Montana Sky: Dance Toward The Light (Kindle Worlds Novella) (Entertainers of The West Book 3)

by Linda Carroll-Bradd

  “What if a different solution existed?” Valerik set down the case and grabbed hold of her hands. “How many sights do you think you could find on three-hundred-and-twenty acres?”

  “What are you talking about?” His expression was so serious in the waning moonlight.

  “My trip to Helena was to put down money on both a homestead and a timber tract.” He broke into a grin. “I’m starting a cattle ranch that will support the family business.”

  Her pulse raced. “You’re staying?” Was this really true?

  “Dorrie, will you consider putting your mysterious gardening skills to work on a much bigger plot of ground?”

  Wide-eyed, she gasped then held her breath as she repeated his question in her head. “Are you asking what I think you are?”

  “I’m asking you to put down roots on my new ranch.”

  Holding on to each other and laughing, they burst into the kitchen of the saddlery shop, surprising Cinnia and Nicolai, who sat at the table having a cup of tea. “We’re getting married! Come along to Sweetwater Springs and be our witnesses.”

  Epilogue

  Dorrie awoke on September tenth with conflicted feelings of excitement and sadness. Excitement because as the second Saturday this was a dance day, but she felt sadness because the weather would prevent any additional events until next spring. She scooted to snuggle with her groom of less than a month, who drew her close in his strong arms.

  “Morning, moй pchelka.”

  She smiled at the endearment he occasionally used. “Did I ever ask you why you chose to call me your bee?”

  Squinting open an eye, he lifted up his head. “Because when you’re excited about something, you dart and scurry around with quick moves.”

  A breeze swirled across them from the open front wagon window.

  She shivered and rolled to pull it closed. “Fall is definitely on the way.”

  Valerik scooted off the mattress and grabbed the denims lying across the settee. “Not too soon, I hope. I’ve still got to enclose the upper floor and put on the roof.”

  Maks uncurled from his blanket and stood, waiting to be let outside.

  Dorrie stretched and lay on her side to watch her husband. Doing carpentry had given him a well-muscled physique that she never tired of looking at. “Why do you think Cinnia insisted on starting the dance early tonight?”

  “I’m too busy to wonder.” He leaned forward and brushed a kiss across her lips. “Bring my breakfast outside, and be sure to wear your trousers.” He waggled his eyebrows. “You’ll be fetching and carrying until we have to clean up for the trip to town.”

  During the routine of frying bacon and reheating biscuits, Dorrie remembered the trip to Sweetwater Springs barely a month earlier. For Cinnia and Nicolai, the trip was like an anniversary celebration, although they were the ones who slept on the bed. She’d squeezed onto the settee, and Valerik curled up in the hammock spanning the middle aisle. Because the event was spontaneous, they had to buy rings at Cobbs’ Mercantile and hunt down the reverend to perform the ceremony. But their words of love were so sweet when shared in throaty whispers.

  The scent of charred meat tickled her nose, and she pulled the pan from the stovetop. Today’s wasn’t the first burned meal and probably wouldn’t be the last.

  In the warm glow of afternoon sun, the black-and gold showman’s wagon entered town on the road from Sweetwater Springs. Dorrie realized that less than a year had passed since she spotted Morgan’s Crossing for the first time. The lavender wagon, with Nola at the reins, had rolled into the mining town with three lively single performers. Since then, new construction expanded the town’s limits and increased the population. Couples had met, overcome difficulties, made promises, and entered marriages with hopes of a lifetime of happiness.

  Valerik nudged her shoulder. “You’re quiet.”

  She slipped her hand in the crook of his elbow resting on his tan trousers and leaned her temple on his shoulder. “Just thinking that only eleven months ago, I first, I should say, we first came to Morgan’s Crossing, and look how different Cinnia’s, Nola’s, and my lives are now.”

  “Amazing is the only word that fits.” He chuckled. “I speak on behalf of Nicolai and declare these two Andrusha brothers are very happy you ladies came.”

  After settling the horses at the saddlery stable, Valerik escorted her across the street.

  “Why is the door to the hall closed? That’s not welcoming at all.” She sped up but was hampered by Valerik’s slower pace.

  “Remember, tonight is Cinnia’s production, so don’t make comments. Things won’t be exactly how you did them. Just enjoy.” He opened the door and waved her inside.

  A roar of “Happy September Serenade” and “Congratulations” greeted their entrance.

  Gasping, Dorrie looked at the mass of people all facing her with great big smiles. Like the whole town was present. Tears burned her eyes, and she turned. “Did you know?”

