The Rancher’s Devout Bride

by Maya Stirling

  Grace didn't look convinced. She came to Emma. "Would you like to go and have some tea?"

  Suddenly, the prospect of sitting down and getting a chance to take stock of the situation in which she now found herself proved irresistible. As she and Grace made their way along the boardwalk, Emma lapsed into silence. Grace, possibly mindful that Emma may have received bad news, was quietly respectful.

  Emma tried to think about what this development would mean for the children. Taking them back to New York would result in them being placed back into the orphanage. Just at the moment when they'd experienced a new kind of freedom, just when they'd been given hope, it would all be snatched away from them. And, most likely, Emma would no longer be involved in the girls' lives. She'd lose all of the blessing which God had granted her since the day the girls had stepped into her life. That simple thought triggered emotion which almost choked her.

  Emma glanced at Grace and saw that the sensitive young woman was gazing resolutely ahead, obviously determined to allow Emma some time to herself.

  Bethany and Clara would be devastated. Having watched them since arriving at the ranch, having seen their excitement at their new life in Inspiration, she'd seen a renewed optimism in the two girls. Even though she'd explained the uncertainties about the future to them, and they'd expressed their understanding of their predicament, she'd sensed the silent hope which had grown in their hearts. Emma knew she couldn't let that hope be snuffed out. She wouldn't allow that to happen, she told herself defiantly. She was sure God had brought her and the girls out here for a reason. There was a purpose to them being here.

  Indignation rose up inside Emma as she considered what life would be like for Bethany and Clara back at the orphanage. Having saved them from one possible situation of cruelty back in Billings, it seemed the children now faced a return to a life of uncertainty and hardship back east.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  Her mind still a whirlwind of battling thoughts, Emma followed Grace into the town cafe and took a seat at a window table. The proprietress fussed good-naturedly with the new customers. There were a few other townsfolk sitting at the other tables, enjoying what looked like exquisitely tasty cakes. Emma didn't feel hungry, but she allowed Grace to order what she thought was most tempting.

  Determined not to sour the entire morning with Grace, Emma smiled and ran her gaze around the cafe's pleasant interior. "I suppose this is one of your favorite places in town," she suggested weakly.

  Grace smiled. "How did you guess?"

  Emma inhaled the aromas coming from the kitchen on the other side of the door away in the corner. "Maybe it has something to do with the baking they do here?" Emma was glad of the chance to distract her attention from the thoughts which had tormented her during the long walk from the telegraph office.

  "They do know how to bake," Grace agreed. "We must bring the children here, this weekend. A treat."

  Even just the mention of Bethany and Clara was enough to make Emma's chest tighten. She forced herself to smile. "I can't promise they'll behave themselves. Once they get a taste of cake, anything can happen," Emma joked. She recalled the many instances on the train journey west when she'd treated the children to sweets and cakes, figuring they deserved to be spoiled. Excited chaos was usually the result.

  Grace shook her head. "They are just the sweetest children," she stated. "You must be so proud of them."

  Emma nodded. "I am. They mean everything to me." Emotion caught in her voice and she quickly lowered her gaze, hoping Grace hadn't noticed.

  "My mother is so taken with them," Grace admitted. "I think this past couple of days has given her huge pleasure. She just loves being around them."

  "I'm glad," Emma replied. "I think they like your mother, too. I'm sure they never thought they'd end up living on a ranch." Seeing Grace's brows furrow, Emma added quickly. "Not that we're planning on staying much longer, you understand."

  Grace shook her head. "Nonsense. Mother said you're all welcome to stay as long as you like."

  The sheer generosity contained in that remark touched Emma's heart. "But still. We've got a lot to consider." Emma glanced out at Main Street. "Coming here has been a pleasant surprise."

  "That's one thing Inspiration has really got going for it." Grace's eyes widened. "It sure is pleasant."

  Suddenly, the desire to sweep away all the pretense seized Emma. It wasn't fair, or even just, to hide the reality from this dear woman, and her beautiful family, she told herself. Grace and all the Buchanans had the right to know the truth. Especially now that Emma and the children were facing the prospect of having to leave. But, choosing the right moment to reveal that truth would be so important, Emma told herself. Maybe it would be a start if she were to provide Grace with just a hint at the truth.

  The tea and cakes were delivered to the table. Tea was poured and they each chose a cake from the silver stand which had been placed in the middle of the table. They chatted a while. Emma noticed that Grace made no mention of what had happened back at the telegraph office. Finally, Emma made her decision.

  "Grace, there's something I'd like to tell you," Emma said quietly.

  Chewing on her cake, Grace lifted her brows. "There is?" she replied.

