“Relax, Brina. Dancing is supposed to be fun.”
“I’ll never get it,” the girl answered, barely controlling tears.
“No one gets it right the first time. It’s easier when you see others dancing.”
“Will you show me with Pa?” Rachel stopped abruptly.
“Well, I-”
“That’s a wonderful idea,” Dru said, drawing Rachel’s gaze. Rachel hesitated.
“Maybe it would be better if you just danced with your pa,” she told Sabrina.
“He’ll know how to lead a dance much better than I.”
“Please show me,” Sabrina pleaded. She heard his steps on the wooden floor. Her heart was yammering in her chest. Oh lord! This wasn’t supposed to be happening.
“May I, Miss Harris?” Her mouth was so dry she could scarcely speak.
“Perhaps you shouldn’t.” She turned and looked up into Gavin’s darkly handsome face.
“Your head-”
“It quit aching hours ago.” He held out his arms for her. She stepped into them. They fit her like a fine kid glove. They seemed to be made for holding her. He began to sway slowly from side to side, then, as he hummed a soft melody, they began to twirl around the room. Rachel stared up into his eyes. She felt mesmerized by the look in the steely gray depths. She knew she should look away but was helpless to do so. They spun to a halt in the middle of the sitting room. Her skirts swished around her ankles, then stilled. Rachel drew her hand from his as she stepped backward.
“Thank you for the dance, Miss Harris.” Gavin bowed his head.
“Thank you, sir,” she whispered. Suddenly, Dru and the girls were applauding.
“That was wonderful. Beautiful,” Dru cried. Gavin was still staring at her with dark, enigmatic eyes, causing her breath to catch in her throat. She was frightened by the swirling emotions that threatened to engulf her. Frightened by the wanting that heated her to the core of her soul. Rachel turned quickly away from him, breaking the spell.
“Your turn, Brina. Dance with your father.” Still shaken by his touch, Rachel walked stiffly to the table and sat down. She fought for composure, praying that there was no trace left on her face of her confused emotions. Hearing the laughter, she looked up to find father and daughter whirling at a mad pace around the room. Dru and Petula were trying to sing but kept breaking into giggles. Dru’s face was flushed with color and her eyes sparkled merrily. I don’t belong here.
But, God help her, it was where she wanted to be. As suddenly as the temperatures dropped and the blizzard arrived, warming winds came to melt the snowfall. Water dripped from the eaves of the house and barn. Brown, muddy spots of earth appeared in the yard. In a few days, all traces of the snow would be gone, and they would be able to leave the basin. Gavin tossed another rake of hay over the side of the stall, then leaned on the top rail as the black gelding buried his nose in the feed, searching for the most delectable shoots.
“We’ll be on our way out in a couple of days, fella,” he said aloud. Scamp’s ears twitched.
“Yeah. Guess it makes no difference to you.” He shoved off from the rail, turning toward the barn door. He’d be busy the next day or two, closing things up, getting the place ready for winter. Then they would load up and leave, head back to the Lucky Strike. It was time. Past time. They needed to get out of this valley. They needed to get out, see some other people, say howdy to their neighbors. Things were too close here, too secluded. He needed to keep busy, get his mind back to the business of ranching instead of thinking so much on… He didn’t allow himself to finish that train of thought. It could only cause trouble. Gavin walked across the yard, opened the cabin door, and stepped inside. He took off his coat and hung it on the nearest peg.
“It’s warming up out there,” He said as he turned around. Dru was seated in her rocking chair near the fireplace, a bundle of mending on the rug near her feet, needle and thread in her hands.
“We’ll be out of here in a couple of days or so.” She nodded, but it was easy to see the thought didn’t make her happy. As he walked toward her, he said, “Spring will be here before you know it.” She smiled sadly up at him, her hands falling idle in her lap.
“I always loved to see spring come. It’s so beautiful here when the wildflowers are in bloom.” He rested his hand on her shoulder, squeezing his fingers in wordless acknowledgment.
Rachel’s bedroom door opened, drawing their attention. She stepped into the sitting room wearing a gray cashmere walking outfit that displayed her delicate figure to perfection. It was amply bustled and flounced and totally preposterous for the rough log cabin. Preposterous but positively beautiful. “where are the girls?” she asked. Dru set aside her mending.
“Outside playing.”
“May I speak with the two of you a moment?” Rachel moved across the room, the hem of her dress swishing against the floor as she walked.
“Of course,” Dru replied. Rachel’s hands were folded in front of her. Gavin could see that her fingernails were biting into her flesh. Her expression was strained, and she was obviously avoiding looking at him.
“I did a lot of thinking last night after I went to bed,” she began.
“I just don’t think I can be happy up here. I’m very fond of Brina and Pet. Please understand that. They’re wonderful children and bright and easy to teach.” She was talking very fast, her words beginning to run together.
“But you see, I miss my family, and I began thinking about the ball and the other winter activities that I’ll be missing in Boise. With Tucker being a judge, we get invited to so many wonderful parties. And the theater season is always grand and …” She glanced up at him at last, her words dying away. Color flared in her cheeks before she dropped her gaze back to her folded hands. He’d been right about her after all. She couldn’t cut it up here. Things were too tough for her. She wanted her fancy dresses and her balls and parties and all the wonderful things money could buy.
“I think I should return to Boise as soon as we’re able to leave the basin,” she ended softly. Gavin stepped away from Dru, turning toward the door as he did so.
“You’ll have to wait for the stage in Challis.” He slipped his arm back into his coat sleeve.
“I’ll check on the girls.” He slammed the door behind him. Rachel felt the door slamming in her heart as well as hearing it with her ears. She wished she could retreat to her room and have a good cry, but she couldn’t. Not quite yet.
“I’m sorry, Dru. I thought I could do this, but I was wrong.”
“Sit down, and let’s talk a while.”
“I can’t help it.”
“Sit down, Rachel,” Dru insisted gently. She sat on the edge of the chair nearest Dru. She unconsciously continued to twist and wring her hands in her lap. Dru emitted a short sigh.
“When you took this job, you promised to stay through spring. I’m afraid I must hold you to that.”
“But I ..”
“I’m very ill, Rachel, and I’m going to get worse. My daughters love you. They’re going to need you more than you know. You can’t leave them now. They’ve suffered too much already. Please … keep your promise to me and to them.” It was so unfair. Dru didn’t know what she was asking, and yet, Rachel couldn’t find the words to deny her the heartfelt request. She had promised she would stay through spring. She knew that Dru was very ill. Dying even. How could she go away and leave Sabrina and Petula to face that alone? Gavin will need me too. Guilt stabbed at her heart.
“Dru, you don’t understand. I really think…”
“I understand much more than you think, my dear. Please. You must stay. For everyone’s sake.”
“All right, Dru. I’ll stay.” The journey to the main ranch, located twenty miles out of Challis, was a long and tiring one. There was no wagon road to follow, just an invisible path along a series of creeks and rivers, cutting through the mountains and valleys. Gavin led the way on his black gelding, picking his way among the trees, climbing hillsides, crossing creek beds, and selecting campsites. Sabrina and Petula followed on Princess. The docile mare seemed oblivious to the closed basket, holding an unhappy Countess and her mewing kittens, that was strapped to her saddle. Dru followed behind her children, riding her own palomino mare. She said little during the day. It seemed to