An Unwanted Bride for Christmas by Margaret Tanner

Author:Margaret Tanner [Tanner, Margaret]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-11-10T06:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seven

‘Kavanagh Ranch.’ The sign was clear and eye catching. Behind an outcrop of fir trees, she spied a stone chimney with smoke drifting upward, floating on the cold air and then disappearing. A large barn made from split logs was neatly fenced. No sign of life. Cattle and horses grazed on green pastures. From what she could see, the place was well cared for. Martin Kavanagh was obviously a good rancher. There again, maybe he paid someone to do the work.

The ranch house had stone walls for the first four feet or so, then it was constructed from split logs. The wide front porch had creeper clad posts holding it up. The garden had a few bushes, mostly bare, having shed their leaves for the winter sleep. A line of horseshoes was nailed above the front door.

Dismounting, she tied the horse to the hitching post and stepped up on to the porch, carrying her Winchester in case of unexpected danger. She was beginning to think facing this man out here alone was not one of her better ideas. Still, the man had to be told of the damage he had wrought.

A woman could have given up a reasonably good life to come here with the expectation of marriage. It was not quite so bad for her, as she had been forced to leave Hurstbridge by vicious lies and innuendo.

She knocked on the door – no answer. After knocking several times, she decided to go around to the back. What if the man was out? It would have been a wasted trip. No, not completely wasted, she had been able to save the schoolteacher and her pupils from a nasty experience.

The back door was closed so she knocked loudly – no answer here, either. The barn or those other outbuildings, maybe? She set off toward the barn. “Anyone there?” she yelled out, peering into the barn. From floor to ceiling one end of the barn was packed with hay, probably grown on the place. Several large, wooden barrels were neatly lined up. What they contained was anyone’s guess as there were no markings.

Sudden hammering nearly had her jumping out of her skin. It came from above her head. Dashing outside, she glanced up. A man knelt on the roof nailing shingles back into place. He had not been visible when she had first walked over here.

“Good afternoon.”

He raised his head. “Who are you? What do you want? If you’re looking for work, sorry I don’t have any.”

“I’m not looking for work. I want to see Martin Kavanagh.”

“That’s me.” There was an irritable edge to his voice. “Okay, just a minute, I’ll climb down. You better make it quick. I’m busy.”

Briony waited with nervous anticipation. He disappeared and seconds later strode around the corner of the barn. He was tall, well built. His hair was almost black, dark stubble covered his jaw and chin. He wore brown work clothes.

“I want to get these shingles fixed by today. And put that rifle down, it might go off.

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