The Texan's Reward (2 page)

was my money he felt the loss of.”

“Maybe so, but I hate to see a man cry. I told him to stop, but he didn’t listen, so I left him to his misery.”

“Tell Gypsy to offer Number Twelve tea, and please, be sure the study door is closed before you come back to

get me.” Mary Ruth had forgotten twice in the past week. The nurse tended to forget orders she thought

unnecessary. She didn’t mind if visitors saw her doing her job, even if it did embarrass Nell.

Mary Ruth nodded once as she straightened her uniform. There was no need for Nel to say more. They both

knew she didn’t want anyone to see her being carried—not even the man she planned to marry. They also both

knew that Mary Ruth considered the deception a bother and would forget the request as soon as it suited her.

As the nurse hurried downstairs, Nell pulled her hair up in a bun, making her look older, then rolled to the

shadows of the balcony. She stared down into the huge, cavernous room below. The stranger openly appraised

the place. The great room was a far cry from the gaudy red and gold of its brothel days. Nell had ordered most

of the new furniture from catalogs. Now the room was tastefully divided into groupings. No line of chairs

remained along the far wall where girls waited for their callers for the evening. Only two doors, besides the

entry, led off the room. One to a smal study. The other to the kitchen.

Nell remembered how the chairs had been all straight-backed cane when she’d been a child. Fat Alice didn’t

want her girls getting too comfortable while waiting for business. The old madam, who’d become her guardian

after Nell’s mother died, had also never allowed Nell in the big room during what she called business hours.

Today, the only personal touch to the room was Nell’s pots of wildflowers along the windowsills. If she couldn’t

go to the land, a little part of it would come to her. Though outside it might look like the last few days of winter,

in the house it was spring.

The stranger below tapped riding gloves against his palm as he waited.

Gypsy, Nel ’s housekeeper, explained that since he came unannounced, he might have to wait a while.

Nel smiled. Old Gypsy might be almost toothless and spotted with age, but a hint of the hooker she’d been stil

lingered in the way she moved. She’d spent too many years in this house practicing her trade to ever lose the

sway in her hips or the tilt of her head that told many a cowhand that he was about to be in for the ride of his

life.

“I’ve come a long way,” the stranger’s words drifted up to Nell. “I hope the lady will take that into consideration

and not keep me waiting long.”

Gypsy put her hands on her hips. “Wel , there ain’t no charge for hoping, mister.”

Mary Ruth reached the ground level before Gypsy could say more. Her crisp white uniform at least earned her a

nod from the man, which was more greeting than he’d given the housekeeper.

The tal nurse stared eye level at the stranger. “You here about the ad?”

Of course he was, Nell thought as she watched him stiffen. No one came to this rambling old house by the

tracks. She had trouble getting merchants in town to deliver goods, even though the place hadn’t been a house

of ill repute for years. Her doctor had to ride the train all morning to visit her once a month because the town

doctor claimed to always be too busy to make cal s out to the house by the tracks.

“I’m here to pay a cal on Miss Nel Smith.” Number Twelve’s voice was deep and strong . . . and nervous. “My

business is of a private nature.” He lifted his head and stretched taller so that he could look down on the nurse.

“Would you be so kind as to tel her Randolph Harrison is here to see her? I sent my card and introduction by

post.”

Nell thought of the letters stacked on her desk, but it was too late to sort through them and study the

references of one from a Mr. Harrison. As for his business being private, everyone in town knew about the ad

wanting a husband. Word was, men were laying bets at the saloon on how many men she’d turn down before

she settled on one.

“She already knows you’re here,” Mary Ruth answered honestly. “She’s not blind and deaf. If you’l wait in the

study, I’l see if she wants to receive you.”

Gypsy winked at the stranger. “You’ve made it farther than most. Some she turns down when she sees them

walking up the path. One fellow, I think it was the fourth or fifth, didn’t even get off his horse before she yelled

for him to go away.”

