“If one of the Hart women has a son named Hardy, his name would be Hardy Hart.” She snickered. “Isn’t that funny?”
“Hardy is a perfectly fine name.” She was seriously beginning to wonder if her sister’s last name would ever be Hart. “Well, how did your talk with Austin go?”
“Boring.” Jenny yawned. “He told me about his family history again.”
Rebekah unlocked their room and opened the door. “Did you ask him any questions about himself, like what he likes to read or what he does on the ranch?”
Jenny shook her head as she dropped onto the bed with a loud sigh. “No, I didn’t.”
“Why not?” Rebekah locked the door and turned up the lamp.
“Because I don’t really care what he likes to read or what he does.”
Rebekah resisted shaking her head. “Well then, why didn’t you ask him about something you do care about?”
“Because I find him boring. There’s nothing I care to know about the man.”
Rebekah set her reticule on the desk and sat next to her sister. “Mr. Hart seems like a very nice man. His family is obviously wealthy, and he could take good care of you. That’s what’s important. You need to think seriously about marrying him.”
Jenny bolted up. “But what about my happiness?”
“I feel certain happiness will come once you’re married and get to know him. Just look how delightful his sisters-in-law were. They all seemed quite happy.”
“But they probably weren’t forced to marry.”
“I’m not forcing you. You’re the one who accepted his marriage offer. And besides, we’re out of options.”
Jenny flopped on the bed again. “It’s all so unfair.”
Rebekah couldn’t help agreeing. Life for a man was so much easier than for an unmarried woman, but as things looked to her, Jenny was by far getting the better deal.
Austin drove the buggy into the ranch yard, anxious to see Jenny’s expression. She quietly assured him at breakfast this morning that she still planned to marry him although she had requested at least another week to prepare for the wedding. He didn’t understand what there was to get ready, but after witnessing five of his sisters-in-law prepare for their weddings, he knew women needed time. Something about Jenny’s demeanor nagged at him. Maybe it was that she didn’t seem excited to be marrying like the other Hart women had. But then those gals had time to get to know their intendeds well before their weddings and weren’t marrying a stranger like Jenny was.
Since he hadn’t told any of his family about Jenny, he felt the best thing was to take her and Rebekah to the ranch, where they could get to know one another without being questioned constantly by curious townsfolk and reporters, and his family could all meet them before hearing any rumors. Jenny had been fairly quiet on the way to El Regalo, other than asking him what types of books he liked to read and what tasks he did. He hoped that once she got used to him, she’d talk a bit more. Not that he especially liked chatty women, but he wasn’t all that much of a talker himself and hated the thought that their home might always be quiet, except when his family was present. He was used to a noisy household.
He studied his family home. What would the ladies think of it? He turned in the seat so that he could see the women, although both had their eyes trained on the house. “Welcome to El Regalo.”
“It’s incredible!” The back of Austin’s seat gave way as Rebekah leaned out of the buggy to get a better look. “My, but you have a lovely home. I never expected to find something so large this far south. I imagine you can see for miles from the top of that tower.”
Austin smiled, proud of his family home. “You can see a good ways on clear days. I used to climb up there to get away from my brothers when they were small.”
Jenny stared at the house, her eyes wide. Was she as enthralled as her sister? “I knew you had a big house, but I was expecting a wood cabin. Does the stone keep it cool inside during the summer?”
“Definitely cooler than standing out in the sun. Speaking of which, we need to get you ladies inside. It’s been a long, hot drive.” He climbed out of the buggy then lifted his hand to Rebekah since she was closest.
As she pressed her hand against his palm, his heart bucked like a mustang with its first rider.
Her blue eyes snapped to his, as if she also felt the odd sensation. “What … um … does El Regalo mean?”
Austin had never reacted so much to a particular woman before. Sure he’d been attracted to them, especially when he was younger, but to have such a physical response from just touching a woman. “It means ‘the gift.’ My pa built this house seventeen years ago for my mother.”