Priscilla went back inside, Scout followed her. She sat down on the sofa and rethought the scene outside. All the while she negligently scratched behind Scout's ears. He whined at the pleasure and looked at her with those big sad brown eyes of his. She chuckled. "You my friend are adorable."
She had to admit she was disappointed in her first meeting with Nigel. It wasn't his looks; it was his demanding presence. Oddly it reminded her of her father.
Quint however, was serious. He planned on marrying her, if Nigel didn't get back to the ranch in time. She mulled that over quietly.
He hadn't asked her, he told her, and now he had told Nigel. Nigel hadn't been emotional about anything, which disappointed Priscilla greatly. He was so much like her father that she was sure a marriage between them would never work. But her father had promised her, how would she get out of this?
How had she gotten into this? It was a better question. Here she was in unknown territory, agreeing to marry a man she knew nothing about. Already she had doubts about his true character. She was smarter than this.
She couldn't allow her father to dictate her life any longer, nor any other man. Not even Quint Hadley.
Nigel looked none too happy about the whole thing. And when Quint pulled the gun on him, he was angry. She couldn't blame him for that, but he certainly was hostile toward Quint. The situation was getting tense. Her marriage to Nigel had taken a drastic turn, one of violence.
She reflected quickly on Nigel's appearance too. He was relatively handsome, not overly tall, but built well, and in good shape. He had light brown hair and what looked like gray eyes. She wasn't fond of facial hair on a man, but she could tolerate that, if it weren't for other things. When she thought on it, his eyes were more like gunmetal, the way he scrutinized her.
But when he looked at her, his anger overshadowed her and his glance was almost hostile. He certainly hadn't smiled at her or acknowledged her in any way.
He hadn't hugged or kissed her, nor even shaken her hand. She found that strange for man who ordered a mail-order-bride. Where was the welcome she expected?
Did he think she was part of this scheme? Possibly!
Did she want to marry Nigel? She'd just met him face to face and he hadn't earned her respect or favor. In fact, her presence didn't seem to matter to him at all. She wasn't a person to him. He certainly lacked compassion. He hadn't smiled when he saw her, nor even acknowledged her as his fiancée. She wasn't important, and Priscilla felt she might never be important to the man. He hadn't even dismounted.
A cold chill ran up her back. Would she marry a man that was so much like her father? A marriage to Nigel would be just as cold as the chill running up her back.
Had he given her the slightest sympathy or even a gentler hello, she might have thought better of him. Instead he was as hostile to her as he was to Quint. That made no sense to her. Her pride had been dented a bit by the way he refused to greet her or appreciate her presence. Was this the man she wanted to spend the rest of her life with?
He hadn't even bothered getting off his horse to take her into his arms and kiss her or greet her in any way, not even a decent handshake. What was she to think?
This was wrong.
She refused to dwell on the past. How she got along with her father all these years would not influence how she felt now.
Marriage was supposed to last a lifetime but clearly she couldn't see being married to a man with such little feelings.
Nigel had practically ignored the fact that she had come so far just to be his bride. His concern wasn't for her safety. There was no greeting, no kiss. Nothing, and she made quick note of the fact. Why she dwelled on it, she didn't know. Perhaps it was the ultimate slap in the face.
If he was pleased to see her, he hadn't shown it.
Disappointment mingled with anger and outrage at his silent snub.
The situation had gotten out of hand. Quint didn't have to marry her to save her reputation. She had no reputation here. But something told her that his humble up-bringing had taught him to honor a woman and the thought actually touched Priscilla's heart. He meant it. Dear God, he realy meant it!
How strange it all seemed now, for Quint was more the cowboy of the west, uneducated by most standards, and yet well-educated to life itself. He was the true gentleman.
Although his gallantry was sadly misplaced because she had no intention of letting it go that far.
Still, she didn't know either man well, and she wasn't sure about her future. Up until now, she had some control over what might happen, but Quint had just taken the controls away.
It was up to her to set him straight in the matter.
When he came in later though, she was asleep on the sofa. Scout lay at her feet.
He woke her, "Hey, you better get to bed…"
She tried to wake up, but she felt so groggy. "I wanted to talk to you…" She said, trying to wake up. She yawned and rubbed her eyes.
"It's a little late, can't it wait until tomorrow?"
"Not really. You weren't serious…about marrying me?"
There was an indulgent sparkle to his eyes now as he stared down at her. "Yes ma'am. I already told you that." Without waiting for her protest, he picked her up in his arms and started carrying her up the stairs with Scout close at his boot heels.
"Don't you think I could just go my way and no one would be the wiser. I mean it's not like you live in town. No one would even know I had been here."
"Bill would know." He said softly.
"Bill?"
"The ticket agent, and he's got a big mouth. It's his pastime, gossiping."
He was still holding her in his arms and looking down into her face. His glance was admiring and amused.
"Besides," he grinned sexily at her. "I would know." He said simply.
For that, she forgave him everything. A principled man in the wilds of the west. She swallowed hard. She hadn't met a man like Quint before. She didn't know men like him still existed.
"You don't think he's coming back with the deed do you?" He asked pausing to stare into her eyes with a slight smirk on his face.
"No…" she said finally.
"Why not?" His voice was smooth as Kentucky Bourbon.
"One I don't think I impressed him by taking your side. And two I don't think I impressed him at all. I've had a long trip here, exhausting, and he had no regard for it or me. So now I know how he feels. Or his lack of feelings. But this is not your battle, it's mine. Except for the deed, which I will take up with him when I have the chance to talk to him. If I have that chance."
