Hope by Barbara Goss (best novels for beginners .txt) 📕

Daniel’s eyes soften. “Was it terrible growing up in an orphanage?”

“Not really. The staff treated us well. Except for Miss Grimwell, whom we called the Grim Reaper. It wasn’t warm and fuzzy like growing up in a family probably feels, but when you’re an orphan from birth, you don’t know the difference.”

“I promise you: we’ll have a large family. You’ll never be lonely again.”

“There was Betsy, my best friend. Oh, dear!”

Daniel sprang to his feet. “What? Are you all right?”

“Oh, yes. Sorry. I just remembered poor Betsy. I promised to write her when I arrived in Oregon. Can you get me writing supplies?”

“Sure. I’ll post the letter for you when I go for supplies tomorrow.”

“Well, Mrs. Townsend, how does it feel to be up and around again?” Esther asked the following day while Hope sat at the kitchen table snapping beans.

“It feels wonderful. I miss Daniel’s attention, though.”

“He’s proven to be a devoted husband,” Esther said. “I bet his father was just like him.”

“You must miss Joseph. I know I do.”

“Yes,” Esther said with a soft sigh. “He was a wonderful employer. And a bit of a romantic, too.”

“Romantic? How do you mean?”

“Well, leaving half the farm to you and half to Daniel shows how much he wanted the two of you together. It sure got Daniel to go looking for you. That’s how he found out about the stage robbery.”

Hope felt her heart drop to her toes. “Joseph left me half the farm in his will?”

Esther’s hands flew to her face. “Oh, I thought you knew. I’m sorry.” The housekeeper sighed. “Oh dear! Daniel should have warned me not to say anything.”

“Let me get this straight: Daniel came for me after he found out I owned half the farm?”

“Well… not the same day. A day or two later, I think. It doesn’t really matter, does it? You two are in love and married anyway.”

“No, it doesn’t matter.” Hope got up and went up to their room. She paced the floor, thinking of what a fool she’d been. All this time she'd thought he'd loved her for herself, but now she found out he might have just wanted the whole farm. Did he love her at all? Joseph hadn’t known their kiss and hug had been staged—he must have wanted her to feel as if she were a part of the family. Oh, Joseph! What a sweet gesture he'd made to have included her in his will, but now she didn’t know if Daniel loved her or her half of the farm.

She was heartbroken and disappointed that Daniel might not truly love her but only told her he did just to get the land. If he truly loved her and had no ulterior motive, why hadn’t he told her about the will? She had to fight back.

What should she do? She continued to pace.

Should she pack up and leave?

No, the thought of going on a stagecoach frightened her. She’d never ride one again. Besides, why should she leave her promised land and house behind?  Perhaps a confrontation with Daniel would help.

No, he’d only deny that his motive had been the farm.

Daniel had been so attentive while she recuperated—could he be that good of an actor, and was he cunning enough to want to stay married to her just to keep his land?

Hope had an idea. There was only one way to determine whether Daniel loved her or his blasted land: she’d sign over her share of the land to him and insist upon their old plan in which she’d get twenty acres, a house, and an annulment. What would he do then?

Chapter Nineteen

Daniel came in from working out in the fields and washed his hands in the kitchen sink.

“Something smells good, Esther.”

“It’s chicken and dumplings, your father’s favorite. I miss him, Daniel.”

“I do, too.” He dried his hands. “What time is dinner?”

“Six, as usual, but…”

“What?”

“I…um…be sure to tell Hope I have a chocolate cake for dessert.”

Daniel nodded. He’d been sure Esther had something important to tell him. Daniel shrugged and went upstairs. He was always anxious to see Hope after he hadn’t seen her for a while. Daniel found her sitting in a chair, reading.

“Hey, sweetheart, what are you reading?”

“The Woman in White. It’s a mystery. I found it in the office.”

“Esther said to tell you she has a chocolate cake for dessert.”

Hope stood and folded her arms in front of her.

Daniel could tell by her lack of a smile, something wasn’t right.

“What’s wrong?”

“What’s wrong? For a start, how about you keeping things from me?”

Daniel knew immediately what she'd meant; she must have found a copy of the will in the office.

“I can explain.”

“Why would you omit the fact that your father left half the farm to me? Let’s see…” Hope brought her finger to her chin and tapped it. “Oh, yes. I know why: because then I might not consummate the marriage. I might also insist on taking my share of the farm and that you get the annulment.”

Daniel sat on the edge of the bed, shaking his head slowly. “No. You’re so wrong. That’s exactly what I thought you’d think, and that’s why I didn’t tell you.”

“Rumor had it,” Hope said, “that you went to find me right after you found out about the will.”

“I did, but not because of that. I missed you.”

“So, you found me and buttered me up by telling me you loved me when all along you just wanted the whole farm.”

“Hope, that’s so untrue. How could you even think that? I do love you.”

“I’m moving my things into the other bedroom, and I want you to start the annulment proceedings and start building my house.