When she’d finished, she placed her dishes on the small table beside her, loathe to go in. The day held hope and new life, and she wished to bask in it. The door opened, and she glanced over her shoulder to see Ander.

  “Good morning. You couldn’t sleep either?” she asked.

  He threw a glance in her direction and stretched in the morning sun. “It just dawned on me that we’re minus a foreman. I’ve got to go kick the men out of their bunks.”

  “It shouldn’t be too hard on such a beautiful morning as this.”

  He sent her his quizzical look, his eyes darker than usual. “So, when do you want to get married?”

  “What?”

  “I think you heard me.” He moved forward to lean against the post, gazing out toward the river.

  “I haven’t said I’d marry you.”

  “Say it then.”

  Libby should have risen from her chair and stomped into the house, or at least demanded he turn to face her. She did neither. Instead, she said in a soft voice, “Yes, I’ll marry you.”

  Then he turned to her, a grin splitting his face. “So when?”

  “Next spring?”

  The smile slipped from his face. “Why can’t we marry now?”

  “I thought you didn’t like short engagements.”

  “We’ve known each other a year.”

  “I believe eight months and disliked each other during most of that time.”

  “Not true. You disliked me, not the other way around.”

  “Still, I’d like Father to be here, so we can’t marry right away. Even if we posted a letter today, it’d take him weeks to get here.”

  “Why do we need your father?”

  “Don’t you want to ask for my hand in marriage? Besides, Father could marry us.”

  A dog barked and then a wagon drove into the yard. A booming voice shouted, “Libby?”

  Libby jumped from her rocker, leaving it clicking against the planks. She shaded her eyes for a better look. “Is that my father?” It couldn’t be. It was as if appeared out of thin air.

  Ander’s eyes sparkled with laughter. “I believe it is, and he couldn’t have timed it better.”

  “What is he doing here?” She stared at Ander, incredulous.

  “I wrote him a letter when I decided to marry you and invited him for a visit.”

  She searched his eyes, so full of color from the morning sun. “You did? When?”

  “The day we arrived.”

  “But that was weeks and weeks ago.”

  “I know.”

  She stared at him a moment and then laughed. “Well, then I guess we can marry when you’re ready.”

  “I’m ready now,” he whispered to her.

  Libby’s father made it up the steps and shook hands with Ander and looked at his daughter. “What? You’re not happy to see me?”

  She threw herself into her father’s arms. “I’ve never been happier.” And she cried on his shoulder.

  After Ander carried her father’s bags in, he left to see to the ranch hands. While her father washed up, Libby prepared breakfast. She doubted if anyone else would come down for breakfast, but she left the food on the side table, as Anita had always done.

  Over breakfast, her father told her the news from home. A lot of changes had been made in the sheriff’s department, but otherwise, things were the same.

  They lingered over their coffee, enjoying each other’s company.

  He smiled at her. “You say you’ve never been happier. I take it this has been a good experience for you?”

  She shook her head sadly. “You should never have allowed me to come with Robbie and Taron.”

  “So, are you ready to go home? I should have left my bags packed.”

  “No, Daddy! I never want to leave.”

  “You’re confusing me, child.”

  “You won’t believe what I’m going to tell you ...” She paused, attempting to arrange her thoughts coherently, a difficult thing to do.

  Her father watched her quietly for a moment and then spoke. “Now you have me in suspense.” He grinned affectionately.

  “There’s so much to tell ...”

  He nodded for her to continue.

