“Damn bitch bit me.” Dade took out a dirty handkerchief and wiped his tongue.
Kemp laughed. “Looks like she didn’t like your kissin’ much.”
“Look, it’s bleeding.” He moved toward her. “I ought to kill you right here and now for this.”
“You can try.” Tears filled Grace’s eyes.
“Don’t kill her, Dade.”
“Why not?”
“People like her around here. I like her. Let’s leave her alone and go find another bottle and get you out of this town before you get caught. When we’re gone, she can be on her way to her party.”
“Hell no. Ain’t a woman in this town or any other who can bite me and get away with it. If I can’t kill her, I’m gonna make her wish she was dead.”
“What do you mean?” Kemp took hold of Grace’s arm and tried to pull her away from Dade.
Without explaining anything to Kemp, Dade reached out and grabbed the top of Grace’s new dress. With one hard jerk, he ripped it and the chemise underneath almost to the waist exposing her breasts. “Damn, look what’s been wasted on a cripple. Those ought to belong to one of them purty dance hall girls.”
Grace swung her fist at him. “You devil! Sheriff Lance will throw you in jail for this and you’ll have to go back to prison.”
“She’s right, Dade. The sheriff’s a friend of hers. Grace ain’t no dance hall girl. She’s a nice woman.” Kemp’s voice sounded scared. “She’s just a poor old girl who had a daddy like me. Him and me used to drink together till he got drunk and burned hisself and his wife up in a fire.”
“Hell, I don’t care about her daddy. Drag her around the building. I’m going to show her what she’s been missing.”
“I said she was the sheriff’s friend. You better let her go.”
“Damn, it. I said pull her around the building. No crippled whore’s going to bite my tongue and get away with it.”
“Lance Gentry won’t like it.”
“Who the hell cares what Lance Gentry likes? He’s got women chasing him all over town.” Dade narrowed his eyes and glared at Grace. “He been poking you, cripple lady?
“How dare you….” Before she could finish, he reached out and grabbed her right breast and squeezed it.
It hurt and Grace couldn’t help it. She screamed.
“Shut up, you whore.” He slapped her again and turned to Kemp. “Are you gonna help me drag her around the building or am I gonna have to do it by myself? I’m gittin’ anxious to see what’s under that green skirt.”
“I don’t think…”
“What’s going on here?” Sheriff Lance Gentry’s deep voice interrupted.
Kemp let Grace go and backed up. “I was just trying to git him to leave Miss Grace alone.”
Lance looked at Grace. “Are you all right?”
She nodded.
“I’ll get these two in jail, and then I’ll come back to check on you.”
“I’ll be fine.” Grace didn’t give him a chance to say anything else. She turned toward the hotel, held the top of her dress over her breast, and ran as fast as her crippled foot would let her. She felt she had to get away from all of them. Lord have mercy, why did Lance have to see them manhandling me? Couldn’t somebody else have come along?
Mr. Drake, the part-time desk clerk, stood behind the desk in the lobby talking to Effie when Grace ran in the front door.
When Grace came through the door, Mr. Drake said, “Miss Grace, are you all right?”
She nodded and continued to her room without slowing down. She felt humiliated, shamed, and degraded. How could she ever face Lance Gentry again? It had been hard enough to find out he didn’t want her. Now he would feel sorry for her and probably say things he didn’t mean.
“You look like you could use some tea, dear. I’ll go make you some.” Effie called out, but Grace ignored her as she hurried to her room. Her heart thumped and tears ran down her cheeks as she slammed the door shut to her room and dropped, facedown on her bed.
How could she have been so stupid? What made her think she could dress up in her new green satin dress, go to the town’s festival celebration, and have some good-looking single man pay attention to her? It didn’t matter that she’d scrimped and saved enough money to have Miss Purdy make the lovely dress flattering her slim figure. It didn’t matter that she’d spent the morning working her long silky auburn hair to get it into curls on top of her head, the way the stylish young woman in Settlers Ridge had done.
