Tracie Peterson - [New Mexico Sunset 03] Read Free Page A

“It doesn’t bother me in the least, although it might be wise to lay your claim to her before she gets all the way to Colorado to look for a husband.”
    “What makes you think she’s going to Colorado to find a husband?” Gavin questioned cautiously. Maybe Angeline had said something to make Dolan believe her interest in matrimonial conquests.
    “What else would a woman like Angeline have on her mind?”
    Gavin laughed at this. “Knowing Angel, she’s got plenty on her mind besides husbands.”
    Dolan laughed and hoisted a heavy feed sack against Gavin’s chest and open arms. “I think you’d better talk to her just the same.”
    Gavin said nothing, but he was still considering Dolan’s words an hour later when he saddled up his horse and headed to Bandelero. Maybe it was time to make his intentions clear to Angel. Maybe she was truly too naïve to know how he felt. She was, after all, just eighteen.
    Gavin rode straight to the Monroe house and noted the absence of the buggy Dr. Dan used for housecalls. With any luck maybe he’d have a chance to talk to Angel alone.
    ❧
    Angeline answered the door with her long blond hair dripping wet. “Gavin!” she exclaimed and quickly threw a towel over her head to hide her hair.
    Gavin grinned sheepishly and stuffed his hands deep in his jeans pock ets. “You’re looking good, Angel.”
    Angeline blushed crimson. “Mother and Father are out delivering a baby on the Stanton ranch. Is something wrong?”
    “No. I came to see you.”
    “Me?” Angeline quickly forgot about her appearance as she lost herself in Gavin’s blue-gray eyes.
    “May I come in?”
    Angeline nodded and stepped back from the door. “I was just washing my hair. If you’ll wait in the front room, I need to go comb it out.” She was n’t at all the same self-confident girl who usually commanded the attention of everyone around her.
    “Why don’t you bring your comb and come sit with me?” Gavin’s words were soft and alluring.
    “I suppose I could,” Angeline replied rather nervously. She slipped into her parents’ bedroom and retrieved the brush.
    When she appeared in the family sitting room, she held up the brush, momentarily not knowing what else to do. Gavin motioned her to sit and reached out for the brush.
    “I think this looks like fun,” he said, and Angeline was so surprised that she couldn’t even protest.
    Gavin took the brush in his trembling hands and began to run it down Angeline’s long, wet hair. The feeling was like nothing she’d ever known, and it was all Angeline could do to remain seated. No one besides her mother had ever brushed her hair, and now it seemed that Gavin’s actions were the most intimate she’d ever shared with anyone.
    Gavin felt the same way, although he, like Angel, would never admit it. Forcing himself to speak, Gavin remembered his brother’s words.
    “I hear you’re taking a trip,” he began, “to Denver.”
    “What?” Angeline’s voice gave away her inability to concentrate.
    “A trip,” Gavin repeated.
    “A what?”
    Gavin would have enjoyed her reaction had he not felt the same uncertainty and nervousness. “I heard that you planned to visit Denver.”
    “Yes,” she managed.
    “When are you leaving?”
    “Uh. . . Friday. I’m traveling with Mrs. Widdle.” Angeline’s voice was barely audible.
    Gavin continued the long brush strokes. “How long you gonna be gone, Angel?”
    “Gone?” she sounded like a child and tried to shake herself out of it. “I’m not sure,” she answered.
    Gavin, always given to getting right to the point, stopped in mid-stroke and drew a deep breath. “I came here to talk to you about us.”
    “Us?” Angeline was hesitant. The single word brought Angeline to complete awareness. “What about us?”
    “That’s what I want to know.”
    “I don’t guess I understand,” Angeline said, turning to face Gavin.
    “I don’t like the idea of you going off, but I guess it’s because