  He grinned and huffed out a breath. “Finally, I can quit biting my tongue. I was so afraid I’d spoil the surprise.” After setting down his instrument case, he cupped her cheeks with his calloused hands. “People wanted to show their appreciation for all you’ve done this summer. For the fun and the music and the light you brought to their lives. All right, maybe the last one is my personal thanks.” Smiling, he kissed her forehead then turned her to face the crowd. “Greet people, and accept their gratitude.”

  Swiping at her cheeks, she moved forward, trying to see everyone at once.

  Her friends, Bertha and Cinnia, rushed close and gave her hugs. Cinnia pinned a corsage of droop-headed twinflowers onto Dorrie’s lemon yellow blouse.

  Dorrie looked around at the bouquets of pink alpine laurel, yellow tansy, pinkish twinflowers, and purple autumn gentian decorating the centers of long plank tables. From the sight of the laden tables along the walls, everyone in town had contributed a dish to the potluck. She barely had the time to take it all in before townspeople surrounded her, expressing thanks, complimenting her on the vegetables. Mostly, they shared their friendship and acceptance, which she realized was all she had wanted when she was part of the troupe.

  A deep voice called for a speech, and the cry sounded from all parts of the room followed by applause.

  Dorrie walked toward the stage. A bright spot of color caught her eye. At the head of one table, a matrimony vine with red berries had been shaped into a big heart. Stepping onto the platform, she swallowed against the lump in her throat then squared her shoulders. “As you all know, this is the last dance for the season. And I now understand why Cinnia set this for five o’clock.”

  Laughter, coupled with boos and clapping, erupted.

  “I have had lots of fun hosting these dances. I couldn’t have done it without Michael’s and Prudence’s help. Within this hall, we have shared the experience of the monotonous phonograph cylinders, as well as the exquisite playing of Magic Rose, a woman who mysteriously disappeared from our midst but won’t be forgotten.” Unable to stop a smile, she swung a hand toward Valerik. “Nor would we have been introduced to my husband’s”—she paused and blew him a kiss—“Russian balalaika and a new style of music.”

  The door slammed open, and hurried footsteps sounded.

  “Are we late? Did we miss anything?”

  Dorrie looked to the arrivals and sucked in a breath. Nola. She spotted her dear friend cradling a blanket-wrapped bundle. At her side stood her grinning husband, Torin.

  “Second surprise.” Cinnia threw up her hands and scurried across the floor.

  Nicolai jumped up and slipped an arm around her waist, slowing her pace.

  Darting glances between the arrivals and the crowd, Dorrie clasped her hands at her waist. “I’ll close by saying thank you for sharing time together this summer. Because that’s what a real community does. Now, everyone grab a plate and get some food while I greet my much-missed friends.” She hopped off the platform and grabbed Valerik’s hand as she moved to
ward the group who surrounded the Quaids. Finally, she got in position to give Nola a quick hug and then peel back the blanket from a sleeping Finnian. His face was framed by a thatch of reddish-brown hair. “He looks so precious.”

  “We came in the lavender wagon, and we’re staying for a week-long visit. You’ll have plenty of time to see the other parts of his personality.” Nola leaned down to brush a kiss on his forehead.

  Although her words might be snappish, Nola gazed at her son with undiluted love in her eyes. Behind her back, Dorrie crossed her fingers. I wish for that, too. Then she drew Valerik into the circle and made introductions.

  A while later, the meal was just about done, and Dorrie sighed as she looked around the table. She couldn’t imagine a more wonderful time being with her husband and her old friends, talking and laughing.

  Someone from the crowd yelled, “What about next year? Will you put on these dances again, Dorrie?”

  “You mean, now that I finally have the knack?” She looked at Valerik, eyebrows raised. “What do you say?”

  He shrugged then signaled to Nicolai, who stood and walked to the chair where the balalaika rested.

  Nicolai started strumming a Russian folk song.

  Dorrie gaped then looked at Cinnia. “I didn’t know he played.”

  Nodding, she smiled and pointed. “Just watch.”

  Once he moved into a clear space, Valerik executed a couple of modified dance steps, leaning heavily on his right foot, and then extended his hand and crooked his fingers.

  As if in a daze, Dorrie stood and walked until she grasped it. That he allowed others to see him perform limited moves touched her heart, and her lips trembled.

  Lifting their clasped hands over his head, he remained in place, serving as the midpoint of a circle.

  Under his strong guidance, she spun and twisted away then back, moving in rhythm with the strummed notes. Blinking fast, she caught his gaze at every move and held it as long as she could before spinning away.

