She smiled at him as the swing slowed. When it was about to stop she jumped off then rushed over and gave him a hug. “Oh, this is the best surprise. Thank you, thank you for the swing. I haven’t played on one in years.”
“I reckon I should have asked before hanging it up there, but I hope you enjoy it. If you’d rather I take it down, it’s…”
Delilah shook her head. “No. It’s perfect. Please don’t even consider taking it down. Besides, I have a feeling Sammy will put it to good use.”
“Most likely,” Dugan said with a grin. “Are you ready for her classmates to visit next week?”
“I think so. I appreciate your willingness to help set up the yard for them.”
Dugan grinned at her. “I just hope they don’t scare your birds and Oliver half to death.”
“I’m sure they’ll be fine.” Delilah walked over to the porch and sat on a step. Oliver climbed in her lap and chattered excitedly. She rubbed his back and scratched behind his ears as he settled down.
“I still can’t believe you made him into a pet.” Dugan studied her holding the raccoon, like it was the most natural thing in the world to have a wild animal cuddled up on her lap.
“Some days, I’m rather surprised, too.” She grinned up at him and scooted over, making room for him to sit beside her.
Dugan couldn’t think of a single sane reason to sit that close to her, but he did anyway. Her fragrance filled his nose while her warmth penetrated his side. The slight breeze made loose tendrils of hair engage in a tantalizing dance around her face and along her neck.
Unable to stop himself, he reached out and wrapped a curl around his index finger, rubbing his thumb over the soft threads of her hair. One moment he was leaning toward her to steal a kiss and the next, Oliver was clawing at his vest, growling.
Delilah’s eyes were as big as saucers as she jumped to her feet and reached out for the raccoon.
“Stay back,” Dugan said, afraid she’d be bitten. If Oliver had been bitten or somehow contracted rabies, he sure didn’t want Delilah anywhere near the animal.
He grabbed Oliver by the scruff of his neck and pulled him off then gave him a gentle toss to the side.
Dugan only had time to roll up on one hip and grab his gloves from his back pocket before Oliver was back, pawing at him and growling.
“What’s gotten into you, Ollie?” Delilah asked, moving closer.
Dugan waved for her to step back as he yanked on his gloves and started to get another hold of the raccoon, but the little beggar fished a piece of candy from Dugan’s vest pocket and held it in his paws like a treasure before he began licking the peppermint drop.
Oliver was practically grinning when Delilah released a long breath and resumed her seat beside Dugan. She picked up the raccoon and settled him on her lap again. Now that he had his candy, the little beast acted as docile as a sleeping dog.
“Apparently, he likes peppermint drops.” Dugan reached out and laid a hand on Oliver’s back. The raccoon would have purred if he was a cat as he ate the treat.
“I’m so sorry, Dugan. I had no idea what had gotten into him. He certainly does like sweets, though. I found him trying to pull the screen off the kitchen window yesterday when I was baking cookies. He must have been able to smell them.”
“Can’t say that I blame the little beggar,” Dugan said, grinning at Delilah.
The raccoon finished the peppermint drop. Dugan watched as Oliver licked his paws. The animal gave him a long study before crawling off Delilah’s lap onto Dugan’s.
“I just had the one candy, Ollie,” he said as the raccoon delved into his vest pocket, searching for more treats.
Oliver looked at him and made a chattering noise, as though he instructed Dugan to bring more next time, before he trundled off to curl up in a pool of sunshine near a patch of snap dragons and went to sleep.
“For a minute there, I thought maybe he’d contracted rabies,” Delilah said, leaning back with her elbows on the step behind her.
The position thrust her chest forward and left Dugan so dry-mouthed it felt like he’d been sucking on cotton wadding. Mindful she hadn’t intentionally posed in such a tempting manner, he averted his gaze to where one of the hummingbirds buzzed around a feeder. With green wings and a splash of bright pink on its chest, it was easy to see why the tiny birds blended in to the landscape so easily.
“Oh, he’s back,” Delilah said, sitting up and watching the hummingbird. “Did you know that is the tiniest bird in North America?”
