“Not at all. Be right back.” Wilson climbed the stairs to the living quarters above the store.
Daniel paced while he waited. A blue brooch caught his eye and he stared through the glass at it. If he wasn’t so angry with Hannah right now, he’d buy it for her. Hadn’t Jeb said the way to get a woman to fall in love with you was to buy her presents? The sound of feet on the stairs drew his gaze away from the jewelry.
“She’s not been here this morning, Daniel,” the shopkeeper said when he got within hearing distance.
“Thanks, Wilson. If she comes in, please tell her I’m looking for her, and to stay here until I come back.” Daniel was already on his way out the door.
“Sure will. I hope you find her soon.” Wilson went back to his work.
Daniel looked up and down Main Street. There was no sign of Brownie, and he was pretty sure Hannah would keep the little mare close. He decided to try the schoolhouse next.
Tornado snorted at the rough way Daniel turned him toward the school. “Sorry, ole boy.”
His heart sank when he got to the school and didn’t see Brownie. Where could she be? He realized the schoolmaster wouldn’t be there on Saturday, either. The next question that slammed through his brain was where did the man live?
Daniel turned back toward the general store. Wilson could probably direct him to the schoolteacher’s home. Daniel prayed she wasn’t there. How would that look? His fiancée visiting with another man in his home? It wouldn’t look good at all.
“Hey, boss,” Tucker said, riding up to him on a brown gelding with a white strip down its nose.
“Tucker.” Daniel nodded a greeting. He continued to scan Main Street for any sign of Hannah. “Have you seen Miss Young in town today?”
“I thought she might be the reason you’re in town.” Tucker’s grin grew wider. “I told Sam and Miguel, ‘There’s the boss, and I bet you anything he’s lookin’ for Miss Young.’” He twisted in his saddle and nodded at the men standing a few feet away. “I was right, boys!” he called over his shoulder.
Daniel didn’t have time for Tucker’s silliness. “Tucker! Have you seen her or haven’t you?”
“Oh, sorry, boss. Yeah, me and the boys saw her a little while ago.” He continued grinning as if he were at the state fair and waiting for a prize.
Daniel wanted to knock the young man off his feet. Instead, he silently prayed for patience, then said, “Can you tell me where she went?”
“Sure can. She and a little boy went down that street right there, about twenty minutes ago.” Tucker pointed down a side street between the hotel and the doctor’s office.
“What little boy? Why did she go with him?” Daniel asked.
“Don’t rightly know. I just saw the boy run up to her and say something. He pointed off that way and Hannah, I mean Miss Young, followed him.” Tucker pushed his hat farther back on his head. “That’s all I know.”
“Thanks.” Daniel nodded and turned Tornado down the side street.
“I have business to take care of, so I’ll see you at the ranch, boss.”
Daniel ignored Tucker and continued on. Why had Hannah gone off with a little boy? Was he one of the children she taught? Daniel doubted that, since all the kids who went to her school lived on the ranch.
He didn’t know where the boy could have taken her, and prayed she hadn’t fallen victim to some man’s sinister scheme. Daniel wished now more than ever that someone had warned Hannah of the dangers of going to town alone.
His gaze searched each house and building he passed. Just when the street ran out and he was about to turn around, he heard her sweet laughter.
He released the pent-up air he’d been holding in his lungs. If she was laughing, Daniel felt sure she was all right. He followed the sound and soon spotted Brownie tied to a tree beside a small shed. The house beside it had seen better days and Daniel wondered who lived there. He halted the stallion and slid from his back.
He cautiously approached the shed. The little boy’s back was to the door and Daniel couldn’t see Hannah. She giggled again and he squinted to find her in the shadows.
“Do you know which one you want, miss?” the boy asked.
Based on the sound of his voice and the build of his body, Daniel thought the boy was close to ten years old. He walked up to the door to get a better look.
“I think I’ll take this one.” Hannah stood, and he could see she held a squirming puppy in her hands.