"You think he was rejecting you?" He asked, amazed.
"Sure looked like it." Her voice became unsteady when he stared down at her and didn't put her down.
He looked deep into her eyes now. Suddenly he broke out in a sexy grin agai. "Don't you fret. We'll go riding in the morning, he won't be here then and we might as well enjoy the morning."
She stared into his eyes, wondering just what kind of man Quint was. And yet she knew instantly. He was a good man.
But realizing how he had so quickly changed the subject, all she could do was nod.
"I really want you to get your deed back…" She began in a cracked voice. "Uh…you can put me down now."
He smiled real big and set her feet on the floor. The way he looked at her, from the top of her head to the shoes at her feet, stopping along the way to appreciate her fully. "You know, he's a fool." He winked, turned and left.
"Goodnight," she sighed and she leaned against the door frame for a moment as she tried to regroup her thoughts. Somehow Quint had a way of making her forget the bad things about this trip.
For a lady that was kidnapped she didn't feel much like a prisoner. She glanced around the room, it had no finishing touches of a lady, but it was somehow homey. She snuggled down in the covers later and sighed. She kind of liked it here.
She couldn't help but admire Quint for all his gallant ways, but he wasn't a part of the bargain she'd made with Nigel. That was something she'd have to handle personally with Nigel.
Apart from the fact that Nigel paid for her train ride, she owed him nothing.
Somehow she had to straighten this out. Her father had made the bargain with Nigel. She had to refuse it.
But seeing the steel eyed gaze in Nigel's eyes, she knew it would not be an easy task. He was obviously used to getting his way. But why would he need her at all, he seemed a force on his own.
As for Quint, as soon as he released her from this…whatever it was, she'd see about acquiring a school teaching job here in the west. There had to a shortage of teachers out here. There was a shortage of women.
Thinking about it she whirled around in the room. She'd come west and found her independence. It was exhilarating.
She went to sleep and strangely even her sleep was interrupted by dreams of two men fighting over her. But which man did she want to win?
She woke up talking to herself. "This is stupid!" she exclaimed and her eyes popped open.
Dressing and feeling foolish she went downstairs.
Quint wasn't about, but Dancing Tree had breakfast ready.
"You eat." Dancing Tree smiled at her now.
The Indian woman was beginning to really like her. Cilla was glad. She liked her too. "Thank you. It looks wonderful. That coffee smells delicious, I smelled it all the way to my room." she said and got herself a cup. Priscilla nodded to her.
The squaw smiled and went to cleaning the dishes.
While she ate her eggs and bacon, and drank her coffee she glanced around the kitchen. Dancing Tree had prepared a stew that was simmering on the stove. She must have come at daylight, Priscilla thought to herself.
"You must get here very early in the morning." Priscilla asked.
Dancing Tree nodded, but continued her work.
It looked as though Quint had already had breakfast this morning. She saw the empty plate Dancing Tree picked up and carried to the counter. She watched Dancing Tree pump the water into the big bowl on the counter. Dancing Tree pumped quite a bit of water as she seemed to enjoy the action of it and the results. She dipped and redipped her hands in the water, smiling as she did so. Priscilla marveled at the simple act. Some people could be happy over the simplest things. She liked this woman.
Funny what women enjoyed.
Priscilla attention was drawn to the clock in the front room. By the chimes it was ten o'clock. My, she had overslept.
What had gotten into her?
Quint strode into the kitchen confidently his smile was contagious as he looked at her. "You must have been worn out last night."
She was flustered at sleeping so late. "Yes, I guess I was. I don't usually sleep late…"
"That's understandable. Things were a little tense last night. But today will be better." He promised.
"Will they?" She looked amused at his good mood.
"Yes ma'am. Dancing Tree has made us a lunch and I thought we'd ride up into the mountains and have ourselves a picnic. From the strain of last night, I think maybe you need to relax a little. From your description, you're trip here wasn't that enjoyable. So, I figured maybe you getting out and seeing some of that country you mentioned might make you feel a little better. I talked it over with Dancing Tree, and she agreed." He smiled.
Putting her coffee down, she glanced from Dancing Tree to him. At first she thought to argue with him about the ride and the picnic, but she was a reasonable person and he was right. She did need to unwind, not only from last night but the journey and the strain of meeting her fiancée under such circumstances and the fact that she had been kidnapped. Although, her stay here was not one of a prisoner, she had to admit. And deep down, she admitted she liked it here. She loved his home.
"Sounds nice…" She smiled contritely.
"Good. I've done the chores and groomed the horses, so they are ready. So I hope you've got some riding clothes with you."
"Actually, I do…thank you." She nodded. "I thought I might need them, being a rancher's wife."
His look galvanized her.
"Good. How's breakfast?"
"Oh my, it is very good." She finished her coffee. "She makes very good coffee. I smelled it all the way from my room."
"I call it drover's coffee, guaranteed to wake you up and keep you smiling."
He was in such a good mood and it was contagious.
"Are we leaving right away?"
"Whenever you are ready." He went to get a cup coffee for himself. He propped his leg on a chair and sipped it.
"You seem in a very good mood. Is there a reason?"
"Not really, just glad to be alive."
Dancing Tree finished cleaning up and left.
"Well, I guess I better go change into riding clothes. If you'll excuse me."
He nodded and finished his coffee. He went to the sink bowl and washed his cup. That surprised her.
When she came downstairs Quint was talking to his Mexican employee. Priscilla watched the two men and saw a great amount of respect in the Mexican's eyes for Quint.
So many things spoke well of Quint Hadley.