Taming the Rancher: Mail Order Bride (Brides and Twins Book 2)

by Natalie Dean

  She pushed herself to her feet and went to the door, grabbing the small metal stick that she could bang on the triangle. The sound rang through the farm, and soon enough she saw Jack making his way towards the house from the stables. Sweat dripped from his brow as he made it to the porch and he reached up, wiping it away. His hair hung in his stormy eyes and his shirt clung to him.

  Bridget’s cheeks went pink, and she cleared her throat, looking away and rubbing the back of her neck, trying to get herself together. He was an amazingly good-looking man. That couldn’t be denied. She hated that his good looks and steely gaze caught her off guard as much as they did.

  “Dinner ready?” he grunted, heading into the house. He took off the stiff cowboy hat he always wore and set it aside, running his fingers through his thick mop of hair.

  “That’s why I called you.” She murmured, crossing her arms over her chest and trying to ignore the way he made her heart flutter.

  He grunted but wandered inside and poured himself a bowl of the stew. Everyone settled in around the small dinner table and started to eat. When Jack took his first bite, his nose wrinkled and he pushed the bowl away.

  “What is that supposed to be?”

  “It’s beef stew,” Bridget murmured.

  “It tastes like what I feed to the horses!”

  Bridget had been trying to keep herself together, she really had, but this broke the camel’s back. She stood up and the chair she’d been sitting in, toppled over. “I’m sorry! I’m trying my best! If you don’t like my cooking, perhaps you should find your other wife and have her cook for you! Or did your brutish demeanor run her off?!”

  Jack fell silent and just stared at her, gripping his spoon so tight his hands were shaking. “My other wife?” he whispered.

  “Yes! Roan told me she went away! It was probably because you chased her off! I can’t imagine a woman who would want to be around you! I know I certainly don’t!”

  Without warning, Jack picked up the bowl of stew and threw it across the room. It hit the wall right next to Bridget’s head, and she screamed, ducking as it cracked against the wall and shattered into pieces. Bridget stood there for a moment, shocked and shaking as she tried to calm herself down. Even with her smart mouth and attitude, no man had ever reacted violently to her words. Then again, she’d never said something so cruel.

  “You need to learn to think before you speak,” he whispered, his voice low and quivering. “And not to talk about things you don’t understand.”

  Roan sat in silence, her eyes wide. “I’m sorry, daddy. I—.”

  “This isn’t your fault, Roan,” he said, walking over to her and ruffling her hair.

  Bridget stood silently, her hands clasped in front of her as Jack picked Roan up and put her on his hip. “We’ll go into town and get something to eat.” His voice was soft now, though Bridget had to guess that the reason for that was because he was speaking to Roan.

  “Alright, Daddy,” she whispered, keeping her eyes on the ground.

  Once they left, Bridget stared at the bowl, trying to ignore the angry tears that burned behind her eyes. She kicked the broken bowl across the floor and went to the bedroom, locking the door and collapsing on the bed. This wasn’t the life she’d wanted, and it wasn’t the life she’d expected.

  All she could think about was how she was going to get out of here.

  Chapter Seven

  The next morning, Bridget woke as the sun rose and cast light into the bedroom. Warmth kissed her skin, waking her up slowly. She sighed and sat up, realizing that she’d fallen asleep wearing her dress. She smoothed the fabric and stood, going to the wardrobe and changing into one of the other dresses she’d brought with her from London. She’d been so excited to wear them when she thought she was going to New York to live among the wealthy. Now they just made her feel silly. They were far nicer than what the other women wore, and it made her stand out.

  She walked into the main living area and glanced up into the loft, making sure that Roan was still sleeping soundly. As she turned the corner to finally pick up the mess she’d left the night before, she was surprised to see Jack kneeling and sweeping up the last of the shattered bowl with a hand broom.

  “Jack?”

  He turned to look at her over his shoulder. His eyes were red and tired. Guilt settled in her belly, and she cleared her throat. “I feel like I should--.”

