The Rancher’s Bride Surprise

by Maya Stirling

  Rachel felt emotion curl in her middle. He was talking about marriage. Again. The urgency of the need to be wed was startling. Marriage was a sacred bond. Ordained by God. She wondered how it could put to such use as this. She considered that for a moment. Maybe this was His way of leading her along the right path. Perhaps she'd been brought here for that purpose.

  She worried about the dangers on that path. But she guessed that was how things were out here. Things could change in an instant. That was what made this country a place of promise and of danger. But, there was nowhere else for her and Lily to go. She'd thought long and hard about that, and had come to that conclusion. She still couldn't say the words he was so obviously waiting to hear.

  They emerged onto the street which led to the schoolhouse. She saw the building up ahead. Just before they arrived at the schoolhouse, Micah halted. She stopped and looked questioningly up at him. They were alone on the street. She saw an urgency in Micah's gaze as she looked down at her. Emotion stirred in her middle. Just being alone with him like this felt different from yesterday. Somehow, his apology had touched her. Confirmed some of the thoughts she'd had last night.

  Micah moved closer. Her heart was racing at a furious pace as she lifted her chin. His gaze was dark, filled with affection. She could see he was trying to restrain himself. The gap between them felt enormous. Unbridgeable.

  Then he reached forward and cupped her face in his hand. His fingers felt rough against her soft skin. His touch sent waves of sensation sweeping through her. She considered pulling away from him, but her feet were rooted to the spot. Her gaze was locked upon his rugged, even features. There was a look in his eyes. One she hadn't seen before. Her pulse raced as his finger traced a gentle line along the edge of her jaw.

  Throat suddenly tight, thinking only of what was going to happen next, she glanced over his shoulder and felt herself freeze. Immediately, he noticed the change in her expression and turned his head to follow her gaze. He removed his hand and turned. "What is that?" he asked abruptly.

  Rachel started to walk toward the schoolhouse. Her heartbeat was still racing. Now, however, it was for a completely different reason than had been the case when she had almost allowed Micah to kiss her.

  "What happened?" she exclaimed. She tripped on the dusty yard in front of the schoolhouse, but Micah quickly reached out a hand and steadied her.

  Racing up the schoolhouse steps, she almost staggered to the front door. She couldn't believe what she was looking at. Micah halted by her side and stared at the front door. She glanced at him and saw the same look of incredulity on his face.

  Rachel reached forward and curled her fingers around one of the planks of wood which had been hammered into place over the front door. There were ten of them in all, one above the other. The entire door was blocked by the planks of wood. And on one of those planks, there was a note stuck in place.

  It read: "School closed until further notice, by order of the town mayor."

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  Micah couldn't believe what he was looking at. He thrust the palm of his hand against the thick wooden plank which had been fixed to the door by numerous nails. He pulled on it, but it didn't shift. It was solidly in place. But, more than that, the message it sent bewildered him. Why had this been done? Of course he could remove the block to the door. But, it was the message stuck on there which was more worrying.

  Micah glanced at Rachel. Her eyes were wide with disbelief. "What's going on, Rachel?" he asked.

  She shook her head. "I have no idea," she admitted. "It was fine the last time I was at the schoolhouse." She ran her gaze dismissively down the length of the blocked door. "None of this was here."

  Micah examined the note. "The mayor has done this? Why?"

  Rachel turned away from the door and drew in a deep breath. "I don't know. But I aim to find out," she snapped and started down the steps.

  Following behind her, Micah spoke: "Where are you going?"

  Not even turning to Micah, Rachel replied. "I'm going to find the mayor and demand an answer."

  "Rachel, wait," Micah called out.

  She halted and turned to face him. "Why?" She pointed to the schoolhouse door. "This is ridiculous. And I want to know what's going on."

  "Maybe there's an explanation," he suggested.

  She frowned. "For closing down a schoolhouse? Without any notice?" Rachel scoffed and then folded her arms. "Why would he do that?"

  Micah thought for a moment. The Mayor, Silas Grant, had been at church that morning. Although, how much of a believer Mayor Silas was, Micah had his doubts. He figured the reason Silas attended church was to make sure that, when elections came up, he'd have some of the townsfolk voting for him. "Maybe we can find out," he said. "I know where he usually goes after church."

  "You do?" Rachel said, her brows lifting.

  Micah nodded. "You're not going to believe this, but he usually hangs out in the saloon."

  "After church? On a Sunday?" Rachel exclaimed.

  "I know it doesn't make sense," Micah admitted. "But Silas isn't exactly a true believer. If you catch my drift. He thinks the pews at the church are just filled with future voters."

  Rachel's features twisted with disgust. "Politicians!" she said with clear disdain. She started to walk away from Micah.

