“I’ve been riding since I was just a little girl,” Amanda replied. “I love horses. Back home, we used to do fox hunting on occasion, though father usually let the fox go unless it had been raiding the hen house. We had long rides in the spring and fall, with lavish picnics, or fun outings.”
Teddy nodded, trying to imagine the life Amanda had left behind. Did she miss it? Would she come to resent his simple living and simpler ways?
Several passers-by paused to smile and wave at Teddy and Amanda as they rode by, and his heart swelled with pride for his wife. Perhaps she wasn’t a good homemaker, but she had her own skills, education, and ways.
“Mighty fine lookin’ woman you got there, Teddy.” Mr. Alder drawled as he stepped out of his saloon, drying his hand on a heavy white apron tied around his stout middle. “A fine lady,” he added, bowing slightly.
“Mr. Alder,” Teddy replied tersely. “My wife and I are out for a ride.”
“I can see that,” the man laughed. “Seems a lady like that should be sitting a better horse than the one you gave her.”
“Ma’am, if you ever get tired of this country bumpkin, you come on over and see me,” the man’s grin was wolfish. “I have plenty of money to spend on a girl like you.”
Amanda clicked to Pal, turning her nose up at the man and trotting off as Theo’s horse fell into step, and they left the rowdy town behind.
Teddy was seething as they rode out onto the open prairie. He would dearly like to poke Alder in the nose for his comments, but the truth was there. Amanda was a lady, raised to a life of wealth and ease he couldn’t begin to compete with. He was nothing but a lowly cowpoke. He couldn’t offer Amanda pretty things, a fancy house, and servants to do her bidding, but he could offer her love.
“Are there people living out this way?” Amanda’s voice pulled him back from his thoughts.
“Yes, Prim and Anderson have a big ranch on this side of town. Peri and Bear live out this way too.”
“So Needful is a little bigger than it appears.” Amanda smiled brightly, enjoying the comfortable ride. The sun was warm, but they weren’t pressing the horses or hurrying, allowing her to see the land around her with fresh eyes.
Teddy pulled Pepper to a stop as they topped a rise, leaning on his saddle horn and looking over the land. “Down that way a few days’ ride, you’ll come to Mexico,” he said. “Dan does a bit of trade down that way, but no one has done much since Raul’s passing.”
“That was Rosa’s first husband, wasn’t it?”
“Yes, it’s a shame about what happened to him. He was a good man and a good friend. Dan was pretty broken up about it all. It’s why he wanted to help Rosa and Christina, but she wouldn’t take it.”
“They seem to have put that behind them now,” Amanda grinned. “He’s a good man.”
“He is,” Teddy agreed. “I wouldn’t have followed him out here if he wasn’t the kind to look after his own.”
“You fought in the war together.”
“Dan was my captain. He had this idea of moving away from all the places we had already been, and we came with him. It was a good move.”
“And you have no family left anywhere?” Amanda’s blue eyes were soft and Teddy pushed Pepper closer.
“None to speak of.”
“I think I’m going to like riding here,” Amanda said, turning and smiling as Teddy leaned in for a kiss. “It’s a beautiful land.”
“Just wait until you see it in the springtime,” Teddy enthused. “The fields are blue with bluebells and wildflowers you ain’t never seen before cover the earth like a patchwork quilt.”
Amanda reached over, taking her husband’s hand as he waxed poetic. Perhaps he was a simple cowhand, but he obviously had the heart of a romantic. He had been kind to her, despite the rough start of their relationship, and had been making up for his mistake at her arrival.
“What more do you want in life, Theodore?”
Teddy studied Amanda’s profile as she gazed out over the plains.
“All I want is a peaceful life, a few head of cattle, maybe a couple of kids, and a woman to love,” he replied.
Amanda felt her heart do a little leap in her breast at Theo’s words. She knew she wasn’t the kind of wife a man like Theodore needed, but he was willing to give her a chance at love. That was enough for her, and she redoubled her commitment to learn to be a good wife.
Rosa could teach her to cook, Beth could teach her to sew, and in time, she knew she would fit in as a bride of Needful. “That sounds like a beautiful dream,” she said, still gazing at the grasslands below.
“Sometimes, if we wish hard enough,” Teddy said, his words soft as a baby’s breath, “dreams come true.”
Amanda squeezed the rough hand that held hers and then turned her mount back toward town.
Chapter 14
Teddy woke to an empty bed, startled by Amanda’s absence. Quickly donning his clothes for the day, he headed downstairs to see if she might have gone for an early breakfast or to visit Olive.
“She’s not here,” Shililiah said with a smile. “She asked Olive if there was somewhere she could get a bath.”
Teddy looked down at his slightly wrinkled Sunday best and grimaced. He had washed well in the basin upstairs, but he was probably due for a good scrubbing himself.
“Thanks, Shi,” he offered with a grin. “Could I get some coffee?”
The boarding house only served breakfast on Sunday and kept a big pot of stew simmering for men who needed supper. The men would bring lunch pails that were filled for a nickel. Otherwise, they had to fend for themselves.
“Have a seat,” Shi smiled. “I’ll bring your breakfast.”
“Just coffee,” Teddy corrected. “I’ll wait for Amanda for breakfast.”
“She had
