Authors: Georgina Gentry
Colt (7 page)
He hoped she wasn't going to cry again. They rode through the bluebonnets and scarlet Indian paintbrush as they crossed the prairie.
“Isn't this fine country?” he murmured. “Good grass belly-deep to a horse. A man could get a few acres and a few cows and in no time, become a rancher.”
She looked around. There was nothing for miles except the fort behind them and the tree-lined Brazos River ahead. “It would be pretty lonely out here, no cotillions or ladies' luncheons to dress up for.”
“Oh, Texas has a social life, ma'am,” he assured her. “Why, there's barbecues and church socials and maybe a barn dance now and then.”
“How exciting,” she said, but she didn't smile.
“Here's the river up ahead.” He nodded toward the slow-moving Brazos, whose banks were lined with live oak and cottonwood trees.
“Are you sure we won't be ambushed by Indians?” she asked as she reined in.
“I've got my rifle and my pistol, Miss Olivia,” he reminded her, “and I'm the best shot in the outfit. You're safe with me.” He reined in and dismounted, came around to help her.
Olivia looked down at him, giving him her most winsome smile. Yes indeed, she did feel safe with him. This big, broad-shouldered Texan was more man than any she'd ever met. She decided right then and there that she was going to marry Lieutenant Prescott. He was a little rough around the edges, but she would change all that when she got him back to Philadelphia or even Washington, D.C. As he held out his arms to lift her down, she decided this picnic was the perfect time to get him to propose to her.
Chapter 4
Olivia let Colt lift her down from her horse, and she looked up at him, pursing her lips in a way she knew men found irresistible. “You are so strong.”
He flushed and looked uncomfortable as he stepped back. “You don't weigh as much as a newborn filly, Miss Olivia.”
She reached up to get the picnic basket tied on the side of her horse, but the lieutenant was already there, untying it and taking her arm. “A little thing like you shouldn't carry anything heavy, ma'am.”
“You're so gallant. I declare, I just feel so safe and protected around you.”
He paused and smiled at her. “Texans expect to look after women. I'd always look after you, Miss Olivia. I never met such a dainty lady before.”
She held onto his arm, feeling the muscle there. This was a stallion of a man. She might be playing with fire. “Tell me, Colton, have you never had a sweetheart?”
He flushed and they continued walking to the edge of the river. “No, ma'am. Oh, I know a lot of women, but not ladies like you. There's lots of girls in the saloons... .”
He paused and began spreading the blanket she had brought, set the picnic basket down. “Well, I shouldn't be talkin' about women like that with a lady.”
Honestly she was very curious about whores and saloon girls but knew she shouldn't be. This Texan was probably very experienced with women, just not back-East ladies. She wondered what it would be like to have him make love to her.
She spread her green skirt and sat down on the blanket, began to open the basket. “I brought fried chicken, homemade bread, and pickles. Oh, I've even got a pound cake.”
He grinned as he sat down across from her. “A good cook. I just knew you had everything it would take to make a wife.”
“Of course.” She gave him her brightest smile as she handed him a plate of food, making sure their hands touched. As a matter of fact, she had a maid and a cook back home in Philadelphia. Olivia didn't have the slightest idea how to cook even an egg and didn't see any reason to learn. Her Tonk maid, Maria, had fixed this basket.
“This looks larrupin',” he said as he took the plate.
“Is that Texan for delicious?” She giggled.
“Yes, ma'am.” He began to eat and Olivia sighed. She would have to do something about his table manners or she could never take him to a formal dinner or an evening at the opera. Well, he was so handsome, she decided she could retrain this diamond in the rough. She could already imagine him in formal wear at the White House. All the other women would be so envious of her with this tall Texan as an escort.
“Would you like some lemonade, Colton?”
He looked up from his chicken. “I'm much obliged, ma'am. Reckon we should have saved some of this for Mrs. Brownley. I reckon she hasn't had fried chicken and pound cake in a long while.”
Olivia gritted her teeth, but she smiled with a show of sympathy. “I'm sure she hasn't. Maybe tomorrow, I'll cook up a great meal and take it over to her and Doc.”
He smiled at her. “You're so kind.”
She ate very little. Ladies were supposed to have birdlike appetites. Besides, she could gorge herself on the leftovers when she got back to the fort.
