Texas Proud (Vincente 2) by Constance O'Banyon Read Free Book Online Page A

the mare,
mounted and galloped toward the Brazos. Like
some inexperienced young girl, she'd allowed herself to be captivated by Noble's obvious maleness.
He would not find her so vulnerable the next time
they met.
    With her troubled thoughts as her companions,
she rode home, a part of her holding on to the
memory of that dashingly handsome Spaniard
who'd conquered the wild mare. Then there was
the sad stranger she'd met today.

    "Which one is the true Noble?" she whispered
to herself. And her lips formed the words, "The
one who killed your father."
    She bent low in the saddle, riding homeward
and away from the man who occupied the hacienda of Casa del Sol.

     

Tascosa Springs, Texas
    Like many towns that had sent young men off to
fight for the South, Tascosa Springs had fallen on
hard times. And the residents realized that the
times would only get worse, because the conquering North had become the ruling authority in
Texas.
    The town itself was made up of several weatherbeaten buildings, the exception being the new redbrick tax office that stood beside the bank.
McVee's Mercantile stood next door to Baker's
Hotel. Further down the partially rotted boardwalk, the Crystal Palace Saloon was adjacent to
Goodies ranch supply store, where shovels and rakes leaned against the wall beside the door.
Across the dusty street the sheriff's office was located beside the two-story structure that served as
an apothecary on the first floor, and the doctor's
office upstairs. At Tuttle's Blacksmith the contentious clanging of the smithy's hammer was accompanied by the acrid smell of Tuttle's stoked
fire.

    The sun was white-hot and the wind raked over
exposed skin like searing particles of grit. Still, a
knot of people had gathered in front of McVee's,
watching Noble Vincente dismount and loop the
reins of his horse around the rickety hitching post.
Men who'd known Noble all his life watched him
scornfully while their wives put their heads together, elbows nudging and whispering among
themselves.
    Noble nodded curtly as he passed the group, but
didn't break his stride as he entered the store. Anger boiled inside him, but he kept it under tight
control. Clearly his neighbors still believed that
he'd killed Sam Rutledge. Nothing he could say
would change their minds, and he didn't care to
try.
    The storekeeper, Jess McVee, broke away from
the others with a sour expression on his face, and
followed Noble into the store, where he stood disapprovingly.
    Noble studied the storekeeper, thinking he
hadn't changed in the years he'd been away. Jess
was a small man, with hair the color of dirty well water. His small, mouselike eyes darted nervously
about the store before they rested on Noble. "I
need supplies, Jess." Noble shoved a list at him.
"Will you have these items delivered to Casa del
Sol for me?"

    "I gotta say this or I'll choke on it. If I didn't need
the money, I'd tell you what you could do with
your order," Jess stated, his breath coming out in
panting gasps.
    An impatient intake of breath expanded Noble's
chest, and he regarded the man silently. When Noble spoke he didn't raise his voice, but his words
were delivered with the intensity of a whiplash.
"It's good to know how low a man will sink for the
sake of money, Jess." Noble turned away and deliberately counted out several bills atop the
scarred counter. "Put whatever is left over on my
account. Have the supplies delivered to Casa del
Sol today."
    Jess swallowed his resentment because there
was something about a Vincente that demanded
respect. Whatever that something was, it ran
strong in Noble. Jess nodded reluctantly. "I'll see
to your order, and it'll be delivered today."
    He watched as Noble departed. The younger
Vincente's aristocratic head was held high, his
back ramrod straight, his strides long.
    The women who had been pressing their faces
against the window to get a glimpse of Noble now
rushed inside, anxious to hear