"Because he doesn't even like Gloria," Stephen declared.
Meagan smiled with smug delight. "Good." She went back to the task at hand.
"Why do I feel as though I'm talking to myself?" He tossed an angry glance her way. "Go ahead, Meagan, sew away. I don't even exist."
Meagan knew he was vexed but she was too busy to worry about it, so she just nodded.
Stephen was about to leave, but turned back and shot her a suspicious glance. "Meagan," he reminded her unnecessarily, "you can't sew."
She shot him a sideways glance, suddenly a bit uncomfortable with his presence. "How do you know that?"
"You told me, that first day. Remember?"
Meagan pretended ignorance. "I never told you any such thing," she denied.
"Sure you did," Stephen countered. "You said that you'd never sewn a thing in your life and that you'd be much better at cooking." Stephen grinned broadly. "I'm worried about this dress, Meagan.
She threw him a disgusted look. "You're right,” she admitted, “I can't sew."
"What possessed you to say you could, then?"
"Never mind that." Meagan brushed his question off with a flip of her wrist. "The point is that I did. Now I have to finish it. Your mother helped me get started. All I have to do is piece it together."
Stephen cleared his throat. “I'm not much for sewing myself, but if I'm not mistaken you're sewing that sleeve on backwards."
"What?" Meagan eyed her work and realized he was right. By the time she got all the way around, she would have a puckered, uneven mess. Her lips thinned with irritation as she began removing the stitches.
"Meagan."
"What!"
Stephen held up his hands as a deep chuckle reverberated from his chest. "I just wanted to know if you would go to the dance with me."
This time he had her undivided attention. "What about Sarah?"
"What about her?" Stephen frowned. "She hates me."
"I hardly think that's true."
"It is." Stephen stated with conviction.
Meagan forced back a grin. "Stephen, I don't want to go to the dance with you."
"You don’t?" His tone a mixture of hurt and confusion. “I don’t see why not. I mean, if you aren’t going with Cole, then why not me?”
“Because you need to take Sarah,” Meagan declared firmly.
"Meagan, you don’t listen very well," Stephen scolded. "I already told you that Sarah hates me. She won't go to the dance with me."
Meagan ignored his protests. “I know you want to take Sarah, and I want her to go with you. I'm certain you can use your charm to persuade her if you'll just set aside your stubbornness long enough to ask her."
"I'm not stubborn."
The hard set of his jaw told her different and Meagan laughed lightly as she argued, "if you ask Sarah, and she knows I'll only go if she does, then I think you'll stand a better chance."
"But if she goes, what about you?"
"We'll go as a threesome."
"A threesome!"
His shocked tone made Meagan laugh outright. "I promise not to get in the way."
“You call me stubborn,” he muttered. He rubbed his eyes with his right hand, then shrugged. "Alright, you win. I'll ask her."
"Good." With that settled Meagan focused her attention back on her task.
Stephen went in search of Sarah. He found her sitting near the creek, alone. He sat beside her, saying nothing. When he realized she wasn't going to acknowledge his presence, he asked, "can we talk?"
Sarah shrugged without responding.
"I'm sorry about this morning," Stephen began, surprised when she threw herself into his arms, sobbing.
"Sarah, don't cry." Stephen urged.
"It's all my fault," she mumbled into his shirt.
"What's your fault?" Stephen pushed her away, just far enough so he could see her face.
"Everything," she confessed with a sob. "I know I blamed you for not being there, Stephen, but I didn't mean it." Her lower lip trembled uncontrollably as she stifled yet another sob. "I just couldn't face the truth." She separated herself from him and squared her shoulders. "I have to do what is best for the others, and for me. I have to stand up to Pa, once and for all, no matter the consequences.” Her expression changed from one of despair to one full of determination. “I've been so afraid of making pa angry, or hurting him more than he’s already been hurt that I've let him get away with too much.” She stood and faced him. “I could have told you about him a long time ago, but I didn't. I could have stopped him from hurting Jeremy, but I was too afraid."
Stephen stood as well. "Sarah, you were right when you said you needed to stand up to your pa, but don’t blame yourself for what he’s done.” Stephen didn’t want to hurt her, but it was time for the truth. “Your pa’s a drunk, Sarah, a mean, worthless drunk. He came after Cole with a gun, for heaven’s sakes. He beats Jeremy because he's a drunk. He's barely even managed to keep his own children alive, because he's a drunk. Until he sobers up he'll never be worth the effort you spend on him. Until he sobers up there isn't a damn thing you can do."
