"Micah! Rachel! I didn't know you were paying a visit," Abigail exclaimed making her way into the room.
"We wanted to surprise you all," Rachel announced. "Didn't we?" she added glancing at Micah.
Micah nodded. "It was Rachel's idea." He lifted a brow. "Although I figure she's curious about the newcomer in Inspiration." Micah glanced at Rachel. "In fact, she couldn't wait to come over here today."
Rachel furrowed her brows. "The whole town is talking about the newcomer."
Abigail went straight to Rachel and, bent low, leaned in close and teased Luke beneath his chin. The youngster smiled broadly and squealed enthusiastically. Abigail couldn't hold back a loud giggle of her own.
"Where's Lily?" Abigail asked. Eight year old Lily was Micah and Rachel's adopted daughter.
"Visiting a friend." Rachel smiled at Abigail. "Are the rumors true?" she asked.
Abigail stood up straight and glanced nervously across at her mother. She knew her mother disapproved of gossip.
Over at the window, Grace looked expectantly at Abigail. Grace looked like she was desperate to know what the new owner of the nearby ranch was like.
Stiffening her resolve, Abigail clasped her hands at her middle and straightened her shoulders. "Well, he's younger than folks have been saying. And he's quite serious. Looks well-to-do. As if he's used to the good life."
Micah's brows furrowed. "If he's what they say he is, what is he doing buying a ranch and starting out a new life here? It doesn't make sense."
Abigail's mother tutted quietly. "We shouldn't judge folks we barely know. He might have perfectly good reasons for wanting to settle out here."
"And leave behind a life of privilege?" Grace asked incredulously.
"Who knows what his reasons are?" Matilda wondered. "He's our neighbor, so we should make every effort to be friendly to him. He's going to need all the help he can get if he's going to get that ranch up and running."
Micah scoffed. "Help is hard to find at the moment," he stated. "Unless he knows what he's doing, he could find it difficult to make it a going concern."
Abigail nodded. "He seems determined to make it work."
"What did he think about you trespassing?" Micah asked.
"Who says I was?" Abigail replied defensively.
Grace advanced toward Abigail and placed a hand on her elbow. "She was just curious."
"You planned on meeting him?" Rachel asked, sounding slightly scandalized by the idea Abigail had deliberately gone there with the purpose of introducing herself to the new ranch owner.
Abigail tilted her head. "Let's say I was told he was already in town, and was making his way up to the ranch."
Matilda sighed heavily. She ran a hand across her silver hair, apparently shocked at the revelation that her daughter had given in to the temptations of gossip. "That Society you belong to is going to get you into a heap of trouble, Abigail Buchanan," she declared, giving her daughter a stern look. "Mark my words."
Abigail laughed quietly and smiled at her mother. "Mama. My friends at the Society like to know what's going on in town. Lucy rode out this morning and let me know Mr MacKendrick had gotten off the train and was arranging to take a carriage and horses."
"Mr MacKendrick has bitten off more than he can chew, if you ask me," Micah stated.
"Hush, Micah," Rachel admonished, continuing to bob Luke up and down. "If Mr MacKendrick wants to set up as a rancher here, who are we to say whether he has a right to do so. After all, your pa and ma came here with nothing. And look what they've built up."
Micah shook his head. "It took them years to get what they have. It might take Mr MacKendrick a while to understand that."
"Unless he's very rich," Grace suggested. "Then he can pretty well do what he wants. He'll be able to afford to buy whatever he wants. Cattle and men."
"Grace!" Matilda exclaimed. "Your cousins and their parents got where they are by sheer, honest hard work. And not through buying their way to success."
"There's nothing wrong with being ambitious, mama," Abigail chimed in. "Mr MacKendrick looks like he might be able to set himself up quick, if you ask me. I got the impression he's the determined kind. Used to getting what he wants." Abigail paused a moment, considering whether she should say what had popped into her mind. Whether it was advisable to admit another part of her assessment of their new neighbor. Something which had possessed her thoughts all during the ride back to the Buchanan spread.
Throwing caution to the wind, Abigail decided to take the risk. "And he's extremely handsome," she added tentatively.
A very long, and very awkward silence hung heavily in the air. Abigail suddenly became aware of the beating of her heart. Perhaps her choice of words hadn't been exactly wise, she told herself.
Abigail glanced at Grace and saw her sister's eyes widen. Abigail looked down at Rachel and saw she was suddenly even more interested than before in giving Luke her full attention. Then, Abigail peered at her mother and knew for sure that the moment for her to leave the room had come. Matilda's mouth was twisted disapprovingly. She was peering straight at Abigail. Words were about to be said, Abigail realized.
