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 looked into Susanna’s light blue eyes and smiled. There was a challenge within the other woman’s that almost caused Millie to laugh. Had the other women already heard she was Levi’s first pick in a mail-order bride? If Susanna’s sulky look was any indication, they had.
Hannah took over the conversation once more. “Millie, I’d like you to meet Emily Rodgers.”
A dimple in Emily’s right cheek flashed as she offered a shy grin. “I’ve heard a lot about you, Millie. I’m glad you decided to join us for supper.”
“Really, Emily. We don’t even know her. How can you sit there and pretend to like her?” Susanna snapped. She stood and walked to the window.
Emily offered Millie another grin. “I don’t have to pretend, Susanna. Some folks you just know you’re going to enjoy being around the moment you meet them. I think Millie is one of those people.”
Millie decided to speak up before Susanna could respond. “Thank you, Emily. I’m sure you are right.”
Susanna
