The Rancher’s Bride Blessing

by Maya Stirling

  Abigail's eyes brightened. "Is that a promise?"

  Noah tilted his head and grinned. "If you want it to be," he said quietly.

  The corner of Abigail's bow-shaped lips creased, a hint of the delight his remark had caused. The sounds of laughter came from inside the house.

  "I had a wonderful time, tonight," Noah murmured.

  She smiled at him. "I'm glad, Noah."

  He glanced toward the window of the sitting room. At the warm light flooding out from inside."You're very lucky to have such a wonderful family," he said. "But I'm sure you don't need me to tell you that."

  "I know God has blessed me," Abigail admitted. "All of us."

  Noah felt a momentary sadness clutch at him. The same troubling regret which seemed determined to follow him wherever he went. A longing which still wrenched at him. A feeling that tugged him away from every possible moment of happiness.

  "Perhaps He will bless your ranch," Abigail suggested. "I'll pray that He will."

  Emotion rose to the surface of his being, tightening his throat. "Thank you, Abigail," he managed to say. He turned away from her. "I best be going," he murmured.

  Turning back to her he saw Abigail's brows furrow with evident disappointment. "Do you have to?"

  Noah nodded. "It's getting dark. I'm still getting used to the ride back into town."

  Abigail nodded. "Thanks for coming, tonight."

  "It has been an honor, Abigail," he replied.

  'For what it's worth, Noah, I think my family like you."

  He lifted a brow. "Really?"

  Abigail smiled. "I knew they would."

  "Well, that's something to be pleased about," he admitted. "All I need to think about now is how I'm going to get those cattle to my ranch."

  Abigail squinted at him. "I'm sure Caleb can come up with something. It's only a few miles between your place and his."

  He nodded and stepped up onto the porch. Looking at her this close up he could sense her delight at being with him. Truth was, he felt much the same way about being with her. "I best say goodnight to everyone inside," he said.

  Abigail nodded. He saw her swallow. Hesitation flickered in her eyes. Was she nervous? Or was she merely feeling the same as he was? A surprising sense of gladness and pleasure at sharing this moment together.

  His pulse was pounding at a furious rate. She was close enough that, if he wanted to, he could reach out and take her hand. Draw her close to him. The sight of her pursed lips triggered an impulse he fought to control.

  A sudden noise from inside the house made him take a small step back. The distance between them dragged him back to reality. The door opened and Jake stepped out. Abigail turned quickly. Noah saw Jake's eyes narrow. Abigail's brother looked like he was trying to figure out what had been going on out on the porch, Noah told himself.

  "You leaving?" Jake asked Noah sharply.

  Noah nodded. "Just about to get on my way," Noah admitted.

  Jake looked relieved. Maybe the young rancher was only being protective toward his sister, Noah told himself. "Heard Caleb sold you some head of cattle."

  "He was kind enough to make me an offer. And I accepted it," Noah replied.

  Jake's brows furrowed. "What you going to do about ranch hands?" he asked abruptly.

  Abigail rounded on Jake. "He ain't even got the herd to his spread, yet, Jake," she said sharply. Noah held back a smile. Brother and sister sure liked to argue with one another, he told himself. Abigail looked indignant as she flashed her brother a look that would have probably felled a cow.

  Jake frowned. "I was just saying, sis," he said. "Can't have a herd without a crew," he complained.

  "I'll sort that out," Noah announced calmly.

  Jake's brows shot up in a line. "Yeah? How?"

  Noah shrugged. "The Lord will provide," he said calmly. He glanced at Abigail. "Isn't that right?"

  Abigail smiled at Noah, her eyes shining. "Yup."

  Noah moved past Abigail and Jake. He paused at the door. "I have to say goodbye to everyone. And thank your mother for a wonderful evening."

  And with that, he went inside the ranch house.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  Three days later, early in the morning, Abigail rode the trail to the main Buchanan spread, trying to contain her excitement. It was a bright, sunny day and she was about to spend the day helping to drive the one hundred head of cattle from Caleb's ranch all the way along the river trail until it reached Noah's spread.

  Abigail was dressed in a brown riding skirt, white blouse and wide-brimmed hat secured by a knotted cord underneath her chin. She wore dark brown boots, perfect for the kind of work she'd be doing throughout the day. It would take until at least late afternoon to get the cattle to the Double T. Assuming there were no mishaps along the way.

  Caleb had promised to provide a few men to help with the drive. They were experienced ranch hands, so Abigail knew they'd do their best to make sure the cattle drive went as smoothly as possible.

  Riding her pinto, Rebel, along the trail north of Inspiration, Abigail had time to reflect on the last three days. She hadn't seen Noah since his visit to her family's ranch. While in town the day before, she'd heard that three wagons had arrived from Helena bringing furniture to the Double T.