The Texan was enjoying his food and she handed him a linen napkin, afraid he might wipe his greasy face on his sleeve. “This is really good, Miss Olivia. You should eat more. You haven't eaten enough to keep a sparrow alive.”
“Ladies have such delicate constitutions,” she sighed. “We need big, strong men to look after us.”
“I'll sure do that, Miss Olivia. You'll come to no harm as long as I'm around. Why, if you were mine ...”
“Yes?” She leaned forward, making her lips as pouty as possible.
“Never you mind.” He set his plate down and wiped his mouth, looking embarrassed.
She leaned forward so that he could smell the sweet scent of her perfume. “I know we barely know each other, Colton, but you're so different from the boys I've known in the past. You're a man.”
He looked awkward. “Most Texans are men by the time they're fifteen. There's a lot of responsibility and danger in this state that makes them grow up fast.”
“I could see a life with you,” she whispered and leaned toward him.
Colt looked down at her. Their faces were only inches apart and he could see her breasts move as she breathed and smell her delicate perfume. Her lips looked so soft and inviting and it had been a long time since he'd had a woman. His maleness came up hard and aching, and without thinking, he reached out one strong arm and pulled Olivia to him, crushing her lips under his. Her lips parted, urging him on, and he kissed her and then abruptly, he jerked back.
“Oh, Miss Olivia, a thousand apologies. I don't know what I was thinkin'. You a lady and me grabbin' you like you were some saloon tartâ”
“Oh, but isn't that what people do when they decide they love each other?” She looked up at him, her dark eyes wide. “I mean, you are going to speak to Daddy about courting me and all that, aren't you?”
He hesitated only a split second. Why did Hannah Brownley's face come to his mind? Hannah was a married woman, and besides, Olivia was the most beautiful girl he'd ever met and she liked him, too. Well, of course he'd be a lucky hombre to marry the major's daughter. He brushed thoughts of Hannah aside. “Of course, Miss Olivia. I'll ask your father if it's okay with him if I court you.”
“I'm sure it will be fine with Daddy.” She smiled at him, leaned over, and gave him a quick peck on the lips. “We'll announce our engagement tonight at the officer's dance.”
“So soon? I mean, shouldn't I court you awhile to make sure it's gonna work?”
“Don't you love me, Colton?” Big tears gathered in her beautiful brown eyes.
He couldn't stand to see her cry again. “I think I do, Miss Olivia. What man wouldn't? But you've got so many fellas to choose from and underneath, I'm just a Texas cowboy.”
“I think you're wonderful, Colton, and I think I'd love being married to you.”
Why was he hesitating when this highborn beauty wanted him? For a split second, the tall, blond captive crossed his mind. There was something about Hannah that called to him, but he reminded himself she was married and her husband would be coming for her any time now.
He took a deep breath. After all, he had compromised the lady by kissing her with abandon. Of course now she expected him to offer marriage, not like the whores at the saloons and hog ranches who would spread their legs for anyone. This was a pure, virginal lady, and he had broken a Texan's rule and kissed her without asking permission.
He brushed any regrets aside as he smiled down at her. “It's gettin' late. Maybe we'd better get back,” he said and began to gather up the picnic things.
Olivia stood up as he folded the blanket. “Oh, Colton, I'm so happy. I can hardly wait for the rest of my family to meet you.” She put her arms around him and hugged him.
He kissed the top of her head, still in awe of her beauty. “I haven't got any family left to meet you.”
Why had he been so hesitant? This highborn beauty wanted to marry him and sleep in his arms at night. He took a deep, shuddering breath at the thought of making love to her. She'd get used to Texas whether he decided to reenlist or go into ranching.
He carried the picnic basket back to tie on her horse and then lifted her to her sidesaddle. She leaned over and gave him a quick peck. “I've been wanting you to kiss me since the first time I met you.”
He felt himself flush. “And I've been wantin' to kiss you since the first time I saw you,” he answered with a grin as he mounted up on his bay mustang. They took off at a canter back toward the fort. Somehow Colt had thought he'd feel more than lust when he met the right girl, but maybe that would come later. What man wouldn't be willing to give up saloon girls to have a beautiful lady in his bed every night? And their children would be true Texans, loving the Lone Star State as much as he did.
