The Rancher’s Bride Surprise

by Maya Stirling

  She shrugged. "That everyone would make me feel right at home," she said. She smiled at him, her eyes brightening, wonderfully full of life. Instantly, he felt his anxiety lessen. "And she was right. They seem like wonderful people. You're really lucky."

  "I know," he agreed, nodding and gazing out at his parents, who were laughing with Lily. "None of this could have been achieved without their sacrifices."

  Rachel sighed. "They must have worked so hard." She ran her gaze around the entire front of the ranch house and out beyond. "They've achieved a miracle here."

  "Sometimes I have to pinch myself," he admitted. She narrowed her eyes at him, suddenly curious. "We're incredibly lucky to have this. All of this land and the stock and the men who work so hard to make it happen." For a moment, he considered giving her a hint about the precarious nature of the situation with the ranch. The dangers they were facing. But, he knew this wasn't the place to do that. If she reacted badly, he worried how it would affect Lily. His parents.

  He stood and gazed down at her. "I'd like to show you around the ranch." He thought he saw a momentary hesitation in her eyes. "If you want."

  She glanced across toward Lily, obviously trying to calm her anxiety about leaving the little girl for even a moment.

  "She's going to be fine," Micah offered.

  Rachel nodded and stood. Facing him like this, so close, her pretty features facing him, he suddenly wanted to stay close to her. Having her look at him like this made him feel like the day could only be perfect. But he knew so many things could go wrong. Especially if he didn't choose his words carefully.

  He led her away from the ranch house and up a gentle incline toward a ridge near the back of the building. She walked alongside him, her footsteps even and steady. He resisted the urge to look at her, knowing that if he did so, she might see the growing apprehension in his eyes. Up ahead, on the ridge, there was a solitary tree. Hanging from the tree was a swing. The wide wooden seat hung from two thick strands of rope which were tied to a heavy branch about twenty feet above.

  When they reached the tree, Micah took hold of one of the ropes. He smiled at Rachel. "This has been here for years. I used to play on this when I was young."

  Rachel glanced uncertainly at it and then up at the branch. "Is it safe?"

  "Sure," he said and sank down onto the seat. It was just about wide enough for two. But, any hope that she would sit down next to him was dashed by the skeptical look on her face. When she turned away from him and gazed back down the hill toward the ranch house, he felt his heart ache. She looked beautiful, framed against the backdrop of the ranch house, and the land beyond. In the bright sunshine the color of her gown shone, and her blonde hair glistened.

  He felt an impulse to touch her hair, feel the softness of it against his fingertips. He told himself that if he was to stand alongside her, looking our across the land where he'd been raised, he would have gently swept an arm around her waist. The prospect of drawing her close to him made some of his nervousness soften. But he knew he could not do such a thing. He knew it was impossible. Frustration welled up inside him.

  Still looking away from him, she spoke. Her voice was soft, but her words were measured. "Micah. I know why you brought me here, today," she said quietly. "I know it's about marriage." She turned to face him. "Isn't it?" Her gaze was steady, challenging him to reveal the truth. If only she knew how much more truth there was, he told himself. More than she could ever imagine.

  He leaned his head against the thick rope of the swing. "It's why Sophie asked you to come out here. I know that."

  She didn't move. Didn't come to him. Instead, she continued to face him, remaining resolutely standing where she was a few feet away from him. "It's why I brought Lily here, too. To find something for both her. Someone who could give her a life worth living."

  "I understand, Rachel," he replied. "I know how important that is."

  "Do you?" she responded. "Do you really?"

  He frowned, realizing she was challenging him. Just like she'd done down at the schoolhouse. Did she imagine he hadn't been thinking about her and Lily all these days? Didn't she realize how much he'd been reflecting on what he could do for them? Whether he could be part of their lives?

  "Lily needs a stable family so she can grow up and be the best she can be," Micah said.

  Her brows rose slightly, as if she was surprised at his choice of words. "She sure does," Rachel agreed. "Problem is, I don't know where that can be. It has to be somewhere around Inspiration. Now that we're here, there isn't anywhere else for us."

  Micah thought about Calhoun. Had Rachel thought that Calhoun's wealth and privilege could have provided for her and Lily? He couldn't blame her thinking that. She'd had no idea who Calhoun was. Nor how he fitted into everything she could see around her now. The idea that Calhoun could have made Rachel his wife and then, having prevented the final wedding for the Buchanan brothers, taken possession of most of the Circle Cross, made Micah's fingers tighten around the rope of the swing. Luckily, that had been avoided.

  "How about here?" Micah asked. The words seemed to hang in the air for a long while. Rachel tilted her head and gazed at Micah. Her amazing, indescribably beautiful eyes flickered with sudden emotion. He'd taken her by surprise. He could see that. She was weighing up his words. Three words which had issued a challenge of his own. He wondered how she would react.

