Until September

by Brenda Jernigan

  “All right,” Billy finally said. “But I might not stay long.”

  She studied his lean dark face. She found his nearness disturbing and exciting, but most of all he was doing something he really didn’t want to do just because she’d asked him. Tears welled within her eyes. “Thank you,” she said, then turned and left, not wanting Billy to see her tears. She really didn’t know why it meant so much that he go to the party, but it did.

  Maybe it was because she didn’t want everybody to think that Claire Holladay was a loser. Most people knew that David had broken up with her, however, they didn’t know the reason why. She could just imagine the gossip Poor Claire, how is she going to get another man now that David has dumped her? She was leaving tomorrow, they probably would think that she was sneaking out of town.

  Of course, she could tell everyone the truth, but then the party would be more like a wake, and she definitely didn’t want that. She wasn’t dead yet, nor did she want to be reminded of what September would bring.

  For just tonight she wanted to laugh and have fun. And if she was really lucky, maybe she could get Billy to loosen up enough to dance. Then she’d know how it felt to be in his arms. She felt a surge of excitement. Tonight was going to be wonderful.

  Billy didn’t realize he was still watching Claire walk away until Willie tugged on his hand. Billy reached down and picked Willie up.

  “I think Miss Claire likes you,” Willie said as Billy lifted him up on the saddle.

  “Maybe,” Billy said offhand, as he swung up behind Willie.

  “Do you like her?”

  “Yep. She seems like a nice lady.”

  “Good.” Willie giggled. “Maybe the two of you will get married.”

  “Whoa, young man. You’re thinking way too much. I’ve been hired to take Miss Claire back to Denver and that’s all there is to it.”

  “Can I go?”

  The child’s question threw Billy. Why would Willie want to leave a place like this? “That’s not for me to say. Who takes care of you?”

  “I take care of myself,” Willie said, and Billy could hear the pride in the boy as they galloped over the pasture.

  “How old are you, Willie?”

  Willie held up his hand extending his fingers. “This many.”

  “You are only five years old?”

  “This many,” He held up his hand again and realized that Willie didn’t know how to count.

  ‘That is five Willie.”

  “Can I hold Spot’s reins?”

  “Sure put your hand right here.” Billy placed the little hands in front of his, but he made sure he had a good hold of the reins, too. Glancing back at Firebrand, Billy saw that the stallion seemed contented.

  “Like this?”

  “Yep, just like that,” Billy said. “If you want to turn Spot, you pull the reins like this.” He let Willie guide the horse for a little while before Billy finally asked. “Miss Claire told me she found you on the steps of her building. Do you know how you got there?”

  “That was last year. Don’t know where my ma and pa is. I just remember waking up one morning they were gone. So I kinda wandered around until I found a group of boys. They said I was too little for them, so they took me to those steps and told me to stay there. Then Miss Claire found me and said she was going to take me home with her.” Willie sighed. “I like Miss Claire.”

  “Don’t you like it here at Oak Hill?”

  “It’s all right. I just don’t belong.”

  Billy’s heart was twisting. Willie reminded Billy of himself. “How about the other grooms? Don’t you sleep with them?”

  “Nope. I sleep in the tack room with Floppy.” “And who is Floppy?” Billy was thinking maybe an imaginary friend like he’d had, but Willie completely surprised him by saying, “Miss Claire’s dog. She’s had Floppy since he was a puppy.”

  “That’s a funny name,” Billy said.

  “Floppy is funny. He has real long ears and he steps on them and trips. Miss Claire said he’s a hound. A basset hound.

  “You’ll have to show him to me. But hadn’t you rather stay with the other boys?”

  “They pick on me ’cause I’m little,” Willie said matter-of-factly and then he seemed to push everything aside as he changed the subject, “This is fun, Billy. I’ve never been riding before. How am I doing?”

  Billy felt like he’d been hit in the gut. Here this brave little boy was so excited about something small like riding, when his little shoulders seemed to carry a burden. Some unknown feeling was pulling at Billy, and he wasn’t sure how he was going to handle the situation. “Do you know that I was once an orphan just like you?”

