Faith held the little girl on her hip and hugged Charity close. Why was she being so emotional today? Family. She loved them all so much.
"Charity, I can't believe it is really you. You are beautiful," Faith exclaimed in disbelief.
"Is it really that shocking a change?" It hurt a little to think the old Charity didn't measure up to everyone's expectations.
She refused to allow her emotions to rise. A lady never cries in public, she reminded herself. Charity chucked the little girl’s chin and changed the subject. She laughed when Mary giggled. “Oh my gosh, she’s so adorable. How old is she, Faith?”
“She was two in January so almost two and a half now. I can’t believe it either. She’s growing like a thistle.”
“Make room for three more.” Charity turned to see her youngest sister, Hope, enter the room with her children, a girl and a boy, both whom had been born while Charity was away. She wished she could have been here. She had missed so much while she was away. And for what? So Miles could find a wife while she was gone? Well, he wasn’t married yet, in spite of Little Miss Baker’s intentions.
“Hope.” She hugged her youngest sister and then stepped back to look at her sister's children. Hope introduced them. “Charity, this is Rosie. She will be two in October. And this is John, he’s almost seven months old. Say hello to your Aunt Charity.” Hope had a child on each hip. And they were both studying Charity.
“They are so beautiful.” Charity glanced around the room taking in her sisters and their families. Another wave of emotions hit her hard and she couldn’t hold back the single telltale traitor that slipped down her cheek. She brushed it away and turned toward the vanity.
“Charity, are you alright?” Hope asked.
“I’ve never seen you cry before.” Faith commented.
Soon, all three sisters and their gaggle of children surrounded her, their faces wrinkled in concern.
“Nonsense. I’m just a bit overwhelmed with all the attention, that’s all. And as glad as I am to see all of you, if I’m to be the belle of the ball at tonight’s party, I must finish my preparations. I want to look my best.”
“Are you expecting a certain someone?” Grace asked.
Charity knew who her sister was referring to, but she didn't know if Miles was coming tonight or not so she didn't want anyone to think she would be disappointed if he didn't show up. But she would be. Sorely disappointed.
"No one in particular." She patted her hair and clipped on her earrings. The emerald green ones that brought out the sparkle in her matching green eyes.
"Charity, you know you can't fool your sisters. We know you, remember? Is Miles coming tonight or isn't he?" Grace pushed for an answer.
"I truly don't know. I invited him in person, but that was before I found out that he has a paramour on the side." She sniffed.
"Ah, so you know about Selina Watson then. I'm surprised you haven't called her out into the street and rolled around in the mud like you did Cora Ludlow." Faith teased.
"No, I did not. The days of rolling around in the mud are over. I'm a lady, or have you forgotten?" Charity teased, but her heart did not find Miles' affections for Selina Watson funny in the least.
Grace came to stand behind Charity when she tried to put on her necklace without success. "Here, let me help you with that." Grace clasped the necklace and then patted Charity on the shoulders. "Dear sister, you have nothing to worry about. That meek and mild little mouse may have her cap set for Miles, but everyone in this town knows he belongs to you."
Charity met her sister's gaze in the mirror of her vanity. "Well, I wish someone would tell that stubborn mule of a man that."
Grace laughed. The tinkling sound made Charity grin. "Charity, my dear, dear sister. He has gotten the message. I can assure you he is well aware of the attraction between you two. What he hasn't figured out yet is what to do about it."
Hope added her two cents to the conversation. "That man is scared to death of his feelings for you, Charity. He didn't know how to do anything but run from you before, but now that you have learned the art of restraint, you can use it to turn the tables on the man—so to speak. Before you know it, he will be trailing you up a tree like a hunting dog on a coon."
Charity laughed at the image of Miles chasing her up a tree and the thought of what would happened when he caught her gave her a wave of goosepimples across her body.
"I hope you are right. But just in case Sheriff Grayson doesn't cooperate, I have a few tricks up my sleeve that I learned from my classmates at the finishing school." She sent a knowing look to her sisters.
Grace turned her around on the vanity stool to face her. "Look me in the eye, Charity. That look is making me nervous. What kind of tricks are you talking about? Sheriff Grayson doesn't strike me as the kind of man who is going to like to be tricked."
Faith and Hope came to stand next to Grace, their children following or hanging off of them in the process.
"Charity, you don't need to use trickery to catch Miles Grayson's attention. You already have his attention. You just need to convince him you've changed." Faith offered a word of advice. "And you can't do that if you trick him—especially if he finds out."
Charity stood and parted her sea of sisters. She pulled her party dress from its hanger “He’s not going to find out. Now, help me into this. My guests are waiting.”
Miles stepped up on to the Hanover’s porch and knocked. He should have stayed at the jail house guarding his prisoner. And yet, here he was at a party for a woman who made him feel things he shouldn’t.
When no one answered, he knocked again on the large wooden door. It opened immediately. “Well, hello Sheriff. We are so happy you were able to join us this evening.” Hiram Hanover welcomed him in. “I would think you of all people would appreciate this welcome home party for Charity and what it means.”
Miles frowned. “Me? Why would I appreciate it?" He didn't like everyone's preoccupation of him and Charity's...friction.