  “To begin with, Taron is a gambler and almost lost the ranch. He stole those horses from Ander, who now owns the ranch because his mother had to buy it from the creditors and then deeded it to him and Taron was engaged, no, had an agreement with the neighbor’s daughter and broke it off, and then he gambled the horses away, and Ander tried to buy them back, but old man Stewart didn’t want his son to sell them and there was a scuffle and Ander was shot and was arrested and Stewart accused him of stealing the horses when he was only buying them back, but Taron’s sorry now, and I hope he is, and his lawyer wrote to the judge, explaining everything that happened, and the judge wants to give Ander half a million dollars of Stewart’s money when he hangs, but Ander refused, saying it’s not right, although, not only is he penniless, he also had to take out a loan to buy the horses back, but at least he still has the ranch, and so we decided to use the money for charity, but we haven’t decided which charity —”

  “Whew, child! Take a breath!”

  “But I didn’t tell you the most important part.”

  “I didn’t understand half of what you told me. I only caught the last part. You said ‘we decided to use the money for charity.’”

  “Yes. The judge is going to give Ander money because he was arrested and was innocent, and also because Ander was shot and the sheriff never even called for the doctor, and Ander is still having problems —”

  Her father held up a hand to stop her. “I suppose that’s the judge’s prerogative. So, who is the ‘we’ of which you speak?”

  “I mean Ander and I will set up a charity, and I’ve decided it should be for those who have gambling addictions. Please don’t mention that. I haven’t discussed it with Ander yet.”

  “So, you’re going to be working with Ander? Who will take over as nanny?”

  Libby leaned toward her father to pat his arm. “Oh, I didn’t tell you Robbie had her baby! Last night ... well, actually this morning. It’s a girl.”

  Her father nodded his head. “This, then, is an immediate need? For a nanny?”

  “Abby probably can. She’s the foreman’s, well, the former foreman since he ran off with Anita —”

  “And Anita is?”

  “She was the old housekeeper. And I thought Taron was being unfaithful...”

  “Libby, my head is spinning! I agree! I should never have let you come.”

  “But, Daddy! If I hadn’t, Ander would never have asked me to marry him! Just this morning, right before you drove up, he proposed. Well, he actually didn’t propose, just assumed. And I probably shouldn’t have said yes so quickly —”

  Her father massaged his temples and gave her a sideways glance. “I thought you didn’t like Ander?”

  “That was before I knew what had happened, all he has gone through, and he is the kindest man ... most of the time. Sometimes he does get a bit irritable, and he’s set in his ways —”

  “Libby, do you want to marry this man or not?”

  “Yes, Father, I do.” She folded her hands in her lap.

  “I have never seen you like this. I suppose because you are in love?”

  “Either that or it’s because I didn’t get any sleep last night.”

  “Why don’t we remedy that situation? Both of us could probably benefit from a little shut-eye.”

  They stood and Libby came around the table to give her father a hug. “I’m so glad you’re here. There’s so much more I have to tell you.”

  He held up a hand. “It can wait until after our nap.”

  Chapter Fifteen

  Libby and Ander had been married a week, the most wonderful week of Libby’s existence. She was practical enough to know this feeling of euphoria would not last and determined to wring as much enjoyment from it as possible.

  Father joined them for a private picnic, down at the river, under the weeping willow.

  “So, what do you think? Can you convince Ander?” She smiled at her husband who had been quieter than usual.

  “I have to agree with my daughter. I’ve never seen such artistry.”

  Ander glanced at her father through his lashes. “Excuse me for saying so, but you’re not an expert.”

  “All the more reason to go,” Libby said. “Let an expert see your work. Do you want to keep carving them and adding them to the tables until they overflow onto the floor?”

  “It’s a big house.” He grinned at his wife.

  “It won’t be any skin off our nose to find out if your work will sell. Besides, we can visit your mother.”

  “You might regret that.” His voice was flat, and Libby couldn’t tell if he was joking or not.

  “Son, you have a great talent that you do not need to hide from the world. It’ll be a nice trip for you and Libby.”

  Ander finally nodded. “I’ll go. The trip is to see Mother. While we’re there, we can visit a few art galleries, mainly to browse. I just hope I can trust the new foreman to see to things.”

  “Taron will be here,” Libby said.

  “I hope I can trust him, too.” Ander grimaced at his words.

