“No more than I could expect your promise to wait. All we have is now. Just hold me.”
His arms tightened around her. As she pressed into him, trying to memorize the scent and feel of him and the sound of his heart, an autumn breeze swept down the canyon, wrapping them in its chill. “We need to go,” Alvar said, releasing her.
Kristin sat up and arranged her rumpled clothes. “I love you,” she said, meeting his eyes.
“And I love you. That will have to last us until next time.”
They walked to where they’d left their horses. After a last lingering handclasp, they mounted up; he turned away and headed down the canyon. She watched him until he vanished from sight, then swung her horse toward home.
* * *
As Blake rode into town, the day was fading into autumn twilight. From the festival up the street his ears caught the sound of music—a pair of fiddles and a banjo playing an old-time toe-tapper. A smile tugged at his lips. He was arriving later than he’d planned. But with luck, Ruth would be at the dance and he’d get to spend some time with her.
Dismounting, he tied his horse to the rail outside the general store and set out from there on foot. He’d come alone. His father had strained his injured leg training an unruly horse and was in some pain. Sarah had elected to stay with him. Kristin had declared she wasn’t interested in dancing and vanished into her room.
Blake wouldn’t have minded having his family along. But at least if he got a chance to pursue pretty Ruth, he wouldn’t have to put up with their questions afterward. He knew that his parents wanted to see him married, and Ruth would be a good choice. But even thinking, let alone talking about her in that way would be jumping the gun—especially if she was still in love with Webb.
Lanterns had been hung from the wagons around the dance floor. The glow lent a softness to the twilight. Stepping into the circle of onlookers, Blake cast his gaze over the dancers and the people standing around the edges of the floor, searching for one special, pretty face. His spirits sank as he realized that Ruth wasn’t here. Nor were any of the Calders, including Webb. She would have come with them. Maybe they’d left the party early—Benteen’s frail appearance would justify that. Or maybe they hadn’t come at all.
Blake had passed Mason’s buggy on the way in, so he knew that his brother was here. At first, Blake didn’t see him. Then, as the music paused and changed from a two-step to a gentle waltz, he spotted his brother among the dancers. Only as Mason turned to one side did Blake get a full view of his partner. It was Hanna Anderson, and she didn’t look happy.
* * *
“I’ve been missing you like crazy, Hanna. My, but you look beautiful in that dress. It matches your blue eyes.” Mason smiled down at her, showing his perfect white teeth. His hand clasped the small of her back, pulling her body close—too close—against him.
Hanna had enjoyed dancing with the cowboys, who knew enough to behave like gentlemen. But when Mason had walked in, come straight to her, and asked for a dance with the cockiness of a man used to getting his way, Hanna had gone cold. Any words she’d been prepared to say had dried up in her mouth. A flat, metallic taste had welled in her throat as he took her hand, giving her no chance to refuse without making a scene.
But then, as the music began, she recovered her wits and her voice—and she knew what she had to say to him.
“We need another date,” he murmured, his lips almost brushing her ear. “I promise to make it more enjoyable for you than the last time.”
“No.” She kept her voice low, not wanting to be overheard by people around them. “You took advantage of me once. It’s not going to happen again.”
He looked startled. Then his mouth twisted in an ugly way. “I took advantage of you? As I recall, you came to me of your own free will. You encouraged me every step of the way. I thought you wanted me, Hanna. I thought you wanted what we did.”
“I was too innocent to understand what you wanted. Now I know better. When I think about how I let you use me, all I feel is shame.” She pushed back, resisting his firm clasp. “Now walk me off this floor and leave me. I never want to see your face again.”
His grip tightened on the small of her back. “Let’s not make a scene for these nice people to watch. Finish this waltz with me. If I can’t change your mind, then I’ll be a gentleman and do as you ask.” He pulled her in hard against him. “You can feel how much I want you, Hanna.” His voice was a velvety rasp in her ear. “Come outside and I’ll show you how much.”
“Let . . . me . . . go!” she muttered, doing her best not to draw attention. “Let me go before I—”
Surprise cut off her words as a tall form loomed behind Mason. A hand settled on his shoulder. A deep, familiar voice spoke. “If you don’t mind, brother, I believe it’s my turn to dance with the lady.”
Mason released his intimate hold on Hanna. “The devil it is. I claimed her for this dance, and I have the right to enjoy all of it.”
“I’ve been watching you. I’d say you lost your right when you crossed the line.” Blake kept his tone low, his manner easy. “But this shouldn’t be up to you and me. What do you say we let the lady decide?”
He stepped away and held out his hand. With barely a beat of hesitation, Hanna took it and moved to his side.
“So that’s how it’s to be.” Mason was seething. “Fine. Dance with her, Blake. When you’re finished, we’ll settle this outside.” He turned, pushed through the crowd, and stalked away.
Trembling, Hanna gazed up at her rescuer. She’d known Blake Dollarhide as a friend of her family and as Alvar’s boss, but this was different. This time she was seeing him as a man—powerful and surprisingly gentle. “We don’t have to finish the dance,” she said.
“Sure, we do.” Blake caught her waist with his free hand and swung her into the swirl of waltzing dancers. He held her as if she were a porcelain doll that might break if he clasped her too tightly. But she didn’t have to be close to him to follow his sure, easy steps.
He didn’t know she’d been with Mason, Hanna reminded herself. He probably believed her to be as pure and innocent as the day they’d met. He’d called her a lady. What would he call her if he were to learn the truth?
“Thank you for coming to my rescue,” she said. “Not that I mean to speak ill of your brother, but I suspect he’s accustomed to getting his own way.”
“That’s the least of it. I’m sorry I didn’t warn you about Mason. He can be charming, but he’s earned a bad reputation with the ladies. You’d be smart to avoid him in the future.”
Good advice, but given too late. She’d learned her lesson about Mason and men like him, but she couldn’t undo the past. Never again would she be the girl that Blake believed he was seeing.
“Is your family here?” he asked.
“They’ve gone home. Axel and Gerda were tired and Papa didn’t want Britta at the dance. I’d have gone with them, but my friend Lillian wanted me to stay and keep her company. I’ll be riding home with her and her husband. I don’t expect they’ll be staying much longer.”
“Good. I don’t like the idea of your wandering around here alone. Some cowboy might get the wrong idea.”