Page 63 of Texas Destiny
Inwardly, Houston groaned. Why hadn’t she stopped talking while peace was settling within the room?
“What?” Dallas asked, apparently finding his voice. He looked at Houston and winced. “You’re breeding horses?”
“Thinking about it. I’m just thinking about it.”
“That’s not—”
He stopped Amelia’s words with as cold a glare as he could muster. She lowered her gaze but not before he saw the hurt he’d put in her eyes. He’d forever be hurting her. It was his way, and he hated when it touched her. He needed to leave, but he couldn’t leave without trying to put a smile back into those green eyes. “I like those clothes. Where did you get them?”
Grabbing the sides, she fanned out the skirt. “The cook brought them to me. He said they’d belonged to his wife.”
“Hand-me-downs,” Houston said quietly, knowing it was no longer his place to worry about the clothing she wore. Dallas had taken over that responsibility earlier in the day, when he’d led Amelia away from Houston’s side, but he found himself worrying anyway.
“She won’t be wearing hand-me-downs for long. I’ve already sent one of my men to fetch yard goods.” He looked at Amelia. “There’s a small settlement to the south of us. I can’t guarantee that what he selects would be your first choice in materials, but until I can find the time—”
Amelia held up her hand, warmed by Dallas’s consideration. “You don’t have to explain. I’m quite grateful for what I have.”
“Still, I put him on a fast horse so he should be back within three or four days.”
“I’m sorry we lost most of the clothes you purchased me in Fort Worth. They were lovely.”
Dallas furrowed his brow. “What clothes?”
“The clothes you told Houston to purchase for me.”
“He didn’t tell Houston to purchase you any clothes,” Austin said.
“He did tell me to purchase her some clothing,” Houston said in a low voice.
“I don’t recall him saying anything about clothes.”
“You weren’t there,” Houston said.
“I was there the whole time you were talk—”
With one swift movement, Houston grabbed the scruff of Austin’s shirt. Despite the boy’s protest, Houston hauled him out of the room.
Dallas cleared his throat. “If you’ll excuse me, I need to help settle this matter.”
Amelia pressed her hand just above her pounding heart. “Certainly.”
As soon as he walked out of the room, the harsh whispering in the hallway increased in volume. If she were a gambler, she would have bet money that Dallas hadn’t told Houston to purchase her clothing. He’d bought her clothing because she’d been carrying one small bag with everything she owned tucked inside. The “outfits” had been a gift from Houston, a gift he’d never planned to claim. She wondered how many other gifts he might have given her: her life, a Texas sunset. She smiled with the memory of him inside her tent, stripping down. She wished now that she’d watched the entire show.
The men trudged back into Dallas’s office, each wearing disgruntled expressions.
“My apologies, Miss Carson,” Austin said. “Seems I was wrong. Dallas did tell Houston to purchase you some clothes.”
She glanced first at Houston, then at Dallas. Their jaws were firmly set. The lie, she supposed, was for her sake. “No harm done. I’m sure quite a bit was said … or thought to be said before Houston was sent to fetch me.”
Houston settled his hat on his head. “I need to be goin’.”
“The cook said supper would be ready soon. Surely you’ll stay for the meal,” Amelia said, hating the thought of his leaving.
Houston watched as sadness and nervousness warred within Amelia’s eyes. He wanted to stay. He wanted to leave. He wanted a few minutes alone with her so he could explain what couldn’t be explained.
“You’ll stay. Miss Carson wants you here,” Dallas said, his tone effectively putting an end to Houston’s choices.
Weary from the journey, Houston nodded. “I’ll stay.”
