To Tempt a Texan by Georgina Gentry

Author:Georgina Gentry
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Zebra Books
Published: 2005-10-15T00:00:00+00:00

What the progressive town of Pretty Prairie needs next is fewer saloons and more families taking up residence. What will bring in more families, you ask? A good school for all the little children. We must find a way to raise enough money to build a school before autumn comes.

How could the respectable ladies raise money? Very few women had money of their own, the husbands controlled it all. Outrageous, she thought. When she called her next ladies’ meeting, she would suggest the women feed their men more potatoes and less meat. A thrifty housewife could save a few pennies that way to contribute toward the school. Still that wouldn’t be nearly enough. “I will ask the businessmen of this town to contribute,” she thought aloud. “Eugene will come through for me and maybe he can convince the others.”

Isaac frowned. “You watch that Eugene, he’s a slick one, yes?”

“My word, you must have been mixing with that scurrilous saloon bum,” Lacey snapped. “Eugene Peabody is a wholesome, wonderful man.”

“You gonna marry him?”

“What an outrageous question,” Lacey sputtered, “but some girl would be lucky to get him; he’s perfect.”

“No man’s perfect,” Isaac said matter-of-factly, “but if you love them, you overlook the shortcomings.”

“Well, I’m looking for the perfect man and maybe Eugene is the one.” Lacey felt her face burn as she imagined getting into bed with Eugene. Somehow, this pristine husband material didn’t set her pulse racing like the flawed saloon owner did. The thought shocked her. Why, she wasn’t much better than her stupid cat. “Anyway, I’m not planning on marrying anyone for a long time.”

“If you’re waiting for the perfect man, you may wait forever,” Isaac warned.

She was not perfect herself, she knew. That had to be the reason her grandfather had rejected her and sent her and her twin sister to live with their aunt and uncle in Texas while he kept the older two children. She must strive to do better. Eventually, her grandfather would realize that she was worthy, too; especially if she came to visit bringing along a superior husband.

“You know, Isaac, I’ve never understood why you don’t get married.”

“Now, how could I, when you need me so bad to help with the paper, yes?” He wiped his inky fingers on his apron.

“Reckon so. You got any ideas on how to raise money for the school house?”

He shook his head.

She shifted her thoughts to that problem. “I know,” she stood up suddenly, excited at a new idea, “we’ll put on a street dance! All the young ladies will take part because it will give them a chance to meet all the men in a respectable way. The men will all come because they’ll buy tickets and get to dance with the ladies. Even Reverend Lovejoy will approve because it’s for a good cause.”

“I don’t know. That daughter of his—”

“Now Mable is only sixteen and innocent as the driven snow.”

“Everyone says she’s sixteen going on thirty-five and the snow may have drifted a bit,” Isaac said.

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