“Of course,” Amanda complied, slipping into a chair. “I’d rather not have anyone old.”
Olive chuckled, after Cookie’s appearance a few days earlier the young woman had become even jumpier than she already was. “There are only a few men I think might be suitable for you,” Olive began. “They are a bit older than you, but that means they are more established.”
Amanda’s eyes grew wide, envisioning an old toothless soul with a scraggly beard. Teddy’s handsome face popped into her mind, and she twisted her hands together in her lap. Perhaps Teddy wasn’t every girl’s dream, but at least he was young and seemed sincere in his desire to protect her. He lived on that big ranch and had steady work.
“Amanda, are you listening?” Olive, hunched low over the table, peered up into the young woman’s face.
“Yes, Ma’am.”
Olive droned on chatting about someone with a small music business, and Amanda’s mind drifted again. It would indeed be better to marry Mr. Lewis than being auctioned off to some old man who thought of her as nothing more than a pretty bauble. At least Theodore Lewis seemed to hold some affection for her.
“Teddy Lewis is here.” Arabela swept into the room, blue eyes twinkling in a classically beautiful face. “He’s asking for you, Amanda.”
Amanda sprang to her feet. “If you’ll excuse me,” she squeaked, hurrying past the black-haired woman. “I’ll see him now.”
A wide smile spread across Teddy’s face as Amanda stepped into the dining area. She was as pretty as could be in a light green dress with a fancy waterfall cascade down the back.
“Hello,” her greeting was shy.
“Miss Antonia,” Teddy grinned. “I was wondering if you’d like to go for a buggy ride today and see the area.”
Amanda nodded, her mind whirring. “That sounds fine,” she smiled again. “I’ll just fetch my parasol and be right down.
“I’ll let Darwin know I need the buggy.” Teddy hurried toward the back door as Amanda hurried up the stairs. “Darwin,” he shouted across the dusty yard. “I need a buggy, wagon, cart, whatever you have.”
A black-haired man with a neatly trimmed beard emerged from the still-new livery structure with a grin. “You goin’ somewhere?” Darwin Rivers asked.
“I’m taking Miss Amanda for a ride,” Teddy beamed.
“You don’t say? She’s a frilly little thing, isn’t she?”
“I suppose,” Teddy blustered. “Have you met her?”
“Yes, Ruth took to her straight away. It seems they had a lot to talk about with books and parties and the things ladies enjoy in certain circles.”
Teddy looked over his shoulder to see if Amanda had followed him. “Do you have a buggy for me?”
“Sure, sure,” Darwin grinned. “All I have is the cart, but it’s nice and cozy.” The other man’s grin was devilish and Teddy felt his face flush.
“It will do, please bring it around to the front of the boarding house. I’ll meet you there.”
Darwin touched the brim of his hat with a chuckle, turning back to the barn.
“Mr. Lewis?” Amanda peered into the dining area as several men looked up and grinned.
“He ain’t back,” a man in a tattered coat offered. “I’d be happy to take you for a ride, though.” The man’s dark eyes glinted, and Amanda shrank back.
“I’d rent a buggy if you’d go out with me,” another man offered. “We could get better acquainted.”
Amanda felt her stomach turn and she clutched her parasol firmly, raising it like a weapon.
“There you are,” Teddy slipped back into the house, his dark eyes darting toward the men ogling Amanda. “If you’re ready, we can go.” He offered his arm in a gentlemanly gesture, glaring at the others in the room.
Amanda grasped Teddy’s arm, her fingers shaking as they swanned past the men, still gaping at her.
“Are you feelin’ poorly?” Teddy asked, handing Amanda into the small two-wheeled cart. “We can stay here if you’d like.”
“I’m fine,” Amanda smiled down at him, reading the concern in his eyes. “I’m afraid the way those men look at me is rather disconcerting.”
Teddy climbed into the narrow seat, his hip coming up against the young woman’s skirt. “Well don’t you worry about them, no man in these parts would harass a respectable woman. First, it just ain’t done and second, they’d have to answer to Dan and Spencer Gaines.”
Amanda smiled, feeling more at ease as Teddy chirruped to the horse, setting it off at a trot. “Oh,” she gasped, grabbing the young man’s strong arm, once more, to keep from tipping over the back of the seat.
“Sorry about that,” Teddy blushed. “I didn’t figure Darwin would give us a lively horse.”
Amanda ducked her head but smiled. It was a beautiful day for a drive and a significant talk. She was happy to get away from the boarding house and out into the bright sunshine of the Texas hill country.
Teddy drove on, liking the way Miss Amanda’s hand rested on his arm. She seemed thoughtful today, and he hoped she wasn’t going to tell him that Olive had found a better match for her. In the short time, he had known the pretty Miss Antonia. Teddy had grown rather fond of her. Perhaps she was from a whole different world than he was, but she had come to Needful seeking a husband, and he knew, given half a chance, he could be the right man for her.
“Mr. Lewis,” Amanda began, twirling her open parasol nervously. “Is what you said the other day on our walk true?”
“You mean about me liking you and hoping you’ll agree to be