  After several moves, he pulled her close and whispered, “You and I will find a way to dance in step. Always, moй pchelka.”

  DEAR READER,

  When I was offered the opportunity to participate in Debra Holland’s Montana Sky Kindle World, I was flattered and excited. I’ve been a part of this special fictional world, behind the scenes as an editor, since 2012. I’ve grown to love these characters as if they are my own family members.

  So, I wanted to find a story that would bring new characters into the world that hopefully readers wanted to meet and would come to care for. I also wanted to have Debra’s beloved characters cross paths with mine in interesting situations. That was a given.

  In my first story, Laced By Love, I created sisters who had to rely on one another after they were orphaned as young teens. That story features the younger sister, Cinnia, and her search for a home and love.

  The second story, An Unlikely Marriage, featured the older sister, Nola York, who is on a quest that she hopes will lead her one step closer to her dream. After all these years of relying on one another, the sisters made choices that will put them at opposite ends of Montana Territory.

  For this story, I starred the third member of the set of vaudeville troupe friends, Dorrie Sullivan—the one who was left behind in Morgan’s Crossing when Cinnia and Nola rode off with their beaus to Sweetwater Springs to get married. Dorrie was a true supporting character in the first book and never actually appeared in the second one, so I had my work cut out to develop her backstory. As was true with many performers of the time, she’d been raised on a farm but wanted more and bigger and brighter things for her life. The fact that she discovered an ability with gardening kept me chuckling as I wrote those scenes.

  Because I knew about the horrible blizzard that hampered the Midwest during the winter of 1886-87, I decided to create a hero who had suffered through the experience in less-than-ideal circumstances and who was left physically damaged. Valerik was first mentioned in Laced by Love because, as a member of the Andrusha family, he supplied the raw material for Nicolai to create leather goods that are sold in the family’s San Francisco store. What better opposites than a man hampered by a limp and a woman who loves to perform and dance. In the back of my mind, I saw this story as having a Beauty and the Beast theme.

  I also searched for hobbies that reflected a bit of Valerik’s Russian heritage and related to the various ways he made a living in his adult years.

  For the next story, I’ll feature the third Andrusha brother and bring him to Morgan’s Crossing—at least for a while. Look for the next launch of stories on March 16, 2017.

  Thanks for reading Dance Toward The Light.

  Linda Carroll-Bradd

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Linda grew up in northern California as part of a five-member family but loads of people in the neighborhood thought her parents had only two daughters. Why? Because she loved to read and was usually lying on her bed instead of playing outside with the other neighborhood kids. The summer she was twelve, she read Gone With The Wind and was hooked on romantic stories. She delved into the Phyllis A. Whitney and Dorothy Eden books of her mother’s and then discovered Harlequin. As a mother with young children, she would lose herself in stories of glamorous people in exotic places—so different than the day-to-day diapers and crumbly teething biscuits.

  After years of working in secretarial positions, she decided to use the creative side of her brain and learn how to write one of the romances she loved reading. Easier said than done. Twelve long years and many contest finals later, and with the help of various critique groups, she received her first call and had a confession story published. She was hooked. Married with four adult children, she now lives in the southern California mountains with their two beloved dogs. In addition to working as a freelance editor, she writes contemporary and historical stories that are heartwarming with a touch of humor, many with a tie to her previous home of Texas.

  Learn more about her author life on her website. www.lindacarroll-bradd.com

  To join her newsletter list to be notified of upcoming releases, click here.

  TITLES OF OTHER HISTORICAL STORIES

  Set in 1173 Ireland

  A Promise Kept in One Winter Knight anthology

  Set in 1850s Gold Rush-era California

  Between the Lines in Lariats, Letters and Lace anthology

  Golden Moments in Christmas Caring II anthology for charity

  Set in 1870s Wyoming Territory

  Dreams of Gold

  Set in 1870s Texas

  Capturing The Marshal’s Heart (sensual)

  Lone Star Angel (sensual)

  Set in 1870s Texas—the “Dorado, Texas” series

  Wandering Home

  Storybook Cowboy

  My Heart Knew

  Set in 1880s Aspen, Colorado Territory

  The Ring That Binds

  Silent Signals

  Set in 1880s Morgan’s Crossing, Montana Territory

  Laced by Love

  An Unlikely Marriage

  Dance Toward the Light

  Set in 1895 Sweetwater Springs, Montana

  Wishes on a Star in Sweetwater Springs Christmas anthology

  All authors appreciate hearing when a reader has enjoyed their creative work. Please leave a short review of your impressions on the retail site where you purchased this title.