The Rancher’s Bride Surprise

by Maya Stirling

  After this victory, Lily had been overcome with excitement when she'd seen a particularly sweet-looking doll on the shelf of the store. The neat, white gown and perfectly carved features of the doll had captured Rachel's heart, too. The doll's bright eyes were shrouded beneath huge lashes. It had proven impossible for Rachel to resist buying the doll for Lily.

  Although money was really in short supply, and had been since Philadelphia, Rachel was now receiving a basic payment from the town for her duties as a teacher. She'd received the first payment the day before. Rachel figured she and Lily had been through enough that she could justify loosening the purse strings. Reward for all their hard work seemed like a good idea on this bright, sunny afternoon.

  Heading along Main Street, with Lily ambling happily alongside her, it was easy for Rachel to think that all was right with the world. She'd found a town with possibilities for a new start. A happy place. A peaceful place.

  Already, she was beginning to feel as if she was a part of the community. The children at the school had already taken to her in a way which warmed her heart. And, since arriving, she hadn't seen much evidence that the town could harbor trouble of any sort. At least, not the serious kind of trouble she'd been accustomed to back East.

  Sure, there was the saloon, and she'd seen some suspicious-looking characters wandering up the street during one of her early evening walks along Main Street. Sophie's husband, Sheriff Nathan had warned her about being out late at night. But, it had been a friendly warning, not one which had given her any real cause to worry. Not that she had any intention of being out that late in Inspiration.

  Rachel headed for the town hotel. She'd promised Lily they could enjoy some tea and cake. Sophie had told Rachel the hotel restaurant served good cake. And it was a good place to meet townsfolk. Rachel figured a small treat wouldn't spoil Lily's appetite. Dinner at the Cameron house was still a long way off. Sophie had promised tasty chicken and vegetables, finished off with a surprise pudding. Nathan usually turned up at home around seven in the evening.

  As she sat down at the table, Rachel gazed across at Lily. She had settled herself comfortably at the table. Rachel was pleased to see her sitting up straight and her hands clasped, resting on the white tablecloth. Lily's manners were impeccable, Rachel told herself. The little girl already understood how important it was to make a good impression wherever she went. Lily would grow up to be popular, Rachel reflected as she picked up the afternoon menu and started to read it.

  "Would you like some lemonade?" Rachel asked Lily.

  The girl's eyes brightened. "Can I?"

  Rachel nodded. "And these cakes sound delicious," she added. She peered over the top of the menu and lifted her brows. "What do you say to cream cakes?"

  Lily squealed quietly. "Yes, please." Rachel held back a smile and glanced around the room. There were four women sitting at another table. At the sound of Lily's excited ejaculation, three of the women smiled. The brows of the other woman furrowed. Rachel sighed. You couldn't please everyone, she told herself.

  Cakes and lemonade were ordered. While they waited, Rachel gazed out through the wide, glass window at Main Street. She was starting to recognize some of the people in town. Over the last few days, while Rachel had been strolling along the boardwalk on her own, a few of the townsfolk had introduced themselves as the parents of Rachel's pupils. She'd been happy to share her thoughts with them about their children. And her plans for the schoolhouse. Because Rachel had ambitions for the Inspiration schoolhouse. She wanted to try and make it the best schoolhouse she possibly could. She knew it would take time. And that was another reason why she was glad that Micah was doing something to make the schoolhouse a decent and solid place for her to deliver lessons.

  Rachel reflected on her conversation with the elusive rancher. Because that was the only word she could think to describe how he'd been with her this morning. Elusive. He'd seemed to be holding something back. Sure, he'd been friendly enough. And, she'd been glad to see him. He was pleasing on the eye. That was for sure. More than that, really.

  But she'd felt a change in him, compared to the day before. It was almost as if, having had time to think about having met her, Micah had taken a step back from her. Was he just trying to be polite? Keeping his distance to avoid complications? Or was it that he'd had time to think about Rachel's situation? With Lily. And the instant family that any marriage with Rachel would bring. Had he concluded that it would be better to just be friendly, and nothing else? Was that why he'd seemed reluctant?

  Cakes and lemonade were laid on the table. As she and Lily started to eat and drink, Rachel heard the door of the restaurant open. She turned and saw a man enter. Aged, she judged, perhaps in his forties, he was well-dressed in a light gray suit and waistcoat, with a neat-fitting, small hat set on his head at a jaunty angle. He was elegant and would have looked more at home in Philadelphia, she told herself. Even features couldn't make up for the slightly feral look in his narrow eyes. His dark gaze immediately settled on her. His interest was instantly obvious. Instinctively, she felt herself stiffen as he started to make his way across to her and Lily.

  Rachel glanced at the other table and saw that the women were watching with fixed gazes. One woman held her cup suspended in front of her open mouth. Rachel wondered why the man had prompted such a reaction. The man halted at her table. Rachel gazed up at him. His presence signaled prosperity. The cut of his clothes was the finest she'd seen since arriving in Inspiration. And he held himself with a casual confidence.

