It wasn't long before Sarah saw Frank walk inside the café. He quickly spotted her and crossed the room to join her while removing his hat. She sighed when she saw the curls fall over his forehead again. She wasn't sure why it was so enticing for her, but on a man as big and tough as he was, that touch of boyishness called to her. One day, she would tell him.

"The food smells good," he said as he hooked his hat on the back spindle of the chair beside him. Since the checkered tables were filled with people eating, he knew the food tasted like it smelled. "I should hear back from Jacob tomorrow."

"You said you would send him a wire at the Ranger Headquarters. Is he planning to work for them?"

"As far as I know, he stopped in to say howdy. He and Brad rode with them hunting down cattle rustlers in our area a few weeks back."

Sarah's eyes grew huge. "There were cattle rustlers around your ranch?" she asked with a gasp.

"Yeah, they took some of our beef and Jacob and Brad went after them." He caught the fear in her eyes. "That's a long story I'll tell ya later. No one was in danger at the ranch. Those thieves are sneaky and did it while the cowboys weren't around."

"I hadn't realized that living so far from town would make people want to steal what you have."

"Sarah, your town may seem peaceful, but I assure you, it isn't without crime. Those in law enforcement just keep it quiet because of that school. I would guess that they patrol the school and nicer neighborhoods such as yours. At our ranch, we do it."

Rose arrived at their table and set a cup of hot tea in front of Sarah and a glass of cold tea in front of Frank. "Frank, this is my friend, Rose. She and her husband own this café."

He lifted from his chair to nod his hello. "Pleased to meet a friend of Sarah's."

Rose smiled and told him it was her pleasure, and then bent down and spoke in Sarah's ear saying, "He's a handsome devil."

"Yes, and he's a charmer too." Sarah watched her giggle as she went back to work and then looked at Frank who was grinning while shaking his head.

"I've known Rose since we were young children. When I returned from meeting all of you, I told her about it and my plan to visit Lori. She knows you've come to escort me to your ranch. I couldn't afford to let anyone know about your request to court me," she said quietly. "That would have rumors flying and ruin my plans to leave."

He drank half the tea in his glass and set it down. "I understand how people talk. In Richmond, we had our share of busybodies too. Did she forget to take our order?"

"No, I ordered for us. The pot roast is the best. Most prefer it over the meat pies. I hope you don't mind."

"No, that's fine." He leaned his forearms against the edge of the table as he leaned towards her. "You need to hear the news from the beginning. Over the past month, a lot has happened. Gil already told you Lori was getting hitched, so I'll start there." Sarah smiled with excitement. "Lori already married that mountain man. We approved of him, but that didn't matter much. She had made up her mind. They plan to live at the ranch."

"I'm not sure what to ask about first. The fact she married a stranger or that he's an actual mountain man." She cringed at the thought of her parents learning that fact.

Frank continued to explain about the past month. However, he left out most concerning anything to do with Lori, except the way she trained horses. "You have to understand that my sister will want to tell you all about how she met her husband and about that wedding. It's her story to tell. For now, I'll just say she's loved and happy."

Sarah smiled at what he said. "I'm happy for her. He must be an incredible man to win her heart that fast. Especially, after being raised by her extraordinary brothers."

He liked hearing her approval of him and his brothers. "That's a mighty fine compliment, Sweetheart. We did what we could as young men. Truthfully, our scale was using what we remembered from Mom and Dad to teach her and Bo." Her expression told him she approved.

"All of you have a strong sense of family. The confidence and kindness shows in Lori too. Only a fool would be blind to the abilities you each possess."

There was one thing that always crawled up his back when a person was too free with compliments. He suspected they were after something.

Sarah watched how his expression changed. "I'm sort of repeating what Lori told me," she said with a laugh. "I believe it though." His face relaxed and she wondered why. "Are you allowed to say why you had to go back to Virginia?"

"Lori had an old wannabe suitor that wouldn't give up. She wanted to have a talk with him, so we went. That's why the trip didn't take long."

"You traveled that distance just so she could talk to him? Why didn't she just mail him a letter?" she asked in shock.

