When Eli didn’t move, Jonah grabbed his hat from the chair and shoved it haphazardly on top of his head. “If we hurry,” he coaxed.
Eli took a deep breath. He’d known for a long time that he needed something to change in his life and he’d believed that going down to Texas would help him find that something, but now he wondered if Stone Creek might hold the answers.
He righted his hat and stood up, leaving the waitress with a generous tip.
“Well, come on then.”
Chapter 8
By the time Hannah arrived at home, she only had a few minutes before the dance was going to start. She put the hen in the coop with the others, then glanced down at her mud-splattered clothes with an exasperated sigh. Even though it would make her late for the dance, she wanted to get cleaned up and don a new change of clothes, which meant she really had no time to waste, so she ran up the back stairs, into the house, and through her bedroom door.
It didn’t take long for her to decide which dress she wanted to wear to the dance. She pulled the pink calico ensemble with the fitted, long-tailed jacket with a lace-trimmed V-neck and flounced sleeves from her wardrobe and laid it on the bed.
“Just perfect.”
She quickly shed the mud-stained skirt and simple blouse she wore in the basket at the side of her closet. She glanced into the mirror above her vanity. The hair would never do. She pulled it out of the braid, brushed through the matted mess, uncovering several strands of grass in the process, and re-fashioned it into two loose, but thick braids. A few added ringlets would have made the coiffure better, but she didn’t have time to wait for a hot iron to be ready, so, she dampened the ends on each side and twisted them with her finger until they sat in perfect little coils. As she waited for them to dry enough to entwine and pin them up onto her head, she pinched her cheeks and added a little tincture to her full lips.
Voices carried into her room from the living area and she peeked around the corner to see her mother walking toward her followed by Jonah and Eli. She shut her door in an instant and braced herself up against it, willing herself to breathe.
A moment later, she heard their giant sheep dog scratching at her door.
“Go away, Seamus,” she whispered as loudly as she dared.
She looked down, noting her state of undress and quickly marched over to the bed where she’d left the dress. The door pushed open and the giant ball of fluff bounded into her room and leapt up onto her, pushing her down onto the bed.
“Seamus,” she squealed, pushing against him as he started licking her face until she started giggling.
Chairs scratched against the floor in the twin’s room directly above her, and a pit formed in her stomach. Jonah and Eli were going to stay with them at Redbourne Ranch. She hated how being around the lumberjack still made her feel like a little girl.
She blew out a deep breath, rubbed the sides of Seamus’s face with an exasperated smile and stared a moment at the ceiling before pushing the dog aside, jumping to her feet, and rushing to her bedroom door to shut it again before anyone could see her in such a state of undress.
This time she locked the door.
“Don’t stare at me like that,” she said as Seamus sat at the foot of her bed and cocked his head to one side. She snatched her dress from the quilt-covered pillows and quickly donned the garment.
Once her hair was pinned and she’d replaced her boots, she opened her bedroom door as quietly as she could, but Seamus made that all but impossible as he ran past her and into the kitchen where her father sat, enjoying one of the biscuits Lottie, the family’s cook, had made for breakfast.
“Out,” he said without looking up, and pointed out the window.
Lottie opened the back door and Seamus ran out, pleased as could be to be able to run outside.
Her father looked up and a smile formed on his tanned features.
“Why, don’t you look as pretty as wildflowers on a clear spring day?” he said, standing and giving her a little kiss on her cheek.
“Thanks, Daddy,” she said, breaking off a piece of the biscuit and popping it into her mouth. “Are you and Mama planning on going back for the dance?”
Before he’d had a chance to respond, the back door opened and Raine stepped inside.
He whistled. “Hey, sis! Looking like that, I think your dance card may just be full all night. I’m heading back into town. Would you like to accompany me?”
“Yes, please,” she cooed, blushing under his praise.
“Is Jonah going to be staying here?”
“Of course,” Jameson said. “He’s family. Wouldn’t have it any other way.”
“I know. Eli too?”
Her father stopped and turned to look at her with narrowed eyes.
“Never mind,” she said. “Silly question.” She pulled back, eyes diverted to the hall.
“Thanks again, Aunt Leah,” Jonah said as the three of them descended the staircase. “It’ll be nice to catch up for a few days before the last leg of our journey home.”
“Don’t be silly, you know you always have a place here. Maybe next time you can bring that sweet little family of yours.”
“I’m sure Emma would enjoy the adventure.”
It didn’t take long before they joined the rest of them in the kitchen.
“We’re just about ready to head back into town for the Harvest Social,” Raine said to both Jonah and Eli. “Care to join us?”
“Nah,” Jonah said. “I don’t find them nearly as diverting as I used to without my beautiful wife around to dance with.”
Raine nodded. “And you, Eli?” he asked.
“If it’s all right with Miss Hannah, I would be pleased to join you.”
Don’t look at him. Don’t look.
She met his beautiful green eyes and managed a smile.
You looked! Arggg.
“Of course,” she said graciously. “It should prove to be an amusing evening.”
She couldn’t help but notice the grin that spread wide across his beautiful face and her breath caught in her chest.