  "Forgive my intrusion, ma'am," he said in a voice which was velvet-smooth. "But, I do believe you are the town's new teacher. Miss Rachel Ellsworth. Am I right in assuming that to be the case?"

  Rachel felt her face flush warm. She dragged in a breath and looked up at the man. "I am Miss Ellsworth, sir," she replied.

  The man lifted his hat and smiled at Rachel. "I'm delighted to make your acquaintance, ma'am. Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Brett Calhoun."

  For a moment, Rachel wasn't quite sure how to respond to such a forward introduction. Where she was from, such an introduction would have been deemed presumptuous. Maybe rules were different out here, she told herself.

  Before she had a chance to reply, she heard the sharp, scraping sound of a chair being moved across the wooden floor. She turned and saw one of the four women had stood and was hurriedly preparing to leave. Glances were thrown in Rachel's direction, and they weren't exactly approving ones, she told herself. The woman lifted her chin haughtily as she strode toward the door. As she tugged the door open she gave Mr Calhoun a look which Rachel found mildly astonishing. The woman's eyes burned with indignation and barely disguised hostility.

  Glancing up at Brett Calhoun, Rachel saw that he was paying no attention to the departure of the woman. His gaze was steady and fixed upon her. Realizing he was awaiting her reply to his introduction, Rachel smiled. "Pleased to make your acquaintance, Mr Calhoun."

  "I wanted to take this opportunity to welcome you to our wonderful little town," Calhoun said. "I've been hearing excellent things about the teaching you've been giving the town's children."

  "You have?" she replied. She wasn't quite sure she liked the suggestion that people had been talking about her.

  Calhoun nodded. "I think it's wonderful that we have a new teacher in town." He lifted his chin and peered down at her. "Education is so important. If this town is to have any kind of future, I always say that our young folks need the best education possible." When he laughed quietly, there was a forced quality to it. But she figured maybe he was nervous about introducing himself to a stranger. "Luckily the folks who run this town share my opinion."

  "And what is your position in Inspiration?" she asked. "If I may ask." She wondered if he was some kind of senior figure in the town's governing body.

  Calhoun hesitated slightly before answering. "I have many interests in the town, ma'am. You could say I'm an investor of sorts."

  That would explain w
hy he looked so prosperous, Rachel told herself. Mr Calhoun had the look of someone who was used to having money. But the way he'd described himself was open to all manner of interpretations.

  "I like to think I've had a hand in making Inspiration the town it has become," he added with a slightly smug tone of voice. Calhoun's gaze shifted toward Lily. "What a delightful child."

  Rachel saw Lily frown. In recent months, Lily hadn't taken too kindly to being referred to as a child. "This is my niece, Lily," Rachel explained.

  "Your niece?" Calhoun responded. There had been a momentary hint of surprise in his eyes. Had he expected Lily to be her daughter? If so, where could he have gotten such an impression?

  Calhoun bowed ceremoniously. "Pleased to meet you, Lily." He glanced at the parcels resting on the floor next to the table. "I see you've been buying things with your aunt. What have you been treating yourself to?"

  Lily peered up at Calhoun. She didn't immediately reply. Her lips were set into a thin, tight line. Prompting Lily, Rachel leaned forward. "Lily?"

  Lily looked across at Rachel. "What?" she asked.

  "Mr Calhoun might like to see your doll," Rachel suggested. "Do you want to take it out of the bag?"

  Lily shook her head emphatically. Rachel glanced up at Calhoun. "She's shy."

  As Rachel said those words she glanced at Lily and saw the little girl's mouth twist into a defiant pout. When Calhoun laughed, Rachel thought it sounded strained. Even uncomfortable. "Must be so much to get used to," he stated. "New town. New people. New life."

  Rachel nodded. "We're settling in fine."

  Calhoun smiled. "That is good to hear," he said. Rachel saw Calhoun glance across at the other table. The remaining women had faced away from Rachel. The corner of Calhoun's mouth creased with a sardonic smile. "I heard there was some work being done at the schoolhouse. Fixing things up."

  Rachel nodded. "Micah, one of the ranchers from the Buchanan spread has kindly offered to help."

  "Has he now?" Calhoun said. Rachel saw Calhoun's eyes narrow with sudden interest. If she wasn't mistaken, she thought he looked unusually affected by what she'd said. He quickly regained his composure. "That's mighty kind of him."

  A few moments of silence descended upon her table and Rachel saw Calhoun shift on his heels. Finally, he tipped his hat. "I'll leave you to enjoy those wonderful looking cakes," he murmured. He smiled. "Delighted to meet you both," he said. "Perhaps we shall run into each other again."

  Rachel toyed with that idea, even as she saw the obvious displeasure it had caused Lily. Making the acquaintance of one of the town's prosperous men might not be a bad thing, she told herself. "Perhaps we may," Rachel replied. "It's a small town."

