Titled Texans: Educating Abbie Part 20

"I'll see about your trunk," Reg said, stepping off beside her.

"I can get it. I have to check on those two bulls I bought anyway."

His expression clouded and he gave a curt nod. "As you wish."

Confound it, she thought. Now he was going to take offense. Were all men this impossible?

"Reg. I say, Reg Worthington!" A man in an ink-black frock coat and striped trousers, hailed them from the station.

"What the devil ?" Abbie glanced at Reg and saw that he'd blanched white as a ghost. His mouth was set in a grim line.

"What is it, Reg? What's wrong?" she asked, The stranger strolled up to them. He was a strikingly handsome man, with golden hair, brilliant blue eyes and a dazzling smile full of good humor. He slapped Reg on the back. "Don't know when I've been so glad to see anyone," he said.

"What are you doing here?" Reg growled. His face was flushed red now, and Abbie could see the pulse throbbing at his temple.

"Just got in last night," the man said. "The overseer at your place told me you'd gone traveling." He took a step back and grinned. "I must say, this ranching business agrees with you. You're looking jolly well."

"What are you doing here?" Reg asked again.

"It's a long story, really. Bit of a dust-up back home, you know. I needed to get away for a while and, well, I'd never been to Texas. We can talk about it later, but say, aren't you going to introduce me to your lovely traveling companion?" He beamed at Abbie.

She turned to Reg. "Yes, please introduce us."

His scowl darkened. "Abbie, may I present my brother, Camden Everett Worthington. Reverend Worthington, that is. Cam, this is Miss Abigail Waters."

Reg scowled as Cam bent low over Abbie's hand. "Delighted to meet you, Miss Waters," Cam said. "And here I thought all the tales I'd heard about the beauty of Texas women were mere fantasy."

Abbie smiled and blushed prettily. "How nice to meet you, Reverend Worthington."

"And who is this lovely la.s.s?" Cam turned to Maura, who actually giggled at the onslaught of Cam's infamous smile.

"This is my maid, Maura O'Donnell," Abbie said.

"Pleased to make your acquaintance, sir." Maura executed a curtsy worthy of an audience with the queen.

"The pleasure is all mine, ladies."

Reg stifled a groan. Women were always falling all over themselves around Cam. His combination of impeccable manners and flawless good looks had proved deadly to more than one unfortunate young woman's heart.

"I believe Miss Waters was just leaving," Reg said abruptly. He put a hand on his brother's arm. "We wouldn't want to keep her."

Abbie frowned at him. "Yes, I suppose I shouldn't keep the stock agent waiting." She smiled at Cam. "Perhaps I'll see you again soon, Reverend Worthington. Are you planning to stay in Texas long?"

"Oh yes indeed. I intend to have a nice long visit with my good brother, here."

They watched the two woman walk away, then Reg turned on his heels and headed toward the baggage cars. He'd cabled ahead that he was arriving with the dozen cattle he'd purchased in Amarillo and was pleased to see Donnie Best already at work unloading the new stock.

"Mornin' Reg. Mornin' Rev." Donnie tipped his hat to them. "I see you two found each other."

"I take it you've already met my brother?" Reg asked.

"Yes, sir. Rev rode up to the ranch last night. Had supper with me and the boys."

Reg rolled his eyes. Like their older brother Charles, Cam had the knack of making friends with anyone and everyone. Men liked him and women swooned over him.

"Your man Best here was telling me about the new cattle you bought at auction." Cam propped his foot on the bottom rail of the loading chute and surveyed the livestock rus.h.i.+ng past. "Splendid looking bunch, Reg."

Reg waited until Best was out of earshot before he turned to face his brother. "Cam, why don't we dispense with this fiction that you are merely here on a friendly holiday and admit what we both know the Earl sent you here to spy on me."

Cam raised his eyebrows. "Spy, Reg? Don't you think that's a bit harsh?"

"You don't deny it, then?"

"I won't deny Father was a tad concerned when he failed to receive reports from you for two months in a row. For all we knew, you might have been shot by some desperado, or scalped by red Indians."

"I seriously doubt my scalp was Father's chief concern."

"You underestimate the old man, Reg, you do. Now about these cattle "

Reg sighed. "Really, Cam. The only thing you know about cattle is how it tastes cooked medium rare and served up on a plate with bearnaise."

