“I want to tell you a story. It happened a long time ago. It is a story only between the two of us, and not to be shared with anyone, understand? Not even anyone else in this family. Comprender?”
“Yes, Abuela, I understand.”
“Many, many years ago there was a beautiful young woman who lived in a small village. The men in her village tried to win her heart, but she withheld it, determined that she would wait for the absolute best man. She had her eyes and her heart set on a great military Capitan who was revered throughout the countryside. He was strong and handsome, and all of the women of the village wanted him as their husband. But this beautiful maiden knew that she could lure him—unlike the others. He was away on assignment one day when a military troop came through the small village and stayed to rest for a couple of days.
“There was a young leader among the group who was loud and boisterous and had the confidence of a crowing rooster. But he was also handsome, and kind, and when he saw the beautiful maiden, he fell madly in love with her. He attempted to woo her, and, at first, she would have nothing to do with him. But he helped her carry her purchases home from market one day, and she agreed to go for a walk with him after he gained permission from the girl’s father. You see, things were proper back then. Proper!”
“Abuela...” Gabby groaned.
“Yah, yah, yah. You know it all. I understand. Never listen to the older and wiser ones who have lived a little more than you give us credit for. Now stop interrupting and let me tell the story.”
Gabby fought the urge to roll her eyes and instead nodded primly to her grandmother, her hands folded in her lap, her feet beginning to get cold on the wooden floor.
“The maiden went for a walk with this soldier, and he made her laugh with his wit, and made her happy in her heart. And when he touched her hand—just her hand, mind you, nowhere else!—her heart skipped a beat. It was as if she had known him forever.”
Gabby’s heart began to pound. It reminded her of how she had felt with Luke. Just being near him made her heart skip a beat. His touch made her breathless.
“So the maiden continued to see him as often as she could while his troop stayed in the village. And when he finally kissed her, it was as if her eyes had suddenly been opened from a deep slumber and she could see all the colors of the world.”
Grandma paused for several moments, a smile touching her lips that were wrinkled from years of smiling broadly. “It was after that kiss that the soldier knew he had met the woman he wanted to marry. And when he had received blessings from her father, he rushed to ask her. But that very same day, the Capitan had returned, and the beautiful maiden had caught his eye. Whether it be fate, poor timing, or a combination of both, the young leader of his troop came upon them just as the Capitan was bending to kiss the beautiful maiden.
“Feeling betrayed and deceived, he rounded up his troop, and they left that very night. But the maiden, to her shock, had been unmoved by the Capitan’s advances, and knew that only the young man she had kissed would ever make her heart happy. When she learned he had left, she took one of their fastest horses in the middle of the night and raced through the countryside, until she finally came upon his troop. But he was still hurt, and didn’t believe her when she said he was the only man she could ever want. She pleaded with him, and then kissed him, reminding him of the magic they shared together. It was only a few months later that they were married, and they spent many glorious years together.”
Gabby’s heart was racing. Was her grandmother really suggesting to her what she thought she was? “I’ve heard there is a beautiful gala in Austin tomorrow night,” Grandma said softly, then pulled something out of her hair. “I can only imagine what it will be like.” She slid the object across the dresser, then stood slowly.
“I know things seem hard now, hijita. But give it time and let your heart truly be the guide for your life.” She walked over to Gabby and kissed her gently on the forehead. “Remember the story. Love finds a way—if you let it.”
Her grandmother left the room silently and Gabby waited several seconds, holding her breath the entire time. Then finally she jumped up and lit the lamp, and her fingers trembled slightly as she looked at what her grandmother had given her. She was going to Austin.
Chapter Seventeen
Luke had always enjoyed nature. But the last day and a half riding through the Texas countryside had done little to improve his mood. All he could think about the entire time was the look on Gabby’s face when the man calling himself her fiancé had stepped into the middle of their dance.
She had looked as shocked as he felt. But when the shock turned more towards embarrassment and horror, he had known the truth. She had betrayed him beyond words. And it hurt more than he had ever expected. He had thought it impossible to feel any pain because he had lost both his parents so long ago. He had fought for everything he ever wanted and never let the pain get to him, never let emotions get to him.
But she had found a way past his armor. She had found a way to touch his heart like no woman ever had before. And he knew no woman ever would again. Because he wouldn’t ever let it happen again.
He adjusted his formal dinner jacket and cuff links, irritated by the stiff fabric. At first he thought he would find it difficult adjusting to the simple life of Texas. But their style and comfort with one another had reminded him of a better time and place in his young life. His later years had him participating in plenty of events and celebrations where he had been required to dress formally, but he had never enjoyed it much. He hated being paraded around as the school boxing champion.
He wondered why President Lamar had invited him to this Christmas Gala. Had he heard something about his background and had some sort of fascination with the sport? Surely not this far into the West—surely no one as far away as Texas had heard of him.
Perhaps it was just that the President was recognizing doctors and leaders of the Republic. Or, the most likely scenario, his name had ended up on the list by complete mistake. Regardless, he couldn’t turn down an invitation to meet President Lamar.
