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Her words caught Hugh’s interest. He’d performed the marriage of her brother Conner and his wife Kate a few months ago.

They’d adopted the baby that had been left on Conner’s doorstep, spent a few months in a cabin, and then had moved into the big ranch house.

It seemed Annie was feeling like an extra spoke in a crowded wheel.

She went on facing Hugh with what appeared to be patience and a whole lot of determination. “Here’s what I propose. Give me four weeks to prove I can handle the job. If you aren’t satisfied, I’ll leave. If I prove I can handle the task, I expect you to honor your offer.”

Why was she so desperate for a marriage that he’d clearly indicated would not be a love arrangement? What sort of whim or desire to prove something drove her to seek this position? How long before she changed her mind and chased after another fancy?

“Annie,” her grandfather bellowed. “I will not allow it. You can’t live in the house with a man you aren’t married to.”

She smiled sweetly at him. “I expect you to live here too.”

The old man blinked, opened his mouth, and closed it, then sank to the nearest chair and leaned over his canes. “You’re determined to do this, aren’t you?”

She nodded.

“Then I might as well stop arguing. But it still depends on Hugh’s agreement. What do you say?”

Annie waited for Preacher Hugh’s reaction.

He was a big man with strong features. At the moment, his expression was troubled, but she knew he had deep dimples when he smiled, and his smile was beautiful.

His dark brown hair was rumpled, his dark brown eyes troubled as if worried about how he would cope with his young son.

As she’d said, her suggestion was the perfect solution.

After four weeks, he’d be used to her and have learned to appreciate all she could do.

Then they’d marry. A marriage of convenience would give her a home without any risk to her heart.

One thing she’d learned in her—according to Hugh’s opinion—few short years, was that it hurt to care.

People, pets, everything either died or left and when they did, a part of her heart fractured off and lay dying.

Her mother’s death had ripped a huge hole in her heart.

Her brothers had married, and she rejoiced for them, but it left her lonely.

Her pa had gone to see more of the West. He said he’d always wanted to see the Pacific Ocean.

She hoped he enjoyed his travels, but for her, it was another goodbye.

And don’t get her started about how easily beaus left.

Rudy Ryman had taught her that lesson very well.

She’d been foolish enough to unreservedly give him her heart.

Not even her family realized how thoroughly she’d loved that scoundrel.

..or imagined she had. It still hurt to recall how easily he’d left when he decided he would sooner know adventure than share his life with her.

Besides, no matter what Kate and Conner said, she and Grandfather were in the way.

She’d admired Hugh from afar from the day he arrived in Bella Creek, drawn to his unwavering determination to find his son and to his kind but challenging sermons on Sunday morning.

He was a man she could trust to keep his word.

A marriage based on mutual needs was perfect for her.

She had no intention of ever again giving her heart to a man.

She swung her gaze toward Evan. Poor little boy.

She could feel the fear coming from him.

It rivaled the sour smell of him. He needed clean clothes and a good bath.

She tucked a smile away as she imagined Mrs. Ross trying to bathe him.

The little guy had a feral look to him. Had Hugh tried to get Evan near water and clean clothes?

Hugh still hadn’t given his answer, and she shifted her attention to him, amused at the desperate look in his eyes that she guessed he tried vainly to hide.

“Four weeks?” he asked, his voice full of doubt and regret.

She nodded.

“Or until I find someone more...”

She knew he meant to say more suitable, but he quickly changed his mind at the way she silently challenged him. How dare he consider her less than ideal! Why she could out-bake, out-clean, out-take-care-of anyone in the entire West.

“More mature,” he substituted with a little cough.

She raised her eyebrows. “I hope they don’t break down the door in their urgency.”

A flicker in his eyes informed her that he understood her sarcasm.

After all, how many unmarried young women were there in the Wild West of Montana?

A worrisome thought raised its head. She could think of two spinsters in the Bella Creek area.

Had they seen the notice? How far abroad had he sent the ad for a wife?

Well, she was here and not anyone else, and in the four weeks that they had, she’d prove herself so invaluable he would never want her to leave.

Hugh shifted his attention to Grandfather. “And you’re willing to stay here?”

