The Rancher’s Spirited Bride

by Chloe Carley

  Once she had herself under control, she smiled at the woman’s whose mouth was still hanging open in disbelief. “Mrs. Witherspoon, I believe you were wanting to compliment Polly on such fine workmanship?”

  “You get to call her Polly?” the woman asked, her expression still filled with confusion and disbelief.

  “It seems that I do. We are friends. Maybe one day you will be so lucky as to call Polly your friend as well.”

  She could see the fight building in the woman, who was once again remembering the set-down she’d just received, and from someone she considered immoral and completely unworthy of any consideration. Sara Jane turned her back slightly and addressed everyone else. “Ladies, shall we return home and partake of the luscious supper Marybeth and Tara prepared for us?”

  “That sounds like a wonderful idea,” Tara interjected. “Mrs. Pedersen, I hope you and your husband will join us? We’re going to have quite the party today.”

  Mrs. Pedersen beamed and nodded. “We would love to. I’ll go get my husband and then we’ll come across. Good day, Mrs. Witherspoon.”

  Sara Jane turned to see Carl patiently waiting for her a short distance away. She happened to glance at Mrs. Witherspoon as she walked to meet him and couldn’t hold back a small chuckle. The poor woman looked so confused and Sara Jane almost felt sorry for her.

  “What has you trying not to smile?” Carl asked when she joined him. “Having a little too much fun stirring up the hornets?”

  Sara Jane gave him an innocent look and shrugged her shoulders. “I wasn’t the one doing the stirring. Polly did a fine job all by herself.”

  “Really, now. That is good news?” Carl asked as they turned and headed down the street for the two-story blue house, currently without a proper sign.

  “It is. They need a sign,” she declared.

  “The boarding house?”

  “Yes. We should find the old sign and take it back to the ranch with us.”

  “We can do that.”

  “Good.” Sara Jane laughed aloud. “I think this morning went very well.”

  “So far, it appears so.”

  Sara Jane put a little skip into her walk and then asked, “Did you see Shawn and Polly?”

  Carl smiled. “I did. I think he might be a little sweet on her.”

  “And did you see the sheriff making eyes as Jasmine? During church, of all places.”

  “Sheriff Parmele? And Jasmine? Well … that wouldn’t be worst matchup.”

  “No. The sheriff needs a good wife.”

  “And you think Jasmine could become that?” Carl asked doubtfully.

  “Well, I think these women can do anything they put their minds to. For now, though, we should find a way to help Shawn out.”

  “Sara Jane … I know I don’t need to tell you to stay out of your brother’s business. If he wants to court Miss Polly, he’ll do so without any help from you.”

  “I just thought …”

  Carl stopped her, stepping directly in front of her and then using a finger to tip her chin up so that their eyes met. “Why don’t you think about something else?”

  “Like what?” she demanded, taking a step to the side, only to find her way still blocked.

  Carl smiled before lowering his head. “Like this.” He kissed her. There, in the middle of the main street, for anyone and everyone to see, Carl kissed her.

  She lifted her hands to shove him back, but the minute her palms came in contact with his chest, all she wanted to do was wrap them around his neck and hang on. How long they stood like that she couldn’t have guessed, but her brother Shawn was the one to intrude and break them apart.

  “You two best stop that before someone goes and gets Pastor Russell back here to say your vows.”

  They broke apart and Carl chuckled and resettled his hat upon his head. “My apologies.”

  Sara Jane frowned and asked, “You’re sorry you kissed me?”

  “No, I’m simply sorry it had to end so abruptly.”

  She rolled her eyes. “You should have to apologize for kissing me like that right here.”

  Carl appeared to consider her reprimand and then pursed his lips. “No. I can’t do that for it would be a lie.” He straightened and met her brother’s gaze. “You coming to supper, too?”

  “Sure am. I got an invite from Miss Polly and just couldn’t resist,” Shawn told them.

  “Supper’s almost ready,” Marybeth called from the front porch.

  Sara Jane waved in acknowledgement and turned to the boys. “We should head inside.”

  Carl nodded and took up a position on her left. Shawn settled on her right. Polly had excused herself to go in and help finish supper moments earlier. Sara Jane felt a moment of guilt and asked Carl, “Do you think I should have offered to help?”

  “With supper?” he asked for clarification. When she nodded, he immediately shook his head and then looked to Shawn for help.

  “Sara Jane,” her brother began, “I know you’ve been trying to learn a few things but there’s no need to risk embarrassing yourself. I’m sure the others have everything well under control.”

  Carl pressed a hand to her back, urging her to keep moving. “You don’t have to cook or become something you’re not for me. I like you just the way you are and whether you learn to cook or not, I’m still going to make you mine one of these days.”

