The Rancher’s Bride Surprise

by Maya Stirling

  "I do it all the time," he replied casually. "It's part of the job."

  "What happens if it fights back harder than that one did?" she asked.

  He shook his head. "They don't," he said sharply.

  She frowned, apparently unconvinced. Had she been concerned for his safety? He suspected she might have been. If that was the case, then maybe all of this attitude she'd been taking toward him had all been an act. A game to test him.

  They hung around the herd for a while longer. She had plenty of questions, and he managed to give her answers to all of them. She told him she'd use this in one of her lessons at school. That explained her curiosity, he told himself. But it didn't explain her obvious concern as he'd put himself in what she thought was a dangerous situation.

  "I'd like to show you something else," he announced a short while later. The sun was still bright in the blue, Montana sky. She squinted at him. Her cheeks were flushed slightly with sun's rays. He liked how her skin glowed with health.

  "Okay," she said.

  As they rode off together toward the western part of the spread, Micah reached down and touched the long, wooden stick which was nestled in his saddlebag. What he was about to do would test everything he and Rachel had gained over the last few days. It would let him know if he and Rachel could possibly have a future together. Because what he was about to do was nothing more or less than tell her the whole truth.

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  Micah leaped down off his horse and thrust his hand into the saddlebag. As she drew her own horse to a halt, Rachel peered at him. From inside the saddlebag, Micah tugged out a long piece of wood, about three feet long, which had been sharpened at one end. He gazed up at her and smiled. Then he turned and strode to a flat area. He halted and turned to Rachel. It was plain he was waiting for her to dismount. As she did so, she thought about the ride to this part of the ranch.

  During the entire journey from the herd, Micah had seemed distracted. Unusually quiet. They'd ridden across the rangeland, down valleys, alongside creeks, crested ridges, until eventually they'd reached what looked like the far western border of the spread. It was a lush valley, with groves of trees and a narrow river running toward the south. Micah had guided Rachel down a trail until they'd reached a flat area near the river. Over to one side, Rachel saw the border fence of this part of the ranch. Wire-linked fence posts stretched in a long line into the distance.

  Rachel walked toward Micah. "What's going on?" she asked.

  Micah sighed heavily and ran his gaze around the open area. "You know what this place is?"

  She shook her head. "The western border of the ranch?"

  "More than that," Micah replied, shaking his head. "This is where I'm going to be building a cabin. Where I'm going to live. And, hopefully, live here with the woman who agrees to become my wife."

  Rachel felt her face flush as she listened to him saying that last sentence. Did he mean her? She gazed around the undoubtedly beautiful place where she and Micah where standing. "Where is the cabin going to be built?" she asked.

  He grinned at her and lifted the thick, wooden post. His knuckles were white, which told her just how firmly he was holding onto the wooden post. Then he did something which shocked her, making her lift her hand to her mouth with the suddenness of the gesture. He raised his arm and, with an abrupt downward thrust, Micah buried the sharpened end of the wooden post into the soft earth. "Here!" he called out, his voice cracking with emotion.

  He lifted his head, stood up straight and gazed at her. She was sure he could see just how surprised she was at the firmness of his gesture. At the emphatic way he'd thrust the post into the ground. It was as if he was claiming a territory as his own. Was she part of that? The determination in his gaze told her that maybe he thought so.

  Rachel took a step toward Micah. "You're going to live here? And not at the big house?"

  Micah shook his head. "That's not part of the agreement."

  She frowned. "What agreement?"

  Micah ran a hand through his dark hair and sighed heavily. He gazed off into the distance and seemed thoughtful for a few long moments. When he turned and faced her again, she could see a troubling look in his eyes. "I haven't told you everything, Rachel. Because, I wasn't sure whether I would have to. Whether you and I could have a future together."

  He gazed deeply into her eyes and she felt the intensity of that gaze. Butterflies tumbled in her middle. Her heart skipped a few beats. "What do you mean, Micah?" she asked.

  She saw him swallow. He was clearly trying to compose himself. She worried there was bad news coming. Something she'd been trying to pretend didn't exist. An unfortunate truth which would spoil everything they'd gained these past few days. Because, she and Micah had become close. She couldn't deny it any longer. His eyes narrowed with sudden resolve. "There's a reason why I've been courting you."

  "Is that what you call it?" she joked. She saw her attempt to deflect his intensity had failed. He didn't even smile.

  His gaze remained steady. "I had to do it."

  She narrowed her eyes. "Had to? What does that mean? Didn't you want to?" She felt something heavy sink in her middle. But she ignored the sensation.

