“You’re the handsomest man in the state.”
Finn called up the stairs that the buggy had arrived.
Dallas kissed her gently on the cheek. “You’re enough to take a man’s breath away.”
He looped her hand on his arm. “May I escort you to your carriage, my lady?”
Her family waited at the bottom of the stairs and made a big fuss about her appearance and Dallas’s. Except for Ma, who stood at one side and said nothing. Cenora thought Ma and Dallas were wrong to be so against this night.
Cenora was going to a fancy dance with her husband. She didn’t understand why he was so cynical, but at least he’d agreed to accompany her. Straightening her posture, she held her head high. She’d show Dallas by having a wonderful time, and he’d be glad he came with her.
Grandpa had sent his driver with the buggy to pick up Dallas and Cenora first so Gran wouldn’t have to ride so long. At the red brick mansion, Cenora and Dallas waited in the buggy while Gran and Grandpa McClintock climbed in. Gran sat beside Cenora and Grandpa and Dallas took the seat facing them. Gran even spoke to them and complimented Cenora’s dress.
The Marston home wasn’t as large as that of the senior McClintocks, but it was plenty big. Light shone from every window as the buggy driver guided the rig into line behind a dozen others. When it was their turn to alight, Dallas escorted her up the steps and into the foyer.
Mrs. Marston greeted Gran warmly. Her surprise when she saw Dallas with Cenora was quickly covered by her smile, and she welcomed Cenora and Dallas. Grandpa brought dance cards for both Cenora and Gran.
Gran leaned near Cenora’s ear. “You let gentlemen sign up for a dance but be certain not to dance two in a row with the same man except for your husband.”
Cenora examined the folded card with a small pencil attached by a silk cord and tassel. “Thank you, but I doubt anyone but Dallas will ask me for a dance.”
“Of course, they will.” Grandpa smiled at her. “You’re the prettiest woman here, and the men are bound to flock around you. You’ll have to remind them you’re married.”
“May I have the pleasure?” Dallas bowed to her and led her onto the floor.”
“I thought you didn’t know how to dance.”
He smiled down at her. “Never said I couldn’t. I said I don’t dance, as in I choose not to.” His movements were not polished, but far from awkward.
“I think this must be Kathryn’s handiwork.”
“Right. She insisted each of us boys learn to dance. I hated it, but did it to please her.”
She smiled up at him. “As you’re doing now to please me. Thank you.” The thought sent pleasure through her. Truly this was the most wondrous night of her life.
No sooner was that dance over than a man asked for an introduction then swept her onto the ballroom floor. Cenora lost count of her partners, but she’d never experienced anything like this party. Dallas guided Gran around the room once, and another time he danced with their hostess. Occasionally Cenora saw him talk to other men, but even then, he stood near the edge of the floor and watched her.
Seven musicians played from a little stage at one end of the ballroom. Not the kind of music the O’Neills made, but sounding richer and fuller than any Cenora had heard before. The way they played seemed as if there were twice as many instruments.
Twin chandeliers fueled by gas hung from the ceiling. Around the room, wall sconces held other lamps. Fancy paintings decorated the walls, and heavy draperies were tied back at the open windows. Chairs lined the edge of the floor with several sofas at one end. At one corner, a housemaid served punch from an elegant silver bowl. The room was beautiful, there was no denying, but she preferred her own home. That realization shocked her.
All her life she’d dreamed of being in houses like those she’d visited this week, but they didn’t seem real. She couldn’t picture families living in them or youngsters playing in any of the elegant rooms. A vision of children seated at the table with her and Dallas in their home flashed into her mind. Where had that come from?
The thought caused her to miss a step. “Oh, my apologies, Mr. Lippincott. I think I need to rest a bit.” She fanned her face.
“Of course, my dear. Perhaps you’d like to freshen up. My wife told me the ladies are using the bedroom through that passage.”
“Thank you.” She made her way down the hallway off the ballroom, unsure which door she sought. The sound of voices caused her to select the one at the end of the passage on her right, but she paused at the door to be certain.
