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wasn’t much Rose couldn’t do, but she didn’t like cows and she was perfectly happy to confine herself to work around the house. He had no problem with a girl wanting to ride a horse or chase cows, but he didn’t understand why a girl wouldn’t want to be a girl. It would be tragic if doing what her brother couldn’t do made her think of herself as more of a man than a woman. There was no place in Texas society for a woman like that.
    â€œI think it’s time you headed back to the house,” Salty said after he’d explained a cattle drive in as much detail as he could provide. “If you want to know more about cows, ask Monty when he comes in. Hen can tell you everything you want to know about fighting Indians and rustlers. They’re George’s twin brothers. I’m just a cowhand who likes working around the ranch.”
    He was sorry if that disappointed Ellen, but he never wanted to have to defend his ranch against Indians or rustlers. He didn’t have to worry about that because he didn’t have a ranch. Or the prospect of getting one. He didn’t even have enough money to buy a pitifully small farm. He would probably end up working for George Randolph for the rest of his life.
    * * *
    â€œNow that my wife has satisfied her curiosity,” George said to Sarah when she’d finished recounting her journey, “would you like to tell us what prompted you to undertake such a long trip? Am I right in assuming you meant to arrive here, that we’re not merely a stop on a longer journey?”
    Sarah had known this moment was coming. She had prepared what she was going to say, but she hadn’t expected to meet a couple like George and Rose Randolph. She’d been invited into their home, had her comfort and that of her children made a priority. She didn’t have to be told to know they would take a personal interest in her story.
    â€œThat’s rather awkward to explain, and a little embarrassing.”
    â€œThen don’t explain.”
    â€œI have to, or you won’t understand why I need your help.” She picked at an imaginary string on her dress. “I live on a large ranch I inherited from my father. My husband didn’t come home from the war. I’ve hired several men over the last six years, but that hasn’t worked out. I don’t even know the size of my herd because they never had time to count them. Now I can’t afford to pay anyone enough to work for us. If something isn’t done soon, I’ll lose the ranch.” She paused. Once she uttered the next sentence, she could never take the words back. “My only alternative now is to marry again. A husband won’t require the wages I can no longer afford to pay.”
    â€œAre you sure you have to do this?” Rose asked. “Don’t you have family you could turn to?”
    More embarrassment. It wasn’t her fault Roger’s family had abandoned her, but it felt like it. “My parents are dead, and Roger’s family has turned their backs on us.” She refused to embarrass Jared by disclosing that he was the reason for the estrangement.
    â€œI would have thought you’d have had better luck finding a suitable husband in Austin,” George said. “There are only a few single men working on ranches this far from town.”
    Sarah wanted to avert her gaze, turn away, leave the room, but she had come this far. There was no point in losing courage now. “I interviewed quite a few men for the job without letting them know that I had something more in mind. I stayed in Austin for nearly a week without finding a man I felt I could accept as a husband.”
    â€œIt’s not as simple as that, is it?” George asked. “You want someone who can help bind the family together.”
    â€œThat’s right.” Sarah was immensely relieved that George understood. “I need someone who can help me make Ellen