Texas Proud (Vincente 2) Read Online Free

comes."
    Rachel took in an impatient breath and scoffed,
"With a Yankee military governor sitting in the
capitol building, and Texans unable to vote, I'd
like to see how Whit accomplishes that feat."
    "Well," Delia said irritably, fanning herself with
renewed vigor. "When Texas is admitted back into
the Union, which it will be, Whit intends to be the
first elected governor since that awful war ended."
    "Texas is nothing more than a Yankee stronghold," Rachel stated with distaste. "I'm not so sure
well ever be free of Washington's yoke, or if we'll
see free elections in our lifetime."
    "That's what little you know. Whit has cultivated the friendship of the right people. Our
friends believe that Texas could be readmitted to
the Union as early as three years from now. Whit intends to lead Texas into a bright new future
when that happens."

    Rachel could almost hear Whit spouting those
words to anyone who would listen to him. "I never
was quite sure if Whit was a Yankee sympathizer
or if he was loyal to the Confederacy." There was
a stilted pause before Rachel said, "He never quite
makes his loyalties clear, does he?"
    "That's called politics, sister dear. You play one
side against the other and you go with the winner." Delia skillfully turned the conversation back
to Rachel. "The last thing Whit needs is his sisterin-law flouting convention and riding about the
countryside like a hellion."
    Rachel had heard this argument before; undaunted, she walked to the other side of the room
and shoved open another window to allow a cross
breeze to circulate through the room. She was in
no mood to be lectured today.
    "A ranch the size of Broken Spur doesn't run
itself. Papa made it my responsibility, and if the
way I dress offends your husband, I just don't
care!
    Delia yawned and stretched her arms over her
head. "Whit's still willing to take the responsibility
of the ranch off your shoulders, but you're so determined to do everything yourself. Look at you;
you're as brown as an Indian browner than
Winna Mae."
    Rachel dropped down on the bed beside her sister, trying to see her through the eyes of a man. Delia was incredibly beautiful, with golden hair,
a creamy complexion and big, cornflower blue
eyes. She'd inherited their mother's soft beauty as
well as her slender and petite form. Rachel felt
clumsy compared to her sister, but she didn't envy
her-she loved her too much.

    "If only I could make you understand how I feel
about the ranch, Delia. Papa put his heart and
soul into Broken Spur he and Mama are buried
here. It's my home, and I won't sell it to anyone.
Not even your husband."
    Delia studied a broken nail with a pensive
frown. "I don't understand or forgive Papa for
leaving the ranch to you. It's a humiliation that I'll
never get over, and neither will Whit."
    "Papa knew how much you hated the ranch and
how much I loved it. It's as simple as that, Delia.
He left you the house in town which you soldand most of his other holdings. As I recall, when
his will was first read, you were happy enough
about the arrangement."
    "Maybe, but since then, Whit has convinced me
that Broken Spur is the jewel in the crown." Delia's eyes became misty. "Papa always liked you
better than me, Rachel you know he did. That's
why he left you Broken Spur."
    Rachel had a sudden rush of affection for her
sister, who could be so childlike at times, needing
everyone's approval and attention. Their father
had made no secret of the fact that Rachel was his
favorite. "This will always be your home, Delia you know that. You can come here as often as you
like and stay as long as you want."

    Delia's expression hardened. "I resent your
stubbornness, Rachel. Wouldn't you like to be free
of tiresome obligations that go with running a
ranch this size? Just think you could do anything you desired. You always said you'd like to
travel. You could visit San Francisco. You could
come to Austin and stay with us. You