Page 1 of The Rancher's Bride
Chapter One
October 1876, Flat River, Nebraska
“Race ya to the edge of town!” Bethany Moore didn’t wait for a response before digging her boots into the sides of her horse.
“Giddyap, Rosie,” she shouted as she leaned forward to start the race across the meadow towards Flat River. She heard her brother, Tommy, give a shout behind her, and Bethany released a laugh urging Rosie forward.
The wind whipped through Bethany’s hair as Rosie picked up speed, the horse’s hooves pounding against the ground in a rhythmic gallop. Bethany’s heart raced with exhilaration, the thrill of the race consuming her.
The gust of wind caught her hat, sending it flying off herhead. A thin leather string kept it from completely escaping as it bounced against her back. She reached up and pulled her hair from her mouth with delicate fingers. The wind didn’t care as it whipped the stinging strands against her cheeks once more. The fringes on her buckskin tunic and pants swayed in a rhythmic motion, brushing the treated hide.
As they neared the outskirts of Flat River, she stole a glance over her shoulder. Tommy was hot on her trail, his own horse gaining ground with each stride. Determination flashed in his eyes, mirroring her own competitive spirit.
“Almost there,” she called over her shoulder. Her fingers tightened on the reins as she leaned against Rosie’s neck and whispered in her horse’s ear. “You got this, girl. Show ‘em what you’re made of.”
The horse released a snort and stretched out its long neck, the edge of town approaching quickly. Bethany sat up slightly in the saddle, the finish line in sight. As the wind whipped her hat and braid, the rhythmic pounding of Rosie’s hooves on the ground matched the beat of her heart.
As they neared the edge of town, Bethany leaned lower once more, her knees urging Rosie to go faster. The wildflowers blurred past them, a rush of colors and shapes. With a burst of speed, they crossed the invisible finish line, and Bethany pulled Rosie to a stop at the edge of town.
A cloud of dust billowed behind them, marking their victory in the impromptu race. Bethany’s laughter mixed with Rosie’s heavy breathing as they slowed to a trot. She patted Rosie’s neck, feeling the heat radiating from the mare’s powerful body.
Tommy caught up, pulling his own horse to a stop beside Bethany. His eyes sparkled with good-natured competitiveness, and a wide grin split his dusty face. “You got lucky this time, sis,” he teased, his voice full of brotherly pride.
Bethany chuckled; her cheeks flushed with exhilaration. “Luck had nothing to do with it. Rosie is getting faster.”
“So are you, Bethy.” He drew in several deep breaths and looked up at the sky. “Looks like a storm might come in. We should gather Ma’s things and head back home. I don’t want to cross the creek if it rises.”
“You got her list?” Bethany clucked to her horse and slowly directed her towards the mercantile in the middle of town.
“Yeah.” A dirty hand pulled out a folded piece of paper from his jacket pocket.
“You better not let go of that. I didn’t look over it before we left, so I won’t know what she needed.”
“It didn’t look like much. Just some beans, coffee, sugar.”
“Uh-huh.” She reached over and tugged her brother’s hat over his eyes. “There might be something important written on there.”
“Like what?”
“I dunno. Isn’t Seth having a birthday soon?” Seth was their youngest brother, and he was turning ten in a few days.
Tommy’s face broke out in a wide grin. Even though he was three years behind Bethany’s twenty-four, he still reminded her of when he was a wide-eyed six-year-old and had his first chocolate cake at one of Marmee’s picnics. Ma wrangled the recipe from Marmee and made it for all the birthdays on the mountain and special occasions.
“I hope she makes the cake.”
“When has she ever not made a cake for one of our birthdays?”
“Just that time when we were in the cabin by the creek.” Tommy glanced at the paper before shoving it back in his pocket. Giving a pat, he looked at Bethany. “Why’s your face all twistedup like you smelled a skunk or something?”
“I don’t wanna talk about that cabin by the creek.”
After their pa passed away on the journey west, Tommy, Bethany, and their ma were left struggling to survive in the small town of Flat River. Their little family found refuge in a dilapidated cabin by the creek. Summer was perfect. It was warm, and they filled their bellies with berries that grew wild around the cabin. Then the seasons changed.
They braved the harsh winter weather as best they could. As the days grew colder, Bethany couldn’t help but remember the nights they went to bed with empty stomachs and shivering bodies.
Just when they thought they wouldn’t make it, Joe Moore stumbled upon them while he was checking his traps. Hisemptytraps. Bethany had discovered the rabbits and taken them from Joe’s snares.
Ma was cooking it when Joe caught them. Bethany remembered Joe wasn’t angry. Instead, he looked sad as he took them in and brought them back to his cozy cabin deep in the woods. There, they found warmth and comfort for the first time since leaving Charleston, South Carolina.