  “Apologize?”

  “Yes.”

  He put his hand on his knee and stood up, grunting softly before turning to look at her. “You’re right. You should, but I think I ought to first.”

  Her brows furrowed as he motioned for them to go outside. She followed him, taking in the beauty of the rising sun. It was one of the few good things about being in this no man’s land. There was no smog or buildings to block her view of the golden sunrise. Pink and yellow streaks dotted the landscape as the sun pulled itself over the tops of the distant mountains.

  Jack sat on the steps that led up to the house and Bridget did the same. “I’m sorry, Bridget. I know I haven’t been the easiest to deal with, but I hope you understand that it is not you. It’s the circumstances.”

  “What do you mean?” Bridget asked, brows furrowed.

  Jack took a deep breathe in and out. “My wife didn’t run away. She died of consumption.”

  Bridget’s hand went to her full lips, and her eyes widened. “Jack…I didn’t--.”

  “I know you didn’t know.”

  “Why did Roan say she went away?”

  “Because I couldn’t tell her the truth, Bridget. She’s just a little girl,” he sighed, rubbing his face. “She doesn’t understand death, and I didn’t want to scare her or make her even sadder. One day I’ll be able to tell her the truth, but not today. I want her to be able to be happy and live a good life. There are so many children here who don’t have parents. This land is so unforgiving,” he sighed, looking out onto the horizon. “I didn’t want her to end up alone. I really was afraid that something might happen to me. I was sure that…”

  Bridget sighed and reached down, touching his shoulder gently. “You don’t have to say anything else.”

  “I want to. I’ve been holding it in,” Jack said, licking his lips. He had a slight tremble in his voice. He cleared his throat and dropped his head. “I was afraid that something would happen to me. I was afraid I’d get sick, and then Roan would have no one. I loved my wife. I loved her more than anything. I wasn’t looking for a physical relationship when I sent for you. I wasn’t even looking for love,” he sighed and rubbed his face a little. “I was looking for someone to care for my daughter if anything ever happened to me.”

  Bridget was quiet, and that was a feat. She wasn’t a quiet woman, and she never had been, but this time she felt it was necessary. Jack had a lot on his chest, and he needed to get it off. She didn’t mind being the shoulder he leaned on. Finally, she smiled and touched his arm.

  “You’re a good father, and I’m sure you were a good husband as well.”

  He nodded and sighed, taking his hat off and setting it to the side. His thick hair tumbled out and hung around his chin. Bridget couldn’t stop herself from pushing it out of his face. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said the things I did.”

  “It’s all right.” He said, licking his lips. “You didn’t know.”

  “That isn’t really any excuse. I shouldn’t have said it. It was rude, and I was lashing out.”

  They were silent for a moment, and Jack ran a hand through his hair. “Listen, I want to make this work. I want Roan to be happy, and I want her to have a real family. Life here isn’t easy, and I know that when she’s older, she’ll have a hard life. A lot of kids around here already do. I know kids who are barely ten, and they’re already working on farms for food. I don’t want that life for her.”

  “She’s going to be happy, Jack. She has a good dad and I know I haven’t had the best attitude, but I’m willing to change. This is my life, now.”
/>   “Are you okay with it?”

  She smiled sadly and shrugged. “I’m a bit homesick, but there’s nothing for me in London. I left it behind because I needed a new start and this is definitely new.” She smiled and leaned into him. “You’re a good-looking man, Jack and you’re kind. I know I’ve been a handful, but I’m done with that now.”

  He chuckled but wrapped an arm around her, giving her a squeeze and holding her close. “I’ll miss your wild attitude,” he said. “Maybe you could be just a little bit of a handful?’

  She laughed and leaned into him, enjoying the warmth that radiated off his strong body. “I’ll try. Just for you.”

  Chapter Eight

  Things were far more settled after that. Bridget decided to make the best of her situation, and Jack was forgiving of the fact that she really didn’t know what she was doing. She was trying, and that was really all that mattered to him.

