The Rancher Takes A Bride (The Burnett Brides Book 1)

tassels covered the table and hung down to the floor. The urge to explore where meetings with the dead were held teased Eugenia, but she resisted. After all, she was here to get to know Desirée better, to see if her first impressions were correct.
    Not that she didn't think Travis was capable of finding a woman for himself. He was certainly handsome enough, but a wife and family were just not his priority. Unfortunately, Eugenia couldn't help but think that by the time he got around to finding a wife, she'd be dead and gone. And she wanted to see all of her children settled before she died. She had to know her children were happy, and if that required her manipulating the situation, then so be it. Just call her an interfering mother. She really didn't care!
    Desirée walked back into the room. She smiled, her eyes the color of grass in springtime as she sat in the wingback chair across from Eugenia.
    "Madame, I'm surprised you're here today. Your son came in night before last. I'm afraid he doesn't share your enthusiasm for my gifts," Desirée said, smoothing a wrinkle from her cotton challis skirt.
    "I know." Eugenia smiled. "Travis is the very reason I wanted to speak with you this afternoon."
    "He was quite determined that I never see you again."
    Eugenia cleared her throat. "Don't judge Travis too harshly, Miss Severin. He's a very driven man. His life revolves around our family ranch."
    "So why did Mr. Burnett insist I never see you again?"
    She smiled. "My son takes care of his own. Since his father died and his middle brother, Tanner, disappeared, Travis has consumed himself with taking care of me and our ranch. He thought you were taking advantage of me."
    The young woman brushed a stray lock of hair away from her face. "Mrs. Burnett, I am here as a service to my customers. You choose to come see me and try to speak with Tanner. I'm sorry we were unable to contact him the other day. I just keep having fuzzy images of a battle."
    "I know, dear, but it may be good news that we've been unable to reach him. He might still be alive."
    "There's always hope."
    "As for Travis, you must admit that speaking to people who are no longer living is quite unusual." Though from the looks of Madame Severin's surroundings, it was an inventive way to earn money that didn't seem to be putting her in the lap of luxury, Eugenia thought. The poor girl had only the barest of possessions.
    "I didn't choose this profession, it chose me."
    "How does one decide to speak with dead people?" Eugenia questioned, not really believing the girl could speak with dead people, but interested in her just the same.
    A pensive look crossed Desirée's face. "They start talking to you. My father was the one who told me I'd been given a valuable gift and that I should share it with the rest of the world."
    Eugenia wondered about the young woman's family. What kind of people let their daughter establish a business like this? "Your family approves of your occupation?"
    "My Papa is among the dead."
    "I'm sorry. What about your mother?"
    "I have no family, Mrs. Burnett. My mother died when I was quite young, and I had no brothers or sisters. My father's occupation kept us moving around, so I have no family ties."
    The black manservant entered the room and set the tea set down on the badly scarred walnut Pembroke table.
    "Thank you, Isaiah," Desirée said.
    He nodded and silently left the room.
    An overwhelming sense of kinship swept through Eugenia. She couldn't help but feel sorry for the young woman. Desirée was alone in the world with no one to help her, and Eugenia had been down that difficult road before.
    "You must come out and have dinner with us some evening at the ranch. We could try to reach Tanner again."
    "Thank you." Desirée poured the tea and then handed one of the china cups to Eugenia. She took a deep breath. "I don't want to sound ungrateful, but are you sure Travis would want me to come out to your ranch?"
    "Well, I must admit, he probably will growl about it. But I could invite both my sons."
    Desirée took a sip of her steaming tea. "Did you know that Travis threatened to close me down?"
    Eugenia cleared her throat. "Yes, he told me. He even threatened to get his brother involved if I visited you again. You see, my youngest boy, Tucker, is the marshal." She stood. "I should go, since I'm threatening your business by being here."
    "No, Mrs. Burnett, please sit down. I did not mean to insinuate that you should leave. I just don't think