A Lady of the West Read Online Free PDF

Roper had left the dead man lying on the floor and gone back to what he’d been doing like he’d never been interrupted.
    The dead silence in the bunkhouse had been broken when one of the cowpunchers blurted, “Why didn’t you shoot him?”
    Roper hadn’t looked up. “He wasn’t worth a bullet.”
    The Major liked having a man like Roper in his employ; he felt it gave him a certain stature. Garnet didn’t like the way the Major was depending more and more on the gunslick, but was helpless to do anything about it. Nobody on the ranch was going to take him on after what he’d done to Guest.
    Goaded by his silence, Garnet snapped, “That little blonde’s mine.”
    Roper flicked a glance at him. “Fine.”
    Somehow, the indifference stung Garnet. Nothingtouched Roper. The man wasn’t human; he didn’t even use Angelina’s services. Garnet had begun to think something was wrong with Roper in that way until they’d gone into Santa Fe and Roper had holed up with a woman the entire three days they’d been there. The fool woman had watched him leave with a dreamy look in her eyes.
    Just under his breath Garnet said, “One of these days, gunslick, I’ll get you under my sights.”
    Roper lifted-his head and smiled in a way that didn’t change the expression in his eyes at all. “Any time.”

CHAPTER TWO

    V ictoria’s dress was white, long-sleeved and high-necked, and had one of the new slim skirts she had seen the Yankee ladies in Augusta wearing. Celia oohed and ahhed over it, when she wasn’t whirling around in her own new blue dress.
    Emma brushed out Victoria’s waist-length hair, skillfully wound and secured it up on her head, and pulled several strands loose at the temple to soften the look. Emma’s calm face helped. Victoria’s hands were steady as she affixed a tiny spray of seed pearls in her hair. “How does this look?” she asked.
    â€œIt looks wonderful!” Celia was full of admiration. She adored Victoria and was happy that she looked so pretty in her new dress. Celia didn’t begin to understand what this wedding meant to her sister. Victoria tried to pretend the occasion was as happy as her sister believed it to be.
    â€œIt does look wonderful,” Emma said more quietly. Her dress was also blue, a shade that went extremely well with her pale skin. Her mass of dark hair had been wound into a smooth coil on the back of herhead. Her eyes met her cousin’s in the mirror, and Victoria managed a small, reassuring smile.
    Carmita knocked and put her head in the door, smiling broadly as she took in the three young women. “The Major is ready, señorita. You look very pretty!”
    Victoria rose to her feet. “Thank you.” She managed a smile for Carmita, also. Just before they left the room, she took one more look around it. She would not be a Waverly the next time she stepped through this door. A white silk and lace nightgown lay across the bed, and she quickly looked past it.
    The men were gathered in what she assumed was a parlor. She saw McLain, the priest, Father Sebastian, and the two men she had met that afternoon, Garnet and Roper. Victoria quickly walked to the Major’s side, not letting her gaze touch either of the two hands as she gave them a polite nod. Roper stood a little in her way, but he didn’t move, and she had to go around him to keep her skirts from brushing his legs. She could almost feel the scorn in his eyes as he watched her.
    The Major was beaming as he took her hand and tucked it in the crook of his elbow. “You look beautiful,” he said heartily. “I sure am getting my money’s worth.” She controlled a flinch.
    To the priest McLain said, “Get on with it.”
    The wedding ceremony was brief, too brief for Victoria’s peace of mind. In only a couple of minutes they were man and wife. McLain turned her to