Page 50 of Texas Glory
Dallas couldn’t bring himself to tell her the truth. He favored brown because her eyes were brown. The one time he had seen them without fear or wariness clouding them, they had mesmerized him. “I just do.”
“Oh.”
She looked at her scrap of paper, and Dallas bit back a scathing expletive. He had threatened her with a discussion on husbandry if she didn’t talk, and she had brought a list of topics to the table this morning and kept running her finger over it, looking for things to discuss.
Wind. Rain. The shape of clouds. The entire time she prattled about things, he discovered that he wanted to talk about her. What she had feared as a little girl. Her dreams. If she was lonely.
He shoved his chair back, and she jerked her head up. He stood, walked to her end of the table, and set an envelope beside her plate.
“What’s this?” she asked.
“Spending money.” For over an hour, he had contemplated how much to give her, fearing too little or too much might offend her. He had no idea how much money ladies needed and had settled on twenty dollars. “If it’s not enough, you can put your purchases on my account, and I’ll take care of it the next time I go to town.”
She trailed her fingers over the envelope, and he wondered what it would feel like to have her slender fingers skim over his chest.
She peered up at him. “Thank you.”
“You’re my wife. I’m supposed to see that you don’t do without.” He glared at Austin. “Take care of her, or I’ll hang your hide out to dry.”
He stalked from the room, wondering why he couldn’t have simply leaned down, kissed her on the cheek, and told her to enjoy the day.
Cordelia took great delight in riding with Austin. He possessed much more patience than his older brother. He had already taught her how to send Lemon Drop into a trot. She loved the feel of the wind brushing across her face, the movement of the golden mare beneath her, and the knowledge that she was in control of the beast.
If only she could control her husband as easily. If only he would set her free.
She slowed her horse to a walk. Beside her, Austin did the same.
“You did that real well,” he said, smiling broadly.
She felt the warmth fan her cheeks. “She’s a good horse.”
“That’s the only kind Houston raises.”
“Do you think we’ll go back and work on their house this Sunday?”
“I’m sure we will. Dallas ain’t one to leave a job half-done.”
“No, I don’t imagine he is at that.” She shifted her backside over the saddle. “Why did your parents name you and your brothers after towns in Texas?”
“According to Houston, our pa had a wandering streak in him and named us after the town he was living in at the time we were born. I don’t remember our pa, but Houston says Dallas is a lot like him, says that’s the reason Dallas purchased so much land. He could wander far and wide and still be at home.”
His answer gave her pause for thought. She wondered if Dallas had longed for roots while he was growing up as much as she’d longed to leave. She brushed a fleck of dirt off her riding skirt. “I was wondering …”
Austin tipped his hat off his brow. “Yes, ma’am?”
“My father sends someone into town every week for supplies. Wouldn’t it save you considerable time if you brought a wagon so you wouldn’t have to go into town every day for supplies?”
Austin’s face turned beet red as he tugged his hat down. “I ain’t goin’ into town for supplies. Dallas sends Pete in to get the supplies.”
“Then why do you go every day?”
He cleared his throat. “I just like to.”
“Dallas doesn’t mind?”
“Long as I get my work done, he don’t mind at all.”
She contemplated his answer. Her days were long, her nights even longer. She wondered if she could find something in town to help her pass the time.
