The Wrangler's Mail Order Bride Read Free Page B

exchanged glances before Tripp continued. “It’s been a rough time for them—for all of us, losing Katie. I’m sure Hank will tell you all about it, but we thought it might help for you to be prepared. It’s a full house.”
    Clara’s heart tugged at the thought of a family of that size—any size, really—losing their mother. One that was obviously loved. She wondered how she could help, how she would fit in.
    “You’ll see tomorrow. You’re the guest of honor at the ranch for lunch. You’ll meet everybody then. And you can get to know Hank. I do know that they’re in a hurry for you to get married. I heard there was some sort of timeline in his grandpa’s will that said he had to be married within a month after his death to inherit the property. And that’s soon.”
    Clara shook her head, her mind fuzzy as she tried to piece things together. “I don’t understand why that would be in his grandpa’s will. As a requirement.”
    “Nobody understands it, Clara. This was Katie’s father, and she’s not here to shed any light on why this might have happened. It was a big surprise to everybody, including Beau and Hank. All anybody knows is that a wife is what it will take to inherit the land. And it’s land that Beau feels will be very important to the ranching operations,” Tripp explained.
    Sadie cleared her throat. “Yes, Beau feels it’s important, so it’s important.”
    “Now, Sadie…” Tripp took her hand and squeezed it.
    “I’m sorry. I just have my opinions.”
    Clara and Tripp both burst out laughing. “Oh, so you know that too, Tripp?” Clara said as Sadie narrowed her eyes at them both.
    “Yes, I do. Seems we have much in common, Clara. Understanding Sadie is one of them.”
    “And admiring her, of course,” Clara said with a twinkle in her eye as she looked at her friend and realized how much she’d missed her.
    Clara’s heart skipped a beat as she realized where she was, and what she’d done. It suddenly hit her like a cold burst of air—she was in a different part of the country, completely foreign to her, and soon to be married to a man she’d never met. She shook her head at the strangeness of it all, wondering if she’d made the right decision.
    She was relieved and comforted that Sadie liked Hank and Tripp seemed nice enough, but she sensed that there was more that they weren’t telling her. A wave of exhaustion washed over her and she suddenly longed for a bath—and a bed, just as Sadie had predicted. Closing her eyes and leaning her head back against the seat of the coach, her exhaustion got the best of her.
    “Clara? Clara, are you all right?” Sadie said, leaning forward.
    She slowly opened her eyes, rubbing them with her handkerchief. Tripp’s furrowed brow and Sadie’s frown shook her out of her musings.
    “Oh, please don’t worry. It’s been a long journey, and I’m very tired. I wanted this—I do want this—and I’m very anxious to meet Hank. All of them, actually.
    Her smile felt weak, but it was there. She hoped that after she’d gotten some rest, she might feel a little more like smiling. Right now, though, all she wanted was sleep. Tripp and Sadie fell silent as Clara’s head fell to the side, her mind free of worry—for now.

Chapter 4
    C lara’s eyes fluttered open and for a moment, she wasn’t sure where she was. The terrain out the window had changed again, and she saw what she thought were tall cactuses, based on the pictures she’d seen. She reached into her valise and pulled out a worn book, rubbing her hand over the soft leather that covered it. She opened it to a page with pictures of cactus and tried to match the pictures to what she saw out the window.
    Tripp and Sadie dozed in the seat across from her, Sadie’s head resting on Tripp’s shoulder, and Clara smiled. She breathed a sigh of relief at the sight of them so comfortable together, her heart swelling at the thought that she might have something like that too, one