“Thirty feet” Fredrick said as he dismounted.
They climbed the wooden steps up to the porch. When Fredrick lifted the brass knocker on the front door and rapped, it was only a moment before the door swung open, and a man dressed in a black coat came out and said, “Might I help you, sir?”
Fredrick glanced at Billy. “He must be new.” Then Fredrick looked at the sharp-looking doorman. “I’m Fredrick Holladay and this is Billy West I believe we’re expected.”
“You could have tried F. D.,” Billy said with a grin.
“I will announce you,” the man said stiffly, bowed sharply at the waist and rang a bell. In a flash, a small boy came flying around the veranda. “Willie, take the gentlemen’s horses to the stable.”
The little boy scampered down the steps and took the reins of both horses to lead them around the massive house. “I like this one,” Willie said, patting the pinto and glancing back at Billy. “What’s her name?”
Billy stared at the little guy who looked much too young to be working. “Spot.”
“Looks like somebody dropped paint on her.”
Spot was all white except for a brown mane and a brown left shoulder and leg. It did look as if someone had spilled paint on her. Billy smiled at the little boy and then followed Fredrick into the house. A monumental staircase faced them as they entered the front door, and rooms to the left and right.
They were led into the parlor at the left to wait. The room had white walls and woodwork. The rosewood furniture with gilt copper mounts was upholstered in a most handsome Aubusson tapestry with a pale green background and a medallion in the center. It looked very uncomfortable. Billy had seen a settee like this one in Miss Ruby’s fancy sitting parlor, which was, after all, the fanciest whorehouse in Denver. Billy actually smiled at that thought, which he discreetly kept to himself. Best not to start out on the wrong foot.
A woman swept into the foyer. She was a beautiful older woman, her dark hair swept up on top of her head and away from her face. She was smiling and looking at Fredrick as her arms spread wide.
“Fredrick, it has been much too long since you have visited us. Look at you. Your skin is so tan, but other than that, you look none the worse for living out there.”
“Aunt Margaret, it’s called the West. How did you think I’d look?”
“Well, you know how wild it is in that part of the country.”
“You’ve read too many books, Aunt Margaret,” Fredrick said with a chuckle. “I want you to meet someone. May I introduce Billy West? He’s going to make sure we have a safe journey back out to that place. ”
Margaret, wearing a stricken expression, stared at Billy for the first time. “Is that why you’re wearing a gun, Mr. West?”
“Exactly, ma’am.”
“Well, let us hope that you do not need it around here. We are most certainly civilized in this part of the country.”
Before Billy could respond and assure Mrs. Holladay that he wasn’t going to shoot her, a young woman came into the room and whatever he was about to say flew completely out of his head. My God, she was a beauty, Billy thought as all his breath left his body. It was as if a gust of fresh air had swept through the room.
This young woman looked nothing like the women where he came from. She had an elegant quality about her instead of the worn-out look that the women out West had. Her skin was pale, and her hair was black as coal. Her eyes resembled two pools of ice blue water. Yet, there was something about her—some unreal quality—that seemed if you reached out and touched her she would vanish, like the many beautiful butterflies he’d tried to catch when he was younger.
As she moved toward him, Billy noted the graceful way she carried herself. He lifted his hand to his jaw to make sure his mouth hadn’t dropped open. This wasn’t the way he usually felt when he met attractive women. He had always felt in control, but at this moment, he felt as if he’d been slugged in the gut.
He’d sworn off women. Was he loco?
She gazed at him with vivid blue eyes that reminded him of fresh mountain streams when the sun reflected off the silver-blue rushing water. Her gaze roamed over every inch of his body, and Billy wondered what she was thinking.
“We have company, dear,” Margaret said.
Claire didn’t say anything, she just stared which, of course, was very rude, but what she saw before her was a far cry from what she’d expected.
“Did you hear me, dear?” Margaret said.
“Yes, Mother, I see,” Claire answered in an almost breathless voice. She blushed. Her escort wasn’t some elderly advisor she’d thought her uncle would send. He was a cowboy ... in every sense of the word. His shoulders were broad and he was dressed in black from the Stetson on his head to the toes of his worn leather boots. He was ruggedly handsome, his face was bronzed, and his dark brown hair hung just below his ears, giving him an untamed look.
He stared at her with eyes that were so brown they appeared black: as black as the handkerchief tied around his neck.
Evidently, he didn’t know that it was rude to stare ... or perhaps he just didn’t care. More than likely the latter, Claire thought. For just a moment, she was aware of nothing but the man before her as he held her gaze with his warm chocolate eyes. Her stomach quivered. Odd feeling, she thought.
“My dear, this is Billy West,” her mother said, trying to gain Claire’s attention.
Get hold of yourself Claire thought. You’ve seen plenty of men before.
But nothing like this cowboy, a tiny voice inside her said.
“Mr. West,” she nodded politely, and then looked immediately at her cousin. “I am surprised that you came, too, Fredrick.”
Fredrick stepped over and hugged Claire. “You have changed, cousin, since the last time I saw you.”
