escort me back to my father.”
Miles hesitated, torn between the want to stay and show up the preening Southerners and the sought-after chance to get Juliet alone. In the end, he made the logical choice.
“Major, I would be obliged if you and your men finished breaking in the mounts. Obviously, you are more suited to the task.”
Noble didn’t take his compliance without suspicion. It was too quick, too easily given.
His gaze cut between the officer and Juliet, then understood the Northerner’s priorities. And he accepted them because to do otherwise would have compromised his own intentions, intentions that did not include courting his commander’s daughter, no matter how great the temptation.
But he didn’t have to feel pleased about being supplanted by the likes of the stodgy Northerner. His smile was all teeth and no sincerity.
“Why, certainly, Major Dougherty, thoughit seems you’ve taken on the more dangerous chore.”
Juliet sat frozen as Noble tipped his hat to her and rode off with the other troopers.
Chore .
Is that how he envisioned her? As a chore to be endured in hope of a later reward—perhaps her father’s gratitude? Pride warred with pain, and because she was aware of how closely Miles watched her, she allowed pride to win out.
“Hateful man,” she muttered, then bestowed a grudging smile on the dour major. “But he does know how to sit a horse. Shall we go?”
As they fell in side by side, Miles looked relieved and ventured with some chagrin, “I should have known better than to worry about you.”
“Oh, Miles, good heavens, you know I can hold my own in the saddle.”
“But I wasn’t certain you could hold your own equally well with Banning.”
It took a moment for his complaint to hit home. “What does that mean?”
Not noticing how prickly her manner had become, Miles continued with his self-satisfied findings. “I should have known you were too sensible to fall prey to his slick Southern charm.” He cast a quick glance her way to test her reaction. Receiving none, he chuckled to himself. “A man like that is used to having women swooning at his feet. It must be quitea blow to his conceit to have you so immune.”
“Yes, I’m sure it would be.” Her tone chilled. “If the major was in the least bit interested.”
Miles reacted with surprise, then puffed-up pleasure, seeing the field of opportunity opening before him. “Then the man’s a bigger fool than I first thought him.”
Juliet didn’t argue. And the fact that she couldn’t gave her no joy.
Because although Major Noble Banning might be immune, she wasn’t.
Chapter 8
One of Juliet’s greatest pleasures came from coaxing things to grow in the stingy western “soil.”
Soil was a misnomer, for whatever good top dirt might be found was quickly blown away, leaving the hard-packed earth behind. Its poor quality and the lack of water created a challenge she could not resist. Each tender green sprout nudging its way through the granite-hard ground was a victory, not to mention a reward. Companies competed for the best garden, but Juliet’s had never been outdone. Fresh vegetables augmented bland army fare at her table, and the surplus she sold for a modest price to the fort kitchen. She used that small remuneration to order frivolous female trappings from the East, things she would have been embarrassed to ask her father for. A hat was her latest extravagance. When it would arrive was another mystery.
“Here now, Hortense, get away from thoseseeds.” She tossed a clump of dirt to send the hen flapping away.
“She’d best be careful or she’ll be finding herself in the stew with your vegetables.”
The cheerful Irish tones brought a smile of welcome to Juliet’s face. “Good morning, Colleen. How are you settling in? Is there anything you need?”
The redhead pursed her lips. “Nothing you can be givin’ me. A good swift boot in the missus’s behind would do me a world a good.” That last
Miles hesitated, torn between the want to stay and show up the preening Southerners and the sought-after chance to get Juliet alone. In the end, he made the logical choice.
“Major, I would be obliged if you and your men finished breaking in the mounts. Obviously, you are more suited to the task.”
Noble didn’t take his compliance without suspicion. It was too quick, too easily given.
His gaze cut between the officer and Juliet, then understood the Northerner’s priorities. And he accepted them because to do otherwise would have compromised his own intentions, intentions that did not include courting his commander’s daughter, no matter how great the temptation.
But he didn’t have to feel pleased about being supplanted by the likes of the stodgy Northerner. His smile was all teeth and no sincerity.
“Why, certainly, Major Dougherty, thoughit seems you’ve taken on the more dangerous chore.”
Juliet sat frozen as Noble tipped his hat to her and rode off with the other troopers.
Chore .
Is that how he envisioned her? As a chore to be endured in hope of a later reward—perhaps her father’s gratitude? Pride warred with pain, and because she was aware of how closely Miles watched her, she allowed pride to win out.
“Hateful man,” she muttered, then bestowed a grudging smile on the dour major. “But he does know how to sit a horse. Shall we go?”
As they fell in side by side, Miles looked relieved and ventured with some chagrin, “I should have known better than to worry about you.”
“Oh, Miles, good heavens, you know I can hold my own in the saddle.”
“But I wasn’t certain you could hold your own equally well with Banning.”
It took a moment for his complaint to hit home. “What does that mean?”
Not noticing how prickly her manner had become, Miles continued with his self-satisfied findings. “I should have known you were too sensible to fall prey to his slick Southern charm.” He cast a quick glance her way to test her reaction. Receiving none, he chuckled to himself. “A man like that is used to having women swooning at his feet. It must be quitea blow to his conceit to have you so immune.”
“Yes, I’m sure it would be.” Her tone chilled. “If the major was in the least bit interested.”
Miles reacted with surprise, then puffed-up pleasure, seeing the field of opportunity opening before him. “Then the man’s a bigger fool than I first thought him.”
Juliet didn’t argue. And the fact that she couldn’t gave her no joy.
Because although Major Noble Banning might be immune, she wasn’t.
Chapter 8
One of Juliet’s greatest pleasures came from coaxing things to grow in the stingy western “soil.”
Soil was a misnomer, for whatever good top dirt might be found was quickly blown away, leaving the hard-packed earth behind. Its poor quality and the lack of water created a challenge she could not resist. Each tender green sprout nudging its way through the granite-hard ground was a victory, not to mention a reward. Companies competed for the best garden, but Juliet’s had never been outdone. Fresh vegetables augmented bland army fare at her table, and the surplus she sold for a modest price to the fort kitchen. She used that small remuneration to order frivolous female trappings from the East, things she would have been embarrassed to ask her father for. A hat was her latest extravagance. When it would arrive was another mystery.
“Here now, Hortense, get away from thoseseeds.” She tossed a clump of dirt to send the hen flapping away.
“She’d best be careful or she’ll be finding herself in the stew with your vegetables.”
The cheerful Irish tones brought a smile of welcome to Juliet’s face. “Good morning, Colleen. How are you settling in? Is there anything you need?”
The redhead pursed her lips. “Nothing you can be givin’ me. A good swift boot in the missus’s behind would do me a world a good.” That last
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