Free Rio by Georgina Gentry Page A

word, this is just too exciting!” Fern scurried along behind her up the stairs. “I want to hear each tiny detail.”
    She’d have to let her friend in on everything and swear her to secrecy, Turquoise decided as she opened her door and they went in.
    Fern flopped her chubby frame on the bed as Turquoise started to undress. “Now tell me what happened.”
    “Well, it started last night at the ball.” Turquoise began to unbutton the wet dress. “Senator Forester actually asked if he could escort me from the stage.”
    “No!” Fern’s mouth opened in astonishment. “Why, everyone says he’s the catch of the town, but no girl has hooked him yet.”
    “You see,” Turquoise went on, “I was supposed to have an escort and didn’t know it, but Edwin is such a gentleman, he stepped in.”
    “Edwin?” Fern squeaked. “You call him Edwin?”
    “You must cross your heart and not tell anyone, but I think he’s wanting to court me.”
    “My word!” Fern breathed in awe as Turquoise changed. “But the Foresters and the Durangos are enemies. Everyone in Texas knows that.”
    “I know.” Turquoise paused and smiled. “It’s just like Romeo and Juliet, except I’ve got to bring peace between the two families before we could wed.”
    “Wed? Why, Turquoise, that would be the biggest wedding Austin ever saw.”
    “Of course, and he’s planning on running for governor,” Turquoise said as she changed. “Would you like to come to a party at the governor’s mansion or maybe visit me in Washington if he runs for national office?”
    “My word!” Fern said with a gasp. “I’m not sure what I’d wear.”
    “Well, just keep all this a secret for right now. My guardian would probably call him out if he knew.”
    “Oh, this is so romantic,” Fern gushed. “It makes my and Luke’s story seem so dull.”
    Turquoise frowned suddenly as she remembered the annoying vaquero. “There’s just one problem, one person who might tell Uncle Trace.”
    Fern leaned closer. “Who?”
    “Oh, never mind. I’m sorry we missed lunch.”
    Fern shrugged and got up off the bed. “Oh well, maybe I can lose a little weight before my wedding. I reckon I’d better get back to the ranch before Daddy and Luke start wondering where I am.” The two girls hugged. “Honestly, Turquoise, you lead the most exciting life.”
    Turquoise shrugged. “Who knows what will happen next?”
    “Well, keep me up on it. I promise I won’t tell anyone.”
    Turquoise walked her to the door. “I think we’ll be going back tomorrow or the next day. That sort of stops everything.”
    Fern paused in the door. “Love will find a way.”
    Turquoise sighed. “That’s so romantic. The senator is such a gentleman, not like some men I’ve met.” She frowned, remembering the vaquero.
    Turquoise had barely put on a turquoise satin dressing gown and slippers, and sent the wet dress out to be cleaned when she heard Uncle Trace entering his room next door. She heaved a sigh of relief that she’d gotten back in time— no thanks to that arrogant hombre.
    Now Edwin was everything she was looking for in a husband: important, prominent, a white member of the social scene. No one would dare whisper about her background if she were wed to him.
    But what annoyed her was that the other man kept popping into her imagination; the big, primitive vaquero withthe dark, haunting eyes and the shamrock tattoo on the back of his hand.
    Uncle Trace knocked on their adjoining doors. “Turquoise?”
    “Yes, Uncle?”
    “Don’t make any plans for the night. I’m takin’ you to a new place.”
    “Oh? How exciting.” Maybe it was the kind of place where the society people might eat.
    “Did you enjoy your shoppin’?”
    “Uh, yes.”
    “Good. I’m going to take a little nap before dinner, so you occupy yourself.”
    “I’ll read a book,” she called back. She bathed and began to wash her hair. She had just wrapped it in a towel and was drying it when there was