  It was a bright, sunny day and they were walking through the market. It only came around on Saturday and people from all over the territories would set up shop and sell their goods. Mari had told Bridget about it, but she’d yet to go. Whenever she brought it up to Jack, he would get nervous and avoid the subject. She didn’t understand why but didn’t push her luck for a long time. After all, they’d just recently gotten back on each other’s good sides, and she didn’t want to mess that up.

  Her patience finally paid off, and Jack caved. That was how she found herself wandering up and down the aisles of carts that were parked on the main street. Roan was on her hip, giggling and chewing on a piece of candy that Bridget had bought her.

  “Are you enjoying your snack, Angel?” she asked, brushing Roan’s dark hair from her face.

  Roan nodded and bounced happily. “Yes! It’s yummy!”

  Bridget chuckled and just kept moving forward, humming to herself and looking at the goods the merchants were selling. Jack had wandered off at some point, but she wasn’t sure where to. She stopped at a stall selling golden watches and smiled, picking one up and turning it over in her hands. There were engravings of powerful horses on etched into the metal, and it reminded her of Jack. He loved his horses, and he always looked so happy when he was caring for them.

  “Sir?” she called, waving a delicate hand.

  An elderly man came over and offered her a warm smile. “How can I help you, miss?”

  “I’d like to buy this watch.”

  “Oh! That’s a nice one! Your husband will love it, I’m sure.”

  It was the first time that someone had called Jack her husband and it caught her off guard. She blinked a little and took a step back, suddenly being reminded that she was a married woman now. It had almost escaped her completely.

  “Ah…Right.”

  The merchant glanced at her curiously, but wrapped it up in paper and handed it to her. She paid and thanked him, tucking it away as she walked over to the fruit stands. They grew plenty of vegetables in their garden, but fruit was harder to come by, and Bridget had a wicked sweet tooth.

  “Is that watch for daddy?” Roan asked as Bridget set her on the ground.

  “It is, but don’t tell him. It’s a surprise.”

  A smile spread across Roan’s chubby cheeks, and her eyes lit up. “I’ll keep it a secret!”

  Bridget chuckled and gave her a pat on the head. “Good girl.”

  She turned to the stand and started to pick out firm, ripe fruits, and as she did, the wind picked up. Sand blew around her ankles, swirling and blowing the fabric stall covers. Roan cried out as the wind picked her hat up and blew it away. The pink ribbon danced in the wind and Roan’s chubby fingers reached for it but came up short so she ran after it instead.

  The wind carried the hat to the posts where the horses were tied up, and it fell just under the horse’s powerful hooves. Roan ran after it and ducked under the horses, reaching for her hat. Bridget’s eyes widened, and she ran after the little girl, watching in horror as the horses started to snort and shake their heads and stomp their hooves. Roan was oblivious to the danger, focused on the hat. She wanted to call out to the little girl, but she was afraid she might scare the horses even more.

  Bridget’s heart was pounding in her chest when she finally reached Roan, her eyes wide. She reached out and grabbed the little girl around the waist, yanking her out from under the horses just as a hoof came down right where little Roan’s head had been and another crushed the hat.

  “ROAN!”

  “Mama! My hat!”

  She cradled Roan to her chest, her hand on the back of Roan’s head as she squeezed the little girl a bit too tight. “What in the world do you think you were doing!”

  “I just wanted my hat,” her voice was soft as if she knew she’d done something wrong.

  “Don’t you ever do that again!” Her voice was high and her accent thick in her fear. “Don’t you realize you could have gotten hurt? Even killed?”

  “I’m sorry, mommy,” she murmured, wrapping her arms around Bridget.

  She just held Roan close, trying to calm herself down. Over the last few months, she’d come to love the little girl dearly, and the thought of her getting hurt ate at Bridget’s soul. She was finally starting to calm down when a strong hand wrapped around her wrist and yanked her away from the horses, forcing her to turn around.