  Emma nodded and laid her cup down onto the saucer. "You know how you and Jake met myself and the children when we were back at the staging station." Grace nodded, chewing slowly, her gaze fixed steadily on Emma. How much had Grace guessed already? She and Jake must have talked about Emma and the girls. And Matilda, too. "Didn't you wonder what the girls and I were doing on that stagecoach?" Emma continued.

  Grace shook her head. "I just assumed you were on your way to Helena."

  "We were," Emma agreed. "But, it's all a little more complicated than that."

  "It is?" Grace asked.

  Emma rested her elbow on the table and peered across at Grace. Emma felt a tight ball of nerves harden in her middle. She wondered how Grace would receive the news that Emma wasn't mother to the children. That they were orphans, and that she had been charged with bringing them east so they could be placed with a family who, it had turned out, were wholly and completely unsuitable to be parents to Bethany and Clara. And that, after having ascertained the unsuitability of that family, Emma had taken it upon herself to take the children away from that family as quickly as humanly possible. To keep them safe. To do what God would want her to do.

  Did her choice of action mean that, from the point of view of the law, she was guilty of abducting the children, removing them from their rightful home, and that she was a criminal in the eyes of the law? If so, what would Grace and Jake and Matilda think of Emma? Would she be handed over to the local jailhouse and denounced as a criminal?

  Hesitation seized Emma as she reflected on the importance of the news she was about to announce. She drew in a deep breath, and prepared to speak.

  She saw Grace's head turn quickly, her attention caught by movement through the window, on the boardwalk. Emma followed Grace's gaze and saw a tall, elegantly dressed gentleman looking into the cafe. He smiled straight at Grace and politely lifted his gray Derby hat.

  Grace gasped and turned to look at Emma. "Oh, no!" she exclaimed.

  "What?" Emma asked, looking quizzically at Grace and then out at the man.

  "It's Judd Foley," Grace explained, while lifting a hand hesitantly and smiling back at the man who was now walking in the direction of the cafe's front door.

  "And?" Emma probed.

  Grace sighed heavily and lifted her cup of tea to her mouth, draining it rapidly. The door opened and Judd Foley entered the cafe. He made straight for their table and halted. "Grace Buchanan. How nice to see you. Good morning," Foley said.

  Grace looked up at the man and smiled hesitantly. "Judd."

  Foley narrowed his eyes and peered at Emma. Up close, Judd Foley was moderately appealing, Emma told herself. He had even features, dark hair and was of modest height. She guessed he was in his early thirties. He was slightly h
eavy-set, but not so he appeared overweight. His eyes were of a startling blue which made his gaze impossible to ignore. From his demeanor and his physique, she figured he wasn't a man accustomed to working outdoors.

  "Is this the newcomer I've heard so much about?" Foley asked. His voice was cheerful and possessed a confident tone.

  Emma wasn't sure she approved of the idea that people had been talking about her. But, she guessed it was unavoidable in a town as small as Inspiration.

  Grace gestured toward Emma. "Judd. May I introduce Miss Emma Dunbar."

  Judd lifted his hat and smiled at Emma. "Pleased to make your acquaintance, Miss Dunbar."

  Emma nodded. "Likewise, Mr Foley," was all she could say. Judd seemed unusually pleased to see her.

  "You ladies enjoying cakes and tea?" Judd observed.

  Grace poured some tea from the pot into her cup. "I'd invite you to join us but we were just leaving," she said.

  Emma exchanged a secretive glance with Grace. Did Grace know something about Judd Foley she didn't want Emma to find out?

  Taking Grace's hint, Emma folded her napkin and laid it on the table. "Yes. We've got so many errands to do, this morning," she said.

  Grace looked relieved. Judd wasn't slow in picking up the fact that the two young women were anxious to be somewhere else. "In that case, I'll let you both run along." Once more, his penetrating gaze settled on Emma. His azure blue eyes glinted. It occurred to Emma that Judd knew full well how to make an impression on a lady. It only took one look. Or so he seemed to believe. Still, he also knew when his presence wasn't wanted.

  Judd started to make his exit. He paused at the door. "Are you two going to the social, tomorrow night?"

  Emma glanced quizzically at Grace. "Isn't everyone going?" Grace replied.

  Judd smiled and glanced one last time at Emma. "Pleased to hear it," he announced. "See you, then," he said and exited the tearoom.

  After he had passed the window, Grace sighed heavily. "Thank goodness, he's gone," she gasped.

  "Why?" Emma said. "He seemed polite enough."

  Grace scoffed. "Maybe once you've spent a little more time in Inspiration, you won't say that."

  "What should I be worried about?" Emma asked.

  Grace rolled her eyes. "I'll tell you when we get out of here." Grace left some money on the table to pay for the tea and cakes. She stood and Emma followed her outside onto the boardwalk. She was intrigued to know the secret of Judd Foley.