He planned to ride home that night after the party was over and ride hard until he made it back to San Antonio. He had to settle things with Gabby. He knew there was the possibility that she would already be long gone with her fiancé, but that only meant he would ride to Corpus Christi or to the very ends of the earth if that was what it took to track her down.
She owed him an explanation. He deserved to know how she could be so warm and caring with him, how she could allow him to bare his heart and soul to her, if she planned to marry another man. More important than all the rest, had she pretended she really enjoyed his kisses and gentle touches? Or was she that way with every man she met?
The more he thought about Gabby, the more his anger and frustration increased. In an attempt to calm himself he went back to dressing for the gala, tying his dress shoes and adjusting his red tie. He had opted for the red to celebrate the holidays, though he felt nothing like celebrating. Christmas would remain as it always had for him—a bleak and miserable time of year.
There was a steady, cold drizzle the entire ride to Austin. It slowed Gabby down and made her long for a hearth with a raging fire, but she pressed on.
The sun had been up for nearly three hours, and she knew the family was aware that she was gone. She just hoped her grandmother was able to appease them enough that they didn’t send out a search party for her. She would not be stopped on this mission.
Yet as she rode on, she realized she was going to get to the President’s home close to the time of the gala, and would make quite the spectacle if she arrived looking like a half-drowned cat. She had heard there were servants’ entrances into the grander homes of the South, and she would try that route first. She could ask someone to summon Luke for her, she hoped, and she wouldn’t force him to be seen with her in the condition she was in.
As evening began to fall she rode into Austin and had to pause to take it in. The town
was far more of a bustling city than she had imagined, and on several occasions she had to move quickly out of the way or risk being run over by a wagon full of supplies, or even coaches carrying passengers.
Her horse pranced madly in the mud, startled by all of the chaos around it. She patted the slick neck and soothed him, trying to calm him as she attempted to find out where she was going. It was then that she caught sight of the grand building atop a hill, and knew she was in the right place.
Darkness was closing in quickly as she nudged her horse towards the hill. She had precious little time left. She came around the back of the house and could hear the bustle of servants and their chatter as they prepared for the festivities to begin.
“May I take your horse, my lady?” A dark-skinned man approached her and reached for the reins of her horse. Startled, her horse reared up and pawed at the sky and she had to cling tightly to its mane to keep from falling off of him. Then finally it settled back down and pawed at the ground in frustration.
Quickly she slid off the back of her horse and gathered the reins. “Oh, no, sir. Thank you so very much. If you’ll only tell me where to put him, I’ll take care of it.”
“But, madam...it is my job to take the horses. You shouldn’t be on this side in the first place. The entrance for the guests is around the front. You don’t have a carriage to take you in this terrible weather?”
“Oh, no, I’m not a guest. I mean...I was going to be, but there was a slight problem. I just need to visit with one of the guests...”
“Ah,” he said hesitantly, then very carefully took the reins from her hands. “Susie!” he called out loud, and a dark-skinned woman came out of the house briefly, her hands planted on her slender hips, her hair wrapped up in a bandana and her foot tapping in impatience.
“This young lady lost her way out here and came around the wrong way. Can you see her to the proper entrance?”
“Oh, no, please, sir, I only need to get a message to the guest...”
“Did she really just call you ‘sir?’ Now I know this woman is lost. Come with me, child, and we’ll get you all cleaned up and ready for the party right away.” The woman grabbed hold of her arm and pulled Gabby towards the house.
“Please, I just wanted to see someone briefly. I don’t need to go to the party—”
“Don’t fret now. I’m going to get Miss Rebecca Ann to take care of you. It’s warm in here. Come on in now.”
Hesitantly, Gabby let Susie pull her into the house and she was greeted by the heat coming off the cooking hearth and scents that made her mouth water. She suddenly realized she hadn’t eaten since dinner the previous night, and her stomach rumbled in protest.
“Okay, child, hand me your cloak. We’ll get you dry and you’ll be ready to go to the party.”
“Oh, but I don’t think I should go to the party. I’m not dressed for it at all, and I only need to talk to a gentleman that is here. Please, ma’am, I just need to talk to Doctor Luke Davenport...”
“Sir and ma’am. Will wonders never cease! I met your doctor. He’s mighty fine. I can understand why you want to look your best for him. Now let’s have that cloak.”
Reluctantly, Gabby shed her cloak and handed it to the nice woman helping her. But at the woman’s tsking sound, she knew that Susie had discovered Gabby was indeed in poor shape to see the good Doctor Davenport.
“Child, you surely had a better dress. This...this, well, whatever you want to call it, is certainly not fitting for the party. Now you just sit here by the fire and try to warm up. Take your hair down so it can dry. I’m going to go find Miss Rebecca Ann for you right now.”
Gabby reluctantly sat down next to the hearth and pulled her hair free of its bun, letting the long black locks fall down over her shoulders. She closed her eyes in pleasure at the warmth of the fire and felt the cold gradually leaving her. She glanced around at all of the women preparing food and placing them on beautiful silver trays that men in black suits with white gloves would come and take. It was a well-run kitchen, and she was very tempted to get up and join them so she could learn some of the things they were doing. It could be so helpful to the cocina.
