Short Straw Bride. Dallas Schulze

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СКАЧАТЬ smiled and she felt her knees go weak.

      “Have you lived in Black Dog very long, Miss Williams?”

      “Six years, four months and twelve days,” she answered, without thinking. She saw his brows shoot up and immediately wished she could catch the words back. She’d kept track of the days like a prisoner counting out her sentence, but she’d never intended to reveal as much to anyone, least of all Luke McLain.

      There was a moment of shocked silence, and then Anabel giggled. “You shouldn’t tease Mr. McLain, Eleanor. Why, it almost sounds like you haven’t been happy with us.”

      “I didn’t mean that at all,” Eleanor mumbled, lowering her lashes to conceal the rebellion in her eyes. She’d get an earful from Aunt Dorinda later, she knew. And heaven knew what Luke McLain must think of her.

      The awkward moment was interrupted by the arrival of Letty Sinclair. Eleanor felt a twinge of annoyance. Letty was her best friend and, ordinarily, she would have welcomed her presence, but on this occasion Eleanor couldn’t help but feel that Anabel’s soft blond beauty overshadowed her enough without the addition of Letty’s more exotic dark good looks. Guilt over the selfish thought made her smile all the more warmly as she turned to include Letty in their little group.

      Reverend Mulligan made the introductions. Eleanor watched in resignation, sure that Luke McLain would be completely smitten by Letty’s raven hair and dark eyes. There’s Italian blood there, mark my words, Aunt Dorinda had said darkly when Letty first moved to Black Dog. But Italian blood or not, the healthy condition of Letty’s bank balance assured her place in the town’s small society, even if her charm and generosity hadn’t already done so.

      Better that Luke be smitten by Letty than Anabel, Eleanor thought. Better almost anyone than Anabel. By the time the minister had finished the introductions, Eleanor was already envisioning the wedding with herself as a heartbroken but noble bridesmaid.

      “Pleased to make your acquaintance, Miss Sinclair,” Luke said, looking polite but not overly smitten.

      “It’s Mrs. Sinclair,” Letty corrected, smiling in a way that made her eyes sparkle. “I’m a widow these three years past.”

      “You must have been a child bride,” Daniel McLain said, his eyes blatantly admiring Letty’s trim figure.

      “I’ll take that as a compliment, Mr. McLain.”

      “It was intended as such, Mrs. Sinclair,” he responded with a grin that might have put a flutter in Eleanor’s heart if it hadn’t already been beating double time in response to his brother’s proximity.

      A glance at Dorinda Williams’s face showed that she was less than pleased about this addition to their small group. While she’d rather have eaten nails than acknowledge that anyone could overshadow her precious Anabel, there was no denying Letty Sinclair’s charms.

      After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Reverend Mulligan and his companions moved on. Instantly three of Dorinda Williams’s closest friends descended on them, wanting to hear every word that had been said.

      “What charming young men,” Dorinda said, her superior look only slightly spoiled by the pleased flush on her cheekbones.

      “What did they say?” Millie Peters demanded, her small nose quivering with eagerness.

      “We merely exchanged a few pleasantries,” Dorinda said, trying to look as if she wasn’t enjoying being the center of attention. Letty and Eleanor exchanged an amused look.

      “But why did Reverend Mulligan bring them to meet you particularly?” That was Cora Danvers, blunt spoken, as always. If her husband hadn’t owned half the bank, she wouldn’t have had a friend in the world. Dorinda stiffened at the question, her smile tightening into something more nearly a grimace.

      “I’m sure the McLains wanted to meet my Anabel,” she said through tight lips. “Isn’t it obvious that they’ve decided to take their rightful positions in our little society? Naturally, they’ll be interested in finding wives, and my little Anabel is the prettiest girl in town,” she admitted with an air of false modesty that clashed with her smug tone. She sighed and put on a regretful look. “Of course, if your Mary hadn’t run off with that drummer last fall, she might have given Anabel a run for her money.”

      Cora flushed an unbecoming shade of purple, and Eleanor found herself almost admiring her aunt’s ability to find the most vulnerable place in which to slide the barb, Everyone in town knew about Mary Danvers running off with the corset salesman, but few people would have dared to mention the incident to her face. Since Zebediah Williams owned the other half of the bank, Dorinda felt safe in striking such a blow.

      “Anabel is such a pretty girl,” Millie Peters said hastily, her soft voice filling the taut silence. “It would hardly be a surprise if one of the McLain boys came courting.”

      “I wouldn’t wonder if they both came courting,” Dorinda said, forsaking modesty for maternal pride.

      Eleanor watched Anabel preen, and ground her teeth together. Just the thought of her spiteful little cousin clinging to Luke McLain’s arm made her want to plant her foot firmly in Anabel’s fanny.

       Chapter Three

      “A girl with a gentle temperament—that’s what I want.” Luke narrowed his eyes against the sun. “One who won’t throw fits at a man.”

      “The woman ain’t been born that won’t throw a fit.” Daniel reached into his pocket for his tobacco pouch and papers.

      The brothers were riding back to the Bar-M-Bar, walking their horses in the midafternoon sun. After church they’d had lunch with Reverend Mulligan, who’d done his best to talk Luke out of his determination to find a wife.

      What about love? the older man had asked, running his fingers through his thinning hair. Though he’d been loath to admit it, the question had given Luke pause. It had made him think of the bonds between his mother and father, of the way they’d seemed to complete each other. After her husband’s death Lucinda McLain had carried on, but there’d been something missing, a light that no longer shone in her eyes.

      But love like that was a rare thing, he told himself. And he couldn’t afford to spend his life hoping he’d be lucky enough to find such a thing for himself. Besides, he was a little old to be chasing after dreams like that. If he hadn’t found a great love by now, he wasn’t likely to find it, especially not with the ranch demanding most of his time. Even if he wanted to go off on some wild-goose chase to find a woman he could love, he didn’t have the time for it. No, a marriage based on more practical considerations would suit him just fine.

      “You see any likely-looking girls?” Daniel’s question dragged Luke’s thoughts back to the present. Daniel finished rolling his cigarette and flicked his thumbnail over a match to light it. Cupping his hands to shield it, he lit his cigarette, his eyes sliding to his brother as he shook out the match. “There were pretty girls there. If I’d known there were so many pretty churchgoing girls, I might have been more inclined to pay my respects to the Lord on a regular basis.”

      “Careful. You don’t want to find yourself on the wrong end of a father’s shotgun.” Luke paused and then grinned. СКАЧАТЬ