Whirlwind Groom

by Debra Cowan

  The Doyle brothers, Cal with a mouth harp and Jed with a fiddle, started the dance with the quick-paced “Turkey in the Straw.” Couples hurried onto the floor to polka.

  “Rumor has it the two of you are courting.”

  Susannah’s words had Josie jerking around. “We’re not.”

  “That’s what he said, too.” The blonde eyed Josie curiously before shifting her gaze to Davis Lee.

  Josie squirmed, turning to Catherine and changing the subject. “When is your fiancé due back in town?”

  “With any luck, in the next two weeks or so. He’s been down in Houston wrapping up some business. When he comes back, he’ll have his mother and sisters with him.”

  “I guess if he’s delayed, the wedding can be moved back a day or two.”

  “Jericho won’t be delayed,” the dark-haired woman said softly, certainly.

  Josie accepted a dance with Mitchell Orr and they moved onto the floor along with several other couples. Davis Lee and Riley stood across the room, their legs spread, their arms folded across their chests, watching. Josie didn’t see Jake Ross anywhere, which probably meant the deputy had stayed at the jail with McDougal.

  The song ended but before Mitchell returned her to the edge of the crowd, Matt Baldwin claimed her for a polka. After him, she danced with Russ and later their father, J.T. Through every song, she felt Davis Lee’s gaze on her like a touch and she fought to ignore it.

  When the Doyle brothers took a break, Josie was ready for one, too. She moved to the side of the room with Loren, her latest partner.

  She and Cora fetched a cup of punch then joined Catherine and Susannah down at the opposite end of the table. Across the wide expanse of floor, Davis Lee still stood talking with his brother. She caught the flash of a blade in his hand. He was whittling. This time both he and Riley were looking at her. She turned away just as the Baldwin brothers joined them.

  “Josie, your dress is beautiful.” Susannah eyed the pale pink silk admiringly. “I guess you made it?”

  She nodded. “I saw a pattern in Godey’s Lady’s Book but used it only for the skirt. The bodice draped off the shoulder and I wanted something a little warmer so I put on the high neck and sleeves.”

  “I love the lace edging your neckline.” Catherine pointed to the high collar that opened down the front to the base of Josie’s throat. “It’s so delicate it looks like it might melt.”

  “I bet Josie could put some on your wedding gown,” Cora said.

  “Yes. Would you like that?” she asked Catherine. “I can add it before your last fitting.”

  “Oh, yes.” The bride-to-be looked delighted. “Thank you.”

  Josie glanced up and this time found Davis Lee’s gaze on her as well as that of the Baldwins and Riley. They stared at her as if she were a broken doll they were trying to piece back together.

  “When Jericho sees you in that gown, he’s liable to promise you the moon,” Susannah predicted.

  The other women laughed softly. Cora moved off to speak to May Haskell. As Susannah and Catherine discussed the wedding, Josie sipped at her punch, her skin prickling under the intense regard from across the room.

  “He’s a good man. It’s a shame he hasn’t settled down yet.”

  Josie caught the words uttered in a sympathetic voice and saw that they came from Pearl Anderson. She was with the same unfamiliar woman Josie had seen before.

  The other woman, small with dark eyes, tsked. “I think he was more hurt by that Rock River incident than any of us knew.”

  What incident? Josie wondered. Who were they talking about?

  “Did anyone ever find out exactly what happened?” Pearl asked.

  “No. Only that there was a woman involved and Davis Lee was run out of town.”

  Josie choked on her punch. Davis Lee Holt? Run out of town? She couldn’t fathom it. She looked up and saw that Catherine had heard, too.

  Susannah frowned and walked off, motioning for Josie and Catherine to join her behind one of the support columns. The music started again, this time with a banjo playing “Buffalo Gals.”

  Susannah’s lips tightened in disapproval as she bent her head close to Josie and Catherine. “Don’t listen to them. Millie Jacobson is the worst gossip in town.”

  “Is any of it true?” Josie didn’t see how it could be.

