The Rancher Takes A Bride (20 page)

Tucker shook his head. "Bad joke, Travis."

Rose glanced back at Travis questioningly while Eugenia spoke to the proprietor. "We need to buy this young lady some new clothes."

"Wait." Travis pulled Eugenia off to the side, just the two of them. "I agreed to one new dress. Not a new wardrobe."

Eugenia glared at Travis. "Tucker and I are chipping in to buy another new dress and I'm getting her new undergarments."

She walked back over to Rose and the women followed the shop clerk, disappearing behind a rack of ready-made clothes.

Travis slowly turned and faced his younger brother, resisting the urge to pick him up by his shirt collar, carry him outside, and give him the thorough thrashing he deserved. Instead he asked in a low voice only Tucker could hear, "You're chipping in to buy Rose a new dress? Have you lost your senses?"

Tucker shrugged his shoulders. "I only offered to do my share, since she saved our family operation. Mother was the one who suggested she would need another dress. I had nothing to do with that decision."

"You could have helped me bring Mother under control, by refusing to help Rose," Travis replied, his voice low, almost a growl.

"Why? She did save us a lot of money on replacing livestock." Tucker smiled. "And I would have missed the opportunity to witness your temper."

"My temper has nothing to do with it."

"Face it, big brother, I haven't ever seen you this frustrated by a woman. I'm rather enjoying it."

Travis grabbed his younger brother by the elbow and pulled him into a corner. He stopped right next to a table full of corsets and pantaloons. "I'm not frustrated by this woman, except when my brother and my mother seem to forget she's a criminal."

Tucker held up his hands. "What's happened that's made you so possessive of this woman?"

For a moment Travis was stunned. "I'm not possessive."

"Have you considered taking her to bed?"

"That's none of your business."

Tucker started to laugh. "Now I know the problem. Maybe instead of going and getting a drink we should hurry down to Miss Riley's place. You could use thirty minutes with one of her girls. Ease some pressure off your valve."

Travis glared at his brother. "Why would I want to have sex with a woman who lies and cheats for a living, who pretends to speak with dead people, and who will steal me blind if I'm not careful?"

"Because she's beautiful, sexy, and you want her so bad you can barely contain your lust," Tucker responded. "Isn't that why you want to bed her?"

"Yoohoo, boys. Come see Rose," Eugenia called.

Travis stared at his younger brother. How could he explain that for the first time in his life he was drawn to this woman regardless of her background, maybe even in spite of who she was. She was the most unusual woman he'd ever met, and she frustrated and excited him in the worst possible ways.

"Where did you boys go?" Eugenia called.

"Come on," Tucker said, giving his brother a nudge toward their mother. "I think this conversation will have to be concluded later."

Travis and Tucker stepped into to the dressing area where a woman with hair the same color as Rose's, and eyes just as green, stood atop a small platform. She looked like the beautiful gypsy at
The Last Word
, but different. He stopped blinking in surprise at the gorgeous, sophisticated creature before him. Rose had been transformed into a butterfly that had burst forth from its cocoon. And butterflies once hatched were wont to flit away.

What was he doing here in this dress shop, buying her a dress that transformed her into an elegant lady who would look at home in any setting, even the Bar None's parlor?

For a moment the men were silent, then Tucker let out a low whistle that sent color rising in Rose's cheeks. God, she was beautiful, and Travis wished he could voice his approval. But his mouth was as dry as the desert in a drought.

She smiled. "Does that mean you like it?"

She stood before him, her hair loose, the riotous curls pulled to where they lay on her shoulder. The green gown was fitted to her waist before a wide skirt flared away from her hips, trailing behind her. The sleeves were gathered just beneath her shoulders, and her bosom was covered, though the neckline scooped to reveal her creamy skin.

" 'Like it' doesn't even begin to describe the dress, or the woman," Tucker commented.

"What about you, Travis?" Rose asked, her eyes darkened with some emotion that always seemed to spark a flame within him. This time when she stared at him, an inferno of need seemed to consume him. How could any man resist her when she gazed at him, all innocent doe-eyes, in a dress that could tempt a preacher?

"It's pretty," Travis commented. But not nearly as beautiful as the woman who had metamorphosed before his eyes. Just when he thought he could resist her, she overwhelmed him again.

None of her previous outfits had looked anything like this dress. This simple garment gave her class, made her look respectable. This dress hid the scarlet woman well.

Rose went back behind the screened-off area. Travis paced the floor, as the sound of clothing rustling heightened his awareness. He stared at his younger brother. "Just remember, little brother, she's off limits to you."

"Off limits? Nobody's off limits who isn't wearing a wedding ring."

"I thought you said there was someone in Arizona."

"There was. A long time ago." Tucker frowned. "That was told to you in confidence. I thought you understood never to bring it up."

"Sorry."

Tucker shook his head. "Travis, you have nothing to worry about. I'm buying her some damn clothes because of Mother. It means nothing more."

Travis walked over to his little brother and said low enough so that only Tucker could hear the menace behind his words: "Make sure of it."

His younger brother smiled. "So when are you going to do something about it?"

"Do something about what?"

"When are you going to give into those urges concerning Rose?"

"That is none of your business."

Eugenia called. "Okay, boys."

The men hurried over to the dress area. This time Travis let his eyes drink their fill. Though much more down-to-earth, this dress had an innocently seductive air that could have been worn by a schoolteacher, but on Rose it was tempting. That temptation made Travis want to carry her behind that screen and peel the dress from Rose very slowly, taking time to caress each inch of skin he revealed.

He began to pace the small, crowded area. Time and again Eugenia brought Rose out, and each time he could only stare at the transformation. And each time his brother also stood there, gaze rapt, and drank in the sight of Rose in the new clothes.

