Read Online No Place for a Lady by Maggie Brendan - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Maggie Brendan
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But you know, that's
jealous females for you. Always comparing:" His eyes swept over
her with admiration.
"Stick out? Blast you!" Her green eyes snapped.
"What? I didn't mean what you think-"
"Luke Weber, are all cowboys so thick between the ears? Don't
you ever think before you blurt things out?" she yelled. "You have the
manners of a warthog!" She turned and picked up her skirts to go.
Luke stung as though he had been slapped. What had he
done? "And you, Crystal, have been reminding me ever since
you arrived!"
"Better go back inside to your darling April, who's been milking you all night. Because she can split wood, round up horses,
and fire a gun faster than lightning:" Crystal snapped her fingers
for emphasis.
It was Luke's turn to be angry. "I think I'll do just that, Miss
Fancy Pants!" He whirled around and stalked back to the barn,
leaving her alone. Blasted little piece of fluf What did she expect,
wearing a gown that only accentuates her amazing figure? Every
man in the place was ogling over her!
He walked straight to Rusty and scowled. "Rusty? Play a fast
one, of man." Luke knew he was barking orders at his good friend
and was sorry immediately.
"What's nettled you?" Rusty cocked his head in Luke's direction.
"Nothing:"
"It's the little things that get tangled in your spurs that trip you
up, Luke:" Rusty slapped him on his shoulder.
Luke frowned. "Now what's that supposed to mean?"
Rusty just shook his head and rosined up his bow for the next
set. Luke walked off in a huff and pulled April back out onto the
dance floor.
The remainder of the evening was a blur in Crystal's memory.
After Luke had stormed off, josh had come looking for her and
claimed she was the best dancer there. Crystal let him lead her
back to the party. She felt Luke's eyes on her and deliberately
flirted with josh, who seemed pleased as punch with her direct
attention. He seemed to be one of the few men here with manners
and breeding. Besides, she liked his kind brown eyes.
"Crystal..." Josh spoke in an unabashed manner. "Would it
be all right if I called on you next week?"
"I'd like that very much, Josh." Crystal smiled up at him, knowing full well Luke's gaze was on her while he danced with April
right next to them.
It was well after midnight as Kate and Crystal bade their guests
good night. In a flurry of good-byes and promises to have Crystal
over soon, everyone waved, tired but contented to make their
way home under a bright, full moon.
6
Autumn was a distant thought as the morning sun sent its scorching rays on the Sabbath day. It was apparent that Sunday church
was always observed in Kate's household.
Crystal shook and fluffed out her Sunday finery. It was a rust
taffeta shirtwaist with tiny tucks and a full skirt in the same rich
color, trimmed in cream velvet with panels of voile inserts. She
frowned. The outfit was a little worn, but on close scrutiny, one
could tell it had been finely stitched and was once the height of
fashion. She would have to purchase some material for a new
one and mend the others that hung in her wardrobe.
She twisted her thick hair to the top of her head and secured
it with pins. With a jab of a mother-of-pearl hat pin, she placed
a straight-brimmed hat on her head and raised it jauntily on one
side over a bandeau of rust rosettes.
If Crystal had been surprised at the cowhands' fresh attire
at the party, she was even more astonished at their dark suits
and stiff white collars on Sunday. The womenfolk rode in the
buckboard, and the men followed on horseback. Kate was perspiring profusely beneath her black bombazine but seemed very pleased that her "extended family" indulged her in their
church attendance.
Crystal's face warmed slightly when Luke's cool gaze caught
hers. It was hard to figure out what he was thinking. She felt like
she'd made a complete fool of herself Friday night and had avoided
his presence whenever she could by tending
jealous females for you. Always comparing:" His eyes swept over
her with admiration.
"Stick out? Blast you!" Her green eyes snapped.
"What? I didn't mean what you think-"
"Luke Weber, are all cowboys so thick between the ears? Don't
you ever think before you blurt things out?" she yelled. "You have the
manners of a warthog!" She turned and picked up her skirts to go.
Luke stung as though he had been slapped. What had he
done? "And you, Crystal, have been reminding me ever since
you arrived!"
"Better go back inside to your darling April, who's been milking you all night. Because she can split wood, round up horses,
and fire a gun faster than lightning:" Crystal snapped her fingers
for emphasis.
It was Luke's turn to be angry. "I think I'll do just that, Miss
Fancy Pants!" He whirled around and stalked back to the barn,
leaving her alone. Blasted little piece of fluf What did she expect,
wearing a gown that only accentuates her amazing figure? Every
man in the place was ogling over her!
He walked straight to Rusty and scowled. "Rusty? Play a fast
one, of man." Luke knew he was barking orders at his good friend
and was sorry immediately.
"What's nettled you?" Rusty cocked his head in Luke's direction.
"Nothing:"
"It's the little things that get tangled in your spurs that trip you
up, Luke:" Rusty slapped him on his shoulder.
Luke frowned. "Now what's that supposed to mean?"
Rusty just shook his head and rosined up his bow for the next
set. Luke walked off in a huff and pulled April back out onto the
dance floor.
The remainder of the evening was a blur in Crystal's memory.
After Luke had stormed off, josh had come looking for her and
claimed she was the best dancer there. Crystal let him lead her
back to the party. She felt Luke's eyes on her and deliberately
flirted with josh, who seemed pleased as punch with her direct
attention. He seemed to be one of the few men here with manners
and breeding. Besides, she liked his kind brown eyes.
"Crystal..." Josh spoke in an unabashed manner. "Would it
be all right if I called on you next week?"
"I'd like that very much, Josh." Crystal smiled up at him, knowing full well Luke's gaze was on her while he danced with April
right next to them.
It was well after midnight as Kate and Crystal bade their guests
good night. In a flurry of good-byes and promises to have Crystal
over soon, everyone waved, tired but contented to make their
way home under a bright, full moon.
6
Autumn was a distant thought as the morning sun sent its scorching rays on the Sabbath day. It was apparent that Sunday church
was always observed in Kate's household.
Crystal shook and fluffed out her Sunday finery. It was a rust
taffeta shirtwaist with tiny tucks and a full skirt in the same rich
color, trimmed in cream velvet with panels of voile inserts. She
frowned. The outfit was a little worn, but on close scrutiny, one
could tell it had been finely stitched and was once the height of
fashion. She would have to purchase some material for a new
one and mend the others that hung in her wardrobe.
She twisted her thick hair to the top of her head and secured
it with pins. With a jab of a mother-of-pearl hat pin, she placed
a straight-brimmed hat on her head and raised it jauntily on one
side over a bandeau of rust rosettes.
If Crystal had been surprised at the cowhands' fresh attire
at the party, she was even more astonished at their dark suits
and stiff white collars on Sunday. The womenfolk rode in the
buckboard, and the men followed on horseback. Kate was perspiring profusely beneath her black bombazine but seemed very pleased that her "extended family" indulged her in their
church attendance.
Crystal's face warmed slightly when Luke's cool gaze caught
hers. It was hard to figure out what he was thinking. She felt like
she'd made a complete fool of herself Friday night and had avoided
his presence whenever she could by tending
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