by Sara Orwig
She looked perfectly at ease, dancing in Rufus’s arms, smiling at him as if she went to parties every month. And Travis suspected there had been plenty of parties in her background if her father and grandfather had been lawyers.
She stood out among all the pretty ladies. Her dress was fetching, but it was Crystal who was holding everyone’s attention. With her cascade of flaming hair and her big green eyes and her height, she was a striking woman. And she was enjoying herself and it showed.
His gaze swept over her again. Could she deliver a baby and survive? Was she as strong as she thought? He thought of the calves he had pulled, the horses that had foals turned the wrong way. He remembered Jacob’s birth and how difficult it had been and how Elizabeth had suffered.
He didn’t want to go through that again or put Crystal through it, and he didn’t want to lose her. But this was tearing him apart.
The music stopped and Zachary claimed her. He wondered when Zachary had learned to dance and he saw that she adjusted to his simple steps.
She adjusted quickly and damn well. Could Crystal have taught him to dance? Travis didn’t know when she would have and he felt mildly annoyed at the thought of his wife dancing alone with Zachary while he was away working. Ridiculous. He was being ridiculous. She had taught them all to read, brought order to Travis’s life. She was a strong, beautiful woman, and Travis realized suddenly that as desperate as she had been upon Ellery’s death, she would have managed some way on her own. Now, looking back, he was amazed that he had persuaded her to marry him.
As the evening progressed, Travis watched one man after another dance with his wife. Logan North came up beside him. “Damnation, Travis. I didn’t know you married a beauty. I can’t believe it’s the judge. And I don’t think you knew it when you married her. How could any woman change like that?”
“I didn’t know it. And I think, mostly, she just let down her hair.”
“And got out of those damned black dresses. Whew! Every unattached male is wishing he had looked closer at her. Even a few of us who are married. Ellery just hid her away damned well.”
“I don’t think Ellery had much to do with it. I think it suited her.”
“Yeah. I suppose her disposition hasn’t transformed as well.”
Travis looked into Logan’s curious blue eyes and smiled and kept his mouth shut.
“Damn, you did all right when you up and married her. Whatever her disposition is, you got yourself a prize. Man would put up with a lot to get a woman looking like she does.”
“Indeed, he would, Logan.” Travis thought about Sherman Knudsen being friendly for the first time when they were doing anything besides transacting business and he suspected that Crystal had the respect of more than one educated man in the room. She put the fear of God in the others.
Tom Yiblonski joined them. “She damn sure had this town fooled. Sure you haven’t exchanged the judge for someone else?”
“She’ll be in her courtroom next Friday and you can look for yourself,” Travis remarked and listened to the song end. As the dancers came to a halt, he turned. “Excuse me. It’s time I got to dance with my wife.”
“Yeah,” Tom said. “I’d like to get to have a dance with her myself.”
Travis barely heard him, moving swiftly to her, his eyes on two men that were heading her way.
He took her hand, pulling her to him and placing his other hand on her waist. “I’m claiming the next dance with my wife, darlin’.”
Something flashed in the depths of her big eyes and he saw the change come over her that shut out the world. He forgot the others, looking into a green that enveloped him and held dancing fires in their depth. The music began and he moved easily with her. In Texas, he had danced plenty himself. She was light, following his lead perfectly.
“You’ve dazzled the town.”
“I don’t know about that, but it is gratifying to find that some of those men who have been rather unkind in the past cannot be kind enough now.”
“Damn fools,” Travis said, grinning. “Their loss and my gain, Crystal. And I think you are opening doors for me. Which means they will open for Jacob.”
Her brows arched as she gazed up at him. “Then that’s very good. I suppose it’s my Baltimore background in this wild place.”
“That and your education and your intelligence and your beauty.”
“The ladies have been nice.”
“And that, is a tribute. It’s a wonder they aren’t all turning as green as your dress with envy. I’ve seen a few who are glaring at you. I wonder when Zachary learned to dance.”