  Willie twisted around to look at Billy. “Really?”

  “That right. I didn’t have any folks either, so I was living with a bunch of outlaws and, after them, I went to the parsonage to live with five other children.”

  “And then what? Did you have to find another home?”

  “All of us did because the parsonage was closing.”

  “Your brothers and sisters went with you?”

  “That’s right. We’re a family now.”

  “Do you suppose I’ll have a family one day? I’d like to have somebody just like you,” Willie admitted.

  Billy was so touched that the child thought so much of him. He hugged Willie. “I promise you, Willie, that one day you will have your own family.”

  Chapter Nine

  Claire couldn’t remember when she’d been so nervous.

  Tonight, she wanted to leave everyone with a good impression, so they would smile when they remembered her.

  It was time to get ready for the party. She sat down in front of her dressing table and brushed her hair. Feeling a tickle in the back of her throat, she grabbed the small, brown bottle and took a sip. She could not cough during the party.

  Not tonight.

  This night belonged to her.

  While she brushed her long wavy hair, Aunt Ute came into the room. “You are ready for me to dress your hair?”

  “Please. My hands are shaking so badly that I know I’d make a mess of it.”

  “Don’t worry. We’ll have you ready by the time the first guests start arriving, and before your mother starts checking on you.”

  Aunt Ute took out a box of hairpins, then removed the hairbrush from Claire’s nervous fingers. She brushed Claire’s long hair until it crackled and snapped. “You really have lovely hair.” Thank you. Are you going to twist it up in curls?”

  “Ja.”

  “You didn’t happen to see Billy when you came upstairs, did you?”

  “Ja, I did. He was going into his room when I got to the top of the stairs. I haven’t had a chance to speak with him yet. He is a fine one, ja?”

  Claire smiled. “Yes, he is. I’m sorry I haven’t introduced him to you. I will do that tonight. However, do not let on that you are traveling with us. Fredrick says Billy will be upset at having another person to look after.”

  Aunt Ute frowned and looked at Claire in the mirror. “Nein, he’ll not have to look after me! I’ve been doing that for more years than he’s been alive. And if he gives me any guff, I’ll box his ears.”

  Claire laughed. “I know you’ll stand your ground. I just don’t want any scenes until we get to the train station,” she explained. “So I’m going to keep you hidden until tomorrow. Has Fredrick returned?”

  “Ja.” And the trunks have already been packed in the carriage. So you are all set, young lady,” Aunt Ute said as she placed the last hairpin in Claire’s hair. “How is that?”

  “Lovely.” Claire turned, looking at her hair in the mirror Ute held for her. Her tresses had been swept up into a chignon with wisps of hair twirling around her face. Ute handed her the mirror and went to the bed to get her aquamarine gown. So Claire quickly took a sip of cough medicine just to be safe, noticing that each time she took some, it eased her tension as well as her cough.

  Feeling more at ease, Claire stepped
into her petticoats, and then Aunt Ute dropped the new gown over her head. Claire quickly turned so that she could fasten the long row of tiny buttons on the back.

  The gown fit to perfection. The neckline of the bodice was very low, but tastefully so, and showed off her creamy white skin. The pink roses that were nestled in the netting on her décolletage offset the warm glow in her cheeks. Her gown had been designed in the new style of double skirts, both trained, the under one plain, and the upper somewhat shorter and edged with a gathered flounce. The underskirt was of green grenadine and the overdress was of aquamarine.

  “You are beautiful, Claire. So schon,” Ute repeated in German as she clasped her hands above her bosom and gazed at Claire approvingly.

  Claire touched her face. “But I’m so pale.”

  “Nonsense. Your skin looks like porcelain. That dummkopf David will be sorry that he ever let you go. I shall go and get dressed, myself, and I shall see you downstairs.”