  Shawn, overhearing his friend’s words, shook his head. “Sis, you should haul him right back to the church and see the preacher. Carl here is smitten, if you couldn’t tell.”

  Sara Jane blushed and then slapped her brother lightly on the arm. “Stop teasing him and stop teasing me.”

  “Fine, but you’re so much fun to tease.” Shawn chuckled as he moved a bit farther away from her. “Guess I just have to find another pretty girl to tease.” He sauntered off and both Carl and Sara Jane burst out laughing.

  “She doesn’t stand a chance, does she?” Carl asked.

  “Probably not. Come on, my breakfast wore off a long time ago and Marybeth and Tara truly do know how to cook a delicious meal.”

  Without another word, Carl escorted her up the porch steps and into the house.

  *****

  Neither of them noticed the calculating stare that Mark Lawry sent their way. He’d witnessed their entire exchange from his wagon, having just delivered his mother back to the boarding house. Even though Sara Jane had said she only wanted to be his friend, there was no way the cowboy could give her what Mark could. Now, he only needed to show the lovely Miss Lawson that he was the better man and therefore, should be the recipient of her affections. But how? Putting the cowboy in a bad light might further his own cause.

  Chapter 20

  Second week of December…

  Life on the Lazy L Ranch had come to a standstill. The cattle were all corralled in the pastures closest to the barns. The kittens were beginning to move about so Sara Jane and Carl had moved them to the ground floor of the barn, utilizing one of the empty stalls that had been fortified so that they couldn’t get out and be trampled by an unsuspecting horse.

  Tara had moved to the ranch and Pearl had never seemed happier. The two women spent their days cooking, cleaning, baking, sharing stories of their younger days, and preparing for the arrival of Lily’s babies.

  The men still headed off to the barn each morning after breakfast, but most of the time they ended up sitting around, mending broken harnesses, or applying oil to their saddles. Riding the range wasn’t an option due to the snow that had fallen over the last week. It had come and gone several times, but the last snowfall had left nearly a foot of the white stuff lying on the ground.

  The women of the boarding house were making headway with most of the townsfolk, save a few of the older women. Sara Jane kept encouraging them to stay the course and not let the other women’s bad attitudes keep them from truly making Rio Arriba their home.

  As she’d suspected, the sheriff had been watching Jasmine for quite some time. Now
that the women had stepped foot into polite society, he’d made it known he intended to court and marry her, just as soon as she would have him. They were sitting together during Sunday church services, and he’d started visiting the boarding house several nights a week to see her. All perfectly chaperoned by Marybeth in the front sitting room.

  Sara Jane had spent hours in her room, working on the baby blankets. She’d finished the first one and was in the process of putting the border around the second, fully aware that Christmas was only two weeks away and Tara seemed to think the babies would make an appearance sometime in the very near future.

  Doc Matthews had been coming out to the ranch once a week to check on everyone, but with so much snow on the ground, bringing his small wagon out was both dangerous and foolhardy. Sara Jane and the other women on the ranch had been taking turns spending the day with Lily, helping her prepare dinner for Jace, and taking care of the household chores. Jace himself had been helping out as much as possible, and it hadn’t escaped Sara Jane’s notice that no one seemed comfortable having her preparing the food.

  Determined to do something about that today, she ate breakfast early and then bundled up nice and warm for the walk over to Riley’s house. The men had just entered the barn and Sara Jane used the ropes to guide herself through the deep snow until she was standing on Riley and Gideon’s doorstep.

  She knocked on the door, feeling the bite of the cold wind on her cheeks while she waited for Riley to answer. When her friend did so, Sara Jane was shocked to see her still in her bed clothes.

  “Sara Jane?”

  “What’s wrong with you?” Sara Jane answered with a question of her own. She stepped into the house and began to remove her scarf and heavy duster. “Why are you still abed?”

  Riley took a step back, looking annoyed and slightly green in the face. “I wasn’t feeling well.”

  Sara Jane peered at her. “First Lily, and now you?”

  Confusion marred Riley’s brow. “Sara Jane, normally I would welcome your riddles, but I’m just not up to it today. What are you talking about?”

  Sara Jane strode for the kitchen in the back. “You’re pregnant.”

  She put the tea kettle on the hearth and then started rummaging around for the jar of chamomile tea leaves she knew Riley kept somewhere. Not finding them, she turned to ask for directions, only to find herself alone in the kitchen. She retraced her steps to see Riley standing where she’d left her, her hands cradling her stomach protectively.

  “Riley?”

  Her friend looked up with tears in her eyes and asked, “Do you really think that’s what’s wrong with me?”

  “I don’t know. Shouldn’t you know?” Sara Jane fired back.

  Riley looked thoughtful before her face cleared and a smile formed. “Yes, I think it probably is true. What do you think Gideon will say?”