"Handsome?" Micah joked, breaking the chill in the air. He laughed quietly, good-natured as always. "That'll please Sophie. Maybe she can find a bride for the handsome Mr MacKendrick." He smiled at Rachel obviously seeking agreement.
For some reason she couldn't quite understand, Abigail felt a heavy sensation in her middle upon hearing Micah's words.
If Micah thought he was being clever saying that, one stern look from Rachel made him realize he was mistaken.
"I'm sure Sophie will do whatever she thinks best," Rachel said sharply.
Sophie Cameron was the town matchmaker, and had helped bring Rachel and Micah together. As well as the other Buchanan brothers. Why would Rachel think Micah's words had been insensitive?
Micah looked like he knew he'd put his foot in his mouth. He glanced hesitantly at everyone in the room. "That's assuming Mr MacKendrick wants to get married." Micah glanced at Abigail. "He hasn't brought a wife, has he?"
Abigail felt her face flush with heat. "No. He was alone. And he didn't mention whether he was bringing one. I don't believe he's married."
Something about that last part of what she'd said made Abigail feel strangely reassured. She puzzled over that for a moment, wondering why a complete stranger like Noah MacKendrick could have affected her like that.
Matilda grunted quietly. "I'd hope not. He has a whole lot of work to do before that place will be fit for a wife."
"That isn't going to stop tongues wagging," Grace suggested. "Once news gets out that Mr MacKendrick is an eligible catch, there won't be any shortage of ladies wanting to make his acquaintance."
Matilda gave Grace a sharp look. "I think we've speculated about Mr MacKendrick quite enough for one day."
That statement instantly cooled the atmosphere in the room. Then Luke giggled and all attention was instantly upon him. Enough had been said about the new owner of the Double T ranch.
***
After the departure of his surprise visitor, Miss Abigail Buchanan, it took Noah an hour to satisfy himself he'd made the right decision in buying the ranch. First, he'd inspected the main ranch house and found it acceptable. Plain. Unadorned. Basic. Unfurnished. A place to start again. A home, different in every respect from what he'd been used to all his life. An empty shell he could make his own.
The ground floor of the two-level dwelling consisted of a sitting room, dining room, kitchen, and one room which would serve as an office. Some basic furnishings had been left behind. Worn seating and a sofa in the sitting room. The kitchen had some utensils piled up on shelves. A pair of chairs sat incongruously in the middle of the empty room. Noah saw the outline of where a desk had once stood on the wooden floor.
A thin layer of dust covered everything in the house. He would have to employ someone to keep the place spick and span, he told himself. Just because he'd chosen to sp
end the rest of his days out here, in Montana, didn't mean he would give up lifelong habits of cleanliness.
Up the narrow flight of steps, he found a corridor with two small bedrooms on either side. Glancing into each, he saw beds had been removed and closets emptied. Entering one of the front-facing rooms, he gazed out across the yard. The empty corral was the only thing which stood between the ranch house and the flat plain which spread out toward the south.
Noah leaned his palms against the window, feeling the coolness of the glass against his skin and thought about the ranch he now owned. This place was too big for just one man. It felt like a castle, and he was the only inhabitant. A solitary prince. For now, at least, he told himself. He didn't want to think about the future. Not right now. There was too much of the past to forget. Too much to turn his back on.
Moving back downstairs, he went out to the dusty yard. He inspected the other buildings. The barn was solid. The stable had been cleaned out, the stalls emptied. The bunkhouse was big enough for a crew of men sufficient to run the ranch. All of that would come in time, he told himself. Everything was in good condition, just like he'd been informed on purchase. The previous owners had been forced to sell. Some personal crisis about which Noah had wanted to know nothing.
Making his way out to the front yard, he leaned on the corral fence. The reality of what he'd done was sinking in. He was now the proud owner of a Montana ranch. Something that, only a year ago, would have seemed unthinkable. He thought about what his friends would think. If they could have seen him here today, they would no doubt have mocked him.
But he knew this was the right thing to do. He knew this was the place where he belonged.
And then there was the very pleasant surprise which had greeted him on arrival. Miss Abigail Buchanan. He'd been taken aback by her appearance. But, it had proven to be pleasing.
Miss Buchanan was certainly attractive. Of that, there was no doubt. Even dressed in her plain white blouse, and her brown riding skirt and scuffed boots, she had triggered a visceral reaction in him. The last thing he'd expected on a day such as this.
Abigail was possessed of what could only be described as a rare beauty. Porcelain skin and high cheekbones framed by blonde hair tied neatly back. He guessed that blonde hair would tumble around her shoulders once it was let loose. She had an exquisitely narrow nose and a bow-shaped mouth with full lips. Expressive brows arched pleasantly above her translucent green eyes that had shimmered with curiosity throughout their encounter. Her petite frame had a poise about it which was continually and mildly defiant. And when she had thrust her fists against her hips, she had looked wonderfully strong-willed, he told himself.
