by Lower, Becky
She sighed and blinked away the sudden tears. His curt remark told her tonight would be no different than the past week had been. “Yes, I’m meeting him here. I wanted to see baby Samuel. After all, it’s been a month.”
Ginger’s eyes flitted to Basil. “What’s got you so riled up, Bas?”
“Nothing.” He quickly walked away.
The women glanced at one another. Then Ginger’s gaze flittered in the direction Basil took. “My brother can be an ass, but this is above and beyond what even he’s capable of. Temperance, what’s going on?”
“I shouldn’t be burdening you with my problems, Ginger. You have enough to deal with as it is.”
“Nonsense. Tell me. You’re the only reason I can think of why he’s so upset. What’s been happening?”
“You were wrong when you told me he loves me. He wants nothing to do with me. He proved that the other night when he brought Jake out to the restaurant. Basil and I discussed ways I could get my family to Oregon and he said he’d be on the lookout for a man to lead us. Then he shows up with Jake. So I assume he is the trustworthy man Basil thinks we need. And he basically handed me over to him, as if I was a sack of goods.”
Ginger’s eyes followed the retreating form of her brother. “Oh, that’s not at all what he’s done. I know my brother. I was with him as he grieved last year when the actress he was in love with died. He’s acting the same way now. He’s lamenting your loss.”
“But I haven’t gone anywhere,” Temperance replied.
“Not yet. But you’re determined to fulfill your father’s last wishes, and he’s trying to let you go. To help you honor your father’s directive by not offering you any reason to stay here.” Ginger glanced over at Temperance. “So, Jake Shelton, is it? He is handsome, I’ll give you that. Not as handsome as my Joseph,” she said, tugging on Joseph’s hand as they walked. “But still, not a bad choice.”
Temperance shook her head. “I haven’t chosen him. He simply asked me to accompany him to this dance, and I agreed. After all, Basil’s known about the dance for weeks and never once even indicated he’d be in attendance.”
“Well, of course he’d be here. Basil is obligated to put in an appearance, since he is one of the leaders of business here in town. But he usually ducks out of these social obligations and finds his way to where the paddleboats are docked for the evening so he can join in a card game or worse. Watch how long he sticks around this evening. My guess is he won’t leave until you do.”
Temperance wasn’t so sure.
• • •
Jake met up with Temperance before she made it to the front door of the hall.
“Hello there, pretty miss.” He doffed his wide-brimmed hat to her and smiled, flashing a deep dimple in his left cheek.
In spite of just being crushed by Basil’s comment, she smiled. “Good evening, Jake. I’m looking forward to this dance.”
“Not nearly as much as I am. Shall we?” He extended an arm to her and she placed her hand on it. Then he led her into the room where a crowd awaited.
A small band of musicians was positioned in one corner and were in the midst of a lively tune. Couples, young and old alike, were already in the middle of the large room, moving through the steps of the Virginia Reel. Temperance followed the dancers’ movements as they stepped back four steps and forward again. Then the couple at the end of the line stepped forward to the center, turned around, then back to their original places.
They stepped forward again and do-si-doed around each other, then galloped down the aisle created by the other dancers. Temperance had danced in a similar fashion at the barn dances in Pennsylvania, but this was a bit different. Her feet tapped in time to the music as she waited for Jake to lead her to the dance floor so she could try out these new steps.
Then she gasped as she noticed one of the dancing couples. Her mother was already dancing, and with Mr. Walters from the post office! Her mother had wanted to come to this dance, but Temperance thought it was only because she had been cooped up in the house all winter with young children. She never expected to see her mother dancing. She shook her head when Jake asked her to dance, and begged him to get her a cup of hot cider instead. She wanted to be alone when she talked to her mother.
Martha Jones left the dance floor, laughing at something Mr. Walters was telling her. Her eyes lost their glimmer when she spied Temperance.
“May I have a word with you, Ma?”
“Yes, of course. Excuse me, Mr. Walters.” The two ladies moved to a private corner.
