dearest friend, Rose McMurray.”
Rose stared straight at the silent man, but her words were for Victoria. “He’s already eaten.”
“Nonsense, he has to join us. My father is getting us a table and August promised to stop by if he can. He’s covering a very important trial so he won’t be able to stay long before his train leaves for Dallas. He says the news doesn’t stop for weddings, so he must work.”
Without another word they moved down the stairs and into the dining room. Rose knew it wouldn’t be worth arguing over. Victoria always got her way. Even if the thin man had wanted to run, he wouldn’t have had a chance with Tori clinging to his arm in what looked like a death grip, and Rose felt just as trapped.
As they walked to the table, Rose heard Tori whisper to Killian, “Give my father time. He never likes anyone at first, but I know eventually he’ll warm up to you.”
Then, as if tossing out an old toy, Tori shoved Killian toward Rose and ran to hug her father.
Killian stood staring at Victoria. It was Rose’s turn to help him along. She locked arms with him and tugged him forward. “She’s beautiful, isn’t she?”
Killian didn’t take his eyes off Victoria. “Yes, she is. Even more beautiful than I remember.” He finally seemed to notice Rose and added, “You both are. She told me about you writing her from your ranch. I think you mean a great deal to her.”
Rose couldn’t lie. “In truth, I doubt I’m her best friend. We’ve only seen each other once since our school days.”
He turned his attention to her. “I think, Miss McMurray, that you are her only friend. I’ve never heard her mention another.”
“You know her well?”
“I met her a few years ago when I was called to Austin. I found her crying on a hidden bench in the back of an old cemetery. I thought she was beautiful then, but here, now, is something different. It’s like she’s an ivory angel and not real flesh and blood.”
“I know what you mean. I’ve seen her like this once before. Most women shine when they’ve been polished, but Tori—she sparkles. It’s like she’s playing the role of queen and we’re all peasants.”
There it was again, Rose thought, a feeling that all was not as it seemed. Part of her wanted to yell for everyone to stop pretending they were living some kind of adventure. Rose didn’t like adventure. She liked order.
“You know her fiancé?”
“I’ve meet him a few times when I visited Austin. Apparently I’m the only person he knows in this area who’s willing to fill in for the best man. I was shocked when he asked me. He said all of his friends couldn’t spare the time off and his bride had insisted the wedding be in Fort Worth.”
“Why?”
Killian shrugged. “I have no idea. In fact I didn’t even know she was the bride August wrote about. I think it was pure luck that a big trial is going on in Dallas—otherwise he would have had to travel from Austin.”
Rose glanced out the floor-to-ceiling windows along one wall of the dining room. A mixture of rain and snow was splattering against the glass. “Probably she wanted it here because of the weather.”
He looked from the windows to her. “Why didn’t I think of that?”
As she and Killian neared the table, he seemed to straighten back into the cold, polite stranger she’d met before.
While Victoria listened to her father, Killian O’Toole leaned down close to Rose’s ear. “Tell me, Miss McMurray, does the major bite? I swear every time he looks in my direction I hear him growl.”
She fought down a giggle. “Yes, I think he does.” Deciding she might like this best man, she added, “Can we start over? I’m Rose, and don’t count on me to know much about anyone here.”
He took her hand. “I’m Killian, and if possible, I know even less about what’s going on.” He lifted his wine. “I think I’ll give up trying to figure out anything and just drink.”
Rose wished she’d had time
Rose stared straight at the silent man, but her words were for Victoria. “He’s already eaten.”
“Nonsense, he has to join us. My father is getting us a table and August promised to stop by if he can. He’s covering a very important trial so he won’t be able to stay long before his train leaves for Dallas. He says the news doesn’t stop for weddings, so he must work.”
Without another word they moved down the stairs and into the dining room. Rose knew it wouldn’t be worth arguing over. Victoria always got her way. Even if the thin man had wanted to run, he wouldn’t have had a chance with Tori clinging to his arm in what looked like a death grip, and Rose felt just as trapped.
As they walked to the table, Rose heard Tori whisper to Killian, “Give my father time. He never likes anyone at first, but I know eventually he’ll warm up to you.”
Then, as if tossing out an old toy, Tori shoved Killian toward Rose and ran to hug her father.
Killian stood staring at Victoria. It was Rose’s turn to help him along. She locked arms with him and tugged him forward. “She’s beautiful, isn’t she?”
Killian didn’t take his eyes off Victoria. “Yes, she is. Even more beautiful than I remember.” He finally seemed to notice Rose and added, “You both are. She told me about you writing her from your ranch. I think you mean a great deal to her.”
Rose couldn’t lie. “In truth, I doubt I’m her best friend. We’ve only seen each other once since our school days.”
He turned his attention to her. “I think, Miss McMurray, that you are her only friend. I’ve never heard her mention another.”
“You know her well?”
“I met her a few years ago when I was called to Austin. I found her crying on a hidden bench in the back of an old cemetery. I thought she was beautiful then, but here, now, is something different. It’s like she’s an ivory angel and not real flesh and blood.”
“I know what you mean. I’ve seen her like this once before. Most women shine when they’ve been polished, but Tori—she sparkles. It’s like she’s playing the role of queen and we’re all peasants.”
There it was again, Rose thought, a feeling that all was not as it seemed. Part of her wanted to yell for everyone to stop pretending they were living some kind of adventure. Rose didn’t like adventure. She liked order.
“You know her fiancé?”
“I’ve meet him a few times when I visited Austin. Apparently I’m the only person he knows in this area who’s willing to fill in for the best man. I was shocked when he asked me. He said all of his friends couldn’t spare the time off and his bride had insisted the wedding be in Fort Worth.”
“Why?”
Killian shrugged. “I have no idea. In fact I didn’t even know she was the bride August wrote about. I think it was pure luck that a big trial is going on in Dallas—otherwise he would have had to travel from Austin.”
Rose glanced out the floor-to-ceiling windows along one wall of the dining room. A mixture of rain and snow was splattering against the glass. “Probably she wanted it here because of the weather.”
He looked from the windows to her. “Why didn’t I think of that?”
As she and Killian neared the table, he seemed to straighten back into the cold, polite stranger she’d met before.
While Victoria listened to her father, Killian O’Toole leaned down close to Rose’s ear. “Tell me, Miss McMurray, does the major bite? I swear every time he looks in my direction I hear him growl.”
She fought down a giggle. “Yes, I think he does.” Deciding she might like this best man, she added, “Can we start over? I’m Rose, and don’t count on me to know much about anyone here.”
He took her hand. “I’m Killian, and if possible, I know even less about what’s going on.” He lifted his wine. “I think I’ll give up trying to figure out anything and just drink.”
Rose wished she’d had time
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