  He sighed heavily and advanced toward her. He didn't reach out to touch her, even though he was so close, he could have done just that. "Let me explain. Before everything falls apart."

  Rachel lifted a hand and placed it across her middle. "You're worrying me, Micah," she pleaded.

  "I don't mean to, Rachel," he replied, his gaze softening. "But I have to tell you this. And then, if you want, you can decided what you want to do." He sighed. "But, I have to tell you."

  Her breath hitched in her chest. It felt suddenly warm out here. The cool breeze made no difference to the heat she felt.

  Micah peered steadily at her. "You know my brothers all got married this year. Doesn't that seem strange to you?"

  "I suppose it does. But, I figured it had something to do with Sophie Cameron being a matchmaker," she said.

  He nodded. "There is that. But, Sophie was just what we needed. And at the right time. She brought Johanna and Rosalind to Inspiration. Zane and Gideon were sure grateful. Reese and Honora have known each other since they were young. That came in handy, too."

  She frowned at him. "How can you say it like that? You're talking about Reese and Honora. Two people who love each other. And Zane and Gideon clearly adore their wives. You make it sound so clinical. As if they had to get married. Like they had no choice."

  Micah nodded slowly and fixed her with a steady gaze. "They did have to get married. Or else my family were going to lose most of this ranch."

  Rachel felt as if someone had thrust a heavy hand against her chest. All the air in her lungs eased out of her. She stood for a moment, gazing at Micah, scarcely able to understand what he'd just told her. "Lose the ranch? How can that be?"

  Micah's brows furrowed. "There's been a change to the way land is being held in these parts. A ranch like this is made up of lots of different pieces of land. Like a checkerboard. When he came here, my pa bought a whole bunch of them, thinking that would be the end of it. He built the ranch up, using the land he believed he'd always own." Micah cleared his throat. "But the government has changed the rules."

  "How?" she asked.

  "If each piece of the spread isn't occupied, then it can be sold off to the highest bidder." His eyes widened. "It's that simple."

  "What do you mean by occupied?" She could already begin to guess what he was about to tell her. It explained so much that had happened since she'd arrived in Inspiration.

  "There are five portions of land. The middle one is where the big house is. Each of the other four pieces has to be occupied by a family. Or at least a married couple."

  His words rang in her ears for a few long moments. Her heart began to pound furiously as she considered what he'd just said. Married. That was why he'd been courting her. To save the family ranch. He needed a wife to stop someone
getting their hands on their land. And she could guess who that someone might be.

  "Is that why all your brothers got married this year?"

  He nodded. "To begin with. They've all fallen in love. But, I figure that is God's doing. He brought them all together for love. And to keep my family together. At least, that's how it seems to me."

  Rachel tried to swallow, but found her throat unnaturally tight. Emotion rose up in her chest, making her feel suddenly light-headed. She wanted to be upset about this. Wanted to accuse him of hiding the truth from her. But, even as she considered doing that, she knew this situation must have been difficult for him. For all of the brothers. They stood to lose everything they'd spent years building up. And all because of government interference in their right to have a life worth living.

  "Why didn't anyone tell me this before?" she demanded.

  "I didn't want to make a mistake," he replied. He sighed. "I wasn't sure where I stood. Where we stood with each other." He paused and then added softly. "I couldn't figure it out. Until now."

  "What's changed?" she asked. Even though she knew what he would say, she had to ask that question. Because he was trying to tell her the truth and there was one thing she wanted cleared up. One thing about which she needed a straight answer.

  He moved closer. "How I feel about you, Rachel. That's what has changed."

  She thought she'd prepared herself to hear those words, but they still made her gasp quietly. Still triggered a rush of emotion in her. She gazed at him, seeing the absolute sincerity in his eyes. He meant what he was saying. She could see that.

  "Micah, please," she said softly. She hardly knew what to say to him. Didn't dare give him the slightest hint that she was beginning to feel the same way. That the last few days had seen her affection for him growing. And that the foolishness with Calhoun had only made her more certain that Micah was a good man. A man in whom she could have faith. If anything good had come out of her mistake with Calhoun, it had to be that she now saw Micah in a more favorable light. But, was that enough? He was asking her for a commitment she wasn't sure she was capable of giving to him. Not yet.

  "Rachel. Please, hear me out," Micah said softly. "I know this must be a shock to you. But, out here, marriages take place for so many different reasons. It isn't like back East. Here, people have to do what's needed. What's necessary to ensure their families survive. And also that bad men don't get to ruin people's lives."