“I think you mentioned something about that the other day when we first spied him. It’s amazing to watch him, though.” Relieved Delilah had moved, Dugan knew he needed to go. He was covering the evening shift, although he wouldn’t have to work all night. He stood and reached down a hand to Delilah when she started to rise, pulling her up beside him. With her standing on a porch step and him on the ground, it put her lips so close to his, it would have been easy to capture them with a kiss.
But he resisted. He took a step back then gave her a heated glance.
Subconsciously, her hand drifted up to her hair and began trying to corral errant strands that had escaped their confines.
Dugan reached up and tucked a long curl behind her ear. Delilah stilled, her gaze colliding with his. What he wouldn’t give to be able to get lost in those gorgeous, dark eyes every night and see them first thing each morning.
“Have you heard about the spring dance this Friday?” he asked, as though the thought of it had just come to him. In truth, he’d been working up the courage to ask her to go with him for days.
“I have heard about the dance. From what I’ve learned, it’s quite the social event of the season.”
A chuckle rolled out of him. “Well, I don’t know about that, but it’s generally a good time. I was um…” He hesitated and cleared his throat. “I was just wondering if you’d consider allowing me to escort you to the dance.”
Her smile melted and she looked almost panicked as she stared at him. “Oh, Dugan, I, uh… I would… that’s to say…” She stopped and drew in a long breath then released it. “I already promised someone else I’d accompany them, but that doesn’t mean we can’t dance together. In fact, I hope you’ll plan on a few dances with me.”
Dugan had a good idea who’d snuck around and asked her first, but he merely nodded his head and backed toward the gate. “I’ll look forward to it then, Dilly. Enjoy your day.” He tipped his hat to her and turned around, heading out the gate to find his supposed best friend.
Chapter Eighteen
An empty warehouse in town served as the perfect place for a dance. The owner had constructed it the previous year and offered it to the community for last year’s spring dance. Sadly, his business interests didn’t pan out and the building was once again empty.
The space worked splendidly for the annual spring celebration. When the owner again offered the building to those planning the dance, the committee eagerly accepted. A boxed supper auction would generate money for the widows and orphans fund, followed by a dance.
Delilah strode into the building with Seth and took note of the platform erected at the far end of the building where musicians tuned their instruments. Chinese lanterns, crepe streamers, and baskets of flowers provided decorations around the room. The fragrance of lilacs blended with the aromas of food and the mingling scents of hair pomade and perfume.
Seth directed her across the room to the punch table and poured her a cup. Delilah took a sip and scanned the tables lining the wall by the door that held a variety of boxed suppers, including the one she’d made. Although Seth had tried to cajole her into telling him which one she’d created, she refused.
“You’ll just have to figure it out,” she’d said with a grin as they walked from her house to the warehouse. She knew Dugan had been upset she’d turned down his invitation, but Seth had asked her weeks ago, not long after she’d first arrived in town. It would have been rude to rescind her agreement to acco
mpany him, even if she’d rather have attended with Dugan.
Although Seth flirted with her, flattered her, and teased her mercilessly, she thought of him as the brother she’d always wanted and never had. She had a feeling he thought of her as more like a sister than a love interest, but he continued to request opportunities to escort her. Since she enjoyed his company and friendship, she never told him no.
Dugan was an entirely different story, though. She longed to be around him, yet she knew she needed to keep her distance. He alone posed an undeniable threat to her independence and freedom, and she just wasn’t willing to give it up. Not to him. Not to anyone.
As though her thoughts conjured his presence, he strode into the building and stopped, looking over the crowd. He stood in a streamer of sunshine that glistened through the droplets of water still clinging to the ends of his hair. She knew he’d worked that day and assumed he probably rushed home to wash and change before the celebration began. The cut of his dark jacket accentuated the breadth of his shoulders while his crisp white shirt brought out the tan of his skin. The tie he wore, a perfect match to his incredible blue eyes, held a Windsor knot rather than a simple four-in-hand.
“There’s Dugan. Let’s go say hello,” Seth said, cupping her elbow and propelling her forward.