Randolph Harrison appeared bothered by the old housekeeper’s attempt to be friendly. He handed her his hat

and gloves without a word and walked into the study.

After securing the door, Mary Ruth climbed the stairs and carefully carried Nell, while Gypsy bumped the chair

down the steps.

“As soon as this one leaves,” the nurse said, “I’l put you down for a nap. With this much excitement, you’l need

to rest another hour today.”

“I’m fine,” Nell insisted. She felt like she spent most of her life in bed.

Once Nel was back in her wheeled prison, both women fussed over her until she shooed them away. Nel

nodded, and Mary Ruth opened the door. She braced herself for what she’d see. First he’d smile, noticing her

face. Then he, like the others, would stare at the chair, and his greeting would change. He’d stop seeing her and

only see a cripple.

She hated what came next. Pity. Every man who came about the offer to marry, in exchange for a full

partnership in her holdings, looked the same. He wanted to help her, poor cripple that she was, but he wasn’t

sure he could tie himself for life to someone who couldn’t walk. They’d ask questions about the accident, the

future, the possibility of children. They’d even hint that the terms might need to be altered. After al , a

partnership didn’t have to include marriage. It wouldn’t be fair to her, not knowing him. Maybe they should

start with a business agreement first and see what developed.

Nell never al owed the conversation to progress further. She ended it. Better to reject them before they rejected

her. She needed a partner but wanted a husband. She’d have both or nothing at al .

Holding her breath, Nell glanced up, expecting to see pity in Number Twelve’s eyes. To her shock, there was

none. His slate gray gaze studied her without any emotion. Either he’d learned to hide his feelings quite well, or

he had none. She couldn’t tel which.

“Miss Nell Smith?” His voice hinted of a formal education.

Nell offered her hand. “Mr. Harrison.”

His grasp felt solid. He knew he was being tested. “I’m here in answer to your ad. I see now why you would

benefit from a partner in running the several properties of your estate.”

He didn’t lean down but remained straight, his manner cold. “I believe you’ll find my references satisfactory.

Though it’s been ten years back, I did the accounting for a large ranch in East Texas once.”

She couldn’t believe his total lack of interest in her condition. Was he being kind or indifferent? “And you’d

agree to the terms?”

“Half your properties in exchange for managing the entire estate.” He stepped a few feet away and lifted a book

from her desk. He glanced at the spine and returned the book to the exact place. A man of order. “I believe

those were the terms, and I consider them fair.”

“And the marriage? You’d agree to this bargain for life?”

He hesitated only a moment, looking down at her chair before meeting her stare. “I assume you mean ‘in name

only’ to the bond.”

Nel nodded, not trusting her voice. She’d hoped the marriage would be on paper only, but had been afraid to

make it part of the agreement.

He studied her with his cold gray eyes. “Until death do us part. You’l have my name and my word.”

“Yes. Just like a real marriage, except I’d live here and you’d have your pick of the ranch houses to use as

headquarters. I have seven properties in all: one farm, four working ranches, and two places I consider near

worthless. We’d manage them jointly. This house and the land around it would not be part of the holdings.”

“Bound in a full partnership for life.” His hard voice seemed to carve the words in stone. “I’d like to set the rules

and terms of the agreement before we marry. I’ve made a few notes about how often we’ll meet and what will

happen if we disagree on the management of your properties. I’d like everything clear between us before we go

further.”

Something in the way he said the words made her shiver. He was exactly what she’d hoped for. A man who

looked like he could run her holdings. Intelligent. Well-mannered. Capable. So, what was wrong with him?

“Do I need to formally ask for your hand in marriage, or can the details be arranged along with the partnership?”

“I’ll not marry before all agreements are signed. Without the proper papers, all I own would become yours with

the marriage. I want to know this house and half of everything I have will stay in my name.”

“Fair enough. Shall we send for the lawyers?” He didn’t hesitate, only politely asked, letting her set the pace.