  She peered at him. "You're talking about Calhoun, aren't you. He's the one who stands to gain from all of this." She frowned. "That's why he tried to court me. Why he tried to fool me into some kind of marriage." Her voice rose to a fever pitch. "It was to thwart your plans, wasn't it."

  Micah nodded slowly. "Calhoun's the only man around here with the money and the influence to get his hands on all of this land," he said and gazed lovingly around the landscape.

  "I've just been a pawn," Rachel moaned. "I've been used by everyone, just to suit their selfish ends. That's all there is to it. I feel like such a fool."

  Micah shook his head and took her arm. She did nothing to free herself from his tender grasp. "That's not true, Rachel," he murmured. "My affection for you is real. There's nothing fake about that." He smiled. "I've gotten to know you so well since I came to the schoolhouse."

  She furrowed her brows. "And that was just a calculated move. So you could get close to me. So you could find out if I would be a suitable wife for you." Indignation flared inside her, but she kept a control over it.

  Micah lowered his head. "I'm not going to lie to you. I never will. Of course, I didn't know you when I came on that first day. We were strangers. But, I've learned something amazing since then." He moved closer. Now, if he wanted, he could have leaned his head forward and kissed her. He was that close. She gazed up into his eyes. Trying to stay angry with him was proving difficult. Especially with him looking at her like that. With his dark gaze penetrating her. "Something truly incredible."

  "What's that, Micah?" she asked.

  "That my feelings for you are real," Micah said in a low, velvet-rich voice. "That, maybe you've been brought into my life. Just like He brought Johanna and Rosalind into the lives of my brothers." His words shook her. Made her feel something she'd never felt before. A genuine affection was stirring inside her, and she didn't know how to control it.

  "You can't believe that," she said defensively. But she could see in his eyes that he did believe it. She wanted to share that certainty but, right now, that seemed a step too far. She still couldn't understand where she fitted into everything that was going on around the Buchanan ranch. It was too much. Too soon.

  Rachel shifted away from him, loosening his hand free. She wrapped her arms around herself. "I don't know why you're telling me all this."

  Micah shook his head. "I think you do." He cleared his throat. "I don't have much time."

  "Before what?" she snapped.

  His brows furrowed. "Before I need to make a decision."

  She felt something tight take hold of her heart. "What decision."

  He lifted a brow. "I think you know what I'm talking about."

  Rachel gasped, feeling the tightness spread to her throat. Her pulse was racing furiously. She hadn't imagined coming out here with Micah this morning would lead to this. To something resembling a declaration.

  Almost a proposal.

  He hadn't uttered those words. Not yet. But she knew he was edging ever closer to saying something they might both regret.

  Too soon, she told herself again. Everything was moving too fast. She shouldn't have come out here with him. This whole day was turning into a disaster.

  "I have to go back to the ranch," she stated firmly.

  Micah's brows rose in a straight line. "Right now?"

  Rachel nodded and started making her way to her horse. She lifted herself up onto the saddle and peered down at Micah. In contrast to moments ago, he looked deflated. Disconsolate. He'd been working himself up to saying something, and she had prevented him.

  Rachel took her reins in her hand. Micah nodded and made his way to his own horse. Once up on the saddle, he peered across at her. "At least now you understand," he stated.

  Rachel sighed. "I understand that everyone around here knew a whole lot more than me. And no-one saw fit to explain any of it to me." She knew she sounded angry, but there was nothing she could do to control that. It was how she really felt, and she wanted him to know.

  Patiently, Micah nodded. "I should have told you sooner. But, I didn't figure on falling for you like I have."

  She had intended to tug in the reins and ride off, leaving him behind, but those last words stopped her in her tracks.

  He'd fallen for her.

  Everything that meant came crowing in upon her in a flash. All that the admission could lead to raced into her mind. Images. Sensations. Thoughts.

  The future.

  She gasped. This was getting too complicated, she told herself. She thought about Lily and desperately wanted to be back with the little girl. Making the day good for her. Taking care of her. That was what she was supposed to be doing, wasn't it? Not sitting out here listening to a handsome, good-hearted rancher confessing his feelings to her. Not feeling petrified that he was about to ask her a question which would change everything.

  Panic rode up inside her and she tugged hard on the reins. "I have to get back to the ranch, Micah," she exclaimed.

  He didn't say a word, but followed alongside her as they started to make their way across the flatland and away from the place in the earth where he had staked a claim for the future.

  CHAPTER NINETEEN