  Catherine leaned in. “I know Davis Lee was the sheriff in another town before Whirlwind. Was he really run out of there?”

  “Over a woman?” Josie couldn’t imagine Davis Lee losing his head over anyone enough to jeopardize his job as a lawman. Despite their short acquaintance, she knew that about him.

  Susannah flicked a look over Josie’s shoulder, her blue eyes softening. “I can’t talk about it. Riley swore me to secrecy.”

  “Susannah, you have to tell us what happened,” Catherine breathed. “We won’t repeat it to anyone, will we, Josie?”

  “Of course not.” Even with her back turned, Josie could feel the men looking at her again. “Please tell us.”

  “I can’t.”

  “Not even a smidgen?” Catherine looked hopeful.

  “No. I will say that I think Davis Lee’s paid enough for that mistake. Just because he followed his heart doesn’t mean he was at fault for what happened.”

  “Well, if they’re saying he did something bad, I won’t believe it.” The dark-haired woman glanced fondly in his direction. “He’s one of the best men I’ve ever known.”

  “Me, too,” Susannah said quietly.

  Josie’s mind raced with questions. What had happened in Davis Lee’s past that Susannah couldn’t discuss? Was that why almost every person at the dance had done a double take upon seeing him arrive? Had the woman involved been his intended? His wife? The possibility jolted her. She didn’t know if he’d ever been married or engaged. Until now she hadn’t thought about it.

  Catherine glanced at her. “Why do Davis Lee and the Baldwins keep staring at you, Josie?”

  “I don’t know.” She wished they would stop.

  “Here comes Davis Lee,” Susannah said. “We can ask him.”

  “No!” Josie’s spine went rigid. Before she could take a step away, she felt him behind her. His nearness caused her nerves to twitch.

  “Evenin’, ladies.”

  “Davis Lee.” Catherine and Susannah smiled easily at him.

  Josie didn’t even want to look at him, but she turned anyway. As handsome as he’d looked across the room, he was even more so up close. He was without his badge. Dressed all in black, he was tall and whipcord lean. He smelled like male and the outdoors and soap, but it was the deep blue intensity of his eyes that had Josie’s belly quivering. She hadn’t been this close to him since they’d kissed.

  The soft poignant strains of “Silver Threads Among the Gold” surrounded them. There was a hot, proprietary look in his eyes as his gaze slid down her dress to her black kid boots. “This is my dance, isn’t it, Josie?”

  She stiffened. “I don’t recall you asking.”

  He grinned. “May I have this dance?”

  She didn’t want to dance with him. She’d had enough trouble sorting out her thoughts the last time he’d held her. “I’m a little tired. I think I’ll sit this one out.”

  The smile he gave her was charming enough to melt her stockings off. “This is my favorite song.”

  Of course it would be a waltz. Her heart started hammering hard. “I don’t really ca—”

  “I knew you wouldn’t want me to miss it.” He tugged her onto the floor as if she hadn’t spoken a word.

  “I said no,” she muttered under her breath as he drew her into his arms. “Are you just dancing with me so the Baldwins can’t? I saw y’all talking over there.”

  He didn’t answer and she looked up, surprised to find him studying her, his eyes warm.

  As he whirled her around the floor, she caught glimpses of people who were either slack-jawed with amazement or openly curious. As if Davis Lee’s showing u
p here were the equivalent of hell freezing over.

  He held her lightly, their bodies a respectable distance apart, but she felt every inch of him as they moved—shifting, brushing, touching. Hard to soft, curve to muscle. His hand was hot and big on hers, causing sensation to slick through her.

  All she could think about was the way he’d kissed her, how she wanted him to do it again. She didn’t look at him, afraid he would see it in her face, but she was helpless to stop her body from straining toward his. Friction traveled between them every time her skirts teased his legs.

  His overwhelming maleness frayed her nerves. She felt scrutiny from every corner of the room. “Your coming to the dance has put all the women in a tizzy.”

  “Including you?” His voice so close to her ear sent a delicious shiver down her spine.

  Her gaze shot to his. “Of course not.”

