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"Alright, I'll try to learn to be gracious. It isn't something I'm used to. But it doesn't sit well with me. If people knew where I was from, they'd say I married you for the money itself. If I tried to explain the truth, who would believe me?"
"They'd be wrong, dead wrong. Come on honey, let go of some of that Irish pride of yours, and enjoy it." He told her.
She sighed then blushed, "My father used to say that."
After instructing Chico to get a brisket from the smokehouse and get it cooking, Chico nodded.
Lance took her into town, Ft. Worth was booming with activity.
They went to the best women's shop in town and he had her try on several dresses. He nodded at the ones he liked on her and before she realized it, he had bought her ten dresses, four pair of shoes and a couple of hats. Some sleeping clothes and under garments. He didn't miss a thing. One hat was a dress hat to wear with special clothes, the other a western cowboy hat to keep the sun out of her eyes when she rode around the place with him. But the one green dress he bought her was so stunning on her it took his breath away. Her figure was really outlined in it and he had to buy that one for her, for him. Even the owner of the shop was impressed with how beautiful it looked on her.
"This is much too fancy."
"You'll need it. Off and on we have parties out here too, and I want you dressed to the hilt."
"I'll never be able to pay all this back." She gasped.
He smiled and looked at her, "Wearing it will be pay back enough for me."
The sweet things he said made her tingle inside. How could he be so sweet to her? She wasn't his real bride? She had to remember that, even now. She had to keep reminding herself, as it would be so easy to love this man.
As they left the shops, he showed her some of the sites, the big stock yards and some of the most beautiful long horns she'd ever seen.
"I bet they have a headache every night trying to keep those horns off the ground." She chuckled.
"I guess God makes their heads very strong."
She grinned.
After four hours of shopping and seeing the sites of the town, they headed home.
"Thank you for the clothes. I wish I had something to give back, but sadly, I don't."
"You give back, you feed the boys, and they love your cooking and the effort you made to bring food to them today, that impressed the heck out of them. That's payment enough. Seeing you brand a calf and them cheering for you, made me proud. Feeling better about it now?" He glanced at her as he pulled the wagon westward.
"A little. I suppose since you are a big rancher in the area, people would expect me to dress right."
"And everyone of them looked good on you."
She blushed. "You give Priscilla half the compliments you give me, and she'll be a happy woman."
"You keep bringing her up, why?" He asked glancing at her.
She thought about it a minute. "Because, she should be your bride and she isn't, and I don't want to ever forget that. It would be easy to forget when you are so sweet, and kind to me."
"You think I'm sweet and kind?" he smiled at her.
"You certainly didn't have to spend that much money on me."
"I can afford it, Trudy. Haven't you ever heard the saying that giving is a pleasure."
"I know, but you didn't have to." She told him. "I don't think I've ever given anyone anything of value."
"That's not true either. You took care of your father, you could have been out there letting men court you, instead you took care of him."
"I loved my Pa. And I promised my Ma I'd look after him for her."
He smiled, "I know."
