Page 43 of Texas Glory
Austin’s face burned bright red. “You were just so proud of it, and what we think isn’t important. What matters is what Dee thinks of it. Maybe you ought to ask her.”
Ask her if she hated the house as much as she hated her husband? Not if he lived to be a hundred would he ask her.
“I like the house,” he stated flatly.
Austin gave him a weak smile. “Then there’s no problem. Let’s go eat.”
After tethering Precious to a nearby bush, Cordelia watched with growing trepidation as the men approached. Each had quickly washed at the water pump before slipping back into his shirt. For that small act, she was extremely grateful. She didn’t think she could eat if Dallas’s chest had remained bare.
She had laid three quilts around a wooden box. Amelia had set platters of beefsteak strips and potatoes on the box, plates and utensils on the quilts.
Amelia sat on one quilt. Houston dropped beside her, Maggie nestled in his arms. “Looks good,” he said.
Cordelia knew it was pointless to hope that Austin would sit on the quilt beside her, but she found herself wishing anyway. He gave her a smile before he took his place on the opposite quilt.
On the small quilt, Dallas seemed incredibly large as he sat beside her.
“This isn’t one of my cows, is it?” Dallas asked.
Houston smiled. “Probably. He wandered onto my land. What was I supposed to do?”
“Send him home.”
“Not on your life.”
Austin held out his arm. “Will you lookee here? I’m the only one without a woman to share my quilt. Maggie May, come sit with me.”
Her face bright with excitement, Maggie jumped up, crossed the small area, and rammed into Austin. Hissing sharply, Austin moved her aside with his good arm.
Houston snatched his daughter back into his arms. “You all right?” he asked Austin.
Austin had paled considerably, but he nodded. “I’m fine.”
“Sorry,” Maggie said, her bottom lip trembling.
He smiled. “It’s all right, sweetie. I’m still a little sore.” He patted his thigh. “Just come sit beside me, not on me, all right?”
Ever so carefully and slowly, she crawled over the quilt and sat beside him.
“What happened to your arm?” Cordelia asked.
A hush fell over the gathering as everyone looked at Cordelia. The heat rushed to her face. “I’m sorry. I didn’t think to ask before.”
Austin appeared uncomfortable as he answered, “I got shot.”
“Dear Lord. Outlaws?” she asked, horrified at the thought.
“Cattle rustlers,” Dallas said as he slapped potatoes onto his plate. “But they won’t be bothering us anymore.”
“I’m grateful to hear that,” Cordelia said. She cut her meat into tiny pieces, eating sparingly.
“You don’t eat enough to keep a bird alive,” Dallas said.
She glanced up to find him glaring at her plate, his brow deeply furrowed. She couldn’t very well tell him that whenever he was around her stomach knotted up so tightly that she could barely swallow.
“I’ve never been a big eater,” she said quietly and dropped her gaze to her plate.
“Guess I’m just used to watching men eat,” Dallas said gruffly.