Just breathe, she instructed herself, closing her eyes and heading for the door.
“Well, it’s settled then,” her father said, pushing his chair away from the table and standing up. “We’ll all go to the dance. Does that sound acceptable to you, Mrs. Redbourne?” He stepped over and took his wife into his arms and whirled her in a circle on the kitchen floor before sweeping her into his arms and placing a light, sweet kiss directly on her mouth.
Leah giggled. “Quite acceptable,” she replied, then turned to Raine. “Be a dear and throw a hay bale or two into the back of the wagon?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Even though her mother’s pie had not won the competition, the woman had not let it dampen her spirits and it appeared as though she actually looked forward to spending time with the other women from town.
As her father reached to help her up into the buckboard, a whistling Ethan and his brother-in-law, Jack, pulled into the yard, short one milk can, and Hannah smiled. She ran up to them expectantly.
Ethan winked, then swung his leg around the saddle and climbed down.
No wonder she had high expectations of the men who’d courted her. She had seven brothers that had been examples of what men should be.
“You’re just in time,” Hannah said. “You can ride in the back with us.” She nodded toward Raine, Cole, and Eli.
Jack nodded, then disappeared into the stable with his horse.
Timothy emerged from the building and reached out to take Storm’s reins from Ethan. He smiled at Hannah and tipped his hat. “Save me a dance tonight, Miss Redbourne?”
Hannah felt the color rise in her cheeks, and she forced herself not to look over at Eli.
“I’m sure that can be arranged,” she said, smiling back.
Ethan shook his head.
“I’m afraid I’m heading home. I just stopped over here to have a word with Dad before I go.”
“But you’re just going to collect Grace, right?”
Her brother chuckled, slipping his arm around her and squeezing her into his side. “It’s been a long day for the little ones and, who am I kidding, for us too. My beautiful wife is making some supper and then I think we’ll get the boys tucked in and then turn in for the night.”
“You’re not going to the dance?” she asked with a hint of surprise. “I thought Grace was looking forward to it.”
“I’m going,” Jack said as he brushed past them and jumped up onto the back of the wagon.
Ethan laughed. “I don’t need anything official to dance with my wife.” He sounded just like Jonah. “Besides,” he continued as they walked together toward their father, “I like having her all to myself sometimes.”
She glanced up at him, his grin spread wide across his face. It was easy to see how much he loved Grace. And his boys.
Ethan bent down to whisper in her ear. “Don’t be too angry with him,” he said, then pulled back to look in her face.
She couldn’t pretend to know about whom he spoke, but she avoided looking back at Eli all-the-same.
“You know that...older and wiser bit people are always talking about? Maybe you should give him a chance. He might surprise you.”
She took a deep breath and nodded.
When had Eli Whittaker won her brothers’ approval?
“Kiss the boys for me,” Hannah told Ethan.
He leaned down and placed a kiss on her forehead. “’Night, sis,” he said with a quick squeeze, then let her go. “Can I speak with you for a moment?” he asked, turning to their father.
Hannah looked up into the sky. It was hardly night, but she figured that between having a new baby around and having to get up early to keep a place like the ranch running smoothly, the new parents needed some quiet time and some sleep.
When she returned to the rear of the wagon, Eli jumped to his feet and stood at the back corner of the closed bed, holding out his hands to help her up. It took all of the courage she could muster, but she looked up and met his eyes. Her heart skipped a beat when he smiled. She slipped her hands into his and he lifted, then, when she wavered, he pulled her close to steady her and her breath caught in her chest.
“Thank you, Mr. Whittaker,” she said, pulling her bottom lip in between her teeth. Ethan’s words skipping across her mind.
Maybe you should give him a chance.
“Thank you...Eli.”
His smile grew wider and it was like a part of her that had been closed off for so long opened and filled with something she hadn’t experienced for a long time.
Real, genuine hope.
“Hmhmmmh,” Cole cleared his throat.
The spell was broken and she glanced down with an uneasy giggle, then skirted around him to go sit by her brother.
I’ll never hear the end of this.
By the time they pulled up in front of the mayor’s barn, laughter and music could be heard coming from inside.
“Deputy,” Sheriff Butts said to Raine as he jumped down from the buckboard, “we have a few fellas who seem to be a little inebriated. I’d appreciate it if you kept an eye on them and make sure they do not cause a ruckus tonight.”
“Yes, sir,” Raine said as he jumped down off the buckboard and adjusted his hat. He felt for his guns at his side and nodded.
“Are you going somewhere, Sheriff?” Jameson asked, reaching out to shake the man’s hand.
“Home to get everything ready. I’m heading out at first light. There is a band of ruffians targeting travelers between here and Kansas City and Doc is on his way back. I’m supposed to meet the territory marshal up in Whitachee first thing Monday. I’m afraid there won’t be any more festivities for me tonight.”
Eli jumped down off the back of the wagon and raised a hand to help Hannah down.
It would be most impolite not to accept his kindness, she thought, bending down to place her hands on his shoulders. The feel of his hands around her waist caused a catch in her breath as he set her on the ground and lingered there a moment longer than necessary before he rounded the side and helped her mother down as well.
