Joe frowned but said nothing. “That will be up to Bethany, but I don’t have time to escort her.”
“Perhaps Gina can take her?” Devin called from the barn. In that moment, Ben knew he had the blessing of the older Moore brother, if not the younger. His heart swelled with hope and determination, but also uncertainty about what lay ahead.
“All right, Ben,” Joe said finally, his eyes searching Ben’s face for any hint of deceit. “I’ll talk to Bethany’s ma this evening.”
As Regina Moore strode across the dusty barnyard, her long brown hair glimmered in the sunlight. Her voice was firm yet sweet as she asked, “Talk to me about what?” Ben couldn’t help but notice Bethany’s striking features were a mirror image of her mother’s.
“Mrs. Moore, I’m Ben Kendrick, your neighbor down the hill.”
“I know who you are, Mr. Kendrick. Tommy talks about you all the time.”
Ben hid a grin. “Yes, ma’am. I came to let you know Tommy isat the Chapmans. He got injured and has been recovering there. I took Bethany there, as she wanted to make sure he was all right.”
“Oh, praise God,” she murmured, lifting her hands in a praying motion. “Thank you for answering my prayers, Lord.” Her gaze shifted back to Ben, filling with gratitude mixed with concern. “Thank you, Mr. Kendrick, for all your help. My family owes you a debt we can never repay. Would you like to stay for dinner?”
Ben noticed a slight shake of Mr. Moore’s head.
“Perhaps another time, ma’am. I would like to invite you and Bethany to come visit my sister Tessa once Bethany has settled back home.”
“Of course. May I bring Millicent? She’s my youngest daughter.”
“Tessa would like that,” Ben grinned. “It would be an honor for me to see Bethany after church on Sunday.”
“I don’t recall seeing you at church, Kendrick,” Joe drawled.
“Hush, Joe,” Regina whispered. “I think that would be delightful. I think all of us will see you there.”
Joe’s disapproval was clear on his weathered face, but he didn’t argue further. His jaw clenched tightly as he digested the news.
Ben tipped his hat to her and smiled, feeling much lighter than when he first rode into the clearing. “Yes, ma’am.”
As he rode away from the Moore’s house, he could hear the rapid chatter of their voices in the background. Emotions churned inside him as he thought about his plans to win over Bethany’s family and ultimately gain her love.
It took a while to reach his ranch as he had to circle back around by the line shack and cross at the narrow part of thecreek. He rode by the Chapman and Hartman ranches and crossed back over the creek at the stagecoach bridge before passing the Hartman ranch once more from the other side. Guiding his horse by the beaver pond, he could see Petunia was long gone, no signs of the traps she had placed by the pond.
His stomach was rumbling as he realized he had had nothing to eat since breakfast, and it was close to suppertime now. He had never left Tessa alone for this long before, and he prayed she was all right.
As he rounded the corner of the house, what he saw took his breath away. There, on the front porch, stood Tessa. Her petite frame trembling with determination, her normally soft eyes hard as steel.
She had her finger on the trigger of the rifle Ben kept behind the door, standing in front of a dandy, who was all cool and composed. He had light pants without a wrinkle to be seen, and a dark blue jacket with brass buttons that fit him like a glove. A black hat sat atop his neatly combed hair as he stared down the barrel of her shotgun.
“Hey,” Ben called out, digging his heels into the side of the horse and reaching for the rifle in the scabbard. “Get off my property,” he demanded as he approached the front porch.
The man turned, and Ben recognized him from town. They had never met, and Ben didn’t know the man’s business. For Tessa to pull a weapon on him, that meant she must have been frightened.
“Oh, Ben!” Tessa called out, relief flooding her voice. “I’m so glad you are home.”
He slid from his horse and stepped onto the porch, putting himself between the man and Tessa. “Get inside, Tess,” Ben said.
“Tess?” The man grinned. “That’s a beautiful name for abeautiful lady.”
“Girl,” Ben corrected. “She’s a girl. Now, what do you want?”
The man laughed. “Ingrid Chapman said you might not be cordial, but I had to stop by anyway. You’re Ben Kendrick?”
Ben tightened his grip on the rifle. “What of it?”
“Name is Theodore Mitchell. Arrived in town a couple of weeks ago.” The man gave a delicate sniff. “Just in time for the rain to start.”
