Abigail's Mail Order Husband: Texas Prairie Brides, #2

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KATEWHITSBY

Abigail's Mail OrderHusband

Texas Prairie Brides: Book 2

Dedication

To YOU, The reader.

Thank you for your support.

Thank you for your emails.

Thank you for your reviews.

Thank you for reading and joining me on this road.

Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Connect With Kate

Copyright

Chapter 1

The light gig trundled to a stop under the wooden archway at the entrance of the Double A Ranch. The man driving it dropped the reins and turned to the woman next to him.

Are you sure you want to do this? he asked. We could always go live somewhere else.

She shook her head. I get to live in the cottage for free as long as I give Florence piano lessons once a week. We would never get that kind of deal anywhere else. We should take advantage of it as long as it lasts.

Grant Ewing, Texas Ranger, gazed up the long driveway toward the ranch house. I don’t like it. From what you told me, things could get crazy around here. Come on, Abigail. We just got married. Let’s do ourselves a big favor and go off some place by ourselves where we can be quiet. We’ll get to know each other in peace, without all the mayhem and drama.

Abigail gave her new husband a sad little smile and patted his hand. I know how you feel, and believe me, I feel the same way. You couldn’t pay me enough to go near that house when Florence Abbot was in one of her foul moods. But I live in the cottage. We won’t be anywhere near the house, and no one will disturb us in our own home. If we don’t want to see or talk to anyone, all we have to do is close the door, and we’ll be all alone.

That might be the case when we’re in the cottage, Grant returned. But what happens when you have to go up to the house to give Florence her piano lesson? You can’t escape the insanity then.

Abigail chuckled. I think Florence has learned her lesson. I think she’ll be a different person now, after Bill Bailey saved her life. She thought he was a blood-thirsty killer. I think she understands now that she was blowing things out of proportion. I think she'll be much easier to deal with from now on.

Grant made a face. That’s asking a lot, isn’t it? You’re assuming she’ll be different after her narrow escape, but she could slide back into her old ways anytime.

Do you know what? Abigail replied. She even told me, before we went to town, that she wished Bill and Grace, his mail-order bride, would stay on the ranch. That on its own tells you how much she’s changed.

Grant’s eyes widened. If she said that, after doing everything she could to drive them away, then she really has changed.

That’s what I’m telling you, Abigail told him. I really believe she’s turned a corner. I’m looking forward to seeing how she changes over the next few days and weeks.

Grant took up the reins again. All right. We’ll stay here. But if things turn the other way, if Florence or anyone else starts making trouble for us, we’re leaving. Do you hear me?

Abigail smiled and nodded. I think Grace and Bill have the same agreement. After the treatment Grace put up with from Florence over the last two years, they aren’t about to forget it in a hurry. If Florence acts up again, they’ll leave. I know Bill would like to leave now, but Grace wants to stay and make some more money before they go.

Grant clucked to the horse, and the gig started forward. Do they still plan to go homesteading out in the Rockies somewhere?

That’s right, Abigail replied. Bill will finish breaking those mustangs running around west of the ranch. After that, they’ll leave.

Grant surveyed the ranch on either side of the gig. I don’t blame him for wanting to leave now. I always wanted to try striking out into the Frontier. I’d like to try my hand at living off my own resources, with nothing but a rifle and an axe.

Abigail laughed. I think they’ll be taking more than that. They’ll have livestock, and a wagon, and a couple of horses, barrels of barley-meal and salt, a suckling pig—you can’t just strike out into unknown territory and hope for the best. Not with a new wife to look after.

Grant grinned sideways at her. And what do you think a new wife has to do with it? I know lots of wives who are happy to do the same thing. They go live out in the wild West, and carve the place out of the virgin wilderness. People are doing it every day, and some mail-order brides are traveling across the country to do just that.

I don’t think I would like that very much, Abigail returned.

You might, he told her. You never tried it.