She heard an unfamiliar voice. “She’s pretty in an exotic way but hardly more than a gypsy, some Irish trollop that McClintock boy found on a trip.”
Cenora froze. At the same time her temper flared, her heart broke. Ma was right. Dallas had warned her.
A second voice sounded vaguely familiar to her. “What would you expect of a half-breed? Just because he’s related to the McClintocks doesn’t mean he takes after them.”
The first speaker added another barb. “No, look at his father? Ran off to live with the Indians.”
Laughter erupted, but Cenora turned and fled back to the ballroom. The lovely party was ruined. Her face burned with shame. Himself had tried to warn her. No wonder he avoided town.
She paused before she entered, striving to calm herself and appear normal. Cenora refused to let two harpies ruin her evening, and she didn’t want Dallas to know what she’d heard. She recalled his remark about retaliating if someone insulted her. No, she couldn’t let that happen. Pasting a smile on her face, she glided into the ballroom.
“I missed you.” Dallas appeared at her side.
Refusing to give hint of her true feelings, Cenora smiled at him. “I went to freshen up.”
He guided her onto the dance floor. She loved dancing with him. Nothing could spoil that part of the party.
He tightened his embrace and whispered into her ear. “How much longer do we have to stay?”
She couldn’t admit the conversation she’d overheard had spoiled her enjoyment of the evening. “Gran and Grandpa probably won’t want to stay much longer.”
Dallas chuckled. “True, Grandpa always complains of his bones hurting and that he needs his sleep.”
The dance ended, and Dallas told her he’d get her some punch. Music resumed, and a man introduced himself as Jeff Kirby and asked her to dance. When they were near a hallway, he pulled her into the shadows.
She tried to pull away, but he held her fast.
“Let’s see what you’ve got that hooked that breed. Bet you gave out plenty of samples traveling around with the gypsies.” Kirby tugged at the bodice of her dress in an attempt to touch her breasts.
She hit his hand with her fist and stepped on his toe. “Release me right now, Mr. Kirby, or you’ll regret it.”
“Ow, you little bitch. You’ll be sorry.” He grabbed her hair and tugged her back into the hallway. “I’ll teach you to respect your betters.”
Letting out a scream, she whirled, heedless of her hairdo. Using moves taught her by Finn, she kneed the brute in the crotch, then poked her fingers in his eyes before she brought her fisted hands down on the back of his neck.
He yelled in pain and fell to the floor.
When she looked up, Dallas stood in the doorway and rage clouded his face. A crowd gathered behind him. “Cenora, are you all right?”
The man on the floor had one hand on his eyes and the other on his privates. “You worthless breed, get this bitch away from me.”
Dallas put his hands at his waist. “You’ll apologize to my wife.”
“Not fucking likely, you sonofabitch.”
Dallas dragged him up by his collar until only the tips of the man’s toes touched the floor. “Perhaps you’d like to rethink that.”
The man paled.
Mr. Marston pushed through the crowd. “I agree, Kirby. You’ll apologize to Mrs. McClintock now, and then you’ll leave.”
He jutted out his chin
. “I’m not apologizing to a chit of an Irish gypsy or a worthless halfbreed.”
Mr. Marston grabbed the man’s arm. “Kirby, you’re no longer welcome in this home. Not ever.” He nodded to Dallas. “I’ll escort him out while you see to your wife.”
Martha Marston rushed up to Cenora and hugged her shoulders. “You poor dear. I’m so sorry this happened. How embarrassing to have you insulted in my home.”
Cenora almost melted into the floor. “You’re not mad at me?”
Mrs. Marston’s face registered shock. “Certainly not. I hope you’ll forgive me for inviting that Jeff Kirby, but I’ve known his parents a long time. Unfortunately, he’s nothing like them.” She arranged Cenora’s curls. “No real damage done to you lovely coiffure. Now you come along, and let’s get you some punch and a quiet place to sit and catch your breath.”
Dallas allowed Mrs. Marston to steer Cenora toward one of the sofas at the end of the room. He turned back to fetch the cup of punch he’d set on a fern stand when he’d heard a scream and seen Kirby manhandling Cenora.