  Rachel drew in a deep breath and wrapped her arms around herself. "The ranch?" she asked.

  Micah slid off the swing and took a step toward her. He nodded. "The Circle Cross can be a home for you and for Lily." He saw her gaze soften. Her moist lips opened, not to say anything, but to express her shock at his bold suggestion. Color flushed her cheeks. He wanted to reach across and trace his thumb along the length of her bottom lip. Feel the softness as a prelude to doing what he was burning to do. Kiss her. But now wasn't the moment.

  Then her brows furrowed, and she turned her head away from him. He felt something heavy sink in his middle. "I don't know, Micah," he heard her say. There was definite emotion in her voice now. Suddenly, he didn't know what to do next. What words he could say to take that emotion away. She turned her head to face him again. "That's such a big step to take. For you and for me. Don't you think?"

  He was taken aback by her sudden question. "I think you know how I've come to feel about you, Rachel," he murmured. "All that time down at the schoolhouse. My thoughts have been about you the whole time."

  Her eyes widened. "They have?"

  Micah nodded. "Haven't you noticed?"

  "I wasn't sure," she replied with a shake of her head. "I've been so busy with the children. And with Lily. I've hardly had time to think about anything else."

  He laughed quietly. "Obviously my courting hasn't made much of an impression."

  He thought it was funny. Assumed she would laugh. But, when he looked closely at her, he saw that she had taken what he'd just said completely to heart. She hadn't seen the funny side of it. "Courting?" she whispered.

  He reached across and laid a hand gently on her arm. She glanced down at his hand, but did nothing to suggest he should remove it. Her gaze lifted and he saw a steady acceptance in her eyes. He savored the softness of the fabric against his fingers. The feel of her arm in his hand. His heartbeat quickened and he felt his throat tighten. "In my own awkward way, that's what I've been trying to do," he explained with a gentle nod of his head.

  She sighed softly and smiled. "Awkward, might be the word," she agreed.

  He shrugged. "My brothers are always teasing me about my courting skills. Or lack of them," he said.

  "You've been talking about me with your brothers?" she asked. Her brows furrowed slightly.

  "They knew about you from Sophie and Nathan. Everyone in town knows there's a new teacher here," he said, hoping that his explanation would dig him out of the hole he'd dug for himself.

  Seemingly satisfied, she nodded. "Of course. I'm the newcomer in town." She sighed heavily an
d shook her head. "That's how Calhoun managed to do what he did."

  Micah moved closer. "That's all behind us. It's in the past. You weren't to know what Calhoun was really like."

  Her expression darkened. "I almost made a complete fool of myself. You know that, don't you."

  "I don't care about that," he stated firmly. He leaned closer. "All I need is for you to understand that this place could be a home for you and Lily. I mean what I say, Rachel." He lowered his voice, putting as much conviction into it as possible. "You can trust me on that."

  Rachel's eyes widened as he said those words. He saw her cheeks flush, emotion sweeping across her features. He felt her stiffen and she took one step away from him. Her arm slid from his gentle grasp. It was only one step, but he felt the effect of the sudden distance between them. He hadn't convinced her. Not yet, at least. But, he would. Resolve had strengthened in him. Now that he'd opened himself up to her. Now that he'd confessed to her.

  For a brief moment, he thought she was about to say something. Perhaps even give him her consent. Her agreement. Hope rose in his heart.

  But, suddenly, he heard a voice calling out from down near the ranch house. It was Lily's voice. Micah stared down the hill. He saw Lily standing by the side of the ranch house. She was waving frantically toward him and Rachel. He felt a momentary panic. Something bad had happened.

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  "Rachel. Come quickly!" the little girl cried out. "Quickly." Lily's voice echoed up the hill. Her voice was strident and carried easily all the way up the hill.

  Rachel gasped. She flashed a panicked look at Micah. Thoughts of disaster raced into her mind. Maybe something had happened at the corral. She told herself she shouldn't have come up here with Micah.

  Grasping hold of her gown, and holding the loose fabric of her skirt in her hands, she started down the hill, careful where she placed her feet, anxious not to go tumbling in a heap. Micah followed rapidly alongside her. Stepping quickly and gingerly down the pathway, Rachel glanced once across at Micah. His features were lined with concern.

  When they reached the house, she saw Lily standing alongside Micah's parents. Lily was smiling broadly. And so were his parents. Rachel felt instant relief sweep through her. Whatever it was which had prompted Lily to call on her, it couldn't possibly be serious. Not when they were all smiling at her like that.

  She ran to Lily and stooped, taking gentle hold of Lily's shoulders. "What is it, Lily?"

  Lily's eyes were wide with excitement. "Did you hear?"

  Rachel frowned. "Hear what?"

