Prairie Romance Collection

by Cathy Marie Hake

  Everyone admired the beautiful apples Josh brought over. A row of apple trees would be nice around the house, Rylan thought. But his thoughts darkened. When would he have time to care for them? Perhaps a single tree was all he could handle. A wife, I definitely need a wife. “Excuse me, gentlemen, I need to take care of my team.”

  He brought his team over to the corral and noticed Judith Timmons sitting at a table. “Blackberries,” he murmured, chuckling, then brought the horses into the corral.

  Judith couldn’t ignore Rylan Gaines. He stood tall, and he smiled a warm, genuine smile. Perhaps she’d been wrong in thinking he was a criminal, she reflected as she watched him work. He walked his team of horses into the corral. The way he treated his animals spoke volumes of the man’s character. He placed some feed bags on their snouts and brushed them down.

  Judith scanned the fairgrounds. So many people she didn’t know. Yet they all knew her. At least, they all knew who she was. She hadn’t seen her father this proud in all his life, introducing her to everyone he met. Men were plentiful. They came over to her table in a steady stream. Everyone bought something, whether a piece of pie, a tart, or some jam, it didn’t matter. They were there not to purchase goods but to try and purchase her, she supposed. Three marriage proposals this morning alone. And ages varied from a young boy of sixteen to an old man of sixty. She certainly had plenty to pick from. But if she picked one, she wouldn’t be returning to Worcester, and Worcester was the only place she wanted to be. Not that she was looking for a husband.

  “Good morning.” Rylan’s distinguished voice drew her from her musings. “I see you’ve made good use of those berries.” His smile was disarming.

  A capricious smile rose up her cheeks. “Yes, Mother and I worked hard.”

  “It shows. How do you like Kansas?”

  “Not much.” She snapped her mouth shut and placed her hand over it. “I’m sorry,” she mumbled.

  Rylan’s rich laughter eased her troubled state. A woman of society would not have spoken her mind so. “It’s quite all right. Nothing wrong with being honest.”

  His eyelids closed over the most vibrant brown eyes she’d ever seen. Brown eyes never appealed to her. They seemed to just be dark orbs that blended into the background of one’s soul. Blue eyes, now those were eyes that attracted her. So why was she so taken in by Rylan Gaines’s brown eyes?

  He opened them slowly; his posture stiffened. “Truth comes in short supply these days. Good day, Miss Timmons, and keep being honest.”

  He left as silently as he’d appeared. Was the man half fox? Another gentleman appeared in front of her table. “May I help you?”

  “That ya can, lass. I’m looking for a wife….”

  Here we go again. Judith put on her pleasant “but I don’t want to be here” smile. When would these men get the message? “I’m sorry. I’m not available.”

  “Oh, I apologize, lass. I heard ya were single.”

  She had to admit she loved his Irish accent. “I am single, so you didn’t hear wrong. However, I’m not available.”

  He knitted his red eyebrows then released them. “Many pardons, lass. You’d best tell your husband-to-be to put a ring on your finger, and do it soon, or they’ll be no end to the proposals.”

  Judith chuckled.

  The poor man’s face reddened even more.

  “I’m sorry,” she replied.

  He scurried off before she could explain. Perhaps she shouldn’t clarify the issue. Perhaps it would be best to let the entire town think she was engaged to be married. Of course, Mother and Father won’t appreciate the deception. But what’s a poor girl to do in a county where men outnumber the women twenty to one?

  The day continued with plenty of sales and far fewer proposals. They had actually stopped. Word must have gotten around. Her mother was working the table, which gave Judith her first real opportunity to peruse the fairgrounds. A crowd gathered at the corral; cheers and whistles filled the air. Judith worked her way toward the front. Inside the corral she saw Rylan working his team. “Oh my,” she gasped.

  “They’re a pretty sight, aren’t they, miss?” a man next to her observed.

  Pretty wasn’t exactly the word she had in mind. Muscles bulged on the horses… and on Rylan. They worked in unison, pulling the heavy load.

  “What are they doing?” she asked the stranger.