“He’s my favorite, too. I wish Ma would let me keep them, but she says she has enough mouths to feed without adding puppy mouths.” The little boy bowed his head.
Daniel cleared his throat and both the boy and Hannah turned to face him. She had straw in her hair and a smudge of dirt on her cheek. What had the woman been doing? Rolling around in the hay?
“Look, Daniel, Steven gave me a puppy.” Hannah held the little black-and-white dog up for his inspection. “Isn’t she just the cutest thing you’ve ever seen? I think I’ll call her Buttons.”
Daniel couldn’t decide if he wanted to strangle Hannah or hug her. She didn’t seem to be aware of his emotions at all as she rubbed her nose in the soft fur of the little animal and laughed. “I just love the smell of puppies.”
Did Hannah realize that when she liked something, she rubbed her nose against it? Daniel frowned at the thought. She’d done the same thing to Brownie that she was doing to the puppy now.
Steven wrinkled his own nose. “Really?”
Again she laughed. “Yes, and you know what smells even better than their sweet fur?”
The boy shook his head.
“Puppy breath!” Hannah stuck the puppy in Steven’s face and reached out to tickle the little boy at the same time. All the pent-up anger melted away as Daniel watched her play with the child.
Now that he could see she was safe and happy, how could he be angry with her? Relief washed over him. Yes, he intended to speak with her about her behavior today, just not right now.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Hannah watched Daniel out of the corner of her eye. She sensed the moment he was no longer angry with her and inwardly sighed. She handed the puppy back to the little boy. “Would you mind holding on to Fred until my business in town is done? Then I’ll come back and take him home with me.”
Steven grinned. “All right.” He cuddled the tiny dog close.
She walked over to Daniel. “I’m glad you decided to come to town.” Hannah hooked her arm in his. “After I got here, I realized what Opal was trying to tell me. I’d decided to return to the ranch when Steven asked me if I’d like a puppy.”
Daniel turned to face her. He plucked the straw from her hair. For the first time since she’d met him, he seemed speechless.
To fill the silence, Hannah continued, “I really hope I didn’t worry you too much.”
He wiped at something on her cheek with his thumb. She realized she must look a mess.
“Hannah, from now on promise me you will not come to town without me or one of the other men. Mother doesn’t even come to town alone.” Daniel untied the horses, gathered their reins and began walking back toward Main Street.
“I promise.” She tucked her arm in his once more.
Once she’d arrived in town, Hannah had seen the wisdom in Opal’s advice to wait for one of the men. She’d been surprised to find the town full of cowboys who were either drunk or on their way there. When she’d come with Daniel the last time, she hadn’t even noticed them. She knew she owed Opal an apology, and planned to give it as soon as she was on Westland soil again.
“What do you need to do before we head back?” he asked.
She matched him step for step. “I have to go to the general store. Opal needs cinnamon and I need sugar. After that, I’d like to return the books I borrowed from Mr. Richards.”
Daniel nodded. “Do you have any idea where the schoolteacher lives?”
Hannah shook her head. “I thought I’d ask Carolyn at the store, but I never got
that far.”
“We could just leave the books at the store for him to pick up,” Daniel suggested.
Regret filled her voice. “I suppose so, but I wanted to borrow a couple more from him. He has a wonderful collection.”
“Doesn’t the store sell books?” Daniel asked as he tied the horses to the hitching post in front.
Hannah laughed and pulled down the bag of books she’d borrowed from Jonah. “Yes.”
Daniel captured her hand in his and tucked it again into the crook of his arm. “Then while we’re at the store, you can pick out new books to read. You don’t have to borrow them from the schoolteacher.”
As much as she wanted to do that, Hannah didn’t want to spend any more of his money than she had to. “That’s really nice of you, Daniel, but books are expensive,” she protested.
He stepped up on the sidewalk. “Many things are expensive, but if what you are buying is something you will use or love, then it’s worth the money.” Daniel smiled and then leaned down and whispered in her ear, “You are going to be my bride, Hannah. Think of everything that you buy as a wedding present from me.”
