She already felt sick. Heart sick. She missed her boys. She even missed Walter, though the man drove her crazy.
"I'll be fine," she said. "I'll take little puffs."
The cowboy lit the cigar and handed the fat rolled cheroot to her. Putting it up to her lips, she took a little puff and coughed. "Oh my. How do you men smoke these things?"
"It takes some getting used too. Soon you'll understand why. The smoke gives you a sense of contentment."
What did that feel like? It had been so long, she longed for peace and happiness.
"Now that's a feeling I haven't experienced in quite some time."
Taking another puff, she wished for a sip of whiskey, just to prove she was still a wild woman capable of doing outlandish things. With a sigh, she began to shuffle the cards. "First cut of the evening, gentlemen. Who is going first?"
The man on the other side of Joe cut the deck, and she glanced around the table. "Ante up."
Just as she started to deal, a new man sat down. "Deal me in."
That voice caused her heart to skip a beat as she stared at her husband. Picking up the cigar, she took a deep drag and let out a smoke ring that went right to his nose.
"Damn it, Fannie, for the last two days, I've searched for you."
"Why," she said, dealing the cards, doing her best not to react to him. "Your housekeeper and nanny quit. We're done."
He stood and dropped to one knee. "I've made a lot of mistakes in our short marriage. But I'm here to ask for your forgiveness."
He opened a box where a wedding ring encrusted with diamonds glistened. At their ceremony, he didn't give her a ring. Nothing to show she was taken. Only a license to prove they were married.
"Will you please come home and be my wife, my lover. Part of the reason I got so mad about the boys was because you made me aware of things I tried to ignore. You made me realize if I lost my sons, I'd be devastated. You made me realize I love you and I swore I would never do that again.”
He sighed. "After losing Natalie, I vowed to never again give my heart to a woman. Never again would I have babies. With you, I want a whole houseful of children. After all these years of keeping my emotions and feelings safely secured away, you made me experience life once again. And that was too big a risk, until I lost you."
Tears sprung to her eyes, and she stared at her husband kneeling in front of these rugged gamblers. The men gazed at the two like they were watching a stage show.
"I love you, Fannie. And I want you to stay with me until I take my last breath. This time our marriage will be real."
Before she went back, she needed answers and reassurance this time would truly be different.
Throwing the cards down, she went around the table and took his hand, raising him. "Am I going to sleep in your bed."
"Absolutely," he said, wrapping his arms around her.
"We'll have children together?"
"What if we made the sitting room off our bedroom into a nursery?" he said.
"You'll take me dancing?"
"Anytime you want to go," he said.
"Gambling," she asked.
"Name the date and time," he whispered. "We'll name our first child after your mother."
"Over my dead body," she declared.
The surrounding men chuckled.
"Kiss her," one of the men yelled.
"Come home with me, Fannie," he asked.
"Who’s keeping the boys?"
“Miss Jones,” he said.
"Good," she whispered. "Let's have that wedding night-honeymoon we never had."
"I love you," he said, holding her tightly. "Please don't ever leave me again."
"About time you made me feel like your wife." She told him. "Now let's go."
Lifting her hands, she turned to her card players. "Sorry, gentlemen, I quit. I'm going home with my husband."
The gamblers cheered as she waved goodbye, holding onto the man she loved, knowing this time, the wild child had a marriage that would work.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
One Year Later
Walter stared down at the baby. The newborn gazed up at him as his wife lay resting after giving birth to him less than thirty minutes ago. "Welcome to the world, son. Your two older brothers are waiting to meet you. They are wonderful boys, but they can be little terrors. You better get strong fast if you plan on keeping up with them."
Fannie looked at her husband and smiled. "The boy's mother was the wild child. He'll do just fine. In fact, his brothers may soon meet their match."
"I'm thankful we had a boy. A daughter with your beauty and your reputation as a wild child would put me in an early grave."
She laughed and took her husband's hand. "Honey, we're not done yet. You wanted a house full of children and this is only number three. We still could have a girl."
