Page 55 of Texas Glory
Dallas glared at his brother. “You don’t hug me when I’m angry.” Austin barked out his laughter. “I will if you want
me to because I can sure tell that you’re fit to be tied right now.” Stretching out his arms and tilting his head, he flashed an infectious grin that Dallas was certain he would use to charm the ladies if there were any ladies around. “Want a hug?”
Dallas stepped back. “Hell, no.” Dallas shifted his attention at Dee. She was studying him as though he were a stranger, which he realized he was. What did she really know about him? What did he know about her?
“How did she find out?” he asked.
Austin jerked his head toward the general store. “Becky.” He rubbed his hands on his thighs. “Listen, Dee’s never visited Leighton. Would you show her the town while I talk with Becky for a while?” Austin swiveled his head around. “You don’t mind going with Dallas, do you, Dee?”
Dallas watched his wife grow pale before she finally nodded. “That would be fine.”
“Thanks. I’ll catch up with you.”
Austin disappeared into the general store. Dallas wished he had been the one to whom Dee had turned, the one who had held her when she’d learned the truth.
“You’ve never been to town?” he asked.
She shook her head. “Not this town. Not after the day you set the land aside. My brothers never had time to bring me.”
“Well …” He stepped off the boardwalk, suddenly self-conscious with all that remained undone. “It’s nowhere near finished.” He pointed straight ahead. “The general store.” He moved his hand to the left. “The bank.”
“What were you doing at the bank?” she asked as she walked to his side.
“I wanted to talk with Mr. Henderson about a loan for another building.” “What sort of building?”
He cleared his throat. “A man—cabinetmaker—wrote to me. He wants to move here, but he hasn’t the means to finance his own business. I think he would be a good investment.”
“Do you have the means to finance him?”
“With the assistance of the bank, I’ll help him get his start. Eventually, he’ll own his business outright, but the more people I can get to Leighton, the more we’ll grow.”
“How do you determine which businesses would be a good investment?”
He studied her, not expecting the questions she was asking, but pleased that she knew enough to ask them. He crooked his elbow and watched as she swallowed before placing her hand on his arm. Together they walked slowly along the street.
“I try and figure out what people need,” he explained to her. He pointed toward the clothing store. “Houston was always going to Fort Worth to purchase clothing for Amelia. He’d visit Miss St. Claire’s dress shop. The idea of a new town intrigued her, so she moved her business here, hoping the town would prosper and more women would come. Until then, she sews clothing for men and women.”
“There aren’t many women from what I’ve seen.”
“A half dozen if that many. I haven’t figured out how to attract them to Leighton. I’ve been thinking of running an advertisement for brides, similar to the one Amelia placed for a husband. Only I’d want a whole passel of women to come, and I’d need to have husbands waiting for them. I’ve got to give some thought to the best way to handle that. I don’t particularly relish the thought of being a marriage broker.”
She slowly nodded, and Dallas almost imagined that he could see wheels spinning in her mind. He wanted to ask her what she thought of the town. He wanted Leighton to be more than just a town … he wanted it to be a place that drew people in and gave them a reason to stay.
They neared the saloon. Hesitantly, she glanced at him. “Can I look inside the saloon?” ’
“Sure.”
Cautiously, Cordelia neared the swinging doors and peered inside. The smoke was thick. The odors not entirely pleasant. She could see a few men sitting at a table playing cards. One of the men was her brother.
“What is Duncan doing here?” she asked.
Dallas glanced over her shoulder. “Playing cards.”
“I mean why isn’t he out working with the cattle?”
“I guess he’s just taking some time off.”
Stepping back, she studied her husband. “When do you take time off?”
