Tugging his shirt straight, Teddy pulled the cap down low, squared his shoulders and stepped up onto the porch of the main house. It was time to face the music, but he knew how to dance. One way or another, he would prove to Miss Amanda that he was the right man for her and that she would be safe with him.
Teddy was sick of being alone with his own demons. He was tired of feeling like he’d wandered the face of the earth, through hell and high water, for nothing. Theodore Lewis was going to make his life mean something.
***
“Dan, what are you going to do about this situation?” Olive’s voice was the first thing Teddy heard as he stepped through the door. “That girl could have been killed.”
“It ain’t Captain, I mean Mayor Dan’s fault,” Teddy said, his voice firm. “I did what I did for my own reasons.”
“Theodore Lewis,” Olive spun, pointing a finger in his face. “What on earth were you thinking?”
“I was thinking that maybe this time, I’d get a chance to introduce myself to a young woman what had come here to marry.” Teddy’s eyes flashed.
Olive withdrew her finger, looking to Orville for support.
“I know you can’t always control what happens when these girls arrive,” Teddy continued. “I was just tired of waiting, and when Miss Amanda all but dropped into my lap, I took my chance. For all I know, she hates me for it, and maybe my head was all muddled by a pretty face and all, but that’s what it is.”
“Teddy, why don’t you have a seat?” Dan asked, that smile teasing his lips again. “Rosa, would you get Ted some coffee, please?” Dan turned, his bright eyes softening as he looked at his petite black-haired wife.
“Si,” Rosa smiled. “I will get more coffee.” The petite woman winked at Teddy. “You want a pillow to sit?”
Teddy could feel his face heating as he shook his head. “Where’s Miss Amanda?” he asked, his voice soft. “I’d like to apologize.”
“I’m glad to see you survived,” Amanda walked into the room from the parlor, waving Dan away as he stood. “I’m afraid I’ve had quite a fright today.”
Teddy nodded, looking the young woman up and down to assess if she had been injured. Her pretty dress was dirty, her hair half down, and her eyes wide with bewilderment.
“I’m sorry for any part I played in your discomfort, ma’am,” he drawled. “It was not my intention to upset you.” Slowly Teddy twisted his hat in his hands as his heart twisted in the wind. “I hope that in time you’ll be able to forgive me for my rash behavior. If you ever need anything, all you need to do is ask.”
Amanda looked up, meeting the young man’s dark gaze. He was such a good looking young man, his youthful appearance belying his ancient eyes. There was more to this man than one could comprehend at first glance, but his behavior had been beyond appalling.
“I’d like to go back to town,” Amanda said, tearing her eyes from Teddy’s. “Mr. Lewis.” She walked to Olive, taking the older woman’s arm.
Rosa returned, handing Teddy his coffee. “You drink,” she said, her deep brown eyes full of laughter. “All will be well, you see.”
Teddy shook his head as Amanda, Olive, and Orville walked out the front door. He had been a fool, and his last chance at happiness seemed to leave with them.
“I’m sorry.” His words drifted after the trio through the open door on the wings of a prayer.
Dan slapped Teddy on the back with a hearty chuckle, making the younger man cringe. “I don’t know what got into you,” he laughed. “I’ve never known you to do anything so foolish before.”
Teddy shrugged, his mind racing back to a few times in his life where he had thrown caution to the wind and risked it all.
“That ain’t true,” an older man walked in through the front door, his sleepy eyes belying the intelligence beneath. “I recollect a time he sneaked into the enemy camp like a thief to reconnoiter. Counted every man jack in the group and reported back what he’d seen.”
Dan’s eyes flickered toward Teddy. As the youngest wrangler on his ranch, he felt somewhat responsible for Teddy. Though the man before him swore he had been sixteen when he signed on with the Union, Dan had always had his doubts. How old was he now? Twenty? Twenty-two?
“There’s no accounting for the foolishness of youth,” Dan grinned.
“You men, always boasting.” Rosa shook her head, placing her hands on hips. “Teddy, you were foolish.” Her statement was blunt, but the young man didn’t argue. “You like this girl?”
“Yes, ma’am,” Teddy agreed. “I do.”
“Then you will need to show her you do not give up. Give it time then we will go visit.”
“Mama,” a little dark-haired girl toddled toward Rosa making her grin. “I hungry.”
“Now,” Rosa looked around the room. “We eat.”
Dan scooped up the little girl, snuggling her close. He loved Rosa’s daughter and vowed daily to do his best to raise her as her late father, Raul, would have wanted. Still newlywed, Dan was adjusting to life with the fiery woman he loved. He would never have dreamed his life would have taken this turn, but his heart was grateful that it did.
Dan had met Raul, a top hand and trader from Mexico, almost three years earlier, and when the man had been killed in a misguided raid across the border, Dan had felt responsible.
Christina patted his face and giggled as the stubble on his chin, tickled her hands. It had taken a good deal of time, and a lot of prayer to set the past behind and accept the love he had for Rosa and her daughter. Dan, an honorable man, had resisted the truth right up until the moment he had rescued Rosa from a group of very bad men.
“I hope you won’t mind if I stand to eat
