Read Online The Men of Pride County: The Rebel by Rosalyn West - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Rosalyn West
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no hope of maintaining a balance here in the West.”
“Sir, my men don’t need to be drilled on how to sit a horse,” Miles protested with a cutting glance at Noble.
“Miles, no offense to you or your men, but you’re more suited to a wagon seat than a saddle.”
“But sir, I don’t think there’s anything these Seseshes can teach us.”
Crowley chuckled. “That’s because you haven’t seen them ride.” His mood chilled slightly. “And I would remind you to watch your language, Major Dougherty.”
The two majors exchanged cool stares for a long moment, then Noble returned to his meal. He paused after a few bites to say, “This is excellent fare, Miz Crowley. You’ll hear no complaints from me.”
The colonel beamed proudly at his child. “Jules is a fine cook. She can make hardtack into a delicacy. We’ve no shortage of men seeking invitations to dinner.”
“Particularly once she puts Hortense and Willamina to work I’d guess.”
Miles scowled when Juliet and Noble traded small smiles. He felt moved to state, “You’ve an exceptional daughter, John. I’ve always said so.”
“Yes, you have,” Crowley conceded, but his attention was pulled between Juliet and his new major. Slowly, he smiled. “A woman like Jules is a treasure out here on the frontier. Sheknows a man’s wants before he needs express them. I shall hate to lose her.”
Blushing awkwardly, Juliet glowered at him. “Really, Papa, such things you say. You’re not going to lose me.”
He sighed dramatically. “Kind of you to say, daughter, but totally untrue. You’ll find some dashing young man to replace me in your heart, and I shall be back to eating from the army kitchen.”
Her stare riveted to her chipped china plate, Juliet struggled against the humiliation heating her face. “If you continue embarrassing me like this, Father, you may find yourself standing in line with a plate tomorrow.”
“She means it, too,” Crowley laughed. “Gentlemen, for the sake of my palate, let’s turn our talk to something else.”
While Miles went on to give a detailed report on raiding party activities, Juliet risked a quick glance at Noble. He was listening intently to the conversation between the other two men and unaware of her interest. Feeling safe to allow a longer minute of study, Juliet’s gaze lingered over the symmetry of his features: the lean, sculpted line of cheek and jaw, the raven blackness of cropped hair and heavy brows, the startling blue of his pale eyes. And the surprising soft and supple bend of lips that shifted expressively in response to what was being said—pursing, curling, thinning, even as his stare remained unblinking.
And as she watched, fascinated by thosemobile twists, the tip of his tongue edged out to slide along the seam of his mouth, leaving a moist trail that had her breath suddenly shuddering. There would be nothing stiff or dry if he were to …
The corners of his mouth took a slight upward turn.
Aghast, Juliet lifted her gaze to find him staring directly at her from across the table. How could he have missed the hungering way she perused his lips as she imaged the feel of them upon her own? Caught in the midst of her fantasizing, she had only two choices. She could look away in shame or she could brazen it out as if she’d done nothing wrong.
She’d never learned to stomach a skulking retreat.
When she met his stare with an unapologetic one of her own, a gleam of appreciation heated the chill blue depths of his eyes. That warmth increased to an uncomfortable level, which finally forced Juliet into turning away as if indifferent. While she returned to her potatoes, he covered his chuckle with what might have been the clearing of his throat.
She didn’t make the mistake of risking eye contact with him again.
Keeping her imagination tightly leashed through the remainder of their meal, Juliet had recovered enough of her composure to extend her hand and offer a faint smile when Noble
“Sir, my men don’t need to be drilled on how to sit a horse,” Miles protested with a cutting glance at Noble.
“Miles, no offense to you or your men, but you’re more suited to a wagon seat than a saddle.”
“But sir, I don’t think there’s anything these Seseshes can teach us.”
Crowley chuckled. “That’s because you haven’t seen them ride.” His mood chilled slightly. “And I would remind you to watch your language, Major Dougherty.”
The two majors exchanged cool stares for a long moment, then Noble returned to his meal. He paused after a few bites to say, “This is excellent fare, Miz Crowley. You’ll hear no complaints from me.”
The colonel beamed proudly at his child. “Jules is a fine cook. She can make hardtack into a delicacy. We’ve no shortage of men seeking invitations to dinner.”
“Particularly once she puts Hortense and Willamina to work I’d guess.”
Miles scowled when Juliet and Noble traded small smiles. He felt moved to state, “You’ve an exceptional daughter, John. I’ve always said so.”
“Yes, you have,” Crowley conceded, but his attention was pulled between Juliet and his new major. Slowly, he smiled. “A woman like Jules is a treasure out here on the frontier. Sheknows a man’s wants before he needs express them. I shall hate to lose her.”
Blushing awkwardly, Juliet glowered at him. “Really, Papa, such things you say. You’re not going to lose me.”
He sighed dramatically. “Kind of you to say, daughter, but totally untrue. You’ll find some dashing young man to replace me in your heart, and I shall be back to eating from the army kitchen.”
Her stare riveted to her chipped china plate, Juliet struggled against the humiliation heating her face. “If you continue embarrassing me like this, Father, you may find yourself standing in line with a plate tomorrow.”
“She means it, too,” Crowley laughed. “Gentlemen, for the sake of my palate, let’s turn our talk to something else.”
While Miles went on to give a detailed report on raiding party activities, Juliet risked a quick glance at Noble. He was listening intently to the conversation between the other two men and unaware of her interest. Feeling safe to allow a longer minute of study, Juliet’s gaze lingered over the symmetry of his features: the lean, sculpted line of cheek and jaw, the raven blackness of cropped hair and heavy brows, the startling blue of his pale eyes. And the surprising soft and supple bend of lips that shifted expressively in response to what was being said—pursing, curling, thinning, even as his stare remained unblinking.
And as she watched, fascinated by thosemobile twists, the tip of his tongue edged out to slide along the seam of his mouth, leaving a moist trail that had her breath suddenly shuddering. There would be nothing stiff or dry if he were to …
The corners of his mouth took a slight upward turn.
Aghast, Juliet lifted her gaze to find him staring directly at her from across the table. How could he have missed the hungering way she perused his lips as she imaged the feel of them upon her own? Caught in the midst of her fantasizing, she had only two choices. She could look away in shame or she could brazen it out as if she’d done nothing wrong.
She’d never learned to stomach a skulking retreat.
When she met his stare with an unapologetic one of her own, a gleam of appreciation heated the chill blue depths of his eyes. That warmth increased to an uncomfortable level, which finally forced Juliet into turning away as if indifferent. While she returned to her potatoes, he covered his chuckle with what might have been the clearing of his throat.
She didn’t make the mistake of risking eye contact with him again.
Keeping her imagination tightly leashed through the remainder of their meal, Juliet had recovered enough of her composure to extend her hand and offer a faint smile when Noble
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