“I taught him.”
“When?” Travis stared at her.
“The past two weeks he’s come by the house in the afternoons. He told me he was looking forward to the party, but he didn’t know how to dance. This is his first dance, and I think he’s doing quite well.”
“Damn.” Travis was thinking about Zachary stopping by the house. If the boy had ever surprised Crystal bathing as he had, he couldn’t imagine how Zachary would survive the incident. “He didn’t try to kiss you?” he asked, chiding himself for questioning her and disliking the tight knot in his stomach at the thought of Crystal and Zachary dancing together … every afternoon for the past two weeks.
She laughed, her eyes sparkling and annoying him. “Good grief, no! Zachary wouldn’t try to kiss me!”
“The hell he wouldn’t. Then I suppose he’s honorable to the bone,” Travis said. He was jealous … and that was ridiculous. “If I had been dancing around the room with you, I would have kissed you.”
Her smile vanished, and she gazed up at him solemnly. Lost in her green eyes, he moved to the music, wanting to dance her into a secluded corner and kiss her now. Wanting more than that.
Was he falling in love with his wife? The question shocked him and he stared at her, looking at her rosy mouth, her big green eyes, her smooth skin, the riot of red curls that made him want to wind his fingers in their softness and pull her face to his.
He tried to stop his thoughts, knowing in seconds he would be in no shape to stay out on the dance floor, although he was certain few would notice him. It was Crystal the others watched. And he was glad for her, glad to end some of the cruelty she had received.
Then the dance was over and immediately Tom was at his side.
“May I have a dance, Judge? Travis?”
Reluctantly, Travis released her, hearing her soft voice murmuring to Tom. Travis had another dance, and before it was over, took her to the dining room to see if she would like something to eat.
She turned an accusing gaze on him. “Phoebe Knudsen told me to sample her chocolate cake. You didn’t tell me that I should bring something.”
He grinned. “Darlin’, you are a beautiful woman and you have stunned the locals this night. But, in truth, I think I did you and the others a favor when I didn’t tell you to cook something for this evening.”
Crystal laughed, a merry peal of laughter that made him want to pull her into his arms. Her eyes sparkled as she gazed at him. “I’m sure you’re quite right. People have been unmerciful because I am the justice of the peace. If they discovered my cooking, I might be sent to court!”
He grinned, touching her cheek. “I like to see you laugh.”
“Not as much as I like to see you laugh! I really didn’t think you could when I first knew you. But you can—even if it’s my cooking that’s making you chuckle.”
“Crystal, you do so many things that make up for your cooking.”
“Do I really?” she asked saucily and his pulse jumped. He heard the challenge in her voice and saw it in her eyes. “Like what? I really want to hear you say what—besides caring for Jacob.”
His laughter vanished as he looked at her and slipped his arm around her waist. “I think I’ll tell you what when we’re back home,” he answered in a husky voice, noticing her response to his words and his tone. Her eyes darkened and her smile vanished as swiftly as his own had. Tha
t sensual, heated look came to her expression and her gaze dropped to his mouth. They were alone, and he couldn’t resist. He bent his head and placed his mouth on hers, tasting her, taking her kiss, doing what he had wanted to do since the night he had stormed out of the house.
For an instant she yielded, responding to him with all the heat that she could kindle so swiftly. His heart thudded and he wanted to tighten his arms, but then she pushed him away. “Travis, for heaven’s sake! We’re in public!”
“I don’t give a damn. You’re my wife, Crystal. There’s nothing wrong with a man kissing his wife.”
“It isn’t proper and I won’t have gossip circulating that Jacob’s mother is not a lady.”
“Yes, ma’am,” he said, teasing her and stepping away from her, aroused and wanting her. Now, he needed to get away and cool down before he returned to the party. “I think I’ll get a drink. I’m sure you won’t be alone more than thirty seconds.”