Neither have you, she shot back. It’s a daydream to you. You might really hate it. Anyway, if you’re so hot to try it, what’s stopping you? What are you doing in Texas, if you want to carve out a homestead in the virgin wilderness?

I’ve got a job here, he told her. I’ve got a duty, now that I’m riding with the Rangers. I can’t just turn in my badge and go. Besides, I’ve got a wife to think about now. If we’re going out West, we would have to do it together. You’re not even willing to leave this ranch, much less head out to the Frontier.

No, I’m not, Abigail replied. Not yet anyway. We’ve got a long way to go before we do that.

Chapter 2

The gig rolled to a stop in front of the cottage. We’re here, Grant announced. Why don’t you go inside? I’ll go put the gig away.

Actually, Abigail replied, I want to go down to the house and check on Florence. I just want to make sure she’s all right, after that man held a knife to her throat. She was pretty distraught when we left.

Leave her alone, Grant told her. She’ll be fine.

Abigail shook her head. I just want to make sure. I’ll be back to the cottage before you finish in the barn.

He turned away, but didn’t answer.

Abigail caught his hand. It’ll be all right. It’s only for a few minutes.

Don't say I didn't warn you, Grant grumbled.

Abigail climbed down from the seat, and Grant drove away toward the barn. Abigail watched him out of sight and smiled. Then she strode across the yard to the big ranch house, but she didn’t mount the front steps. Old habit sent her around the back of the house to the kitchen door.

The moment her foot touched the kitchen steps, the door opened and another young woman in a white apron came out. Oh, Abigail, you’re back. I didn’t expect you.

Abigail smiled up at her. I didn’t think you were back from town, either, Grace. I thought you and Bill would spend a little more time to yourselves before diving back into work.

Grace laughed. I didn’t want to come back right away, but Bill didn’t want to come back at all. He said if we’re coming back, we might as well do it, because he wants to get started on those mustangs. He said the sooner he finishes with them, the sooner we can leave.

Why did you come back, anyway? Abigail asked. I thought you were happy about leaving.

I never really had a chance to think it over, Grace replied. One minute, I’m being dismissed from my job, the next minute we’re planning to leave for the Frontier, and the next minute Florence changed her mind about us. My head is still spinning from it all.

Abigail nodded. It’s a lot to take in all of a sudden.

I’m still not convinced staying is a good idea, Grace continued. Florence could change her mind again at the drop of a hat, and then we’re right back where we started.

That’s exactly what Grant says, Abigail told her. He doesn’t think we should live in the cottage at all. He thinks we should go live somewhere by ourselves, especially since we just got married. Do you know, he likes the idea of homesteading out in the wilderness, too.

Grace’s eyes flew open. He does? How about that? Hey, wouldn’t it be a hoot if we went together? Then we wouldn’t be alone. We would have each other to rely on. The one thing I don’t like about the homesteading idea is being so far away from other people. Just one other person to talk to would make all the difference.

It does make the prospect sound a lot better, Abigail replied. But I’m not ready to go homesteading just yet. Maybe later. If Florence makes a nuisance of herself the way she did before, making our lives miserable, I might come around to the idea, but not yet. I’m happy here. We’ve got our own cottage where we can get away from everybody else. Unless something changes, I want to stay here for now.

Grace came down the rest of the kitchen steps. When she reached the ground, her head only came up to Abigail’s chest. I understand how you feel. I’m not ready to leave yet, either.

Abigail took her by the hand. Good, then. We agree, and we’ll be here together for a little while longer. I’m happy about that. I didn’t like losing you like that, Grace.

Me, either, Grace replied.

Abigail dropped her voice. Have you seen Florence since you got back?

Grace shook her head, and her eyes darted toward the kitchen door. She knows I’m here. Kathy told her when she took her dinner tray up to her room. But I don’t have the nerve to face her myself.

Abigail nodded. "I don’t blame you. She’s been so horrible to you these last few days.