Cam smiled, as if delighted with a good joke. "Ah, but I've no doubt you can teach me, dear brother."

Reg gave no answer, but walked purposefully toward the wagon yard. Cam kept pace beside him. "Where are you going now?" his brother asked.

"Home."

"Ahh. Then we'll ride together. I took the liberty of selecting a mount from among your stable, though I must say, these Texas horses would hardly pa.s.s muster with the Hunt Club."

"Horses here are bred for work, not beauty." Reg spotted Mouse among the saddled mounts along the hitching rail and suppressed a smile. Like Cam, he'd been unimpressed with Texas horses when he first came to the ranch. Interesting, how his opinion had changed in so short a time.

"I never thought I'd see the day when you'd be riding such a singularly ugly beast." Cam swung up onto the back of a black stallion that had been groomed until it shone like obsidian. Reg would lay odds Cam had not been the one to do the grooming.

"Mouse serves me well," Reg said. He leaned over and patted the gelding's neck. Mouse twitched his ears and stamped his feet.

"Mouse?" Cam laughed. "Reg, Reg what have these Texans done to you?"

They've made me think differently about a lot of things. But he didn't share this with his brother. "Come along," he said. "I've got work to do."

They had not ridden far when Cam spoke again. "So, are you going to tell me about the young lady, or do I have to pry it out of the servants?"

"They're not servants, Cam, and you won't win friends by addressing them as such."

"Come now who is she? Some neighboring rancher's daughter?"

Reg laughed, and was rewarded by a look of confusion from Cam. "Abbie Waters owns the neighboring ranch," he said. "She can out-ride, out-rope and no doubt out-shoot most men in the area."

Cam raised one elegant eyebrow. "Oh? You sound proud of her as if she were your protegee."

"Well, I. . . I think Abbie can speak for herself." He'd started to tell Cam about the bargain he and Abbie had struck, but it was none of his brother's concern. Besides, he didn't trust Cam not to relay every word he said directly to the Earl.

"I'm sure she can." Cam grinned. "In fact, I'll have to pay a call on your beautiful neighbor at the first opportunity. You did say she is unmarried, did you not?"

Reg shot Cam a warning look. "Abbie is not the sort of woman to be interested in the likes of you."

"And why not?" Cam straightened his collar. "Many woman find a clerical collar gives a man an added appeal. Though that in itself can present certain, shall we say, problems, if it's the wrong woman."

Something in Cam's voice told Reg the truth. "I take it the wrong woman found you attractive?"

Cam looked sheepish. "My patron's sister. Put my living quite in danger, I tell you. Lord Eversole obviously had his sights on better prospects than a clergyman and a third son for his sibling."

He glanced at Reg again, as if gauging his reaction to this announcement. "So you see, there's good reason for me to be taking a sabbatical, as if were, in the states, and it has nothing to do with you."

Reg eyed his youngest brother warily. Cam had a talent for presenting only the most advantageous side to any story. "And the earl made no mention of your checking up on me, did he?"

Cam's fair skin flushed. "I wouldn't say that, exactly. After all, I had to do something to persuade him to pay my pa.s.sage. . . "

"I knew it." Anger tightened his throat. "Leave me alone," he lashed out. "I didn't ask for your interference and I won't stand for it." He dug his heels into Mouse's flanks and shot forward, not waiting for his brother's reply.

Chapter Eighteen.

"Hyahh! Get along there." Abbie edged Toby up alongside a heifer that was determined to break away from the herd. Given half a chance, the cow would dash back into the dry brush along the draw. Toby skillfully cut off the heifer's path and forced her back into line. Up ahead, Miguel swung open the gate and began driving the herd into the adjoining pasture.

Abbie reined in her horse and watched the herd amble past. Using the tail of the bandanna knotted at her neck, she wiped the dust from her face. July heat had scorched the land to little more than rocks and dirt. With little replenishment from scant spring rains, the water holes and creeks were rapidly drying up. She and her vaqueros were forced to move the herds often in search of water and gra.s.s.

"All through, mijita." Miguel rode up, calling her by the name he'd used since she was a child. "You think we should move the steers next?"

"Let's wait a few more days on them," she said. "The creek over there still has some deep holes with water."

"Not much gra.s.s, though," he said.

