The Ranger Takes a Bride (6 page)

The dining room hummed with conversation as some of the men stood and others settled into chairs. After a quick glance around to find Mama Sarita, Alejandra dipped her gaze and tried to be as invisible as possible while she slipped toward the seat where the woman motioned. What a relief to be seated between Mama Sarita and Tía Laura.

Señor O'Brien cleared his throat, and conversation quieted, replaced by the scraping of chairs as all the men settled in. They bowed their heads almost in unison, and Señor O'Brien offered a prayer in American.

Alejandra pressed her eyes closed, trying to understand some of the words. She was getting used to a prayer being spoken before each meal, since Tía Laura and Tío Walter followed the same tradition every time they sat down to eat. Señor O'Brien spoke some of the same things Tío Walter did, but the earnestness with which he said "Thank you" and "Father" made each word seem so heartfelt.

He ended with "Amen," and after she made the sign of the cross on her chest, Alejandra peeked around her lashes to make sure everyone else had opened their eyes. The last thing she wanted to do was offend these people by appearing irreverent if they had any strange customs after prayers.

When she did raise her head, she scanned the faces around the room. Anna was right, most of the vaqueros were Mexican.

And then her gaze skidded to a stop.

That face.
That man.
She blinked to clear her vision. Could it be him? It had to be. As if he could feel her gaze on him, he glanced up from the tamale on his plate, and a slow grin spread over his handsome face.

The cowboy from San Antonio. Edward Stewart.

Chapter Seven

For
a long moment, they stared at each other. What was he doing here? Had he said something about working at a ranch outside of Seguin? Maybe—now that she thought about it. His deep brown eyes held hers as his grin produced a dimple in one cheek. That smile made her stomach do a funny flip.

"Alejandra, have you met my brother yet?" Anna's voice rose over the clatter of plates and forks.

Alejandra brought her head around to see who Anna was talking about. But Anna's smile was trained toward the cowboy. Señor Stewart. Edward. Her mind strained to understand what Anna meant, but it was like trying to run through deep water.

"I've had the pleasure of meeting Señorita Diaz." Señor Stewart's deep voice rumbled from across the table, pulling Alejandra's attention to his face. His mouth formed an amused tilt. "I'm glad to see you made it to our humble ranch."

Heat flamed up Alejandra's neck. He hadn't actually told the others they'd met before today. Should she say something about it? If she didn't, it would be like their own secret. Not that it was a bad secret. He'd saved her life, after all. Shouldn't they all know of his bravery?

But before she could speak, Anna said something to him in American. It sounded like she introduced him to Mama Sarita.

Señor O'Brien changed the conversation back to Spanish, as he addressed Mama Sarita and Alejandra. "Have you met the rest of the men? We've a good group of vaquero's on the Double Rocking B." He pointed to the man beside him. "This is Monty, our foreman. The place wouldn't run without him."

Monty dipped his chin in a sheepish grin. It was a nice smile, though, with his white teeth flashing against his tanned skin. He looked about Señor O'Brien's age, but a little more trail worn, perhaps. 

"Then there's Miguel, and Juan." As his name was spoken, the old man who'd greeted them in the yard now grinned with a bob of his head. Señor O'Brien kept listing names as he pointed to each man around the table.

Alejandra offered a polite smile to each—almost all the men being her own countrymen—but she couldn't help darting glances out of the corner of her eye at the American across the table. And every time she did, he was watching her. It sent a flush of heat through her chest. What was it about this man that made her react so?

The conversation turned back to American, and Alejandra kept her eyes on her food while she tried to pick out words. They must be talking about the cattle. And something about cold. A river. Longhorns. Some of the words were close enough to the Spanish ones, she could understand if the person spoke slowly enough. She would get this. She had to.

After the men polished off the apple tamales, chairs scraped against the floor and boots thumped as the group rose. It had looked like there were a lot of people when they were all seated, but with so many men standing, their presence overpowered her small frame until there was hardly room to breathe. Alejandra slipped from her chair and into the kitchen. Whew.