Hannah enjoyed the feel of his warm breath against her neck. She flushed when he pulled away. Daniel opened the door for her and escorted her inside.
“I see you found Miss Young,” Wilson called from the counter.
Carolyn knelt beside a shelf with a stack of books and a large wooden crate beside her. “Hello, Hannah. I was just unloading a crate of books. Come see.” She straightened her spine and groaned.
“Go on. Buy whatever you want.” Daniel gave her a gentle push toward the shopkeeper.
Hannah set Jonah’s bag of books on the floor beside Carolyn. “Would you like some help unloading them? I could unpack and hand them up to you.”
Carolyn pushed herself up from the floor. “That would be great, Hannah. I’m not that big, but my back hurts almost all the time now. I do better standing.” She rubbed the small of her back before moving aside.
After they’d changed places, Hannah grinned up at her. “I’m happy to help.” She unwrapped each book from its brown paper, admired the cover and then passed it up to Carolyn, who placed it on the shelf.
From the corner of her eye she watched Daniel talk to Carolyn’s husband. She couldn’t make out what they were saying but saw Daniel point to something in a case.
“I heard that you and Daniel are getting married. Have you set the date yet?” Carolyn moved a few books around on the shelf to make room for the one Hannah had just handed up.
“No, but I’m thinking a Thanksgiving wedding might be nice.” Hannah clamped her lips closed. Why had she told Carolyn that? She’d thought about it, but hadn’t verbalized the idea to anyone, not even Daniel.
“Oh, that would be lovely. Wilson and I married a few days before Christmas.” Carolyn smiled down on her. “I wish you had been here. It turned out so beautiful. I decided to have an outdoor wedding and it decided to snow.”
Hannah shivered. “Wasn’t that a bit cold?”
Carolyn looked at her husband and smiled. “Not when you are in love.” She giggled. “I forgot all about the snow as we said our vows.”
What would it be like to be so in love with a man that you didn’t notice how cold you were? Hannah wanted that kind of love. She looked at Daniel again. He was a good man. She enjoyed spending time with him. His kisses were sweet. But was she in love with him?
He chose that moment to glance in her direction and smile. She felt the warmth of color enter her face at being caught gazing in his direction, and knew she had to be honest with herself. Maybe she loved Daniel a little, but not enough to forget that she needed him to love her, too.
She didn’t want just a little piece of his heart. Hannah knew she wanted it all. She wanted—no, needed—to know that he would love her forever and never leave her, or force her to leave him. Regardless of what may or may not happen in their future, they would stick together. That was the kind of love she wanted.
Hannah handed Carolyn the last book and stood. She decided to change the subject, and hopefully take her own mind off love and marriage. “When is your baby due?”
Carolyn slipped the book into its slot. “Doc says he will be born in late August or the first of September.” She patted her rounded stomach.
A smile pulled at Hannah’s lips. “I take it you want a boy?”
“We both do,” Carolyn answered as her cheeks turned a soft pink. She began gathering the paper and stuffing it back inside the wooden box.
Hannah helped her and then picked up the bag of books she’d laid down earlier. A part of her still wanted to go find the schoolteacher. “Does Mr. Richards come in very often?” she asked.
Carolyn picked up the box and started toward the counter. “About once a week. Why?”
Hannah followed, realizing she’d have to leave the bag with Carolyn. “I borrowed some books from him last time I was in town and need to return them. Only it’s Saturday and he’s not at the school. Would you mind giving them to him next time he drops in?” Hannah placed the bag on the counter.
Daniel came to stand beside her.
“No problem. I’ll just put them with his mail.” Carolyn took the books out of the sack and then handed the bag back to Hannah. “Speaking of mail, Daniel, I have a couple of letters for you.” She turned around and pulled two envelopes from a slot on the wall behind her.
