His Chosen Bride. Rhonda Gibson

house, and they started clucking like a couple of hens. A smile touched his lips as he realized neither woman would like that analogy.

      “Come on, son.” Bonnie led the way to the barn. Levi followed, dread filling him. He knew his mother wasn’t happy and was determined to tell him about it.

      She stopped in the open barn door and watched as he unhitched the rented buggy from the horses. Levi had learned a long time ago to wait her out. She’d have her say in her own time.

      “Daniel tells me that Miss Hamilton is yet another mail-order bride. What are you going to do about all these mail-order brides?” She finally snapped.

      Levi led the first mare into the second stall on the right of the barn. He heard her boots shift through the hay as she followed. “Miss Millie and I have an understanding at the moment, so I’m not going to do anything about her. As for the other three...” He stood to his full height of five feet, ten inches, locked eyes with his mother and then continued. “You invited them, not me. I’d say they are your responsibility so I’m not going to do anything about them.”

      For the second time today, Levi had the satisfaction of finding his mother stumped. At least for the moment. He tossed fresh hay into the stall and then walked past her to get the other horse. When Levi returned, his mother stood in the same spot. Her arms were crossed over her chest and her green eyes studied him. He led the other mare into the stall beside the first one and tossed her hay also.

      “Levi Matthew Westland.”

      Here it comes, he thought. He stood before her. “Yes, Mother?”

      “We had a deal. You get married before the year is out or I sell the ranch.” She stared him straight in the eyes and dared him to argue.

      “No, you made that declaration and I didn’t say anything,” he countered.

      “You led me to believe you’d written to the Rodgers girl,” she accused.

      He nodded. “That is true and I did. I just didn’t write to her what you thought I did. By the way, Ma, how did you find out I’d changed my mind?”

      She took a deep breath. “I did what any mother would do and I opened your letters and read them.”

      Levi laughed, but no merriment filled the hollow sound. “I doubt that other mothers would do such a thing, Ma. Most mothers leave their adult children alone and let them find their own mates.”

      Bonnie nodded. “Yes, and most sons get married before they are thirty,” she countered.

      He shook his head. “Daniel is married now. You’ll have your grandchild and he can have the ranch. And I can live my life the way I want to.” Levi started to walk away. He’d never just walked away from his mother before, but today Levi didn’t see any other alternative.

      She didn’t speak loudly or harshly, but the command in her voice stopped him in his tracks. “Levi, we aren’t finished here.”

      Levi turned to face her. “Mother, on this subject we are. Like you pointed out, I’m thirty years old and I am in no rush to get married.”

      Bonnie squared her shoulders, walked up to Levi and looked him in the eyes. “Now look here, I promised those women a husband. That if you didn’t marry them, there were other eligible bachelors in the area and I’d help them settle down in Granite, Texas. You will choose one and I’ll see that the others find husbands, as well. Levi, you have one year from today to get married or I will sell the ranch and everything that goes with it to the highest bidder. I don’t care which girl you marry and I don’t care if your brother and Hannah have two children. There are four women in that house—pick one.” With that she walked from the barn.

      Had he seen tenderness in her eyes before she’d hardened them and made her demand? What drove his mother to insist that he and his brother marry? Every time he’d asked her in the past she’d simply said she wanted grandchildren. Today, it didn’t matter if Daniel had children; she wanted them both to be married.

      Levi sighed and followed her out of the barn. His mother was already going through the front door of the ranch house. He leaned against the face of the barn, not wanting to go inside but knowing he’d have to eventually.

      “She’s a stubborn woman, our Ma.” Daniel eased around the corner of the barn.

      Had he been there the whole time? “What do you make of that? I always thought she wanted grandchildren and that you and Hannah would be giving her what she wants. But now that doesn’t matter.” Confusion laced his soul.

      “Yeah, I heard. It sounds like she doesn’t want them from me, little brother. She wants them from you.” Daniel’s eyes held the hurt that Levi heard in his voice.

      “I don’t think that’s it. She didn’t say anything about me giving her grandchildren. She just said I had to be married before the year is up.” Levi knew his words sounded empty to his brother. Did Daniel think their mother loved him more? She’d always favored Levi, but he didn’t believe for a moment that she loved him more.

      Daniel clapped Levi on the shoulder. “Well, it doesn’t matter. She’s in for a surprise tonight.”

      Levi looked to his big brother. Unbridled pride now showed in Daniel’s face and eyes. “Does that mean you are going to announce you’re soon to be a papa?”

      “Sure does. But don’t tell Hannah I told you. She wanted to surprise the family with the news.”

      The two brothers hugged. Levi was happy for Daniel and Hannah. Plus, a baby in the family might just soften their mother up and she might forget all about him getting a wife.

      Daniel released Levi and looked at him. “I know what you’re thinking and you might as well forget it. Ma’s not going to forget her threat. Either you marry or we both lose the ranch.”

      The renewed worry and sorrow in Daniel’s voice sobered Levi up. He kicked a rock across the yard. Daniel needed the ranch. Especially now that he had a family to raise. It had been wishful thinking on Levi’s part.

      “Aw come on, it isn’t that bad.” He gave Levi a gentle shove toward the house. “I enjoy married life. Didn’t think it would be possible, but believe me, it is.”

      They stopped at the washroom where they both scrubbed their faces, hands and arms. Levi wet down his hair and combed it into place. “I’m glad married life agrees with you, Daniel. Hannah is a wonderful woman.”

      Daniel nodded. “She sure is.” His grin turned roguish and he said, “There are four women in there waiting to see who will be the next Mrs. Westland. One of them is bound to be a wonderful woman, too.”

      * * *

      Millie entered the sitting room with Hannah. She felt rather than saw the three pairs of eyes that swiveled in her direction as they stepped into the room.

      “Oh, good, you’re all here.” Hannah pulled Millie toward an overstuffed short couch to sit beside her. “I’d like you all to meet Millie Hamilton. She grew up in Cottonwood Springs and attended my school when I taught there.”

      Millie offered what she hoped looked like a friendly smile, instead of a nervous grimace. “Hello.”

      Hannah turned to the woman who sat on the left-hand side of the room. “Millie, this is Anna Mae Leland. She’s a schoolteacher. I’m hoping she’ll agree to teach out here on the ranch, but so far she assures me she’d rather teach in town. Isn’t that right, Anna Mae?”

      Anna Mae’s soft brown eyes met hers. “That’s right.” She offered a soft smile. “It’s nice to meet you, Miss Hamilton.”

      “Please, call me, Millie.” Millie looked at the other two women, as well. “All of you.”

      “Thank you, we will. I’m Susanna Marsh.” She played with a blond curl that fell across her left shoulder. Susanna held herself ramrod straight. Her voice sounded a bit frosty.

      Millie