Breathless(63)

Suddenly, Rhine and Eddy were in the center of floor. Kent and Portia along with everyone else stared curiously.

Rhine’s voice rang out. “May I have your attention please?”

The musicians stopped playing.

“My wife, Eddy, and I would like to announce that our niece Portia Carmichael has agreed to become the wife of our long-time friend and champion bull rider Kenton Randolph.”

After a moment of shocked silence, the barn exploded with cheers and applause. Rhine beckoned Kent and Portia to join him, and Portia said under her breath, “If I didn’t need him to give me away, I would shoot him for this.” Kent knew she didn’t like being the center of attention, but she was smiling. An amused Kent took her hand and they walked out to stand with Eddy and Rhine. They were welcomed with another avalanche of applause.

Rhine said, “The wedding will be in ten days and you’re all invited. How about something special from the musicians?”

Portia looked like she really wanted to shoot Rhine then, but when the musicians began to play a slow Mexican waltz and Kent led her slowly and expertly around the floor, the love shining in her eyes was for him alone.

After the dance, the crowd lined up to offer personal congratulations. Some even teased Portia for being so sure she’d never marry, but she took the gentle ribbing with the good spirit in which it was given.

But when Darian Day, overdressed in the same black long-tailed evening coat he’d worn to Rhine and Eddy’s anniversary dinner, stepped in front of them, she had trouble hiding her dislike.

“So,” he said. “I suppose I won’t be getting that spot on your dance card you promised me.”

“I don’t recall promising you anything.”

His eyes swung to Kent. “You’re a lucky man.”

“I know.”

“Too bad she married so far down.” He sniffed.

Portia replied, “Not as far down as I am speaking with you now.”

His face twisted with anger.

“Move along,” Kent said. “You’re holding up the line.”

He stalked away and Portia said, “I really should be allowed to shoot him, you know.”

“I know, darlin’. Maybe next time.”

On the ride home, she was cuddled into his side. “Tell me something about yourself I don’t know.”

He paused and thought. “I was in a Mexican prison for three years.”

She stiffened and looked up. “What? Why?”

“I was caught in bed with a don’s wife.”

“Really?” There was such a marked inflection in the word, he began to worry if maybe he should’ve offered up something simpler like how strawberries gave him hives.

“You knew she was married?”

“I did.” Anxious to know what she was thinking, he waited for her to say more, all the while hoping she wouldn’t demand he stop the buggy and tell him the wedding was off. Granted, he probably should have said something about it earlier, but it never came up.

“Are you going to be unfaithful to me at some point, Kent?”

There was such seriousness in her tone it broke his heart. He felt like he’d failed her in a deep and profound way even though he hadn’t known he’d be in love with her someday. “No, Duchess. Never. I was young and stupid back then. Did all my thinking below the waist instead of above my shoulders. I love you too much to hurt you that way.”

As if attempting to discern the truth she studied him for a bit longer. When she finally resettled herself against him he let out an unconsciously held breath.

“I guess I should be thankful you were truthful and that her husband didn’t shoot you dead.”

“I certainly am.”

“What happened to the wife?”

He shrugged. “I don’t know.” Rumor had it that the don purchased her a new carriage and enough jewelry to outfit a queen as a way of atoning for neglecting her while he spent his nights with his various mistresses, but Kent didn’t know if it was true or not. “Now, your turn. Tell me something I don’t know about you.”

“Had I a gun yesterday, I would’ve shot Edward Salt dead.”

Concern flared and he pulled back on the reins to stop the horses. “Explain.”

So she did, and when she was done, parts of him smiled at her humorous description of Salt rolling on the ground in misery, but others, the parts that loved her and needed to protect her wanted to find the bastard and kick his ass into next month. “If he even looks at you again, he’ll have me to answer to.”

“And if I ever catch you in bed with another woman you’ll have me to answer to.”

Keeping his smile hidden he replied, “Yes, ma’am.”



Kent, Rhine, and Matt set out at dawn to meet up with David Neal and the other members of the newly formed posse at the Blanchard place. As they rode, Rhine told Kent his lawyers had successful squashed Charlie Landry’s bogus claim of ownership. “So if you still want the land, it’s yours.”

“I do. Oliver tells me I have an inheritance coming so hopefully it will be enough to meet your price.”

“There won’t be a price.”

“What do you mean?”

“Eddy and I have decided to give the land to you and Portia as our wedding gift.”