  When Aunt Ute opened the door to go, Claire could hear the voices of the arriving guests in the foyer. She looked at herself once more in the mirror and pinched her cheeks for good measure. And just for safety, she took another swig of cough syrup, feeling wonderful as the medicine warmed her all the way down.

  This was her night. She intended to shine.

  “You ready?” Fredrick called as he knocked on Billy’s door.

  “Come in,” came the gruff voice on the other side of the door.

  “Whoa!” Fredrick stopped in the doorway before he entered. “Look at you. You look different without a gun strapped to your leg.”

  “I feel odd.” Billy drew his brows together as he looked at Claire’s cousin. “I keep asking myself how your cousin roped me into going to this thing.”

  Fredrick chuckled. “It’s called a party. And they’re supposed to be fun.”

  “Yep,” Billy said as he adjusted his black cravat. “It feels like I’m going to a lynching. That’s another kind of party where I come from.”

  Fredrick chuckled. “It’s hard to resist a beautiful woman, isn’t it?” he said as he leaned against the door.

  “You might have a point,” Billy agreed with a smile. “But I have been known to say no. There is something about your cousin,” he paused so he could find the right word, “that is different. I just can’t put my finger on what that ‘difference’ is.”

  “I agree with you.” Fredrick nodded. “Our Claire is different. She’s rather like a rare flower that is so beautiful and delicate that you hold your breath, afraid that you’ll hurt her in some way.”

  Billy smiled. “Fredrick, that was plumb beautiful,” he drawled. Then he said in a serious voice, “And a nice way to put it.”

  Fredrick turned a bright red. “Just remember that some of those beautiful flowers have prickly thorns.”

  “Point taken. I’m sure I’ll find a few thorns along the way.”

  When Billy and Fredrick arrived at the downstairs ballroom, they paused at the first set of double doors to scan the crowd.

  Billy was surprised at how many guests there were. He could count on his hands how many people he knew back home. The Holladays must have invited the entire county. The women were all dressed in very fancy colorful ball gowns. His sisters would die to have dresses so elegant.

  “This is something,” he finally said to Fredrick.

  “Yep.” Fredrick nodded. “My aunt always gives the fanciest parties in this part of the country. Just wait until everyone arrives.”

  “You mean there will be more?”

  “Sure. The ballroom and the foyer will be full of people before the night is over.”

  “So what do we do now?” Billy asked.

  “This is pretty much it Unless you want to go through the receiving line,” Fredrick said, then he laughed. “You just stand around and talk, or you could dance.”

  “Believe it or not, I can dance,” Billy said as they stepped out of the doorway into the ballroom. He looked around. “You know there’s not a gun in sight.”

  Fredrick laughed. “My aunt would have fainted dead away if you had worn your six-shooter. However, she will really approve of your clothes tonight. You look like a fancy easterner. You’ll fit right in.”

  Albert strolled over to them. He was dressed the same as Billy, a far cry from the duds he’d had on at the stable.

  “Welcome to our party. There are refreshments on a table over there in front of that long set of windows. Please, help yourself or I could find you something stronger, if you’d like?”

  “Obliged. Punch will be fine. Don’t believe I’ve ever had any before,” Billy said with a nod.

  “Fredrick, are you learning the stage coach business from Uncle Ben?” said Albert.

  “A little,” Fredrick replied agreeably. “Uncle Ben said I have to discover how things are done out there before I can learn anything about the business. I’m going to start driving a stage when we get back to Denver. Uncle Ben says that is learning from the ground up.”

  “Makes sense,” Albert said in agreement. “I had to muck out stables when I was coming up, since I chose the horse business instead of ships. Speaking of stables ...” Albert turned to Billy—‘Thanks for your help with Firebrand. Since we put your pinto in the stall next to his, he’s a different horse.”

  “Firebrand is a fine horse,” Billy said, not comfortable with the praise. “He was just lonesome. Let’s get something to drink.”

  “Come this way,” Albert said. “I think Heath is over there.”

