Free Mail Order Romance Bundle #1 by Lisa Page Page B

sibling. She always wished for a brother to have someone to relate to who would ease her loneliness. But she'd always feel guilty for wishing for a sibling when it was because of her birth that her mother almost died and could have no more children. She wondered if she and Sam would have children of their own someday; the thought of her mother's experience made her extremely fearful of the whole idea.
     
    When they finally got to the ranch, the sun was setting, framing the ranch in a beautiful pink orange light as they pulled up and Josie got the view of her home for the first time. There were posts on the drive leading up to the house bearing the words, 'Dawson Hill Ranch'.
    “Dawson Hill Ranch? You never told me your ranch had a name? I love it!”
    “Not much of a name. Just the hill that the Dawsons live on. It's part of the brand that my father created.”
    Josie looked closer at the house as it came into view and smiled to herself at the sight of the porch swing. Just as she'd hoped for. Her new home was beautiful. She loved Texas and she loved her new home at Dawson Hill Ranch.The house wasn't as large as the one she left behind in Pennsylvania, but it was a nice looking home. There was a short, plump, white haired man standing on the porch and smiling at them as they arrived. Josie recognized him right away as Murphy, his eyes twinkling just as how Sam had described them.
    He greeted her in his Irish brogue and invited them in for some vittles. She'd read stories and Irish fairy tales and Murphy seemed very much how she imagined a leprechaun to be. He exuded a magical happiness that made her break out into a smile. Even though she'd not exchanged letters with him, from Sam's letters, she felt as if she knew him, too. He welcomed her to the ranch and helped Sam bring her trunks and bags inside.
    After a tour of the house, they sat down for a dinner of stew and cornbread. Though the ranch hands had their own, separate quarters and didn't sleep in the house, they did take their meals there. Josie had forgotten about that in her vision of a quiet, romantic wedding dinner with her husband. The hands were eager to meet Sam's new bride. As Josie sat at the table she felt a little bit uncomfortable with all eyes on her, but they were all very polite to her, calling her ma'am and taking off their hats at the table in a way that told her they weren't used to doing so and only did so tonight for her benefit. There was Gus, Caleb and Henry, who was the youngest, even younger than Josie. Sam looked around and asked where Luke was. Gus answered that he was still in the barn but was on his way. And just after Sam asked about him, Luke appeared in the doorway.
    “There you are, Luke, we're just ready to get started. Our first dinner with the new lady of the house. Why don't you come over to meet her.”
    Josie wasn't sure if she was to stand or not, but he came over to her. He looked a lot like Sam, with the same dark hair and nose and jaw. But he was a bit taller and instead of the green eyes that Sam had, Luke's were dark brown, almost a black. He was an imposing figure and there was something about him that seemed familiar. For a second Josie didn't know how that could be, until she realized what it was. It was the way he looked at her with those dark eyes. She knew that look. It was the same way George looked at her. She felt a chill go through her whole body, down her spine all the way to her toes. His eyes were hungry and he looked at her like she was a piece of meat. She looked down into her lap for a moment and then looked up again to find him still staring at her.
    Sam said grace and they started on the stew. Josie was shaken but tried to be rational about the situation. She was more sensitive to the looks that men gave her because of her previous experience. She shouldn't assume yet that Luke would be the same.
    The other men were kind and full of good natured humor and banter. The conversation at the table was lively.