Bert sent him a pointed look.
Austin clapped his hat on his head. “Might as well in case Bert needs help with trunks.”
For one thing, his curiosity was piqued. Cindy was a lovely woman and if her cousin was like her, then he did need to get his bid in first. Men would be lining up to court her.
Aw, who was he kidding? When he tried to talk to a woman he wanted to impress, his foot always wound up jammed into his mouth.
***
Mina was certain her rear end would never recover. The stagecoach bounced and swayed with every bump and rut in the road. They had passed through several towns that appeared picturesque. As they traveled west, towns and people became scarcer. The stage seemed to go up one incline after another.
She was amazed at the variety of landscapes she’d seen on this trip. Right now, though, she regretted thinking the train was tiring. Compared to a stagecoach, the train was pure comfort—even with all the transfers she’d had to make.
After a harrowing ride, they arrived at Palo Pinto. When the stage stopped, she waited until the other passengers stepped out before she climbed down. There was Cindy to greet her. The tall man with Cindy must be her husband, Bert Kennedy.
Cindy ran forward and hugged her. “I’m so glad you’re here. I know you’re exhausted but I promise you’ll be glad you’ve come.”
Mina laughed with pleasure at seeing her cousin once more. “I hope so because I’ll never ride that stage again. Well, not for a while anyway.” She stood on tiptoe to accept Bert’s kiss to her cheek.
“I’m happy to finally meet you.” He grinned at her. “We left the twins with our housekeeper so we’d better load your trunks and get home before she gives notice.”
Bert called to a tall man standing nearby. “Austin, make yourself useful and give me a hand with this luggage.”
The man, who wasn’t bad looking, gave her a long scan from head to toe and back up then stared from the pile of luggage back to her. “You plan on opening a store or did you just bring everything you ever owned?”
She started to give him the sharp side of her tongue but Cindy interrupted.
“Miss Mina Faye Stapleton, this is our good friend, Austin Wright. Austin, Mina is my favorite cousin and she’s moving to Palo Pinto.”
Mina’s pique evaporated. She laughed and nudged Cindy. “Are you still stealing my line? I’m the one who only has one cousin while you have two.”
She sobered and glared at the rude man. “How do you do, Mr. Wright?”
“I do fine, Miss Stapleton. Good thing I’m here. Bert could have killed himself if he’d tried to load these trunks alone.”
As if the man hadn’t left Mina aghast with his latest rudeness, Cindy linked arms with Mina’s. “Let’s leave them to their job and walk to the house. It’s only a short way.”
“I can use the walk after sitting for so long.” Glancing over her shoulder, Mina saw the men load the largest of her trunks onto the wagon. Then, she looked around her. “The town is picturesque. It’s sort of wedged up against that hill, isn’t it?”
“Hill?” Her cousin’s contagious laugh erupted. “I’ll have you know you’re in the Palo Pinto Mountains. I know they don’t look like mountains, but geographically they are.”
A middle-aged man rushed up to the two women. “Mrs. Kennedy, I’d like to interview your visitor.”
Cindy halted, forcing Mina to do likewise. “Mina, this is Mr. J. C. Son, owner of the newspaper, The Palo Pinto County Star. Mr. Son, this is my cousin, Miss Mina Faye Stapleton, who’ll be staying with us. I’m hoping to entice her to settle here.”
He wrote in a small notebook. “Wonderful. Could I ask you some questions?”
Cindy looked at the newspaperman. “Mr. Son, why not come by tomorrow and speak with my cousin when she’s not so tired?”
“This week’s issue has to be printed tonight. Please, just a few questions?”
His crestfallen look touched Mina. “I don’t mind, Cindy.”
Cindy had the prettiest laugh, which she offered again. “At least wait and accompany us to our home and then you can talk in comfort.”
Mr. Son slid his notebook and pencil into his pocket. “Thank you, Mrs. Kennedy, I’ll be pleased to accept your hospitality.”
Bert and his rude friend rode past them in the wagon and parked in front of a pretty two-story frame house. The home was much larger than anything Mina had imagined. The pale gray exterior had white trim and a white picket fence.
By the time Mina and Cindy and Mr. Son arrived, the two men were unloading her trunks and her valise. Inside the house, Cindy introduced Mina to the housekeeper, Mrs. Hazel Brown.
Mrs. Brown gestured upstairs. “The twins fought sleep but they had to give in. Have a seat and I’ll bring your cake and coffee.”
“Good thing they sleep like stones once they give in or the men would be sure to wake them.” Cindy clasped Mina’s hand. “Let’s have our snack in the kitchen if you don’t mind. Mr. Son, please join us. Making notes will be easier at the table.”
They sat at the table, she and Cindy across from the newspaperman.
As he ate his cake, Mr. Son kept his notebook at hand. “Tell me where you’re from, Miss Stapleton.”
“A small town near Selbyville, Delaware. It’s in the southern part of the state very near the Maryland line.”
“What were the best and worst parts of the journey?”
Mina mulled over his question a few seconds. “The most frightening was crossing the wide rivers. The most tedious was the stage trip.”
Bert and his friend tromped in and sat at the table. Mrs. Brown served them cake and coffee.
Mina sensed Bert’s friend staring at her
