An Unexpected Love (The Colorado Brides Series Book 5) by Carré White Page A

was Ryan. His face was shaded beneath a broad-brimmed hat. A bundle of pretty wild flowers came my way.
    “These are for you.” He handed them to me, grinning. “I’ll see you on Friday.”
    Stunned, I could only stare, while Jack called to Sally Anne, the horse picking up her hooves.
    “What was that about?” asked Fanny.
    “Looks like he’s sweet on you,” said Connor.
    “Oh, shush.”
    “He got you some pretty ones too,” murmured Mary.
    “What’s Friday?” asked Fanny. “Is there something we should know?”
    “It’s a social in town,” I said, gazing at the flowers in my hand.
    “I’d love to go to a social,” said Mary. “I’m sixteen after all. I’d love to meet a handsome farmer or a miner or—”
    “Stop that!” I was floored by the surprisingly romantic gesture, staring at Ryan, who stood at the edge of the property watching us leave.
    “A social, hum…” Fanny turned to look at me. “I thought you were going to marry Wesley Hornsby?”
    “I…suppose I am, but he hasn’t asked to marry me.”
    “He’s working,” said Jack. “He’ll be back. I’m sure he’ll get on one knee then.”
    “Not if this fella beats him to it,” laughed Fanny. “It looks like a foot race now. Poor Wesley might not stand a chance. Isn’t that the man who saved you today from being burned?”
    “Yes.”
    “Well, that was awfully nice of him.” Susanna smiled prettily. “He’s still standing there staring after us. He’s smitten all right. He must like a girl who smells like coal tar.”
    My cheeks had begun to heat. “That’s enough. It’s just flowers.” Something moved upon one of the flowers, crawling on my hand. It was a ladybug.
    “Well, if Mary and Jane want to go to the social, I suppose that would be fine,” said Fanny.
    “What about me?” asked Susanna. “I’m fourteen, and I’d dearly love a dance. I might not be ready for marriage yet, but a glass of lemonade and a cookie or two would be nice indeed.”
    “Susanna, if you feel compelled to join your sisters—”
    “I do.”
    “It looks like we’re going into town Friday evening, darling.”
    “I don’t want to burst anyone’s bubble, but let’s see how the rest of the week transpires,” said Jack. “We might have to save our crops too, if they’re attacked.”
    “But those efforts didn’t work at all,” objected Fanny. “There’s no reason to waste time flailing the grass and burning things down, if it makes little difference.”
    “I know.”
    “There’s still light. When we get home, we’ll check our field. I have faith that we’ll be fine.”
    He grinned at his wife. “Yes, ma’am. I’m partial to a woman of faith.”
    “Oh, now I know you’re pulling my leg.”
    “Not at all, my dear. I knew the first time I saw you.”
    “That’s an outright lie,” she giggled.
    “You remember our first meeting?”
    “How could I forget? That’s when you told me I had inherited five children. I was rather shocked by the news.”
    “And then you proceeded to rail at me.”
    “And you said I was the most obnoxious woman you ever met.”
    He grinned, nodding. “You gave as good as you got. I was properly chastised, I’ll tell you. I’d never suffered such a verbal lashing. That’s when I knew you were the perfect woman for me. You had fire and passion.” He murmured, “You still do.”
    “Oh, my land.” Her cheeks had reddened. “You’re teasing me horribly, but I’ll forgive you.”
    It was entertaining listening to them discuss their first meeting. From what I remembered, they argued frequently in those early days, and then I had foolhardily run away, which inadvertently brought them together. It was while they were searching for me that they realized they were in love. They had been inseparable ever since.
    I didn’t want to envy them…but I did.
     

Chapter Eleven
     
     
    By some miracle, Fanny and Jack’s crops weren’t ruined. The insects hadn’t discovered this cultivated