“Remember, you promised to save me a dance tonight!” Paul called up to her.
“I remember.” came the gentle voice of an angel.
He left the saloon with a smile on his face and excitement in his heart.
CHAPTER NINE
Jeremiah knocked on Amelia’s door, fully expecting to be scolded for arriving later than he had promised. But nothing had prepared him for the breathtaking vision that stood before him as she opened the door. He scrutinized her from her head to her feet.
The tasteful pink and burgundy gown she wore accentuated the proportions of her feminine curves and the color set off her pretty face and sparkling eyes. The front of her hair had been twisted and pulled back and secured with a burgundy bow and was left to trickle down her spine.
“Hello, Jeremiah, how are you this fine evening?” When he didn’t answer right away, she reached out her hands, waving them through the air in front of her. “Jeremiah?”
“Forgive me for my hesitation, but when I saw you, your beauty distracted me. You look lovely tonight, Amelia.”
“Thank you. I wondered if you would help me wrap a present for my Aunt.”
“Sure. I can help you wrap it. It’ll take no time at all.” His long strides took him to the dressing table, and in moments the tiny box was enshrouded in flowered paper and ribbons.
“Thank you again. Would you do me one more favor, please? I would like that package to be the last one she opens. Could you see to that for me? I certainly would appreciate it.”
“Your wish is my command, fair lady.” Jeremiah tucked the tiny parcel into his jacket pocket. “Shall we go?” Amelia offered him her arm and the two headed downstairs to join the party that was already under way.
› › ›
Paul was about to drink a glass of punch when his eyes were drawn to the stairway where the two were descending. His hand froze in front of him as he admiringly beheld how Amelia looked.
“Isn’t she a peach?” Corrin said as she came up behind him, having noticed Paul watching her niece. She remembered that adoring look.
“She’s exquisite!”
› › ›
The party was a festive affair, people dancing, laughing, talking, and eating to their heart’s content. Amelia couldn’t remember this much gayety at the parties she attended back in Georgia. Of course she hadn’t attended one in nearly two years due to her mother’s illness. Perhaps she shouldn’t be here now. It was too soon, but there wasn’t time to think about it. People clamored to bid her hello and make sure she had some punch or something to eat.
She hardly had a moment to herself, for as soon as one dance ended either Jeremiah or another admirer would swoop her back onto the dance floor.
Jeremiah kept a close watch on her, making sure Amelia was never left standing alone for even a second. She hadn’t brought her cane and he’d told her he didn’t want her to become disoriented.
Then the moment she knew he dreaded, but expected, came when Paul Strupel approached them. “Amelia, I believe you promised me a dance.” Then in the true style of a gentleman he looked at Jeremiah and said, “With your permission, of course.”
Jeremiah too acted like a gentleman, instead of the raw lumberman she knew him to be. “Of course, be my guest.”
Paul took Amelia’s hand, tucked it under his arm and led her off to dance. He held her closely and she loved the feel of his strong arms around her, her lips still tingling from his kiss.
“You look positively stunning tonight, Amelia.”
“Thank you. I was hoping you’d notice.” She gave him one of her special smiles.
› › ›
Jeremiah was watching the two when Beau came up behind him. “She sure is something. But it don’t make no sense---you being with a city woman.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“Well, you and me---we’re mountain men. We don’t got no business taking up with no city women. We’re simple folk and live in small cabins up in the mountains. And you, well, you’re gone for weeks at a time out there at the logging camp. Why, no frail, little, city woman would be able to make it through one winter up at your place. Especially one that’s blind.”
Jeremiah stared at Beau, not sure he liked what the man was saying.
“Why, come winter a woman in the mountains . . . well she’s got to be strong and hearty. I reckon she’s got to be able to chop wood and stoke up a good, hot fire and all. Now, Miss Jackson there, she ain’t able to do none of that. Why, she can’t even cook or do the washing or ironing or cleaning. You remember my Anna, don’t you?”