"That's what frightens me the most."
"Think of it, three big brothers watching over her."
"No, she would be right there in the midst of them probably leading them all into trouble."
Fannie laughed. "Walter, thank you."
He glanced over at her surprised. "For what?"
"For being the man I dreamed of. It took us a while to find happiness, but since that night in Central City, you've been a great husband and father."
Squeezing his wife's hand, he grinned. "All it took was a headstrong woman to show me the error of my ways. I'm grateful you took a second chance on us. Our life together is wonderful and you make me incredibly happy. And now we have a son."
He placed the baby in his mother's arms and together they stared at the child they created. "I love you, Walter."
"I love you even more. I'm ready for more babies with you."
She laughed. "Not yet, love. Give me some time to recuperate."
Walter knew that marrying Fannie had been the best day of his life. And he needed a stubborn wife. Fannie Hersey, wild child, would certainly show him the errors of his ways and keep him on the right track. Thank goodness he'd taken a chance and married her for all the wrong reasons, so that she could teach him the right ones.
Thank you for reading The Debutante’s Gamble. I loved the fact that Walter (stodgy name on purpose) wanted to protect his wife from getting pregnant. As an author I’m always looking for something new and exciting for you and for me. Next up is Daisy’s story and she’s a little stinker. Here’s an excerpt.
The Debutante’s Revenge
February 1890
Daisy Trippe was the perfect daughter. She had her mother Nellie, and even her father Sidney, tightly wound around her little finger, giving her almost anything she wanted. And soon she would be attending her very first debutante ball.
Unlike her sister Meg who was forced to marry Martin Scott from a wealthy family, she would not be caught in some scandalous act. Though there seemed to be some tension in the Scott family that kept them from living in a lavish home here in Durango.
Then there was her sister Fannie who their grandfather taught to gamble. Until their parents caught her coming home from the casino. Mother joined her with Walter Hersey. Those two fought until Fannie decided she'd had enough and left.
Thankfully, Walter chased her down and saved the marriage.
Tonight, her own quest for love and happiness began, and she had set her expectations high. While her life here with her mother and father living on the ranch was happy, she wanted more. Much more.
"Have you picked out your dress?" her friend Carrie asked.
"Yes, it's going to be yellow silk with puffy sleeves, and a low-cut back that Daddy will absolutely hate. The bodice will have white lace on it."
"You scandalous woman, you."
"No, that night is my night to shine. And meet the man I plan to marry."
Carrie laid across the bed and shook her head. "You always get your way, so I'm certain it will happen."
It was true. As the youngest, she always did manage to finagle her way. Mother was the easiest to manipulate, but Papa
wasn't too hard. Especially if she turned on the tears. Even her sisters hated how she worked her parents.
"Don't your parents let you have your way?" Daisy asked, thinking she couldn't be the only woman who knew how to use her emotions.
"No, my mother and father will not tolerate me manipulating them in any way."
Too bad. From an early age, Daisy learned how to bribe and provoke her sisters into giving her what she wanted. Her parents too.
"So what do you hope to learn at your first ball?"
Carrie sighed and leaned back. "Me, I would like to have a great time. Dance, drink champagne, and practice my flirting skills. I'm not ready to find a husband."
"Have you ever kissed a boy?"
The young woman shot up from lying on the bed. "Of course not."
"Don't you wonder what it will feel like?"
A blush filled her face. "Well...sometimes."
"Last year, I kissed one of the hired summer hands."
A giggle erupted as she remembered how the boy had been so shocked, he turned and fled. But the second time they kissed, he'd pressed her against the wall of the barn and moved his lips over hers, going so far as to stick his tongue in her mouth.
Until the ranch foreman caught them and sent him packing. The man had given her a lecture on how he just lost one of his best hands because of her tomfoolery. It hadn't felt like tomfoolery. The kiss had been fun and exciting and made her tingle in areas she never dreamed.
"What happened?"
In a hushed tone, she gave a brief explanation. Not wanting to indulge in the pleasant experience of those feelings.
