Page 19 of The Rancher's Mail-Order Husband

Still, as he stroked her mane, Graham considered the growing need for another horse. He’d been thinking about it for some time, but today it seemed more pressing than ever. Ciarán was small but certainly added weight, and as they planned on purchasing the materials for a new bed, Graham didn’t want to strain Ginger by overloading her. A second horse would be a smart investment, something that could ease the burden on the ranch and give Ciarán his own steed, should he wish to learn to ride. After all, Ginger wasn’t getting any younger. They could both use the help.

“Yeah,” Graham muttered to himself, tapping his finger against Ginger’s neck. “We’ll pick up a new mare today.”

The thought put him in a better mood, and as he waited for Ciarán to finish his preparations, he allowed himself toimagine what it would be like to have another horse in the stable, something sturdy and dependable for both of them.

It wasn’t long before Ciarán appeared, stepping out of the house with a purposeful stride. His crisp, white shirt gleamed under the sunlight, a stark contrast to the earthy hues of the ranch. The black trousers were neatly pressed, and his boots, freshly shined, gleamed as though he’d just stepped out of a tailor’s shop. His straw hat, the one adorned with a dark green ribbon, rested on his head, though today the delicate paper flowers that had once decorated it had been carefully placed on the shelf as a memento of their first meeting.

Graham couldn’t help but smile at the sight of him—his husband, always so careful with his appearance, even in the midst of ranch life. But today, Ciarán was more than just tidy. He was radiant, his excitement barely contained as he hurried to the cart, the sack of chicken feed repurposed as a makeshift bag slung over his shoulder. Inside, Graham knew, were the letters to send. His “thank you” notes, and the most important one—the letter to his father, a gesture that had weighed heavily on both their minds since their wedding.

“I’m ready, Graham,” Ciarán said, his voice bright and full of purpose.

“All right.” Graham helped him into the cart, his fingers lingering for a moment longer than necessary as he adjusted Ciarán’s coat. There was an odd flutter in his chest that he couldn’t quite explain. He considered telling Ciarán that he looked handsome, but the thought seemed to linger too long, and he discarded it before it left his mouth. It was an awkward notion, one that felt unnecessary. Instead, he climbed into the cart himself, settling beside Ciarán, trying to brush off the strange, unfamiliar feeling that was gnawing at him.

The road to town was a quiet one. The weather was clear and fair, with a slight breeze rustling through the trees, carryingwith it the sweet scent of wildflowers in full bloom. The sky above was a brilliant shade of blue, unmarred by any clouds. It was the kind of day that made everything seem possible. Graham glanced at Ciarán, who was humming a tune softly to himself as he rearranged the letters in his sack, checking and rechecking their contents. It was a peaceful moment—one that filled Graham’s heart with a simple kind of joy. They were together. And for today, that was enough.

Their first stop was the post office, where they were greeted by Oscar, the postmaster. As Ciarán handed over the stack of letters, his cheeks flushed a bright pink when he presented the note meant for the postmaster himself.

“Perhaps it’s a bit silly,” Ciarán said, his voice sheepish. “Since we’re here now and can thank you in person, but—”

Oscar laughed warmly and took the letter from Ciarán’s hand. “Thank you, Ciarán. It’s always nice to get mail.” His smile was kind, genuine. “And don’t you worry about that letter to your father. It’ll make its way to him, no trouble. Small town, small community. We all know each other, and we all make sure the word gets out.”

As Ciarán pressed the letter to his heart before handing it over, Graham couldn’t help but wonder what kind of man Ciarán’s father was. He had been a force in his son’s life—sending him to school, encouraging him to seek out a better future. Graham didn’t know if he would ever meet him, but he imagined the man must have had high hopes for his son. What would he think of the new life Ciarán had chosen? A quiet life on a ranch, away from the bustling cities. And what would he think of Graham, the man who had married his son?

Oscar’s reassurance about the letter was a small comfort, but Graham still felt a quiet unease. He hoped Ciarán’s father would understand. He hoped he wouldn’t think his son had been led astray. But there was nothing to be done but wait and see.

