The Texan's Dream by Jodi Thomas

Author:Jodi Thomas [Thomas, Jodi]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Contemporary, Fiction, Romance, General, Historical, Texas
ISBN: 9780515131765
Google: tAr1kMWB4VgC
Publisher: Jove Books
Published: 2000-12-31T16:00:00+00:00

SIXTEEN

“NOW, IF YOU’RE MAKING THE LITTLE LADY FEEL UNWELCOME …” Snort began, his crooked finger pointing in the general direction of Jonathan.

Jonathan stared over Snort’s head at the windows. Low clouds moved in the west, almost as dark as his mood. The ranch was losing cattle. He had no idea how much money he had in the bank. Willis was hurt, maybe dead in Fort Worth, and all Snort worried about was Kara’s feelings.

“Yeah, or maybe you’re talking to her too rough.” H. B. added his thoughts. “Women seem to mind yelling and swearing. They want to be asked how they’re feeling and the like, even if it don’t matter a flea to you.”

“That’s right.” Snort fell into step. “And they like having someone spend time with them. Near as I can tell, if a woman has her druthers, she would never be alone. Even old widows travel in flocks ever’where they go. You’ll see an old man sitting in a saloon having a drink all by hisself, but you never see one old woman alone, not even in church. I think they’re converted in rows at most revivals just to fill the pew.”

Jonathan lowered his stare to the two old-timers in front of him. Suddenly these two retired rangers, who’d never been married and only presumably had mothers, were experts on women. “I didn’t do anything to make her cry,” he said for the tenth time.

“Well, you must have done somethin‘,” Snort accused, lifting his gunbelt a few inches as if getting down to the business of investigating. “ ’Cause I seen her running down the hall, water dripping off her face like she was a natural spring.”

“And she didn’t come down to breakfast,” H. B. pointed out. “That’s something she’s never done before. Not since I’ve known her.”

“She hasn’t even been here but a few months,” Jonathan reminded them, but it didn’t seem to be a factor. “We’ve more important things that need discussing besides Miss O’Riley’s moods.”

In truth, he’d been thinking about her most of the night instead of sleeping. He went over and over what had happened by the windows when they’d been wrapped in velvet and the night. She’d been as willing as he. She even asked … no, begged … him to kiss her.

“What?” Snort pulled Jonathan back from his thoughts.

Jonathan moved closer to the two men and lowered his voice. “I saw the shadow moving across the courtyard again last night.”

“Sure it wasn’t just some cowhand out for a walk? You know, Lefty can’t go a night without at least one trip to the privy ever since that time he was shot down by the Rio Grande.”

“Where was he shot again?” H. B. asked.

“Right south of El Paso. He was riding with Walker, crossing back and forth over the river getting rustlers when the army wouldn’t touch them.”

“I was on a few of those raids. One time …”

“Gentlemen. It wasn’t Lefty.” Jonathan shook his head. “He moved from shadow to shadow, hiding, making sure all was quiet before he moved again.

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