  Libby touched her husband’s arm. “That’s why Father will stay here. He can keep an eye on Taron for you.”

  “I’ve spoken to him several times now,” Father said. “I do think he’s sincere.”

  “Well, his sincerity has fooled a lot of people up to now.” Ander sighed.

  There was a rustling and then a cowboy appeared. He took off his hat and nodded at them. “Howdy.”

  Ander stood and introduced them. “This is my wife, Libby, and her father, Mr. James. This is Joshua Flint, our new foreman.”

  Joshua had an eager expression on his face and grinned from ear to ear. “Nice meeting you folks. I can’t tell you how happy I am Mr. Ander gave me this chance. I’m going to do him proud.”

  Libby nodded and smiled. “I’m sure you will.”

  “You’ll do fine, son.”

  Joshua’s warm brown eyes almost popped from their sockets. “I’ll do my best, that I promise.”

  Ander gave him a slap on the back. “Let’s get going. We have a lot of work today.”

  They left and her father raised his eyebrows to Libby. “He seems rather young.”

  “I told you that Ander is virtually penniless. He didn’t have the funds to hire an experienced foreman. And Joshua is young, twenty-five, I believe Ander said, but I think he’ll do fine once he has some experience under his belt.” She frowned.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Anita’s brothers left — that’s three ranch hands short, and with Ander gone ...”

  “Now you’re starting to worry.”

  “I’m not worried, only concerned.”

  “I know you think I’m old but I have a lot of life left in me, and Walter can help out, too.”

  “Poor Walter!”

  “Why poor Walter?”

  “I’ve ignored him since we’ve been here.”

  “He hasn’t been totally ignored.”

  “He hasn’t?”

  “No. A widow lady lived with her daughter and son-in-law here on the ranch. It seems Walter has struck up a ... friendship with her.”

  Libby grinned. “I’ve got to meet this lady!”

  “I’ll introduce you, right now if you’re not busy.”

  “Let me gather our things, and I’ll be ready.” She quickly packed the basket and folded the blanket.

  “Promise me you won’t be jealous.” Her father’s eyes twinkled.

  “Walter is quite a catch, but Ander is the one for me.” She took her father’s arm, and they strolled from the sheltering limbs of the willow, out into the sun.

  Epilogue

  Walter planned to drive Libby and Ander to the train station in the carriage. Their bags were packed, one bag filled with nothing but Ander’s carved figures, carefully wrapped to prevent damage.

  The family, including Libby’s father, gathered in the sitting room, Libby holding the baby one last time before leaving on the trip.

  “Joshua is doing a great job with the men. He’s young, but they respect him. Heck, you’re young, too, and look what a great job you do,” Taron said to Ander.

  Ander frowned. Libby had already noticed Ander did not like compliments, was suspicious of them, as if the person complimenting him was endeavoring to get the upper hand.

  Robbie kept her eyes on Catherine as if she didn’t quite trust Libby not to drop her child. Robbie’s eyes flitted in Ander’s direction. “Joshua seems like a competent young man.”

  Ander nodded. “Y’all don’t need to keep reassuring me. I’m sure things won’t fall apart while I’m gone any more than they do while I’m here.” He cleared his throat. “I’ve been working on something in my spare time...”

  “You have spare time?” Taron asked with a laugh.

  “Admittedly, not much. Let me show you.”

  He went into the hallway and returned a minute later with a cradle. “This is a gift for Catherine.”

  He set it on the floor, and Robbie knelt beside it. “This is the most beautiful piece of furniture I’ve ever seen!”

  Birds and trees were carved in wooden medallions that adorned the cradle, along with swirls and flourishes.

  “It’s not my best work, but I’m glad you like it,” Ander said.

  “Thank you, brother.” Taron pulled Ander into a hug.

  When Taron released him, Ander spoke. “We’ve really got to be going. Are you ready, Libby?”

