Calder Brand - Janet Dailey Page 0,83

hitching rail in the front yard.

After handing his horse off to the stable boy, he climbed the front steps. He was weary after the long day, and the last thing he felt like was company for dinner, but he knew Loren would insist on his presence.

As he mounted the porch, Amelia, looking like a porcelain doll in a peach-hued gown trimmed with lace, came flying out of the front door. “Where have you been all day?” she sputtered. “You ride off without telling me where you’re going. I worry all day. Now we have company, and you’re not even dressed for dinner! Daddy’s very annoyed. Hurry. Get changed while they’re still having drinks.”

Dress for dinner? Joe skirted the parlor without being seen and hurried up the stairs. Where he’d grown up, folks ate dinner in the clothes they’d worn all day. And they called it supper. These fancy customs were still new to him. But this was no time to displease his wife and father-in-law.

After washing up, he put on a clean white shirt and the brown suit he’d worn for his wedding and made it back downstairs just as the host and guests were sitting down to dinner. Amelia nodded toward an empty chair. Joe took it and sat down.

The spotless tablecloth was set with the china he’d only seen in the glass-fronted cabinet. Each plate was flanked by a folded napkin, a knife, two spoons, and three forks. Three damn forks. What was he supposed to do with them? Luckily, Amelia had seated him directly across from her. He knew enough to watch her and follow her manners.

As the cook served up the roast beef, stewed vegetables, and fresh rolls, Joe glanced around the table at the guests. He recognized Loman Janes, the bastard who’d ruined the roan stallion. Next to him was his employer Judd Boston, who owned a bank in Miles City and a ranch not far from here.

Joe had met both of them before when they’d visited Loren. He remembered how Rusty had warned him that they were not to be trusted. Considering the way Loman Janes had abused the stallion, Joe was inclined to believe the wise old man. But if the two of them were enemies of Benteen Calder, they might yet prove useful.

The third man—husky, with coarse features and a thick neck, looked vaguely familiar. It took a moment for Joe to remember that he’d once seen him arguing with Calder in Texas, at the beginning of the cattle drive. Bull, the man was aptly called. Bull Giles.

The fourth guest, a woman, was seated next to Loren on the right. Joe had to force himself not to stare at her. She was far from young—probably older than his mother. But she was the most stunningly elegant creature he’d ever laid eyes on.

Her black dress, which Joe assumed to be silk, was expensively detailed and tailored to her slender figure. Her upswept hair was silver blond, her face showing some age but framed over exquisite bones.

Loren had introduced her as Lady Crawford. It appeared that she and Giles, who served as her driver and bodyguard, would be spending the night here at the ranch before returning to Miles City tomorrow. This dinner was, of course, in her honor.

Amelia was all smiles and flutters over the glamorous guest. Clearly, she was the one who’d planned the table setting and dictated formal dress. Joe enjoyed seeing her so happy.

So why was she glaring at him across the table, as if he’d just committed some grievous social error? Meeting her gaze, he raised a questioning eyebrow. In silent reply, she jabbed a finger in the direction of her neck. That was when Joe realized he’d forgotten to put on a necktie.

There was nothing to do about it now. But he would surely have to answer for it later—and maybe for other transgressions, as well.

Lady Crawford gave Amelia a smile and spoke over the low buzz of conversation. “I must compliment you as a hostess, my dear. The table is perfect, and you look lovely. I hope your husband appreciates what a lucky man he is.”

“I suspect my husband would appreciate me more if I had four hooves and a mane.” Amelia smiled as she spoke, but Joe couldn’t miss the annoyance in her green eyes.

Lady Crawford had the grace to look amused. “Yes, I understand your husband has a gift for working with horses.” She turned her attention to Joe. “Isn’t that so, Mr. Dollarhide?”

“I wouldn’t