Jeremiah nodded.
“Well, she was strong and sturdy---made for the rugged life. The only thing that ever got her down was the typhoid that same year your ma and pa died. I haven’t found myself another woman yet that compares with my Anna. Yessiree. You and me need to get ourselves mountain women.” Beau stopped to point at Paul and Amelia on the dance floor.
“Now take those two. Well, now I was saying to myself that’s a fine couple there. See how he holds her so nice and tender like? And if you watch him long enough you’ll see the way he looks at her and touches her so sweet like. He’s right taken with her, I reckon. And I’m thinking she’s taken with him too.”
Jeremiah gulped as he looked closely at the two on the dance floor. His heart pounded from the words the old timer spoke, and he didn’t like it one bit.
“Now a fella like Strupel, well he already got a charwoman---old Widow Scranton there ---to do his cleaning and mending and washing and all. So when he takes himself a wife he ain’t gotta be thinking about getting himself a hearty woman. And he works right nearby his place so he can just be looking after the wood chopping and all because he goes home every night. He can just marry for love.”
“Now I’m not saying fellas like us can’t marry for love too, but we gotta be more careful with our hearts. We just gotta make sure we’re falling for the right kind of woman.”
Jeremiah stared at his companion in disbelief at the astute wisdom with which this backward mountain man had just presented his observations. He looked away from him. He knew all too well that the life of the mountaineer was not an easy one. It called for fortitude, strength of character, and raw determination to master the fundamental lessons of living in the backwoods. Up there you either dominate the mountain or the mountain dominates you.
His thoughts stabbed at him. Beau was right; Amelia didn’t belong there. She would never be able to live his kind of rugged life, and for him to pretend otherwise would be an injustice to her. She’s a woman of gentility, her blindness adding to her delicate nature.
Jeremiah was a mountain man through and through and couldn’t change his ways if he wanted to. It would be unfair to allow an intimate relationship to form---knowing that nothing could ever come of it. Anything other than a mutual friendship would be a disservice to Amelia. He knew that now.
Swallowing hard, he put one hand on Beau’s shoulder and looked him in the eyes. “I hate to admit it, my friend. But you’re right.”
“Well, I hope I didn’t go off and be too hard on you. Sometimes we can’t see our own situations as clearly as an outsider can.”
Jeremiah watched Paul and Amelia as they danced. This time he allowed himself to observe them with his heart. For the first time he actually noticed the adoring way Paul looked at her, his tender smile, his gentle touch. He was talking with her softly as they danced and she would reply with a smile, causing Paul to smile even broader. Jeremiah thought she allowed him to dance too closely with her.
Could it be that Beau was right? Were they really in love? Should he let her go? After all, he really didn’t think he loved her. Maybe it was just an infatuation. She sure was beautiful, though, and he genuinely enjoyed her company, which made his decision difficult. But he had to make up his mind. He had to push his feelings aside and think of what was best for Amelia. This wasn’t going to be easy, but he knew it had to be done.
The music st
opped and the announcement made that Corrin would now open the many gifts people had brought.
Paul escorted Amelia back to Jeremiah and thanked him for the honor of dancing with her. Jeremiah could see the love in Paul’s eyes when he looked at her. Jeremiah escorted her in silence to the gift table, continuing his laborious speculations as the guests watched Corrin open one present and then another. Amelia reached for his shoulder to get his attention and ask what each item was. He answered her and she would smile and nod.
Jeremiah looked at her pretty face, wishing Beau would have waited until another time to make his remarks, or at least until after the dance was over. The evening was ruined now. It became more difficult to enjoy the wonderful company of this sweet, young lady with each passing moment.
As Corrin was opening the last present he slipped the tiny package he was carrying for Amelia onto the table.
“What’s this? I didn’t see this here before.” Corrin looked around to see if the person who had given her this teeny gift would speak up.
“She’s opening your gift now,” He whispered to Amelia.
