Ballad Beauty Read Online Free PDF Page A

easily span it with room to spare. Her hat was slightly askew, revealing thick, honey blond hair twisted up in some womanly way.
    But he longed for a glimpse from the front again. She had the most enticing eyes he’d ever seen on a woman, a striking moss green, with long, thick lashes surrounding them. A man could get lost in those eyes. Or her mouth. Her lips were a soft rose and looked good enough to lick.
    Now where had that come from?
    He smiled to himself and shook his head. She sure didn’t favor Sam in the least, except for being tall. Must take after her mama. He remembered Sam going on for hours about his dearest Suzannah from County Kerry. Even though she was dead, Sam talked about his wife as if she were alive. He seemed to have loved her a great deal.
    He wondered how much this daughter resembled her dead mama. Why had it taken Sam so many years to send for such a looker? And why now? Of course, it had to be the big score he’d pulled off. The thought of it left a sour taste in Noah’s mouth. Although he had no lost love for Pete, he was still angry at both Sam and Pete for getting Pete killed. You think the two of them would’ve known better by now. After all, they had enough experience between them.
    “Thank you again, sir.”
    He looked up, confused for a moment. He’d been so lost in his thoughts that they’d arrived at the hotel without his realizing it.
    “Any time, ma’am.” He gave her a sheepish smile. He took her valise to the desk and rang the bell. When a portly attendant appeared, he said, “This lady needs to speak with you.”
    He turned, tipped his hat to her, and then strode away. Not too far, though. He needed to hear what Jenny McShanahan had to say.
    Jenny calmed herself, not wanting to appear flustered. She’d already been foolish enough to leave her belongings in the middle of Apple Blossom’s main thoroughfare. She took a deep breath.
    “Good afternoon, sir. I am Miss McShanahan, and I’ve just arrived–”
    “Oh, yes, ma’am, on the two o’clock stage, that’s for sure. He said you’d be on it.” The desk clerk beamed at her through yellowed teeth.
    Her heart skipped a beat. “You would be referring to my–”
    “Your daddy, pure and simple. He left a letter for you a few days ago. Paid for you to have a room, too, that he did.”
    She had been right. Obviously, his plans changed, but her papa took the time to prepare for her arrival. Maybe she was to stay here the night, and then they would travel to the ranch he always mentioned. It was possible he’d even purchased it by now, and that was what caused his delay.
    The clerk reached under the counter and pulled out a letter. She saw her name scrawled on the envelope. “Mr. McShanahan left this for you. Said to open it immediately upon your arrival.”
    She hesitated a moment.
    “Go on, now. You wouldn’t want to disappoint your daddy.” The rotund clerk smiled encouragingly.
    She tore open the envelope and took out a single sheaf of paper.
    My dearest Jenny –
    My plans have changed somewhat unexpectedly, and I have had to alter our arrangements. I have left Texas for a small town called Prairie Dell. It is in the state of Nevada, near the southern part. I fear it’s quite a ways for you to travel, but I so look forward to you joining me soon. My sister lives there, and she longs to meet you.
    You can’t reach it by stage—it’s simply too small—and the train that way is unreliable and truly comes nowhere near the Dell. I’ve hired a guide, Slim Patterson, to take you there. I know this seems odd, but you’ll understand everything once we’ve had a chance to visit in person.
    There’s money in the bank down the street to pay your escort. If you leave tomorrow, it will take about two and half weeks on horseback. Please hurry, sweetest Jenny. We have so much to catch up on, especially our goodnight songs.
    Your loving Papa,
    Samuel McShanahan
    Noah watched different expressions flit across her face in