Texas Tiger TH3 by Patricia Rice Read Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Patricia Rice
over her shoulder, giving it a worried look.
Daniel knew the meaning of that look. Her father didn't know about the camera. No amount of lies and semitruths would hide it. He took the strap from her shoulder and placed it over his. "I'll bring it to you at Mulloney's in the morning. What direction will the carriage come from? We can stop him before he reaches the plant."
Georgina directed him, but while they waited, she spied the pretty woman from her father's factory, the one she had seen Mr. Martin talking to earlier. She tugged on his sleeve and nodded in her direction. "Can you tell me who she is? She doesn't seem to like me very much, but I'd like to talk to her."
Daniel looked up and saw Janice frowning and about to cross the street to avoid him. He had met her younger brother on his first night in town. Her family was practically the only one he knew. And he knew women well enough to know the source of her frown. He took a step in Janice's direction and made it apparent he wished to talk. Her frown deepened, but she hesitated just long enough for him to speak.
"I'll walk you home as soon as I see Miss Hanover into her carriage. Janice, do you know Georgina Hanover? Miss Hanover, may I introduce Janice Harrison? Her famly has been gracious enough to welcome a stranger like me."
Janice stood stiffly at his side, a glare of defiance in her eyes. Georgina smiled and offered her hand.
"I'm so glad I finally have a chance to be properly introduced. I'm not very good with pen and pencil, but I thought sometime you might let me take your photograph. Your looks are very striking, and I'm certain they would turn out well on paper."
Georgina's open flattery left no room for insult. Janice's defiance wavered, but she remained stubbornly aloof. "I don't have time for such things. I've got to go home and fix supper. You needn't see me home, Daniel."
Georgina gave him an inquisitive glance at this use of a name she hadn't known, but Daniel smoothly intervened. "Janice has a younger sister who has just started working at Mulloney's. We might begin our interviews there."
The carriage rattled around the corner then, and Daniel flagged it down, helping a frustrated Georgina into its interior before she could ask too many questions. Janice was already hurrying down the street before he had time to get back to her.
Women. Daniel gave Janice's back a look of disgust as he loped after her. There wasn't any pleasing them. It was easy enough to make friends with a man. You had a few beers, told a few jokes, and they didn't get huffy if you talked to someone else. It would be much simpler if he could confine his acquaintance to men. Unfortunately, he rather enjoyed the company of women when they were being pleasant.
Maybe if he made them understand that marriage was the farthest thing from his mind, they would relax and learn to be friends instead of competitors. He'd have to write Evie and ask about that one.
* * *
"Georgina! What is all this nonsense? I've been told you've been here all day with this paraphernalia." Peter strode down the aisle between women's hosiery and the jewelry counter, his gaze fixed disapprovingly on Georgina as she perched on a stepladder and balanced the camera on a higher rung.
Georgina glanced up and beamed. "Not all day. I came this morning and left again. I just got back a little while ago. The light is different at this hour. See how it comes through that window and lights up the rubies? Besides, I thought you would be happy to see me."
"I might if I thought I was the reason you were here. Climb down before you kill yourself." Peter held the ladder with one hand to steady it and caught her waist with the other, supporting her as she descended.
Georgina tried to feel properly delighted with his concern and protection, but mostly she felt irritated. She decided against stepping on his foot, however. Peter brought out the absolute worst in her, but she wouldn't give into childish whims. She climbed
Daniel knew the meaning of that look. Her father didn't know about the camera. No amount of lies and semitruths would hide it. He took the strap from her shoulder and placed it over his. "I'll bring it to you at Mulloney's in the morning. What direction will the carriage come from? We can stop him before he reaches the plant."
Georgina directed him, but while they waited, she spied the pretty woman from her father's factory, the one she had seen Mr. Martin talking to earlier. She tugged on his sleeve and nodded in her direction. "Can you tell me who she is? She doesn't seem to like me very much, but I'd like to talk to her."
Daniel looked up and saw Janice frowning and about to cross the street to avoid him. He had met her younger brother on his first night in town. Her family was practically the only one he knew. And he knew women well enough to know the source of her frown. He took a step in Janice's direction and made it apparent he wished to talk. Her frown deepened, but she hesitated just long enough for him to speak.
"I'll walk you home as soon as I see Miss Hanover into her carriage. Janice, do you know Georgina Hanover? Miss Hanover, may I introduce Janice Harrison? Her famly has been gracious enough to welcome a stranger like me."
Janice stood stiffly at his side, a glare of defiance in her eyes. Georgina smiled and offered her hand.
"I'm so glad I finally have a chance to be properly introduced. I'm not very good with pen and pencil, but I thought sometime you might let me take your photograph. Your looks are very striking, and I'm certain they would turn out well on paper."
Georgina's open flattery left no room for insult. Janice's defiance wavered, but she remained stubbornly aloof. "I don't have time for such things. I've got to go home and fix supper. You needn't see me home, Daniel."
Georgina gave him an inquisitive glance at this use of a name she hadn't known, but Daniel smoothly intervened. "Janice has a younger sister who has just started working at Mulloney's. We might begin our interviews there."
The carriage rattled around the corner then, and Daniel flagged it down, helping a frustrated Georgina into its interior before she could ask too many questions. Janice was already hurrying down the street before he had time to get back to her.
Women. Daniel gave Janice's back a look of disgust as he loped after her. There wasn't any pleasing them. It was easy enough to make friends with a man. You had a few beers, told a few jokes, and they didn't get huffy if you talked to someone else. It would be much simpler if he could confine his acquaintance to men. Unfortunately, he rather enjoyed the company of women when they were being pleasant.
Maybe if he made them understand that marriage was the farthest thing from his mind, they would relax and learn to be friends instead of competitors. He'd have to write Evie and ask about that one.
* * *
"Georgina! What is all this nonsense? I've been told you've been here all day with this paraphernalia." Peter strode down the aisle between women's hosiery and the jewelry counter, his gaze fixed disapprovingly on Georgina as she perched on a stepladder and balanced the camera on a higher rung.
Georgina glanced up and beamed. "Not all day. I came this morning and left again. I just got back a little while ago. The light is different at this hour. See how it comes through that window and lights up the rubies? Besides, I thought you would be happy to see me."
"I might if I thought I was the reason you were here. Climb down before you kill yourself." Peter held the ladder with one hand to steady it and caught her waist with the other, supporting her as she descended.
Georgina tried to feel properly delighted with his concern and protection, but mostly she felt irritated. She decided against stepping on his foot, however. Peter brought out the absolute worst in her, but she wouldn't give into childish whims. She climbed
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