Seth (Prairie Grooms, Book Three) Read Free

undress.
    “Thank you , Mrs. Upton,” said Eloise. “I’m sure Constance will feel better once she’s cleaned up.”
    “Being clean is fine, but not if she’s gonna have to put on those smelly buckskins again.”
    “Oh, my goodness!” Eloise said. “You’re quite right.” She paced to and fro as Constance moaned, and eased herself into the tub. “You wouldn’t happen to have anything she can wear? Just for tonight?”
    Sally beamed. “Sure do, honey! But you might have to dig through the dress to find your sister in the morning! I’m a might bigger than she is!”
    Eloise couldn’t help but smile. Sally Upton did, indeed, have a generous build, but also a generous heart to go along with it. She was mistress of the hotel, as much as Mr. Van Cleet was owner, and ran a tight ship. Seth had told her stories of Sally and her sisters, Edith and Marybeth, during their afternoon tea that afternoon. “Whatever you have will be fine. Anything’s better than those disgusting buckskins!”
    Constance grimaced , got comfortable, and then eyed her sister. “Those buckskins helped me save my husband. I think they’re my new favorite item of clothing.”
    “Save him?” Eloise asked. “How did these disgusting things help you save him?”
    “I could never have ridden into town in a d ress. Well, perhaps I could, but my skirts would have impeded my getting here in time.”
    “We’re plumb glad you did! ” said Sally. “Get here in time, that is. So is that handsome husband of yours. Now, I’ll go see what I can dig up for you to wear.”
    Constance smiled, closed her eyes, and groaned again.
    Eloise sat in a nearby chair, and leaned toward her sister. “Was it horrible? Did they harm you in any way? You were so concerned about Ryder earlier, I didn’t ask.”
    “They tied me to a post in the barn ; that was it.”
    Eloise gasped. “However did you manage to escape?”
    “Ryder cut me loose.”
    “What? How did he manage to escape?”
    “He busted up the chair they tied him to. Eloise, please, I don’t want to talk about it anymore.”
    “I apologize; I shan’t upset you again. It must have been a horrible experience. Oh, but when I think what it must have been like to be rescued by your husband … how romantic!”
    Constance opened one eye, glared accordingly at the dreamy expression on her sister’s face, and then closed it. “I suppose I’ll come to see it that way one day.”
    Eloise bit her bottom lip. She had so many questions! She tried to imagine what it would be like if she’d been the one tied to a post, her husband trussed up in the house with a snake bite, his life draining away, and then, to suddenly be rescued by him! Oh, the heroics!
    She then thought of Seth, and the softness of his voice as he spoke to her during tea. It was their first time being alone, (save for the presence of Sally hovering nearby as chaperone) and she found him to be quite the gentleman. In fact, other than his country speech, which she found quite charming, he could almost pass for a real gentleman. Almost.
    “Are you hungry? Mrs. Upton is making you something.”
    Constance opened her eyes. “I’m not sure I can eat, but I’ll try. Right now this bath is all I want.”
    Eloise nodded and glanced around the room. She felt excited, relieved, frightened, all at the same time. “Do you think Colin and Harrison will ride with the posse?”
    “I have no idea. Why would they?”
    “I heard Doc Drake telling Doc Waller that the sheriff was gathering men, and mentioned Colin and Harrison.”
    Constance scooted up in the tub enough to look at Eloise. “They use the locals? What if Ryder goes?”
    “Or Seth?”
    Constance shook her head. “I don’t think you’ve any worries on that score ; I can’t see Seth going.”
    “What do you mean? He’s a man , isn’t he? Why shouldn’t he go?”
    “Don’t get the idea that I think any less of him if he doesn’t. He’s just the right sort for you; he should