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Yellow Rose Hall
Houston, Texas
One month later
Ewan gritted his teeth, keeping his mouth shut as Mrs. Jolly Ackers tried to talk Annalee out of cross-breeding the Circle G’s steers with Vaughn’s and Wilton’s stock. How his wife could be patient and calm, he didn’t know. Of course, he hated shindigs like this.
Well, to be fair, he hated all social functions. At least this conference of cattle barons was easier to stomach since they were mostly talking about ranching and all its trappings.
To keep from arguing with Mrs. Ackers who still harped about Wilton’s lack of organizational skills, Ewan allowed the goings on of the rest of the assembly to distract him.
Seventy tables dressed with gleaming white linen and sparkling crystal held the remnants of a succulent meal of roasted duck and savory sides. Men in three-piece suits and Stetsons, and women in vibrant silk or satin dresses stood about the space, or still sat in the gold rimmed chairs, waiting for the orchestra in the adjacent chamber to start playing.
The low hum of conversation reverberated through the dining hall, slightly muffled by the shining mahogany paneling and plush carpeting. Crystal chandeliers hung overhead, while electronic sconces made of brass helped bathe the room in a warm glow. Despite the season, yellow roses were in vases atop pedestals placed along the outskirts of the room.
It had been a fine supper. Thankfully, Vaughn, Wilton and their wives had been at Ewan’s and Annalee’s table, and the conversation had been tolerable. Though Vaughn had monopolized most of it.
Their stay had comprised two days of meetings and a parade of vendors hawking the newest products for making ranching easier. There had been demonstrations in the arena of some of the machinery.
Annalee was very interested in delving into the strides made with equipment that would make bathing cattle easier. Ewan had agreed with her.
The condescending tone of Mrs. Ackers drew Ewan’s focus.
“Annalee, dear,” the woman was saying, “you’ve only been at this for one month, and this is your first conference. I’ve been coming to these since my husband started the Bar A and have learned so much more. You must think about this more carefully. Gregory Vaughn and Beau Wilton are a pair of impulsive idiots. They don’t even buy their feed from Stracks in San Antonio and—”
“Jolly,” Annalee interrupted firmly but nicely, “I don’t buy my feed from Stracks either, and you know the Circle G has always had extremely healthy herds.”
“Yes, but—”
“This is a venture I’ve researched extensively for the last several weeks, and I’m intrigued by the even hardier herd it could create.” Annalee reached out and patted the woman’s shoulder.
Mrs. Ackers’ lips pinched in irritation.
“Don’t fret,” Annalee continued. “Your concern is comforting, but as you can plainly see, since he hasn’t left my side all night and has heard every word you’ve said, the best cowboy in the state hasn’t once agreed with you. And he hasn’t disagreed with me.”
Mrs. Ackers tossed her head, her gray locks swishing, and scoffed. “He’s your husband.”
“And quite capable of telling me when he thinks I’m making a foolish decision.” Annalee chuckled and looked up at him.
He smiled at her, recalling their years of fights just as he knew she was doing.
“Believe me,” his wife went on, “he would not stay quiet if he thought I was wrong. Especially since the Circle G is the future for any children the Lord might bless us with.”
“Well,” Mrs. Ackers huffed, then turned her head away from them. “Ah, I see my husband is calling me to his side. I shall leave you. Good luck to you, Annalee.”
“Thank you, Jolly.”
The woman turned and walked so briskly, her silk train snapped with vigor.
Annalee chuckled as Mrs. Ackers left them. “People have been so ready with their advice, don’t you think?”
Ewan let out a breath of frustration. “I didn’t realize how annoying it was gonna be. I never came to these with Jack. I suspect he had to field a lot of judgments about the decisions he was making.”
“Yes, well, I think I’m holding up, don’t you?”
He quirked a grin at her, fondness sweeping through him. “You’re doing much better than me. Took all my control not to holler at that woman.”
Annalee slipped her fingers around the crook of his elbow. “She means well.”
He made a noise of disagreement.
Just then the music struck up from the ballroom next door. The sound of a string orchestra swelled through the open double doors, and Annalee tightened her grip on his arm. “Oh, wonderful! The dancing is about to start.”
Her excitement had her sliding her hand down his arm to slip her fingers between his. With a radiant smile at him, she tugged him toward the music.
He let himself be led, admiring the view as he followed. Her cream silk dress curved over her hips and fell in ripples down her legs. The square neckline showed her delicate collar bones and a hint of her breasts. Her raven tresses were piled on her head in glossy ringlets that tickled her bare neck. But the sweetest part of her appearance was the embellishment of flowers, Texas Green Eyes, that had been stitched along the neckline and trailed down over the line of her waist and her right hip.
She was dazzling. Startling.
They reached the dance floor, and he immediately swept her into the waltz, smiling down at her as desire rose inside him entwining with the love and devotion continuously beating in his heart.
She gazed up at him with that adoring twinkle in her eye that he planned to keep there always.
“I love you,” he told her.
She smiled and winked at him.
He chuckled. “I’m only gonna dance with you tonight.”
“And why is that?” she teased.
She knew why, so he didn’t answer. He just led her through the steps, keeping his eyes on her.
“Is it because you don’t make small talk?”
Again, he didn’t respond. He quirked a grin at her.
“Or maybe it’s because you’re afraid you’ll step on someone’s toes.”
He shook his head at her teasing but ignored it otherwise.
“Or maybe...” she drew out her thought and gave him a look filled with desire, “you only want to be in my arms.”
He pulled her in closer and felt his heart expand with love. “You finally got it right.”
She didn’t respond but continued to look at him with nothing short of adoration.
They fell silent as they waltzed, keeping their gazes locked on each other.
This was his. This life that had been given to him for reasons he couldn’t identify. But he wouldn’t take it for granted ever.
Annlee was his wife.
The spunky cowgirl.
The woman cattle baron.
Miss Green Eyes.