Page 66 of Texas Destiny
She nodded. “Houston told me they were brown. And that you had a mustache. And that you cast a tall shadow.” She glanced at the ground where his shadow stretched out behind her. Smiling self-consciously at her babbling, she looked up. “And he was right.”
“I can’t imagine Houston doing as much talking as it sounds like he did bringing you here.”
“Only because I asked questions. He doesn’t volunteer the information, but if you ask, he’ll answer. Besides, it was a long journey.”
“I’m sorry I wasn’t able to come after you.” He released her hand and leaned on the cane. “It was stupid of me to try and break a horse the day before I was to leave.”
“Especially a black horse with a wavy tail and mane.”
“I beg your pardon?” he asked, his brow furrowing deeply.
“Houston explained that a horse’s coloring often tells him about its temperament. A black horse with a wavy tail and mane is usually mean-spirited.”
“He said that, did he?”
“Yes. I don’t remember what all the other colors mean, but he knows. You should ask him.” She heard a horse whinny and glanced over her shoulder to see Houston in the corral, gathering the mustangs. “Is he leaving?”
“I imagine.”
“I need to say good-bye.”
“Why don’t you run ahead and I’ll catch up?” Dallas suggested.
“Thank you.” The dust rose up around her as she ran to the corral. Houston was leaving, and she might not see him before she was married. She couldn’t bear the thought. She skidded to a stop near the corral as Houston tied the last of his horses together.
He climbed over the railing and walked toward her, removing his hat to hit the dust off his trousers. She wanted to comb the hair off his brow.
“Enjoy your evening stroll?” he asked as he stopped before her.
“Yes. It was nice. Dallas is nice.”
“Nice?” He smiled. “I’m sure he’ll be glad to hear that you think he’s nice.”
“The ranch is huge.”
“Yep, and you ain’t even seen all of it. A man could travel for days without leaving Dallas’s land.”
“That’s what we did, isn’t it?” she asked. “Traveled for days on his land?”
“Three days.”
“You could have signaled him sooner.”
“Could have. Should have, but then I did a lot of things while traveling with you that I shouldn’t have done.”
She was grateful for every one of them. The memories would hold her for a lifetime, even if the man standing before her didn’t. “I don’t suppose there’s a chance that some creature might haul the house away if we leave it unattended?”
He laughed, deeply, richly, and the warmth returned to Amelia’s heart, a warmth that had disappeared when she’d moved from his side that morning.
“No, I don’t imagine any critter is gonna haul the house away.”
“It’s … it’s …”
“I told you that you needed to see it.” “Why do you think—”
“A castle for his queen,” he said, his smile easing away. He touched a finger to her cheek. “You’re his queen.”
“And if I don’t want to be a queen? If I just want to be a wife?”