Feeling it was necessary to appear unmoved by her, Noah had struggled hard to maintain an aloof, disinterested demeanor. Not wishing to betray her effect upon him had proven to be a challenge. In retrospect, he wasn't sure he'd succeeded.
If their brief exchange was anything to go by, Miss Buchanan was more than capable of standing up for herself. He liked that, and figured it might have to do with the kind of life she was used to living out here in Montana. Far from the stifling restrictions of conventional society. The very thing Noah had come here to escape. He supposed folks would express their opinions openly and directly out here. Not like at home where you never really knew what anyone truly thought of you.
Noah drew in a deep breath. The freshness of the rangeland filled his senses. He'd only just arrived, but he could already feel the freedom. Could already believe it might be possible to get what he'd come out here to find.
A new life. A fresh start. A liberation from the past.
Time would tell. He knew he had plenty to do. Today was the first day of a new life. One that God had bestowed upon him. One to which God had guided him. He was sure of that. As sure of it as of anything in his life. He felt it strongly and had answered the call, drawing him out to the last place he'd ever thought he'd come. But, right now, he was filled with hope. And that was a good thing. He'd come here to do God's will. To conform himself to whatever plan God had in mind for him.
He lifted his face up to the azure blue sky. He closed his eyes, breathed in deeply and prayed. Grant me the wisdom and strength, Lord. You brought me here so I could heal myself of the sin which has plagued my life. So I could make something good, here in this bright new land. I ask you to bless my endeavors. I promise to strive to my utmost to do my best with the grace you have generously bestowed upon me.
He opened his eyes and squinted in the bright sun. Then he gazed out across the grassland. As was always the case when he prayed, peace filled him. He rapped his knuckles on the corral's wooden fencing.
Noah straightened. He'd arrived, at last. Now, it was time to build his new life.
CHAPTER THREE
Micah, Rachel and Luke left later that afternoon. Out in the ranch house yard, Abigail and Grace stood alongside their mother and waved goodbye to the carriage as it headed out through the tall ranch gate. Since the discussion about Noah MacKendrick had ended earlier, most of the talk had been about what was happening over at the other Buchanan ranch. And how Micah and Rachel were busy making their cabin on their own plot of the Buchanan spread a home from home for little Luke. Abigail had listened with rapt attention to the description of family life on their cousins' ranch. She never tired of hearing about her cousins' lives. All four of the Buchanan brothers were now living in cozy cabins on their own part of the large family spread. And, judging by everything Abigail heard, it sounded like each of them was living a life graced by God's favor.
As the carriage made its way out, a solitary rider headed up the trail toward it and paused briefly alongside the carriage which had slowed to a temporary halt.
"Looks like your brother came home early," Matilda observed.
"Jake didn't say he was quitting early today," Grace stated. "I wonder why he's here."
Abigail frowned. "Must have heard we had visitors,"
After a few long moments, during which Jake could be heard laughing more than once, and seeing him stretching down from his horse to play for a few moments with Luke, the carriage resumed its journey.
"We're going to find out," Abigail said, watching as her brother rode into the yard, dismounted, and tied his horse up to the hitching rail.
Jake Buchanan, the eldest of the three siblings, strode purposefully toward his two sisters and his mother. Abigail felt a familiar surge of pride as she watched Jake's tall figure brush off the dust of a day's work from his jeans and plaid shirt. He lifted his Stetson from his head and slapped it hard against his leg, sending a puff of dust floating by his side. He looked like he'd been working hard with the herd. But that was the Buchanan way, she told herself. Work hard and provide. Their spread wasn't as big as that of their aunt and uncle to the north of Inspiration, but it was more than enough to keep the three siblings and their mother well-provided for.
Jake was so much like their dear departed pa, Abigail told herself. Jake had their pa's same even, friendly features. The same bold expression in his eyes, a look that said there wasn't anything in the world which could hold him back. Wasn't any sacrifice he wouldn't make for his sisters and his mother.
Her father had taken on the world with just the same attitude. Now he wasn't with them any more, Abigail missed him every day of her life. But, her faith in God had pulled her through the dark times. And it had helped her siblings and her mother, too. That devout confidence had given them all hope to carry on. To rebuild their lives here in Inspiration.
Jake grinned, his blue eyes bright with good humor. "Didn't expect to see Micah and Rachel today. And that little one seems to have grown something since the last time I saw him." Jake laughed. "Sure is a cute little fella. Of course, he gets the good looks from his mama," Jake added and laughed. "Just told them so."
The Rancher’s Bride Blessing Page 2
