Heart of a Lady (Book One of the Red River Valley Brides)

by Hestand, Rita

  "Why not?" she asked, now interested in this man who kept himself in control of matters.

  "You've met my mother. You've talked to people in town. You know most of my life. There are very few secrets in Veda. It would be hard to impress you with my feats of courage."

  She opened the picnic basket. "Suppose you tell me what's going on with you and this Dillon character? I've heard a little talk about it."

  "We do have our gossips." Harry looked out toward the meadow. He shrugged again, but this time she felt some of the tension between them lift away. "His father was killed last year, and ever since we've been at odds. I haven't been able to find the culprit, and he's angry. Thinks I'm not doing my job. Nothing secret or complicated about it. Why are you so interested? I mean, a woman like you, I'd think you would be more interested in how many dances we have a month rather than a slight feud I have with a rancher."

  "I don't know. I've always been the inquisitive type to some degree. An unsolved mystery interests me." She set the fried chicken out and napkins.

  "There's no mystery. I know who killed his father."

  "You do?" She stopped and observed his cool reserve. "Then why haven't you arrested them or him."

  "You sound like Dillon." He stared at her for a long moment. "I represent the law in Veda. And the law says you need proof to make an arrest. I have no proof. I'm working on it, but right now, that's all I can say."

  "Does Dillon know who did it too?"

  "He suspicions, but he has no proof either. That puts us at a stalemate." Harry took a piece of chicken. "Until something breaks, I can't do anything about it. And my job is to make sure he doesn't make a move to take things into his own hands. Which Dillon is used to doing."

  "Is this Dillon a danger to you?" she asked flippantly.

  "No, he knows better than to tangle with me. He knows I'm working on it, but he's impatient. He's a son of a big rancher who is used to getting things done right away. The problem is he usually doesn't wait. He acts. Sometimes that can get you in a world of trouble. Until I can gather proof, I've got to watch Dillon and make sure he doesn't do something foolish he'll regret."

  "You sound frustrated."

  "I am."

  "Have you told Dillon that yet? I mean, sometimes if you talk things out, you can straighten out a lot of misunderstandings." She leaned on her arms and closer to him.

  "No, it would do no good. Dillon is a man of action, he hates sitting around doing nothing when he knows the answers. But I'm a lawman and I have to conduct myself as such. I'm afraid Dillon might lose his head and take matters into his own hands. I wouldn't like that, because I'd have to arrest him. You see, if I hauled the man in that is responsible without proof, the judge would let him go. It would do absolutely no good at all, and it might ruin the chance to nail the guy." He was watching her hold a piece of chicken in midair and to break the tension they had created with conversation, he reached and took a bite out of the chicken.

  She looked at the chicken and laughed.

  "And you don't want to rile Dillon at the same time?"

  His brows knitted and he leaned away from her, studying her. "Did you come out here with me to find out about Dillon?"

  "Why, of course not, but the subject is a little more interesting than most. Talking about the beautiful scenery, the way we were brought up, and mundane day-to-day things doesn't interest me much. Although I do want to get to know you. And talking about Dillon gives me insight into your complex character. And whether you realize it or not, Sheriff, you are pretty complex."

  "You think I’m complex?" He studied her a minute.

  She smiled and nodded. "Very much so."

  He nodded, and this time, he did relax. "Dillon is a romantic figure to most women. He's handsome and dangerous all in the same breath. Dillon is good with a gun. And he wants justice. Which is admirable, but not wise. I don't want to go up against him. I'd be a fool to say I did. He's fast. He's also mad, and that leads to mistakes. I don't want to kill him either. I've known him all my life. This is the first time we've been this much at odds."

  "But you have been at odds before?"

  Harry looked at her again. "It seems we are usually interested in the same female at the same time. So yes."

  Jo Ella felt herself pulled in two directions, understanding both men and yet unable to help the situation. "I'm sorry. I'm afraid I misjudged you."

  "You wouldn't be the first." He bit into his chicken.

