Amanda reached up, taking the tin cup from his hand, a questioning look in her eyes. “If this isn’t the boarding house,” she asked, taking a sip of the bitter brew, “where am I?”
Teddy licked his lips, pacing to the door, which stood open, letting in a soft breeze. “Well,” he began, shoving his hands in his back pockets. “You see, when you fainted, I was worried for ya, and so…” he turned, meeting her pale eyes. “Ya, see… I kinda brought you home.”
“Home?” Amanda’s eyes grew wide as she gazed around her at the four walls and simple appointments. “Whose home?”
“Mine.”
Amanda’s hands began to shake, the coffee threatening to spill over onto her dust-bedraggled dress as tears filled her eyes.
“You brought me to your house,” her voice quivered. “How could you? I’m a single woman alone with a man I’ve never met before. What will everyone think?” A bright tear splashed onto her cheek and Teddy’s heart cracked.
“It ain’t like that,” he pleaded, running his hands through his light brown hair. “I mean, I know we’re alone, but the door has been open this whole time.”
“And who knows I’m here?” Amanda asked. “What, what are your intentions?”
“My intentions?” Teddy’s eyes grew wide. “My intentions are honorable. I assure you. I’d never hurt a woman. I just. Well, I just wanted…”
“You wanted what?” Amanda’s stomach turned over with fear. Why had this strange man brought her to his home instead of taking her into the boarding house where she would have been safe? What was he playing at?
“I just wanted a chance to meet you is all.”
“Meet me!” Amanda’s voice was shrill. “You kidnapped me. What kind of man are you? I came here to be a bride and some crazy cowboy kidnaps me.”
“It’s ain’t like that,” Teddy raised his hands as if in surrender. “See, Olive promised me a bride, but every time a new girl comes to town she’s married before I hardly even knew it. I just wanted a couple of minutes alone with you, so you’d know who I am.”
Amanda’s breath caught in her throat as her eyes met his. He seemed so sincere, yet his behavior was beyond inappropriate.
“I’m sorry for your troubles,” she said, standing on shaky legs, “but what you did was wrong. You’ve put me in a terrible situation. What man is going to want me knowing I’ve spent an afternoon in your accommodations, completely alone?” Fresh tears spilled over, dampening her cheeks, and Amanda felt her hopes evaporate in the hot Texas sun. “I’m ruined.”
“No, no, you ain’t.” Teddy stepped up, placing his hands on her shoulders, removing them quickly when she cringed. “I guess I wasn’t thinkin’,” he admitted. “I just saw a chance and took it. There you were, pretty as a picture, the most lovely girl I ever did see, and you was alone and helpless. I figured it wouldn’t hurt if I brought you to the ranch for a minute, so’s we could get to know each other.”
“Well, it was wrong of you,” Amanda sniffed, wringing her delicate hands. “I’m leaving.” She shuffled toward the door keeping an eye on the young man to see if he would try to stop her. Emboldened by his look of chagrin, Amanda slipped through the door and out into the bright sunlight of a late summer’s day.
Gazing around her, Amanda spotted a well-worn trail and stepped out boldly, hoping it would lead her back to town and the safety of the Hampton’s lodging.
Teddy studied the tips of his scuffed boots for several seconds, his thoughts muddled as the implications of what he had done struck home. He hadn’t meant to cause problems for the newly arrived young woman. He had wanted to meet her was all. What harm was there in bringing her here? All the ranch hands were respectable, or at least well behaved after Dan Gaines had laid down the law to them.
Everyone knew Teddy Lewis to be a hard-working, upstanding member of Needful, Texas, a dependable, law-abiding, and God-fearing young man. No one would think the worst of him having Miss Amanda in his home.
Teddy scratched his head, pondering the issue. It looked like his bright idea had not gone to plan. Instead of impressing the young woman, he had frightened her away.
Everything seemed to snap into focus as Teddy’s head jerked up. Where had she gone? He had thought she had simply stepped out onto the tiny porch of his cabin, but now she was nowhere to be seen. Snatching his hat from its peg, Teddy smashed it onto his head and strode out into the open prairie around him.
“Miss Amanda,” he called, looking toward the ranch, then down the old cattle trail, as his heart stuttered. A flash of white fluttered on the breeze dropping behind the hill that led to the pools below.
Sprinting down the trail, Teddy’s heart began to pound. The pretty little thing he had brought home was headed straight into danger.
“Wait! Wait!” he cried, topping the rise, as a scream echoed into the heat of the day.
Teddy raced down the hill as a huge bull stepped into the path, separating him from the young woman in the white dress, and his blood ran cold.
“Hey, bull!” Teddy bellowed, waving his arms at the massive black and white creature that swung his head of deadly horns toward Teddy. “Hey, hey!” the cowboy yelled, taking off his hat and waving it.
With a snort, the longhorn swung toward him, lowering its head and pawing the ground.
Teddy felt the sweat bead on his neck and his eyes flickered toward the trees willing the young woman to hide among them, even as the bull charged.
Two tons of angry beef charging toward him sent Teddy’s senses into overdrive, and he dodged away as the beast skidded past, sliding to a stop and wheeling for another run at the trim cowhand.
Teddy
