cattleman.
But why did his words sound like poetry in her ears and his kisses feel like music? Perhaps it was the moonlight or the crackling fire. Maybe it was the turmoil thatspun through her heart. Or simply the magic of a man’s touch.
“I don’t know what you’ve done to me,” she whispered.
“The same thing you’ve done to me. But it’s not right. For either of us.”
She wanted to argue, but the words didn’t come. For endless minutes, they gazed at each other. Then with a deep sigh, Noah shook his head, grabbed his saddlebag and bedroll and left the room.
“Isobel.” A cool hand rested on her arm. “Isobel, wake up. The morning is half gone!”
Her eyes flicked open. But instead of the man with blue eyes who had walked through her dreams, she looked into the face of her sweet friend. “Susan? Where is…what time is it?”
“After eight. Noah sent me to look in on you.”
Isobel struggled to one elbow. “Where is he?”
“At Alexander McSween’s house. He and Dick have been talking since dawn.”
“About what?”
“I don’t know. I was in the kitchen helping Mrs. McSween. Here’s your breakfast.” Susan set a basket of warm tortillas on a small table and glanced to the end of the bed. “Isobel, what happened last night? You look…rumpled.”
Isobel touched her tender lips, remembering. “I’m all right, Susan.”
“Did you and Noah…? Did he try to…?”
“No, it’s nothing.” She waved a hand in dismissal. “He wants me to go to Santa Fe. To Don Guillermo. Noahis…a problem. A problem for me. I’m sorry I agreed to the arrangement.”
She tried to make the words ring true, but they sounded hollow and empty.
“Isobel,” Susan spoke up, “if that cowboy is bothering you, we’ll find a way to get you to Santa Fe. I know your don will protect you.”
She herself knew nothing of the sort, Isobel admitted as she rolled a tortilla and took a bite. The more she thought about the man who had never written to her, never even sent a token of commitment to her mother, the less she trusted Guillermo Pascal.
And Noah Buchanan wanted neither a wife nor children to clutter his life. Besides, the vaquero was too common. Any connection between them was impossible.
Isobel forced a laugh as she stepped to the washstand. “Noah thinks he’s a king,” she told Susan. “He makes me wash dishes. He sends telegrams without my permission. He gives orders left and right.”
Susan giggled. “He gives you orders?”
“Noah fancies himself my equal. But he has nothing.”
“Nothing except a good job and a quick draw. Out West that can make a man a king. Look at Dick Brewer. He works for the Tunstall operation, but he bought land and a house, and he manages his own cattle.”
“You were interested in Dick Brewer last night.”
Susan’s pale cheeks flushed. “I went outside for fresh air, and Dick came out, too. We talked.”
“Talked?”
“Oh, Isobel, he’s wonderful!” Susan hugged herself.“He’s handsome and kind and strong. I’ve never met anyone so perfect. I love him, Isobel.”
“Love, Susan? So soon? In Spain we say, Lo que el agua trae, el agua lleva. It means what comes easily can also go easily. Your parents should secure a well-to-do husband—one who can give you a fine home. I stayed in Dick Brewer’s cabin. It’s too small for a family. His land is nothing but rocks. Keep your thoughts from love and you’ll be happier.”
Susan shrugged. “My Mexican friends in Texas used to say, Más vale atole con risas que chocolate con lagrimas.”
“Better to have gruel with laughter than chocolate with tears,” Isobel translated the familiar adage. Susan was teasing her now, and she didn’t like it. It was bad enough that she’d hardly had any sleep, and that all night her mind had been possessed with thoughts of Noah Buchanan, but now she could hardly focus on her plans.
“I’d rather marry a cowboy like Dick Brewer,” Susan said as she helped
But why did his words sound like poetry in her ears and his kisses feel like music? Perhaps it was the moonlight or the crackling fire. Maybe it was the turmoil thatspun through her heart. Or simply the magic of a man’s touch.
“I don’t know what you’ve done to me,” she whispered.
“The same thing you’ve done to me. But it’s not right. For either of us.”
She wanted to argue, but the words didn’t come. For endless minutes, they gazed at each other. Then with a deep sigh, Noah shook his head, grabbed his saddlebag and bedroll and left the room.
“Isobel.” A cool hand rested on her arm. “Isobel, wake up. The morning is half gone!”
Her eyes flicked open. But instead of the man with blue eyes who had walked through her dreams, she looked into the face of her sweet friend. “Susan? Where is…what time is it?”
“After eight. Noah sent me to look in on you.”
Isobel struggled to one elbow. “Where is he?”
“At Alexander McSween’s house. He and Dick have been talking since dawn.”
“About what?”
“I don’t know. I was in the kitchen helping Mrs. McSween. Here’s your breakfast.” Susan set a basket of warm tortillas on a small table and glanced to the end of the bed. “Isobel, what happened last night? You look…rumpled.”
Isobel touched her tender lips, remembering. “I’m all right, Susan.”
“Did you and Noah…? Did he try to…?”
“No, it’s nothing.” She waved a hand in dismissal. “He wants me to go to Santa Fe. To Don Guillermo. Noahis…a problem. A problem for me. I’m sorry I agreed to the arrangement.”
She tried to make the words ring true, but they sounded hollow and empty.
“Isobel,” Susan spoke up, “if that cowboy is bothering you, we’ll find a way to get you to Santa Fe. I know your don will protect you.”
She herself knew nothing of the sort, Isobel admitted as she rolled a tortilla and took a bite. The more she thought about the man who had never written to her, never even sent a token of commitment to her mother, the less she trusted Guillermo Pascal.
And Noah Buchanan wanted neither a wife nor children to clutter his life. Besides, the vaquero was too common. Any connection between them was impossible.
Isobel forced a laugh as she stepped to the washstand. “Noah thinks he’s a king,” she told Susan. “He makes me wash dishes. He sends telegrams without my permission. He gives orders left and right.”
Susan giggled. “He gives you orders?”
“Noah fancies himself my equal. But he has nothing.”
“Nothing except a good job and a quick draw. Out West that can make a man a king. Look at Dick Brewer. He works for the Tunstall operation, but he bought land and a house, and he manages his own cattle.”
“You were interested in Dick Brewer last night.”
Susan’s pale cheeks flushed. “I went outside for fresh air, and Dick came out, too. We talked.”
“Talked?”
“Oh, Isobel, he’s wonderful!” Susan hugged herself.“He’s handsome and kind and strong. I’ve never met anyone so perfect. I love him, Isobel.”
“Love, Susan? So soon? In Spain we say, Lo que el agua trae, el agua lleva. It means what comes easily can also go easily. Your parents should secure a well-to-do husband—one who can give you a fine home. I stayed in Dick Brewer’s cabin. It’s too small for a family. His land is nothing but rocks. Keep your thoughts from love and you’ll be happier.”
Susan shrugged. “My Mexican friends in Texas used to say, Más vale atole con risas que chocolate con lagrimas.”
“Better to have gruel with laughter than chocolate with tears,” Isobel translated the familiar adage. Susan was teasing her now, and she didn’t like it. It was bad enough that she’d hardly had any sleep, and that all night her mind had been possessed with thoughts of Noah Buchanan, but now she could hardly focus on her plans.
“I’d rather marry a cowboy like Dick Brewer,” Susan said as she helped
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