Hannah Saves Samuel (Wanted: Wives In The West 1) Read Online Free PDF Page B

didn’t hear him at first. Maybe she was dreaming. “Hannah!” he said, his voice filled with concern. He picked her up and carried her in his arms to a chair, Margaret leading the way. He set her down and Margaret fanned her face as she recovered.
     
    “What happened?” Hannah asked, coming out of the fainting spell. She smiled at Samuel, whose face was still wrought with worry. Margaret and Samuel looked at each other, and Hannah started to remember what had caused her fainting spell in the first place.
     
    “Now, dear, everything’s going to be just fine,” Margaret said, trying to soothe her. “We’ll work out a plan to help you get Jenny.” Margaret had read the letter with Hannah over her shoulder, and was just as shocked and concerned about the situation.
     
    “Jenny!” Hannah cried out, scrambling to get to her feet. She stumbled, still weak, and Samuel reached out to steady her. “I have to be with my little sister! Where’s my pocketbook? I must book the next train back to Georgia.”
     
    Samuel expression changed from a look of relief that Hannah had come to, to a look of panic and sadness as he looked directly into her eyes. “Hannah,” he said softly, “the past few months have been Heaven to me. I finally feel I have hope for the future. You’re the kindest, most helpful and beautiful woman I’ve ever known. Please don’t leave Texas.”
     
    “He’s right, Hannah. You can’t just board a train and head back to Georgia,” Margaret said. “Now let’s get back to the ranch and make a plan. We’ll call for Pastor Littlejohn to come over as well. Samuel, would you mind stopping by the Littlejohn’s and asking for Pastor and Mabel to accompany you to our home, please?” Margaret was the much-needed calm in the storm for Hannah. Every time she thought of her ma’s passing and Jenny being there without her, scared, she felt weak in the knees.
     
    “Yes Ma’am,” said Samuel, unhitching his horse from the post and galloping down the road at top speed.
     
    Margaret and Hannah stepped into the carriage and rushed in the opposite direction. Hannah held the picture in her hand that Jenny had drawn, tears streaming down her face. Lord, what have I done to Thee to deserve this? Why must Thou put me through so much pain right when I’ve found the happiness I’ve been searching for?
     
    Pastor Littlejohn arrived shortly after Margaret and Hannah made it home. Caleb was still out on the ranch, oblivious to the chaos inside those four walls. Samuel came along with Mabel and Stanley, but he kept quiet and stood in the back, fearing he would hear the worst.
     
    Before the night was up, it had been decided. Margaret and Caleb Marshall would accompany Hannah in her fragile state, back to Georgia to collect Jenny. While there was no room for both of them to stay in their home, the pastor and his wife had agreed to let Jenny stay with them until Hannah got settled in permanently.
     
    They all knew of Samuel’s plan to ask for her hand in marriage, because he had already asked both Caleb and Pastor Littlejohn to marry her, since Hannah had no pa. But this was not the appropriate time to propose, so she would not be informed just yet. With Jenny staying at the Littlejohn’s, Hannah would get to see her all the time. She would attend school and church and get to come over for visits frequently.
                 
    Still, Hannah’s heart felt heavy at the loss of her ma. She had planned to bring them both back someday, but that day just didn’t come soon enough, and now Ma would simply remain in Hannah’s heart forever.
     
    …
     
    To Samuel Radcliff, Hannah’s trip to Georgia and back seemed like an eternity. Part of it was because he missed her so much. He had grown accustomed to seeing her smiling face as soon as he arrived on the Marshall’s ranch every day, sitting across from her at meals and stealing glances as he marveled at her inner and outer beauty.
     
    The other