The flounced skirts of her pale yellow chiffon gown, sprigged with bouquets of deep raspberry-hued flowers, swirled around as they walked across the floor.
Dugan’s face remained expressionless as he watched their approach, but he couldn’t hide a flicker of emotion in his eyes. His jaw tightened and, if she didn’t know better, she would have said he was angry. Perhaps even jealous.
Yet, within seconds, he relaxed his jaw, held out his hand to Seth, and grinned. “Quite a shindig, isn’t it?”
Seth nodded. “It sure is. Delilah and I have sampled the punch and so far it’s just punch.”
Delilah gave Seth a questioning look. “Just punch? What does that mean?”
Dugan smirked. “It means by the end of the evening, someone will covertly add at least one bottle of liquor into the bowl if not more. Unless you want to end the evening tipsy, you might want to enjoy the punch while you can.”
“Good heavens,” Delilah muttered, tossing a glance to the punch table where women busily ladled punch into cups. She could see how, with the boisterous crowd, it would be a simple matter for someone to add alcohol to the punch. She glanced at the punch cup in her hand, as though she might be able to discern just by looking if it was safe to drink.
Dugan took it from her hand and tasted it, and handed it back to her with a grin. “It’s fine.”
Seth scowled at him and sidled a little closer to Delilah before possessively placing his hand at her waist. Rather than move away from him, as she was wont to do, she ignored the looks passing between the two deputies and watched the crowd.
“Oh, there’s Maggie and Ian,” she said, moving away from Seth and Dugan to greet her friends.
“Hello, Delilah! You look beautiful,” Maggie said, giving her a hug. “That dress is perfect.”
Delilah smiled. “I love your gown. It’s gorgeous.”
Maggie wore a salmon-colored dress that brought out roses in her cheeks. Ian drew her closer and kissed her temple. “She looks like a fresh summer peach, waiting to be plucked, and I’m just the man for the job.”
A blush stole over Maggie’s face and she gave Ian a squelching look. “Ian MacGregor. You behave yourself. And no repeats of last year’s incident.”
“What happened last year?” Delilah asked as she walked with Ian and Maggie over to the table holding the boxed suppers, leaving Seth and Dugan conversing near the door. She knew Maggie’s box matched her dress and easily identified it among those piled on the table. Ian pointed to it and Maggie winked at him.
“Tully was trying to make Ian jealous and the two of them ended up brawling like hooligans in the middle of the dance.” Maggie sighed. “Even if I didn’t condone their actions, it was terribly romantic.”
Ian rubbed a hand along his jaw. “Tully packs quite a punch, even when he’s just pretending. I’d hate to be on the receiving end if he really meant it.”
“Did I hear my name?” the sheriff asked, walking up behind them with Brianna. Sammy wrapped her arms around Maggie and smiled up at her.
“I was just telling Delilah about how badly you and Ian behaved at the dance last year.”
Tully waved a dismissive hand in the air. “Oh, that wasn’t anything at all, was it Ian?”
“Of course not.” Ian tweaked Sammy’s nose. “Did you make a box, too, lass?”
Sammy nodded. “I did.” She glanced around. “Is Jack here?”
Delilah tried to hide a smile at Sammy’s less than subtle interest in the Jordan boy.
“Thane and Jemma aren’t planning to attend because Bolton is still so little,” Maggie said.
Sammy’s whole body slumped, like she suddenly lacked the energy to hold herself upright. She leaned against Tully’s leg and looked up at him with big, sad eyes. “So Jack won’t be here?”
“I don’t know, sweetheart. He might come with Ben and Allie, but I can’t make any promises.”
“Okay,” she said.
“Hey, what’s wrong with my best girl?” Dugan asked as he and Seth joined them. He picked Sammy up and kissed her cheek.
She wrapped one arm around his neck and pouted. “Dad doesn’t think Jack is coming.”
“Is that right? Well, I think your dear ol’ dad just might be wrong for once.” Dugan turned so Sammy could see the door where Ben and Allie Amick stood with Jack and several of the cowboys from the Jordan Ranch.
