The Lone Rancher - By Carol Finch Page 0,35
to one problem had led to an other. “You should be used to that,” Adrianna mumbled under her breath as she headed for the waiting buggy.
Flying gossip had surrounded her for years in Boston. Men tried to link themselves to her name, in hopes of discouraging competition for her affection. What a pity those gold-digging dandies didn’t realize she had no affection to give. At least, not to the likes of pretentious jackasses!
Her thoughts trailed off when she arrived in town and stared across Town Square. She immediately spotted Rosa and Lucas walking toward her, hand in hand. Dog was beside them. Rosa, with her perfect creamy complexion, curvaceous figure and silver-blond hair, looked like an angel. Especially in her blue gown encrusted with rhinestones. Lord, she was like a shining star in a midnight sky.
And Lucas… Adrianna looked him up and down, admiring his masculine build, his high cheekbones and coal-black hair that denoted his Comanche heritage. He looked quite dashing in formal black attire.
Adrianna burst out laughing when she noticed Dog was wearing a rhinestone-studded bow tie. “That burly wolf dog has stolen my heart, Lucas,” she insisted. “Name your price. I want him for my own.”
Lucas grinned and Adrianna knew immediately why Cousin Rosa had lost her heart to him. Granted, Lucas could look fierce, intimidating and somber…until his expression softened in a smile. He reminded her of Quin in size, stature and commanding appearance. Quin had a softer side, too, though he didn’t expose it very often. Adrianna had discovered it beneath the shady trees on a wooded hillside when they had explored each other intimately….
“You look positively enchanting,” Rosa complimented.
Adrianna spun in a circle to display her elegant gown from every angle. “Of course, I only wear the finest formal attire, designed by my genius cousin,” she replied. “I was always the envy of Boston’s social circle because of my one-of-a-kind wardrobe.”
While Rosa praised Bea’s and Butler’s appearances, Adrianna strode off to check with the waitresses she had hired from local establishments to ensure plenty of food and drink filled the tables. Then she hiked across the square to speak with the band Rosa had recommended to her. There were no flutes or violins, as in Boston’s orchestras. But rather banjos, fiddles, harmonicas and a piano transported from one of the saloons across the tracks.
When she glanced around, she noticed people were showing up all at once. They flocked in from every direction to fill Town Square to overflowing. Adrianna hurried off to set up a reception line for Rosa and Lucas. Greet first, eat second, she mused as she herded several rough-looking partygoers into a line to congratulate the newlyweds.
Adrianna pasted on a smile and bowed slightly when the string of guests offered their names and greeted her after they paid their respects to Rosa and Lucas. So far so good, she decided. Thirty minutes had elapsed and no fights had broken out.
“Adrianna McKnight,” Rosa said formally, as she inclined her blond head toward a petite woman who looked to be about a year or two older than Adrianna. “This is Merritt Dixon. Like us, she is a businesswoman in Cahill Crossing. Merritt owns the Morning Glory Boardinghouse near the opera house.”
Adrianna clasped the lovely brunette’s hand and smiled delightedly. “It is a pleasure to meet you, Merritt. We businesswomen need to stick together and encourage others to open their own businesses.”
“I agree,” Merritt replied. “The more, the better.”
Adrianna would have liked to chitchat with Merritt but the next man in line grabbed her hand and pumped it enthusiastically. “Glad to make your acquaintance, Miz McKnight. I’m Ned Womack. I’m your neighbor to the west.”
Adrianna smiled politely as she surveyed the man’s bushy brown hair, caterpillar-like eyebrows and bulbous nose. He looked to be in his early forties and he was by no means attractive. But his small mouth split into a smile and she decided he was more genuine than most men she knew in Boston.
“Lost my wife last winter to influenza and I’ve been shopping around for another one to help raise my two boys,” he continued as she wriggled her hand from his tight grasp. “You interested?”
Beside her, Rosa and Lucas sputtered and coughed to camouflage their laughter. Amazingly, Adrianna managed to keep a straight face. “Thank you for your kind offer,” she said with practiced ease. “But I’m focusing my efforts on organizing my ranch so that it runs effectively.”
Ned leaned in close to say confidentially, “Then watch out for