With a whoop, Johnny raced off, only to be caught by his mother. After a minor scuffle, he turned back, grinning. “Thanks, Mr. Redman. Thanks a lot.”
“You sure did please that boy pink,” Barker commented.
“I don’t need a blanket.”
Barker only shook his head. “You’re a puzzle, Jake. I can’t help but have a liking for you.”
“That’s a puzzle to me, Sheriff. Most lawmen got other feelings.”
“Maybe so. Either way, I’d be obliged if you’d keep those guns bolstered tonight. You wouldn’t want to tell me what there is between you and Donley?” Jake sent him an even look. “No.”
“Didn’t figure you would.” He spit out tobacco juice. “Well, I’m going to have me some chicken and dance with my wife.”
There were a dozen tables lined up along one side of the big canvas tent. Even before the music started, more than half of the food was gone. Women, young and old, were flirting, pleased to be shown off in their best dresses. When the fiddle started, couples swarmed onto the floor. Liza, in her pink muslin, grabbed Will’s hand and pulled him with her. Carlson, dashing in his light brown suit and string tie, bowed to Sarah. “I’d be honored if you’d step out with me, Sarah.”
With a little laugh, she gave him a formal curtsy.
“I’d be delighted.”
The music was fast and cheerful. Despite the heat, the dancing followed suit. At the front of the tent the musicians fiddled and plucked and strummed tirelessly, and the caller wet his whistle with free beer.
Couples swung and sashayed and kicked up their heels in a reel. It was different from the dances Sarah had attended in Philadelphia. Wonderfully different, she thought as she twirled in Lucius’s arms. Hoots and hollers accompanied the music, as well as hand-clapping, foot-stamping and whistles.
“You were right, Lucius.” Laughing, she laid a hand on her speeding heart when the music stopped. “I was?”
“Yes, indeed. You’re a fine dancer. And this is the best party I’ve ever been to.” She leaned over impulsively and kissed his cheek.
“Well, now.” His face turned beet red with embarrassed pleasure. “Why don’t I fetch you a cup of that punch?”
“That would be lovely.”
“Sarah!” Liza’s face was nearly as pink as Lucius’s when she rushed over and grabbed Sarah’s arm.
“My goodness, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing. Nothing in the world is wrong.” Impatient, Liza dragged Sarah to a corner of the tent. “I just got to tell somebody or bust.”
“Then tell me. I’d hate to see you rip the seams of that dress.”
“I was just outside, taking a little air.” She looked quickly right, then left. “Will came out after me. He kissed me.”
“He did?”
“Twice. I guess my heart just about stopped.”
One brow lifted, Sarah struggled with a smile. “I suppose that means you’ve decided to let him be your beau.”
“We’re getting married,” Liza blurted out.
“Oh, Liza, really? That’s wonderful.” Delighted, Sarah threw her arms around her friend. “I’m so happy for you. When?”
“Well, he’s got to talk to Pa first.” Liza chewed her lip as she glanced toward her father. “But I know it’s going to be all right. Pa likes Will.”
“Of course he does. Liza, I can’t tell you how happy I am for you.”
“I know.” When her eyes filled, Liza blinked and sniffled. “Oh, Lordy, I don’t want to cry now.” “No, don’t, or I’ll start.”
Laughing, Liza hugged her again. “I can’t wait. I just can’t wait. It’ll be your turn before long. The way Samuel Carlson can’t take his eyes off you. I have to admit, I used to have a crush on him.” She gave a quick, wicked smile. “Mostly, I thought about using him to make Will jealous.”
“I’m not going to marry Samuel. I don’t think I’m ever going to get married.”
“Oh, nonsense. If not Samuel, there’s bound to be a man around here who’ll catch your eye.”
The musicians began to play again. A waltz. Half smiling, Sarah listened. “The trouble is,” she heard herself saying, “one has, but he isn’t the kind who thinks about marriage.”
“But who-” Liza broke off when she saw Sarah’s eyes go dark. “Oh, my,” she said under her breath as she watched Jake come into the tent and cross the room.
There might have been no one else there. No one at all. The moment he’d walked in everything had faded but the music, and him. She didn’t see Carlson start toward her to claim the waltz. Nor did she see his jaw clench when he noted where her attention was focused. She only saw Jake coming toward her.
He didn’t speak. He just stopped in front of her and held out a hand. Sarah flowed like water into his arms. She thought it must be a dream. He was holding her, spinning her around and around the room while the music swelled in her head. His eyes never left hers. Without thinking, she lifted her hand from his shoulder to touch his face. And watched his eyes darken like storm clouds.
Flustered by her own behavior, she dropped her hand again. “I didn’t imagine you would dance.” “My mother liked to.”
“You haven’t-” She broke off. It was shameless.
The devil with it. “You haven’t been by to see me.”
“No.”
He was never any help, Sarah thought. “Why?”
“You know why.” He was crazy to be doing even this. Holding her, torturing himself. She had lowered her eyes at his words, but she raised them again now. The look was clear and challenging.
“Are you afraid to see me?”
“No.” That was a lie, and he didn’t lie often. “But you should be.”
“You don’t frighten me, Jake.”
“You haven’t got the sense to be scared, Sarah.”
When the music stopped, he held her a moment longer. “If you did, you’d run like hell any time I got close.”
“You’re the one doing the running.” She drew out of his arms and walked away.
It was difficult to hold on to her composure, difficult not to fume and stamp and scream as she would have liked. With her teeth gritted, she stood up for the next dance with the first man who asked her. When she looked again, Jake was gone.
“Sarah.” Carlson appeared at her side with a cup of lemonade.
“Thank you.” Her small silk fan was hardly adequate for the July heat. “It’s a lovely party, isn’t it?” “Yes. More so for me because you’re here.”
She sipped, using the drink as an excuse not to respond. “I don’t want to spoil your evening, Sarah, but I feel I must speak my mind.”
“Of course. What is it?”
“You’re stepping on very dangerous ground with Jake Redman.”
“Oh.” Her dander rose, and she fought it down again. “How is that, Samuel?”
“You must know him for what he is, my dear. A killer, a hired gun. A man like that will treat you with no more respect than he would a woman who was… less of a lady.”
“Whatever you think of him, Samuel, Mr. Redman has come to my aid a number of times. If nothing else, I consider him a friend.”
“He’s no one’s friend. Stay away from him, Sarah, for your own sake.”
Her spine shot ramrod-straight. “That doesn’t sound like advice any longer, but like a demand.”
Recognizing the anger in her eyes, he shifted ground. “Consider it a request.” He took her hand. “I like to think we have an understanding, Sarah.”
“I’m sorry.” Gently she took her hand from his.
“We don’t. I haven’t agreed to marry you, Samuel. Until I do I feel no obligation to honor a request. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’d like some air. Alone.”
Knowing she had been unnecessarily short with him, she hurried out of the tent.
The moon was up now, and nearly full. Taking the deep, long breaths Sister Madeleine had always claimed would calm an unhealthy temper, she studied it. Surely the moon had been just as big and white in the East. But it had never seemed so. Just as the sky had never seemed so vast or so crowded with stars. Or the men as impossible.