Dancing With the Preacherman (Book Two of the Red River Valley Brides)

by Rita Hestand

  "Yes, of course, but that's only a part time job. He could let me borrow it for an afternoon, I'm sure. I say, do you play chess?" Orville asked out of the blue?

  "No, I’m afraid I don't have much time for that. Do you?"

  "Yes, I'm trying to find someone in this town to play." Orville seemed distraught.

  "As a matter of fact, I think Harry plays a mean game of chess."

  "Harry?" Orville questioned.

  "Yes, the Sheriff." Luke smiled. "Ma's son."

  "Really, the Sheriff?" Orville sounded shocked.

  "Yes, Ma taught him, she's even better than he is." Luke informed him.

  "Is that a fact? Well, I guess I'll have to hit this Harry up for a game, then won't I?"

  "He'll be at the table tonight, I'm sure he'd get a kick out of it." Luke chuckled.

  Sarah came to the door and looked at the two of them. "Supper is ready…"

  "I'm starved…" Luke smiled at her.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Luke seemed glad to see Sarah, as he sat beside her at the table. It was the first time he had done that. Sarah was shocked. He'd never been this attentive to her and she couldn't help but wonder why.

  As everyone gathered around the table, Luke offered grace. Orville didn't realize what they were doing when they all joined hands, but he bent his head when he heard Luke saying grace.

  "Orville is it?" Ma asked as she passed him the potatoes a few seconds later.

  "That's right." he beamed a big smile around the table. "I'm Brady's cousin."

  Ma introduced him to everyone quickly.

  "The Reverend says you play a mean game of chess?" Orville asked Harry, as he studied him for a moment.

  "I dabble with it, on slow days, yes. Why, do you play?" Harry asked his interest peeking.

  "Yes, very well in fact. Why don't we get a game together soon, then?" Orville suggested.

  "After super be too soon?" Harry winked at Jo Ella.

  "Sounds great. I love a challenge." Orville nodded.

  "We hear you are working at the bank." Ma let everyone know.

  "Yes, I was just hired as an accountant."

  "That's a good steady job." Harry remarked, glancing around the table. "So you're planning on making Vada your home, then?"

  "Hadn't really thought about it, but I'll give it a try."

  Haney hadn't said a word, but he was eating well, Sarah noticed.

  "So…Sarah, there is a dance this next Saturday, would you care to accompany me…?" Luke asked out of the blue and in front of everyone.

  Sarah nearly choked on her chicken. She felt tongue tied when she lifted her head to look straight into Luke's eyes. Her mouth opened and nothing came out.

  "Unless you already have a date?" Luke corrected.

  "N-no, I mean…yes, I'll go with you." Sarah finally answered.

  She felt thunderstruck. Never in all her life had she imagined him asking her out, anywhere, but especially to the dance.

  Everyone's head turned and Sarah turned a bright pink. She felt her cheeks flush so. She wished she could stay a little more composed.

  "Good. Orville have you asked anyone to the dance yet?"

  "No…as a matter of fact…I hadn't. I don't know many here…" He said, just as stunned as Sarah.

  "He can take Betsy, my sister. He'll get to know everyone that way." Brady volunteered, obviously wanting to make Orville feel welcomed.

  "I'd feel kind of funny going with my cousin." Orville seemed distraught.

  "Well, I don't have a date for the dance," Maggie chimed in, settling the matter for everyone. Sarah looked at her and for the first time saw how Maggie was trying to take the tension from the room and settle the matter for Orville. After all, no one could turn Maggie down.

  Orville shot her a curious glance. "I'd be delighted to take you….Maggie is it?"

  "That's right. Fine." Maggie smiled. "And I'll be sure to introduce you to everyone."

  "That's right, Maggie knows everyone in town, too." Ma concluded.

  Everyone chuckled.

  Ma smiled at Maggie. "Well now, that's nice. Orville has a date for the dance then."

  Sarah kept glancing at Luke off and on. Why had he asked her, in front of everyone, to the dance? Why? Not that she was complaining, but she'd given up on him as a man to court her. Now he was throwing her a curve she hadn't seen coming.