  The frustration from that mere bite of chicken showed Jo Ella that this man was deeper than she first suspicioned. This man was a good man. He was not like Randal.

  "Must be tough being a sheriff." She began nibbling the chicken he bit out of.

  "Goes with the job." He managed a slight smile.

  "I'd like to understand you and the way you look at things."

  "And is understanding me so important?"

  "Maybe…" Jo Ella liked his good manners and clean appearance. She liked his attention to his duty. In fact, she liked Harry. And that was a surprise. Not a plan.

  "I have this gut feeling you are interested in Dillon, not me." He quirked a brow. "You are here to draw out as much from me as you can about him. Correct me if I'm wrong?"

  She sat up straight and looked off as the sun broke through the white pillar of clouds. "I met him once, only briefly. He made an impression. But then so do you."

  "Sometimes being just this side of the law is more intriguing than being a sheriff of a little town, who looks as though he's doing nothing. Now, tell me, why did you come here? You don't look like the desperate kind of lady that has to have a husband."

  "Don't I?" She smiled. "I guess at one point or another, we are all desperate for something. I haven't settled down, and I want a family. Most girls my age are married and on their way to having a family. But I also feel like I want to find the right person to settle down with. If there is such a person…"

  "I can't imagine you desperate for anything."

  She eyed him perceptively."I guess I want what most women want, a man I can depend on, trust, love. I'm not getting any younger. I'd like children too. You can't do that alone. Since there were none I wanted to invest in back home, I came out here, answering that ad."

  "The ad has been around a long time. I'm surprised you just now saw it. But that's an interesting way of putting it. Didn't you have a swarm of beaus back home? Surely there was an old beau?"

  "Oh, I guess you could say that. But when you are raised in one area all your life and you know the people so well, I don't know. They don't intrigue you. They don't make your mind work. They don't challenge you. Maybe I was just bored."

  He stared, and then he tipped his head, "And what does intrigue you?"

  "You for one."

  "And Dillon?"

  "For two."

  He smiled and kissed her again. The earlier tension was gone, and his lips melded against hers. It shocked her how easily he could persuade her mouth to open for him. He pulled her toward him, and she let him. His lips feather-touched hers several times, and she swooned. He kissed her with a sweet passion that made her heart swell. She hadn't expected this warm tenderness, like some kind of reward. This man was full of surprises.

  "Remind me to challenge you a little." He smiled when he pulled away.

  She fought to control herself, for the kiss promised something she hadn't been aware of…more to come. "I will." Her voice lowered, taking on a husky note.

  As they talked and enjoyed the beautiful landscape, she stared at him out of the corner of her eye. Would there be more kisses like that one? Her heartbeat quickened. He hadn't been on her list of hopeful suitors until now, but the kiss changed that. Either he was very practiced in the art of kissing or he meant the passion he displayed.

  Not only that, but she liked his general no-nonsense character.

  He put away the basket and helped her up on the buggy. "What is it you want Jo Ella? I mean, what do you expect to find—adventure, mayhem, myste
ry?"

  "After today, I'm not sure. I must confess, you confuse me. Until today, I really knew nothing about you and had no right drawing conclusions. But pardon me if I'm too presumptuous. You aren't looking for a wife, are you?"

  "After today, I'm not so sure." He held a poker face, unreadable, and they started riding back to town. "I've never contemplated settling down and having a home. But I gotta admit, you make me rethink it. But a sheriff's wife has to have guts, trust, and a whole lot of love to put up with him." When he saw her to the door, his look mesmerized her again. "Thank you for a very pleasant day. I'll remember it, for a long time."

  "I hope it's not the last."

  "So do I." She murmured turning to go inside.

  The way he said things, as though he meant every word, had her floundering for a response. Sometimes the sheriff took her breath away, and no one was more surprised about it than she!

  Chapter Six

  "So, how did it go?" Maggie pounced the minute she walked into the room.

  Jo Ella glanced at Maggie for a moment, not really seeing her.

  She put her wrap away. Still a little confused of her own feelings for the sheriff, she answered with honesty. "It was interesting."