No matter how pretty Grace thought she looked as she headed toward the edge of town where the celebration was in full swing, Kemp Newton’s friend let her know right off that she was still the poor girl with the limp who had to wear her high-top shoe even under her beautiful dress and serve meals at the hotel dining room to support herself. Why couldn’t she accept what she was and live her life the way it was meant for her to do? Why did she continue to pine over Lance Gentry? Why hadn’t the kisses they’d shared been enough though she knew it had to be?
When her sobbing subsided, Grace managed to get up from her bed and look into the mirror over her dresser. The tears had streaked her face, her eyes were red and puffy, and her nose ran. The pins that were left, hung in strands of auburn hair which were still curled, but in disarray and sticking out in all directions.
Her beautiful dress was ruined. Shaking her head, she unfastened what was left of the torn bodice and let the dress fall to the floor. She took off the torn chemise and got another one from her drawer. Without thinking about what to put on, she reached for her blue skirt and white shirtwaist, one of the outfits she wore for serving in the hotel dining room.
Taking a deep breath, she jerked the pins from her long hair, brushed out the curls, and braided it in her usual style.
As she worked, she thought about what had happened. Grace knew most people liked her, but the drunks were right about one thing. No matter how much she dreamed about it, no man was ever going to fall in love with her, though like most women, she couldn’t help dreaming that someday a gentleman would come along and sweep her off her feet. Of course, not even her best friends had ever guessed the man of her dreams was Lance Gentry, but Grace was practical enough that she accepted the fact that he would never be her destiny. Even his kisses had only been because he felt sorry for her. She now knew she’d be a spinster who would probably live out her life in this comfortable two-room suite next door to the family living section in the hotel, which the Olsens’ kindness allowed her to call home. The only home possible for her now. And they’d be her only family.
Regardless of the wildflowers on her mother’s grave, as far as she knew, her brother, Clay was somewhere in the gold fields of Colorado, where he’d been since he left home when she was nine and he was sixteen. She hadn’t heard from him since, and she doubted she’d ever hear from him again. Though he didn’t get in touch with her, she thought he’d come back to town when their parents died. She found this out when the day after the funeral she went to visit her mother’s grave. The few flowers that had been placed on the grave had been moved away from the cross marker. At the foot of that cross was a lone wildflower. Clay had always brought his mother one wildflower when he’d been outside to work or to play and Grace had no doubt that he’d brought this one. She’d hoped against hope that he’d come see her while he was in town, but he didn’t. Neither did he visit her on the other rare occasions when she’d found a lone wildflower there. It made Grace sadder than she was already when she thought of it today because she loved her brother and missed him terribly.
Wiping her eyes, she again accepted the fact that love was only one of her fanciful dreams. A dream that would never be fulfilled.
She sighed as she picked up the green satin dress and removed her mother’s cameo pin, thankful the pin wasn’t lost in the scuffle. It was the one thing saved when her home burned. The day of the fire she’d left it at her friend, Amelia’s house when she’d visited there with her best friends.
As she pl
aced it in the small box on her dresser, she thought of the afternoon she’d left it at the ranch Amelia’s parents owned. She was attending a welcome home tea for Amelia Donahue who had been away at school in Boston. Grace, Wilma Lawson, and Nelda Gentry, Lance’s younger sister, had been the only guests. Which had been Amelia’s request, she learned later. The four of them had spent most of the afternoon on the veranda of the huge house sipping their tea, eating the fancy cookies the housekeeper, Delores had made, and giggling like sixteen-year-old girls most often do.
The four girls were the closest of friends, though they were all from different backgrounds. Everyone knew Amelia Donahue was the daughter of the biggest and most powerful rancher in Wyoming. Wilma Lawson was not nearly as wealthy, but still from a thriving ranching family. Nelda Gentry and her brother, Lance, were raised by their schoolteacher mother after their father was killed in a train accident when Nelda was five and Lance was thirteen. Unlike the parents of her friends, Grace’s parents had to struggle to make ends meet. Her mother sewed for the women in town who couldn’t afford to go to Miss Purdy’s dressmaking shop, and her father worked at the feed and seed store when he wasn’t relying too heavily on the bottle to soothe the wounds he’d sustained in a mine accident.
