Castillo's Fiery Texas Rose - By Tessa Berkley Page 0,4
and reached over to pat her arm. “Trust me, Mary Rose, to do the right thing.”
“Aye, Dan, I do.” She offered him a winning smile and made herself content to count the number of jackrabbits scared up from the brush at the sound of the wagons. As smooth as the ride was, her heart gave a silent cheer when they pulled into the shade of the few cottonwood trees above the spring.
“Whoa,” Daniel cried out, pulling the team to a stop and setting the brake. “Sit tight.”
Mary Rose pushed her hat back off her head, allowing it to dangle by the latigo leathers held at her throat with a carved wooden bobble. Her brother looped the reins around the brake handle, climbed onto the wheel hub, and hopped to the ground with a grunt. “Your turn,” he murmured.
Moving to the left, she lifted her leg over the edge of the seat box and found the wheel hub. With her brother’s help, she climbed down, then brushed the crease out of her riding skirt. She stretched her back and glanced over to find Moe staring. Heat flared in her cheeks, and she looked away. Concentrate on the sunlight hitting the leaves, she told herself.
“Does get a bit cramped,” Daniel replied, reaching beneath the seat to pull out a pair of canteens and an oilskin bladder. “I’m going to get water for the animals. You might want to stretch your legs, but don’t go too far. Moe, keep your distance and check your team.”
Mary Rose watched her brother disappear down the path that led to the spring. Disposing of her hat, she brushed her hair back with her hand as a thought crossed her mind. With Daniel being at the water’s edge, no one was here with her and Moe. She didn’t relish being left alone with the big teamster. “If you’ll excuse me,” she said with a shaky smile. “I-I’ll leave you to this and see if my brother needs any help.” She hurried to the slope cut in the embankment, giving only one quick look back, to find Moe’s eyes on her, before she disappeared down the incline toward the spring.
****
The smooth earthen wall pushed the afternoon heat away from the spring and back toward the clearing. “Daniel,” she called out, hearing the gurgle of the water below the beaten path. “Daniel?” When he didn’t answer, a wave of panic rushed over her. “Dan—” His voice cut her short.
“Over here.”
Mary Rose paused and took a calming breath. Relieved, her steps grew in confidence as she rounded the side of the red clay walls and found him kneeling beside a clear pool of water.
“What’s wrong?” he asked, pulling a large oilskin bladder from the spring.
Mary Rose opened her mouth to speak, then hesitated.
“Go on, darlin’,” he urged, turning on the Irish charm.
With a sheepish expression and feeling more sixteen than twenty-three, she spoke. “You’ll think me foolish.”
Her answer made him chuckle. “Won’t be the first time.”
“I-I just didn’t like being left alone with Mr. Horne,” she replied. “So I thought I’d see if you needed help.” Despite her attempt to sound nonchalant, Mary Rose felt the rise of heat to her cheeks.
Yet Daniel said nothing. His facial expression filled with a deep understanding. “He’s a good man, Mary Rose. Others never gave him a chance.”
She gave a shake of her head in hopes of dispelling her fears. “I’ll trust your judgment for now, Daniel Michael Thornton. But, one day, you’ll have to listen to a woman’s instincts.”
“Ah, there’s me good lass.” His imitation broad Irish brogue sounded just like their father. Stepping over to her, he pulled a smaller canteen from his shoulder and held it out. “I can always do with a bit of help.” He smiled and held out a second canteen. “Fill this one for me, and I’ll go and water the horses.”
“Sure.” Taking the canvas-covered container, Mary Rose moved to the water’s edge and crouched down as he had. Her right hand reached out and stroked the pond’s surface before pressing the container below it. A slow procession of bubbles moved to the surface and popped as water replaced air. Behind her, her brother’s footsteps faded up the trail.
Yet that nagging fear wouldn’t leave her. She shivered, thinking about Moe’s advance. Good man or not, he made her nervous. She’d have to talk to Daniel about him once they reached the fort. At least she’d be free of his company in two days.