  "There's a new baby horse in the stable," Lily exclaimed. "He's just been born." She glanced up at Caleb and Eugenie. "And Micah's pa said I can go and see the pony. Isn't that right?"

  Caleb grinned. "That's right. Reese said the foal was born this morning. And it's real cute." Caleb smiled at Rachel and Micah. "We can take a look, if you like."

  Rachel glanced at Lily and saw the sheer excitement written on her face. Lily looked as if she couldn't wait to see the newborn. "I suppose if Reese says it's okay, then we can." She saw Micah nodding, but his eyes still contained a hint of the seriousness she'd seen up at the tree. He looked like he was still thinking about what they'd said to each other up there. She pushed those thoughts out of her mind for the moment.

  Micah looked over toward the stable. "Are you sure Reese said it's okay?" he asked his father.

  For a brief moment, Rachel saw Caleb's gaze narrow at his son. The father didn't take to having his authority questioned, she told herself. Micah's gaze was steady as his eyes met this of his father.

  "Reese told me it's alright to let Lily take a look. Just for a minute or two," Caleb confirmed. "Let's go."

  Rachel wrapped her arm across Lily's shoulder and followed Caleb toward the stable over by the corral. Micah walked alongside his mother. Rachel saw Eugenie look questioningly at Micah, as if she was wondering what had been said up at the swing.

  Micah's features were unreadable. He'd opened himself up to her. Had revealed the full extent of his intentions. Really, she wasn't surprised. She'd seen the way he'd been reacting to her during his time at the schoolhouse. And she'd heard what Sophie had said about Micah. All those hints and suggestions had been building up for days. And Calhoun's rash actions just seemed to have persuaded Micah to show his hand.

  They all reached the stable. Caleb stretched out an arm and they all halted. "Wait a minute while I check that everything is good," he instructed. Rachel remained standing at the stable door. Lily leaned in closer and Rachel could almost feel the little girl shaking with excitement. This all must seem so different to Lily, she told herself. Like another world.

  Caleb entered the stable and walked down the passage between the stalls. At the far end he opened one of the stall doors and stepped inside. Rachel heard low voices and then Caleb emerged with Reese and Honora by his side. Reese curled an arm around Honora's waist and stood by the open stall. Rachel thought the couple looked so happy together. She knew that Reese and Honora had only been married a few weeks. But, the way they both looked at each other, she thought they could have been married for so much longer.

  Micah moved closer to Rachel. She glanced up at him and he smiled at her. "You ready?" Micah asked Lily.

  Lily grinned at Micah. "You bet."

  Rachel saw Micah peer at his father. A nod of Caleb's head brought them all forward into the stable. Micah was right alongside her and Lily. Obviously he had decided he wanted to share this moment with them. Before today, that might have surprised her. But not today. Not after what he'd said to her.

  Rachel heard the whinnying of a horse in the stall at the far end. Lily gasped with excitement and Rachel laid a hand on top of Lily's head as they halted next to the open stall. She felt Lily's soft blonde hair against the skin of her palm. Eugenie appeared next to Micah.

  Honora bent down and smiled at Lily. "You ready to see the new foal?" she asked, her eyes kindly and wide open.

  Speechless now, Lily could only nod. Another soft whinnying from inside the stall made Lily jump.

  "It's okay, Lily," Rachel reassured her. Then she took Lily's hand and led her through the open stall door. The stall was large and covered with straw. In the corner a beautiful brown horse sat on the thick layer of straw. Right alongside her was the cutest-looking animal Rachel had ever seen. A small foal squatted on the straw, leaning right up against the mother who peered suspiciously at the new visitors.

  Rachel heard Lily gasp and then squeal with uncontrollable excitement. Rachel felt Lily's fingers tighten their grip. Lily peered up at Rachel. There were tears in the little girl's eyes. Tears of joy.

  "Isn't that beautiful, Lily?" Rachel said softly.

  Lily nodded. "Can I touch it?" Lily asked.

  Rachel glanced at Reese and saw him slowly shake his head. "Not right now, Lily," Rachel replied. "Maybe later." Lily's shoulders slumped. "For now, we can just look." She glanced at Reese. "Is it a he or a she?"

  "She," Reese confirmed.

  "We can give her a name, if you like," Micah said. "What do you want to call her?"

  Lily's eyes widened when she heard him say that. She thought for a long moment, her brows furrowing and her mouth twisted into a thoughtful pout. Then she glanced up at Rachel. "Can I call her Lily?" she asked.

  Rachel saw everyone in the stall smile at that suggestion. "I suppose we can," she replied. "As long as you don't mind sharing a name."

  Lily shook her head defiantly. "I think my name is the best name in the world. And my pony will like it."

  "Your pony?" Rachel exclaimed, smiling at every one of the Buchanans in the stall. She saw heads nod and felt her heart swell with good feeling. These really were the kindest people she'd ever met.