Taming the Texas Rancher. Rhonda Gibson

let Levi have it.”

      She raised her chin and wet her lips with the tip of her tongue. He was asking her to give up her dream of being respected and loved because he wanted a piece of dirt. “And I can’t marry you right now, Daniel.”

      He dropped her hand. “Because you want love?”

      “Yes. I want to fall in love. I want to be the center of my husband’s world. I won’t settle for less.” Having love jerked from her before had hurt her too deeply to take the chance it would happen again. Tears filled her eyes. She couldn’t bring herself to finish that thought with, and I want you to forget I have a handicap. I want to be treated like a normal human being.

      Hannah sighed. Where was she going to go? It was obvious she wouldn’t be staying here. Daniel wanted only the land—he didn’t really want a wife.

      “We have time, Miss Young. Levi’s mail-order bride didn’t arrive today. Until she does, I am willing to court you. I can’t promise you love, but maybe we can become friends.” He rubbed his chin. His five o’clock shadow scratched against the calluses on his hand. “I’ve heard that friends have been known to fall in love and marry. Who’s to say it won’t happen with us?”

      Hannah mulled his words over. She needed time. If Daniel was willing to court her, she’d use the borrowed time to pray and decide what to do about her future.

      * * *

      Daniel watched her face closely. Did she realize her thoughts flittered across her delicate features like a butterfly flutters from flower to flower? Even before she nodded her consent, he knew she’d agree.

      He also knew it was a stretch, but maybe he could make her fall in love with him and he’d still win his ranch. He offered her a grin. “Good. Are you ready to go meet the rest of my family?”

      She ran a trembling hand over her hair and readjusted her hat. Hannah turned to look at the house. “I believe so.”

      Reaching across to her clasped hands, Daniel gave them a gentle squeeze. “You will do fine. My mother is going to love you.”

      As for him falling in love with her, he had no intentions of doing that with anyone. With Hannah having a limp, like his sister, he couldn’t allow her to enter his heart. He’d made the decision to take care of Hannah, and keep her off the ranch and out of harm’s way.

      But as for loving her...

      Daniel didn’t think he could lose another person he loved to ranch life. His sister, Gracie Joy, had been ten when she’d been killed. He tried not to relive that night, but the memories started flooding his mind and he couldn’t stop them.

      Gracie Joy had loved the ranch and wanted a horse of her own. Because she’d had one leg shorter than the other since birth, their mother had insisted they get her a Shetland pony instead of a full-size mare. He’d tried to explain that Shetland ponies were often mean-spirited and had no sense of personal space, but his mother hadn’t listened.

      The morning they’d gone to get the little Shetland, Gracie Joy had been thrilled, and rode with Daniel over to the Carlsons’ ranch to get him. She’d listened carefully how to care for the little horse, and had named him Lightning because of a white blaze that ran down his nose in a zigzag pattern. Mr. Carlson had laughed, and then explained that Lightning was afraid of storms.

      After a week, Daniel began to doubt his own judgment of the pony. Lightning and Gracie Joy took to each other like kittens take to fresh milk.

      And then it happened.

      A storm blew in from the west. In his rush to get the newborn calves in out of the wet weather, Daniel and Levi had hurried to the pastures to gather them. Gracie Joy remembered that Mr. Carlson said Lightening was afraid of storms, and she’d sneaked out to the barn.

      When Daniel and Levi returned, they’d found their little sister’s broken body inside Lightning’s stall. The doctor said it looked as if the little horse had kicked her in the head and then run over her chest in his hurry to get out of the barn. He said Gracie Joy probably never even felt the impact.

      Daniel sighed. If he had been there, then Gracie Joy wouldn’t have gone to the stables. If he’d refused to get the Shetland as he’d first planned, she would still be alive.

      A soft voice pulled him from the nightmare of memories. “Daniel, are you all right?”

      He looked into Hannah Young’s heart-shaped face. Soft blue eyes studied him with concern. Daniel cleared his throat. “I’m fine.”

      He released her hands and focused on guiding the horse to the house. If he lost his heart to Hannah, and she died, too, Daniel was sure he’d not survive. In desperation, he turned to the Lord. Father, I don’t know why You have allowed this woman to enter my life, but I will do my best to make her happy and keep her safe. But please don’t ask me to love her.

      Chapter Four

      Gravel crunched under the wagon’s wheels as Daniel pulled it up to the front porch. The sweet fragrance of roses drifted from the rosebushes beside the house. It teased Hannah’s nose as he set the break and hopped down.

      She watched as a woman opened the front door and stepped out onto the porch. She wore a peach-colored blouse and a tan riding skirt, and brown boots peeked out from under the hem. Her blond hair was pulled back in a braid that hung over her left shoulder. Hannah wondered if this was one of Daniel’s sisters. She had the same green eyes, the same nose.

      Daniel jumped from the wagon and then turned to offer Hannah his hand. She studied his stormy eyes. No longer did they look pain filled and haunted.

      She laid her hand in his. He helped her down and then turned her toward the woman. “Hannah Young, this is my mother, Bonnie Westland. Ma, Hannah is my mail-order bride.”

      His mother?

      The same shock that Hannah felt at discovering this was his mother filled Bonnie Westland’s voice. “Your mail-order bride?”

      “Yes, ma’am. You said to get a wife. Here she is.” Daniel pulled Hannah’s bags from the wagon.

      Hannah stepped forward and extended her hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Mrs. Westland.”

      Bonnie took her hand and gave it a hard shake, then released it. “Same here.”

      Hannah felt like a cow at auction as Daniel’s mother walked around her, studying her as if she were sizing her up before making an offer.

      “What was wrong with JoAnna Crawford?” Bonnie asked Daniel, placing both hands on her hips and standing in a manner that indicated she expected an answer from her son, and fast.

      Daniel stomped past them up onto the porch, his neck and cheeks bright red. “Ma, that girl doesn’t have the sense that God gave a goose.” With that he used his booted foot to push the door open, and then slipped inside.

      Mrs. Westland took off after him. “I was talking to you, Daniel Westland. You get yourself back here.” She slammed the door behind her.

      Hannah crossed her arms. She didn’t know whether to be insulted, annoyed or happy that they seemed to have forgotten all about her. Obviously, Bonnie Westland didn’t like the way her son had chosen a bride. Had Daniel realized his mother would be displeased?

      “I see you’ve met Ma.”

      She turned to find Levi approaching. His steps were long and even, as if he was never in a hurry to get anywhere. “I did.”

      Levi laughed. “Ma doesn’t make a good first impression, but she’s as good as gold.”

      A smile touched Hannah’s lips. “I’m sure she is. But she doesn’t seem too happy that Daniel sent for me when JoAnna Crawford is available.”

      “I reckon she isn’t. Ma’s wanted him to take up with JoAnna ever since we were kids.” Levi walked to the horse and gave its harness a little