by asdf
Catherine didn’t correct that “maybe more.” She said instead, “It is a total contradiction to associate peace with a man who leads such a violent life.”
Cassie merely shrugged. “So his ways are a little different from Lewis Pickens’s.”
“A little?”
“All right, a lot. And Mr. Pickens might work at it, whereas Angel doesn’t—intentionally. Yet they basically do the same thing. Just look at Angel’s profession. He solves people’s problems, Mama. He leaves peace behind, where there was contention. He is a peacemaker. He just doesn’t know it.”
“I’d advise you not to spread that around. He might object to having his reputation whitewashed.”
Cassie grinned. “I’ll wait a few years before I point it out to him.”
“Smart girl.”
“Nice suit.”
Colt barely managed to keep from glowering at Angel. He’d already been told that one too many times today. It didn’t stop him from satisfying his curiosity, though.
“I know you showed up today with her on your arm, but are you and Cassie Stuart really going to stay married, or are you just lending her your protection for some reason?”
“I’m not all that sure anymore that she can’t protect herself,” Angel said. “Did you know she’s about as fast as I am at the draw?”
“Who do you think taught her?” Colt shot back.
“You?” Angel said in surprise.
“I showed her the rudiments. She was only a kid at the time. I guess she’s been practicing.”
“Apparently.”
“But her mother never let her do much more than keep the accounts on their ranch. If s no wonder she meddles in so many people’s lives, with so much free time on her hands.”
“She won’t have all that much free time anymore,” Angel promised.
“So you are staying married?”
“I’d like to see someone try to separate us.”
He said it so forcefully, Colt laughed. “Well, don’t look at me. I wasn’t thinking of trying.”
Angel grinned sheepishly. “What she makes me feel—I haven’t gotten used to it yet.”
“It’s changed you, all right.”
“How’s that?”
“I never thought to see the day you’d ask for a favor,” Colt said.
“Neither did I, but don’t worry about it. You didn’t come through, so we’re still square.”
“What are you talking about?” Colt demanded. “I was keeping an eye on her.”
“Not enough to keep her from nearly getting killed yesterday.”
“From meddling?”
“Indirectly. It was the tail end of what she started down in Texas.”
Colt shook his head. “Hell, you’ve got your work cut out for you, being married to that one.”
Angel grinned. “I know it. But what happened to you? I thought you and the duchess didn’t get along.”
Colt’s eyes sought his wife’s across the room, and he smiled. “She grew on me.”
“Must be contagious,” Angel said, his own eyes searching out Cassie. “I ended up with the same problem.”
“So Mr. Kirby came in handy after all?” Cassie said.
She’d finally got around to asking Angel if he’d found out who his parents were. She hadn’t expected him to reply in the affirmative, not this soon anyway.
“I suppose you’re going to take the credit for that?” he asked.
“Certainly.” She waited, but when he said no more, she poked a finger in his chest. “Well? What is your name?”
“Angel.”
She laughed. “You mean it wasn’t just an endearment?”
He shook his head. “ ‘O’Rourke’ goes with it.”
“Irish? Well, that’s unexpected. But I do like the sound of it. Cassandra O’Rourke. It has a much nicer ring to it than Cassandra Angel. And did you find out where they are now?”
“My father died before my mother and I went to St. Louis. She’s still living there.”
“I’m sorry about your papa, but I hope you know I won’t let up on you until you agree to go see your mama.”
His arm went around her waist to squeeze her close to him. “This is one time you can’t meddle anymore, honey. I already did.”
“I knew you would,” Cassie said smugly. “So what’s she like?”
“She’s wonderful. Her whole family is wonderful—with only one exception, but I’m not even displeased with him.”
“What do you mean, family?”
“She remarried. I have two half brothers and a sister, and even two stepbrothers. My sister, Katey, is a delight. You’ll love her, Cassie. You won’t be able to help it. She wants to be a cowgirl. She was after me the whole time I was there to teach her how to shoot my gun.”
“Did you?”
“No. She’ll have no use for it there.”
“She will when you bring her here for a visit.”
He grinned at her. “So you teach her.”
“Don’t think I won’t,” she assured him. “So which one is the ‘exception’ you mentioned?”
“The oldest stepbrother, Bartholomew.”
She frowned thoughtfully. “That name sounds awfully familiar for some reason.”
“Possibly because you met him in St. Louis.”
Her eyes widened. “Bartholomew Lawrence! He’s your stepbrother?”
“He and I were equally surprised when he finally walked in on the reunion. But then, I’d already had words with him at your hotel when I heard him talking about you. I’m happy to say he nearly fainted—again.”
“Just what did you say to him to make him faint the first time?”
“Not much,” he replied innocently.
“I’ll bet,” she snorted. “Well, whatever you do, don’t mention him to my mama. She had a run-in with his rudeness and came close to shooting him.”
“I’m starting to like your mama better already.” That got him a sour look, so he added, “Actually, I’m grateful to ol‘ Bart.”
“Why?”
“It’s damn nice knowing I’m not the only rotten apple in the family.”
Cassie took exception to that. “You aren’t rotten. I happen to know you’re just as sweet as you can be.”
He grinned at her. “Don’t spread that around. You’ll ruin my reputation.”
“I was talking about the taste of you, honey.”
His eyes fired up immediately. “Why don’t we go out to Jessie and Chase’s barn? Last I looked, they had a damn fine hayloft.”
“If s going to be cold out there.”
“You won’t be,” he promised.
Chase and Jessie did indeed have a damn fine hayloft. Cassie couldn’t recall ever appreciating a soft bed of hay before, but she did now. She lay with her husband’s arms around her, in no hurry to return to the wedding party-
“You know, if you hadn’t agreed to stay married to me, Cassie, I was going to come to you once every month until you got pregnant.”
She sat up so she could turn to look at him. “Even after you said giving me a child wasn’t your intention?”
“It wasn’t, then. But I’d like nothing better now, and I’d reached the point where I was willing to do anything I had to do to keep you.”
She cupped his face to bring his mouth closer to hers. “All you had to do was ask, Angel,” she said against his lips. “That’s really all you ever had to do.”
* * *
One of the world’s most successful authors of historical romance, every one of JOHANNA LINDSEY’s previous novels has been a national bestseller, and several of her titles have reached the #1 spot on the New York Times bestseller list. Ms. Lindsey lives in Hawaii with her family.
* * *
book with friends