Gran stood at the edge of the crowd, her face rigid as stone and her eyes cold as ice. Grandpa stood beside her, concern evident. Dallas picked up the cup and carried it toward the sofa.
Grandpa put out a hand to halt him. “What happened?”
“Jeff Kirby tried to maul Cenora and said some hateful things.” The thought of the man’s hands on his wife set Dallas so on edge he found it hard not to shake.
Grandpa frowned. “The cur. You take care of him?”
All at once, the tension left Dallas. He smiled at his grandparents. “No, she did. Then Mr. Marston threw Kirby out of the house and told him never to come back.”
Grandpa laughed. “I told you that girl was a wonder.”
Gran said nothing but her gaze would have frozen a boiling kettle. “No way for a lady to act.”
Dallas met her stare. “Yes, Gran, it was exactly the way a lady should act. He’d dragged her into the hall, but she refused to be assaulted by that good-for-nothing.”
As soon as Cenora drank her punch and once again expressed her regrets to her host and hostess, Grandpa stepped forward.
“It’s been a grand party, but old bones need their rest. If you younguns don’t mind, I’d like to go home now.”
They said their goodbyes and left the party. The Marstons followed them to the door apologizing again for Cenora’s being insulted in their home. Gran said nothing on the way to the elder McClintock’s home. When Grandpa helped her down from the buggy, she huffed into the house without so much as a goodnight. Dallas moved to sit beside Cenora.
Grandpa turned back to them and tipped his hat. “Best danged party I’ve been to in a long time. Never did like that Kirby fellow.” He chuckled as he turned and walked toward the house.
The driver clicked the reins and started the journey down the long drive and toward their home. Cenora looked at her hands folded in her lap, but she said nothing.
Dallas took her hand and linked his fingers with hers. “You’re awfully quiet. You sure you’re all right?”
She nodded but wouldn’t face him.
“Cenora. Talk to me, angel.”
When she looked at him, her eyes brimmed with tears. “You were right.” She fished a lace edged handkerchief from the reticule the dressmaker had left her.
“No, I don’t think I was. Kind of surprised me that folks were nice to me, or at least not outright rude except for Kirby. Never did like that man.”
“I know you hate parties like that. I should have stayed home like Ma said.”
“True, that’s not the kind of gathering I enjoy, but I don’t mind going once in a while if it gives you pleasure.”
“I don’t belong there. I belong on the ranch.”
A chill swept through him. “Did something else happen, something besides Kirby?”
She took a deep breath. “When I came back and said there was a room for ladies to freshen up?” She looked at him, her eyes brimming with tears.
He nodded. “I remember.”
“I didn’t go into the room because I overheard two women talking about me when I got to the door. They said mean things, the same sort of things that man said about both of us. Then they laughed.”
Dallas didn’t know what to say. Sure, he’d known what to expect, but she had wanted to go so badly. If he’d refused to accompany her, she would have been prey to more men like Kirby and other gossips such as she’d overheard. He exhaled, wondering how life had become so complicated.
He squeezed her hand. “How many people were there tonight?”
“I—I don’t know. At least fifty, maybe more. Why?”
“I’d say closer to seventy-five. So, out of that many people, three were rude—not counting Gran, who’s always rude. I’d say that was a successful event, Mrs. McClintock.”
She looked up at him, and he saw her surprise.
Suddenly, the whole thing seemed so ridiculous, he had to laugh. “Remind me to be careful about making you mad at me. You know how to bring a man to his knees.”
She sniffed, but a grin pulled at her mouth. “Finn taught me how to defend meself.” She took a deep breath. “You haven’t asked, but I know you’ve noticed Finn isn’t like the rest of the O’Neills.”
“I did notice he’s the only one with black hair, but I thought perhaps he took after one of his grandparents.”
“Aye, that he did. His father and his father’s father. His father forced himself on Ma when she worked in a great house in Ireland. Ma was just a lass and Finn’s da was the owner’s son, and Ma could do nothing to save herself.”
“Tragic for her.”