› › ›
Amelia smiled and became flushed at the sudden thought of what she was about to do. It simply hadn’t occurred to her that there would be a hall full of people to play for. Perhaps she should feign illness and avoid carrying out her intentions to play the piano for her Aunt.
“What? It’s empty! Is this someone’s idea of a joke?” Her voice held the hint of a smile.
“No, Aunt Corrin.” Amelia almost couldn’t find her voice, but then continued with resolve. “It’s from me. You see, what I want to give you simply won’t fit into any box.” She turned to Jeremiah. “Jeremiah, would you kindly escort Aunt Corrin and me to the piano?”
He took one lady in each arm and routed them through the crowd who parted for the threesome to pass.
When they arrived at the piano, Amelia directed Corrin to stand beside it, and she sat on the stool where she hesitated a moment, hoping she wouldn’t faint. After hesitating a little too long Amelia felt a consoling hand upon her shoulder and then the comforting voice of Paul Strupel whispering in her ear.
“You can do this, Angel” he said, his voice calm and soothing. “Just take a deep breath and don’t start until you’re absolutely ready. I’ll be right here behind you, if you need me.” He then unabashedly kissed her on the temple and took a couple stepped behind her.”
The crowd gasped and whispered at the gesture, and Amelia felt her face flush, but it gave her the resolve she needed. She lifted her hands to the keyboard, located middle C, and then moved her fingers to rest over the beginning chords.
Amelia played the chords to the beautiful sonata. At first people whispered to one another in their astonishment, but soon the saloon became as silent as a midnight snowfall and she played confidently and sure, never missing a note or a crescendo or a staccato. When she finished, the crowd’s silence continued and she almost forgot they were there.
Corrin immediately went to her niece and engulfed her in her arms. “Oh, honey. I had no idea you could play like that! It was so beautiful. And I’m so proud of you. Thank you, sweetie.” She kissed her cheek.
Then the crowd went delirious with their applause and cheers. They closed in on her, each wanting to personally congratulate Amelia on her accomplishment.
› › ›
Jeremiah stepped away from the crowd, away from Amelia. The crowd had been scandalized when Paul kissed Amelia on her head. They looked to Jeremiah for his reaction, but he gave no indication that he had even seen what Paul had just done.
But he saw it. And he took it to heart, snow sure of what he must do---no matter how difficult it was for him to let her go. Knowing he wasn’t going to ask her out again, he wanted to just leave, get away from there, and end it all quickly. He had to guard his heart and didn’t want to prolong being with her. That would just make it all the more difficult.
He found Paul in the midst of the crowd and pulled him aside, many people around them expecting a fight. “I’m not feeling well. Would you mind taking care of Amelia the rest of the night for me?”
“Are you sure? Maybe if you go upstairs and lie down---”
“No!” Jeremiah snapped as he shook his head. “I need to go home. I can’t stay here any longer.”
“You look fine to me. What’s wrong? Do you want to talk about it?” Paul looked searchingly into his eyes, knowing Jeremiah all too well.
When Jeremiah didn’t answer, Paul didn’t press him right then. “Don’t worry. I’ll take good care of Amelia.”
Jeremiah put his hand on his friend’s shoulder and looked him straight in the eyes. “I know you will. You love her.” He turned and headed out the door and back to his cabin in the woods.
› › ›
Paul realized at that moment that Jeremiah was commending Amelia to him. As he watched his friend sullenly walk out the door, he didn’t know whether to show sadness at Jeremiah’s despondency or elation at having her to himself.
He turned his gaze toward Amelia where she still stood in the midst of a small crowd of people. He observed the way the lamplight bounced off her hair, how velvety her young face was as she exuberated from her apparent success. He longed to caress her shoulders and to touch her delicate neck. His arms ached and yearned to reach out and pull her close and kiss her. To not be able to do so would be the most dreadful thing he could think of. That must be what Jeremiah felt right now. He went to her and decided to say as little as possible for the moment. This was a special night for her and he didn’t want to ruin it.
