The Shepherd's Betrothal by Lynn A. Coleman

Author:Lynn A. Coleman
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781460379073
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2014-05-26T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 10

Ian scanned the dock, looking for the right ship. Word had come that his sheep and ram were in port. He turned and looked down the street toward the Seaside Inn. He wondered if Hope was there this morning, helping Grace. He couldn’t stop thinking about her being in his arms.

He shook off the thoughts as he approached the ship. He could see and hear the sheep bleating in their pen on the dock. A smile creased his lips. They were finally here.

He greeted the first mate and signed for his stock. He’d brought fresh water and oats, not knowing what his animals had been fed on board.

“Conall,” Ian called. The dog stood at attention. Conall would help him walk the sheep back to the ranch. Ian hoped he’d made the right choice to walk them back and not transport them in a wagon. The animals would be in need of some exercise after the long voyage.

“They weren’t a troublesome lot,” the first mate said with a smile. “Your father provided well for their care on board.”

“Thank ye.” Ian signed the paperwork and opened the pen door. “Stay, boy,” Ian ordered. There was no sense making the sheep walk around the pen. He checked each of their legs and hooves. Satisfied, he opened the gate and encouraged them to walk toward Harbor Street. As the sheep exited the pen, Ian whistled, giving Conall the command to walk the sheep down the dock and toward the road.

Between Ian and Conall the sheep obeyed. They continued on until he reached the halfway point to his ranch. There he told Conall to rest. The sheep stopped moving and grazed on the green grass in front of them. His ram was a bit more cautious and surveyed the area for a moment before he grazed.

Jackson Hastings pulled up with his wagon. “Hi, Ian, these the sheep you been waiting on?”

“Yes, sir.”

Jackson climbed down from his rig and examined the stock. “Fine-looking ram.”

“Thank ye. Me father was very generous in giving him to me.”

“Five ewes and a ram are a very generous gift. As a man who’s raised livestock for most of my years, I know good stock. Can I give you and the sheep a lift to your ranch?”

Ian glanced at the sheep. They were tired. “That be right kind of ye. I should have brought me wagon.”

“Glad to lend a hand.” Fifteen minutes later the sheep were bleating in the back of the wagon. Conall sat up front with Jackson Hastings and Ian. “They don’t know a good thing when they find it,” Jackson said.

Ian chuckled. “That be true enough.”

“How’s the house working out for you?”

“Very well.”

“You might consider building an addition after your stock is doing well, perhaps in the winter.”

“House is fine for now.”

“I suppose for a single man that would be true but… well, it isn’t my place to say…”

“What?”

“I thought you were looking to get married one day. My wife and I started with a small house but we planned on building it larger and with a second floor once the children started coming.

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