Pioneer Love: Damaged Hearts Head West: Mail Order Bride 5 Bundle by Indiana Wake Read Free Book Online Page A

Ian with a will so strong that she couldn't ignore it a minute longer. She found the strength to get up to go and tell Ian the truth and to confess her feelings for him. They would tell Ryan together and hopefully he wouldn't be too crushed by the news and would bestow his blessing.
     
     

     
     
    Ian sat in the barn and watched Anna race away from him. Despite her limp she was fast and she disappeared out the door and fled. He could not face her and sat down on the cold floor of the barn and prayed for guidance. It had seemed so right to tell her his feelings. Yet she had not reacted the way he expected. Did she feel the same? Could he have found love or was she just being nice to her future husband’s brother? Maybe that was it; maybe he had fooled himself and fallen for her pretty face when she felt nothing for him. So how could he face her? Would he be able to apologize and live here if she were married to Ryan?
    The minutes ticked away and soon over an hour had gone and he had not been able to answer his questions. Maybe he should talk to Ryan and explain how he felt, but that would just stir up a hornets’ nest of trouble and all for nothing. It was time to go in and to speak to Anna. He would get over this feeling of loss, get over seeing her with his brother or would he?
    As he trudged through the snow to the house he knew he wouldn’t. If Anna married Ryan then he would have to leave.
    Shaking off the snow he wondered what to do. Should he go talk to Ryan? No that would be foolish. If Anna really felt nothing for him then he had to hear it from her. Once he had, he would say no more on the matter; he would simply wait until after the wedding and he would leave.
    With that thought clear in his mind he set off to find her. First he tried the library, but she was not there. Then the dining room and the rest of the house. The only places he hadn’t looked were her room and his brother’s study. With a heavy heart he climbed the stairs and knocked gently on her door. “Anna it is Ian… Let me in we need to talk.”
    There was no answer and he felt a deep panic start inside him. Had she come back to the house? “Anna please, I just want to talk.” Still there was no reply. “If you don’t answer I am coming in.” A great fear clasped on to his heart and he opened the door hoping beyond hope to see her sat on the bed. But she was not. The room was empty and there was no sign of damp on the floor like there would have been if she had come in. Now he was really panicked.
    Slamming the door he raced down the stairs and to Ryan’s study. Bursting through the door. “Is Anna here?” he yelled. “Have you seen her?”
    “No brother, not since earlier,” Ryan said.
    “I have done an awful thing and I think she may have run off into the storm,” Ian said.
    Ryan jumped to his feet and raced to the door. “Come on lets go,” he said.
    Ian turned and led the way down the corridor. “I told her…”
    “It doesn’t matter. Let us find her first,” Ryan said.
    Together they saddled a horse for Ryan and Ian harnessed Kindle up and attached her to the sled. If Anna was hurt they could get her back easier that way.
    As they set off into the wind Ian watched his brother. As always he was there for him, calm and resourceful with Ryan there they must find her. Guilt sat like cold grease in his stomach and he had to tell him. “You have to know,” Ian shouted.
    Ryan turned and tipped his hat so Ian could see his eyes. “What, that you love my intended,” Ryan said.
    Ian felt as if he had been sucker punched. “How?”
    “I think you have loved her since you first met,” Ryan said as they rode out into the storm. “It is all right neither of you owes me anything, and I can’t think of a nicer couple. So come on lets go find the girl and tell her that she has to settle for second best.”
    “What?” Ian said with mock outrage. “I think she chose the best brother.”
    As they rode into the wind Ian knew