  Abigail had been tempted to ride on over to the ranch, just to satisfy her curiosity about what kind of furniture Noah had chosen for the ranch. But, she'd resisted the urge, figuring it was none of her business.

  As they'd done so many times during the last three days, her thoughts drifted to what had happened on the porch after Caleb had agreed to sell the cattle to Noah. She was pleased her scheme had worked out. That it had all gone according to plan. Happy to do whatever she could do to help Noah, she delighted in seeing his relief. At last, he'd have some cattle on his ranch.

  When she'd spoken to Caleb earlier in the day, before the gathering for dinner, she'd done her best to convince her uncle that it would be a good idea to help the newcomer in whatever way they could. Knowing Caleb as she did, Abigail hadn't been surprised when he had thought about it for a few long moments, and then come up with the idea of selling some head of cattle to Noah.

  So, when Noah had turned up at the ranch for the evening dinner, everything had already been put in place. All that had been needed was his agreement. And Abigail knew how persuasive Caleb could be when it came to ranching matters.

  But, there had been one thing she hadn't predicted. One aspect of the evening which had astonished her.

  The overwhelming effect of Noah's presence on her.

  From the moment she had stepped out onto the porch and seen him standing out there, in the yard, poised like a gentleman, his intense gaze settled upon her, Abigail had struggled to contain her emotions. Battled hard to maintain her composure.

  At first she had assumed it was because she was simply pleased he'd gotten the help he needed. But it had turned out to be much more than mere delight at her having played a small part in helping him to settle down in Inspiration.

  No. Much more than that.

  What had moved her so profoundly was the fact that every time Noah MacKendrick looked at her she felt her heart quicken, sensed her pulse racing furiously, found her mind empty of all thoughts except how wonderful he looked. How astonishingly handsome he was. The kindness in his eyes.

  And when he had stepped up onto the porch, and eased his way closer to her, she had experienced a raw sensation, an anticipation she'd never known possible. He'd come so close to her, she was sure he'd been about to reach out and touch her. If he had done that, she wasn't sure how she would have reacted.

  All through the evening, during the dinner, she had been wondering what it would be like to be close to him. And, when she had finally found out, she had been frozen. Transfixed. Mesmerized by his presence.

  Thankfully, Jake had appeared at just the right moment. But Abigail knew how close she had come to opening up her heart to the newest rancher in Inspiration.


  The ride across the rangeland passed quickly. Abigail arrived at the Buchanan ranch to find plenty of early morning activity around the place. She saw ranch hands busying themselves around the barn and the stable. Some were emerging from the bunkhouse. In the corral, a wrangler was occupied with an ornery pale brown Quarter horse Abigail recognized from her previous visits.

  Caleb came out of the ranch house to greet Abigail. She pulled Rebel to a halt in the yard. "Where's the herd?" Abigail asked.

  "Down near Zane's place by the river," Caleb replied. "You know where that is?"

  Abigail nodded. "Sure I do. I've been there plenty of times."

  "Noah's already down there," Caleb told her.

  "He is?"

  Caleb nodded. "He was here at the crack of dawn. Reckon he can't wait to get his hands on those cattle."

  Abigail tugged on her horse's reins. "I better get down there."

  Caleb patted the side of Rebel's neck. "You take care, now," he said to Abigail. "The plan is for you to take the herd along the trail following the course of the river. It'll be easier to keep a tight rein on any head that try and run off."

  "Sounds good to me," Abigail said. Rebel snickered and started to shift beneath her. The horse must be picking up Abigail's eagerness to be getting on the move, she told herself. "Can't thank you enough for doing this, Uncle Caleb," Abigail declared.

  "I wouldn't get too excited, Abi," Caleb suggested. "Mr MacKendrick has still got a whole lot of work to do to get that ranch of his up and running. I offered to give him temporary loan of some of my ranch hands, but he turned me down flat."

  Abigail frowned, wondering why Noah would have done that. Maybe she'd ask Noah when she saw him. She was seized by a sudden need to talk with Noah. To share with him this exciting day.

  Tugging on Rebel's reins, Abigail turned to head back down the trail. She waved goodbye to Caleb and then started on down the trail. There was a cut off which led across the rangeland to the south-west, and down toward the river. Abigail had spent plenty of time on Caleb's ranch since moving to the area. She knew it like the back of her hand.

  It felt good to be moving again. Her mind soon filled with thoughts about Noah and the upcoming cattle drive. She hoped it would pass without incident. That way she'd get plenty of opportunity to do what she really wanted. To speak with Noah. Find out what he'd been up to this last three days. Assuming he was willing to share, of course.

