Page 20 of The Rancher's Bride
Marmee was insistent he needed to find a wife, someone who could help with the chores and keep the household running smoothly, before winter settled upon the land. Tessa only had so much that she could do, and the thought of having a wife held a certain appeal. He imagined what it would be like to have a helpmate by his side, not just to share the workload, but also the dreams and aspirations of building a life together.
Bethany could be that woman, he mused.
His thoughts shifted back to the woman bathing in his home. He wondered about her age. She was younger than him for sure, but not by too much. Her brother Tommy was about twenty or twenty-one, so she had to be around a year or two older. She was funny and could hold her own in a conversation.
She came into his life when they were looking for little Hope, but then she left. Now the storm had brought her back into his life. The thought of her leaving again caused his gut to clench.
He kicked the dirt under his feet, frustrated at his own thoughts. He hardly knew her, but here he was daydreaming about her like a schoolboy. His life revolved around hard work and the duties of a homestead. He had little room for daydreams and even less for love.
The image of Bethany filled his mind. Her delicate features, her captivating smile, and the way she carried herself with such grace and poise. She was intelligent and kind, and had shown immense patience when dealing with Tessa, despite the girl’s penchant for mischief and stubbornness.
A sudden tug on his shirt, followed by the swipe of a roughtongue, jolted him back to reality as a cacophony of bleating goats filled his ears. The herd shuffled in through the open barn doors and into a small pen, eager for shelter and warmth. They crowded into the center of the pen and huddled together, waiting for Ben to feed them.
The rain had drenched the poor animals, matted their fur, and made them appear darker. Mud clung to their hooves and flecks of grass were stuck in their fur. Ben wrinkled his nose at the pungent scent of wet fur and sour mud.
Some bleated softly as they shook themselves dry, leaving wet splatters of mud on the ground and side walls of the stall. Tessa would feel immensely pleased to see all of them appeared unharmed.
“Where have you been?” Ben gently scolded the animals as they gazed back at him with their big, golden eyes and narrow pupils. “Yeah, yeah,” he groaned. “I’m coming to feed you.”
He rose from his stool and went to the corner of the barn, where a pitchfork leaned up against the wooden wall. He dug into the loose pile of hay and grass, small strands of fescue fell off and floated to the floor as he worked to fill the tines of the large fork. A cloud of dust kicked up, prompting him to hold his breath.
The goats watched him impatiently, stamping their hooves and shifting in their pen. They knew this ritual and their noises grew louder, more insistent. As he approached, their heads craned over the wooden fence that penned them in. He hefted the first forkful over the railings, letting its contents scatter across the ground. The herd surged forward, dipping their heads down to greedily devour the meal. Their exuberance always brought a small smile to his face.
Once Ben finished cleaning up after the goats, he moved to the horse stalls and absorbed himself in his work. He tried topush all thoughts of Bethany to the back corners of his mind. It was a losing battle. Now and then, with no prompting, he would wonder what Bethany was doing at that very moment. He’d shake his head, annoyed with himself and his wayward thoughts.
Lost in his brooding, he didn’t hear her enter the barn until she was practically on top of him. The sudden sound caught his attention, snapping him back to the present. He looked up to find Bethany standing next to him, her eyes wide with surprise, as she saw the goats.
“Are these Tessa’s missing goats?” she asked. Bethany’s voice was soft, barely audible above the rain.
Ben leaned over the railing and scratched one on the head. “Yeah, they just wandered back.”
“Tessa will be happy.” Bethany looked at him, her cheeks flushed a rosy hue. “I didn’t mean to startle you when I came in.”
“Uh, no bother at all,” Ben stammered, hastily wiping his hands on his trousers and trying to regain his composure. He glanced around the barn, suddenly self-conscious about the mess and disarray. “What brings you here, Bethany?”
“I thought I could help you. Tessa didn’t need any help inside.” She took a step closer to him, her presence radiating a comforting warmth that made Ben’s heart swell. He couldn’t help but entertain the thought of having her by his side for all eternity. How had he not noticed her before, when she was last here?
Suddenly, a powerful gust of wind hit the barn, slamming the door against its frame. Loose hay scattered into the air and tangled around Ben’s boots. Bethany’s hair danced wildly around her face as she struggled to hold it back. In that moment, Ben couldn’t tear his eyes away from her, noticing everydetail, including several strands, caught between her teeth. He clenched his hand to resist the urge to reach out and touch her.
“Really, you don’t have to help,” Ben insisted, his hands gripping the pitchfork tightly. “I’m just going to finish the horse stalls.”
Bethany reached out and grabbed his arm, her fingers tightening around the fabric of his sleeve. “I can’t let you help me without repaying you,” she said, determination in her voice.
She is so beautiful,he thought.
Benjamin felt his resolve weakening as Bethany gazed up at him with those striking blue eyes. He knew he should protest more, but the touch of her hand on his arm stirred feelings he thought were long buried.
“You need to rest. How about you sit on that stool and talk to me instead?”
Bethany moved to the stool. “How long have you been living in Flat River?”
“We came here in the Spring.” Ben used his pitchfork to add fresh straw to the stalls.
“Where were you before that?”
“We lived in Texas. A little town called San Patricio.”
Bethany picked up a piece of fescue grass and started twirling it between her fingers. “Do you still have family there?”
