LeBeau pinched the bridge of his nose. “I might as well say it and be done with the fussing here and now.” He tossed his napkin on the table. “I’ve agreed, if certain stipulations are met, to give Beth the plot of land in Parker County that belonged to her parents.”
Land? Not a horse. Amazing.
“Land?” Thea’s voice crescendoed. “You’re going to give her land? What about me? You promised the plantation to my brother Arthur?—”
“Parker County is on the frontier. Dry, scruffy land with little protection from Indian raids. Nothing you’d want, daughter. As for your inheritance, we’ll discuss that at another time.”
Thea gaped. “She has a fit and steals a horse, and you’re rewarding her?”
“Watch how you speak to your father.” Mrs. LeBeau firmed her voice.
Brow furrowed, LeBeau fingered the silver fob that dangled from the pocket of his waistcoat. “I did say there are stipulations. Conditions that must be met.”
“And pray tell me what?” Thea bristled out of the chair.
LeBeau’s glower lowered Thea to a sit. “The land will be a gift upon her marriage to a respectable Confederate of good family.”
Marry? Devon blinked wide. LeBeau was going to force Morning Fawn to marry to get her freedom? What kind of freedom was that?
Thea sputtered. “Beth? Marry a man of class?” She slapped her hand to her chest and coughed for effect. “That will be the day.”
“You’ll see.” Morning Fawn narrowed her gaze at hercousin. “I haven’t made my mind up who. Only who it will not be.” Hazel eyes zeroed in on Devon like a gun sight.
What in the world made her think he was interested? What had her uncle told her?
Thea leaned toward her cousin. “As if any man this side of a saloon would have?—”
“Silence.” LeBeau clinked his wine goblet against his plate.
Cross-armed, Thea smoldered.
Morning Fawn’s hands dropped to her lap, her lips pressed together, and Mrs. LeBeau fumbled with her emerald necklace.
LeBeau touched his midsection. “This family is enough to give me indigestion at times.” He heaved a sigh. “Judith, I’d like for you to accompany Beth to Columbus and help her pick out material for a couple of dresses.”
Thea gaped at him. “Dresses? Lucy’s hand-me-downs should fit her?—”
LeBeau held up his hand. “Next week, you may travel to Columbus, as well, on a separate trip with your mother, but I’ll not have the two of you going together.”
“Beth might still be in Columbus when I travel there. It wouldn’t surprise me if she didn’t find a way to get herself thrown in jail.” Thea snickered.
“Perhaps you’re right. That’s why I’m asking Lieutenant Reynolds to accompany them. Besides, I’d never send two women on the road unprotected.”
Devon almost choked on his saliva. LeBeau might as well have fired a cannonball right into the middle of the table.
Thea was beyond words. She shot out of her chair and shoved it against the table.
Mrs. LeBeau handled the announcement with a measure of decorum. She dabbed her mouth with her napkin. “If you say so, Robert, and if the lieutenant is willing.”
“My dresses are fine as is.” Morning Fawn gnawed her lip.
“You’re excused from the table, niece.” LeBeau snapped hisfingers at a servant and pointed to a wine bottle on the sideboard. “Take the rest of your dinner with you. Lucy will escort you. I’ve had enough commotion this evening.”
Her gaze flickered over Devon as she stood, her expression unreadable. Did she believe he’d orchestrated this? Was this the reason for her whispered outburst when she’d come down the stairs?
Probably already plotting how she was going to run away from him tomorrow. But the thought of sitting beside her on a wagon seat or riding alongside of her perked him up more than a cup of good, dark coffee.
As the door closed behind her and Mrs. LeBeau, Devon braced himself. It didn’t make any sense. Was this man targeting him as a potential husband for his niece? LeBeau had said a loyal Confederate from a good family. That’s exactly what the man believed him to be. Only. he wasn’t.