“Why are you dancing, Ma?”
“Because we’re at a dance, aren’t we?” Martha reached out and ran her hand over Temperance’s hair. “I’m having fun. Lord knows, there’s far too little of that out here on the frontier. And it’s been a long time since I had a reason to laugh.”
“But Da’s only been gone two months, and you’re going to have his last child shortly. Shouldn’t you show respect for the dead for a year? Isn’t that proper?” Tears formed at the back of Temperance’s eyes again and she blinked them away.
“My darling girl, don’t be upset. I haven’t forgotten your Da, nor will I ever. Every time I look at one of you children, I see him. I will go into confinement soon, as I begin to show. But for right now, for these few moments, I want to have some fun. Mr. Walters is a very nice man, and lonely since his Hannah passed on a few years ago.”
“Just don’t forget, we’re going to Oregon, come spring.”
“I am aware that’s what your da thought best, and of your promise to him to continue the journey, and to keep the boys safe from this upcoming war. It’s a noble thought, but I don’t know how we can do that now. We must be realistic, and not put our family at risk. Life on a wagon train is very hard, even with a man to lead the way and sturdy oxen to pull the wagon. It would be nigh impossible to do it on our own.”
“It’s not impossible, Ma. Maybe a bit more challenging than it would have been otherwise. I’ll make certain we get there. It’s what Da wanted for us, so we must fulfill his wish.”
Her mother sighed. “Your Da had a wandering foot, honey, which is one of the things I loved about him. He always wondered what was over the next hill. I never wanted to crush his dreams, but it made for a hard life, setting up a new house every couple of years, making new friends, finding schools and playmates for all of you. I’m not so sure I’m up for doing that one more time. I enjoy it here in St. Louis.”
“But we must, Ma. It will be our final way to honor Da, to keep safe Justice and Valor, and to complete Da’s vision for our family. We are eligible for 640 acres of land in one of the most fertile valleys on God’s green earth. All we have to do is get there.”
Martha wrapped her arm around her daughter. “I do love your single-mindedness. You are so similar to your da.”
Temperance glanced across the room in an attempt to put her thoughts in order. She took a long look at Mr. Walters. He was a short, thin man with a mustache and hair turning white at his temples. His body was not hard and lean in the manner of most men in the west, but he seemed nice enough. When Mr. Walters caught her stare, he smiled at her. She waved at him and quickly glanced away. He had a kind face, true, but he would never be Da. What harm could come of him dancing with her mother? Her mother was right. There were far too few reasons to laugh and have fun on the frontier.
Martha took hold of Temperance’s hand. “Don’t we both deserve a better life than what we have?” She rested her cheek up against her daughter’s hair.
Temperance sighed as she replied. “But the only way to get to that better life is to complete our journey and get to Oregon. Let’s not lose sight of that. Tonight, we’ll just have some fun, but tomorrow, we need to get back to the business of getting our family moved west. I’ll do what I have to get us there.”
Chapter Twenty
; St. Louis prided itself on being known as the gateway to the west. Certainly, there were people from all walks of life who, once they got this far, decided to stay and put down roots. And the city welcomed them all, as was evident at the annual Christmas dance. The wives of professional businessmen rubbed shoulders with the dance hall girls, and, for one night a year at least, put aside their differences and enjoyed themselves. Basil gazed across the crowded room with its gaily colored adornments and laughing throngs of guests. His thoughts were just the opposite — dark and ominous.
He danced with a variety of ladies, from Desireé, the dance hall woman who knocked off Temperance’s hat that night in the bar, to Mrs. Solomon, the portly wife of the owner of the grocery store. He paid little heed to any of the women, since he kept casting his glance around the room in search of Temperance. Although he didn’t know why he was torturing himself. She obviously thought Jake was the better man to shower her attention on. And if Jake should make an improper advance, Basil had no doubt, of all the women he’d ever met, Temperance would be able to take care of herself. It had taken him the better part of one week to heal from her punch to his face. She might be small, but she packed a wallop. In more ways than one. His hand went to his chest as he caught sight of her, smiling up at something Jake said. Heartburn, again. He really must get to the doctor.
