Page 33 of Texas Destiny
Amelia spotted the small log cabin near dusk. Her heart tripped over itself when she saw the few cattle grazing in the fields beyond. “Are we already at Dallas’s ranch?” she asked.
“Nope. Just stopping to look in on some of Dallas’s neighbors.”
“So we’re close.”
“Nope. Out here, anyone you pass along the way is considered a neighbor.” He pulled the wagon to a halt between the house and a weathered barn.
A tall gangly man holding a rifle stepped out of the house. He cupped a hand over his brow and squinted against the setting sun. “Houston, that you?”
“Yep, Dallas told me to stop by.” Houston climbed off the wagon and held his arms up to Amelia.
She scooted over the bench as the man ambled over.
“You got you a woman there?” the man asked.
Houston wrapped his hands around her waist and lifted her to the ground. “Yep. Miss Carson is betrothed to Dallas. He busted his leg. Sent me to fetch her.”
A wide grin split the man’s face. “Well, I’ll be. She a heart-and-hand woman?”
“Yep.”
“Dallas sure got himself a pretty one, didn’t he?”
“Reckon he did,” Houston said quietly. “Miss Carson, this here’s John Denton.”
Smiling, Amelia brushed her hand over her dusty skirt and toyed with the brim of Austin’s hat. At the moment she imagined she looked anything but pretty.
“Beth, we got company!” John hollered.
A young, dark-haired woman rushed onto the porch, wiping her hands on her apron. A little girl, with a rag doll draped over her arm, clutched the woman’s skirt and peered around her. “Land sake’s, company. John, don’t just stand there. Invite them in for supper.”
Amelia glanced at Houston. He gave her a brusque nod. “I’ll see to the animals’ needs, then I’ll join you.”
John trailed after Houston as he led the mules to a trough. Amelia strolled to the house.
The woman’s smile grew brighter. “I’m Beth.” She rested her hand on the child’s dark head. “This is Sarah. She’s four years old and into everything.”
Amelia knelt before the child. She had her father’s blue eyes, her mother’s dark hair. “Hello, Sarah. I’m Amelia.”
Sarah held out her doll. “This is Mary Margaret.”
Amelia touched the doll’s cloth arm. “She’s very pretty, just like you.”
Sarah pressed her face against her mother’s skirt and giggled.
“You’ll have to forgive her shyness. We don’t get much company out here.”
Amelia rose to her feet. “I guess that’s something I’m going to have to get used to.”
“I never expected Houston to take a wife.”
“Actually, I’m going to marry Dallas.”
Beth’s eyes widened. “Dallas? Have you met him?”
Amelia shook her head. Beth slapped her hand over her breast. “Handsome as sin.” She eyed Amelia speculatively. “Are you a heart-and-hand woman?”
“I just heard Houston say I was, so I guess I am, although I’m not sure what that is.”
