Seth (Prairie Grooms, Book Three) Read Free Page A

stay.”
    Eloise stared at her sister, mouth half-open. The right sort? Was she saying her betrothed wasn’t man enough to go? He wasn’t some dandy after all … was he? Her mind went back over the last couple of weeks, all the way back to the day she first spied him sitting behind the hotel’s front counter. He was always clean, he smelled nice, and his hair was never out of place. He was a bit clumsy when it came to communicating sometimes, but all in all he was … oh dear … just dandy?
     

    Two
     
    Colin fetched Eloise from the hotel, made sure Constance was settled in her room, and then drove her home. She sat next to him and chewed her bottom lip, as she fretted over her sister’s words. He’s just the right sort for you …
    The Duke of Stantham made the match himself, and thought she and Seth would suit. Was she happy with his decision? Of course she was. Seth Jones was as close to home as she could get in Clear Creek. The hotel was magnificent and would be their home, and she would have beautifully appointed rooms to live in after they married, so what was the problem? Why was her stomach in knots?
    “Are you and Harrison going to accompany the posse?” she suddenly blurted.
    “Not this time,” Colin said. “If they come back, and the men are too tired to go out agai n, we might take a turn at it. But by then, those blasted outlaws would be long gone. The real question is, will they come back?”
    “Come back ?!”
    He looked at her. “I’m afraid so. It’s happened before.”
    “Oh, dear me!” she said, a hand to her heart.
    “Don’t worry, Cousin. Harrison and I will see you’re kept safe. In fact, I’ll talk to Ryder about staying in town for a few days, just until the posse gets back.”
    “Really? Oh, that would be wonderful!”
    Colin smiled at the sound of delight in her voice. “They’ll head out at first light. Too dark see anything tonight. By the time they got to Ryder’s place, it would be night-fall.”
    “Are you goi ng back into town tomorrow?”
    “Yes.” He glanced at her. “I suppo se this means you want to go?”
    She nodded.
    “I say, is someone wanting another spot of tea with her betrothed?”
    She blushed. “If I happen to see him in passing, it would brighten my day. But I want to see Constance, and find out how Ryder is doing.”
    “I’ll not keep you from them. Belle and the rest of the family will probably come , too. Besides, you have a wedding dress to sew.”
    “Yes, don’t remind me.”
    “What’s the matter? Don’t you want to get married?”
    “Oh, I do! But it’s the sewing part ; I … well … if only I were better at it.”
    Colin laughed. “You’ll get there. I’d practice my cooking , if I were you.”
    “Whatever for?”
    “Well, you are going to be married,” he pointed out.
    “Colin, I hardly see the logic in learning to cook. I’ll have Mrs. Upton at my disposal, and what am I going to do with that enormous kitchen? I’ll get lost in it!”
    Colin threw his head back and laughed. “Let me share something with you , Cousin. Men like it when their women cook for them. What better place to learn, especially when you do have Sally Upton at your disposal.”
    “I suppose you’re right, but it would be nice if she did the cooking and I did … oh , dear; what am I going to do in that place?”
    “Help run it , what else?”
    “Yes, but what does that entail, I wonder?”
    Colin shrugged. “Cleaning, dusting, making beds?”
    “What?” she squeaked out. “You’re describing the duties of a … a scullery maid!”
    Colin rolled his eyes. “When are you going to get through your pretty little head that you are no longer in England?”
    “I know I’m not, but it … oh , blast! At times I wish I were.”
    Colin smiled at her. “Trust me ; you’ll get used to it. You’ve only been here a few weeks. It doesn’t happen overnight.”
    Eloise sighed. “England seems so long ago … the balls, teas, and musicales. I