Texas Tender by Leigh Greenwood Page B

and I don’t think a man giving a woman flowers or buying her pretty dresses is silly. Women like things like that, and I think it’s important for a man to want to make his wife happy.”
    Mara’s face lit up like lightning against a black sky. “That’s why I love you. You understand all about women.”
    Will could see he wasn’t getting anywhere trying to convince Mara that she liked Carl better than him. She was confused by thinking he was a hero and having her parents enthusiastically support her choice. This wasn’t something he was going to fix in one night. It might be a good idea to get a woman’s perspective on the situation. Maybe he’d ask Idalou. She wasn’t too happy with him, but surely she’d be eager to see Carl and Mara back together.
    â€œNo man understands everything about women,” Will said. “The best we can do is hope to keep from getting in so much trouble that some woman starts dreaming about our being trampled by a loco steer.”
    â€œWell, I think you’re perfect,” Mara stated. “And so does Mama. Even Daddy says he can’t find anything wrong with you, and he finds something wrong with everybody.”
    Will decided it was time to admit defeat and head home. “We’d better go in. I have to get up early in the morning, and your parents are probably starting to worry.”
    â€œThey’ll never worry as long as I’m with you,” Mara said in a hopelessly romantic way. Will was thankful that none of his brothers had witnessed this scene. They’d taunt him for the rest of his life. He stood and helped Mara to her feet.
    â€œThey ought to worry,” he said. “There’s something wrong with any man who’s completely trustworthy when he’s with a girl as pretty as you.”
    Mara blushed and looked so discomposed by the compliment, Will decided he couldn’t allow her father to force her to marry Van Sonnenberg. A man like him would crush the life out of her, or make her despairingly unhappy.
    â€œYou talk like Carl,” Mara said.
    â€œI knew there was a reason I liked that boy.”
    â€œBecause he talks like you?”
    Will’s poor effort at humor was obviously a little beyond Mara, but he didn’t hold that against her. She’d been sheltered by overly protective parents.
    â€œI like him because he’s a nice young man who hasn’t let adversity make him angry or spiteful. I’m certain he’d be unspoiled by success, too.”
    â€œDaddy says he’ll never be successful on that little bit of land he and his sister have.”
    â€œI think your daddy may have underestimated Carl and his sister. And if you married him, your ranches would be joined. I’ve got some things to take care of, so I’d better say good night to your parents.”
    He could have told her he was riding over to tell Idalou and Carl that Jordan had agreed to meet with them to work out their differences. He had no intention of telling her he wanted Idalou’s advice on how to make a young girl fall out of love with him.
    After what she’d said that afternoon, Will was the last person Idalou had expected to see riding up to their ranch. She’d been sitting on the porch trying to decide if Carl was right in saying she’d misjudged him. Everyone else seemed to think he was wonderful, but everyone else was overwhelmed by his looks. Until Will rode into Dunmore, Van and Webb had been the two best-looking men she’d ever known. Both had grown into selfish young men. How was it possible that Will, who was twice as good-looking as either of them, wouldn’t have done the same? She got up as he brought his horse to a stop at the foot of the porch steps.
    â€œI was hoping you’d still be up,” Will said as he dismounted.
    â€œI was enjoying the cool of the evening.” It hadclouded up. She hoped they’d get a little rain.