Travis didn't want any man, including his brother, ogling Rose. She was his.

But she wasn't his. Yet he wanted her more than any woman in his life. Rose Severin was not the ideal woman he had pictured in his mind to win his heart, yet she was more.

Just when Travis thought he would explode from seeing Rose's body adorned in so many different styles and colors, Eugenia approached Travis.

"Why don't you boys go on over to the bar and get a drink while we finish up here. I think we've decided on the dresses, but now we .still need to fit the underclothes."

"I'm staying until you're finished," Travis replied.

"Fine. But we're going to be behind the curtain trying on different pantaloons, corsets, and chemises. We've still got at least an hour's worth of things to try on and another thirty minutes worth of browsing. Tucker, take your bull-headed older brother and buy him a drink."

"Come on, Travis, we both could use a drink to cool off. Rose isn't going anywhere."

Reluctantly, Travis gave in. "All right, I'm going."

***

Eugenia came back behind the screen. "Finally, those boys decided to go to some saloon down the street. I thought they would never leave."

"Uh, Eugenia. I have a huge favor to ask," Rose said, anxiety tightening her voice. She didn't know what she was going to do if Eugenia wouldn't help her.

The older woman picked up a pair of pantaloons and held them against Rose. "Hm. I think they're too large. You're going to need a smaller size."

"Eugenia!"

"Yes, dear. I'm listening. You were going to ask a favor. What do you need?"

"The auditions for the theater production I told you about are today. I want to try out."

Slowly Eugenia raised her head until her eyes met Rose's. "Oh, dear. I'd forgotten all about those auditions. We talked about it once before and I agreed to help you, didn't I?"

"Yes, you did," Rose whispered urgently. "The auditions are today, and you know that Travis turned me down or I wouldn't be asking for your help."

Rose seemed to run out of steam as she glanced at Eugenia's face and saw the frown that creased the older woman's forehead.

"That boy of mine is so stuffy sometimes. He needs to loosen up." Eugenia chewed on her lip. "Well, I can't see a reason why I shouldn't help you."

"So, we're going?"

"Get dressed. We can do the rest of this shopping quickly. The main reason I sent the boys down the street was that I was tired of seeing their hang-dog expressions as they watched you model dresses."

Rose threw her arms around Eugenia and shouted for joy. "Thank you! Finally I'll get a chance."

Eugenia unwrapped Rose's arms. "You get dressed, dear, while I settle the bill. Then we'll sneak out the back door, just in case those boys of mine aren't down the street yet."

Rose's heartbeat accelerated, and for a moment she thought she would faint She placed her hand over her breast as if to keep her heart from jumping clean out of her chest.

"We've got to hurry, if we're going to beat the boys back. Our purchases are all arranged, and all we have to do is pick them up. But we've got to hasten, if we're not going to get caught"

"What if I get the part?"

"We'll deal with that when we come to it"

Lifting her drawstring purse, Rose wrapped it around her hand. Dressed in her new finery, she felt like a million dollars. And now Eugenia was taking her to her first audition. Rose knew she was ready to face her dream.

"Let's go, Eugenia. I'm ready."

The two women hurried out the back door of the dress shop, giggling like two co-conspirators.

***

Rose walked into the tent that had been set up on the edge of town. The stage was being built outside, and the sound of pounding overshadowed the young woman who was reciting lines in front of a gruff- looking man who appeared more bored than enthusiastic.

Her first audition, and she had barely fifteen minutes to learn what she was expected to do. Just long enough to become nervous, and she was already feeling shaky. But Eugenia had taken a tremendous risk in getting her here today, and she wasn't about to ruin this opportunity.

Rose watched the girl before her go in front of the director. She began to speak, and Rose could barely hear her. Rose went through a quick mental rundown of what she'd seen the other girls do and how she could be different. Rose wanted this part in the worst possible way. This was her chance, her opportunity, and, by George, she was going to get this part.

"Next!" the man yelled.

She walked in front of him, her legs knocking, her mouth frozen in a smile. They handed her a sheet of paper.

"Okay, just read your part and Jack will say his lines.

Ready?"

"Yes."

"Anytime you're ready to begin."

Rose took a deep breath and began to read her lines. "
Why, gentleman, you do me double wrong, to strive for that which resteth in my choice: I am no breeching scholar in the schools. I'll not be tied to hours nor 'pointed times, But learn my lessons as I please myself. And, to cut off all strife, here sit we down:—Take you your instrument, play you the whiles; His lecture will be done ere you have tun'd.
"

She laid her hand on his arm and peered up at him. Lucentio stared at her.

The director called out, "Okay, that's enough. Thank you, Miss ..."

"Miss Desirée Severin."

"Thank you, Miss Severin, come back on Thursday and we'll post who got the part. Rehearsals will begin on Friday." The man took a drag of his cigar. "Next!"

Rose stepped to where Eugenia stood staring at her. "That was very good, dear. I was following along with the story. I didn't want it to end."

"You're not just saying that to be nice to me?"

Eugenia took Rose by the arm. "No, dear, I'm not. Now come along, we've got precious little time to sneak back into the dress shop before the boys come looking for us."

"Thanks, Eugenia," Rose said, feeling both elated and worried.

***

Travis walked back into Pearl's dress shop more relaxed than he'd been in the last several hours, after watching Rose's parade of fashion. A drink or two at Frank's Saloon had dulled the edge off his lust and then a quick trip to visit the Pinkerton man to check on the investigation had eased his conscience. The report would be forthcoming in the next few weeks and soon he would reveal to the world, and his mother, the true nature of Rose Severin.