  Soon enough, she crested a ridge, drew to a halt and looked down upon a sweeping plain. In the distance she saw the river. Off to her left she could see a cabin, with smoke drifting up from the chimney. Zane and Johanna's place. Something stirred in Abigail's heart. Thinking about living like that, plain and Godly, as a married couple. As a family. Well, it made her throat tighten with emotion.

  From the opposite direction, Abigail heard the lowing of cattle. Gazing off to the west, she saw a gathered herd, smaller than the one she was used to seeing on the spread. The river ran behind the herd, a silver, glimmering line. A forested area covered the land on the other side of the river.

  The cattle were massed in an area near the river's edge. Noah's herd, she told herself. She could see some riders busying themselves with the herd. Realizing one of them would be Noah prompted her to dig her heels softly into Rebel's side.

  The horse lurched forward and then she was racing down the hill toward the herd. Impatience tugged at her, and she tried to figure out what she could say to Noah when she saw him. Immediately she dismissed the idea he would have any interest in her today. All he'd be thinking about would be his new livestock, and making sure they reached the Double T safely.

  Finally, she arrived at the horde of cattle. There were about a hundred of them gathered in a tight formation. The scent of the cattle was almost overpowering. Now she was so close to the animals, the lowing sound, deep and sonorous, cut deep into her. She squinted her eyes in the bright morning sun. Up close, the herd felt powerful. Dangerous.

  Half a dozen mounted ranch hands rode slowly around the edges of the herd. Abigail recognized some of the men. Most of them had been with Caleb for years. Seemed like Caleb had made sure only the most experienced men would be on hand to help. That kind of attention to detail didn't surprise Abigail.

  She heard the pounding of hooves and she turned to see Noah riding straight toward her. Abigail gasped when she saw the outfit he was wearing. He was dressed in plaid shirt, jeans and a Stetson. He didn't look like an Eastern gentleman anymore. The man riding toward her was all Montana cowboy. Seeing him transformed like that must have changed the expression on her face, because when he drew his mount to a halt by her side he smiled at her.

  "You look surprised," he exclaimed.

  She shook her head. "Nice outfit," she blurted out.

  Noah leaned back in his saddle, offering Abigail a good look at his outfit. "Told you I'd get a hang of this ranching business, didn't I?"

  Abigail glanced at the herd. "Just because you're wearing the right clothes doesn't make you a real rancher. Wait until you get all these to the Double T. Then you can show me what you know."

  One of the ranch hands, a tall and lean gray-haired man Abigail knew as Ray, rode up to her and Noah. "We ready, Abigail?" Ray's eyes narrowed inquiringly at Noah. "Mr MacKendrick?"

  Abigail glanced at Noah. This was his big day. It was only fitting he should be the one to give the word for the herd to get on the move. She saw Noah's eyes brighten with anticipation. "Let's go," he ordered in an even, steady voice.

  Ray turned his mount quickly, faced the herd, lifted his arm straight up in the air and let out a powerful, loud yell. The other ranch hands regarded Ray with a mixture of respect and obedience and then set about their work. There was furious activity as the ranch hands started hollering and maneuvering themselves amongst the herd, jostling and cajoling the cattle. All of the men seemed to know exactly what to do in order to goad the herd into slow, steady movement. Cries of resistance from the cattle rose into the crystal clear air. But slowly, as if it was some kind of monstrous beast with a mind of its own, the herd started to move in a westward direction.

  Abigail glanced at Noah and saw a look of astonishment on his face. He was enjoying every moment of this. She rode up to him. "What do you think?"

  Noah smiled and shook his head. "I can't find the words, Abigail." He leaned on the pommel of his saddle and tipped his hat up from his forehead. "I've never seen anything quite like this."

  Abigail followed his gaze. She had to agree. The sight of the slowly moving herd was impressive. But the way the ranch hands were keeping the mass of cattle under control was magnificent to watch. She could see the years of experience in the way the men worked, their every move carefully judged to perfection.

  "We'd better get after them," Abigail told Noah. They started to follow the herd, riding side by side. Judging by the pace with which the herd was moving, she figured today was going to be a long day. That was fine by her. She glanced at Noah, savoring the sight of him riding alongside her. Being away from him for three days had made her curious about what he'd been doing. She longed to know what he'd been up to.

  As if reading her mind, he smiled at her. "I've been busy."

  "You have?" she replied, trying to seem only casually interested.

  "I've moved out of the hotel. Now I've got a bed I can sleep in, I figured it was time to settle into the ranch house."

  "Don't you have anyone to help you? Must be lonely being there all on your own," Abigail observed. "I thought you said the ranch was a mess. Needed cleaning up."