  The satisfied smile on his face told her he’d said it only to get her to look at him. Well, now she had and her chest grew tight. She had missed him. The admission had her squeezing her eyes shut briefly. She wanted to press her lips to his throat, his jaw, his mouth. The urge was strong, strong enough that her hand tightened on his shoulder as she forced herself to remember why she’d come to Whirlwind. Reminded herself that Davis Lee didn’t trust her.

  Some part of her mind registered the start of a new song. “With the way all the women were carrying on about you being here, I was beginning to think you didn’t know how to dance.”

  “I know how,” he growled.

  “You’re very good.”

  “I’ve had lots of practice.”

  “In Rock River?”

  He faltered, his foot coming down hard on hers.

  She jerked in reflex. “Oomph!”

  “Sorry.” The hand at her waist steadied her as his gaze narrowed. A muscle ticced in his jaw. After a long moment, he asked, “How are your shooting lessons with Jake going?”

  “Fine.” Her question about Rock River had caught him by surprise. Josie wondered if he ever talked about it.

  “Why Jake?”

  She frowned up at him.

  “What made you ask him in particular?”

  You’re leaving me high and dry. “Since he’s a deputy, I figure he must be good with a gun.”

  “Is that the only reason?”

  She tilted her head, wondering if he guessed at her other motive. “What other reason could there be?”

  “Answer my question.”

  “He’s a good shot. Well, I think he is anyway. And he’s a good teacher. He’s very…patient.”

  Davis Lee’s hand tightened on hers. The look in his eyes seared straight to her soul. “Josie?”

  “Hmm?”

  “About that kiss.”

  She inhaled sharply, her gaze darting around even though the music was loud enough to keep anyone from hearing him. “I can’t believe you’re bringing that up.”

  “I reckon we should clear the air.”

  “You’re not going to apologize, are you?”

  “Do you want me to?”

  No. She wanted him to kiss her again. Now. “We shouldn’t do it again.”

  “I know.”

  Disappointment slashed through her, but she knew she couldn’t get further involved with him. She realized suddenly that he had partnered her through four dances. She tried to disentangle her hand from his. “We’ve danced together too long.”

  “Too long for who?”

  Want slid slyly through her, tugged hard. “People will certainly think we’re a couple now.”

  He stopped in the middle of the floor. “All right.”

  As he walked her back to Catherine and Susannah, Josie tried to determine what he was thinking. She couldn’t read anything on his rugged face. He bowed politely over her hand and thanked her then walked away.

  “Four dances?” Susannah had a mischievous gleam in her eye.

  Catherine grinned. “There’s no denying he’s interested now, Josie.”

  “I guess not.” But she knew his interest was more about suspicion than romance. And heaven help her, she wanted it to be the other way around.

  Chapter Ten

  For the next two hours, Josie watched him surreptitiously. Her invitations declined considerably after their dance and she knew it was because people believed the same thing about her—them—that Susannah and Catherine did. Why didn’t he just leave her alone?

  While he danced with Susannah and Catherine, Cora and Pearl and nearly every other woman in the place, Josie answered inquiries about her seamstress services. As people began to leave, she walked down the table searching for her pie tin. She found it, glad to see only crumbs remained. Cora had disappeared after her dance with Davis Lee so Josie turned to look for her friend.

  “I told Cora and Loren I’d see you home.”

  She whirled at the sound of Davis Lee’s voice. How had he snuck up on her like that? A quick scan of the building showed no sign of Cora or Loren. In fact, there were only a few people left and they were gathering up wraps and dishes to leave. “I can ride back with Catherine.”

  “She’s gone, too.”

  Josie’s nerves fluttered as she searched the remaining faces and saw he was right.

  “If you’re worried you might have to ride, I brought a buggy.”

  “It’s not that.” Why had he agreed to take her home? He’d made it clear the other night that he preferred not to spend time with her. She licked her lips. “I can’t go back with you alone. People will talk, Davis Lee.”

  “They already are.”

  “That doesn’t mean we have to add fuel to the fire.”