  "From the look on your face, it was more than interesting. So the sheriff is in the running, isn't he?"

  "Maybe. He's certainly not like I thought. And he can kiss like the devil himself." Jo Ella smiled. "When he kissed me, I forgot who I was and what I'd done in my lifetime. I didn't care. I just wanted him to go on kissing me. He can talk a good talk and he can look at me as though he has eyes for no one else, but when he kisses me, there is a fire there. I'm pure mush in his arms. Yes, I think he's in the running."

  "You found that out with one meeting? Talk about your fast worker. I'm impressed. Never thought I'd see you with a sheriff. But I gotta admit, he sure seems charming." Maggie laughed. "Haven't heard one bad word about him."

  Jo Ella flopped on the bed, her mind off somewhere in time, as she sighed a little heavily. "He's more than that. He's intelligent, considerate, and neat, and I guess I like him more than I thought I would. But I don't want to close all the options yet. This is a big decision, Maggie. And whatever we decide on, it better be right." Her face flushed.

  "I'm with you on that," Maggie said. "So why are you even considering anyone else if he's charming and a good kisser? "

  Jo Ella chuckled. "He's on the list, but I haven't narrowed it down enough yet to say. I'm not going to jump to fast conclusions. I want to make sure it's right. Marriage is a big step, and it's supposed to be forever. I want it to be forever, with the right man."

  "At least you are considering him, but don't you think you might be leading him on just a tad? I mean, you can say what you want, but I saw that look in your eye when Dillon rode up at the creek. And you can't kid a kidder. Lust or love, it was there. But…somehow Dillon doesn't fit the settling down type to me. He's too charismatic"

  "Dillon is in the running too. And I'm not leading the sheriff on. He's leading me…"

  She wasn't ready to declare her feelings yet. It was much too soon and Dillon was still in the back of her mind, although she wasn't at all sure he should be. Maggie had a simple approach to life, but most of the time she was right when it came to men. Jo Ella trusted her instincts more than her own sometimes.

  "What about the rest of you?" Jo Ella glanced at everyone. Most of the girls were still sleeping. It was hard to break old habits—sleep most of the day, and stay up all night—but somehow they had to break it. People might begin to wonder. Strange how many little habits they had to correct.

  "We are still under the weather too much to make a move, but I do have my eye on a fella. Don't know much about him, still he caught my eye. Well dressed, handsome, and quite the man about town. I've got a feeling he's a handful though. He smiles a lot, and everyone in town seems to know him. Something tells me he has some position in this town, but I'm not sure what. I'll find out though, that's for certain."

  "I know exactly who you are talking about. He's the mayor." Jo Ella saw Maggie's face when she told her and laughed. "It appears you have good taste too. I met him briefly this afternoon. He seemed charming. And you are right, he has a to-die-for smile. I'd bet that's what got him elected."

  "The mayor. I had no idea. Now that I think of it, he does act like a politician. Well, I am certainly going to have to get to know him then."

  Maggie always saw the brighter side of any situation. Jo Ella liked that. Whether she knew it or not, Maggie was an important contribution to the group. "Can you imagine me with a mayor?"

  "Sure. You've got a lot to offer. You are smart, very pretty, and you can charm any man and you know it, if you try. In fact, I can picture you entertaining guest in a big house for him," Jo Ella reassured her. "Oh, Maggie, just think of it. You could be so helpful in his career. You'd charm the socks off of people. Especially the men."

  They'd strung a line across the room for drying some of the intimate laundry and Maggie took hers down and put it away in a drawer. Ma Jones had provided them with several old bureaus so they had plenty of room to put their clothes in.

  "All I got was a couple of glimpses, but he sure appealed to me. And he did look back at me." Maggie flashed her eyes at Jo Ella.

  "Sometimes a couple of glimpses are all you need, Maggie. But be careful. We don't want anyone suspicioning us as anything more than ladies," Jo Ella warned. "Men of authority can be hard to handle, so be on your guard."

