Page 87 of Texas Glory
She gave a brisk nod. “I knew several days ago. I just thought it would be better to wait until … until now to tell you.” Her gaze darted up, then down, and her cheeks flamed red.
He stood and walked to her end of the table, a thousand sentiments thundering through his mind like stampeding cattle. He wanted to kneel beside her, take her hand, kiss her brow, her nose, her chin. He wanted her to look at him, but she just stared at the damn eggs so he spoke words that conveyed little of what he was feeling.
“I’ll come to your bed this evening then, if that’s agreeable to you.”
She nodded brusquely. “I’m sorry.”
“Maybe we’ll have better luck tonight.”
“I hope so.”
With a purpose to his stride, Dallas stormed from the house, yanked Satan’s reins off the corral post, mounted the black stallion, and kicked him into a gallop. He rode fast and hard over the plains until his brother’s house came into view. The past ten days had been hell: wanting to hold Dee, knowing she had no interest in his touch.
It was strange but he had to admit he wasn’t disappointed that Dee wasn’t yet carrying his son.
He still desired a son, but the urgency of his dream had lessened. What he wanted now was a few more nights stretched out in Dee’s bed, with her nestled against him.
Houston was working with a mustang in the corral when Dallas drew his horse to a halt at the house and dismounted.
Amelia sat on the porch, churning butter. Maggie scrambled to her feet and ran down the steps. She squealed as Dallas lifted her toward the clouds.
“I see freckles popping out,” he said.
“No!” she cried as she rubbed her nose. “Kiss ’em off! Kiss ’em off!”
He obliged her by quickly raining kisses over her face until she giggled. Lord, he loved her fragrance. She smelled of flowers dug from the earth, kittens, and sweet milk. Her innocence always humbled him.
She crinkled her nose. “Did you git me a boy to play with?”
“Not yet. I’m still working on it.”
“Where’s he gonna come from?”
Dallas jerked his gaze to Amelia. Shaking her head, she smiled.
Dallas slipped a lemon drop out of his pocket and handed it to his niece. “Why don’t you go suck on this for a while?”
“I don’t got a sad.”
“I do and I need to talk to your ma about it.”
He set Maggie on the porch. She plopped the candy into her mouth and began to suck vigorously. Dallas removed his hat, draped an arm over the porch railing, and studied Amelia. He thought she looked pale.
“How are you feeling?” he asked.
“Just a little sick in the mornings, but it’ll pass.”
“You gonna give Houston a son this time?”
“He’s partial to daughters.”
“It’s a wonder to me that the two of us are related.”
“You and Houston are more alike than you think.”
He shook his head. “With his skill with horses, he could have himself a thriving business. I’d never settle for less.”
“It’s not a question of settling for less. It’s a matter of knowing what you want and finding contentment in that,” she said softly.