  “The goal is to have your team pull in unison as heavy a load as possible and work them around those posts without losing your load.”

  “Oh my.”

  “Rylan did well last year, but I think he’s going to beat McCoy this year. He’s got a fine team. They were just too young last year.”

  Rylan’s broad shoulders were straining the seams of his perspiration-soaked shirt. Was it that hard to keep a team working? Shouldn’t the team work with ease? “Why is he working so hard?”

  “His team wants to move faster than Rylan is allowing them to, but he knows they can’t make the turn if they move faster. It’s the difference between man and beast. The animal has learned how to haul but doesn’t have the wisdom to analyze. On the other hand, in the wild these animals wouldn’t be hauling this amount of weight, either.”

  Judith clenched the rail as Rylan worked his team around the first post. The crowd roared with excitement. Her informative new companion whispered, “This is where he lost his load last year.”

  Lord, help him, she silently prayed. Why was she so concerned about Rylan Gaines? It didn’t make sense, but something deep inside of her wanted, no, needed him to succeed.

  The horses pulled together. The load wobbled but stayed on the flat. They strained forward and twisted around the second post. Sweat beaded down Rylan’s

  forehead. His grin was infectious. “Excellent job, Rylan!” she heard herself scream. He turned toward the crowd.

  The crowd turned their attention on Judith. She felt her cheeks flame.

  Rylan nodded.

  Judith escaped from the probing eyes of the crowd. She heard murmurings but didn’t care to listen. The safest place for her was back behind the table.

  As Judith approached their stand, her mother asked, “Did you have fun, dear?”

  “I found it quite interesting, Mother.”

  Her mother stood and straightened the skirt of her dress. “I’m glad. We’ve just about sold out. The raspberry tea is chilled, and your father insists we simply give it out as a gesture of friendship to our neighbors.”

  “Yes, Mother.”

  “They’re about to judge the jams. Do you want to watch?”

  “No, thank you.” Judith sat down behind the table.

  Her mother took two steps back toward her. “Is everything all right, dear?” she whispered.

  Judith startled back to her senses. “Just fine, Mother. I think I’ll have some of that tea myself.”

  “Great. Don’t forget there’s a sandwich in the basket also. Oh, and your father had me make one for Rylan if he should ever come around.”

  Judith swallowed and waved her mother off. The mere thought of meeting up with Rylan after such an outburst…

  Her cheeks heated up again. Lord, what’s happening to me? I’ve been here for all of four months, and I’m forgetting all the social graces I’ve learned. Why?

  She poured herself a tall glass of tea and grabbed the smaller sandwich in the basket. Why had her father asked her mother to make a sandwich for Rylan?

  “Congratulations, Miss Timmons.” Pete waved as he walked past.

  “Congratulations? What for?” she mumbled. Had they won the contest? Her spirit brightened. The sales and the prize money would make a good dent on the debt with Pete’s store. But Mother just left to go to the judging. Could it be over that quickly?

  “Congratulations, Rylan, excellent job.”

  “Thanks, Jim.” Rylan took McCoy’s hand and pumped it.

  Jim smiled. “I’ll have to see what I can do to beat you next year.”

  Rylan chuckled. “Good
idea. I worked hard on my team this past year.”

  “It shows. Excellent job, just excellent. By the way, when’d you have time to get yourself engaged to Judith Timmons?”

  “What?”

  “Everyone’s talking about it. I didn’t even know you were courting her. I thought you had a gal back east.”

  “I thought I did, too. I don’t know about being engaged to Miss Timmons, though. When did this happen?”

  Jim McCoy chuckled. “Well, if you’re not the reason she’s unavailable, who is?”

  “I wouldn’t have a clue. I’ve barely spoken with the gal. Who told you I was engaged?”

  “Everyone … and no one in particular. Seems Michael O’Hara asked her earlier, and she told him she was unavailable. Seems he wasn’t the only one asking, either. Anyway, when she burst out at the pull, I guess everyone assumed you were her beau.”