  "Jo Ella, when we first started out with this idea of yours, I was all for it. But there seems to be a certain amount of lying that goes with it, and I'm not comfortable about that. You know me, I'm direct as I can get and the truth usually just tumbles out of my mouth." Maggie's smile faded. "I've always been just me, and I tend to tell the truth if I get in a bind. I'm afraid I might ruin everything, for all of us. But I do so want this to happen, Jo Ella. Despite everything, I want this for all of us."

  Jo Ella nodded. "I know, but we have to keep the whole dream in front of us at all times. We want this life for ourselves. We are bettering ourselves. We are becoming the ladies we always wanted to be, always knew we could be. The end result will be well worth it. You really don't have to lie. You just have to remember back when all your thoughts were pure and simple, that's all. Maggie, we have to want this bad enough to convince one man of it. That's all. The right man."

  "What if one of us fowls up? I mean, my God, the mayor?"

  "You gotta think positive. Mayor is simply a title, not the man. It's the man you are after. You have to forget your former experiences and open your heart to your true feelings. Act as though you can't fail. If you want this bad enough, you can make it happen. Don't think of failing. Don't think of losing what could be yours. Make it happen for yourself. You gotta want this, Maggie, want it bad. We can be ladies, just like any other. We are ladies. All we really have to do is hedge the truth a bit."

  "Yeah, but… when I kiss a man, I get a little carried away." A blush curled up Maggie's cheeks.

  "Don't we all?" Jo Ella sat on the edge of her bed and took her arms. "Maggie, I know you. You want this. You want a better life. We deserve a better life than what we've had. We've spent many a night talking about this plan. Think how far we've come. Remember when your father threw you out because you kissed a boy?"

  Maggie nodded, a faraway look in her eyes.

  "You only kissed him. You didn't make love with him. You were an innocent, thrust into the world to make your own way, by a father who couldn't possibly imagine what you really wanted. But, Maggie, you want better. We all do. So concentrate on getting it. Be that innocent young girl who just wanted a kiss again. Forget all the in-betweens. We're as good as any other woman, Maggie. We just know a little more about men than most." Jo Ella chuckled. "And in the end, we can please them better than most too. That's a bonus they won't be expecting."

  Maggie smiled. "But what if I want more than a kiss now? And even if I manage to
pull off this innocent act, what happens on the wedding night when I don't scream out in terror, but wrap my arms around him and hang on?"

  "Maggie, I hate to be the one to tell you this, but if a man knows anything about pleasing a woman, he'll be delighted you love him so much. Besides, by that time, it won't matter. You'll be married. Come on now, you can fake it. You certainly have before."

  Maggie blinked her long lashes. "I guess you are right about that."

  "You gotta keep your mind on the end results. You want a man. You want to quit whorin'. You want to make a big beautiful family for him. You aren't out to hurt him, but to give to him. The only way to do that is to truss yourself up and remember how to say no… for now."

  "Oh, do I have to?" Maggie smiled impishly.

  "Yes." Jo Ella insisted.. "You have to."

  Chapter Seven

  Jo Ella had seen a good size pond not far out of town, so she decided to sneak out of town and take a bath. Surely she could get a bath before anyone discovered she was gone. She was looking forward to the privacy and the clean water where she could relax and enjoy nature.

  The bath downstairs was a first come first serve and she hated taking a bath in dirty water. She also liked to strip off completely to clean herself, which wasn't always the case in a washtub, nor a house full of boarders.

  She glanced at the other girls, they were all sleeping. She tiptoed out. The birds chirped merrily in the treetops as she walked the distance. Tall cat tails, sunflowers, and one big shade tree surrounded the pond. After she glanced around to make sure she wouldn't be disturbed, she found a good place to lay her clothes out, stripped, and jumped into the pond. The water was chilling as the sun had just came up a bit. She swam about the pond freely, enjoying the feel of the clean clear water.

  "Oh…it's so chilly." Her teeth chattered.

  She was in the middle of soaping up when she noticed him.

  A few feet from her, the stranger sat on a big bay, staring after her. That handsome man, Dillon. It was all she could do not to swoon.