  “Great,” Billy muttered. Just who he needed to see to top off this boring night.

  Claire stood beside her editor, fanning herself with a silk fan that had been a gift from her father on her fifteenth birthday. Glancing around, she noticed that she seemed to be the only one who was warm.

  “I thought you didn’t like parties,” Claire said to Ann.

  “I don’t There are usually a bunch of pompous people all trying to outshine the others. I’ve never understood why people can’t be themselves.” Ann tilted her head to the side. “There is a good exam- pie. Look over there at Lucy Blackwell. See her eyes roaming over the crowd?” Ann said in a low voice. “She reminds me of a vulture looking for its next prey. She’s had her head turned toward the door for the last five minutes, so I’ll bet she’s found the next victim.”

  Claire followed the direction of Lucy’s gawking gaze and discovered the victim at just about the same time that Ann said, “Well, I’ll be!” Ann squeezed Claire’s arm. “She’s going after your cowboy. Yep, Lucy is headed his way.”

  “You sound like Mother. He isn’t my cowboy.”

  Ann leaned back and looked at Claire. “Well, honey, you need to wake up. With a little encouragement, he just might be.”

  Claire gave a disgusted sigh. “We went over this at the office,” Ann said. “And I pointed out emphatically to you that you need to give the man a little encouragement. You were the one who told me that you wanted to live life to the fullest. Am I not right?”

  Claire knew Ann was right. Claire was acting like she always had... prim and proper. “Well, I haven’t seen Billy much since we left your office.”

  “You see him now, don’t you?”

  Claire nodded.

  “It’s up to you to flirt with him. Give him a little encouragement. ”

  Claire bit her lip as she watched Billy. “That would be so forward.”

  “Precisely,” Ann agreed.

  The music struck up a tune. The crowd backed out of the way as couples took their places on the dance floor.

  Ann gave Claire a shove. “Go ahead and ask him to dance.”

  “He is supposed to ask me,” Claire protested.

  “Cowboys don’t ask. Now go.” Ann shoved her toward Billy.

  Claire felt light on her feet from perhaps all the excitement. Her head felt a bit fuzzy, but she attributed that to the warmth of so many bodies so close together.

  But suddenly she felt very daring. Ann was right
. It was time for her to move in on the prey!

  Claire could now see Billy clearly as he made his way through the throng of people. He looked magnificent tonight and so different from his cowboy persona, standing tall and proud. You couldn’t help but notice him. He was taller than most of the men around him and maybe an inch taller than Heath, who had been considered quite tall before Billy’s arrival.

  Billy was dressed all in black except for the snow-white shirt which made his handsome face appear bronzed. His coal-black jacket accented his powerful shoulders and the same fabric encased his long muscular legs.

  And then there was Billy’s face. Claire couldn’t draw her gaze away from him. Those dark brown eyes looked enormous and almost predatory tonight. His rich brown hair gleamed beneath the lights and curled just at his neck. No wonder that all the unspoken-for women were gawking and whispering as Claire walked by. She could hear them asking who the stranger was.

  She smiled as she noticed that Billy and Heath were talking and Apparently getting along, instead of arguing as they’d done most of the time Billy had been in New York.

  Then Billy saw her. She knew he did because something in his eyes changed and Claire’s heart leaped. His gaze never left her as she came to him, seemingly drawn by his gaze.

  The moment Billy saw Claire, he nearly stopped in the middle of his sentence. He had been telling Heath that he would take good care of his sister, so Heath could rest easy and quit nagging.

  The lovely vision that Billy saw floating his way didn’t look as though she needed protecting, unless it was from him. Claire was simply stunning. Billy wasn’t sure he’d ever seen a woman dressed as beautifully as Claire was tonight. Her dress was low cut, showing the tops of her breasts. She needed a shawl to cover herself, was the first thing he thought but her brothers didn’t seem to object, so Billy figured that she was properly dressed. However, if Claire was his, he wouldn’t stand for any man gawking at her like he was doing.