Page 119 of Texas Splendor
His gaze fell to her chest, flat as a well-sanded plank of wood. Irritation surged through him because he’d looked. “Jesus, Faith, you’re only thirteen. You’re not supposed to have a bosom.”
“I’m almost fourteen. A. J.’s only eleven and she has a bosom.”
“I wouldn’t call those two little bumps on her chest—”
“You noticed!”
He slammed his eyes closed. “You’re gonna get me skinned alive.” He opened his eyes. “It’s not like I was lusting after her or anything. She’s my cousin, for God’s sake.”
“But you noticed.”
And who wouldn’t? All of Uncle Houston’s daughters had nice curves, but it didn’t mean he had lascivious thoughts just because he’d noticed. He leaned against the wall, dug the heel of his boot between the bricks, and decided to hold his tongue because there was no way in hell he could win an argument with her. He pulled a sarsaparilla stick from his pocket.
“Gimme,” she ordered holding out her hand.
“It’s my last one,” he said as he broke it in half and handed her a piece. “Want to tell me what’s really bothering you?”
“I love John Byerly and he loves Samantha Curtiss. I know it’s because she already has a bosom and I don’t.”
“What do you want with John anyway? He’s a runt.”
“All the boys are runts next to me.”
He couldn’t argue with that. She already came up to his shoulder, and he had a feeling she wasn’t finished growing.
“No one is ever gonna love me, Rawley.”
He shoved himself away from the wall and put his arm around her. “I love you, Faith.”
“But you’re my brother so that doesn’t count.”
He cupped her chin. “You don’t want somebody that’s just looking at the outside of you. You want somebody who cares enough to look inside because what’s inside never grows old or wrinkled or gray.”
She sniffed. “If no one asks me to dance, will you dance with me?”
“Why, Miss Leigh, I’d be honored.”
He slipped her arm through his and led her into the Grand Ballroom. He had a feeling in future years, Faith was destined to break an abundance of hearts. His greatest fear was that one of them would be his.
With his brothers flanking him on either side, Austin allowed his gaze to wander the room. Cookie played his fiddle and couples waltzed. Men still outnumbered women, but not by much. His nieces were growing into young ladies, his nephew a fine young man.
“Is this what you envisioned when you answered Amelia’s ad all those years back?” he asked Dallas.
“Nope. I had no idea it would turn out this good,” Dallas said.
“Even if you didn’t end up with her?” Houston asked.
“Even though you stole her from me,” Dallas emphasized.
“I always thought that worked out for the best,” Austin said.
“It did,” his brothers concurred at once.
Austin watched as Rawley sauntered over. “Dallas, I need to get back to the ranch and check on the herd.”
Dallas gave him a long slow nod. “Whatever you think best.”
Rawley held his hand out to Austin. “Uncle Austin, it’s good to have you home. Reckon we’ll see you up at the house later.”
