Taming The Texas Rancher (Love Inspired Historical) by Rhonda Gibson

Author:Rhonda Gibson [Gibson, Rhonda]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Historical, Romance, Women's Fiction, Victorian, 19th Century, Forever Love, Bachelor, Single Woman, Love Possibility, Frontier & Pioneer, Western, Hearts Desire, American West, Clean & Wholesome, Christian, Faith, Inspirational, Love Inspired, Texas Rancher, Inherit Ranch, Must Marry & Produce, Mail-Order Bride, Rugged Living, Schoolteacher, Granite Texas, Security & Love, Partnership, Trust & Promise, Second Chances, Life Changes, Marriage of Convenience
Publisher: Love Inspired Historical
Published: 2013-10-01T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eighteen

Daniel looked across the dinner table at Hannah. Her hair was pulled up and small ringlets framed her face. She wore a blue riding skirt with a white blouse. A butterfly necklace rested against her chest, bringing out the deeper blues in her eyes.

He’d listened as she and his mother talked about the engagement announcement, the hours that the school would be open and what pies Hannah was going to fix for the Sunday get-together with the rest of the ranch.

Levi sat quietly, finishing up the coffee cake Hannah had made. Daniel noticed his younger brother seemed unusually silent tonight and wondered what was on his mind. Did it bother him that their mother and Hannah were getting along so well? Or did it have something to do with the ranch?

Daniel couldn’t take it any longer and asked, “Is something bothering you, little brother?”

Levi looked as if someone had shot him. “Yes and no.”

Frustrated, Daniel laid his fork down. “Well, which is it?”

Levi’s face flushed as everyone turned their attention to him. “Well, if you must know, I’ve been pondering which mail-order bride’s letter to answer.”

“Brides? As in more than one?” Hannah asked.

He nodded.

Bonnie’s voice came out low. “You sent off for a mail-order bride, too?”

“Well, I placed the ad and one lady did answer—Millicent. But she didn’t come. I have three more letters that came this week, and I’m trying to decide which one to answer.” He pulled the letters from his vest pocket.

Daniel watched as his brother spread out the papers on the kitchen table. He frowned, not liking the fact that Levi could have a new mail-order bride there in just a few weeks. Daniel glanced at Hannah, who was staring at him.

“Here, let me get some of this stuff out of your way,” Opal said, picking up empty dishes and bowls.

Levi’s green eyes, so like Daniel’s, came up to meet Hannah’s. “I was wondering if you could help me write a letter to one of these ladies.”

What? He wanted Hannah to help him find a bride? “Wait a minute. That’s not a good idea.” Daniel protested, looking from his brother to Hannah.

“Why not?” his mother demanded. “Your brother needs a wife, too. And since you’re both dead set on mail-order brides, I don’t see what harm it will do for Hannah to help him. She is a schoolteacher, after all.”

Didn’t his mother realize that Hannah would be helping Levi get married, and that Levi and his bride might have a baby before he and Hannah did? He looked at her and saw a small smile play across her lips. Yes, she knew. His mother was trying to speed up the process of getting grandchildren. He sighed.

Levi’s face reddened and he rubbed the back of his neck. “I wouldn’t ask, but I’m not sure how to respond, since Millicent didn’t come. I think I did something wrong the first time.” Levi kept his eyes trained on the letters.

“Do you mind if I read them?” Hannah asked, reaching for the closest piece of paper.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.