Striding to the sink, she rolled up the sleeves of her best white shirtwaist. From the bar on the window sill, she scraped a few soap shavings into the bucket of wash water where the frying pans had been soaking.

"Alejandra?"

Whirling, she found Anna in the doorway, a friendly smile on her face and one hand settled on her middle. "Sí."

"Jacob thought you might like to walk out and see the horses with me and Emmaline. I haven't been out of the house all day." She brushed a hand over her wispy brown hair. "I could use some cool air."

Alejandra slipped her gaze from Anna to the near vacant dining room behind her. There was a table full of dishes to wash. No way could she leave with all this work to be done. But would it be rude to deny a request from their host?

Mama Sarita appeared in the doorway behind Anna, shifting her to the side with a gentle hand. "Alejandra." Her voice was stern. "My sister and I will take care of this washing. Go with Anna and let us work in peace."

With that command, Mama Sarita strode to Alejandra and pulled the cast iron pan from her hand. She dropped it into the water bucket with a "clunk." Then she propped a hand on each of Alejandra's shoulders, spun her toward the door, and pushed.

Alejandra fought to turn herself around so she could speak to the forceful woman. "Mama," she hissed. "I should stay in here to help. There's too much work to be done."

"Go with Anna." Mama Sarita had her at the door to the hall by now. With a firm pat on the back, she said, "Enjoy yourself," then spun back toward the kitchen and set to work.

A chuckle sounded from Anna as she stepped up to Alejandra and linked a hand through her elbow. "Let's go get some fresh air. I think these ladies want to work without us."

Emmaline scampered to meet them in the hallway, and Alejandra fought down her guilt while Anna helped her daughter with hat, coat, and mittens. Mama Sarita did deserve a chance to visit with her sister alone. After all, they'd been separated for all those years. If only she could have talked both women into letting her clean the table and kitchen, while they relaxed by the fire.

"All set?" Anna turned a cheery smile on Alejandra.

Squaring her shoulders, Alejandra grabbed her shawl from the peg, and stepped toward the door. "Let's go."

Anna frowned, not moving forward. "Do you have a warmer coat? The nights are getting cold."

Alejandra raised an arm to examine her wool shawl. Papa had brought home the strip of cloth as a gift, and she'd dyed it a deep red and embroidered blue forget-me-nots around the edges. It was one of her few luxuries. A special adornment that made her feel beautiful.

Anna examined the flowers in one corner. "This shawl is lovely, Alejandra. The needlework is amazing. Did you buy it in your hometown?"

"Sì. Papa bought the material, and I added the flowers."

Anna's gaze drifted over Alejandra, a new respect sparkling in her eyes. "You're so…" she paused, as if trying to think of the word in Spanish. "…talented."

Heat raced up Alejandra's neck, and her eyes fell to the shawl. "Gracias."

Anna slipped an arm around Alejandra's shoulders. "We'll need to make you a warmer coat, too. Texas winters can be awfully cold, with snow lasting for days or sometimes weeks. Jacob said he didn't think this winter would be as bad. But you'll still need something besides this lovely wrap."

She lifted a lantern from the wall as Emmaline led the way out onto the porch.

"Look, Mommy." The child spoke in a hushed tone, her face turned to the sky. "The moon's bigger tonight."

The mother and child discussed the night sky and the patterns of the moon as they walked. Alejandra lagged behind, staring up at all the twinkling lights against the black background. There were so many tonight, just like she used to see back home. The three stars of Orion's belt. The lion Leo. They were all familiar. Like a comfortable blanket. So many things of this place reminded her of Mexico. The language the people spoke. The food. The stars overhead. Could it be, on this cattle ranch in the middle of Texas, she wasn't so very far from home?