Grandfather nodded. “Wouldn’t want her reputation ruined.” The men studied each other, some sort of agreement forming.

Annie resisted rolling her eyes. What was it about men that they thought they could hide their feelings from her.

..from any woman for that matter? As plain as the nose on either of the male faces, she knew they both thought she would get this out of her system, and they could all get back to their ordinary lives.

She could have informed them it wouldn’t be that simple.

She had no intention of staying at the ranch and becoming the spinster sister who everyone endured and pitied.

She could almost hear the whispers of her brothers and their wives.

Can’t you take her for a few months? She’s been with us long enough.

Hugh turned to his son. “You think you can deal with him?”

Annie smiled at Evan. “What do you think, Evan? Can you and I get along?”

For an answer, he pulled into the corner as far as he could. He wasn’t ready to trust her, nor should he. For all he knew, she meant him harm and not good. It was up to her to prove otherwise.

“We’ll get along just fine.” She spoke as much to Evan as to Hugh.

Hugh rubbed his chin and sighed. “I’m desperate enough to accept your offer.”

“Try not to fall all over yourself in gratitude.”

He had the grace to look embarrassed. “I’m grateful and desperate.”

She had the grace to overlook his predicament. “Grandfather, we need to return to the ranch and get our things.” She studied the weary old man. “Actually, why don’t you stay here and get to know Evan while I go?”

Grandfather gave her a grateful smile. “Don’t mind saying that’s the best offer I’ve had in a long time. That cold is bitter.”

“I’ll be back.” She looked around her at the unwashed dishes Mrs. Ross had left in her hurry to escape the frightened boy in the corner.

“I’ll take care of things when I return.

” She hurried outside. Winter afternoons were short, and she had to pack up enough to last her and Grandfather a few weeks and get back to town before the cold deepened as darkness settled in.

She could arrange for her other things to be delivered after she and Hugh were married.

Her jaw muscles twitched. She liked the preacher just fine. A marriage to him would suit her: a home and a family of her own without the risk of opening her heart.

She ignored the blaring warning that it might prove more difficult to guard her heart than she imagined, especially with a little boy who needed a wagonload of patience and understanding.

Heavenly Father, give me wisdom and patience to deal with little Evan.

She’d gone into the parsonage wearing a stylish red woolen cape but now pulled on a heavy winter coat that her brother Logan had outgrown, wrapped a buffalo robe around her legs, and turned the wagon toward home.

Wanting to spare the horses, she kept them to a slow trot.

By the time she’d covered the four miles to the ranch, her hands were numb, and her face ached from the cold.

Her brothers Conner and Dawson both ran out as she drove up as if they’d been waiting and watching for her return.

Her brothers did their best to take care of her even though she didn’t need it.

Besides, they now had wives. Dawson, the eldest at twenty-six, had married beautiful Isabelle Redfield, and they made a home with his daughter, six-year-old Mattie, in a house to one side of the main house.

Conner, twenty-four, had married the doctor’s daughter Kate. They had recently left a cold cabin and moved into the main house with little Ellie.

The youngest brother, Logan, at twenty-two and three years older than Annie, had married Sadie, the schoolteacher, and they lived in town with the three children they’d rescued and adopted.

The family had changed. Like Pa had said when Ma died, You can’t hang on to things. They don’t last. But life goes on. Her brothers had moved on as they should. It was time for her to do so as well.

Dawson lifted her from the wagon and hollered at one of the cowboys to take the outfit to the barn.

“Don’t unhitch,” Annie said. “I’m going back to town.”

Conner and Dawson rushed her indoors, pulled the heavy coat off her, and faced her like two defending soldiers.

“Where’s Grandfather? Is he sick?”

“What’s this about going back to town?”

Kate came to the doorway. “You look half frozen. You two let her come in and have a hot drink before you cross-examine her.”

Her brothers stepped aside and allowed her to follow Kate to the kitchen. Little Ellie smiled at her from the highchair, where she ate bits of bread.

“Hey, pumpkin,” she said to the baby before she sat at the table and took the tea Kate offered.

“Grandfather and I are going to live in town.” She explained about Hugh and little Evan. “They need someone.”