Page 67 of Texas Destiny
“He’ll let you do that as well. One thing about Dallas, he’s loyal to a fault. If you’re by his side, he’ll give you everything.”
“Why didn’t you tell him you don’t think the barbed wire is a good idea?”
He narrowed his gaze. “What makes you think I don’t think the barbed wire is a good idea?”
“I traveled with you for well over a month, shared your food, shared your bed—”
“Don’t you dare tell Dallas that!” he hissed. “He’d tan my hide and hang it out to dry. You didn’t share my bed, you just slept beside me.”
“Is that all you think I did?” she asked.
“That is all you did.”
“I came to care for you.”
“You’ll come to care for Dallas even more. You just haven’t had much time with him.”
“I’m going to miss listening to you snore at night.”
“Amelia—”
“I’m going to miss you.”
“I’m not that far away. If you need something, you can send Austin to fetch me.”
“And you’ll come?”
“I’ll come.”
She heard approaching footsteps and turned. Dallas and Austin walked toward her, Austin with a loose-jointed walk as though he hadn’t a care in the world, Dallas stiffly as though he carried the burden of the world upon his shoulders.
The brothers stopped before her, and she felt a tension rise within Houston.
“I’ll send word when the preacher gets back,” Dallas said.
“I’ll be waitin’ for it,” was all Houston said, and Amelia realized she wouldn’t see him again until the day she married his brother. A keen sense of loss ricocheted through her.
“Austin and I will sleep in the bunkhouse until the preacher arrives,” Dallas said.
“The bunkhouse!” Austin exclaimed, horror laced through his voice. “Why do we have to sleep in the bunkhouse?”
“Because it wouldn’t be proper for an unmarried woman to sleep in a house alone with two men,” Dallas explained, his voice strained.
“Why not? Houston slept with her—”
Houston grabbed Austin by the shirt and hauled him out of hearing range. Amelia thought she had heard material rip this time. The poor boy was going to need a sturdier shirt.
“You’ll have to excuse Austin,” Dallas said, drawing her attention away from the two men engaged in a heated discussion. “He hasn’t had any women in his life and his education in certain matters is lacking.”
“Houston said you’re hoping more women will move out here once we’re married.”
He slipped his arm around hers and began walking toward the house. “I am hoping that this part of Texas will become more developed over time. My father told me once that some men are content to walk where others have gone.” He turned and faced her. “I’m not one of those men. My aspirations and dreams are grander.” He flushed, something she didn’t think this man did often. “I know I sound like I’m full of myself, but we have an opportunity here to build an empire whose foundation is made up of dreams, hard work, and determination. I want you to share it with me. I want our children to inherit it.”
He leaned down and kissed her on the brow as a brother might a favored sister. “I’m glad you’re here. Sleep well.”
He limped off the porch, leaving her to watch the fading sunset alone.
* * *