Their next stop was the general store, where Mrs. Fournier, the ever-friendly shopkeeper, greeted them with a wave. She was quick to brush off Ciarán’s thanks for all her help with the wedding arrangements.

“It’s nothing,” she said with a laugh. “We’re neighbors, after all. Now, tell me, how’s the honeymoon going?” At the sight of their flushed faces, she let out a delighted laugh. “Ah, a matching set! What luck, that you found one another.”

Graham cleared his throat, feeling the heat rise to his cheeks. He reached out to gently take Ciarán’s hand, tugging him toward the door before they could become too embarrassed. “Give our best to Adeline and the rest of the family,” Graham said, offering his thanks as he ushered his husband out of the store.

“We enjoyed the gumdrops!” Ciarán called over his shoulder, his voice still tinged with the warmth of Mrs. Fournier’s teasing.

???

That left buying the lumber and the horse, neither of which were particularly thrilling tasks for a young, newlywed man like Ciarán. Graham knew how it might feel for his husband—town wasn’t as bustling as the city Ciarán was used to, and there wasn’t much to do in Larkspur besides the basic errands that were part of daily life. As much as Ciarán was adapting to ranch life, Graham could tell that there were moments when he missed the vibrancy of the places he'd come from, the energy of crowds and the opportunities for distraction.

Graham wasn’t about to let his husband waste his day on things that would only frustrate him. “I got to run a couple more errands,” he said, glancing at Ciarán with an easy smile. “Youcould take a walk around town if you’d like. Or get something to eat.”

Ciarán hesitated, glancing at Graham with a slight frown furrowing his brow. “You don’t… want me to come along with you?” he asked, his voice soft, almost uncertain.

Graham smiled and shook his head. “It won’t be very interesting. I don’t want you to get bored. You should enjoy yourself. See the town, do some shopping.” He gestured toward the small shops lining the main street. “We’ll still have plenty of time to spend together later.”

The idea of Ciarán wandering around town on his own seemed to unsettle his husband a bit more than Graham expected. He could see the subtle worry in Ciarán’s eyes, though he was trying to hide it with a brave face. But this wasn’t about leaving Ciarán alone—it was about giving him the space to explore at his own pace. He knew that being new to everything could feel overwhelming. And today, Ciarán deserved to have a little time for himself.

“If—if you’re sure, Graham,” Ciarán said, but there was still a slight quiver in his voice, and his eyes darted down to the ground, unsure if he was being a bother by wanting to stay with Graham.

Seeing the hint of unease still lingering, Graham leaned forward and gently placed his hand on Ciarán’s arm. “Hey, it’s okay. I’ll be done in a little while, and then we can meet back up. Maybe even grab a bite to eat together later, if you’re still hungry. We’ll do something fun after.” He paused, then added with a teasing grin, “Use up the rest of that money I sent you.”

Ciarán’s expression softened at that, his lips curving into a small but genuine smile. “Yes, okay. I will.” He looked a little reassured now, but still a touch hesitant.

Graham could tell Ciarán was trying hard to adjust to everything. He was learning the ways of ranch life, embracingthe quiet moments, and even finding his footing in Larkspur, but it wasn’t always easy. As much as Graham adored him and wanted to share everything with him, he knew Ciarán needed time to find his own rhythm too. And today, that meant letting him wander a little, to discover what he might enjoy in town, even if it was just taking in the sights or finding something small that could make the day a little brighter.

With one last squeeze of reassurance, Graham stood up and grabbed his hat from the cart. “I won’t be too long. I promise. You can check out that little bakery or maybe find something to bring back for the house.”

Ciarán’s eyes lit up at the mention of the bakery. It was one of the few places in town he’d taken a particular liking to, the smell of fresh-baked goods always tempting him in. “I’ll see if they have any more of those buns you like,” he said, his voice carrying a bit more enthusiasm now.

“That sounds good,” Graham replied, smiling back as he walked toward the general store, where he would pick up the lumber for the bed frame and hopefully have a quick word with the local horse trader about finding the right horse. He hoped that this task would go smoothly, though he knew the price for a good horse would be steep. But it was an investment, something that would benefit the ranch for years to come.

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