“I’d like to keep my suspicions to myself for now,” Tom said. “So please keep our conversation between the two of us. I’ll notify Mr. Haney when the time is right.”
“All right.” Harrison pushed back his chair and got to his feet, signaling that their conversation had ended. “By the way, Randolph invited Miss O’Malley to the Cattleman’s Ball tonight with him and Jeremiah. I think it’s a good idea if you go along with them.”
So did Tom.
Because the thought of Katie on the arm of either of those scoundrels was as welcome as a poke in the eye or a punch in the nose.
* * *
In the solitude of Caroline’s bedroom, Katie stood before the full-length mirror and studied her reflection.
Earlier today, Maria had set out one of Caroline’s gowns for Katie to wear to the ball, going so far as to alter it to fit. She’d also insisted upon fixing Katie’s hair, painstakingly weaving the red tendrils into a fashionable coiffure while leaving soft wisps of curls to frame her face.
Katie tugged at the purple satin zinnias that trimmed the neckline of the gown, hoping to cover more of her cleavage. She felt uncomfortable with that much exposure.
Still, the lavender gown was lovely. Maria had done an exceptional job making it fit as though it had been made for Katie alone. Caroline had stood taller and had larger feet. The matching doeskin slippers Maria had set out nearly fit. Katie just hoped she could get through the evening without tripping or slipping out of them. She was nervous enough as it was. In a few minutes, she would be meeting Jeremiah Haney, Randolph’s son and the man Tom intended to meet—the man he hadn’t wanted Katie to speak to.
Tom should have realized Katie O’Malley didn’t obey anyone unless she wanted to. Just because he didn’t consider her especially competent on the trail didn’t mean she wasn’t bright enough to judge a man’s character and do a bit of investigating on her own. If Sarah Jane wasn’t safe in Stillwater, Katie would determine that for herself.
“Randolph and Jeremiah are here,” Maria said from the doorway. When Katie turned, the woman’s face broke into a radiant smile. She clasped her hands together and brought them to her heart. “How beautiful you are.”
“I have you to thank. You’re a talented seamstress.”
Maria shook her head. “Oh, no. God blessed you with beauty. The gown only frames His handiwork.”
Katie’s cheeks warmed. Never having primped and preened over herself, the compliment unbalanced her. She stole a quick glance in the mirror to see whether her cheeks were flushed and she winced when she saw that they were. But there wasn’t much she could do about it. She’d always blushed easily.
“I’d better go,” she said. “I don’t want to keep the gentlemen waiting.”
“For you, they will wait.” Maria winked. As she stepped aside, Katie lifted her hem and strode out the door.
In the sitting room, the men stood beside the settee speaking in low voices. When Katie entered, they paused and turned.
Surprise flooded Randolph’s face. “Miss O’Malley, you look absolutely stunning. Allow me to introduce my son, Jeremiah.”
Dignified, and dressed to perfection in a black suit and crisp white shirt, the younger Haney reached out his hand and greeted Katie with a warm, engaging smile.
He was older than her by close to twenty years, but the well-dressed gentleman was rather handsome, with a distinctive mole on a strong chin that made him quite memorable.
Jeremiah brought her hand to his lips. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Miss O’Malley.”
“Thank you.”
“My father says you’re from Missouri.”
“Yes, I am.”
“I was in St. Louis last summer. It’s a bustling city—and impressive.”
Randolph placed his hand on Katie’s arm. “Our carriage is ready, my dear. Shall we go?”
“Yes, of course.”
Twenty minutes later, they arrived at the Cattleman’s Ball, which was held in the well-lit and gaily decorated town hall.
With Jeremiah at his side, Randolph introduced Katie to several of the Stillwater residents. As far as she could tell, they all seemed to be decent people, friendly, welcoming and courteous.
“Katie, would you like a glass of punch?” Randolph asked.
“I’m sure she would,” Jeremiah said. “Why don’t you bring her one?”