“I’d like some time to think about it, Mr. Harrison. To get to know you.” Nell tasted panic. Always before she

couldn’t think of one reason to say yes; now she couldn’t think of one to say no. “I’l make notes of my own

before we talk again.”

He raised an eyebrow, as if considering her request. “Would a week be sufficient? During that time, we can

meet at your convenience to discuss details, and I would have the opportunity to visit each of your properties. I

wish to put no stress on your condition.”

He held the door for her as they moved into the main room, where Gypsy had set up tea for them. “Wil you join

me for tea, Mr. Harrison?” She needed time to think and also time to watch him.

“Thank you.” He walked beside her, not offering to push her chair, for which she was grateful.

Before she reached the table, the front door jerked open with such force it almost rattled off the hinges.

Randolph widened his stance. Nel froze.

A broad shouldered, dust-covered Texas Ranger barged through the room like a tornado at full wind. “Nell!” he

yelled. “I’m not having any of this.”

Randolph stepped forward. “Now see here! You can’t rush into a lady’s home and yel at her. I don’t care who

you think you are.”

Jacob Dalton glared at the man as if he were no more than a gnat pestering him. “Who are you?”

“I’m her future husband, Randolph Hamilton.”

“Good!”

Nel had had enough of Jacob’s bul ying. “What do you think you’re doing here? I told you I didn’t need you

mothering me.”

He leaned down an inch from her face. “Wel , someone needs to ride herd on you, Two Bits. I’ve had the job

most of my life, and when I leave for a few months, look what happens. You go crazy!”

Mary Ruth rushed into the room like a palace guard protecting the queen. But before she could attack Jacob,

Nell found her voice. “I’m doing just fine. I’m getting on with my life. Stay out of it.”

I’l have to ask you to leave, mister.” The nurse pointed to the open door as if Jacob would take such a hint. “I

don’t know who you are, but you’re upsetting my patient, and I’l not al ow it.”

Jacob didn’t seem to notice the almost six foot of nurse standing before him. His powerful body heaved in rage

as he stared down at the thin, injured woman like he wanted to strangle her.

Nell gained control first. “What do you mean it’s good that I’m marrying Mr. Harrison? If you approve, why are

you yelling?”

Jacob straightened. “I said good because if he were already married to you, I’d have to kill him.” He said the

words too calmly for them to be a lie.

Mr. Harrison paled. Mary Ruth hesitated between helping him and protecting Nell.

When Harrison hit the floor, Nell motioned for the nurse to assist him.

The ranger stepped over the fiancé and opened a window. “You’re not marrying anyone.”

“Like hel I’m not. He’s the twelfth one to ask and by far the best, if you didn’t frighten him to death.” Nel

wished she could run. She’d put half a world of distance between her and Jacob Dalton. “I want to be married.

Respectable. I’ve never had a last name except the one Fat Alice gave me when I went away to school. I’l give

up half of all I inherited for it, and you’re not stopping me, no matter how much of a big brother you think you

are to me. I’m old enough and rich enough to get what I want in this one thing.”

Jacob paced a few feet, then let out a long breath. He stared out the window as if seeing clearly for the first time

in a long while. Propping his muddy boot on the window box, he almost sent a flowerpot tumbling. His big frame

made the room shrink.

Nell watched him. A part of her would always worship the ranger she’d fol owed around when she’d been a kid

running the streets. But she couldn’t let him back into her life. She couldn’t stand to see the sadness in his eyes

when he looked at her. Even though he’d been miles away when her accident happened, she knew he blamed

himself.

“All right,” he said in little more than a whisper. “If marriage is what you want, then marry.” He glanced at

Randolph, stil out cold. “But not him.”

“Then who?” Nell glared at Jacob. She wasn’t about to let him pick her partner.

“Me.” His single word rattled across the room.

“You?”

He turned and straightened like a man preparing for battle. “I’m stepping into the line of men who’ve come

knocking.”

“Number Thirteen,” Mary Ruth whispered.