  Soon she was facing a red-faced man with thick hands and a round belly. He was the same man who she’d been purchasing fruits from just a moment ago.

  “Let me go! How dare you grab a lady!” She wanted to smack him, but he had one arm in a tight grip, and the other was holding Roan, and there was no way she was going to let the little girl go.

  The man snarled and yanked her closer, his eyes wild with rage. “You’re no lady! You’re a thief! I don’t even know why I’m surprised! All you foreigners are here to take advantage of the hard work we do!”

  Bridget was shocked at the anger and hatred that dripped from his words like poison. She tried to pull away from him, but his grip on her arm was too tight. “I didn’t steal anything!”

  He reached out with his other meaty hand and grabbed the bag she was holding, yanking it out of her hands, shaking it in her face. “You ran off with this!”

  “My daughter was going to get hurt! I was going to pay for it!”

  “Sounds like a scheme to me!” he spat. “All you mail order brides are always scheming!”

  People had started to gather around now and were whispering, watching the scene unfold. Bridget felt helpless at that moment. Roan was starting to cry, and her own wrist was beginning to ache. She wanted this man to let her go, but she wasn’t sure what she should do. Jack was nowhere to be found, so Bridget was on her own.

  Finally, she kicked her leg back and swung it forward, hitting the man right in the shin with the tip of her boot. He howled and stumbled back, but didn’t let go. He was panting hard, his eyes wide when he looked up at her. He dropped the bag of fruit and raised his free hand, and Bridget closed her eyes, hiding Roan against her and waiting for the hand to come down on her cheek, but it never did.

  The hand released her, and the man howled all at once, and Bridget stumbled back a few steps but managed to stay upright. When she finally opened her eyes again, she saw Jack with the man’s arm, twisting it until the man was on his knees. Jack was calm, his eyes as cold as ice as he stared down at the hulking man.

  “Now, Willam, you know you don’t lay your hands on women. What makes you think you can get away with touching my wife?”

  The man hissed when Jack twisted his arm even further. “She was stealing, Jack!”

  Jack glanced over his shoulder, his face calm, and his eyes intense. “Where you trying to steal, darling?”

  “No! Roan ran off, and I was going after her!”

  Jack turned back to Willam. “Sounds like she gave you a perfectly good explanation.”

  “She’s lying!”

  Willam suddenly cried out as his arm was bent a little too far back and his shoulder
popped out. Jack didn’t flinch. “It sounds to me like you have a problem with the fact that she’s not from around here. It seems like you were just waiting for her to do something and I don’t appreciate that. She’s a good woman. How much do we owe you for the fruit?”

  “Nothing!” he yelped. “You don’t owe me nothing!”

  “That’s not how this works. Tell me what we owe.”

  “A dollar! A dollar fifty!”

  Jack released William and dipped his hand into his pocket, tossing some coins onto the ground. “If you ever lay a hand on my family again, I’ll cut it off, do you understand?”

  “Yes.” Willam panted, cradling his arm.

  Jack nodded and walked over to Roan and Bridget, putting his arm around them and leading them back to the small cart they’d come on. Jack had already loaded up some supplies and Bridget climbed in the back with Roan, holding her close and stroking her hair. There were still tears in the little girl’s eyes. She was upset about her hat and all the commotion, and Bridget couldn’t blame her.

  After all, she was upset too.

  Chapter Nine

  They rode home in silence and when they finally got there, Roan scrambled up into her loft, and Jack offered his hand to Bridget. “Come with me.”

  Bridget followed him out of the house, and together they walked through the garden before sitting at the edge of a little brook that ran through their property. Bridget didn’t have much to say, which was a strange thing, but she couldn’t help it. Luckily, Jack was there to break the silence.

  “Are you alright?”

  “I’m fine. A little shaken up.”

  “Good.”

  Another short silence and Bridget drew in a long sigh. “Do people in town not like me because I’m British?”

  “There are a lot of people in this town that don’t like anyone if they’re different. They target them and try and chase them out.”