Page 10 of Texas Destiny
Houston’s Adam’s apple slid slowly up and down. “He won’t change his mind.”
She tilted her head slightly. “You don’t think so?”
“I’m not a man who lies.”
But he was a man easily offended, if the tone in his voice was any indication. One brother who was easily angered, another who was easily offended. She would have to learn to deal with both.
Fingering the collar of her worn bodice, she glanced with longing around the dress shop. “I suppose one—”
“Five.”
“I couldn’t possibly accept five.”
Ignoring her, he directed his attention to Mimi St. Claire, who was leaning over the counter, straining to hear every word. She didn’t bother to appear embarrassed at her actions, but simply straightened her back and wrapped a loose strand of red hair around her finger.
“She needs five outfits,” Houston said. “Make a couple of them fancy for entertaining. We need them today.”
Mimi’s eyes widened. “Five? Today?” She patted her chest and smiled brightly. “Sit in zee chair, and I’ll show you what I have already sewn.”
With a whirl, Mimi disappeared behind the curtains as Houston walked to the corner. Instead of sitting in the chair with the delicate spindly legs that looked as though they could easily snap beneath his weight, he pressed his left shoulder against the wall.
Clasping her hands tightly together, Amelia walked across the small shop. “I can’t possibly accept five—”
“Five.”
She sighed deeply. “Don’t I have a say in this matter?”
He took a long slow nod. “As long as you say five.”
She narrowed her eyes, scrutinizing the man standing before her, trying to determine if he was teasing her. His lips curled up not at all, his eye didn’t glint with mischief. If anything, he seemed more serious than before.
“Mademoiselle!” Mimi St. Claire stuck her head between the drawn curtains. “Quickly, come in here. We must show zee gentleman zee clothes.”
As Amelia passed through the waving curtains, Houston set her bag on the floor and slipped his hand inside his duster pocket. He heard Mimi St. Claire’s deep-throated chuckle. Amelia’s gentle laughter quickly followed, reminding him of spring rain, soothing and sweet, the kind of rain that a man simply removed his hat to enjoy as it washed over him.
Her touch had been as soft as her laughter, but he’d felt the determination in her fingers. He’d been surprised when the warmth from her small hand had penetrated the material of his duster and shirt to fan out over his skin.
He strained to hear their voices, but could decipher none of the hushed words. He wondered if Dallas had explained in his letters that Amelia would have no woman with whom she could whisper secrets. Tightening his hold on his hat, he wondered if Amelia knew she was traveling toward godawful loneliness.
She stepped between the curtains, wearing a yellow dress that had ruffles and bows sewn over it. She glanced his way with uncertainty.
Mimi St. Claire came out and waved her hand in a circle. “Turn, turn so he may see all of it.”
Amelia pivoted on the balls of her feet. The dress had more ruffles in the back than in the front. Houston imagined if a strong wind blew through, it would carry Amelia Carson and that frilly dress across the plains like the petals of a dandelion.
Dallas would like that dress. He’d like it a lot. Too damn bad he’d broken his leg.
Shaking his head, Houston thought he saw relief fill Amelia’s eyes. “You got something that looks like the earth?” he asked.
Mimi St. Claire’s face puckered as though she’d just bitten into a lemon. “Zee earth?”
She grabbed Amelia’s arm, and they disappeared behind the curtain. When next Amelia emerged, she wore a dark brown dress that perfectly matched the hat with the bird. Houston hated it.
“I didn’t say dirt,” he grumbled. “Something that looks like the earth. Something like clover.”
“Clover?” Mimi asked. “You want green?”
Houston nodded slightly, not really certain what he wanted, just certain he’d know when he saw it.
