“Seems a bit cold, don’t you think? Reducing marriage to an employment application?”
“Maybe,” he conceded, “but it’s the truth. Not much for sweet talk or promises I can’t keep.”
“Can’t fault a man for being honest,” Brenda said, her green eyes reflecting a mix of respect and challenge. “But if it’s just help you’re after, why not hire more hands?”
“Hands are easy to find. Trust is rare,” Seth said, his eyes meeting hers squarely. “A wife’s someone to stand by you, through droughts and storms alike. And ranch hands can’t bear my children.”
“Suppose that’s true,” Brenda mused, the noise of the party fading into the background as they continued their earnest exchange. “But what about love? Does that factor into your equation at all?”
Seth hesitated, his brow furrowing. “Love’s a luxury. Respect, loyalty, those are the things that keep a home standing.”
“Maybe so,” Brenda acknowledged, her heart wrestling with the idea of a practical union devoid of passion. “But even the hardiest of homes need a little warmth, wouldn’t you say?”
“Perhaps you’re right,” Seth replied, and there was a softness in his voice that suggested he might just be open to the idea. “And I plan on keeping us both warm at night.”
Brenda felt a shiver run through her. She’d kissed a few boys, and she’d liked it a great deal more than she should. She was a good girl, and she hadn’t let herself do more than kiss, but she desperately wanted to know what came next. And he was outright promising her what would come next.
After dinner, a young man asked Brenda to dance, and she agreed, realizing there were two men for every woman at this dance. But as she danced with him, she thought of Seth.
At the end of the dance, she turned to look across the room to where Seth stood, a solitary figure against the backdrop of laughter and music. She couldn’t help but imagine a life filled with the romance she’d read about in dog-eared novels, stolen moments beneath the Texas stars, and slow dances that lasted until dawn.
“You’ve got that look again,” Elizabeth Tandy said, sidling up beside her with a knowing smile.
Brenda turned to the matchmaker, her face flushing with embarrassment. “What look?”
“The one of a woman dreaming of love, sweet love,” Elizabeth teased gently. “But, honey, I see you’ve caught Seth’s eye, and he’s as practical as they come.”
“Practical is fine for running a ranch, Elizabeth,” Brenda sighed, “but what about the heart? Doesn’t love have to enter into it somewhere?”
“Love can grow from the smallest seed, Brenda,” Elizabeth replied, her green eyes sparkling with conviction. “Give it time, give it care, and who knows? You might just find yourself surprised.”
“Surprised?” Brenda echoed, a half-smile tugging at her lips.
“Absolutely,” the matchmaker affirmed. “Why, some of the strongest marriages I know started out as nothing more than agreements. Companionship is a fine place to start, and before you know it, affection blooms.”
Brenda pondered this, her heart daring to hope. “So, you think Seth and I could...?”
“Could find joy in each other’s company? Could build a life together that’s about more than chores and cattle?” Elizabeth finished for her. “Yes, I do. But it takes two willing hearts, dear. Two hearts open to possibility.”
“Maybe so,” Brenda murmured, feeling the weight of Elizabeth’s words. She glanced back at Seth, noticing how the light caught the edges of his rough-hewn features, and for a brief moment, she allowed herself to picture a life where practicality and passion intertwined.
Before she knew it, Seth was in front of her. “Miss Brown?” Seth’s voice cut through the din, steady and sure.
She turned to face him, her green eyes meeting his. “Please, call me Brenda,” she said.
“All right, Brenda.”
They stood there, momentarily silent, the noise around them fading into a distant hum. Could something tender grow between them, or was she just setting herself up for disappointment?
“Mr. Clinkinbeard,” she finally said, her voice a mix of steel and silk. “I think we’re both here for the same reason.”
Seth nodded, his brow furrowed ever so slightly. “To find someone who’ll share the burdens and the joys of life.”
“Joys?” she asked, her sharp wit getting the better of her nerves. “You talk as though you’ve got a list, and joy’s just another item to be checked off.”
He smiled then, and it was an unexpected sight. “Maybe I do, and maybe...just maybe, you’re on it.”
Brenda felt her heart stumble. Was this practical, money-minded rancher implying there might be room for more than mere convenience? She bit her lip, her inner turmoil raging like a prairie storm. All her life, she’d been the sturdy rock for her sisters, never allowing herself the luxury of romantic dreams. At least not where they could tell it was happening. But standing here, with Seth’s earnest gaze locked on hers, the rock wavered.