  When everyone got up and followed Luke and Orville into the parlor, Sarah stayed with Ma to do the dishes. She needed time to think about what just happened.

  "Well now, that was a surprise, wasn't it?" Ma glanced at her with a sneaky smile.

  "Surprise is the right word. Or shocked even." Sarah responded.

  "Maybe he's finally coming around." Ma encouraged.

  "I think there is more to this than meets the eye. And I plan on finding out what it is, too." Sarah said as though she couldn't quite believe that Luke had asked her to the dance.

  "Maybe he's decided you aren't a child." Ma chuckled.

  "I don't know. I think it's got something to do with Orville, actually." Sarah surmised.

  "Oh, what do you mean?"

  "I think he thought Orville was here to ask me to the dance."

  "Even so, why would that bother because of him?" Ma asked.

  "I'm not sure. But come on, Ma. Why didn't he ask Maggie to the dance?"

  "Maybe he didn't know she didn't have anyone to take her." Ma replied. "Or maybe he isn't interested in Maggie, like you seem to think."

  "Don't be silly, Ma. Everyone is interested in Maggie."

  "She is vivacious."

  "Yeah, to say the least. I was sure he'd ask her. I mean the way he makes over her when she sings. It doesn't add up."

  "Just because she sings like a bird, doesn't mean every man wants her, Sarah. It just means she has talent and others appreciate her." Ma defended.

  When Sarah heard that tone Ma took, she whirled around and touched Ma's arm. "Oh I didn't mean it like that. I really didn't. I love Maggie. It's just…well, I really thought Luke liked her, in that way."

  "If he does, he's certainly slow to act upon it, isn't he?" Ma's brow went up.

  Sarah shrugged. "Maybe he wants to make her jealous or something."

  Ma shook her head and frowned. "Or maybe he isn't interested in her at all."

  When Sarah was through with the dishes and Ma went to watch the chess game, Sarah went out on the front porch.

  Haney was sitting there on the steps, his head hung.

  "Haney, are you alright?" Sarah asked coming to sit right beside him.

  "Yeah, I guess so…" Haney said in a hushed voice.

  "Thinking about your Ma…?" Sarah asked.

  Haney raised his head and looked at her. "How come you always know?"

  "I guess because in your shoes, I would be too." Sarah shrugged.

  "You think she's in heaven, Sarah?" Haney's voice shook with emotion.

  Sarah smiled, "Yes Haney, I think that's exactly where she is at."

  "You know at first I blamed God for taking her. But after I got to thinkin' about it, I figured he must have needed her more than we did."

  "I think you are right. I think when people are taken when they are still young it's because God needs them for some reason."

  Haney wiped his eyes for a minute.

  "I miss her, pretty bad." Haney cried. "I miss her waking me up in the morning, and kissing me goodnight at night. I miss the way she used to sit in her rocking chair and knit all winter for Christmas presents. I miss her voice even."

  "I know." Sarah whispered. "We all miss her Haney. She was a lovely person. But…look, look up there…why she's smiling down on you all the time now, Haney. She sees you. And you can talk to her anytime you want to. I bet she's smiling now, thinking what a fine son she has."

  Haney swiped his eyes again. "I don't like to cry around Pa and the others, gets them upset." Haney's voice cracked.

  Sarah wrapped an arm around Haney and cuddled him, "You
can cry around me, anytime…"

  He looked up at her and laid his head on her chest.

  And for a few minutes he did. Long racking sobs, and Sarah couldn't help but weep a little too. But Brady came out directly and told him he'd walk him home. Haney dried his tears, and looked at Sarah, "Thanks…"

  She nodded and smiled.

  Brady and Haney walked off, after Brady thanked her for inviting them.

  Sarah dragged herself up stiffly as though the weight of the world were on her shoulders and walked out into the yard. The crickets were chirping and she heard a dog bark somewhere off in the distance. A grasshopper jumped right in front of her. She put her hands behind her and stared up into the night sky. Vada was such a peaceful town. She loved it here.

  There was a full moon, and the night was perfect for stargazing.