He prowled around the perimeter of the room as if he were a wolf stalking its prey, stopping to chat for a few minutes with the various clusters of men and women who were influential in the town. Basil wound his way over to Ginger and Joseph, who were proudly showing off Samuel to the townsfolk. Some of the town’s residents were prejudiced against the Lafontaine family because of their Indian heritage. Hell, he’d even tried to caution his sister against marrying Joseph, despite knowing how much they loved each other. When she’d thrown convention out the window anyway and married Joseph, she was held up to ridicule by some of the town’s most influential people.
Basil bore the brunt of the animosity since he was in town every day. He supposed it would take years, if ever, for Indians and whites to marry without being scorned by some people. By standing here, next to his sister and his best friend, and by showering his new nephew with attention, he was drawing his line in the sand. It wasn’t the noble gesture he made it out in his mind to be. He was looking for a diversion to take his mind off Temperance for a few minutes, and hoped someone would challenge him.
His reprieve was short-lived, however, as she moved into his line of sight. Temperance and Jake were laughing together as they stood in a corner of the room. Basil noticed the mistletoe strung up in each corner of the large room, but doubted if Temperance had yet figured out why Jake was corralling her into the corner. He resembled a border collie and Temperance was a sheep being herded.
Jake grinned as he said something to her and raised a hand up, pointing to the plant overhead. Temperance glanced up at it with surprise, and then her eyes locked with Basil’s. He caught her pleading gaze, but instead of dashing to her rescue, he merely lifted an eyebrow in her direction before he turned away.
“I think I’ll head outside for a smoke,” Basil said. “Want to join me, Joseph?”
Ginger glanced over at her brother. “Isn’t now about the time you take off, anyway?”
“I won’t entice Joseph to join me in a card game, if that’s what you’re worrying about. “We’ll go have a smoke and be back within ten minutes. I just need some fresh air. It’s too hot in here. I’m going to stay here at the dance a bit longer than usual tonight.”
Ginger’s beautiful smile lit her face. “I thought you might.”
“What do you mean?”
“Oh, nothing. Go, enjoy your cigar.”
Basil and Joseph left the room, but Basil had a strong feeling that his sister was aware of something he wasn’t. Or at least didn’t want to admit.
• • •
Temperance barely controlled her impulse to stomp her foot in frustration. Basil noticed her predicament with Jake and refused to help her. His behavior tonight, starting the moment he spied her walking with Ginger, was despicable. She moved beyond wanting to cry about an hour ago. Now she was just plain angry.
Jake stood by her side, patiently waiting for a response to his question. She turned her gaze back to him as Basil and Joseph left the room. “You want to kiss me in front of everyone in the room? Wouldn’t that be unseemly?”
Jake grinned at her. Good Lord, the man was even more handsome when he smiled. Temperance was having trouble focusing on what he was saying as her stomach jumped.
“Not at all unseemly. You are one of the prettiest girls in the room, for one thing. Second, you did agree to accompany me here tonight, so it’s expected. Third, and possibly most important, it must be done now if only to prevent the curse of the mistletoe from happening to you.”
“What do you mean?”
“Aren’t you familiar with the old tale? If a lady refuses to be kissed while under the mistletoe, she will not marry for at least the next year. We don’t want that to happen to you, do we?”
Temperance’s mind raced through all her possible responses. Of course, she didn’t want the curse to descend upon her. She needed to get her family to Oregon, and it seemed that marriage to someone was going to be the only way she could accomplish that. On the other hand, if she kissed Jake now, the entire town would begin to look upon their relationship as more than what it was. But wasn’t that what she wanted? To get everyone, including Jake, to see her as a potential bride? She turned her head from him slightly, so he would be unable to read the confusion in her eyes.