  “Hmm, don’t suppose it occurred to anyone that we’re just neighbors.”

  Jim chuckled. “What would be the fun in gossiping about that?”

  Rylan wagged his head. “None, I suppose. I’m hunting for a wife, but I want one who wants to live here, not back east.”

  “Oscar said she wasn’t too fond of the area.” Jim leaned against a rail.

  “He said the same to me. They gave up a lot to live out here.” Rylan continued to brush down his horses.

  “Can’t understand why society folks would come back to the land. Wouldn’t it be easier to hire folks to work your land instead?”

  “If Oscar could afford that, I’m sure he would.”

  “I heard he ran into some financial troubles back east. Guess we all came for various reasons. But free land is free land and worth the work.”

  “Amen,” Rylan added. He finished brushing down the horses after allowing them to walk off the heavy labor from moments before.

  “Well, I won’t be keeping you. Just wanted to congratulate you. And warn ya that I’ll be winning next year.” Jim smiled.

  “If you can.” Rylan winked.

  As Jim took off, Rylan turned to his team. “Engaged! Can you imagine?” he muttered.

  “I heard it, too,” Pete said with a wink as he walked over. “Congratulations.”

  “Don’t tell me the entire town …?” Rylan asked.

  “Just about. Probably the entire county will have heard by the end of the day.”

  “Wonderful,” Rylan moaned.

  Pete took a step closer. “You mean, it’s not true?”

  “Not in the slightest.”

  “Oh, but I thought…” Pete rubbed his chin with his right hand.

  “I have no idea why she cheered me on, but we are just neighbors.”

  “True, she doesn’t know many.”

  “No, I can’t imagine that she does. I’ve barely seen her all summer.”

  “That explains how she didn’t know you when you nearly toppled her over a few days ago.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  Pete reached over, placing his hand on Rylan’s shoulder. “I read the announcement in the paper. I’m sorry.”

  “Thanks, but what does that have to do with me practically running over Miss Timmons?”

  “Oh, well the day you read the announcement, she came into the store as you were departing.”

  “I wasn’t in a good mood.”

  “No, I suspect not. She asked who you were, seemed to recognize your name, but I gathered she hadn’t met you.”

  “No, I’ve been too busy working on the house in the evening after a full day of working the farm. I suppose I should have introduced myself to my neighbor sooner, but I was preoccupied.”

  “Doesn’t matter. I’ll start letting folks know it’s not true.” Pete took a step back.

  “Thanks, Pete.”

  “No trouble at all. I don’t mind being the man in the know.” He wiggled his eyebrows.

  Rylan chuckled. Then his mind sobered. Perhaps others would be congratulating Miss Timmons as well. He worked his way to her table. She’s a pretty thing, Lord, he realized as the distance between them disappeared.

  “Good afternoon, Miss Timmons,” he said with a smile.

  “Mr. Gaines, I—I…”

  “Shh. I thank you for your praise.”

  She teased golden hair back and forth. Her yellowish-brown eyes captivated him. “I’m so flustered. It’s not right for a lady to speak so openly.”

  “Is it wrong for a woman to speak such to her fiancé?” he teased. “What?”

  Chapter 4

  What on earth are you talking about?” She planted her hands on her hips.

  These backwoods yokels weren’t going to mess up her reputation.

  Rylan grinned. The dimple on his right cheek eased her tension. He reached for her hand. The warmth of his fingers made her breath catch in her throat. “Rumors have us engaged.”

  “How?…When?…Why?”

  “Apparently you told Michael O’Hara you were unavailable.”

  “Michael?”

  “Red-headed Irishman.”

  “Oh.” Lord, what have I done? she silently petitioned.

  “And when you spoke up after the pull…” His grin broadened.

  “Oh, no.”

  “Oh, yes. When shall we set the date for our marriage?”

  “You can’t be serious,” she hissed. Only a fool would propose something so preposterous on the basis of rumors and gossip.

  Rylan released a deep barrel laugh. “No, Miss Timmons, I’m not serious, but the reaction on your face was worth the trouble.”