"Hell, she told him once before and it didn't work. This time she proved why he wouldn't want her as a wife—and don't ask for details. Ask her. We need to talk about us instead."

Frank noticed the cook carrying two plates towards them and leaned back so she could set them down. He spread a napkin over his lap and watched as Sarah did the same.

"You've made me very curious," Sarah admitted. "I can't wait to hear her explain not only this but what she knows regarding how to defend herself. That's something I want her to teach me."

"She'll enjoy that. But if we leave tomorrow, they'll be a week behind us. Now back to us."

Frank leaned in and took a whiff of his food and picked up his fork. It was then that he noticed Sarah watching him. He would've wondered why if the answer hadn't been in her eyes. Men could tell when a woman was attracted to them. Since she wanted to go with him and she trusted him to keep her safe on the trip, he saw it as encouraging.

He took a bite and it was so tender and juicy his eyes closed with pleasure.

She watched him eat and waited since he seemed to enjoy it so much. When his eyes opened she asked, "I don't want to sound like I'm worried, but with Lori delayed; will I be the only woman at the ranch?"

"No. My brother Brad got hitched the same day as Lori. You'll like Kate. Lori did."

"I'm sure I will." Sarah liked that he was happy with his brother's new bride but also wondered if his family always rushed into wedlock. "Has he known Kate for long?"

"They met four years ago when Brad bought the land from her father. Kate was wondering if he'd ever get around to courting her."

"Did he court her for long?"

"A week, I think."

Sarah almost choked. Apparently, a courtship lasted only as long as it took to get their partner to the altar.

"Lori told me I'd be staying with her in the pretty room her brothers made for her, but since she's married, will she be staying at the house?"

He could see her rethinking the situation. "Brad and Kate took that room. You'll be staying in the bedroom next to theirs. I share a bedroom with Thomas down the hall. But once we get Lori's house built, we can begin building our own. That is if you agree to marry me." He hoped that would make her feel easier about her future. He sort of skipped over her question about where Lori would be staying. "Perhaps we can also pick out a spot for a schoolhouse. A spot near the road would be best."

"How long will that take?"

"What, to build a house or the school?" He grinned when she only stared at him. "Both. Well, we have a lot of ranch hands to help." He picked up a yeast smelling roll and tore it in half to sop up the juice from the meat. "Gregor plans to bring back some of his relatives to help build the house, stables, and other outbuildings he has planned. With a crew as big as that, we can likely have both houses up in a few month's time." He watched her worry her lip. "If you keep that up, your lip will get sore."

She grinned and released her lip. "Brad told my father about your ranch when they met. Father speaks often of how all of you catch wild horses and then train them. He was impressed with all the work it takes to run a place like that. I can't wait to watch Lori ride. She was extremely excited about working with all of you. Will her husband object? Some men don't like their wives... Why are you laughing?"

"Lori has a mind of her own. You can only reason with her. Demanding anything won't get you anywhere. Besides, Lori owns a percentage of the horses she trains. It's a family business." He pointed his fork at her plate. "Eat up, Sweetheart. Your food's getting cold."

She did as he requested, but couldn't stay quiet for long. "You've brought up the topic of getting married multiple times and now building our house. Usually, courtship is a time when two people get acquainted and consider marriage. But you actually want me to be your wife, don't you?"

"Sarah, I made up my mind before I came or I would never have mentioned courting you. I'd have just spent time with you at the ranch."

He wiped his lips and set the napkin down as he leaned back to explain. "You're an intelligent, educated woman who's as beautiful as she is sweet. I'd be an idiot if I thought I'd be the only one interested in you. But neither would I let an opportunity slip away to at least try to win your heart.

"You see, I felt something strong for you the moment I saw you. Truth is, I thought you had some of the same feelings for me." When he said that, she tipped her head to the side, her eyes emotionally soft. "I never expected you to jump right into a marriage with me, though I'd do it if you were agreeable. You have the summer to see if that's possible."

She felt the relief his words gave her. Lori told her he had a good ear to listen and understand others. He was proving that to be true.