When the elder Haney strode toward the refreshment table, Katie looked at the dignified escort at her side.
“Have you always live in Stillwater?” she asked.
“Yes, I have.”
“Then you knew Caroline Graves.”
“Our fathers were very close, so Caroline and I grew up together, so to speak. I was older than she. Ten years to be exact. I looked at her as a little sister and assumed the role of a big brother.”
“I wish I could have met her,” Katie said.
“I’m not sure you would have liked her. She had a wild side.”
Katie wondered if people often said that about her. “You may find this odd, Mr. Haney, but I might have admired that about Caroline.”
Rather than quiz her about that, he asked, “So where did you meet McCain?”
“In Pleasant Valley.”
“I see.”
She wasn’t sure what he thought he saw or why he was interested in how she knew Tom. But she had a few questions for him, too.
“I hear Harrison sent you in search of Caroline when she ran off,” Katie said. “And that you weren’t able to find her.”
“Actually, I found her—several times.”
Katie couldn’t hide her amazement. For at least the past six months, and maybe even the past few years, Harrison had desperately wanted to find Caroline. And his friend’s son had known of her whereabouts all along? “Then why didn’t you tell Mr. Graves?”
“I couldn’t. It would have crushed him.”
“I’m not sure that I understand.”
“If it would have actually helped Harrison to know the truth of her occupation, I would have told him.” His brown eyes searched hers, as if he’d just given her some kind of cryptic message he hoped she’d understand.
Katie lowered her voice to a whisper, even though the music was so loud it really wasn’t necessary. “Her occupation? You mean...she and Daisy were both...?”
“Oh. So you knew Miss Potts.” Jeremiah lifted a single brow. “In Taylorsville she went by the name of Erin Kelly. And they were friends, weren’t they?”
Katie didn’t know what to say, what to think. She’d been told that Caroline and Erin had respectable jobs in Taylorsville.
“You thought Harrison would hold her...occupation against her?” she asked.
“I’d hoped that, in time, Caroline would have come to her senses and seen the error of her ways. And that I’d be able to talk her into coming home of her own accord.”
“But that didn’t happen?”
“Time ran out.”
“I still think Harrison deserved to know,” Katie said. “He might have been more forgiving than you thought.”
“The real problem wasn’t one of Caroline’s sinful life. She hated her grandfather with a passion. I couldn’t bring myself to tell the poor old man she wouldn’t ever return. Knowing how she felt about him would have killed him faster than the disease that’s eating away at him now. My father and I love Harrison. His death will be a cruel blow, even though we know it’s coming. But I don’t want to see it happen any sooner than need be.”
Katie still believed that Harrison had deserved to know the truth. Perhaps if he had known sooner, he could have gone to see Caroline, spoken to her face-to-face, met Sarah Jane.
“Come, my dear.” Jeremiah took her arm. “Let’s drop this horrid subject before I embarrass myself with tears. Dance with me.”
As the mus
icians played fiddles, banjos and a slightly off-key piano, Jeremiah swept Katie into his arms and onto the dance floor before she had a chance to object. And she soon found her steps matching his.
She had to admit that Jeremiah Haney was an exquisite dancer. And a kindhearted human being, it seemed.
Each time he spun her to the right, she spotted Tom McCain standing near the refreshment table.
He appeared rather dapper himself tonight, in a pair of dark slacks and a white shirt.
Yet a scowl on his face spoke volumes, all of it directed at her.
* * *
As Katie and Jeremiah graced the dance floor, Tom stood beside the refreshment table, a glass of punch in his hand and a knot in his gut.
Katie appeared utterly captivated by the scoundrel who held her in his arms. And right now Tom wanted to pry the starry-eyed redhead from his grip, then knock the arrogant Haney on his backside.
Anger flared, and Tom did his best to tamp it down. But he wasn’t the only one in the room who resented what might be considered an uncivilized presence.