Shaking her head at her reflection, she turned away. Her stomach growled, and she realized she was hungry.
Though Effie was working, the dining room was closed. But Grace was sure there was something in the kitchen she could eat since she had no intention of going to the celebration now. She also wanted to get to the kitchen before Effie brought the promised tea. The woman loved to talk and she would ply Grace with questions about what had happened to her.
As Grace stepped into the hall, she came face to face with Lance Gentry. She couldn’t help herself, she glared at him. “What are you doing here?”
“I came to check on you.” Lance removed his hat and looked at her.
“I told you I’d be fine, and I am.”
“I can see that you think you are.”
“Then…”
“Grace, anybody can tell you’ve been crying, and that tells me you’re not fine.”
“So! Women cry sometimes.”
“Not when they’re all dressed up and heading to a party.”
“I changed my mind.”
Lance shook his head. “Kemp told me what happened. Did Dade Weber hurt you?”
“Why won’t you listen to me, Lance? I said I’m fine.”
“If everything is so great, then come along and I’ll walk you back to the festival?”
“I’m not going back to the festival.”
“What do you mean you’re not going to the festival?” A female voice interrupted their conversation.
They turned toward the end of the hall. Amelia Donahue Wainwright headed toward them. Her husband, Jed carried their baby boy, and her mother, Elizabeth walked beside him.
“What are you doing here?” Grace frowned. Did they know what happened to her already?
“We came to feed the baby,” Amelia said. “Mother volunteered to stay with him while he napped.” Tiny blond Amelia put her hands on her hips. “Now what’s this I hear about you not going to the celebration?”
Since she’d never been able to argue with Amelia, Grace dropped her eyes. “I don’t have anything to wear.”
“What about that green dress you had made. When you showed it to me the other day, I thought it was beautiful.”
“It got torn.”
“How?”
Lance explained about Dade Weber accosting her on the street then added, “I don’t see anything wrong with what you’re wearing. You look nice.”
“I agree,” Jed spoke up.
“I can’t wear this. It’s my work clothes.” Grace felt she was going to cry again and she didn’t want to in front of them. She only wished they’d go away and leave her alone.
“But you look lovely,” Amelia protested.
Before anyone could say anything else, three-month-old Aaron Rafe Wainwright made his presence known with a loud cry.
Elizabeth Donahue said, “I think I need to take over.”
They all looked at her and she went on, “Amelia, go to my room and get my grandson fed and rocked to sleep. As you can tell, he’s hungry. Jed you go to the kitchen and see if Effie Vaughn is there; have her bring some tea to Grace and me, then go join your wife. Lance, you go to the lobby and talk to Mr. Drake or something.” She turned to Grace and took her hand. “Grace, dear, come with me.”
When they all just stood there and looked at her, she said, “Do I have to use my loud voice?”
Without another word they all headed out of the hall.
Grace looked at her with an exasperated expression on her face. “Mrs. Donahue, I don’t think…”
“This is no time to think, Grace. Open your door and show me the green dress. I’m pretty handy with a needle. I’m sure I can have it ready for you to wear in no time.”
“But…”
“Don’t waste time arguing with me, honey. I’ve got to see what can be done before Aaron falls asleep, and Amelia sends Jed down to get me so they can get back to the dance. Now, where’s that dress?”
Grace gave up. Who was she to argue with a woman like Elizabeth Donahue? She went to her wardrobe, took out the dress, and handed it to Elizabeth.
Elizabeth looked it over for a minute then nodded. “I can fix this.”
There was a knock on the door. “It’s me, Grace.” Effie’s voice came from the other side. “I have your tea.”
Grace opened the door and took the tray from the older woman. “Mr. Wainwright said Mrs. Donahue was with you. I brought a cup for her, too.”
“Thank you, Effie.” Grace took the tray and closed the door.
As Grace turned with the tray in her hand, Elizabeth asked, “Do you have any lace?”
Grace set the tray on the small corner table, went into her bedroom, reached into her wardrobe, and retrieved a package. Coming back, she said, “I got this to make a gift for Amelia. I just haven’t had time to do it.”
