Les understood that his explanation was more tact than truth. Ward was punishing her for exercising her will by withholding his company. She smiled up at Luther, realizing that Mrs. Goodnight was correct. His ears were too large and he turned pink beneath his tan when he spoke to women, but he was indeed a handsome man. Odd that she hadn’t really noticed before.
Looking at him now, it surprised her to notice that he was younger than she had assumed, not at all a contemporary of Pa’s. “Luther, how old are you?” It was a rude question, but she’d known him so long that she didn’t think he would be offended.
“Forty-two,” he said with a smile. “Old enough to be your father.”
“If so, you must have been a rogue at seventeen.” The impulsive comment astonished her as it sounded almost flirtatious. He smiled, and the color deepened in his face.
Picking up her bag, Luther cleared his throat and straightened his shoulders. “It’s early yet. And I was wondering. Would you like some supper before we drive back to the herd?”
“If you know a place that will serve a woman dressed as a drover, I’d love to have a meal that isn’t served on tin plates.” She was in no hurry to confront Ward and be subjected to a monologue targeting her faults and detailing how she had failed him.
Luther took her to a restaurant well away from the gambling halls and saloons that ranged along the main thoroughfare. And she realized at once that he had made prior arrangements, anticipating her attire and requesting a private alcove. His thoughtfulness touched her.
“I don’t think the Maitre d’ approves of me,” she whispered after they had been seated away from the view of properly gowned ladies. She wondered how large a gratuity Luther had paid the man.
“You look rested,” Luther said, examining her face. “You must be feeling better.”
“Much better, thank you.” After consulting the menu, she smiled across the table, enjoying the treat of an evening out. “Did anything interesting happen while I was gone?”
“The brand inspector paid us a visit. We weren’t in violation, but his official count showed we lost four longhorns that we didn’t know about.”
Les put down her coffee cup. “Now we have only a 149 margin?” At the beginning of the drive that number would have seemed high. Now it didn’t.
“James got struck by a rattler, but he was wearing his boots, so he’ll be all right. One of the Webster boys shot a turkey, and Alex prepared everyone a feast last night. And there’s some good news. Dal has decided to put you and Freddy into the rotation.”
“We don’t have to ride drag anymore?” Les asked, surprised and delighted.
“You’ll have to take your turn, but you’ll also ride flank positions. Dal will never give you ladies the point, but he’s indicating that you’ve served your apprenticeship.”
Les raised her coffee cup with a dazzling smile and touched the rim to his. “This is cause for celebration! No more eating dust on a daily basis. No more slogging through churned-up mud.” She laughed. “Freddy and I are turning into real cowboys!”
Luther stared at her. “You are so beautiful when you smile.” Instantly he flashed fiery red and looked down at his plate. “That was an inappropriate comment, and I apologize.”
Thunderstruck, Les blinked at him. His ears were bright and his throat had turned crimson. But what astonished her was what he had said. Not even Ward had ever claimed that she was beautiful. She had lost weight on the drive, but she would never be as slender or curvaceous as Freddy, and she would never approach Alex’s elegant beauty. Luther’s compliment was so extravagant, so unexpected and deeply appreciated that it raised a lump to her throat and for one humiliating moment she thought she might cry.
“Luther,” she said, gazing down at her lap, “you’re such a nice man. Why have you never married?” It mortified her that she, who was too shy and unsure to speak to most men, had now asked him two blunt, rude, and personal questions. Although she had looked forward to the time she spent with him when he paid a business call to the ranch, their discussions had centered on books and music and general matters. They had never spoken of personal things.
High color continued to glow on his face, but it didn’t occur to him that he could evade her question. He touched his collar, then fixed his gaze on a point above her shoulder. “There was a young lady…” he said uncomfortably. “But young ladies should keep company with young men.” He gave her a sad smile. “I’ve never really felt young, and I don’t dance or do the things that interest young women. She would have found me too old and too dull.”
“Do you really think age matters when two people love each other?”
“It wasn’t like that. I never declared myself.” He fiddled with his fork. “I considered speaking, but she seemed disinclined to marry. Eventually, she accepted someone else.”