Page 58 of Texas Splendor
“Teaching Two-bits how to sit,” Rawley explained as he tossed the dog another morsel. The dog devoured it like he hadn’t eaten in weeks when Austin knew that wasn’t the case.
“Rawley made him a collar,” Loree said as she reached down and petted the dog.
“Used an old belt. Mr. D taught me how to carve into the leather.” Rawley pointed. “See, I did the dog’s name.”
“You did a good job,” Austin said, glad to see how his words pleased Rawley. The boy had received too little praise before he’d come to live with Dallas.
“Mr. D said when Two-bits fathers some pups, I can have one.”
“That might be a while,” Austin said.
“Mr. D said the same thing. Said he’d git me a dog now if I wanted, but I decided to wait on account I want a dog like Two-bits.” Rawley backed up a step. “Well, I’d best git home.”
“Tell your pa that I’ll be checking on the north range tomorrow.”
Rawley gave him a quick nod. “Yes, sir. Bye, Aunt Loree.”
“Thank you for the collar,” she said warmly.
“You’re welcome.” He hurried to his horse, mounted up, and kicked his horse into a gallop.
Austin watched the dust settle back into place.
“You did that on purpose didn’t you?” Loree asked.
He shifted his gaze to her. “Did what?”
“Gave him a message to take to ‘his pa.’ My guess is Dallas already knows you’ll be checking the north range tomorrow.”
Austin rubbed the side of his nose. “Was it that obvious I want the boy to realize Dallas is his father?”
“Probably not to him, but I’m beginning to know you a little more. Dallas tells people what he wants. You have a tendency to try and guide them without letting them know that you’re guiding them.”
Reaching out, he took her hand and tugged her to him until her toes crept over his boots. “So if I wanted to guide you toward an ‘I’m glad that you’re home’ kiss, what would I do?”
“What you do every evening. Put my hands on your shoulders and your hands on my waist. Then lean down—”
He didn’t let her finish, just planted his lips over hers, allowing the seed for love to begin taking root. He wished like hell that she hadn’t been forced to marry him, but if she hadn’t—she’d be in Austin and he’d be here, wishing he were with her.
He kept the kiss sweet and short because his resolve was weakening. What he really wanted was to lift her into his arms, guide her into the bedroom, and make love to her until dawn—but that damn promise stopped him because he hadn’t figured out how to convince her that he was only thinking of her.
Loree bit back the whimper when his mouth left hers. She did so look forward to his coming home in the evening. She smiled warmly. “Are you ready for supper?”
“Starving.”
Loree strolled into the house. A main living area on the first floor opened into a kitchen area. The bedroom she and Austin shared was off to the side. Stairs within that bedroom led to the second floor where two other rooms waited for them to decide how best to use them.
She had brought a few things from her home near Austin: a rocking chair, her vanity, her music boxes. They had Austin’s bedroom furniture, Dee and Dallas’s table, and a sofa from Amelia and Houston.
Nothing to hint at permanence … and yet, she felt contentment. She was learning a good deal about her husband. He was a man of simple habits. He awoke each morning before dawn and sat on the front porch, waiting for the sunrise, his hands wrapped around a tin cup that held his black coffee. He never started the day with a meal, always ate lunch with the cowhands, and returned in the evening with a voracious appetite.
Night had fallen by the time they finished their meal, and she joined Austin on the porch. She enjoyed these moments when he seemed most relaxed and content. She sat on the top step. “How was your day?” she asked quietly.
A corner of Austin’s mouth quirked up. “Tiring. I sure don’t remember feeling this tired in the evenings before. Must be age catching up with me.”
She laughed lightly. “You are so incredibly old.”
Turning, he pressed his back against the beam, straightened his legs, and brought her feet to his lap. He rubbed his thumbs over her sole. “How was your day?”
