Page 78 of Texas Destiny
The animal was beautiful, graceful, and carried herself proudly as though she knew her ancestors were of the best stock. Houston would be able to get a good price for her, enough that he could expand his small operation, breed more horses with earnestness.
She imagined the joy that would be found in working beside a man, helping to build and shape his dream. Dallas had already built his empire, realized all but one of his dreams. Amelia would give him his final dream: a son. She would find joy and happiness in their child. Through the years, she would guide him so, like his father, he would be a man whom other men respected and admired.
Yet, she couldn’t help but wonder if a small part of her would always yearn for more.
Austin rejoined her, and together, they slowly approached the corral. She couldn’t stop herself from admiring Houston’s lean form. As sinewy as that of the mustang, as powerful, his muscles rippled over his back, over his chest, along his arms as he guided the horse.
As they drew nearer, she could hear the gentle timbre of his voice as he encouraged the horse. She thought the man could tame a snake if he set his mind to it.
“He doesn’t look like he’s been in a fight,” Austin whispered, leaning low so she could hear him without disturbing the horse.
No, he didn’t look as though he’d been in a fight. She could see no bruises on his face or body. She could only see the magnificence of his stance. He was in his element here, with his horses. She supposed some men were simply meant to be loners, simply preferred their solitude.
He caught sight of them then, and her heart misbehaved as it always did when he gazed upon her with such intensity. She wished for an insane minute that she was a horse, that he could love her as he did his mustangs.
With a gentle guiding hand, he slowed the horse to a walk, then brought it to a halt. He removed the rope halter and gave the horse a slap on the rump before walking toward Amelia.
The horse turned about and nudged Houston’s backside. Smiling broadly, Houston reached into his pocket and withdrew an apple. The horse took it and trotted to the far side of the corral. Houston continued on and climbed over the railing.
“What brings you out here?” he asked as he grabbed his shirt and shrugged into it.
She resisted the urge to capture the bead of sweat that trailed down his chest until it found refuge behind the waistband of his trousers.
“Amelia didn’t believe that Dallas fell off his horse last night and busted his face,” Austin said.
Houston began to button his shirt, his gaze lowered as he concentrated on a task he should have been able to perform in the dark. “It’s not unusual for a man to fall off his horse when he’s riding at night. Especially when there’s no moon. Horse drops a leg into a prairie dog hole, and he throws the rider.”
She placed her hand over his, and he grew still. “How did you bruise your knuckles?” she asked.
He lifted his gaze. “Fell off the porch.”
“How’d you do that?” Austin asked.
“A hell of a lot of falling going on around here,” she said before she spun around, the anger seething within her.
“I didn’t think women were supposed to swear,” Austin said.
“Take Black Thunder for a ride,” Houston said.
“But I wanna hear—”
She heard a gentle scuff that she was certain was Houston tapping Austin’s head.
“Goddamn it!” Austin cried.
“Stop using that language around Amelia.”
“Why? She uses it around me.”
She heard Houston’s exasperated sigh and fought back the tears burning her eyes.
“Please take the horse for a ride,” Houston said in resignation.
“Will you take me into the herd with you the next time you go after wild mustangs?” Austin asked.
“Yes.”
“All right. I won’t be gone long.” “Fine.”
