A Bride for Logan by Barbara Goss (free children's online books TXT) 📗

~~~**~~~

Dallas strode to the bar and ordered a whiskey. He turned to face the room with the drink in his hand. He smiled at the first saloon woman he saw, and she smiled and joined him.

“Can I buy you a drink, fair lady?”

“You sure can, handsome,” she said, blinking her lashes rapidly.

Dallas signaled the barman who brought them two drinks.

“So, what do they call you?” he asked.

“My name’s Trixie. How about you, sugar?” She tossed her blonde curls over her shoulder.

“They call me Dallas.”

“My, but that’s a strange name. Were you born there?”

“No, I’m from Kansas, but according to my mother, I was conceived in Dallas.”

Trixie giggled. “So, if I conceive in this town I’d have to name my son Hunter?”

“That’s not bad—unless it turned out to be a girl.”

Trixie laughed. “I’ve never seen you around here, Dallas. Are you here on business?”

“You might say that. Do you know anyone here named Emma?”

“No, I sure don’t. Are you looking for your wife or girlfriend?”

Dallas bit his bottom lip before replying, “My sister, actually.”

“Working here in the saloon, I don’t see too many of the town’s women. Most of them shy away from women of the night—that’s what some call us.”

He pinched her cheek lightly. “They don’t know what they’re missing.”

“I like you, Dallas, but I have to keep moving. The boss wants us girls to circulate—you know, make all the men happy. I hope I see you again, though.”

“What time do you quit for the night?”

“That depends, but usually about three in the morning.”

Dallas gave her his best seductive smile. “How about I meet you then, and we take a walk or something?”

“I’d like that,” Trixie said. “You can meet me right in front of the saloon.”

Dallas tipped his hat, winked, and left.

~~~**~~~

Emma stood staring at her meager wardrobe, wondering which dress would be most appropriate for a barn dance, as she’d never been to one before. “Come in,” she called in response to a knock on her door.

Prudence came in to join her at the wardrobe. She slid each dress along the wardrobe's steel rod. “This is it?”

“I’m afraid so. My friends told me to travel light for the wagon train.”

“I’d gladly lend you something of mine, but I’m taller and a bit stouter. I haven’t lost the weight after giving birth to Billy yet.”

 “You look fine,” Emma said. She'd meant it. Prudence was a full-figured woman, but she carried it well and still looked attractive. If only she wore her auburn hair at bit looser, she would still be an attractive woman, but that tight bun did nothing for her. Emma didn’t see much resemblance between Prudence and Logan except for the color of their hair, though Prudence’s hair had slightly more red highlights than Logan’s.

Prudence examined the dresses more carefully. “I think the peach-colored one will do. I have a ribbon that color I could give you for your hair.” Prudence circled Emma and asked, “What will you do with your hair?”

Emma glanced at herself in the mirror. She'd always worn her hair in a loose bun on the top of her head, letting the loose strands fall down in front of her ears. “What’s wrong with my hair the way it is?” Emma asked.

“Nothing. It’s becoming, but I don’t know where to put the pretty ribbon.”

“I don’t know,” Emma answered.

“I’ve got it! I’ll tie it around your neck.”

“My neck?” That shocked Emma. She’d never worn anything around her neck before.

“It’ll be fine. It’s the latest rage in France. It’s called a choker.”

“I bet it is,” Emma replied. “All right. Let’s do it then, it’s nearly six-thirty.”

Emma and Prudence greeted Alan when he came for them. He put his arms around each of theirs and walked them out to his buggy. Before they could get into the buggy, Logan came out of the stables.

“Emma, darling, could I speak to you for a second?”

“Certainly,” she answered. She walked to the stables and looked up at him expectantly. She hoped he’d say something pleasant that wouldn't spoil her whole evening. She wondered if he really was all right with her going with Alan and Prudence since he didn’t look happy.

He whispered softly, but sternly. “Don’t forget to act like a lady. I want no one to suspect I married a saloon woman. Follow Prudence’s lead—she’s a good role model for you. Please, don’t embarrass me.”

He’d stunned her, and she couldn’t think of a response.

Chapter Seven

Logan’s words echoed in Emma’s mind: "Don’t forget to act like a lady. I want no one to suspect I married a saloon woman. Follow Prudence’s lead—she’s a good role model for you. Please, don’t embarrass me."

She fumed inside but took a few moments to compose herself and think carefully about her words. Emma could tell him she wasn’t really a saloon woman, but then she’d risk his wanting to consummate the marriage. She could tell him that she was as much a lady as his sister, but she thought about the cute, little cottage and kept silent. Still, she couldn’t let him get away with speaking to her like that without it being brought to his attention.

“Yes, master,” she said, and she turned to walk back to the buggy. Before the buggy sped away, she saw the bewildered look on Logan’s face, and she smiled.

The barn dance turned out to be a memorable experience. She’d never seen anything like it. Emma had been to a few dances in Springfield, but this was different. The dances to which she'd gone were in someone’s home or at a social club, but the barn dance was fitting for the Kansas town, and she loved it.

They had decorated the