Free Sunset Embrace by Sandra Brown

have swooned at such a speech. Lydia did not Her eyes took on a fierce golden light and her hair seemed to bristle with indignation. She took three steps toward him until she was glaring directly up into his face. Bruisingly, she shoved the rim of the plate into his ribs. He barely had time to catch the plate of hot food before she stepped away, releasing it.
    Angrily she spun away, sweeping his booted shins with the hem of her skirt. Mindless of the remnant tenderness in her lower body, she stepped up into the wagon with one swift lunge, and yanked down the canvas flaps.
    Cursing and absently rubbing his throbbing ribs, Ross dropped down on the stool and began shoving the stew into his mouth. He didn't taste it, hardly chewed it, but with each bite he gnawed at his resentment like an animal worrying a sore paw.
    "Damn the girl," he said as he set his plate aside and poured himself coffee. What did she mean by flouncing around in that tight dress, flirting with that highfalutin' pansy, Hill? Tomorrow she would be out. He would find a way to take care of Lee. Maybe he could get that woman with the twins to wean her own and nurse Lee. He would get rid of the girl if he had to pump cow's milk into his son's stomach.
    "'Pears you ain't as bright as I gave you credit for." Ma's voice came out of the darkness to intrude on his angry musings. She walked into the firelight, a dish towel slung over her shoulders. Her hands were red from the scouring she bad given a cook pot and kettle. "You done?" She nodded toward his soiled plate.
    He nodded and took another sip of coffee. Ma poured water over his plate and wiped it with her cloth. "Reckon we can save that stew for tomorrow; seein' that only one of you ate."
    He shifted uncomfortably on the stool. "Yep," the woman continued, "it's a pity you ain't as smart as I first figured you was."
    Boss's breath rushed out from between bis teeth in exasperation, but he took the bait. "Why aren't I smart?"
    That gave Ma all the opportunity she needed. "You were blessed with a wet nurse for your son after your wife died. Lee would've been dead for days by now if it wasn't for that girl, who you show not the least bit of compassion or kindness for."
    "Compassion!" Ross shouted, jumping to his feet and prowling the area like a caged beast. Everyone on the train was ever aware of the lack of privacy. He lowered his voice significantly. "Kindness? She was flaunting herself in front of every man on this train. Wearing that indecent dress with her , . ."He stuttered, then ended tersely; "Flaunting herself."
    "If you're referrin' to Mr. Hill, I seen the whole thing. He spoke to her first, not the other way around. And she looked frightened as a rabbit even to look at him."
    Ross's teeth tore at his moustache as he stalked around the fire in a furious circle.
    "As for her dress, that's all we had to clothe her in. The one she was wearin' when the boys brung her in was a heap of rags."
    "It couldn't have been any worse than the one she's got on. It was straining at the seams."
    Ma's mouth quirked with humor, but the darkness hid it. Besides, Mr. Coleman was too wrapped up in his pacing to notice her knowing smile. "She's trash and I don't want her around me or my son."
    Ma's smile disappeared. She grabbed his arm and jerked him around. She was almost as tall as he. "How do you know any such thing? She don't talk like trash, does she? Her talk is citified if you ask me. And have you ever watched the way she handles her hands? Graceful like. She eats proper. I ain't never seen no trash that walks and moves the ladylike way she does."
    Ma let go of his arm, but drew herself up straighter, more piously. "You seem to put stock in a body's background and family. Never did myself. Always thought it was the person hisself and not who his ma and pa were that counted. But you'd better be careful not to judge her too harshly. She might be the daughter of somebody you might not ought to offend. So the girl got in