A few haughty glances and condescending looks told him half of the people in this room didn’t appreciate a half-breed being here. And the only thing keeping the town fathers from asking him to leave was the fact that Tom had a business arrangement with Harrison Graves, which meant he had the cattleman’s approval.
When Katie smiled up at Haney, Tom fought the need to protect her as well as give her a piece of his mind. She had no way of knowing why he despised and distrusted both Randolph and his son, but as far as Tom was concerned, Katie O’Malley had just entered the enemy camp—with a pretty smile and of her own accord.
Her soft auburn locks, swept up in a riot of curls, exposed that slender neck. The lavender gown she wore was more than becoming. It actually suited her. Tom could almost smell her lilac scent, and a sense of ownership flooded over him.
As he emptied his punch in one quick gulp, his eyes followed her every move, and he wished he could hear the conversation she was having with Jeremiah Haney.
* * *
“Would you like some fresh air?” Jeremiah asked Katie. “There’s a beautiful courtyard outside. The townspeople hired a custom craftsman to build it. The fountain alone took over six months to complete.”
His brown eyes beseeched her to agree.
The privacy would give Katie a chance to question him further, get to know him better, to decide for herself whether he could be trusted or not.
“All right,” she said.
As the fiddlers stepped forward, the Virginia reel was announced. Applause, laughter and gaiety broke out in the crowd. The other men scampered for a partner, while Jeremiah escorted Katie off the dance floor and out the side door.
The moon was no longer as big or silvery as it had been on the night she’d joined Tom outside, the night he’d kissed her, but the air was cool and calming.
Jeremiah tucked her hand in the warm crook of his arm. “You look lovely.”
“Thank you.” Compliments didn’t often affect Katie, but she felt especially pretty tonight. It must have been the lavender gown. Or perhaps the atmosphere that made her feel special. Either way, his words touched her.
Jeremiah looked impressive, as well, but she didn’t say so. Some women fussed over men, but Katie had never been one of them.
“Miss O’Malley, I’ve always appreciated a woman with a compassionate heart. However, I’ve never had the pleasure of meeting one that also looked like a goddess.” Jeremiah patted the top of her hand as it rested on his forearm.
Katie laughed. “A goddess? Now I doubt your sincerity.”
Jeremiah touched her chin with the tip of a long, tapered finger and drew her gaze to his. “You’ll never find a man more sincere than I.”
Katie’s cheeks warmed, and she hoped the lack of lighting hid her flush. She wondered if anyone could see them but decided she and her escort had wandered a bit too far from the gathering. They probably should turn back, but she was enjoying the company and the night air.
“I’m thoroughly taken with you, Miss O’Malley. I enjoy your bright mind.”
At that she broke into a warm smile. “Now, that’s a compliment I’ll thank you for.”
Festive lanterns around the community hall cast a faint light, enabling Katie to catch the intensity in his gaze. She felt oddly flattered yet embarrassed at the same time.
She wiggled her toes inside the loose-fitting doeskin slippers.
He tilted her chin with his finger again, and when she looked up, his mouth lowered toward hers.
He was going to kiss her.
For a moment, she wondered if another man’s kiss would be as moving as Tom’s, if it would have the same effect on her. But there was something unsettling about kissing another man, especially this one, so she placed her hands on his chest to push him away.
Another man might have realized that she wasn’t in agreement, but Jeremiah pressed his lips against hers anyway.
She pushed against his chest, trying to free herself, but he didn’t let go. So twisted her head, breaking the unbidden kiss and intending to slap him senseless.
That is, until a familiar voice cut in. “Good evening, folks.”
Jeremiah released her, and Katie glanced over her shoulder, although she didn’t need to see who’d joined them.
Tom glared at Jeremiah as though he wanted to throttle him with his bare hands.
And had she not been so embarrassed and guilt riddled for agreeing to go outside in the first place and to wander so far from the festivities, Katie might have helped him do just that.