He took the letters from her hands and read the addresses. His gaze met Hannah’s before he tucked them away. She couldn’t help but wonder who they were from. Was he still getting letters from his mail-order bride ad? The one she’d answered?
“I’ll be right back. There are a couple of books I want to get before we leave.” Hannah walked over to the shelf.
“Take your time,” Daniel said. He leaned a hip against the counter, pulled one of the envelopes out of his pocket and opened what looked like a letter.
Hannah didn’t pay much attention to which books she chose; her mind was too occupied with the letter Daniel was reading. It really was none of her business, but she wanted to know if it was from another woman.
She felt a twinge of jealousy grip her and struggled to squash it. If the women writing the letters were more appealing to Daniel than she was, then so be it.
* * *
A month had passed since their trip into town. Daniel didn’t know what to think of Hannah. She’d been quiet on their return to the ranch. Once they were home, she had gone about her business. He often found her riding on the range and would accompany her home. Gone was the woman who seemed to talk nonstop. In her place was a woman who waited for him to talk.
She seemed to be getting along well with his mother and Opal. Both women spoke highly of her when she wasn’t around, but they, too, had noticed she’d become more reserved since she’d ridden to town alone and he’d gone to get her.
His thoughts went to the letter he’d gotten that day from the man he’d hired to find Hannah’s father, Jacob Young. He’d written to inform him that Jacob had died of a fever several years earlier and asked if he wanted him to contact another member of the family. He’d written back, “Not at this time.”
Daniel had also answered the lady who’d inquired about his mail-order bride ad. He told her he’d found a wife and thanked her for taking the time to write to him.
He didn’t know how to break the news to Hannah, but figured someday an opportunity would present itself. Until then, Daniel planned on keeping the information to himself. What good would it do to tell her the man she called Father was dead?
Daniel prayed the Fourth of July celebrations would bring back the woman he’d begun to like and understand. He pulled the buckboard up in front of the house.
Opal, her two granddaughters, his mother and Hannah came out to meet him. All three women had their arms full. Opal had a basket of preserves she planned on entering into the canned-goods contest. His mother carried her newest prized quilt. And Hannah followed with three p
ie boxes. She had a book tucked under her arm.
The little girls scrambled up into the back of the wagon. Mary carried her favorite rag doll. Daisy held in her hands a few sheets of paper and what looked to be an oversize piece of charcoal.
Daniel focused on Hannah. She’d pulled her hair up and small strands escaped about her face. Her cheeks had a soft pink in them as if she was blushing, or had rushed to get ready. The dark blue dress with little white flowers she wore matched the color of her eyes. She smiled at him and then ducked her head.
His mother caught his attention. “Here, Daniel. Would you hold this while I climb up?”
He took the quilt and helped her onto the wagon bench. When she was seated he gave her back the quilt. Opal was next. She put her basket of preserves in the wagon and then he assisted her up, as well.
Hannah had already moved to the back and set her pies down there. The smell of cinnamon and freshly baked apples oozed from the boxes. Daniel saw Levi hurry to assist her into the bed of the wagon. His brother lifted her easily and sat her down so that her legs dangled over the edge.
“Hannah, are those pies for eating or judging?” Levi handed her the book she’d carried out.
She smiled at him. “Both.”
“Then I’ll have to make note of which ones are yours,” Levi teased, before stepping away.
“Levi, would you mind driving this morning? I’d like to sit back here with my fiancée.” Daniel didn’t know where the word fiancée came from; he wanted to take it back as soon as it was out of his mouth.
Cole arrived at about the same time and grinned. He led both Tornado and Levi’s horse.
Levi shook his head. “Sorry, Daniel, but I can’t. I’m entering Snow in the races.”
“You can tie him up beside Tornado,” Daniel argued.
His brother grinned. “Yeah, I could, but I don’t want to.”
Cole shook his head at them. “I’ll drive,” he volunteered. “There is no way my horse could beat either of yours, so I’m leaving him at home.” Cole handed each of them the reins to their horses and climbed up beside Bonnie.
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