  “I’m taking you,” he said firmly.

  What choice did she have? Her friends were gone and she didn’t fancy walking back. Still it irked her that she was at his mercy. “If I say yes, can I ask you a question?”

  He gave her an impatient look. “Why is everything a negotiation with you?”

  “Can I?”

  His gaze turned sharp. “All right, but not until we’re in the buggy.”

  She nodded and went to retrieve her coat and gloves from Lettie Eishen. “Thank you for a lovely time,” she told her hostess as she took the items.

  The woman’s smile softened her square face. “I’ve been admiring your coat. Did you make it?”

  “Yes.”

  “Are you looking for work?”

  “Yes, ma’am.” She had finished the tablecloths for the hotel and soon Catherine’s dress would be finished. After that she had only one current order, nightshirts for Lemuel Tucker back home.

  As Josie slid her arms into the coat, Lettie touched the dark gray velvet, its edging of white fur. “I like how it’s longer in the back than in the front and is fitted to the body.”

  “It makes a nice look over a dress, with or without full skirts.”

  “Could you make me one in dark green velvet?”

  “Yes. Would you like white fur trim?”

  The woman thought for a minute. “Is there another color you’d recommend?”

  “Gray or black would be nice. The green will be striking though, no matter what.”

  Lettie thought for a moment. “I believe the gray. That would be different, plus it wouldn’t show wear as quickly as the white.”

  “All right.” Josie pulled on her gloves. “I can start as soon as I get your measurements.”

  “I’ll come to town tomorrow.”

  After they agreed on a price, and a time to meet the next day, Mrs. Eishen called her husband over and had him give Josie half the cost of the garment so that she could buy the fabric.

  Josie said goodbye and turned toward the door. Davis Lee waited for her there and when she reached him, he lightly cupped her elbow and led her to his rig.

  “Getting acquainted with Lettie?” He bundled her into the buggy and walked around to climb in beside her. Pulled by a single horse, it was built for two people. The leather seat was soft and more comfortable than she’d expect
ed. The hood shielded them from the cool air and occasional gust of wind.

  Josie huddled into her wrap. Davis Lee reached beneath the seat and pulled out a lap robe, spreading it over her legs.

  “Thank you,” she murmured.

  He snapped the reins against the horse’s rump. The buggy lurched into motion but quickly settled into a smooth ride. Davis Lee leaned forward, elbows resting on his knees, big hands controlling the reins easily.

  Sitting so close to him made her body tingle. His heat wrapped around her in the confined space and every breath brought the scent of him into her lungs. With shaking hands she tucked the lap robe under her legs. The big man beside her, the clip-clop of the horse, the sound of her own breathing—all played against Josie’s nerves. “Can I ask my question now?”

  “Go ahead,” he said gruffly.

  “Have you ever been married?”

  He sat up, looking at her sharply. “No.”

  “Close?”

  “No.” His gaze narrowed. “That’s two questions.”

  “Then what happened in Rock River?”

  His eyes glittered like steel in the mix of moonlight and shadow.

  Well aware of the way Davis Lee’s body had gone rigid, Josie proceeded tentatively. “I heard some women talking. They said something happened there, that there was a woman involved and you were run out of town.”

  His face went carefully blank and Josie felt an inexplicable tug of regret at asking him. Whatever the secret, he had been hurt by it. Suddenly she didn’t want to know, didn’t want him to recall painful memories.

  “I’m sorry, Davis Lee,” she said quietly. “It’s none of my business. I shouldn’t have asked.”

  He looked back to the road. Silver light drifted across the hard angles of his face, and for an instant he looked so remote, so alone that Josie ached for him.

  “I was in love once,” he finally said. “Her name was Betsy Mays. That’s what she told me, anyway. I met her when she came to Rock River pretending to be on the run from an abusive father.”

  He faced her; his gaze changed from raw to calculating, gauging her reaction to his words. “By the time I figured out she had lied, she’d conned half the town out of their money by saying she planned to use it to help abused women like her to start a new life.”