Ecstasy's Promise (Historical Romance) by Constance O'Banyon

view of your politics, I am surprised you have not been tarred and feathered already. There have not been any problems, have there?" Dan asked.
    "No, it seems the prodigal son has been returned to the fold and forgiven. I chose to fight with the Union Army because I felt it was the right thing to do. I never wanted Texas to secede in the first place, and as you know, I fought hard in the state legislature to prevent it. You know what Sam Houston's views were, Dan. It is a feeling more widespread than you might imagine. A lot of people just kept their feelings to themselves. I chose to stand up and be counted, and as things turned out, I was right. Texas should never have joined the Confederacy."
    Dan eyed him warily. "We had better move on to another subject, since my sympathies were for the other side. I wore a gray uniform, remember?"
    Edward sighed. "Yes, I know. The war is over now. You and I will not argue the fine points."
    "You were with General Sherman in Georgia, were you not?"
    "Of course, you know that I was," Edward snapped, "but I do not intend to discuss it with you.
    "No, that is not why I was asking," Dan replied. "The strangest thing happened two nights ago. I was called to tend an injured man out at the Delgados'. Do you know them?"
    "No, I cannot say that I do, but go on, Dan."
    "Do you remember Mammaw's daughter?"
    Edward lifted his feet from the top of the desk and leaned forward, knitting his brow in thoughtfulness. "I do not remember her, actually, but everyone around here knows that Mammaw had a daughter. She died, did she not?"
    "Yes, that is correct. She married a planter from Georgia, and left Texas almost twenty years ago, I believe."
    "That is all very interesting, Dan, but what are you getting at?"
    "I met her daughter, who would be Mammaw's granddaughter, at the Delgados'. She was there with a man called Bodine."
    "What was she doing at the Delgados'?" Edward asked.
    "I am not too clear on all the details, but from what I gather, she and this Bodine came all the way from Georgia on horseback. I know it sounds farfetched. Anyway, this Bodine was thrown from a horse, and Mammaw's granddaughter sought help from the Delgados."
    "I have heard of a man called Bodine," Edward said thoughtfully. "If it is the same man, he is something of a mystery about here. Yes, as I recall, he worked for Mammaw."
    "It may well be the same man," Dan told him. "He is old enough to be the girl's father. In fact, at first I thought he was her father."
    "How strange," Edward said. "Does Mammaw know they are at the Delgados'?"
    "No," Dan told him, "and here the story gets even stranger. She is not even expecting them. I told the girl I would ride over and let Mammaw know she is here. I should have done so before now, but I have been with Margaret Dennison. She just delivered her seventh daughter. She is not young anymore, and the birth was hard on her."
    "What is the girl's name, and what does she look like?" Edward asked, looking at Dan with interest.
    "I was too tired to ask her name," Dan answered him, "and as for her looks, she looks like any newborn baby, red and wrinkled."
    Edward looked at him impatiently. "Not the Dennison baby, Mammaw's granddaughter."
    Dan knew who Edward had meant, but could not resist teasing him. He threw back his head and laughed heartily. "You would like for me to tell you that she is beautiful, wouldn't you? I hate to disappoint you, Edward, but she is rather homely. In fact, I felt sorry for her, she was so pathetic-looking."
    "Oh, well," Edward said, losing interest, "Mam maw will be glad to welcome her, whatever she looks like."
    Dan emptied his glass and rose to his feet. "I had better be on my way now. If I time it right, maybe Mammaw will feed me."
    "Give her my regards," Edward told him. "I have not had a chance to see her since my return. She was always a favorite of mine."
    "I will do that," Dan said, and added: "Edward."
    "Yes?"
    "You can go back to your ranting and raving."
    They