  “Oh, you! What is it with folks around here? Don’t they have an ounce of proper manners and respect?”

  Rylan’s gaze narrowed. “Look, we may not be fancy here like Boston. And we don’t have the high society balls, but we are honest folk. Which is more than I can say about your high society. Here, if a man gives his word, it is his word. He doesn’t change his mind and back down.”

  “Huh?”

  “Sorry, that has nothing to do with you. Or perhaps in some small way it does. Oscar never said you were engaged.”

  “I never said I was. I simply said I was unavailable. And I am. I have no interest in courting anyone.” She held back her tongue, not wanting to anger the man any further. “What has you all fired up about high society?”

  “You wouldn’t understand.” Rylan’s shoulders slumped, and he looked down at his feet.

  “Try me.”

  “All right, Miss Timmons. Here’s the situation. If you pledged yourself to a man, and he went off to build your future together, would you wait for him?”

  “Of course. That is what making a pledge is all about.”

  “Well, some don’t.”

  Her curious nature piqued, she reached for the cask of black raspberry iced tea and poured him a glass. “Here, drink this. Tell me what happened.”

  “Maybe some other time.” Rylan gulped down the tea. “Excellent tea.”

  “Thank you. I have a good ear if you decide you need to talk with someone.”

  Rylan chuckled. “I lived in the East, Judith. I know how society women gossip.”

  “I don’t. All right, maybe I do sometimes. But who do I know here to gossip to? Besides, I never said a word to anyone that someone shared confidentially. I do have my morals.”

  Rylan leaned toward her, his gaze so beguiling she rapidly blinked, trying to break the connection she felt. “I do need a wife. Perhaps we should get engaged.”

  “Did you fall off your horse?” Judith stepped back. She needed air. For a fleeting moment she actually considered his absurd proposal.

  “No, I’m just being practical. I need a wife; you need a husband. I’ve got a good farm, a house; I can provide nicely. Why not?”

  “If you didn’t just fall off your horse, he must have stomped on your pretty little head.”

  “You think I’m pretty?” he asked with a wink.

  She was dying here. What kind of a man could be so forward and so intoxi
cating at the same time? “It’s just not done that way!”

  “In Boston, perhaps. But you’re in the wilds now, remember?”

  “Don’t even get me started on that. I’m not available for the same reasons I told the young Irishman earlier, because I’m moving back east. I don’t want to live here. I wouldn’t make anyone a good wife. Not here.”

  “Perhaps, Miss Timmons. On the other hand, a woman with as much spirit as you possess is born for life in the untamed country of this land. Think about it.”

  Rylan placed his hat on his head and worked his way back into the crowd.

  Judith collapsed in the chair behind her.

  “Judith.” Her mother came running. “I just heard the news. Honey, I’m so happy for you. I didn’t even know you and Mr. Gaines had met each other.”

  Judith groaned and buried her face in her hands.

  “Stupid, stupid, stupid, Gaines. Why’d you do something so foolish?” he chided himself and headed back to the corral. The safest place was home. He’d gather his

  horses and be gone. The sooner, the better.

  “Rylan!” Oscar called.

  Rylan took a deep breath and eased it out slowly. “I’m sorry.”

  “What are you sorry for?” Oscar’s face filled with complete puzzlement.

  Perhaps he didn’t know. “Rumors have your daughter and I engaged. There’s no truth to the rumor, but I found myself teasing your daughter, and I probably went too far.”

  “Oh. Well, she needs a good shaking. The girl’s got her mind so muddled with what she thinks life is all about, she’s forgotten what matters most.”

  “Money?”

  “That and social standing. It’s all rubbish, you know. Once you’re in trouble, your so-called friends leave you faster than a hot coal cools in water.”

  “It was pretty rough, huh?”

  “We had our moments. We sheltered Judith from the worst of it, and that quite possibly was a tragic mistake. She doesn’t understand the difference living out here makes on a person’s soul. You know?”

  “Yeah, I know. My fiancée married another. She won’t be coming. Guess I was feeling the sting when I teased your daughter.”