Read Online Fate's Intervention by Barbara Woster - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Barbara Woster
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of a mind to marry again, so with my sincerest regrets I ’ m going to have to turn down that handsome offer. This is simply one time your daughter isn ’ t going to be able to get something she wants. ”
“ Well, like I said, son, ” Stanharbor pushed, “ The re isn ’ t any reason to rush into a decision of such importance, so why don ’ t you simply think it over and you can give me your answer when we reach Lander? ”
Matthew groaned inwardly. As far as dense went, the apple didn ’ t fall too far from the tree. Matthew had made his decision however, and the only thing that Stanharbor was getting from him when they reached Lander was his letter of resignation. He only hoped he could find gainful employment from someone at the auction, without a letter of recommendation.
Damn!
“ So , ” Stanharbor said after a few more minutes, “ didn ’ t know you ’ d been married before. What happened to your wife? ”
“ A carriage accident took away my wife and two sons, ” he said, and realized that he didn ’ t feel like the memory was ripping his heart from his chest. Then he remembered how long it had been and shook his head in bemusement. Had it really happened a decade ago?
“ That doesn ’ t happen very often. ”
“ No sir and it wouldn ’ t have happened at all if someone had trained the horses properly. The man who sold the team to the carriage renter never bothered breaking them in properly. They were too skittish , s o when the driver crossed paths with a rattler, the horses bolted, taking the carriage with it. Unseated the driver and then ran straight off a cliff without even slowing. It took two weeks before anyone found the bodies and then the sheriff had to pry the bodies from the ground – literally. The impact had driven them down a foot. ”
“ Damn sorry to hear it, son. I guess that explains why you chose this line of work. ”
“ Yes, sir, ” Matthew said softly. “ I wanted to make certain that no one else lo ses his or her lives to incompetence. I certainly can ’ t train every horse in the world, but the few I do train won ’ t bring harm down upon the owner ’ s head. ”
“ How long ago did this happen? ”
“ Ten years. ”
“ A nd you aren ’ t ready to settle down again yet? ”
“ Never will be, truth be told, ” Matthew asserted, wincing that the conversation had turned back in that uncomfortable direction.
“ That ’ s a damn shame. My Elizabeth would make a mighty fine wife. ”
Matthew cringed. He seriously doubted Elizabeth would ever be mature enough to handle a family. She ’ d probably give all her children monosyllabic names.
“ Well, while I don ’ t normally care repeating myself, ” Matthew said with a little more force, “ That man isn ’ t going to be me , s o, if it ’ s all the same to you, I ’ ll be looking for employment elsewhere when we reach Lander. ”
“ Nothing can make you reconsider? ”
Matthew tilted his head slightly. Was that a mild threat he heard behind those words? First, his boss stares at him strangely and now his tone is less than pleasant. Surely, Stanharbor couldn ’ t be as rejection - conscious about his daughter as he was about himself. If he were , would he spread rumors at the auction that would prevent him from hiring on with another family? Lord, but he hoped not.
He didn ’ t bother answering Stanharbor ’ s question. He ’ d already started collecting enough trouble. He turned his head to look out the window and gather his turbulent emotions.
“ If you don ’ t mind, I ’ d like to mount White Star and ride the remainder of the way, ” he said after a moment. “ It will probably be the last time I get to ride the magnificent animal again. ”
“ If you marry my daughter, you ’ ll be riding that animal every day. ”
Matthew opened the door and whistled at Adam to slow. As soon as the carriage was crawling along again, he leapt to the ground. “ I ’ ll see you in Lander, Mr.
“ Well, like I said, son, ” Stanharbor pushed, “ The re isn ’ t any reason to rush into a decision of such importance, so why don ’ t you simply think it over and you can give me your answer when we reach Lander? ”
Matthew groaned inwardly. As far as dense went, the apple didn ’ t fall too far from the tree. Matthew had made his decision however, and the only thing that Stanharbor was getting from him when they reached Lander was his letter of resignation. He only hoped he could find gainful employment from someone at the auction, without a letter of recommendation.
Damn!
“ So , ” Stanharbor said after a few more minutes, “ didn ’ t know you ’ d been married before. What happened to your wife? ”
“ A carriage accident took away my wife and two sons, ” he said, and realized that he didn ’ t feel like the memory was ripping his heart from his chest. Then he remembered how long it had been and shook his head in bemusement. Had it really happened a decade ago?
“ That doesn ’ t happen very often. ”
“ No sir and it wouldn ’ t have happened at all if someone had trained the horses properly. The man who sold the team to the carriage renter never bothered breaking them in properly. They were too skittish , s o when the driver crossed paths with a rattler, the horses bolted, taking the carriage with it. Unseated the driver and then ran straight off a cliff without even slowing. It took two weeks before anyone found the bodies and then the sheriff had to pry the bodies from the ground – literally. The impact had driven them down a foot. ”
“ Damn sorry to hear it, son. I guess that explains why you chose this line of work. ”
“ Yes, sir, ” Matthew said softly. “ I wanted to make certain that no one else lo ses his or her lives to incompetence. I certainly can ’ t train every horse in the world, but the few I do train won ’ t bring harm down upon the owner ’ s head. ”
“ How long ago did this happen? ”
“ Ten years. ”
“ A nd you aren ’ t ready to settle down again yet? ”
“ Never will be, truth be told, ” Matthew asserted, wincing that the conversation had turned back in that uncomfortable direction.
“ That ’ s a damn shame. My Elizabeth would make a mighty fine wife. ”
Matthew cringed. He seriously doubted Elizabeth would ever be mature enough to handle a family. She ’ d probably give all her children monosyllabic names.
“ Well, while I don ’ t normally care repeating myself, ” Matthew said with a little more force, “ That man isn ’ t going to be me , s o, if it ’ s all the same to you, I ’ ll be looking for employment elsewhere when we reach Lander. ”
“ Nothing can make you reconsider? ”
Matthew tilted his head slightly. Was that a mild threat he heard behind those words? First, his boss stares at him strangely and now his tone is less than pleasant. Surely, Stanharbor couldn ’ t be as rejection - conscious about his daughter as he was about himself. If he were , would he spread rumors at the auction that would prevent him from hiring on with another family? Lord, but he hoped not.
He didn ’ t bother answering Stanharbor ’ s question. He ’ d already started collecting enough trouble. He turned his head to look out the window and gather his turbulent emotions.
“ If you don ’ t mind, I ’ d like to mount White Star and ride the remainder of the way, ” he said after a moment. “ It will probably be the last time I get to ride the magnificent animal again. ”
“ If you marry my daughter, you ’ ll be riding that animal every day. ”
Matthew opened the door and whistled at Adam to slow. As soon as the carriage was crawling along again, he leapt to the ground. “ I ’ ll see you in Lander, Mr.
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