“Well, of course. If it hadn’t been for your, shall we say insistence that Charity learn to behave herself, who knows where our lovely red-headed spitfire would be today. I dare say you were about ready to carve her name in a permanent spot on one of your jail cells, am I wrong?” Hiram laughed.
“No, you are not wrong, Hiram.” Miles relaxed and removed his hat. Relief eased the tension between his shoulders to know he had misread Hiram’s comments. He handed his hat to his host who hung it on the hall tree beside the door.
“Well, all of us who love Charity will be forever in your debt for your part in helping us to convince her to attend the ladies finishing school back east. I do believe those two years were well spent. Wouldn’t you agree, Sheriff?”
“I would agree she has benefited from her education.” He knew it was an off-handed compliment, but he still was a bit skittish around the woman. Any signs of wavering on his part and he was certain she would have him hog-tied and lashed to her saddle riding off toward the mountains. He felt a stir in his body at the image that created in his mind.
“And we owe it all to you, sheriff.”
It was at that moment, he realized they were no longer alone. Charity joined them and tucked her arm around Hiram’s. She gave the man a daughterly kiss and then turned her attention to him.
“So you think I’ve managed to smooth out some of my rough edges. I dare say, I did learn a lot at that school for finishing young woman. Such a strange term, don’t you think? Finishing them for what?”
Before he could answer another knock sounded at the door. Hiram unhooked Charity’s arm from his. “Charity, why don’t you escort Miles to the parlor for refreshments.” The parlor doorway was only a few feet away. He didn’t need escorting. He could escort himself, and yet when Charity turned to him expectantly, he extended his arm to her. She placed her hand in the crook of his arm and guided him to the large beautiful parlor where a low murmur of voices could be heard.
The feel of her fingers through
his shirt created an itch down low and well south of his gun belt. He ignored the sensation. She leaned in to whisper something close to his ear and he instinctively leaned closer to hear her. “I’m so glad you came, Sheriff.”
The brush of her breath against his ear created a steady hum of desire through his body. But it was her scent, sweet and female, that drifted over him and made him want to scratch the hell out of that itch.
He looked down at the woman on his arm. He was mesmerized by the changes in her. Her poise. Her manners. Her unmistakable physical beauty. And yet, those eyes of hers, those deep emerald green eyes of hers, still held the promise of a wild untamed rebellious spirit. It was simply hidden beneath all those layers of silk brocade and polished refinement.
Desire welled up inside him and Doc Howard’s words from this morning’s impromptu conversation taunted him. ‘You have feelings for Charity Montgomery and the more you deny them, the stronger they are gonna get. And there’s gonna be an explosion that is gonna blow your world apart.’
He looked down at the woman on his arm again. She looked back and her fingers tightened around his arm. He wanted to lean down and kiss those tantalizing coral colored lips of hers. The urge was almost too strong to resist, and yet—
“Miles, I didn’t expect to see you here. Why didn’t you tell me you were coming to the party? I would have waited for you.”
Selina’s voice spoke clearly from behind him. He turned to see Hiram with Selina on his arm and the man Charity had breakfast with this morning standing behind them. Damn it.
Charity pulled away from him and turned to the gentleman. “Mr. Carter. Do come in. I was hoping you would join us this evening. Let me introduce you to my sisters.”
Miles watched her link arms with the man and lead him across the parlor to where her sisters were standing together with their husbands. He stood in the doorway and watched, his fists clenched at his side.
“Miles, are you alright? You seem upset about something. Is everything okay?” Selina asked and came to stand beside him.
“Everything is just fine. Why wouldn't it be?” He tore his gaze from the woman across the room who had set his blood on fire with just a touch of her hand and a look from those siren green eyes.
Selina slipped her hand on his arm. He looked down where their bodies touched. There was no spark. No sizzle. No...nothing.
"Miles?" Selina's voice prodded him.
He pulled his thoughts from the woman across the room and smiled at Selina. "Your aunt is over there. I’ll see you settled and then I’ll get you some refreshments.” He felt a twinge of guilt as she flushed with excitement at his attentions. She was a sweet woman who deserved a man who could love her with all of his heart. That man wasn’t him even if he could allow it.
He deposited Selina in the chair next to her aunt by the window, then headed to the table along the back wall where refreshments were waiting. He picked up a plate and loaded it with food. He wasn’t hungry, but it gave him something to do with his hands besides punch something—or someone—in the mouth.
Laughter pulled his attention, and that nagging itch, back to the woman across the room. She and her sisters were laughing at something the man attached to her side said. Her eyes were bright. Her face glowed. She stole his breath away. Damn it.
“If you keep looking at her like that, people are gonna start to notice.” Doc Howard’s voice penetrated Miles' lust-filled delirium.
He jerked his gaze from Charity and met the knowing eyes of the man standing next to him. “I don’t know what the hell you are talking about.” Miles turned his attention to the food and scooped up two more pieces of fried chicken and added them to the growing pile of food on his too small plate.
Doc Howard chuckled. “Miles, you want that woman and it is plain as day to see. Deny it all you want, but I know it. And deep down, you know it too. The question is what are you going to do about it?”
