Night Flower (Gone-to-Texas Trilogy) by Shirl Henke Read Free Book Online

bore their names and their children. He had even recalled Rafe Fleming and his illegitimate daughter, feeling sorry for Deborah's plight when she was forced to accept such a stepchild into her home. Now, faced with eight months of enforced celibacy, he was less inclined to be so puritanical.
           “That's the only reason I've even given Melanie Fleming a thought, dammit,” he muttered beneath his breath. Just then, hoof beats coming from the direction of the ranch house interrupted his ruminations.
           “Charlee tells me that congratulations are in order. That you and Dulcia are going to have a niño at year's end,” Jim Slade's voice called out as he swung effortlessly from his big buckskin horse.
           “I figured once the women started talking, all Bexar County would know,” Lee replied smiling. “I only hope we have a boy like Will.”
           Jim's eyes lit at the mention of his son's name; but he grinned and said, ‘This time I'm hoping for a little Texas hell cat like Charlee.”
           Lee's face sobered. “Charlee takes so well to frontier life. I worry about Dulcia sometimes.”
           “She'll adapt. Look at Deborah Fleming. All the way from Boston, and Rafe couldn't ask for a better rancher's wife,” Jim reassured his love-struck young friend.
           Recalling his earlier uncomfortable thoughts about Deborah's stepdaughter, Lee murmured, “I suppose Dulcia will learn. I'm only glad we have the house furnished and a cook and maid to help her during her confinement.”
           Charlee had told her husband in no uncertain terms what she thought of Dulcia’s ideas about “women's confinement” during pregnancy. Jim wanted to get off that subject quickly! “Some great corral,” he improvised, striding over to run his hand along the sturdy oak railing.
           “It'll be full of prime horseflesh in a few more days.” Lee could not restrain the note of pride in his voice.
           “You still working that blue roan stallion?” Jim asked.
           “Sangre Azul,” Lee said, eyes alight. “Yes, he's almost finished his formal education. I expect he'll be as much a one-man horse as Polvo.” He indicated Jim's impressive buckskin.
           “Blueblood,” Jim translated the name his friend had given his new stallion. “You sure that time in Mexico City didn't turn you into a criollo snob, mano ?” He was only half teasing.
           Lee's face became serious. “Hardly that. God knows the political corruption in Mexico is causing chaos, and the fine aristocrats who head the government and the army are the cause of it. You heard any news from San Antonio lately?”
           Jim's brow creased with concern. “We're really going to have us a war, Lee. That ass Taylor's moved from Corpus Christi down to the Bravo, claiming it's American territory.”
           “Which, of course, was never settled between Texas and Mexico,” Lee said in disgust.
           “Well, as Sam wrote me from Washington, President Polk wants California, and that means all the land above the Bravo or Rio Grande, whatever they call it—everything between here and the west coast is up for grabs.”
           “I guess our senator knows his president's game,” Lee replied bitterly.
           Jim grinned grimly, “Sam Houston knows everybody's game. Never be deceived. I only hope someone takes charge in Mexico City and is willing to negotiate before this thing gets really nasty. Tejanos and Californios are going to get caught in the crossfire. Already, Governor Henderson has responded to Taylor's request for rangers to act as scouts for his inept dragoons. Jack Hays has formed up a company and headed out to join Taylor on the Bravo, where he's set up a fort across from Matamoros.”
           “ ‘Remember the Alamo’ all over again. Only this time the Texians can really get even, with the U.S. Army backing