  Libby hugged Robbie and Taron, closing her eyes and sending up a prayer that Taron would not do anything foolish while they were gone.

  Then her father pulled her aside. “Don’t let Ander worry and you don’t either. Enjoy your trip.”

  She hugged him and kissed his cheek. “I feel better with you here. Keep an eye ... on things for us.”

  Everyone followed them out and stood on the porch and waved goodbye.

  Ander wrapped his arm around Libby’s shoulder, and she laid her head on his chest. “Did Taron tell you to build a cradle for Catherine?”

  “No. Why?”

  “I asked him to tell you, before Catherine was born.”

  “He didn’t.”

  “So, it was your idea to build a cradle for Catherine?”

  “Yes. A baby has to have somewhere to sleep, don’t they?”

  “That’s what I said.”

  She lifted her face to his and searched his eyes in all their glorious colors and wondered how she could have ever preferred blue. His warm lips met hers, and he wrapped his arms more tightly around her, and a heartbeat sounded in her ear, his or hers, it didn’t matter, for they were one.

  I HOPE YOU ENJOYED reading Libby and Ander. Please consider leaving a review on Amazon or Goodreads.

  This is the second novella in the Texas Triad series. If you enjoyed Libby and Ander, perhaps you’ll enjoy my other books, available on my Amazon page, including the first novella in the series, Robbie and Taron. Get your copy today!

  Note from the Author, Abagail Eldan

  Let’s connect! Find me at the following locations:

  Abagail Eldan’s Amazon Author Page

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  Abby and Joshua

  Sometimes the force of a tornado pulls us from the mire,

  but other times the soft breath of a cowboy is all that is required.

  Abby is older than Joshua Flint, heavily pregnant, with a brood of children, and distrustful of men. Why, then, is Joshua so deeply attracted to her? Anyway, as the new foreman, his duties keep him too busy to pursue a younger woman who vies for his attention, much less someone like Abby. Yet again and again, he finds himself drawn to her.

  Abby vows never to seek love after her husband’s betrayal. His whereabouts remain unknown, and besides, her duties as housekeeper and nanny leave her exhausted and too overwhelmed to form even simple friendships.

  Yet a good-looking, young cowboy keeps showing up at her door ... even at the most inopportune times.

  *Clean read.*

  Excerpt from Abby and Joshua

  Three Brides

  Texas Triad, Book 3

  Abagail Eldan

  Chapter One

  THE YOUNG COWBOY TIPPED his hat. “There you go, ma’am. Mr. Babbitt wanted me to get these to you right away.”

  “No need to call me ma’am, Joshua. You make me feel old.” And she was, maybe not old but older. Why, he wasn’t even out of knee britches when she’d first moved to the ranch ten years ago. Back then, she’d been young herself, only nineteen, and naïve, not realizing most men went after what they wanted, regardless of the consequences.

  She gazed into his smiling face, forgetting her disillusionment for a moment. “Please tell Mr. Babbitt thank you for me.”

  “Yes, ma’am, I mean ... Abby.”

  He tipped his hat again, but before he could leave, four-year-old Susie pushed past him. Shrieking to wake the dead, she barreled into the kitchen. “Momma, Momma! Tait hit me.” She hid behind her mother, holding onto her apron.

  Tait, his eyes blazing with fury, charged in, brushing against the young foreman. Joshua caught her son by the arm and then shot Abby a look.

  She gave him a slight nod, and he knelt to hold her son at arm’s length. “Why did you hit your sister?”

  “I didn’t hit her, I kicked her. I was bringing in the firewood for the stove, and she kept tripping me.”

  Susie spoke from behind her. “You were stepping on the drawing I did in the dirt.”

  Tait twisted his body to glare at his sister. “How was I supposed to know? I couldn’t see with a load of firewood in my arms.”

  “Well, Tait ...” Joshua said, keeping his gaze locked on her son.

 

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