Texas Twilight Read Online Free PDF Page B

nodded and picked up the china cup
that Maria, their maid, had just filled. He took a sip. He replaced
it back with a loud clatter, causing Becky to flinch.
    “You’re a moose,” she said, giving Dustin a
look of chastisement. “When are you going to learn some manners?
You were saying, John?” She daubed her mouth with her napkin.
“Still single, Charity likes to ride and tend to cattle?”
    John pushed away a small niggle of
irritation, realizing Becky was just curious about her cousin.
“She’s had a longtime beau that’s just waiting for the right moment
to ask for her hand.” He sliced a portion of beef and forked it
into his mouth. He chewed and swallowed. “You see, we all know
they’ll end up together—well, all of us except for Charity. She’s
as hard-skinned as an armadillo.” He laughed to himself, knowing
how Charity would react to that description.
    “Who’s the beau?” Dustin asked.
    “Brandon Crawford. Sheriff of Y Knot.”
    “A sheriff?”
    John glanced up from his plate, wondering at
his question.
    “Hardly a match for a McCutcheon, do you
think?” he scoffed.
    John glared. He was about to tell his
condescending cousin to go to hell when Becky beat him to it.
    “Mind your manners,” Becky gasped, looking to
see how he’d taken the offhand comment. “That’s a rude thing to
say.”
    John stood when Aunt Winnie came into the
room, then helped her with her chair. “That’s nice of you, dear,”
she said, getting comfortable. “But unnecessary. I want you to feel
like family. Which, of course, you are.” She leaned in close and
looked at the slash on his face and all the stitches holding it
closed. “How’s it feel this morning?”
    John had stared at his wound long and hard in
the mirror. Surely Emmeline wouldn’t care about something
superficial, would she? He’d cleaned it again and put on the
disinfectant. That was all he could do. The rest was up to
fate.
    “Aches some. But nothing I can’t handle.”
    “It’s a nasty one, all right.” Dustin was
leaning back, staring at him. His mouth was a hard, straight
line.
    Winston and Chaim came through the door
together. They hung their hats and hurried to the table, scraping
their chairs across the cool tile floor.
    “Are you heading out this morning?” Uncle
Winston asked.
    “Yes. I hope you don’t mind. I’d like to head
into town straight away, retrieve my things and start setting up.”
He also wanted to check on Lily and Harriett. He’d hated going off
without getting them properly settled.
    “ I
thought as much,” Winston replied, digging into the breakfast Maria
set in front of him. “Just stay right at the two forks and that
will dump you at the end of Dry Street, next to the school. Dr.
Bixby’s office—er, I mean your office is just down the street. It’s not hard to find.
Didn’t you say something in your last post about a young
woman?”
    John glanced at Dustin. “I did. We’ve been
keeping company and she is planning to follow sometime in the next
few months.”
    “You’re engaged?” Aunt Winnie exclaimed,
looking between John and the rest of the family at the table. “This
is exciting news. Congratulations!” She shook her finger at her
husband. “You never tell me anything, you bad man. We’re going to
have a wedding to plan. How wonderful!”

Chapter Six
     
     
    L ily’s feet
stopped when she saw Dr. McCutcheon riding down the middle of the
street, toward her and her aunt. It was still early in the morning
and there were only a few people on the boardwalk. She and Harriet
had taken breakfast in a little restaurant called the Apple
Dumpling, across the street from where they’d stayed.
    “Look who it is,” her aunt whispered into her
ear.
    “I see,” Lily answered quickly, embarrassment
warming her cheeks.
    “Be sure to say hello to him when he rides
by. “
    Lily turned to Harriett. “He’s almost a
married man, Tante. Surely, you haven’t forgotten so soon.”
    “ Oh,
pooh. I