Chapter Eleven
“What are you doing here?” Jeremiah asked, his tone crisp and cool.
Tom smiled, but not with his eyes. “I’m worried about the lady’s safety. She’s new around here.”
“She’s in good hands,” Jeremiah said. “Go back inside.”
The men stood eye to eye, and although they’d said very little, Katie sensed their hatred and distrust of each other. And for once, she found herself on Tom’s side, although she didn’t want to admit her foolishness—or the uneasiness she’d felt with the man she’d been warned about.
“If you don’t mind,” she told Jeremiah, “I’d like to speak to Mr. McCain.”
“You don’t need to address an Indian as mister,” Jeremiah said. “Not around here.”
Katie’s stomach knotted. “Then, if you don’t mind, I’d like to speak to Tom.”
“Now I’m the one who’s worried.” Jeremiah put an arm around her. “You shouldn’t be alone with him, especially outside in the dark.”
She placed her hand on Jeremiah’s chest, felt his heart pound beneath his jacket and gave him a push toward the dance. “I’m perfectly all right. Please leave us alone. I’ll be inside soon.”
Jeremiah hesitated but turned to go. Pausing, he glared over his shoulder. “If you so much as treat her with an ounce of disrespect, you’ll deal with me, boy.”
Tom stood silent, his eyes boring into Jeremiah.
“I’ll be fine,” Katie repeated. “Please go inside. Now.”
She waited for Jeremiah to leave. When he finally reached the lighted building, she turned to Tom.
He crossed his arms and scowled. “What are you doing out here?”
She wished he hadn’t witnessed the brief but intimate exchange, but she didn’t want him to know she had any regrets. Or that Jeremiah had actually frightened her, that he hadn’t stopped when she’d tried to push him away. She’d felt so out of control that a sense of relief had surged through her when Tom had arrived, in spite of her embarrassment at being caught.
“I wasn’t doing anything out here. Not really.”
“You kissed him.”
No, she hadn’t, but telling Tom that Jeremiah had been so bold, so forceful, would only make thin
gs worse between the men. And a physical altercation at this point wouldn’t help their investigation.
“You don’t have any claims on me,” she said.
“No, I don’t. But I suspect Haney’s wife wouldn’t appreciate you kissing her husband.”
“His wife?” Katie’s jaw dropped, and she took a step back. “Jeremiah’s married?”
“I take it he didn’t tell you.”
“Why, no.” Katie hoped it wasn’t true. She might not intend to marry anyone, but that didn’t mean she didn’t value the institution of matrimony. Had she known, she wouldn’t have allowed the man to walk her outside alone.
Maybe Tom was mistaken. “Why would Jeremiah come to the dance alone if he had a wife? Why isn’t she here?”
“She’s at home. From what I understand, she’s sick and bedridden.”
Katie dropped her hands from her hips, momentarily taken aback. Why hadn’t Jeremiah mentioned something as important as that? And why on earth had he tried to kiss her?
“Would it have made a difference?” Tom asked.
“Of course, it would have.” Katie’s temper flared, and with Jeremiah out of range, she focused all of it on Tom. “What kind of woman do you think I am?”
“I’m not sure.”
Katie raised her hand to slap him, and he caught her wrist in a hard grip. “I told you once before, don’t ever strike me again.”
Katie truly wasn’t prone to violence, but Tom McCain seemed to bring out the worst in her. “You’re the only man I’ve ever wanted to strike.”
Of course, that wasn’t true. Right now she wanted to pummel Jeremiah Haney.
With her arm still raised, Tom’s hand holding hers at bay, Katie knew she’d never overpower him. But then, she really didn’t want to. She’d had no business coming outside with Jeremiah in the first place. Tom had warned her about him, and she hadn’t paid him any mind.
When she relaxed her pose, Tom released her wrist.
“Coming out here with him was a bad idea,” she admitted.
“Then why did you do it?”
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