He escorted Olivia to her quarters and then felt drawn to go by the infirmary to see how Mrs. Brownley was doing. She was down on her hands and knees scrubbing the floor.
“Oh, hello.” She looked up.
“You shouldn't beâ”
“The place isn't as clean as it could be,” she said and continued scrubbing. “I intend to pay for my keep.”
Doc came in from his quarters just then and frowned at Colt. “Dag nab it, I tried to make her stop, but she insisted,” he said apologetically. “I must say the place needed a woman's touch.”
“Mrs. Brownley, I just wanted to tell you there's an officers' dinner and dance tonight. Miss Murphy will be coming by to invite you personally.”
“How polite of the major's daughter.” She paused and then stood up, wiping her hands on her apron. “No, I don't think I want to face people. They'll be so curious.”
“I'd protect you,” Doc said. “I haven't been to a dance since my wife died. It might be good for both of us to be out among our own kind again.”
She shook her head and Colt felt such pity for her. “Miss Olivia is going to lend you a dress and there'll be dancin'.”
“I haven't danced in such a long time.” She sounded wistful. “But no, I don't think I'd feel comfortable.”
Colt put his hand on her shoulder. She was tall for a woman, but he was taller. Her skin was deeply tanned, so unlike a lady, and her skin and hair smelled like soap. Her hair was pulled back in a simple way and when the Texas sun shone through the window and touched it, it looked like ... moonlight. “Would you come for me?”
She pulled away from him and looked at the floor. “I'll have to think about it. People will stare.”
“So let them. You've dealt with Comanchesâcan't you deal with a few curious white people?”
She looked up at him. “I'll think about it.”
“Fine. I'll see you there then. Doc will bring you.”
Colt turned and went out the door. There was something about Mrs. Brownley that drew him to her. Maybe it was because they were both Texans or maybe because both had been captives of the Comanches. She's married, he reminded himself as he walked back to his quarters, and besides, you're now engaged to Miss Olivia. In fact, you ought to feel flattered that the beauty wants to keep company with a rough, poorly educated Texas hombre when she could certainly have her choice of all those rich dandies back East. Why, the elegant Captain Van Smyth always looked at her like a hound dog eying a ham bone.
Hannah certainly didn't want to attend the officers' party, but she was afraid she would raise suspicions if she didn't, so she accepted another of Olivia Murphy's cast-off dresses, a yellow one this time, combed her hair and put it up in a French twist, and let Doc escort her over to the officers' mess hall.
Doc must have felt the tension in her arm as he took it, because he whispered, “Now, there's nothing to be afraid of, Mrs. Brownley. Some of these people will be curious because they've all heard about you, but you'll be fine.”
She wished she had that kind of confidence, she thought as they entered and everyone stopped talking and turned to stare at her.
She saw Lieutenant Prescott and Olivia over by the refreshment table and managed to smile at them. The dark-haired beauty wore a white gown that emphasized her pale ivory skin and dark hair.
Immediately, the lieutenant took Olivia's arm and steered her over. Colt Prescott was so tall and handsome, she thought, and so different from the men she'd dealt with in her life. If only ... no, she must not think about that. She must get back to the Comanche camp, maybe tonight after everyone was asleep.
“Mrs. Brownley,” the lieutenant bowed slightly. “You look lovely tonight, so glad you could come.”
Olivia's mouth smiled, but her eyes did not. “Yes, you do look lovely. I'm so glad my old dress fits you.”
Colt frowned at Olivia, then looked at Hannah again. “I do hope you'll save me a dance later, Mrs. Brownley.”
Olivia took the lieutenant's arm possessively. “Oh, Doc, I want you to be the first to knowâColton and I are engaged.”
“Dag nab it, congratulations!” Doc pumped Colt's hand. “You're getting an awfully pretty girl there, Lieutenant.”
“Don't I know it.” Colt grinned, but Hannah thought he looked a little uncertain.
“Yes, congratulations,” she whispered.
The two men began to talk about horses, and Hannah stood there awkwardly, looking around. People were talking again, but they were staring at her.
Olivia glared at her. “Oh, you must tell the ladies about your ordeal among the Comanche,” she said. “They're all dying to hear the lurid details.”
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