to Zane and find out what was the problem.

  Sophie laid a restraining hand on Johanna’s arm. “Wait a second, Johanna,” Sophie said. “Zane doesn’t look too pleased about something. I wonder what it could be.”

  Zane seemed so preoccupied with his own thoughts that he hadn’t even noticed the two women standing over by the corral. Then, behind him, the front door opened, and an older man stepped out, laying a hand on Zane’s shoulder. Words were exchanged in low voices.

  From where she was standing Johanna couldn’t make out what was being said. But, whatever it was, clearly Zane wasn’t too impressed by it.

  Suddenly, Zane stiffened and roared out two words that echoed across the yard. “No, Pa!”

  Johanna’s body tensed and she glanced worriedly toward Sophie. Johanna looked back at the house and saw that, finally, their presence had been noticed. The older man who was obviously Zane’s father had his hand on his son’s shoulder as they both walked slowly toward Sophie and Johanna.

  Johanna frowned. “What should we do?” she asked Sophie.

  “Leave this to me,” Sophie replied. “I’ll introduce you to Caleb.”

  Sophie led Johanna slowly forward. Johanna peered at Zane. His gaze was steady and unflinchingly fixed upon Johanna. His lips were a thin, tight line. He didn’t look happy, but Caleb’s firm hand on Zane’s shoulder propelled him toward her and Sophie.

  The men halted in front of them. “Miss Cameron,” Caleb said. “How nice of you to pay us a visit. The Sheriff did tell me to expect you.” Caleb glanced at Johanna. “And here you are, with a very fine young lady.”

  Johanna thought Caleb looked surprisingly pleased to see her. She wondered why that could possibly be the case.

  “Caleb. May I introduce Miss Johanna Henderson,” Sophie said.

  Zane’s eyes flashed with something that looked like barely contained fury. What was wrong with him?

  “Delighted to make your acquaintance, Miss Henderson,” Caleb said.

  Johanna curtsied. Caleb laughed and looked straight at Zane. “We don’t see much of that out here, do we, Zane?” Caleb said.

  “Very ladylike, I’m sure,” Zane murmured.

  Johanna felt a jolt of indignation race through her at Zane’s slightly impertinent tone of voice. What had he meant by that? Was he mocking her? If so, why would he even do such a thing?

  “Miss Henderson is from a very fine family out East,” Sophie explained.

  “Is that so?” Caleb asked, clearly impressed. “And what brings you all the way out here to Montana?”

  Didn’t he already know the answer to that? Maybe Sophie hadn’t had a chance to explain Johanna’s presence. The real reason she was here.

  Before Johanna had a chance to reply, Sophie interrupted her. “I was just showing Johanna around this wonderful ranch of yours, Caleb. She is mighty impressed. And she seems to know a lot about how a place like this is run, I can tell you.”

  “Really, Miss Henderson? Have you had some experience of ranch life?” Zane asked, a mischievous tone in his voice.

  Johanna’s face flushed and she hesitated before speaking. For a long moment, she was lost for words. The corner of Zane’s mouth creased into a satisfied smile. Was he taking pleasure from her discomfort?

  “As I said, earlier, Mr Buchanan. I read a lot,” Johanna said curtly.

  Zane nodded. Before he had a chance to say anything else, Caleb cut in. “We’d like to welcome you to our humble home, Miss Henderson,” he said. “Perhaps you’d like to join us inside. You can meet my other sons.”

  Caleb flashed a glance at Zane. “You might find they’ve got better manners than my eldest, here,” he said narrowing his eyes at Zane.

  Johanna saw Zane draw himself up, as if he was about to object. Caleb’s firm hand squeezed Zane’s shoulder and Johanna saw that Caleb’s decisive gesture had put an end to that temptation.

  “Why don’t you come in, Miss Henderson?” Caleb announced. “Please.”

  Johanna nodded and glanced at Sophie. She and Sophie walked toward the house, with Caleb and Zane alongside them. Johanna had seen part of the ranch. Now she was about to meet the whole Buchanan clan.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  Zane sat awkwardly on the chair by the window, tinkered with his empty coffee cup, and gazed around the sitting room. He’d been sitting here for almost an hour, listening to all the conversation.

  No.

  Not just conversation. Witnessing the fuss being made over their visitor. The prim-looking, well-spoken and very well-mannered Miss Henderson from back East.

  She sat by the fireside in a chair usually reserved for Zane’s mother. A real guest of honor, as Zane’s father had said repeatedly.

  Miss Henderson was the focus of all the attention in the room, and she didn’t seem entirely pleased about that. In fact, she seemed pretty uneasy about the whole thing. Maybe that was natural, Zane told himself. It couldn’t be easy being brought here like this after just getting off the train at Inspiration. It must seem like she’d been thrown into the lion’s den.