  "Indeed it is, ma'am," he replied. He lifted his hat and then made his way out, closing the door softly behind him.

  Rachel attended to her tea and cakes. She smiled across at Lily. "That was nice and friendly, wasn't it?" she asked her niece.

  Lily shrugged and picked up the cake from her plate. The little girl said nothing in reply to Rachel's question. Instead, she focused her entire attention on the cream cake.

  For a while, Rachel did the same, while reflecting on the surprisingly friendly visitor. He certainly seemed dignified, well-spoken, even cultured. He'd been courteous and civil to her. And it was clear he was a man of means.

  Thoughts of matrimony flickered into her mind. She pushed them firmly away. She knew that marriage was an imperative for her and for Lily's future. Rachel was beginning to feel the pressure of making the right decision when it came to marriage. Because, she knew that she couldn't leave Inspiration. Not now that she'd arrived and found it so much to her liking. This was where she and Lily belonged.

  There was one question though. Who would be a perfect choice to be a husband to herself, and a father to Lily?

  Someone like Micah Buchanan. Or someone like Brett Calhoun.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  Micah knew he was in trouble when he felt the ladder beneath his feet start to shake. He quickly wrapped his fingers around the gutter of the schoolhouse roof and held on tight. The early morning sunshine was bright in his eyes as he squinted downwards, twisting his neck. He heard some mischievous squealing from down there and saw two figures gripping the bottom of the ladder.

  "Whoa, there!" he called out. "What's going on?" His voice echoed out across the tops of the nearby trees.

  Two faces, boys of six or seven years, whose eyes were bright with excitement, looked up at Micah. They laughed loudly and tugged a few times again on the ladder. Any other day, Micah would have found it funny. But, it was a long way down to the ground. Fifty feet. If he took a tumble, he was sure he wouldn't escape injury. That thought didn't seem to have occurred to the two boys.

  Micah gripped the metal gutter, feeling the sharp edge pressing hard against his skin. The boys shook the ladder again, and Micah held on tight. He rolled his eyes, thinking he'd have to just see it through until the boys had had their fun. This wasn't the first time they'd tried to make fun of him. Yesterday they'd been throwing apples at him. It hadn't been much fun being used as target practice, but he'd managed to get down from the roof to chase them away.

  He wasn't used to this. Up at the ranch, he only had to deal with grown men used to the hardship of outdoor work. There was no time for shenanigans up there. Work had to be done and men took it seriously. As far as Micah was concerned, these townsfolk sure hadn't taught their boys the meaning of good manners, nor how to treat their elders and betters.

  He felt the ladder quiver beneath his weight. Micah peered down at the two boys. "Reckon you've had your fun now, boys. Why don't you get along now. Ain't you got lessons or something?"

  One of the boys giggled. "We're on break. We can do what we like."

  "Not with me, you can't," Micah roared. "Do that one more time, and I'll come down and settle this once and for all." Micah made sure his voice contained just the right amount of censure, without being too aggressive. No need to scare the boys. Maybe they just hadn't learned what it meant to respect grown-ups.

  Micah's gaze met the eyes of one of the boys. He'd been the one tossing the apples yesterday. There was a determined look in the boy's eyes. He looked like he didn't take too kindly to being told what to do. Micah was sure the boy was about to do something. But, before he had a chance, Micah heard a familiar, sweet voice coming from the direction of the front of the schoolhouse.

  "Boys. It's time for lessons to begin again," he heard Rachel announce.

  The boys froze, and their hands shot away quickly from the bottom of the ladder.

  "What have you been doing?" Micah heard Rachel demand. He watched as she strode over toward the boys. Her gaze flickered up to Micah. "Have they been bothering you, Micah?" she asked.

  He shrugged. "Not one bit, Rachel," he said, even though he knew it wasn't true. No sense in looking like he couldn't handle two ornery children.

  He saw her brows furrow. She didn't believe him, but she didn't say anything in front of the boys. Not right away.

  Rachel jammed her hands against her sides and glared at the two boys. "What have I told you two about causing mischief?" She glanced at the ladder and her mouth opened wide with shock as she realized what had been going on. "Don't tell me you've been pulling on this ladder."

  The two boys stared back at Rachel. Their mouths were closed tight. Micah started to make his way down the ladder. By the time he reached the bottom, he saw Rachel wagging a finger at the two boys.

  "That was dangerous," she said. "You know that don't you?"

  Heads lowered, both boys nodded sheepishly. Rachel peered at Micah as he stood by the bottom of the ladder, gripping the side of it. "Are you okay?"

  He shrugged, still determined not to make too much of it. He figured getting caught by their teacher was enough to give the boys a clear message. "They were just having some fun," he stated casually.

  Rachel wasn't convinced. She shook her head. "Throwing apples at Mr Buchanan
is one thing," she said to the boys. "But, this is completely unacceptable."