Taming the Texas Rancher
Though he never planned to wed, Daniel Westland must marry and produce a grandchild before his brother does in order to inherit the family ranch. Leave it to him to pick a mail-order bride who insists on being courted! Yet every time Daniel wonders if Hannah Young is even suited to rugged living, the petite schoolteacher shows her gumption.What man sends away for a bride but doesn’t really want to get married? Hannah came to Granite, Texas, hoping to find love and security, and she can’t settle for less than a true partnership. If the brooding, handsome rancher can only learn to trust in Hannah, their future could be as filled with promise as this bountiful land.
Читать Taming the Texas Rancher онлайн беплатно
Race to the Altar
Though heâd never planned to wed, Daniel Westland must marry and produce a grandchild before his brother does in order to inherit the family ranch. Leave it to him to pick a mail-order bride who insists on being courted! Yet every time Daniel wonders if Hannah Young is even suited to rugged living, the petite schoolteacher shows her gumption.
What man sends away for a bride but doesnât really want to get married? Hannah came to Granite, Texas, hoping to find love and security, and she canât settle for less than a true partnership. If the brooding, handsome rancher can just learn to trust in Hannah, their future could be as filled with promise as this bountiful land.
âIf Levi marries before me, heâll get the ranch. Iâve worked hard all my life on this spread. My blood, sweat and tears are in the soil. Hannah, I canât let Levi have it.â
âAnd I canât marry you right now, Daniel.â
âBecause you want love?â
âYes. I want to fall in love. I want to be the center of my husbandâs world. I wonât settle for less.â Having love jerked from her before had hurt her too deeply to take the chance it would happen again.
Hannah sighed. Where was she going to go? It was obvious she wouldnât be staying here. Daniel wanted only the land; he didnât really want a wife.
âWe have time, Miss Young. Leviâs mail-order bride didnât arrive today. Until she does, I am willing to court you. I canât promise you love, but maybe we can become friends. Iâve heard that friends have been known to fall in love and marry. Whoâs to say it wonât happen with us?â
RHONDA GIBSON
lives in New Mexico with her husband, James. She has two children and three beautiful grandchildren. Reading is something she has enjoyed her whole life, and writing stemmed from that love. When she isnât writing or reading, she enjoys gardening, beading and playing with her dog, Sheba. You can visit her at www.rhondagibson.net, where she enjoys chatting with readers and friends online. Rhonda hopes her writing will entertain, encourage and bring others closer to God.
When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up.
âPsalms 27:10
To the Bards of Faith, my life hasnât been the same since you kidnapped me at an ACFW conference. It has been much richer and blessed. Thank you for taking a misfit into your group and making her your friend. I love you all!
To James Gibson, my dream of writing books would never have come true without your love and support. Thank you.
To my Lord and Savior: Who is the true author of my books. Without Whom Iâd never meet a deadline.
Contents
Chapter One
Granite, Texas
Spring 1886
âWhat are you doing here?â Daniel Westland scowled at his younger brother, Levi. Heâd been running late, and seeing his brother standing there, looking freshly cleaned and pressed, was not what heâd expected. The wildflowers in Leviâs hands spun daintily in the breeze that swished about them as the stagecoach pulled to a stop.
Dust filled the air, and both men shaded their eyes against the grit. As soon as the horses came to a complete halt and the dust settled, Levi answered, âI imagine Iâm here for the same reason you are, big brother.â
Levi grinned. His green eyes sparkled with mischief. Danielâs scowl deepened. Surely Levi hadnât sent off for a mail-order bride, also? But then again, maybe he had. Daniel pulled his hat farther down on his forehead to shade his eyes from both his brother and the sun.
While they waited for the driver to leap down and open the carriage door, Daniel thought of the woman within the stagecoach. She was a schoolteacher and had written that she felt it was time to have children of her own. The letter promised she had all her teeth, that she was twenty-eight years old and believed in God.
Danielâs jaw tightened. Once more he wanted to scream that he didnât have time for this, he had a ranch to run! Why his mother, Bonnie Westland, felt the need for grandchildren now was beyond his comprehension.
Truth be told, he wasnât ready for a wife or children, but his mother was feeling the pinch of old age. At Christmas sheâd decided that her sons needed wives and she needed grandchildren. Sheâd proclaimed over dinner that the first son to marry and produce a grandchild would inherit the ranch.
Daniel swept his hat off and ran a weary hand through his hair. His mood darkened as he again noticed the fresh bouquet of wildflowers in Leviâs tan hand. Why hadnât he thought to pick Miss Hannah Young flowers?
