"Is he alive?"
"No, he passed away a few years back. Got the consumption."
"I'm sorry," she said softly. "I'd have liked to have met him."
He stared at her. Something in his eyes warmed to her and she didn't understand that.
"So why didn't you marry. You never fell in love?"
She smiled a bitter smile, "Like you, I didn't have time to be courting. I had no time for men and frivolities."
"I guess you didn't. I'm sorry. But I am glad you told me."
"Why?"
"Because we are married, and I wanted to know the truth. And I found out something about you just now, you didn't know I was really rich, did you?"
"No," she frowned. "But I'll admit to stretching the truth at home, to feed my own ego that I was working for a rich rancher in Texas, when I suspected you were just some ordinary rancher needing help."
"Why did you do that?" He cast her a real smile now.
"Like you I wanted to impress my friends. Because all of my people at home were poor, and to hear something grand like that, made them have hope for themselves. It gave them a dream. And I like making dreams. Trouble is, I have way too much imagination."
He chuckled.
Chapter Four
Lance was seeing his new bride in a different light now. She was poor, honest, and very proud. Damn, if he didn't like her. But despite all that, she was for a fact the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen, and she seemed so unaware of herself. Her dark hair lay in curls down her back and shoulders, so very long, he ached to touch it. To run his fingers through it. Her blue eyes were crystal clear and penetrating, and her figure was perfect.
He couldn't quite get the picture of her out of his head.
He'd been prepared to lay the law down to her about the whole mess, but the more he learned about her, the less he wanted to. This was no ordinary woman, and he knew it.
She'd had a rough upbringing, and for some reason he was beginning to trust her. He could tell by the look on her face that she didn't have any idea who he was. So, she wasn't after his money.
What threw him was that his kisses had baffled her so. And thinking about it he'd enjoyed everyone of them. Still, there was Priscilla to worry about too. He'd proposed to her. So, it left everything up in air.
What bothered him about Trudy was that he'd sort of lied to her, claiming his friends would be upset if he suddenly dumped his new bride. He originally thought she was after his money. But when she came clean, and so honestly, he realized what a poor little lady she was. She'd spent all that money on that dress. And he could have bought her twenty dresses like that without feeling anything in his pocketbook. She must have been desperate for a good paying job. But he reckoned years of scrubbing floors would make anyone desperate. He'd never met anyone from such humble beginnings, and it was an eye opener.
Strangely it humbled him a little to think a girl would go to that much trouble, and expense to impress a boss. Still, he had to admit, she had impressed him in more ways than one. Admitting the truth had to have come hard for her as he saw the stubborn jut of her chin, the proud look in her eye as she told him of her ancestors. It was an unexpected admission, from a proud kind of woman.
How could he not feel for her, she'd lost her father, was about to lose her home, and spent every dime on a beautiful dress. He'd never met anyone like her in his life.
She was fascinating and he quickly decided he wanted to get to know his new bride and cook!
When they finally arrived at the ranch, Chico came and took the horses and stabled them.
When Lance didn't introduce her, she stared at him with her hands on her hips, "Who was that?"
Lance glanced at the retreating Chico, "Chico, come here." He hollered.
Chico ran back to his boss, "Yes Señor boss."
"Chico, this my new bride."
"Señora," Chico stared at her and he beamed her a smile. "It is a great pleasure to meet you."
"Thank you, I'm pleased to meet you, Chico." She extended her hand and shook it.