The Shepherd's Daughter (Dry Bayou Brides Book 1) by Lynn Winchester Page B

business.
    “Oh, I understand perfectly. I am just glad that I can spend some time away from the ranch.” She must’ve caught Ray’s grimace because she continued, “—not that I don’t like it there. I do. I just wanted to meet new people. Billy’s mother is wonderful, but she can be…overwhelming.”
    Ray let out a snort, then remembered she was trying to be more ladylike. “I’m sorry, you were saying?”
    Rebecca continued. “She’s well meaning, but all she can seem to talk about is the wedding—what day would work best, evening or morning, chicken or trout, ribbons or lace, lanterns or candles. I’m happy that she’s so excited but…well, the wedding isn’t set in stone, yet, and I can’t help but feel that she’s putting the…how do you say… cart before the horse —. She’s planning a wedding for a son who doesn’t seem ready.”
    Ray took in every word Rebecca said, sifting through the painful bits about the wedding and latching on to the last part.
    Billy isn’t excited about the weddin’?
    Rebecca let out a soft sigh. “I’m sorry for unleashing that on you. I just feel, since you’re Billy’s friend, you’d understand. I know we’re not well acquainted, but I hope to be.” Rebecca offered a friendly smile and Ray couldn’t help but smile back.
    Ray sat back, suddenly feeling like the world’s biggest heel. While she’d stayed up all night, hating the rock by the creek, hating the tears, thinking up ways to make Rebecca hightail it from Dry Bayou, Rebecca was reaching out to her. Rebecca didn’t know that Ray was secretly longing for the man she planned to marry.
    The heat of guilt and embarrassment rose up her neck and ears.
    Rebecca accepted a tea cup and saucer from Tilly who was acting the hostess now that her ma and sister had gone out.
    “Thank you, Tilly.”
    “It’s no bother. I hope you’ll think of me as your friend as well. We don’t get many refined ladies who settle down in Dry Bayou. I think the only other real lady is Mrs. Piers—she’s the school teacher.”
    Rebecca blushed a lovely pink, took a sip, hummed her appreciation, and then set the tea on the table beside her.
    “I would love to be your friend, Tilly,” Rebecca replied, honest to goodness sweetness dripping from each word.
    She’s even pretty when she blushes. How can I compete with that?
    “Ray, Billy and his mother both tell me that you’ve been friends with him a long time.”
    Ray sat up straight. “ Best friends.”
    Rebecca smiled and tipped her head. “I see. I can understand why you two connected so easily. You seem like a unique woman and Billy, as much pressure as there is on him with the ranch and the new horse operation, needs that sort of strength in his life. He’s a wonderful man.”
    Tension rose into Ray’s shoulders and she gripped the arms of the chair harder than she’d intended. “Yeah, so?” Ray didn’t mean for that to come out all ornery like that, but she was tired of wrestling with her emotions. The need to jump from her seat and claim Billy as hers was overwhelming.
    “I care for Billy, too. And I am being honest when I say that I only want what’s best for him.”
    “You mean marrying you.” Ray already knew what Rebecca and Billy’s parents thought was best. And she couldn’t agree less.
    “Well, I don’t know.” Rebecca looked down at her hands.
    “What do you mean?” Was Rebecca having second thoughts about marrying Billy?
    “After you left the creek last night, Billy and I had a discussion about…well…”
    Ray’s patience was wearing thin. “Well, what?”
    Rebecca took another slow sip from her tea before answering. “What he was looking for in a wife.”
    All the air left Ray’s body in a single breath. “W-what did he say?”
    Rebecca looked Ray square in the face. It seemed as though she wanted to gauge Ray’s reaction to what she would say next.
    “He said he wasn’t as picky as his parents, that he’d be happy married to