Rufus rounded the corner and brightened. “Ah, Mr. and Mrs. Black Eagle,” he said. “Try Phoebe’s chocolate cake.”
“I’ll leave my wife to the chocolate cake,” Travis said. He left, knowing Rufus would hover over her. He went to the back porch, stepping into the cold to join a group of men and get a glass of whiskey.
When he returned, he watched her dance with Rufus and saw Zachary dance past with Agnes Barnes. Zachary was laughing and talking and looking as if he were having as much fun as Crystal. Travis remembered how the boy had been when they had found him. Thank heaven his father hadn’t returned with the law, although Travis would have urged Zachary to run away. But he suspected Eb North knew his days of beating Zachary were over.
Zachary passed him again. Agnes was gazing into his eyes, smiling up at him, and Travis hoped Zachary would begin to get over his feelings for Crystal. Yet that was part of growing up, he supposed.
His gaze rested on Crystal, looking at her long, slender figure again and thinking about a baby. And thinking about taking Crystal to bed. Was she slowly and with absolute certainty taking his heart anyway?
Before the night was over, he had one more dance with Crystal and then he held her arm possessively as he steered her to thank the Mandevilles, gather their coats and Zachary, and go.
Zachary offered to drive the wagon home and Travis agreed, sitting in the bed of the wagon and pulling Crystal into his arms, covering both of them with hides while Zachary wrapped in hides and hunched over the seat.
“That was the most fun I’ve ever had at a party!” Crystal exclaimed, cold wind nipping at her nose while she was aware of the warmth of Travis’s body and his arms wrapped around her. Joy bubbled in her. She had had a glorious evening and the best part of all had been the moments alone in the dining room with Travis.
“I’m glad. You stirred up the townspeople and you made friends. Maybe a few enemies of young ladies who paid no attention to you before, although since you are a married woman, I doubt if they feel too much jealousy.”
“And plenty of them watched you all evening,” she remarked. “They looked as if they would faint for a dance with you.”
“I doubt that,” he said dryly. “Who was Harvey?”
“Harvey Goodwill,” she said, realizing she could talk about Harvey now without feeling anything but relief and gratitude to him. “We were pledged to wed by our families, but Harvey went away to school and fell in love and broke the engagement only months before it was to be announced to the world. He wed a very wealthy young woman, so his family was quite pleased, but it broke relations between our two families. Otherwise, I would be in Baltimore, married to Harvey. Or, even if we had never yet married, I would still be in Baltimore. At the time it was humiliating, but now I’m glad.”
“Crystal, were you in love with him?”
“No, not ever.”
“Ah. Then you weren’t heartbroken over the broken engagement, just hurt pride.”
“That’s right,” she answered easily.
“And your family? Your mother and father?”
“By that time I lived with my grandparents. My grandfather was an attorney,” she said, settling in Travis’s arms and laying her head back on his shoulder while she talked. She could smell the fresh scent of soap on him and his warmth enveloped her. Her legs were against his and she loved being held close in his arms.
“My father was one also and worked for my grandfather. They were in the same firm. Harvey’s father was a partner as well, but he opened his own firm. There were six attorneys. My grandfather drank heavily and so did my father, something passed down from father to son. One day an irate former client accosted my father on the street. Mother and I were with him. The man pulled out a gun and killed my father.”
“Damn. How old were you?”
“I was twelve. It was just like Ellery—if my father had been armed, he could have protected himself. The man was wild. Anyway, then I started going to the office to help my grandfather. Soon the other partners were gone, except for Charles Allbloom. I learned to keep books for them, and I began to read Grandfather’s law books. On days he was sober and not busy, he would talk to me about law. That’s how I learned what I know. If I were a man, I could be an attorney.”
“I suspect you could, Crystal.”
“My father and grandfather could not cope well with adversity. The women in my family were the strong ones, although not physically strong. When I was seventeen, Mother got pneumonia and died. Then my grandmother died two years afterwards. Grandfather died when I was twenty-four. I sold what was left and came out here.”