“Good luck to you, Sheriff. Let us know if you need anything,” Leah said, joining them.
“Mrs. Redbourne,” the lawman greeted her with a tip of his hat. “I’m much obliged by your generosity.” He nodded at the rest of them, then pulled Raine aside out of earshot.
“Well, shall we?” Eli asked, his arm extended to her.
Hannah looked up at him, took a deep breath, then rested her hand lightly in the crook of his arm.
Her father extended his own arm to her mother. “My love?”
She loved seeing how much her parents still fawned over each other and smiled at the rosy color that now flushed her mother’s cheeks.
“It must have been nice growing up with parents who love each other like that, and who obviously love their children so much.”
It was. She’d always appreciated that particular blessing. Eli’s words made her sad somehow as she imagined him growing up without that. She’d only known him a short time and he hadn’t been very forthcoming about his family. She knew he’d had four siblings and both parents were still alive, but there had always been a loneliness about him that had made her want to get to know him better.
Thoughts of the little orphan children suddenly came to mind. She’d never had the chance to be lonely in her family growing up. Between her brothers, cousins, family friends, and ranch hands—not to mention Lottie—there was always a lot of commotion and goings on around home. It wasn’t until her brothers started getting married and moving away from the ranch that she’d really experienced what it was like to have time to herself. Sometimes, it was kind of wonderful.
She made a mental note to find the governess in charge of the children after church tomorrow and ask a few questions.
The barn seemed to be filled with the whole town, minus the smallest of young’ns, and the area that had been cleared for dancing was full of couples prancing about the floor.
“Dance card, Miss Redbourne?” Mrs. Putnum said, handing her a pencil along with a small slip of thick paper that had been folded into a card with ‘Order of Dancing’ written on one side and ‘Dances’ written on the other with a slew of particular dances listed followed by a line for each potential partner’s name. Two Step, Waltz, Two Step, Two Step, Langers—there were twenty dances listed in all and Hannah glanced nervously up at Eli, who smiled and winked.
“I’m sure you will have no trouble filling that card,” he said with conviction. “May I reserve the first d—well,” he said leaning down a little closer and lowering his voice, “I think it is actually going to be the third dance as it appears we are a bit late?”
“Why, yes, I do believe I have this dance open.”
A Two-Step would be perfect.
Some of the local men had set up a small stage where they played their guitars and fiddles for the party. Hannah laughed when her dad joined them, picking up a fiddle without missing a beat.
Everyone clapped at the end of the song, and a small gaggle of young boys and single men surrounded her, claiming their spots on her dance card. When she only had the last one left, she decided to reserve it for Eli. The first dance and the last of the evening seemed quite fitting for the boy who’d once claimed her heart.
Eli held his hand out to her, palm up. “My lady,” he said with a slight bow.
He really needed to stop being so charming or she was going to forget why being with him was not a good idea.
When the music started again, she was surprised that it was actually another waltz. She glanced up at her father, who winked down at her.
How was it that her family had always done everything they could to get rid of any potential suitors, but with Eli it was as if they were all pushing them to get together?
Men. I’ll never understand them.
Eli spun her around and caught her in a perfect stance for the mu
sic.
“Where did you learn to dance so well?” she asked, surprised at his aptitude and coordination—though after watching him on the log-run she shouldn’t have been surprised at all. He was very graceful for his size.
“Emma,” was his short reply, referring to Jonah’s wife. He cleared his throat. “I would like to apologize for yesterday,” Eli said, “I realize that it was not the right place after how we left things.”
“And, how was that?” she asked. “It’s been nearly six years since we’ve seen each other. Who can remember?”
“I do,” he said softly, bending his head enough to coax her to look up at him. “I do,” he repeated. “And I’m sorry. I stand by the fact that you were awfully young. We both were, but I think it had more to do with fear and the fact that I wasn’t ready to take on a family and subject them to a life at the lumber camps.”
She didn’t know what to say, so she just continued to listen.
“You were innocent and fun and kind. I didn’t want to ruin you. You were…perfect.”
“I’m hardly perfect, Eli. Just ask any one of my brothers and they will list for you my faults a mile long.”
“I think you’d be surprised,” he said with a chuckle. “They adore you. Why else do you think they try to scare off all the suitors that come by to call?”
“How do you know they…”
“Let’s just say I’ve recently come into a little insight.”
“They don’t scare you. Why is that?”
Eli laughed loudly. “What makes you think they don’t scare me?”
“They all seem to like you. I haven’t seen a single one of them cross their arms or scowl at or threaten you.”
“Can you imagine the pressure that puts on me? One wrong move and I may find myself on the wrong end of the chopping block.”
Hannah couldn’t help herself. She was enjoying their interaction.
“Most of the town believes you were proposing to me this afternoon.”
“So?”
“So, were you? Proposing to me?”
“Would you have accepted?”
“I…”
“Excuse me, sir,” someone tapped Eli’s shoulder, “but may I cut in?”
The Lumberjack Page 8