  Farther down the boardwalk, Emma could see the Judd making progress, tipping his hat to everyone he passed. To Emma, he seemed innocent and jovial. She looked at Grace. "What's so important about him?"

  Grace frowned, scooped her arm into Emma's and turned her in the opposite direction away from Judd. Grace leaned her head closer and spoke quietly. "Judd Foley is doing everything he can to find himself a wife. He's been trying to court just about every unmarried, young woman in town for the last year. But, he hasn't found anyone. Not yet, anyway."

  "Really?" Emma said. "Is that bad?"

  Grace sighed. "Judd has got money. He's comfortable. And, no doubt, he'd provide a good home for any woman willing to marry him. But, Judd is a very particular man. He's difficult to please. Everyone who knows him believes he'll never find a woman who'll match his excessive expectations."

  Emma frowned as an unsettling, but inevitable, thought drifted into her mind. It was an idea she couldn't possibly share with Grace. Not after what she'd just said about Judd. The man who wanted a wife had just shown an unusual interest in Emma. And, with the need to consider the possibility of remaining in Inspiration still burning inside her, Emma considered the unthinkable.

  Maybe, Judd Foley might be a means for her and the children to stay permanently in Inspiration.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  "What were you doing talking to Judd Foley?" Jake demanded, trying to keep his voice down. He was sitting on the seat of one of the ranch's carriages. It was a cool Saturday evening and they were all about to make their way into town to attend the social.

  "I told you, he just walked into the cafe and started talking to us. We couldn't do anything about it," Grace replied. Grace stood with Matilda on the porch waiting for Emma and the children to come downstairs. Seemed like there was some extra getting ready to be done up in the bedroom, Jake reflected.

  "You know how Judd and I don't get along," he complained. "Just try not to encourage him. Please?"

  Grace gasped. "I did not encourage him in any way whatsoever, Jake Buchanan," she retorted, sounding offended.

  "Now you two," Matilda cut in. "We're all going to have a fine time this evening. No more of this bickering, you hear?" Their mother gave each of them a stern look.

  Jake sighed heavily, not liking it one bit that Judd Foley had taken upon himself to be so familiar with his sister. Again.

  Jake thought that, during the last year, he'd done enough to ward off Judd Foley's interest in Grace. He and Judd had shared one or two man to man discussions in town, and Jake had been sure he'd done enough to discourage Judd's unwelcome advances.

  Of course, there was one other reason why Judd would have made a move. And it had nothing to do with any interest he might have in Jake's sister.

  Emma.

  Judd had surely heard about Emma. Gossip was a major pastime in Inspiration. Jake didn't approve, but it was an undeniable fact. Perhaps Judd had heard about the beautiful woman who was staying up at the Buchanan ranch. Even thinking about that possibility was almost as annoying as the idea of Judd being interested in a Buchanan woman.

  For a moment, Jake wondered why he should feel like that about Emma. It wasn't as if she'd been that friendly toward him since their conversation earlier in the week. In fact, he figured she'd done as much as she could to keep well away from him.

  Last night, at the dinner table, she'd seemed preoccupied about something. He was getting to know her ways, now. Learning how to read her expressions. And he'd definitely seen signs that something was worrying her. But, she'd kept it all to herself, avoiding any mention of what it might be.

  Grace and Matilda were attired in their smartest gowns and bonnets, fit for the town social. Grace wore a light blue outfit, while Matilda had opted for a modest gray outfit. For his own part, Jake had followed his sister and mother's advice and made an extra-special effort to look decent. He wore his best gray suit and matching Stetson. He'd given his boots some extra attention, and now they looked positively shiny in the softening light of early evening.

  He heard the clattering of footsteps from inside the house. Then, Clara and Bethany erupted through the open door, followed by the graceful figure of Emma. Jake's breath hitched in his chest and he felt his eyes widen as he took in the sight of the ranch's beautiful newcomer.

  Emma was wearing an elegant green gown. As she took a step across the porch, the lower edges of the sweep of fabric hovered just above the wooden floor. He caught a flash of her brown boots. The snug bodice of the gown accentuated the narrowness of her waist. The curved neckline highlighted the elegant length of her neck. Her hair had been sculpted neatly so that it curled gently to her shoulders.

  Emma examined the two children who had halted alongside Grace and Matilda. Seemingly satisfied, he saw her chin tuck in as she nodded to herself. Bethany and Clara each wore cream dresses, well-polished flat shoes and cream bonnets. Jake had to admit they both looked as cute as could be.

  Jake shifted his gaze to Emma, feeling the indignation of moments ago fade away as he took in the sight of her. From the first moment he'd laid eyes on her at the staging station, Jake had known there was something special about Emma. But, seeing her like this, convinced him he'd underestimated her natural beauty. Surprise had allowed his heart to quicken and, for a few moments, he allowed himself the brief indulgence of savoring Emma's loveliness.