Read Online It's Your Misfortune and None of My Own (Code of the West) by Stephen Bly - Free Book Online Page A

there, Robert?” Mrs. McCurley -questioned.
    “Nope, jist one. Leadin’ a horse. It looks like .  . . Hey, that’s him. That’s Hatcher. That’s Onespot. Sold him that horse yesterday.”
    Pepper’s pulse quickened “Are you sure?” She could feel tufts of short blonde hair that never would stay in place on the back of her neck begin to tingle.
    “Yep. That there is Zachariah Hatcher, all right. Came out lookin’ fer ya, he did.”
    “Oh, my, this is frightfully exciting,” Mrs. McCurley squealed. “Who knows what will happen?”
    You’re right about that, darlin’. This has the potential of being the worst day of an already lousy life.
    “You ladies stay here. I’ll walk out there and welcome him in.”
    I should have put on that strong perfume. I knew I should have. Why didn’t I remember?
    “Mrs. McCurley, should I take off my hat? Is my hair straight? Should I sit down? How do I look?”
    “Like a nervous bride, of course. Just stand right there and let him come to you.”
    “Hatcher?”
    “McCurley. I didn’t expect to find a picnic this far north.” Tap stared at the two women in the distance.
    “Ain’t no picnic, son. We are headin’ toward your place with a friend of yours,” McCurley beamed.
    My word, it is her. It’s Miss Suzanne Cedar herself. She’s even more beautiful than I imagined! All right, Tapadera Andrews, the next two minutes may decide the next twenty years. Slow and easy. What would Zachariah Hatcher do in this situation?
    Pepper stood next to Mrs. McCurley, ner vously twisting Suzanne Cedar’s engagement ring on her finger.
    Relax, girl. Take deep breaths. You can do it. You’ve been pr etending every night for years. This is the big one. He’s strong—look at those shoulders. And handsome. My goodness, she done herself real proud by him. What would Miss Suzanne Cedar do now? Does she curtsy? Shake his hand? Throw her arms around him? Would she kiss him? Will he really think I’m Suzanne?
    The two men walked slowly to the women.
    “Eh, humph.” McCurley cleared his throat. “I knowed you two ain’t ever met, so let me make it official. Mr. Zachariah Hatcher, let me present to you Miss Suzanne Cedar. Miss Cedar, this is Mr. Hatcher.”
    Tap Andrews stared into the green eyes of Aimee “Pe pper” Paige.
    She’s tired. She’s worried. Maybe she knows. Maybe she’s tr ying to figure me out. Maybe she’s disappointed in what she sees. My goodness, my goodness, she is a beautiful lady. It’s got to work. It’s just got to.
    Pepper wanted to say something, but no words came to mind.
    His eyes are older than the rest of him. He’s spent lots of time out in the open. He’s troubled. I disappoint him. He was expecting someone else. Here it comes. I wish I was back at April’s. I wish all I had to worry about was the likes of Jordan Beckett and Selena Oatley. Please like me. Please say something. I’m going to die!
    “Are you two jist goin’ to stand there gawkin’?” McCurley prodded.
    “Miss Cedar, I’m just so nervous I don’t know what to say. I’m just taken back by how downright pretty you are. It’s kind of like I never thought this day would ever come.”
    He thinks I’m her. He really does. I can see it in his eyes.
    A wide smile helped her begin to relax. “Mr. Hatcher, my heart is pounding still. I’ve been thinking and dreaming about this moment for a long, long time. Now that it’s here, I’m so happy. I think I’m going to faint.”
    “Well, if you two don’t hug or somethin’, we’ll all faint,” Mrs. McCurley insisted. “Me and Robert will tend the horses.”
    Tap walked over to Pepper. She held out both hands, and he took them into his own. For another moment they just stared.
    What would Hatcher do?
    Is he going to stand there all day? Suzanne, oh, Suzanne, what would you do if you were me?
    “Suzanne?”
    “Yes, Zach?”
    “I don’t know the procedure. Would it be proper for me to give you a hug?”
    “I believe