“And for the family. Of course, she lost her job when she told she was expecting a babe. Da worked in the stables there, and he was in love with her. When she and Da wed, he took Finn as his own.”
“Sounds like your da. He’s a good man and still loves your ma.”
“But Finn grew to look more like his real father each year. The grandfather died, and Finn’s da became the lord. He wanted no reminder of his crime meeting him in the village, so he forced us off our land. He allowed us to take only what we could carry.”
Dallas’s sympathy went to the O’Neills, but especially to Finn. “What a terrible burden for Finn. He must feel responsible, though it’s not his fault.”
“Aye, it preys on him though he tries to hide it. He made sure the same would not happen to me.”
Recalling Kirby’s attack, Dallas thanked God Finn had shown foresight in protecting Cenora. “He’s a good brother.”
“That he is, and good to Ma and Da. I think it hurts him when Da talks about wanting a wee cottage and a piece o’ land, for it reminds Finn that he’s the cause o’ Da losing the place in Ireland. But we were that hungry there and poor as a widow’s mite, so we couldn’t have held on much longer no matter who owned the land.”
Dallas asked, “Do you think Finn will stay here with your folks?” Mac was the one he’d like to see leave, not Finn.
She appeared to think it over. “For a bit, to see they’re all right and Ma is healed. O’ course he’s never said a word to me about it, but it seems to me there’s a restlessness in him. He fit in well enough with the Travelers, but...well, he’s looked after us for so long. I think he’d like to have only himself to think of for a bit.”
“He seems content enough in our home. The hands like him. So do I.”
“Aye, he’s didn’t pick up some o’ the other lads bad habits.”
Dallas didn’t comment, but he immediately thought of Mac. Cenora probably mulled over both her brothers’ behavior. In the comparison, Mac wouldn’t fare well, for he definitely picked up the laziness and generally bad attitude of a few of the Travelers. No doubt about it, Mac was a thorn in Dallas’s side.
They rode in silence for a while then Cenora looked at him. “Do you truly mean you would go to other parties with me?”
Dallas dreaded a repeat of tonight, but he fi
gured this sort of thing meant a lot to his wife. “I reckon. If it’s important to you, I can stand it once in a while.”
He saw his answer pleased her, for she smiled and put her hand on his arm.
“That’s kind o’ you. I know you didn’t want to go, and now I see why but, mayhap just once and again, could we try another?”
“If it makes you happy.”
She kissed his cheek. “When we get home, I know something that will make us both very happy.”
He brushed his lips across hers. “I can hardly wait."
Chapter 16
Mac set the milk can on the floor but instead of leaving, he leaned against the wall and crossed his arms. “So, you had a bit o’ trouble with them buffers last night, eh?”
Cenora dried the frying pan and set it back on the range. “A bit, but it was soon settled.”
“Tom Williams said it would be that way if you tried to mix where you don’t belong.”
Cenora fisted her hands at her waist. “Tom Williams said? Akh, as if that bully knows anything. For your information, most people were very nice, and we had a grand time at a very fancy party.”
She regretted the lie, but she’d not have Mac telling tales to Williams. And when had he? Apparently, her brother had seen that brute recently. The knowledge chilled her. “You’ve no business talking to Tom Williams, none atall, and you ought not put any truck in what he says.”
“Thanks to your buffer, I can’t talk to Tom—or any other o’ the traveling folk, including Vourneen. I can’t come up to any o’ the wagons, Tom’s orders.”
A terrible suspicion presented itself to Cenora. “Now why would he do that?”
Shock showed on Mac’s face. He straightened and stuffed his hands in his pockets. “Never mind. He just did is all.”
Cenora stood eye to eye with her younger brother. “You said it was Dallas’s fault.” She shook her finger under Mac’s nose. “I knew it was you causing mischief before Dallas got the dogs. It was, wasn’t it? And Tom Williams was behind it.”
His silence was all the answer she needed.
“How could you do such a thing when Dallas’s been nothing but kind to you and our family? Tom Williams did nothing but threaten to burn Da out, so why would you make trouble to help him?”
9 Ways to Fall in Love Page 24