Billy got a queer feeling, watching Fredrick embrace the young woman, but he chalked it up to being tired. He smiled slightly. This woman was a real looker. She hadn’t bothered to hug him. All he got was a polite nod. Good thing she wasn’t the one going on the trip. It was the other cousin that Billy wanted to meet The one he would be responsible for. “Where is the child that we are escorting back to Denver?”
The three other people in the room turned and gaped at him. And then the woman and Fredrick said together, “Child?”
Billy wondered if these people had a hard time understanding plain English. “Claire. The child that we’re taking back with us.”
“There is no child,” the beautiful young woman answered him. “I’m Claire.”
Billy had to grit his teeth to keep from slinging a few choice cuss words. Ben knew how sick Billy was of women, and now he’d saddled him with a female for several thousand miles. And a beautiful female at that. He thought back to their conversation. Ben hadn’t really said anything about a child, but he also hadn’t corrected Billy either. The sly devil. Ben had known exactly what he was doing.
Well, what was done was done. Maybe it would work out better than Billy thought. At least, he wouldn’t have to worry so much about a grown woman getting lost or in trouble. The biggest problem that he could see would be some cowboy making an improper advance to Claire, and then Billy would have to beat the daylights out of him. That would be more an aggravation than anything else.
“Is there anything the matter?” Claire asked. Billy realized he was still staring holes through the young woman. “Just a slight misunderstanding. I understood that I would be taking a child back to Holladay.”
“Well, I’m sorry to disappoint you, but I promise I’ll not be as much trouble as a child would be,” Claire said.
You had better not be, Billy thought. He could tan a child’s backside if she didn’t mind him, but turning Miss Holladay over his knee brought a whole different thought to mind.
“Let me show you to your rooms,” Claire said. “I’m sure both of you would like to freshen up after such a long trip.”
Billy nodded, then followed Claire up the stairs, taking note of the sway of her h
ips. Lord help him. What had he gotten himself into? He cursed himself for allowing his thoughts to wander down the wrong path. What the hell was the matter with him? He was acting like he’d eaten locoweed.
Just castrate me and get it over with ’cause that’s what Ben would do if Billy touched one little hair on the lady’s head. He grunted.
“Is something wrong, Mr. West?” Claire asked. “Yes, sweetheart, but I’ll get over it.”
Billy liked looking at the pretty young thing. He’d admit that much. But he’d just have to remember to look and not touch and the trip would be easy.
Claire pointed to a door. “This is your room, Mr. West.”
“The name’s Billy.”
“Is there anything else I can do for you?”
“I’d like to check on my horse after I stow my gear,” Billy said, looking past her to Fredrick.
“That won’t be a problem,” Fredrick answered. “You might like to have Claire show you around. Oak Hill is one of the best horse farms in the East. Uncle Ben said you’ve always been interested in starting your own farm.”
Claire’s eyes lit up with interest “Is that right? I’ll be glad to show you around the stables. Would you like to meet me in the foyer in about an hour?”
Billy opened the door and stepped in. “I’ll see you then.”
Once the door was shut, Claire looked at her cousin. “He doesn’t talk much, does he?”
“Not a lot” Fredrick laughed. “But he’ll warm up to you, as soon as he gets over the shock. Uncle Ben led Billy to believe that he’d be picking up a child to bring back to Denver.”
Claire opened up the next bedroom door for her cousin. “Why would he do that?”
“Well, back home there have been several young women who have been trying to get Billy to the altar. One even went so far as setting a wedding date, and told the whole town while Billy was out on a stage run. It took him by surprise and embarrassed him. One thing you don’t want to do is embarrass Billy West He doesn’t hold kindly with anyone who does. And for that reason, he’s more or less sworn off women. If he’d known it was you he was picking up, he never would have agreed.”
Claire leaned against the door frame. “Such a shame,” she said, then she laughed at her cousin’s dumbfounded look. “Well, he is good looking. I’m sure there will be some disappointed women.”
“I guess you could say that,” Fredrick said. “But I wouldn’t go getting any ideas if I were you. You’d just get hurt.”
“Oh, Fredrick, I don’t mean me. I was just teasing. Mr. West can rest assured that I don’t want any entanglements.” She straightened. “And before I forget, I don’t want anything said about my condition.”
“So Uncle Ben told me.” Fredrick frowned. “I’m real sorry, Claire.”
“Thank you.” She gave him a little smile. “Now don’t you go getting sad on me. I’m so excited about this trip that I don’t think about my sickness anymore, and I want to leave it that way.” She decided to change the subject. “Are you going to see your parents?”
“Sure. Then I’ll come back here at the end of the week.”
“Remember, there is nothing wrong with me but a slight cough. We haven’t told anybody outside the family except my editor.”
“Your secret is safe with me,” he answered her, then asked, “Are you sure you’ll be able to make the trip?”
“Yes. I have plenty of medicine, and Aunt Ute is to accompany us.”
Fredrick laughed.
“What’s so funny?”
“I would save that bit of information until the day we leave. Billy isn’t going to be happy with another person to look after.”