  He gently took her arm. She halted and turned to face him again. "You're not going there, Rachel."

  "I am. And I will," she insisted. Her brows were furrowed and her jaw was set in a determined line.

  "Then you're not going alone. I'm coming with you," he declared.

  She thought about that for a moment and then nodded. "Okay."

  They made their way to Main Street and reached the saloon. Truth was, Rachel had been striding so fast up the boardwalk he'd had a hard time keeping up with her. There was nothing like a crossed schoolteacher to strike fear into the heart of any man, he told himself. Mayor Silas didn't know what was coming at him. In spite of his concerns about what they were going to do, Micah felt admiration sweep through him. Rachel didn't hesitate when it came to fighting for what she thought was right. That was a rare quality in anyone. And it was one he wanted in a wife.

  Rachel was about to push the batwings of the saloon open when Micah stuck out an arm, preventing her from doing so. "Let me go first. Silas might be out back. In another room."

  Rachel bit her lower lip and frowned. Something about the way she did that caused sensation to flare in him. He found that expression of hers moving. It made him want to do what he'd almost done back at the schoolhouse. Kiss her. But, he knew he couldn't do that at the doors of the saloon. Maybe not ever, he reflected regretfully.

  Rachel nodded and said nothing. Micah pushed the batwings open and strode into the saloon. Being in here on a Sunday seemed completely wrong. It wasn't something he'd ever done. Nor would he ever do it again. He ran his gaze around the half-empty saloon. A few men glanced at him, but he was ignored for the most part. Then Micah saw the Mayor. He was seated in the corner.

  Right next to the owner of the saloon. Brett Calhoun.

  Micah felt his pulse quicken. That just about explained why the schoolhouse had been shut down. Calhoun must have had something to do with it. And, right now, he was looking far too cozy sitting next to the Mayor.

  Micah saw Silas' eyes widen when he saw who'd just walked into the saloon. Right at that moment, Calhoun turned and looked straight at Micah. Calhoun grinned as he watched Micah start to advance toward his table.

  Micah halted, looking down at Calhoun and the Mayor. "What's the deal with you closing the schoolhouse, Silas?" Micah demanded.

  Silas glanced at Calhoun. In that look, Micah saw everything which explained what was happening. Silas was in Calhoun's pocket. Just like so many other men in Inspiration. Silas lifted his chin and tried to look confident. Like he was his own man. But, he failed miserably as far as Micah was concerned. "Had to be done, Buchanan. For safety reasons."

  Micah frowned at Sil
as. "What are you talking about, Silas. Since when is a schoolhouse a safety hazard?"

  "Those repairs you carried out," Silas stated. "They made the place unsafe."

  Micah leaned down and laid his palms flat on the table. "You're telling me I got the schoolhouse closed down? Because of poor workmanship?"

  Silas nodded. Micah saw beads of sweat on the man's forehead. Silas slid a kerchief out from his jacket pocket and wiped his face. Micah lifted his head up and let out a roar of laughter that had heads turning his way from the other tables.

  Micah peered down at Calhoun. "Of course, you had nothing to do with this, Calhoun. Did you?"

  Calhoun lifted his brows and shook his head. "Schoolhouses, Buchanan? What's that to me?"

  Micah scowled at Calhoun. "You failed to interest a certain, very fine young schoolteacher, though, didn't you?"

  Micah saw Calhoun's hands curl around the sides of the chair he was sitting on. For a moment, Micah was sure Calhoun was going to leap out of his seat. But the man remained where he was. Calhoun drew in a deep breath and then looked across at Silas. "We can't have our children being put at risk, can we Mayor?" Calhoun said.

  Silas shook his head. "They're too precious to us," he said, sounding like he didn't really believe that at all.

  "Are they now," came a loud and very familiar voice from behind Micah. Voices at the other tables were immediately silenced. Heads turned, as did Micah's. He saw Rachel standing right behind him. She had her fists jammed into her sides and she was glaring right at Calhoun.

  "Rachel," Micah started to say, but one look from her cut him short.

  "If they're as precious as you say they are, then why don't you just open up the schoolhouse?" Rachel demanded. She glared at Silas. "You're the Mayor. Aren't you supposed to be looking after the interests of everyone in this town? Not just the ones you're friendly with?" At that last remark, Rachel fixed her gaze on Calhoun.

  Silas straightened in his chair. His indignation looked as fake as the hair on his bald head, Micah told himself. He knew that curly monstrosity was a wig. "What are you suggesting, young lady?" Silas exclaimed.

  Rachel glanced at Calhoun. "Only that Mr Calhoun here seems to be a bit too cozy with the town's elected Mayor."