Why couldn’t she be under the mistletoe with Basil instead? Because Basil’s not going to be the one to help your family get to where they need to be, Temperance, and Jake is. Buck up, and accept his kiss. It’s high time.
She smiled up at him and then lowered her eyes so he’d be certain to notice her long lashes, which were the only vanity she allowed herself. “Thank you so much for referring to me as one of the prettiest girls in the room. There are many lovely ladies here tonight, and I’m pleased you think I can hold my own with them.”
She squared her shoulders. “You are correct about the old wives’ tale, too. We certainly don’t want the curse of the mistletoe to land on my shoulders. I do plan to be married by this time next year. I’d appreciate it if you’d oblige me, Jake.” He may think she meant only a kiss, but she was hoping he’d oblige her by offering to marry her, too.
He placed one hand lightly on her cheek and she rose up on her toes to accept his kiss. It was just a slight kiss, barely more than a peck. She hardly had a chance to taste the saltiness of his lips. But it was a perfectly appropriate kiss for the occasion. After all, she didn’t want to swoon in front of the entire town. Which is what would have happened if Basil had been the one to kiss her. But yet, she expected to feel some kind of reaction to Jake’s lips meeting her own. Where was the spark, the shiver of delight racing down her spine, the dampness at her center?
She sighed softly and lowered herself back to the floor in disappointment. She could live without the excitement of a passionate marriage if it meant getting her family safely situated where they needed to be. She’d have to.
• • •
While Joseph comfortably lounged up against the hitching post outside the town hall, Basil paced back and forth, as if he were a toy that had been wound up.
“So the little spitfire is getting to you, is she?” Joseph asked as he inhaled deeply of the fragrant tobacco.
Basil stopped, and pivoted toward him. “No, she is not getting to me.” He ground out his cigar with quick, angry movements. “I know what she’s doing and it doesn’t bother me. She thinks Jake will marry her and then her family can join his wagon train heading out in the spring. But Jake’s already told me he wouldn’t take them on, for a variety of reasons. So while Temperance’s mot
ives are plain as day, I know Jake’s only wanting someone to spend time with this winter, and come spring, he’ll be gone.”
“What is it that upsets you? The fact that she is spending time with Jake or the fact that she will be gone in the spring? Did you not have a hand in introducing them?”
“Yes, I guess I did, since Jake joined me at the public house for dinner one night last week. But I never intended her to latch onto him as quickly as she did. I thought she’d at least talk to me about him in private before agreeing to meet up at the dance tonight. I’ll bet he’ll even try to take her home, so they can spend some time alone together.”
“If he is any kind of man, he would see to it that she gets home safely.”
Basil shrugged his shoulders. “But with him, she’s not safe.”
“Then I would say you have created a problem. If you do not trust the man, you need to tell Temperance that she has drawn the wrong conclusion. It will be up to you to fix it.”
Basil was quiet for a moment. This latest development with Temperance was entirely his doing. He’d introduced her to Jake. She’d gotten the wrong impression of why they were at the public house the moment they sat down, and instead of putting a stop to it right then and there, he was too busy wallowing in the hurt she caused to his ego by showering immediate attention on Jake. He might put store in Jake’s reputation as a wagon master, but by no means did he consider Jake a trustworthy person when it came to women. In that regard, Basil placed Jake in the same category as himself.
He lifted his head and asked, “But how can I put things to right? I can’t dash in and save her from Jake’s clutches as he tries to seduce her. She wants Jake to take a shine to her, so she can go west on the wagon train with him.”
“Are you certain of that? I sensed something between you two the day Samuel was born. That kind of connection does not happen often in life, and you would be foolish if you ignore it and do nothing.”
“She’s told me often enough she has to fulfill her father’s last request and get her family to Oregon. I know she thinks her family has imposed on yours too much as it is, and now, with her mother expecting, if they don’t make the trip with Jake’s wagon train, they’ll have to impose further. I can’t see Temperance putting up with that.”