Wild Texas Rose Read Online Free PDF Page B

wear red.
    “Does Miss Chamberlain know of this dress?” Rose asked the maid.
    “Of course, miss, she picked it out yesterday. Her father wanted another one with less lace, but she insisted.” Betty Ann made a face. “He gives in to her more than he should. I imagine that will stop after the wedding.”
    Rose ran her hand over the yards of yellow material, barely listening to the maid. Tori hadn’t confided in Betty Ann and so Rose would say nothing.
    The maid didn’t seem to notice her silence. “It will still be a few hours before Miss Chamberlain gets back. The groom was expected yesterday, but he didn’t show up. He’s an important newspaperman and probably has more important things to attend to than holding the bride’s hand.” The maid huffed. “I’m guessing that’s your job now, Miss McMurray.”
    “Fine,” Rose answered. “I’ve a bit of shopping to do before the fitting. Let the bride and groom have some time alone.” She opened the door, leaving Betty Ann no choice but to exit. “And I think you’re right—I do need a maid.”
    Betty Ann walked out mumbling to herself. “If they spend time alone waiting for you, it’ll probably be the first time they’ve spent without the major around. If I didn’t know better, I’d swear them two were getting married and Miss Victoria is just decoration for the cake. The way she’s been buying clothes you’d think she was stocking up for years and not just leaving for Galveston after the wedding.”
    Rose didn’t ask questions. She had a feeling if Betty Ann thought she wanted any information about August Myers or the major, the maid would take great pleasure in hiding it.
    As Rose hurried down the stairs, she planned. Whatever the trouble, it wasn’t something she could discuss with anyone. She needed to know the good guys from the bad ones as fast as possible, and for that she’d need an expert. Too bad Duncan hadn’t stayed around to help, but she’d manage. For once her fear had to take the backseat to helping a friend, and she needed to know what was going on as soon as possible.
    At the desk, she asked the chatty clerk, “I understand Ranger McMurray hired a coach for me if I needed to move about town. Has anyone reported in?”
    “Yes, miss, about a half hour ago. He said he’d be waiting whenever you needed him at the north door.” The clerk pointed down a long hallway toward a back door, then hesitated and added, “The man the ranger sent, miss, he’s not an easy man to look at, but he’s honest. We use him mostly for hauling because our guests have trouble looking—”
    “I’m not interested.” She found people who judged others by looks far more difficult to face than any scar or deformity she’d ever seen.
    “Yes, miss.” The clerk’s eyes met hers and she knew his opinion of her had just risen. “If you need anything, Miss McMurray, just ask for me, Hanson Rogers.”
    She nodded. “I will. Thank you, Mr. Rogers.”
    A few minutes later she stepped out of the north door and onto the side street where one worn buggy waited. Fort Worth had been a sleepy little town with its share of saloons and troublemakers, but with the railroad coming and cattle drives passing through, it had grown not only larger but rougher. The town fathers didn’t try to clean up the bars and gambling houses but simply restricted the worst of it to one area everyone called Hell’s Half Acre.
    That was exactly where Rose knew she’d find the help she’d need.
    The driver was tall, three, maybe four, inches over six feet. With his wide shoulders and thick legs, he seemed powerful more than overweight. He didn’t offer to help her up when Rose approached the old wagon with benches tied into the bed. Duncan was wise to pick nothing fancy, nothing that would draw attention.
    Rose walked to the front of the wagon and swung up easily on the bench beside the driver.
    He turned his face away as he mumbled, “Where to, Miss McMurray?”
    “Before we