  "Pretty aren't they?" Luke asked as she whirled around to look at him. Luke saw a hint of liquid pools in her eyes, as though she held tears back.

  "Y-yes," She hadn't heard him walk up.

  He startled her. Every bone and nerve in her body seemed to come alive at once. Her heartbeat quickened. She'd thought she had put her foolishness over Luke away. Apparently, that was not true. He still made her restless and aware, so aware.

  When he stared too long, she glanced at him, her heart lurching at the shine in his eyes. Never had he looked more handsome, and tonight he wore his cowboy clothes, making him more approachable. Tonight she saw the man in him, not the preacher. It was alluring, it was like sweet passion, and it was dangerous to her heart. She saw the bulging muscles of his arms, and how his shirt tapered to his waist. Tonight she saw him as a virile man. A longing older than time itself, passed through her, making her weak kneed, and breathless. His legs spread slightly, one knee bending as he stood. She didn't know where the bravery came from but finally she asked. "So…why did you ask me to the dance?"

  For a moment, he didn't answer. His expression became serious. But his answer was anything but frivolous. "Because I wanted to go, and I didn't want to go alone." He said quite simply. His voice was low and throaty. However, it was the way he kept looking at her that had her heart pounding.

  It wasn't what she wanted to hear, but it was honest. She couldn't deny she felt disappointed in his answer, until… "And somehow I got the feeling that you didn't want Orville to ask you."

  She pinned him with a bold glance, "How'd you know?"

  "Just figured a girl who'd rather help Ma with the cooking than sit out on the porch with a handsome young man…"

  She threw her hands up for a moment, and then slowly lowered them. "I figured it was something like that…" She started to walk off but he reached for her hand to pull her back. Their hands sweat.

  He'd never touched her before, and she suddenly didn't know how to react to it.

  The sudden touch was like friction uniting with tension, it sparked. Yet his voice stilled her.

  "Don’t run off. That's not entirely the only reason I asked you." His voice romanced her.

  "It isn't?" She swallowed hard and waited.

  "You are a very nice person, Sarah, and I'd kind of like to get to know you better." Luke said staring into her shining eyes. "You might say I'm just now seeing who you really are."

  She opened her mouth to say something and nothing came out, so he bent the distance to touch his lips to hers, tentatively at first, and then more boldly.

  He obviously hadn't meant for the kiss to linger but it did. The kiss was sweet, exploring the possibilities, tender as though not to shock. As though testing her, he nibbled her bottom lip, and then eased into a full blown kiss that had her almost groaning with unspent passion.

  Sarah was so shocked, her body was shaking. She trembled slighting in his arms, but her lips opened for his kiss like a shy flower, reaching for the sun, and yet not able to put her arms around it. She drown in the sweetness of the moment, losing part of herself.

  When he raised his head, he looked as shocked as she did.

  Her cheeks flamed. "Why did you do that?" She asked her lips still moist from his kiss. Her lips only inches from his.

  "I've been wanting to for a while…" He whispered with a slight smile.

  "You have?" She asked breathlessly.

  "I have…" he whispered his eyes devouring her.

  His hand reached to stroke the softness of her cheek, as he stared into her eyes. His thumb seemed to absently caress her there. "You are quite a remarkable young woman, Sarah."

  "Me?" She barely breathed, still basking in his compliments.

  "You!" He smiled his eyes slid to her lips once more. "I watched you with Haney. You have a heart that is rare, Sarah."

  Trying to regain composure, she turned slightly away. "I didn't do anything, just be a friend to him. I figured he needed a friend about now." Sarah said softly. "I mean he lost one of the most important people in the world to him."

  But Luke turned her cheek around, as his thumb was doing wild things to Sarah's heart and she could hardly breathe, hardly believe this moment was happening. She'd imagined it many times, but this was even better than her imagination. If only she could breathe.

  She looked up and all of a sudden be brought her against him and kissed her once more, this time with true passion. His arms went around her, holding her there.

  When he let her go, he looked at her stunned face and backed away. The way he looked at her…"I better go home. I'll see you Saturday if not before…"

  She couldn't react, couldn't move, couldn't say a word, she just stood there and watched him walk away. She still wasn't sure he wasn't an apparition of her imagination.