It felt like it had only been a few minutes that Susie had been away, but when Gabby noticed her hair was dry, she knew she’d been waiting much longer. Maybe they had actually gone to get Luke. She didn’t know who Rebecca Ann was, but she didn’t want to bother her during the time of the party.
Just as she began considering taking her cloak and making a run for it, thinking the entire idea had been foolish, a young woman came sweeping into the room with Susie, and Gabby’s breath caught.
The woman was extremely beautiful, wearing a taffeta gown that had a giant skirt with tiny shimmering beads sewn across the bodice and sporadically over the full skirts. Gabby suddenly felt like a beggar next to this extraordinary young woman, and wished the floor would open up and swallow her whole.
“Oh, my dear, you traveled here without a carriage?” She approached Gabby but then hesitated when she saw her dress. “Who are you here with?”
“I’m...well, I’m here to see Doctor Luke Davenport. He was—is—a dear friend of mine. We parted on bad terms, and I had to come apologize to him. It seems silly now. Thank you for your hospitality, but I’ll leave now.”
“No, no, there’s no need for that. Fortunately, Doctor Davenport didn’t come with a date, and I believe you would be his perfect match.”
Gabby shook her head. “I’m not dressed appropriately. I’ll only embarrass him.” Then she suddenly realized what Rebecca Ann had just said. Luke didn’t have anyone with him. A small bud of hope blossomed in her chest.
Rebecca Ann shook her head, and the carefully coifed curls on top of her head bounced with the movement. “I have a solution for that. Come with me, dearest. We’ll have you ready for the gala in no time. Susie, I’ll need your help. This is going to be our special project for the night.”
The party was just as Luke had expected. Many people with too much time on their hands, dressed immaculately, socializing and trying to rub elbows with the highest ranked person they could find. President Lamar was entertaining large groups of people at a time, and they laughed when it seemed appropriate, with all of the women fluttering their hands and batting their eyes at the men they were with—and some they weren’t with.
He did not miss this type of activity at all. It was the same thing over and over, just different faces and different places, but it was still all about climbing the social ladder and gleaning whatever gossip they could to scatter about the following day. He had lived in the slums of society. But he could say he felt more comfortable there than around these people, whose only goal was to step on someone else to make it further up.
He stood to the corner of the room, watching everyone silently as he sipped from his cup of champagne. He was tempted to go ahead and leave, getting to Gabby as fast as he could. But he had yet to speak to President Lamar, and he felt obligated to do so before he left.
He started towards the group surrounding the President, but was intercepted by the Austin doctor whom he had met soon after arriving. “What do you think of our Capital, Doctor Davenport? How does it compare to your London?”
The man was the epitome of the doctors that Gabby loathed. He was pompous, overly confident despite poor medical knowledge, and bragged about the number of limbs he had to amputate during the Revolution. It seemed as if he was proud about the number of men he had disfigured for life.
“It is certainly rougher than London, that much I’ll admit,” Luke said casually.
The doctor nodded with a smug smile, then his expression gradually faded as he tried to process what Luke had actually said. “I’m not sure I understand exactly what you’re saying. What is rougher?”
“The land. All of London is flat and already has become civilized. There is still an element of wild here. Believe me, it is encouraging to see the progress you’ve made so far.” Luke was doing his best to insult the
man without directly slapping him in the face. And given how arrogant the doctor was, he doubted any of his thinly veiled insults would even register with him.
“It is wild, that I’ll agree. Takes real men to settle this place.”
Luke bit his tongue before he got himself in any real trouble. “If you’ll excuse me, I need to see to—”
“Who is she?”
Luke hesitated and his eyes drifted in the direction that the irritating doctor was looking. “I believe that is the President’s daughter,” Luke said, inwardly laughing at the man who thought he knew so much and was part of the innermost circles.
“Not her. The other woman. Who is she? I’ve never seen her here before.”
That’s when a flash of red caught his eye, a flash of a skirt on the other side of the President’s daughter’s beautiful green gown. And then they were descending the stairs together, side-by-side, and his heart stopped momentarily. It couldn’t be.
Garbed in an elaborate red silk and lace gown, the bodice hugged her tiny waist, and the neckline revealed a little more than he wanted other men to see. The skirts were full and round, same as all the other gowns being worn that night. Her black hair had been carefully curled and brushed, and instead of being up in one of the ridiculous styles the other women wore, it hung loose down her back, save for a ruby comb lifting one section of curls up over her ear.
His heartbeat lurched back so hard it was nearly painful. Completely ignoring the doctor, he began to make his way towards her, but was suddenly blocked by nearly all of the partygoers as they pressed forward to greet the President’s daughter and the beauty who was a mystery to them all.
He could see Gabby’s eyes searching the crowd and he began to weave his way through, trying to press forward as politely as possible. He was a few steps from the staircase when her eyes landed on him, and she gave him a wobbly smile. There was joy in her face, but fear in her eyes.
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