Free WM02 - Texas Princess by Jodi Thomas

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    “I’l be back at one for another lesson.”
    He tipped his hat. “We’l be ready, Miss Mayeld.”
    Watching her walk away, Tobin couldn’t help but wonder why, for a lady who hated horses, she sure was in one hel of a hurry to learn to ride.
    “McMurray!” A sharp northern accent snapped through the air.
    Tobin faced Captain Samuel Buchanan. The man looked like a painting of the perfect young ofcer. His uniform pressed and brushed, his buttons and boots polished.
    Tobin, on the other hand, looked like he had slept in his clothes, which he had.
    “Morning, Captain.”
    Buchanan didn’t bother with pleasantries. “I saw you had my ancée riding this morning. I commend you. She’s a beauty, but a coward of a woman. You’re the last of a long line of people who’ve tried to teach her to ride. Most, she simply ordered off the property. As far as I know you are the rst to actual y get her in the saddle.”
    “Maybe she was motivated.” He remembered how she’d stiffened when he’d mentioned that she would be Mrs. Buchanan soon.
    “Or maybe she’s learning to fol ow orders,” the captain said more to himself than Tobin.
    “We have little time left. Some of the guests are already moving to the hotels in town so they’l be ready for our Saturday morning wedding.”
    Tobin didn’t comment. If the captain took the time to look in Liberty’s eyes, he’d know that she was neither a coward nor learning to fol ow orders. He’d also realize that she had none of the signs of a bride counting down the hours.
    “The point is, she’s learning to ride.” The captain straightened. “I’ve other matters to think about. See that the lessons continue.”
    Realizing he’d been dismissed, Tobin grabbed the reins and walked Sunny back to the barn.
    At the barn door, he turned to watch the captain and several of his men mount up and ride away as if they had important matters to attend to. The soldiers were camped in smal tents a few hundred yards from the house. Judging from the tents, Tobin would guess about a dozen men traveled with the captain. They must be the chosen few, the best, for a captain on a frontier assignment would have many more under his command.
    Dermot strol ed out of the barn and leaned on the pitchfork he carried. For a few minutes he stood beside Tobin and watched. Final y, the older man said, “I don’t much like that fel ow. Never bothers to cool down his own horse.”
    “He’s busy,” Tobin murmurred, but remembered how he’d heard his father say once that a man too busy to care for his horse should try walking.
    “More so every day.” Dermot shook his head. “The sena-tor’s always had to deal with hotheads yel ing and cal ing him out, but lately, with the trouble with Mexico, it’s a mountain of trouble I fear coming. Our Captain Buchanan there takes his job of guard seriously. If something happened to the senator he’d be losing not only a father-in-law, but a career.”
    After today, their troubles weren’t his. One or two more riding lessons and Liberty would know enough to stay in the saddle. The senator had only asked him to stay a day. Dermot might feel trouble storming in, but the senator expected it. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have made Tobin promise to get Liberty to safety if it came.
    Tobin unsaddled Sunny, then picked up the reins to his bay. “I think I’l ride into town,”
    he said. “I’l be back in a few hours.”
    The old man waved him away.
    Tobin didn’t take a deep breath until the house and barn were out of sight. He needed to ride, just ride. It seemed the only time he could think.
    He pushed his powerful mount until he saw the dust of what had to be the captain and his men. Tobin pul ed back. The last thing he wanted was another conversation with Buchanan. Especial y if what he suspected about the man was true.
    Turning off the road, Tobin stayed close to the trees, needing to feel nature around him.
    Halfway between the ranch and town,