  Perhaps she dreamed this moment. Perhaps he never kissed her at all, but the slight tingle of her lips, told her differently.

  Never had she expected such a tender moment with Luke. And the kisses they shared had been everything she ever dreamed for. But she'd given up on Luke. Now what was she to do?

  She dare not read too much into his actions, but she'd never felt like this in her entire life. Somehow she had to shake this dreamy moment away. It couldn't be real? Could it?

  The chess game had been paused for another evening when Sarah went back inside. She barely saw anyone; her mind was still full of Luke.

  Her head was in the clouds as she passed Orville without even seeing him... She couldn't see or do anything, so without a word; she walked up the stairs and went straight to bed, to dream.

  Ma stared at her as she passed by and then smiled.

  "Well, it's about time," she murmured to herself.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Trish came in a couple of mornings later and announced her engagement to Chester. She was dressed nicely in a purple dress, and a matching hat and looked as though she were about to meet the Mayor or something.

  "You didn't?" Ma scowled as she washed a dish.

  "Oh yes I did. Now quit fretting Ma. I know what I'm doing." Trish insisted. "He bought me this ring, look…"

  She flashed the ring for Ma to examine. Ma gave it a glance and turned back to her cooking.

  Ma took out the large iron skillet and put it on the stove. She prepared a bowl of scrambled eggs, and checked her biscuits in the oven.

  Maggie shook her head as she got up from the table to pour herself another cup of coffee. "I can't believe you would do such a thing, Trish. Why, you are beautiful, and you'd give yourself to that….man!"

  "That man has a sizable ranch makes a good income and that's all I need." Trish insisted shooting Maggie a quick scowl.

  "What about love?" Jo Ella shook her head as she obviously overheard the conversation and came strolling through the kitchen.

  "What about it?" Trish chuckled. "Oh, give me a few kids and I'll be fine. Love is where you find it. Chester is very good to me. I can't expect a man to do more than that."

  "Now you are talking babies? Good Lord, have you lost your mind completely?" Maggie screeched as she joined the rest of them in hounding Trish about Chester.

&nbs
p; "No, I'm being practical. Something I don't think any of you have considered. The least you all could do is wish me well…" Trish said. "I'm living up to my contract, and I'm getting a nice place to live in return."

  "Oh…well, we do wish you well…" Ma said, but she turned her head to hide her lie.

  "Don't worry about me, Ma. I'll be fine." Trish insisted, putting on an apron, and stirring the beans that were cooking on the stove for later.

  "Well, give me some time and we'll have a little party for you…" Ma suggested, returning her attention to the food.

  "Oh, that would be so sweet, thanks Ma. You think of everything. I really want this to work for me, Ma. I know he's not some great looking man, but he does have a beautiful place and that takes a lot of hard work. You have to respect that."

  "It's the least we can do. You'll need it." Ma told her sharply. "I wish you would reconsider this though. I agree Chester does have a nice spread, and he's likable in most ways. Just never considered him marriage material for any of you."

  "I'm tired of good looking men that treat me like a piece of furniture. Chester waits on me hand and foot. He is attentive, and kind. What more could I want?"

  "He wants a woman to cook for him, that's what he wants." Ma insisted.

  "I don't mind cooking. Sounds better than courting every man that smiles at me. Oh Ma, I know you will never understand this, but I've had plenty of men, and good looking ones too. They are usually the ones that cheat on you and don't really care about you. They care about themselves. Chester isn't like that, he's blunt, but honest."

  "But Trish…" Maggie started and Ma motioned for her not to say any more.

  "Well, I gotta run," Trish said, taking the apron off and turning to Ma. She kissed her on the cheek. "Chester is in town buying supplies and I want to talk to him before he leaves for the ranch. I lived up to my part of the bargain, I'm getting married, girls. And try to be happy for me."

  "You sure have!" Maggie shook her head. Then with a guilty frown she pulled Trish into her arms and hugged her.

  Sarah came down late and heard the news.