“You played magnificently,” he told her.” I’m so proud of you.” Slipping his arm around her waist, the people around her were ready to use the gesture at their next gossip session. After all, hadn’t Miss Jackson arrived with Jeremiah Cowan? Paul managed to draw Amelia away from the crowd.
“Jeremiah wasn’t feeling well and had to leave. He asked me if I would take care of you the rest of the night.”
“Will he be all right? Should we summon the Doctor?”
“No. He’ll be all right. He just needs to go home and rest.”
“I am sorry to hear that. I know he was looking forward to this party. I hate to see him miss it.”
Paul was amazed by her empathy. It was just one more reason for him to love her.
Amelia must have realized she now had a new escort for the evening, and she smiled at him.
“Well, Mr. Strupel. If you promised to take care of me, then I suggest you get to it.”
“And what, pray tell, would the lady require of your most humble servant?”
She giggled. “I would appreciate a glass of punch, please.” He escorted her to a nearby chair and left to do her bidding.
Corrin followed Paul to the refreshment table. “I overheard what Jeremiah told you, Paul, and you know as well as I do that Jeremiah Cowan has never been sick a day in his life. What’s really wrong?”
“He is sick, Corrin---heart sick.” He gazed at Amelia. “I guess I shouldn’t have kissed her at the piano.”
“Do you regret kissing her at the piano?”
“No.”
“Well, you knew this would happen sooner or later. One girl, two men. She could only have picked one, and the other would have been left behind. I think it’s good that it happened now. I don’t think he had fallen for her as deeply as you have. He’ll be all right in no time. You’ll see.”
Paul retrieved two glasses of punch and was fortunate to find a vacant chair beside Amelia, for she was enshrouded by devotees. He gingerly placed a glass in her hand, which she gratefully accepted. Several of her admirers were coaxing her to dance with them, but she declined them all, stating that she wished to just sit and catch her breath awhile, so gradually they left her to find a more willing dance partner.
He knew he would go talk to Jeremiah later, but for now he had a job to do—keeping Miss Amelia Jackson close to him for the duration of the night.
›
› ›
Amelia found many clever excuses to keep herself from having to dance with anyone else but Paul for the duration of the night. Sometime around one o’clock she became exhausted, barely able to keep her eyes open any longer.
Paul took her upstairs and opened the door to her room. They paused in the doorway embracing each other, neither wanting to be the first to say good night.
“Thank you for taking such good care of me in Jeremiah’s absence. I had a wonderful time. It was because of you that I was able to make it through the sonata.”
He stroked her hair tenderly and kissed her forehead. “It was because of my kiss at the piano that Jeremiah left tonight.”
“I don’t understand.”
“I guess he realized that I’ve fallen in love with you, and the fact that you accepted the kiss must have told him that you might be feeling the same about me. He must have started to feel out of place. And being the sensitive man that he is, he decided to stop calling on you.”
So that’s why he had left her in the middle of the dance. Amelia didn’t know how to react to this. She was glad that the bickering between the two would be over, but her heart sank as she realized that she was the reason Jeremiah left.
And then there was Paul---sweet, tender, gentle, attentive, loving man that he was. She thought she might be falling in love with him, but was afraid to express this until she was positive. Her emotions were jumbled. All she could do was lay her head against his chest. It was just too soon.
“I won’t be at church tomorrow, so I made arrangements for Mrs. Conner to take you. I hope that’s all right with you. I’m going up into the mountains to visit an old friend---to make sure he’s all right.”
Amelia remembered her aunt’s words during their stagecoach ride. You may not believe it now, but if either one of them was ever in trouble the other would be at his side in a heartbeat, helping in whatever way he could. I think you’d be amazed at how deep their friendship goes. Aunt Corrin was definitely right. Amelia was amazed.
Angel In The Saloon (Brides of Glory Gulch) Page 11
