Read An Unexpected Love (The Colorado Brides Series Book 5) for Free Online

but something had captured his attention, and I worried that perhaps there might be flour on my face or dough in my hair.
    “Oh, bother,” murmured Hannah, who had returned. “We need to get Charlie down for a nap soon. He’s so fussy.”
    Ryan snatched his hat off the back of the chair, placing it on his head. “Good afternoon, ladies.”
    “Good afternoon, Ryan.” Hannah seemed amused for a moment, her eyes darting between us. After he had left, she quipped, “Someone sure has taken an interest in you.”
    “Oh, I doubt that.” I reached for the bucket. “I’m going to get water.”
    “He’s smitten.”
    That was utterly ridiculous. “No, he’s not. With me?”
    “I do believe so, unless there was a ghost standing behind you.”
    “He was only…being polite.”
    “Ha! I think he’s sweet on you. He didn’t say one word during lunch. He was too busy staring at you.”
    “Oh, stop that.” As I went to the door, I couldn’t help wondering if what she had said were true, but none of it mattered in the end, as I was already spoken for. My beau was in the mountains for a spell, and, when he returned, he would ask for my hand.
    Charlie’s nap was lengthy enough to allow Hannah and I a bit of a respite, chatting while drinking tea for an hour, and then dinner preparations needed to be attended to. Before I left to retrieve my siblings from town, I folded the laundry on the line, glancing into the field often to observe the men digging trenches, which I assumed were for irrigation purposes.
    “I’m off,” I said, approaching Hannah, who stood on the front porch.
    “That was fast.” She hugged me, while Charlie ran after a chicken. “I don’t think he’ll catch it.”
    “Did it get loose?”
    “Yes,” she laughed. “Now we’ll spend the rest of the day going after the darn thing. But it’s wonderful exercise for him. He’ll be plum tuckered out by supper.” The little boy stumbled after the animal, shrieking with happiness, but the bird was faster, easily escaping his clutches.
    “I’ll be back tomorrow.”
    “Enjoy the ride. It’s beautiful.” She scanned the horizon. “We really could use some rain, though.”
    The horse was already yoked to the wagon, which Nathan had been kind enough to attend to. I grasped the reins. “Bye, Charlie!”
    Letty had come out to the porch. “You can’t leave yet! We didn’t have story time.”
    “I’m sorry, pumpkin. We’ll do it tomorrow, I promise.”
    Her lower lip protruded. “Oh, fine.”
    “Go on, Sally Anne,” I called to the horse. “Go, girl.” I waved to Hannah, glancing over my shoulder, as she stood in the yard with her children. Today had been productive, but there would be more work tomorrow. It never ended.
    Later that day, while Mary and Susanna helped make dinner, I had some time alone. Finding solitude in the bedchamber, I sat in the corner and read poetry, John Keats being one of my favorites. I adored “Bright Star”, and I couldn’t help wondering whom he had written it for. His wild romanticism appealed to me at the moment, as I yearned for the feelings it evoked. But my solitude didn’t last long, as I had to put the book away, having been called to dinner.
    In the morning, the house was alive with a chorus of noises, the sound of feet stomping and boyish laughter. After I had shepherded my siblings outside and into the wagon, Fanny appeared to bid us farewell. She held Thomas in her arms.
    “How I wish you could stay.”
    “You need a maid, Fanny. Someone like Hannah has.”
    “I know, but it’s not so bad when you’re here. What a long week, and it’s only Tuesday.”
    “I’m sorry.”
    “No need. I’m just spoiled having you help me.”
    Jack had been kind enough to prepare the wagon for us. He was on his way to the barn. “Have a safe trip! I have a list of chores for everyone, for later,” he called. This announcement was met with groans and unhappy rumblings.
    “I’ll see how much I can get done