  “I’m sure he’s going to be very happy. Would you like me to go and fetch him for you? He’s in the barn with the other men.”

  Riley nodded her head. “Would ….” Before she could finish her statement, she covered her mouth with one hand and bolted for the slop pail in the kitchen. There, she promptly emptied her stomach.

  Sara Jane, not knowing what else to do, patted her friend’s back and then handed her a glass of fresh water from the pitcher on the table. “Here.”

  Riley rinsed her mouth out and then straightened. “That’s the third time today. Was Lily sick as well?”

  “A little bit,” Sara Jane confirmed. “I put the water on for tea. I couldn’t find the chamomile leaves but that’s what Ma always gave us when we had an upset stomach.”

  “I can make my own tea,” Riley told her.

  “Good. Well, then I just go tell Gideon he’s needed at home. Congratulations.”

  “Thank you.”

  Sara Jane nodded and headed for the front of the house, only to stop when Riley called, “Sara Jane. What did you come to see me for?”

  “Never mind. It can wait. I’ll send Gideon back here right away.”

  She used the ropes to guide herself back to the barn. She shoved open the large door, slipping inside and then letting it shut right behind her. She stood there a moment, letting her eyes adjust to the dim interior and then followed the sound of the men’s voices to the large open area at the back.

  They all looked up upon her arrival and Carl stood, walking toward her as if he was certain she’d come to see him. She ignored him for the moment and instead sought out her brother’s eyes. “Gideon, Riley needs you at home. She’s not feeling very well.”

  Gideon immediately stood up and stalked toward the front of the barn. Moments later, the sound of the doors slamming behind him let the others know he’d stepped outside.

  Carl softly asked, “What’s going on?”

  “Babies.” Not wanting to give any further explanation, she turned on her heel and headed for the stall containing the kittens. They were very active now and containing them inside the stall was mostly a losing proposition. They had all learned how to climb; however, they still returned to the stall to curl up in the small wooden box with the soft lining Sara Jane had fashioned for them.

  She pushed aside the stall door and smiled upon seeing them all sleeping in various places. Mama cat was perched on the manger, several feet above the ground, keeping a careful watch over her curious babies. “Good morning, Mama.”

  Sara Jane plopped down in the middle of the stall, waking up several of the kittens. They immediately wandered over to get their heads petted and to explore the new addition. She cuddled them close and watched them play for several minutes before she realized she was no longer alone. Carl was leaning against the stall door, an amused look on his face.

  “Is this the same girl who faced down a group of outlaws?”

  “Why are you laughing at me?” she asked.

  Carl moved forward and squatted down beside her. He retrieved a piece of hay from her hair and then sighed. “I’m not laughing at you, Sara Jane. Never that. There are many different sides to you, is all. Fierce. Tender. Loyal. Determined.”

  Sara Jane felt her cheeks blossom with color as he continued to compliment her. When she was afraid that she wouldn’t be able to hide her reaction, she blew out a breath and changed the subject. “Christmas is just a few weeks away.”

  “That’s right. We were all just talking about going hunting for some fresh venison.”

  “I want to come along,” Sara Jane told him eagerly.

  “Hold your horses, we were just talking about it. Nothing has been decided yet. There’s still too much snow, but the skies are clear today and hopefully the sun will help melt some of the snow so that we can go in a day or two.”

  “Well, whenever you go, I want to be included. You know I’m the best shot there is on the ranch,” Sara Jane told him.

  Carl gave her a curious look and then asked, “Are we back to that again?”

  She opened her mouth and then frowned. “Oh. I didn’t mean … well, I did mean, but …”

  Carl chuckled and placed a finger over her lips to silence her. “I know what you meant, and no one suggested leaving you behind. With you along, we’ll all spend a lot less time out in this freezing weather.”

  “Oh,” she said, trying to decide if he’d just complimented her or was just making a statement.

  “Tell me what’s up with Riley? You mentioned babies. Am I to assume that she and Gideon are going to be parents sometime next year?”

  “I think so. Riley was green and she was sick while I was there. Lily was sick much like that when she first became pregnant.”

  “Well, I’m sure we’ll all find out the truth soon enough. So, besides petting kittens, what has you up and about so early this morning?”

  “I was going to visit Riley, but now I guess I’ll go back to the house and find something else to occupy my time. Maybe Ma will let me start decorating for Christmas?”

  “Maybe she will. Let me know if she wants some fresh evergreen
boughs for the mantle and doorways. Shawn and I are going to ride into town and pick up the supplies your ma requested. Want to tag along?”

  “Are you taking the wagon?” she asked.

  “Of course.”

  “I have no intention of freezing to death in the back of the wagon. I’ll stay here.”

  Carl stood up. “Don’t stay out here too long or you’ll get sick sitting on the ground like that.”