“It’s perfect.” Elizabeth took the lace. “While I fix this, why don’t you pour us some tea then you can work on putting your hair up or at least brush it out and tie it back with a ribbon or something? You’re going to be surprised when you see what I can do. Your dress is going to be as beautiful as it ever was.”
Grace couldn’t help doubting Elizabeth’s words, but again she didn’t argue. She went back into her bedroom, sat before the dresser, and un-braided her hair.
Chapter 20
“Oh, Grace. You look lovely.” Amelia came into the room. “I’ll have to keep a sharp eye on my husband. He’s never strayed, but the way you look, he might try to do it tonight.”
Grace laughed. “Don’t be silly, Amelia. Jed Wainwright doesn’t know there’s another woman alive except you. If ever I’ve seen a man in love with his wife, it’s him.”
Amelia smiled. “I have to admit I think you’re right. And as you might guess I feel the same way about him. He’s the only man who can make my heart and mind do crazy things.”
“I don’t doubt that. You have what every woman dreams of having someday. A loving husband, a beautiful baby and…well, I guess you have it all.”
“I do. And you’ll have it, too, someday.”
Grace shrugged. “One can only dream.”
Amelia changed the subject. “Mother said the dress was easy to repair, and it looks like she did a good job.”
“I couldn’t believe how well she did. It’s prettier now than it was before it was ripped.”
“Well, let’s not waste any more time here. We need to get to the festivities.”
“I’m still not sure if I should—”
“What do you mean?” Amelia looked at her. “Jed and Lance are waiting in the lobby to escort us to the dance.”
“I feel like Lance will think he’s forced to go with me. I don’t want to push myself on him, Amelia.”
“You’re not doing that. We’re all going together. Now come on. I have my mother babysitting and I won’t have to worry about Aaron until time to feed him again. Now I want to spend all the time I can in my husband’s arms, dancing the night away.” She opened the door and stepped outside.
Grace felt there was nothing she could do but follow.
When they entered the lobby, Jed and Lance stood.
“Keep your eyes in your head, big boy. You know you’re all mine.” Amelia took hold of Jed’s arm, looked up at him and laughed.
Jed chuckled. “I know I’m yours and always will be, but I’m not blind and you’ve got to admit Grace looks beautiful.”
“Thank you, Jed,” Grace said.
“You better watch what you say, Jed. You’ve got a woman. I’m the single man here and I’m the one who needs to tell Grace she looks beautiful.” Lance walked up to her, tucked her arm in his, and grinned at her. “He’s right, you do look beautiful.”
Grace blushed, and said a timid, “Thank you.”
“Well, if you two are through handing out compliments, let’s head back to the party. I’m ready for some dancing.” Amelia pulled Jed toward the door.
The four of them chatted as they ambled down the plank boardwalk to the end of the main street to the wooden dance floor. To the side, tables laden with food were waiting for any who wished to eat. The benches scattered about had couples making use of them. Most of the tables and chairs scattered in different areas seemed to be occupied. Some families gathered on quilts spread on the ground. A cluster of men pulled chairs together to discuss everything from politics to the demise of society.
As soon as the four reached the area, Jed pulled Amelia into his arms and they melted into the crowd of dancers.
Lance looked at Grace. “I’m not the world’s greatest dancer, but I’d be honored if you’d take a chance and dance with me.”
“Oh, Lance. I’m not sure I remember how.”
“Good. Then I won’t embarrass you.” He took her arm and led her to the dance floor.
Grace knew he’d been lying about not being able to dance as soon as they took a few steps. He was a wonderful dancer and she felt like a princess as he guided her around the floor. He didn’t even seem to mind that she was awkward and her bad foot kept making her miss steps. She tried to relax and enjoy being in his arms, because she knew it was probably the only time he’d hold her this close tonight. He’d been more than clear that the intimacy they shared was over. But she wasn’t going to think about any of that now. At this moment, all she wanted to do was savor the sensation of his nearness because she figured it would probably never happen again.
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