He shot another look toward Charity. He wanted her. He could admit that. At least to himself. He was a man and she was sure as hell all woman. But, he also knew if he got too close to that flame, someone would get burned. His father had made that fatal mistake. He would not.
He turned away from the stunning red-head across the room. “Not a damn thing, Doc. Not a blasted damn thing.” He shoved his overflowing plate at the man and stalked out of the room. He yanked his hat off the hall tree and left the Hanover home as fast as he could without running. His frustration wanted to slam the big solid front door and rattle its hinges. Instead, he deliberately closed it with a soft touch. Quiet and deliberate. Just like the door that teased him with a future with the woman inside, who with just a touch of her hand, had set his blood on fire.
His job was to protect the good people of Creede and he couldn’t do that if he was distracted. That was how people he cared for got killed and that couldn’t happen again. Damn it.
6
Charity knew the minute Miles left the room because all the excitement she felt at knowing his eyes were on her died out. She tried to keep her focus on the silly dandy who was doing his best to entertain her. She had to admit she felt a slight wave of guilt leading the man on, but she would do it all again to see that look on Miles Grayson's face. He. Was. Jealous.
The evening grew late and guests began to leave in small groups. Finally, around midnight, the house was empty except for her family. Aggie and Hiram said their goodnights and took themselves off to bed.
Faith and Liam said their goodbyes and headed up town to their home, their sleeping little daughter snug and safe in her father’s arms.
Hope, Billy and their two little ones followed Faith and Liam out the door and down the street to their home at the north edge of town. It was where they stayed when Hope worked for Doc Howard delivering babies and taking care of women’s health issues.
John said his goodnight and went upstairs to check on little Abbie Rose who had gone to bed hours ago even if she had done so against her will. They were spending the night at the Hanovers before heading back to their beautiful cabin on the mountain west of town.
Grace sat down beside Charity on the floral settee and exclaimed. “I would say tonight’s welcome home party for you, dear sister, was a monumental success, wouldn't you agree?”
Charity turned to her sister and grinned. “Did you see the way Miles looked at me tonight? I swear I though he was going to kiss me right in front of everyone.”
“Yes, I did see that. And so did most of Creede's gossips. If it hadn’t been for Selina Watson arriving at the most inopportune moment, I’m almost certain he would have done just that.”
Charity inhaled a deep breath of satisfaction. “He looked at me tonight as if I was the only woman on earth. He’s never looked at me like that before.” Sadness crept into her voice and her sister was quick to pick up on it.
“Then why so melancholy? I thought that’s what you wanted. To be noticed by Miles Grayson.” Her sister pointed out.
“I did. I mean I do. It’s just that...” She couldn’t quite put her feelings into words.
“I think I understand. It bothers you that he looks at you that way now and not before your transformation, doesn’t it?”
Grace always was the peacemaker. And she could get to the truth quicker than anyone Charity knew. Well, except maybe Hiram Hanover, and she was convinced that man had the ability to read a person’s mind.
“Yes, it does bother me. He wants a proper woman to marry. A woman who dresses a certain way. And talks a certain way.”
Grace reached over and pulled Charity’s hand into hers. “Sweet sister, Charity, he’s a man. And just so you know, he has wanted you long before he saw you in fancy skirts and pretty hats. But there’s something keeping him from acting on those feelings."
"Like what? If you love someone, wouldn't you want to be with them, no matter what?" Charity couldn't understand not being with the person you loved if there was no reason to keep them apart. And as far as she knew, there was no reas
on they should be apart except for Miles' own stubbornness.
"Maybe something from his past prevents him from giving in to his feelings for you," Grace suggested.
“Like what? And how am I supposed to find out what that is when every time he sees me, he runs in the other direction. Although I will admit, he's not running near as fast as he used to," Charity grinned, “or far.”
"Can I say something to you that might help? Sister to sister?"
"Of course. If you have any bits of wisdom or advice I can use to capture Mile's heart, I will be forever in your debt."
"I've learned a lot since I came to Creede as a mail-order bride and the most important lesson is that everyone has a past. And sometimes, as you and I both know, a past can be full of heartaches and heartbreaks and it can make us afraid. Afraid to love. Afraid to trust. Afraid of being hurt. And if a person isn't able to get past whatever it is that scares them, then that very unhappy past can define their entire future."
"Are you saying Miles is afraid of something? And here I thought it was my rough and rowdy self he feared," she joked but she didn't feel much like laughing.
"Charity, that man wants you with every fiber of his being, but something is holding him back...preventing him from giving in to those feelings.
"The best advice I can offer is to get his attention long enough to find out exactly what troubles him. Only then will you know how to convince him the worse won't happen."
Charity nodded her understanding. "I sense you may be right about that, Grace. I will just have to get his full and undivided attention."
Grace yawned. "I think I will go up and join my husband and daughter in a good night's sleep." Her sister stood and kissed her on the cheek. "Good night, Charity. Dream sweet dreams and I wish and pray that all of those dreams come true for you…just as mine have."
Charity (Brides of the Rio Grande Book 4) Page 6