“I’m glad you’re here,” Travis said quietly. His fingers played with her hair and stroked her throat, her nape, her ear. His touches tingled, building a blaze of longing in her.
“I agreed to go to Phoebe Knudsen’s for a tea a week from Sunday, so we shall have to go back to town and you will have to keep Jacob.”
“That’s fine. Ah, Crystal, they will accept me now because of you.”
“I don’t think everyone will. There were a few people very cool to me tonight.”
“If it was only a few, then you have jumped a barrier that I have known all the time I have been here. Feelings run high toward half-breeds.”
“That’s great foolishness. You lead the same kind of life they do.”
“My skin isn’t the same color.”
“And I find the color of your skin fascinating,” she said shyly.
“That’s the first time I have been told that!” he replied, his warm breath fanning her ear. Then his tongue flicked over her ear. Desire flashed hot within her, and she sucked in her breath. Heat coiled, drumming with her pulse, and she twisted around to look up at him. In the darkness, she couldn’t see the expression in his dark eyes. He was only inches away, and then his head came down and his mouth met hers.
Wrapping her arms around his neck, Crystal moaned softly. He shifted her onto his lap and her heart thudded as he leaned over her and kissed her, his mouth brushing hers so lightly, tantalizing and teasing. She flicked her tongue over his and then his mouth was demanding, hard and hot, making her heart race.
All too soon, she felt the wagon halt and Travis released her. He stood, pulling her to her feet. He jumped down from the wagon and then swung her to the ground.
“I’ll put the wagon away and take care of the horses,” Zachary said. “I had a very good time. Thank you for taking me with you.”
“You’re welcome,” Travis said easily. “I’ll be there in a minute to help you.”
Disappointed, Crystal tried not to react. She wasn’t going to let anything mar an evening that had been wonderful beyond belief.
Travis took her arm and headed toward the house. Before they reached it, the door swung open and Turtle River greeted them. “Welcome back. Your son sleeps quietly, and we had a good evening.”
“Thanks for staying with him,” Crystal said. “We had a good evening, too. I had a wonderful time!”
“I thought you might,” he said. “You’re ver
y pretty tonight, Crystal.”
“Thank you,” she answered, wondering about Turtle River’s solitary life and wishing he had agreed to go to the party with them.
“Now I’ll go.” He pulled his coat close around him and strode into the night while Travis followed her inside and closed the door.
A fire still burned brightly in the fireplace. Travis’s fingers brushed her nape as he removed her cloak and tossed it aside. He turned her into his arms and she gazed up into eyes so dark they caught the firelight in their depths. His desire burned as brightly as the flames and her heart pounded. She wanted him and she loved him. This tall handsome man who was her husband now, even if in name only. Their lives would be forever entwined, and she could wait because she knew he wanted her, knew he was standing here now, torn between what he wanted and what he feared.
Travis pulled her into his arms and kissed her hungrily. She was a beautiful, appealing woman, his wife. All he had to do was take her to bed and he would have a full, complete marriage.
Yet he wasn’t ready; he wasn’t certain. He had sworn off love, but he was falling in love with her as surely as the winter was moving toward springtime.
He hadn’t wanted to love her; didn’t want to love her now, yet there were so many reasons to. And tonight had added more reasons to love her, moment upon moment as he had danced with her, watched her, held her in his arms on the ride home. He knew he was falling in love with his wife.
He bent over her, his tongue going deep in her mouth. This woman had been hurt by men, hurt and humiliated by others, yet she was so strong, so caring. She had never been courted, never had times like tonight.
And then he stopped thinking. She was soft, pliant, eager for his kisses, returning them with a passion that made him forget everything except her. He ran his fingers in her soft hair, feeling pins fly and ribbons fall free. His hand drifted to her back and twisted the buttons, unfastening them while he kissed her. Her tongue was in his mouth and he shook, trying to keep from yanking the green dress off her shoulders and peeling it away completely.