Chapter Two
Daniel stood off to the side to let the swarm of people pass him as he scanned those getting off the bus. It helped that he was a tall man, or he’d be crushed or unable to see anything.
He hadn’t realized so many people rode on buses, but it seemed this one was packed full because people just kept streaming off it.
At the end of the line of people, Daniel noticed a small woman with long, dark blonde hair waiting for the bus driver to pull her suitcase out of the holder under the bus.
He guessed it had to be her because everyone had already left or had someone with them.
He walked toward her, ready to introduce himself, until he got a good look at her. His steps faltered, and his breath caught in his chest. Jesus, she was beautiful. No, this couldn’t be her. She didn’t look anything like her picture. But she was the only one left.
“Are you Sky Simmons?”
Sky froze. “Yes, I’m Sky. You must be Jared?”
Daniel stared at her hand for a moment before he gripped it gently. “No, I’m sorry. I’m Daniel, his foreman.”
Sky’s shoulders fell, and she bit her lip.
Daniel saw her disappointment. “He would have been here, but he had a buyer he needed to wait for back on the ranch.”
“It doesn’t matter.”
Daniel could see it did matter from the momentary loss of light in her eyes, but he kept his mouth shut. He bent to grab her large suitcase. “Is this everything you have?” he asked in shock, and looked around for another bag.
“Yes,” Sky remarked tiredly.
“Let’s go this way. I parked the truck over here.
” Daniel kept glancing at her out of the corner of his eyes as they walked toward the parking lot.
Damn, he couldn’t wait until Jared saw her.
She was small but seemed to have a little gumption.
It took guts to come across the country by herself to meet and live the rest of her life with a man she didn’t know.
Daniel lifted the suitcase into the back of the truck and opened the passenger door for her. He watched her struggle to pull herself up into the seat. It was next to impossible since she was so little and wearing a dress that hampered her movements.
“Let me help you.” He wrapped his hands around her tiny waist and lifted her. “Here you go. It’s a large truck. It’s hard for everyone to get in,” he reassured her when she jerked and gasped at his touch.
Sky watched him walk around the front of the truck and slide effortlessly into the front seat. “You didn’t have a problem.”
“I should have said everyone except Jared and me. Let’s get you home.”
****
Sky turned her head and looked out the window.
A hundred thoughts raced through her head, and she couldn’t seem to grasp one.
She knew she was exhausted. It had taken three days and two buses to get there, and it had been hard to sleep when she didn’t trust the men who sat beside her on the buses.
She’d sat right behind the driver once, hoping that would give her some security, but the driver either ignored what was happening or leered at her himself.
She swallowed back the emotions that tightened her chest and stung her eyes with tears. She would have a good cry when she was alone to release the tension that tightened her chest. That and a good night’s sleep, and she’d be back to normal.
“What’s he like?” She hadn’t realized she’d said it out loud until Daniel started to answer.
“He’s a good man. I’ve known him practically my whole life. He’s honorable and trustworthy. He looks and sounds like he eats nails for breakfast, but he’d never raise a hand to you. I can swear to that.”
Sky relaxed. That was one worry off her mind. If she was safe with him, she would be forever grateful. She didn’t expect love or even affection from the man, but if he could make her feel safe, she’d be the best wife a man would want.
“Do you want children, Sky?”
Her face brightened as she turned to look at Daniel.
“Oh, yes. I know it sounds old-fashioned, but I never dreamt of having a career, just having a family of my own.”
“No, ma’am, it doesn’t. I think you’ll fit in here just fine. Out here, you’ll find people also tend to be old-fashioned.”
“Thank you, Daniel. You have put my mind at ease. When my father pus...” she stuttered and then stopped for a brief second. “I mean, when I found the ad, it seemed to be what I was looking for.”
Daniel threw a smile at her before looking back to the road.
“Anytime. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask. You’ll always find me knee-deep in manure, but I’ll be here.”
Sky giggled and then turned her attention back to the scenery that whizzed by.
“It makes it easier to know I already have a friend here. I like knowing you’re there.
Thank you.” She settled back into the seat, hoping to rest before they made it to the ranch where she would meet the man her father forced her to marry.
She wished she had the backbone to walk away from her father, but she didn’t.
He hadn’t given her any more money than it took for her to get there, and she didn’t know what the first step was to independence.
She’d been kept isolated her whole life and was now unable to make a simple decision for herself.
She hoped that with a little bit of freedom, she’d grow and learn how to take care of herself and eventually a child.