"We can always burn pear." She hoped it wouldn't come to that. Burning the spines off p.r.i.c.kly pear with kerosene torches was hot, dangerous work. Yet if it came down to it, the fleshy cactus leaves could save the lives of cattle when there was nothing else to eat. "All right, Miguel. I'll ride over to Spanish Creek and check on the yearlings. You see to the heifers over in the canyon."

She was turning away when she heard a voice calling her name. "Miss Waters! Miss Waters!" Abbie looked up to see a man riding toward them at a gallop. As he drew closer, her eyes widened as she recognized Cam Worthington.

"I say, so glad I managed to find you." He reigned in beside her and doffed the new Stetson he wore.

"Reverend Worthington, what can I do for you?" She suppressed a smile. The formal t.i.tle seemed absurd for one so full of youthful exuberance. Reverends should be old and solemn and rather plain, not young and handsome and decked out in the gaudiest Eastern 'dude' clothes available. She swept her gaze from the top of the coal-black Stetson to the pointed, s.h.i.+ny toes of his boots. In between, he wore tan ducking trousers and striped s.h.i.+rt, with a red bandanna tied jauntily at his neck.

"I wanted to personally respond to your kind invitation to dine with you tomorrow evening," he said.

"I hope this means you and Reg will be coming."

His face took on a somber expression. "I'm afraid my brother sends his regrets."

Abbie tried not to let her disappointment show. She had not seen Reg at all in the two weeks since they'd returned from Amarillo. She'd decided to use his brother's visit as an excuse to invite him for dinner. And now he wasn't coming. Did he have such a low opinion of her that he'd decided not to a.s.sociate with her again? "Well, perhaps some other time ," she began.

"I, however, would be delighted to accept your hospitality," Cam interrupted. "I'm looking forward to getting to know you better."

Abbie felt herself blus.h.i.+ng, even as she looked away. She didn't quite trust Reg's charming brother. He was almost too nice. Reg might be arrogant and overbearing at times, but at least he didn't hide his opinions behind polished manners. "I'll look forward to seeing you tomorrow evening, then," she said.

"Do you mind if I ride with you for a bit?" He turned his horse in line with hers. He was riding a gleaming black stallion. Along with the black hat, it gave him a particularly das.h.i.+ng look. Abbie was certain he had chosen the horse and the hat exactly for that effect. Cam Worthington struck her as a man who always set himself to the best advantage.

She shrugged. "Suit yourself."

She headed out across the pasture, Cam at her side. "I say, when your maid told me you'd be wearing men's trousers and hat, I couldn't quite picture it. But you do look smas.h.i.+ng."

"A dress would hardly be practical for herding cattle and mending fence."

"So you really do a cowboy's job, right alongside your, uh, 'hands'?"

"It takes every person doing their share of the work to run a ranch, Reverend Worthington."

"Please, call me Cam. Or if you insist, Rev. It's what the cowboys call me."

"Have you been enjoying your visit to Texas, uh, Cam?"

"Immensely. The people here are delightfully friendly."

Abbie smiled and leaned down to open the pasture gate. "Maybe it's because you're so friendly yourself." She'd already heard talk in town of "Rev's" largess in the local saloons, and his compliments to every lady he met. He was a ready audience for any story, and a willing donor to any cause. "I hear you're becoming just about one of the most popular people in town." She motioned for him to ride through, then followed.

He gave a deprecating smile and shook his head. "I doubt my brother would agree with you. Reg would certainly cheer my return to England."

Abbie had noticed that there seemed to be no love lost between Reg and his younger brother. "Why do you say that?" she asked.

"He is convinced our father sent me here to spy on him and interfere in the management of the ranch."

"And is that why you're here?"

He shook his head. "I needed to get out of England for a while for, um, personal reasons. My father suggested I stop in and see Reg as long as I was here. But it was never my intention to interfere."

His voice held a tinge of regret. Abbie glanced at him and saw that his smile had faded. "I've always had a great admiration for my brother," he added. "While I have remained home and led a life of staid decorum, he has gone adventuring throughout the world."

"Have you told him that?" she asked.

"He would never believe me." He sighed. "As it is, he is hardly speaking to me these days. He's absorbed in his work."

"Reg is very determined to be a successful rancher," she said.

"He says he has things to prove to our father, but I think rather he has things to prove to himself."

Abbie looked at him in surprise. "And I think, Cam, that you aren't as frivolous as some people might believe."