Taming the Texas Rancher. Rhonda Gibson

and Rowdy can do the feeding today. Once you get all the men working, come back here and help Levi.” Daniel put his hat back on his head and tried to decide if there was anything else that needed doing.

      Cole laid his hammer down. “Sure, boss. You’d mentioned earlier that you might set up a spot for Hannah to have a garden. Would you still like us to start her a plot?”

      Daniel didn’t like him using Hannah’s name as if he had a right to do so. “That’s Miss Young to you, Cole. And while we’re on the subject, I suggest that any interest you have in her, you put to rest.”

      The ranch hand coughed. “Uh, sorry. I don’t really have an interest in her, but she reminds me of someone. I’ll try to control my reactions when I’m around Miss Young.”

      Daniel walked over and clapped him on the shoulder. “That’s all I’m asking.” Cole was a hard worker and probably his best friend; Daniel didn’t want Hannah to come between them.

      He looked about the backyard. “How about we put the garden over there?” He pointed at a spot off to the right of the door, between the stream and the schoolhouse.

      “How close do you want the garden to the tree?” Cole asked, surveying the land.

      Daniel grinned. He could see Hannah sitting in the shade of the tree on a swing, sipping tea and enjoying the breeze. When he realized where his thoughts were headed, he squashed them. Yes, he wanted her happy, but he didn’t want to be thinking of her in a warm way. He didn’t want any feelings of love to cloud his better judgment. Daniel reminded himself that when he loved, others got hurt. They depended on him too much, and he couldn’t allow either to happen again. “I’ll leave that up to you.”

      “Would it be all right with you if young Adam had a look? He’s good at planting things. He’ll know better than I do where it should go.” Cole piled the wood, hammers and nails together.

      “I’d forgotten Adam. Yes, give him that job. I’ll leave what you do up to you. I know you’ll take care of whatever else needs to be done.” Daniel wanted Cole to know he bore no hard feelings over Hannah.

      Cole acknowledged the praise with a nod. “I’ll get started, then.” He walked to his horse and mounted. As he came even with Daniel, he stopped, leaned on his saddle horn and advised, “Daniel, enjoy your day in town today. You work too hard and don’t play enough.” He didn’t give him a chance to respond, simply turned his horse and sent her into a gallop toward the ranch house.

      Maybe Cole was right. He should try to enjoy the day. It wasn’t like they were getting married while in town. Besides, the sooner he convinced Hannah she was in love with him, the sooner they’d get married, have a baby and he’d inherit the ranch. Winning the ranch was the true goal, and he’d have to wed to get it. With that thought in mind, Daniel squared his shoulders in anticipation of making Hannah fall in love with him without losing his heart to her.

      Chapter Seven

      Hannah held tightly to her list. She didn’t know what to think of Daniel’s easy, laid-back behavior today. He’d helped her into the wagon and then began telling her about the ranch he loved so much.

      She learned that it was over one hundred acres of the best cattle land in the state of Texas, with three large ponds, and a spring-fed river running through it. The Larsons were on the west, the Montoyas’ spread lay to the south, the Crawfords’ land lay to the east and the Johnsons were on the north.

      Daniel seemed to love every inch of the property, from the grazing pastures to the small patches of wood that surrounded the bodies of water. He talked about the wildlife and warned of rattlesnakes.

      The thought of snakes sent a shiver down her spine. To take her mind off the reptiles, Hannah focused on Daniel. She watched his lips as he spoke.

      “I am looking forward to the day I can take you down to the canyons. They are on the west corner of the ranch and are beautiful during the summer. The sunsets are perfect there. Would you like to go with me to see them? We could have an evening picnic.” His lips parted in a smile.

      Hannah would love to accompany him, but wanted to make sure he understood it would have to be a proper outing. “I’d love to, after we are married.”

      A grin tilted his mouth. “I’m sure the preacher would have no trouble hitching us today, if you’d like.” The teasing glint in his eyes told her he wasn’t really proposing they marry today.

      “It’s a mighty tempting offer, Mr. Westland, but I think I’ll wait until your heart aligns up with your words before I say I do.” She smiled back.

      He winked at her and then turned his attention back to driving the team. “Fair enough.” Daniel slapped the reins over the mares’ backs and sent them trotting into town.

      Since it was Saturday, the main road was busy with families in buckboards and lone riders on horseback traveling from business to business. Dust kicked up from all the traffic. Hannah covered her mouth with her handkerchief and glanced about.

      Yesterday she hadn’t taken the time to really look at the place.

      Granite seemed to be a working town, with no frills that she could see. Each store looked the same: raw wood fronts, no paint, no trees and no flowers. A few of the rustic buildings, such as the general store, had benches sitting on the boardwalk beside their windows. Water troughs were lined up on the dirt street in front of the mercantile, the hotel, the bank and what looked like a saloon toward the end of town.

      Hannah jerked her gaze away from the saloon. It wasn’t a bad town; it just wasn’t as pretty as Cottonwood Springs, at least not in her eyes.

      Up the hillside sat the church, which also served as the school. It was the only building in town that sported paint. Unlike her school, this one had no trees to offer shade to the children.

      She missed the new trees that had recently been planted and the freshly painted flower boxes that stood in front of most Cottonwood Springs businesses. Hannah wondered if there was a ladies group she could join. Perhaps they could work together to beautify the town a little.

      Daniel stopped in front of the general store. “It’s not much to look at, is it?” he asked, setting the break. Hannah smiled at him.

      “Not now, but it could be.” She watched as he leaped from the wagon and came to her side to help her down.

      “Miss Young, I don’t believe I like that glint in your eyes,” he teased, as her feet touched the hard ground. “Makes me think you might be up to something.”

      She held on to his arms. “Who, me? I just arrived, Mr. Westland. What could I possibly be up to?”

      Daniel laughed down at her. His green eyes sparkled. The richness of his laughter quickened the beat of her heart and tickled her funny bone, causing her to giggle.

      His hands felt warm against the fabric at her waist. Hannah thought she could get used to being around Daniel when he was in this mood. Maybe her first impression of him, that he wanted her around only for business reasons, had been wrong. Dare she hope?

      * * *

      Daniel released Hannah and tucked her small hand into his. He enjoyed the sound of her sweet laughter and the feel of her soft palm. “Get whatever you need at the general store and have it put on my personal account.”

      A frown creased her forehead. “I don’t know.”

      He stopped her by shaking his head. “You are going to be my wife, so you should go ahead and start getting things you think we will need. No one will question that.” He opened the door and allowed her to enter first.

      Hannah whispered, “But it might get too expensive. I’d prefer you look at my list and then decide what I should and shouldn’t buy today.” She held it out to him.

      Daniel glanced toward the back of the store, where two gentlemen were playing checkers by the window. He nodded as he recognized the