“He came!” Sammy said excitedly, squirming to get down.
Dugan barely set her on her feet before she raced across the room to greet Jack. The two of them wandered in the direction of the punch bowl.
“So much for playing hard to get,” Ian said, giving Tully a nudge with his elbow.
Tully scowled at him. “It’s all fine and fun now when they’re just youngins’, but what am I gonna do when she’s a few years older?”
“Lock her in her room and buy another shotgun to run off all the boys that will flock around your house?” Dugan suggested, drawing out the group’s laughter.
Delilah relaxed around her friends and enjoyed speaking with them. Promptly at six on the dot, the mayor limped across the platform and motioned for everyone to quiet. When half the crowd failed to notice him, Tully excused himself and strode over to the platform, stuck two fingers between his lips and whistled so loudly, Delilah was surprised the crystal punch bowl didn’t shatter.
Everyone in the building hushed and turned their attention to the platform. The mayor welcomed those in attendance, spoke about the lovely spring season in town, then reminded everyone to leave the ingredients of the punch to the ladies serving it.
“Pastor Eagan will ask a blessing on the meal this evening, and then we’ll get started with the boxed supper auction,” the mayor said.
Pastor Eagan stepped onto the platform and offered a brief prayer. Amens echoed through the building before everyone turned their attention to the boxed supper table. A circuit judge had been recruited to auction off the suppers. He held up a red gingham-covered box and looked at the crowd.
“Do I hear fifty cents folks? Fifty cents?” he said, then proceeded to run up the price.
Delilah scanned the crowd and watched a girl who had to be in her late teens wearing a red gingham dress cast coy glances at a boy. His neck and ears were every bit as red as the girl’s dress. He and two other boys were bidding on the box, but Red Ears got the winning bid. The girl blushed prettily and went with the boy to claim her box.
The auction wasn’t just for unmarried people, though. Husbands bid on boxes donated by wives. Even old Mrs. Jepson entered a box which Mr. Bentley bid on, much to everyone’s surprise. Mrs. Jepson leaned heavily on her cane as Mr. Bentley escorted her to a table to enjoy their supper.
&nb
sp; Ian enthusiastically bid on Maggie’s box and Tully claimed Brianna’s. Sammy nervously clenched the satin ribbon on the front of her dress when her box came up for bidding and Jack Jordan paid a whole dollar to win it.
Allie Amick’s box was tied with a piece of her exquisitely-made lace. When the auctioneer held it up, Ben strode to the man, slapped a five dollar gold piece in his hand and took the box.
Laughter echoed through the building as he escorted Allie to a seat and said, “I dang sure ain’t sharing my sugar’s supper with anyone.”
Nervous, Delilah watched when the auctioneer picked up her boxed supper. She’d purposely decorated it in a piece of bright teal cotton cloth. A small bouquet of wildflowers she’d picked near the weather station was the only ornamentation on top of the box, except for a tiny bird she’d fashioned from a piece of brown silk ribbon and hidden in the bouquet.
Seth paid no mind to the box until Dugan began bidding on it. Delilah observed the looks they both cast her direction and the daggers they shot at each other in what soon turned into a bidding war. When they bid the box up to eight dollars, someone shouted that they should split the cost and share it.
That was how she ended up sitting between Seth and Dugan while the two of them continued to glower at each other throughout the meal. Tully and Brianna shared the table with them, along with Jack, Sammy, Ian and Maggie.
Delilah had fried a whole chicken, cooking the pieces until they were crispy and golden brown. Corn patties were also fried to perfection. She’d also included pickles, sliced cheese, and deviled eggs in her box, providing enough food for four people to enjoy, although she thought there would only be two. Now, she was glad she’d made extra, including a dozen tarts filled with canned berries Maggie had shared with her.
The tension stretching between the two men on either side of her was like a palpable force that sucked away Delilah’s appetite and left her shoulders inching toward her ears.
“This is delicious, Delilah,” Seth said, smiling as he helped himself to another piece of chicken.
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