Chapter Four
The smell of beeswax surrounded Claire as she waited in the foyer. The maids had been busy all morning waxing the floors and woodwork, and it showed. Everything gleamed. Of course, her mother would never stand for anything but perfection in her home. And with the ball coming up, her mother had the entire staff cleaning everything not once, but twice.
Claire glanced in the hallway mirror, smoothed her hair, then quickly yanked her hand away. She wasn’t trying to look pretty for him. It was just that when she’d changed into her dark blue riding habit, she had disordered her hair. And, she had planned on going riding even before she’d met Mr. West—Billy, she corrected herself. It seemed odd to call him by his given name when she hardly knew him, but she had to admit he didn’t look much like a Mister.
But stranger or not, she was going riding today. It had been several months since she had last ridden Run for Glory, her prize thoroughbred, and she wanted to take him on the train, so at least she’d have something familiar with her out West.
She hadn’t been able to judge Billy, but she was sure he would be reasonable. She was sure he wouldn’t mind her taking her horse. After all, he had brought his mount.
He certainly was different from any man she’d ever known. Billy was bigger than life ... rugged looking, and so masculine that she found she really liked watching him.
One thing was certain, she wouldn’t be afraid of traveling with his protection. There was something about the way he stood, his square jaw jutting outward that said, “Don’t mess with me!” A stranger would think twice before antagonizing him or anyone traveling with him.
“Are you going out riding, dear?” Margaret said as she strolled through the foyer with her arms full of freshly cut flowers for the dining room. “Do you think you should?”
“Yes, mother. I agreed to show Billy around the stables, and then I’m going to ride. I intend to take Run for Glory with me on my trip.”
“I see it’s ‘Billy’ already.” Her mother shifted her basket to her hip. “What do you think of your young man?”
Claire could feel her cheeks heating. How had her mother known whom she’d been thinking about? She couldn’t have known. She was just guessing. “For heaven sakes, Mother, he isn’t ‘my young man’,” Claire said. “I have just met him.”
A noise on the staircase caused Claire to swing around to find Billy coming down the stairs. She sure hoped he hadn’t heard what they had just said. She would die on the spot.
“I hope I haven’t kept you waiting,” came the rough masculine voice.
“No, not at all,” Claire said, noticing that at least he wasn’t smirking. Maybe he hadn’t realized that they had been talking about him.
She watched him approach, noting he had changed clothes. He wore a dark brown home- spun shirt The handkerchief was missing, revealing tanned skin with a sprinkling of dark hair peeking out of his shirt. His hair was still damp on the sides where he’d washed, and as he neared her, she could smell the fresh scent of soap. She realized that she was gawking at him in the most unladylike manner. She quickly averted her gaze.
Billy nodded toward Margaret “Ma’am.”
“Shall we go?” Claire asked.
Billy didn’t answer, he simply put on his Stetson indicating he was ready.
He was a man of few words, Claire thought as she placed her gloved hand on his arm. Even through two layers of fabric, she could feel his heat.
Margaret cleared her throat “Take care of my little girl. She’s fragile.”
“Mother, I’m just going for a ride,” Claire protested, but didn’t stop.
Billy was a little surprised by the comment, but he didn’t know what to say, so he just reached for the door. Before he could grasp the knob, the gentleman they had seen yesterday appeared.
“Allow me,” he said stiffly.
Billy wondered why in the hell he couldn’t open the door by himself, but the fool man seemed hell-bent on doing it. He waited for Claire to precede him, then he followed her out. They walked down the steps in silence and started toward the right side of the house.
“I could have opened the door," Billy said offhandedly.
‘That’s Webster’s job,” Claire said.
“You mean you have a professional door- opener?”
Claire giggled, and
Billy found he liked the sound. “He’s called a butler.”
“Oh, yeah. I’ve heard of them. In fact, my kid brother said he wished he had a butler, so he could milk the cow.”
“I’ve never heard of a butler milking cows. I certainly couldn’t imagine Webster doing so. They direct the household staff. However, I guess there could always be a first time.”
“In my household, lots of things would be different from here,” Billy said, glancing at Claire and wondering how in the world Margaret saw a child in her. Claire was definitely a woman in every sense of the word. She was a mite thin—hell, he could probably encircle her waist with his hands— but with a little food, she would fill out just right. Come to think of it, it might be better to keep her a mite thin.
“Is something wrong?” Claire asked.
“Just thinking. You don’t look fragile to me,” he said with a smile.
“You’ll have to excuse my mother,” Claire told him, her blue eyes dancing with a smile. “She’s a little overprotective.”
“And do you need protecting?”
Her eyes widened, as if she were surprised by his remark. “Most certainly not I am a grown woman.”
“I’ll say,” Billy shot back before he thought.
“I beg your pardon?”
He made sure to keep a blank expression before he answered, “Nothing.” Better not have her getting any ideas that he thought her attractive. He didn’t want another female latching onto him. He pointed. “Is that the barn up ahead?”
“No. It’s the stable where we keep our horses. We have a separate barn where hay and feed is stored.”
“It’s a big one.”
“We stable twenty-four horses, twelve on each side. We have another building where we keep the pregnant mares. I’m sure they put your horse in the main stable. I’ll take you to him.”
Until September Page 5