Page 13 of Texas Destiny
“My apologies for the simple meal, but I didn’t want to take the time for a fire,” he said quietly. “We’ll have a better meal come evening.”
“I’m truly grateful that you thought to bring some canned goods.”
Removing his hat, he studied her. “You’ve eaten worse.”
She smiled softly. “As a matter of fact, I have.” “Yep, me, too.”
Standing, he settled his hat on his head. “You can wash up by the stream. We’ll be leaving soon.”
Amelia rose and began to walk toward the water.
“Miss Carson?”
She glanced over her shoulder. His profile was to her again, and he seemed to be studying something in the distance. “Yes, Mr. Leigh?”
“Once, when I stopped by a stream to wash the dust off, I laid my hat beside me. A raccoon carted it away.” He ground his jaw back and forth. “If you were to take off your hat while you were washing up, some critter might haul it away.”
“I’m so grateful you shared that with me. I’ll make certain I guard the hat well.”
She thought he grimaced before he turned away. She strolled to the water’s edge and knelt beside the stream. The hat, with all its accessories, weighed heavy on her head. She had considered removing the bird or some of the ribbons. She had even considered pretending that she had never received the hat, but she had no talent for telling lies. Dallas would see through her deceit, and she didn’t want to risk hurting his feelings after he’d gone to so much trouble.
She dipped her hands into the cool water. She couldn’t recall Houston’s ever initiating a conversation between them. He politely answered her questions, but for the most part he kept quiet. Yet he had openly shared the story of the raccoon and his hat, although he had appeared uncomfortable reciting his tale as though he had feared offending her. She imagined he had been quite put out not to have his hat, since he seldom removed it.
She caught sight of her reflection wavering in the water, the bird bobbing with her movements. The hat was so incredibly unattractive. She wore it because Dallas had sent it to her, because it was a gift and she had received so few in her life.
She glanced over her shoulder and wondered if Houston wasn’t offering her a gift as well: an honorable way to lose the hat without hurting anyone’s feelings.
She rose and walked to the wagon where he was tightening the ropes that held the tarpaulin in place over the supplies. “You don’t like my hat,” she stated in as flat a tone as she could manage.
He visibly stiffened, his hands stilling. “No, ma’am.” He removed his hat and met her gaze. “I think it’s the most godawful ugly thing I’ve ever seen.”
Amelia released a tiny squeal and covered her mouth.
Regret reshaped his features. “My apologies, Miss Carson. I had no right—”
“No!” She held up a hand to stay his apology and moved her other hand away from her face to reveal her smile. “I think it’s awful, too.”
“Then why in God’s name are you wearing it?” he asked, clearly stunned.
“Because it was a gift from your brother.”
He slapped his hat against his duster. “Well, it’s not very practical. Your nose is already turning red.”
Amelia pressed her fingers to the tip of her nose. She could feel the slight prickling of her skin. She had worn a bonnet to protect her face when she’d worked in the cotton fields following the war. She’d hoped never to have to wear a bonnet again. “I’m not overly fond of bonnets,” she said as she gnawed on her lower lip.
“If a raccoon were to carry your hat away, you could borrow the hat I bought for Austin,” he offered.
“Do you think he would mind?”
He shrugged. “If he minds, he can keep his old hat. I just bought it because I didn’t know what else to get him, and we don’t get into town much. He might not even want it.”
“I don’t want to hurt Dallas’s feelings. The hat was a gift—”
“The hat was a way for me to recognize you. You’ve been recognized.”
A twinge of guilt still pricked at her conscience. “Do you think he’ll wear the band I embroidered around his hat?”
“No, ma’am. I can guarantee you he won’t be wearing it.”