"I'm going to kiss someone at the ball. Don't know who yet, but some man is going to kiss me. A rich tycoon's son, who will ask my father for my hand in marriage. We'll live in town and I'll host the most fabulous parties."
This was her dream. The fairest and the prettiest of her sisters, she intended to take advantage of her beauty. And she could use her wiles to tempt a man into kissing her.
Now to find which rich man wanted her for his wife. Because only the best for her.
"What man are you going to kiss?”
She smiled at Carrie. The girl was such an innocent in both kissing and in how men reacted. All Daisy needed to do was wink, flirt, do a little teasing and soon the men would be eating out of her hand.
"Maybe all of them. At least until I find the one with the biggest bank account. Then after he kisses me, I may faint."
"No, you wouldn't," her friend said laughing.
"Oh yes, I would. What Daisy wants, Daisy gets."
She glanced around at her room, noting the improvements. Last year, she and her mother made it into a modern young woman's bedroom with all the frills she desired. How would she decorate her new home? Only the best decorator in town, Madame LaRouge, would suffice in helping her transform their home into a stunning palace.
That's why her husband had to be rich.
No more cattle and horses and piles of snow in winter. No more sitting at home with nothing to do as she would be living in the city. Tea every day with her friends and parties in the evenings. Together, she and her mystery man would be the new crème de la crème of society. Everyone would want to attend their dinner parties and gatherings.
"Since I've known you, you plan things and they work perfectly."
"Yes," she said smiling. "So, tell me, what are you wearing to the ball?"
For the next thirty minutes, she listened to Carrie describe her gown. Soon she would be a married woman. Then she and Carrie would meet with the other socialites in Durango.
"Are you listening to me?" Carrie asked.
"Yes, but I think you need to make the dress a little more daring. Something that will make the men stare at you."
"You think my mother would let me wear something tempting?"
A laugh escaped from Daisy. "Probably not. Try not to let them see what you're wearing until it's too late and you act stunned there's a problem. Just think, every time I dance with a man, his hand will be on my naked back."
Even the thought sent a shiver of something she didn't recognize but enjoyed going through her.
To Continue Reading The Debutante’s Revenge Click Here!
Dear Reader,
Hard to believe this is book seventy-one. Fannie was a lot of fun to write, especially about her list of things that were scandalous that she wanted to try. Hope you enjoyed them as much as I did. And next up, is Daisy’s story in The Debutante’s Revenge. I live close to Durango, Colorado and love the rich history in this area. There will be a Christmas book coming out in December. It’s Carrie’s story and the mild, meek friend of Daisy is going to tangle with an outlaw.
If you’re inclined, I would appreciate it if you left a few words about the book on your favorite retailer including Bookbub.
Want to learn about my new releases before anyone else? Sign up for my new book alert and receive a free book.
Yours in Drama, Divas, Bad Boys and Romance!
Sincerely,
Sylvia McDaniel
www.SylviaMcDaniel.com
[email protected]
More books in the series…
To read more about the residents of Durango, Colorado, look for these other books in
The Debutantes of Durango
Their parents want them to find good husbands…
They have other ideas.
The Debutante’s Scandal-Book 4
The Debutante’s Gamble-Book 5
The Debutante’s Revenge-Book 6
The Debutante’s Escape-Book 1
The Debutante’s Secret-Book 2
The Debutante’s Holiday-Book 3
And look for
The Debutante’s Christmas
Available on Amazon Kindle Unlimited
This Christmas!
USA Today Best-selling author, Sylvia McDaniel is an award-winning author of seventy western historical romance and contemporary romance novels. Known for her sweet, funny, family-oriented romances, look for her books on Amazon.
Married for over twenty-five years to her best friend, they recently moved to western Colorado and are enjoying the mountains. Sylvia loves hiking, camping, knitting and football (Cowboys and Bronco’s fan).
www.SylviaMcDaniel.com
The End!
The Debutante's Gamble: Western Historical Romance (Debutante's of Durango Book 5) Page 12