  Silas stood, sliding his chair away behind him. Before he had a chance to say a word, Calhoun waved a dismissive hand. "Sit down, Silas. Quit making a fool of yourself." Calhoun glared at Rachel. "Especially with this schoolmarm, here. Why, she only just arrived in town and she's already hooking up with the Buchanans."

  Micah advanced toward Calhoun, fists bunched into tight balls. Calhoun watched Micah carefully, measuring every move. Not being given to violence of any kind, Micah restrained himself. But, he'd felt a visceral need to protect Rachel from Calhoun's scandalous accusation.

  "Micah," Rachel said abruptly, bringing him back to the moment. Rachel took a step toward Calhoun. "Just because I rejected your advances, Mr Calhoun, that doesn't give you cause to shut the schoolhouse down." She glanced at the Mayor. "Or use your obvious influence to have it closed."

  Silas' features erupted with volcanic red. "How dare you!" he exclaimed.

  Rachel glared at him. "You're going to reopen the schoolhouse," she stated. "Or else, I'll make sure everyone in town knows what's going on between you and Calhoun."

  Calhoun shrugged. "Everyone already knows. That's old news, Miss Ellsworth." Micah noted that Calhoun pronounced Rachel's name with barely hidden disgust. She must have hurt him bad for him to seek revenge like this, Micah told himself. He'd known the only way to get to her was through the children. And he'd acted. Callously and cynically.

  Rachel peered at the Mayor. "You won't do it?"

  Silas shook his head defiantly. "Maybe some time later. Once we've had a chance to assess the damage Mr Buchanan has done to the building."

  Micah heard Rachel scoff as she glared at Silas. "He only did what you and your kind should have done a long time ago. Made a schoolhouse fit for our children to learn in."

  Micah saw Rachel shaking with emotion. He reached across and laid a gentle hand on her arm. He saw Calhoun's eyes narrow as he did so. "Come on, Rachel. Let's go. We're not going to change anyone's mind. Not today," he said. He ran his gaze around the saloon. "And not in this place."

  Micah tugged on her arm. For a moment, he felt her resist him. But then she relented and followed him outside. Halting on the boardwalk, Micah sighed. "That didn't go the way I planned."

  Rachel was still breathless. "He's not going to get away with this. The children," she moaned, emotion welling up into her voice. "Think of how they're going to feel when they realize they don't have a schoolhouse to go to."

  He moved closer to Rachel. He wanted to take her in his arms. Wanted to comfort her. Tell her everything was going to be fine. That he'd work something out. But, right now, he didn't know what he could do.

  A few passersby glanced at him and Rachel, clearly curious about what was going on. Micah ignored them. He didn't care what people thought about him and Rachel. All he wanted to do was take away her pain. To ease her distress.

  He saw a buckboard rolling up the street. On the back were seated two children who, right at this moment were both doing their best to throw each other off the buckboard and onto the dusty Main Street. An idea came to Micah.

  "Why don't you just open up your own school?" he suggested.

  Rachel's eyes widened. For a moment, she looked lost for words. "What do you mean?"

  "The schoolhouse doesn't have to be in town, does it? I mean, folks can bring their children to a schoolhouse, even if it is outside town. Can't they?"

  Rachel's brows furrowed. "I suppose so. But how can we do that?"

  Micah cupped her elbow in his hand and led her away from the saloon. "Make a school up at the ranch."

  "What!" she exclaimed.

  "We can arrange to have the children brought up to the ranch. You can set up a temporary schoolhouse up there. Until we get this problem sorted out."

  Rachel looked thoughtfully at Micah. He could see she was weighing up the idea. He knew it would be hard to find a suitable place in town. And at such short notice. There was plenty of space up at the ranch, especially now that all of his brothers had moved out with their new wives to live on their designated plots on the spread. And there was an empty barn which could easily be converted. A few seats, some desks, and a blackboard would do the job.

  Of course, the fact that it would mean Rachel would be at the ranch five days in the week was merely an added bonus. At least that was what he said to himself. He barely allowed himself to hope she'd agree.

  "What do you say?" Micah asked breathlessly.

  Rachel tilted her head. "It might work. As long as we can bring the children up every day."

  "Either the parents can do it, or we can arrange some carriages. There aren't that many children to make it impossible," Micah said.

  Rachel smiled at him. "I think it might just work," she said. Her smile had just about made his day. All the worry of the last few minutes faded away, replaced by anticipation. She'd be at the ranch most of the day. And he'd make sure he'd be the one to bring her to the ranch first thing every morning. That was really something to look forward to.

  "Let me go speak to some folks," Micah said as he walked along the boardwalk with Rachel.

  "You're sure you don't mind," Rachel said. "What about your parents?"

  He squinted at her. "Are you kidding? My parents are going to love having children around the ranch. Just you wait and see."

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO