A Man to Call My Own

Chapter 12

"YOU DISMISSED THE COACH? That was our personal coach!"

Chad tipped his hat back, looked up at the morning sky, counted to ten. It looked like Amanda was going to require all of his patience today. Good thing he had a lot.

He glanced back at the ladies standing at the top of the steps in front of the hotel. Only Amanda was glaring at him incredulously. Marian was examining her nails in a somewhat suspect display of indifference. Their maid looked bored as usual.

He'd brought them three mounts to ride. He'd spent a good thirty minutes in discussion over those horses to make sure they were suitable for ladies before he left the stable. He supposed he should have warned them that they'd be traveling the rest of the way on horseback. But he simply hadn't thought it was necessary.

Everyone and their mother got around by horseback out here.

Patience well in hand again, he told Amanda, "It wasn't your personal—anything. The only reason you got to use it as long as you did was because I browbeat the depot employee into allowing you to use it, since it was one of their drivers that abandoned you and the coach. I had to threaten to break his neck if he didn't agree. But that coach is too big for the narrow road out to the ranch. Besides, Will took off with it at the crack of dawn, so it's long gone already."

Amanda took on a mulish look. "I am not riding a horse. You'll just have to rent us a carriage then."

Well hell, when she got ornery, she really got ornery. It was a good thing she was so pretty that a man could overlook a few annoying traits.

He sighed. "Horses you can rent. Wagons to haul supplies you can rent. But if there's even one carriage in this town, I'd be mighty surprised. Trenton isn't big enough to need them. Folks around here walk where they want to get to. And lastly, the narrow track out to the ranch winds a good distance out of the way to keep to flat land, takes an extra half day using it, which means sleeping outdoors for the night. With horses you can cut a straight path and get there before dark tonight."

"Then you'll just have to rent us a wagon, won't you?" Amanda replied.

His explanation had been reasonable. Did she really want to rough it on the side of the road? Or was she just being stubborn? Some women, when they took a stand, refused to back down from it for any reason, even when proven wrong without a doubt.

"I've already done that for your trunks. The driver will be here at any moment to pick them up and get them delivered by tomorrow."

"Then what is the problem? I'll simply ride with the wagon."

"You're missing the point," Chad replied. "That means an extra day—"

"No, you are missing the point," she cut in. "I am not riding on the back of a horse, not today, not tomorrow, not ever! So if some other means of transport cannot be arranged, I'll be staying right here."

"You won't win this battle, Mr. Kinkaid," Marian inserted. There was a distinct note of humor in her tone, but whether it was at his expense or her sister's was anyone's guess. "She's afraid of horses."

"I am not!" Amanda swung around to face her sister. "I just refuse to subject myself to the extreme aches associated with sitting on a horse for any length of time."

"You won't like riding on a wagon," Chad pointed out. "It's not designed for comfort either. Nor is sleeping on the ground for that matter."

"On the ground? Don't be absurd. I would sleep in the wagon, of course."

"The wagon would be loaded with—"

"It will just have to be unloaded," Amanda interrupted him again, and in a tone that defied argument.

"It won't fit all three of you."

"And your point is?"

He stared at her incredulously. He didn't miss the implication. A wagon just for her own individual use was what she was saying, yet where he came from, what was good for one sibling was good for the rest. Was he going to have to go through this whole argument again with the spinster if he agreed to this nonsense? Get another wagon just for them all to sleep in?

Marian actually laughed—at him. His expression over Amanda's remark right then would probably have made a bull snicker. With less patience, he might have exploded at that point. But for some odd reason, he didn't mind her humor. It was the first time he'd heard her laugh, and the sound was actually pleasant, even somewhat contagious. He didn't laugh as well, but the urge to do so did take a few notches off of his annoyance.

She must have read his mind, too, because she said, "Guess it's a good thing I don't mind sleeping on the ground—or riding a horse for that matter."

"You've never been on a horse before either," Amanda said petulantly.

"Yes, but unlike you, I'm willing to try new things. And how difficult can it be, plodding along at a walk beside a wagon."

Marian was rubbing it in, that they were going to be delayed just to accommodate Amanda's stubbornness. It didn't work though. Not even a slight blush was forthcoming from the lovely blond.

And then the wagon in question pulled into view, coming around the corner just down the block. Marian started laughing again.

"Oh my God, mules," she gasped out between chuckles. "I could probably get to Aunt Kathleen's quicker if I walked."

This time Amanda did blush. She was also furious, observing the mode of transportation she had insisted she would ride on. And she turned that fury on Chad.

"Is this your idea of a joke? "You expect me to ride behind mules?"

"Riding behind them was your idea, not mine. I brought you a perfectly good horse—"

"Which you can exchange for those mules. And I don't care how long it takes. If I can't have a carriage, I at least have to have a wagon pulled by horses."

Chad started counting to ten again. While he was at it, Spencer showed up. He was all dandified, wearing his Sunday best though he wasn't a churchgoer, which meant he'd hoped to catch the ladies before they left town and impress them with the debonair ways he'd learned during those few years he'd been shipped back East to finish off his schooling.

"Good morning, ladies." Spencer tipped his hat. "I couldn't help overhearing diat you may need my assistance—if a carriage is what you require."

He might have said ladies, but his eyes were all over Amanda. And she was impressed, to go by the smile she offered him. Women did seem to get all silly when they were around Spencer Evans, finding his boyish looks exceptionally handsome. Dark brown hair, emerald green eyes, and the confidence that came with being a successful man of business.

"Indeed, sir. And you are?"

"Spencer Evans, at your service."

"We were told there were no carriages to be had in this town."

"Some people are too ignorant to know any better," Spencer said.

"But you do have a carriage for hire then?" Amanda confirmed.

"Brand spanking new, delivered just last month," he was pleased to say. "But I'll hear no talk of hiring. You're most welcome to use it, however."

Chad turned away, began counting to one hundred this time. He hadn't missed the digs from both of them. The last thing he wanted to do was fight in front of Amanda, but if he said even two words to Spencer, that's probably what would happen. Her barbs he could ignore, Spencers he couldn't.

But they weren't waiting for his reaction. They were still ironing out the details. And it was easy to see where this was leading, not just a generous offer on Spencer's part to ingratiate himself with Amanda, but an opportunity to see more of her.

Spencer was saying, "I'll come by to fetch it tomorrow afternoon—"

"Don't bother," Chad cut in, unable to keep quiet any longer. "Someone will bring it back."

"No bother at all. I'm already looking forward to one of Red's home-cooked dinners."

Spencer had done his homework. He knew who the Laton sisters were and where they were going, had probably found Will Candles last night and grilled him. Chad had actually expected him to show up in the hotel dining room last night to meet them. He might have and been too late. The ladies hadn't tarried over dinner, had retired early to bed, so if Spencer had wasted time slicking himself up before coming over, he would have missed them.

It took an extra hour to finally get going. Chad had to buy some blankets for the night, food for dinner. And there had been a teeth-grinding moment when Spencer pulled up with his brand spanking new carriage and Amanda admitted she didn't know how to drive one. After making all that fuss, she couldn't even drive the thing.

That news even surprised Spencer, long enough to keep him from offering that service as well. The maid spoke up and said she was capable of driving it.

Spencer would have offered if he hadn't been rendered momentarily speechless. And Chad would probably have broken his nose for it. He was plumb out of patience. But that was usually the case after a run-in with Spencer Evans.