After a pleasant quarter hour with Anna and Emmaline in the barn, Anna looped her hand around the crook in Alejandra's arm again and strolled toward the house. "You know, Alejandra. You're welcome to come ride any time. That Palomino mare is a good saddle horse. I can't go with you quite yet, but maybe Edward can, if he's in town. Or Jacob could send one of the hands out with you."

"Gracias." Alejandra's heart soared at the offer. A chance to ride again? The way she used to ride bareback through the dawn at Rancho Las Cuevas. But no. She had to rein in her daydreams. They lived in town, and it was a two hour wagon ride to this ranch. Her chances of riding at all were not likely, and certainly never in the first light of dawn.

When Emmaline pushed open the door to the house, Señor O'Brien met them in the hallway. "Would you ladies like to come into the den? We have some news to share."

News? Was it something private meant only for his wife and daughter? Perhaps she should go make herself useful in the kitchen. After all, she was the only one in the group who wasn't really family.

She was halfway down the hall when a deep voice called out. "Alejandra. Señorita Diaz."

His voice. It froze her feet, but sent her heart racing. Slowly, she swiveled in the direction from which it came.

There he stood. Edward. A sort of half-grin quirked one side of his mouth. "Won't you come hear the news?" He extended an elbow.

But she couldn't take her focus from his eyes. They spoke to her. Called her. Sent a warmth through her chest as if she were the most important person who existed in his life. How could a simple look say so much?

She found her feet moving of their own accord, carrying her to him. His gaze tracked her progress, never leaving her own. He slipped her hand into the crook of his arm, and guided her through the open door. His warmth radiated through the cloth of his sleeve, seeping through her body. She floated on air, walking next to this man.

A few gazes turned to them, and Alejandra noticed a twinkle in Anna's as she observed them. Edward escorted her to a wing-back chair, and Alejandra slipped into the soft cushion, heat finding its way to her face. She didn't quite have the nerve to meet his gaze with so many people around.

"It's been such a pleasure to have you ladies visit today." Señor O'Brien stood by the fireplace as he spoke in Spanish. Then with a warm smile at Tía Laura, who nestled on the couch next to Mama Sarita, he translated the words into American.

Scanning the rest of the group, he continued in Spanish. "It's not been healthy for my Anna to try to keep up with this house and cooking for the men, in her condition. Even with Emmaline here to help." He reached to tweak his daughter's nose as she snuggled next to her mother. She scrunched it in response, bringing a deep chuckle from him. This child was one of the cutest Alejandra had seen.

He addressed the group again. "So I'm very pleased to announce that Mama Sarita and Alejandra have agreed to join our little group, and share more of the cooking skills we sampled tonight." His gaze found first Mama Sarita, then Alejandra. "We look forward to your coming."

His words hit her like a blow to the head, leaving stars across her vision and a fuzziness in her mind. Join their group? What did that mean? A hand slipped around her shoulders, and Alejandra looked up into Mama Sarita's concerned face. The woman crouched down in front of Alejandra and leaned close to her ear so only Alejandra could hear the words.

"Mija, I'm sorry I didn't ask you first, but it sounded like the perfect solution. You've been concerned about finding a job, and the O'Briens need help. They're paying us good money, and we'll live here in the big house."

A paying job. Hadn't she hoped to find employment where she and Mama Sarita could work together as cooks or housekeepers? But she'd never quite envisioned this. Another ranch like Las Cuevas. Except the O'Briens, and even the vaqueros, seemed like good people. And then there was Edward. Did she want to be so near to him?

A groan pierced her thoughts as Anna pushed herself up from the chair next to Alejandra. Señor O'Brien was quick to reach out and help her, but Anna had one hand propped under her belly and another at her back. There was no way she could keep up with cooking and cleaning for the herd of vaqueros that had been in the dining room tonight. And caring for her daughter, too? Anna needed them. There was no doubt. And likely she'd need even more help when she had the babe.

She turned back to Mama Sarita, then released a long breath. "Sí. We'll stay and work here. It's good."

At least she hoped so.