Her tear filled eyes reflected the acceptance of his words. She sighed and brushed her hair from her face. “You said you’d help him," she reminded him. “You promised.”
"I'll keep that promise," Stephen stated with conviction. “No matter what it takes, I’ll help your pa, but you have to promise me something as well."
Her eyes took on a hint of suspicion. "What?"
"You have to keep away from your pa. You have to let me do whatever is necessary to sober him up."
"But what if,"
Stephen touched a fingertip to her lips. "No buts, Sarah. You have to trust me on this.”
She studied him. Stephen stared straight back without as much as a flinch. A slight smile touched her lips. "I promise, Stephen. I promise I won't interfere again."
With a satisfied nod, Stephen drew Sarah into his arms. She cuddled closer, and he thought she fit him perfectly. "Sarah,"
"Yes," Sarah murmured dreamily.
“I almost forgot what I came out here for.”
“What’s that?” she asked without any attempt to leave his embrace.
"Will you go to the dance with me on Saturday?"
"Aha."
That was easy, Stephen thought, then added as an afterthought, "I'm taking Meagan, too."
In one abrupt movement Sarah pulled away from him and stood, glaring down at him with burning, reproachful eyes. "You asked Meagan to the dance, too?"
His face clouded with uneasiness as he admitted, "I didn't think you'd go."
"So you figured just any woman would do?" she accused in a shrill voice.
"Meagan's not just any woman," Stephen began, surprised when Sarah walked off. "Wait a minute," he quickly followed her, "come back here."
She turned toward him so quickly he nearly trampled her. She flashed him a look of disdain. "How dare you pretend to like me and then tell me you're in love with Meagan."
Stephen attempted to force his confused thoughts into order. "I'm not in love with Meagan," he denied emphatically.
"Then why did you say you were?"
"I never said that." At her doubting expression, he started over, choosing his words carefully, "I think Meagan's terrific." Halting her retort with a firm shake of his head, he continued, "I probably could have fallen in love with her, had she given me half a chance, but Meagan only has eyes for Cole. It's always been that way." He shrugged, “and always will be. I accepted that long ago, and since then Meagan’s become like another sister to me.”
"A sister?" Sarah glanced sideways at him, unable to hide her pleasure.
"A sister," he confirmed. "When Cole didn't ask her to the dance, I was angry at him and felt sorry for her. I was certain you hated me and wouldn't go with me, so I asked her."
"Oh."
Relieved by her pleased expression, he added, "she made me ask you."
"What!"
Stephen stomped hi
s foot in frustration, "I didn't mean it that way."
Sarah started laughing. Light giggles turned into gut wrenching spasms as the emotions of the day flowed over into welcome release. It seemed they couldn't even have a five minute conversation without arguing.
Stephen thought her mad, but a smile played on his lips all the same. He quite liked her, he decided. "Sarah, I don't know why nothing is coming out the way I mean it." She was still laughing and he doubted she'd heard a word he said. "Sarah, stop laughing so I can explain." She laughed louder then, bending over double as she held her stomach. He'd had about enough. "Sarah, stand up."
"I can't," Sarah exclaimed, "it hurts."
Stephen grabbed her by the shoulders and straightened her. Her sparkling eyes met his and he lowered his mouth to her parted lips. He felt her jolt of surprise and was pleased when her stiffness turned soft and inviting. He explored her lips fully, taking his time before releasing her.
She stared dumbly up at him. Her lips were swollen from his kisses, her hair disheveled. "Why did you do that?"
"I wanted to."
"Oh," Her wide, innocent eyes met his as she asked shyly, "will you do it again?"
Stephen laughed outright, grinning from ear to ear as he complied with the ladies wishes. The day was turning out just fine, after all.
Meagan worked well into the night, completely absorbed in her task. Every finger throbbed with pain, her back was stiff, her head ached and she was dead tired. Still she sewed, determined to meet her deadline, even if it killed her. She worked diligently, unaware that as each hour passed, her stitches grew just a little further apart. She was nearly done when her head bobbed to the side. She was sound asleep. Her last thought before she drifted off was of Gloria, wearing her beautiful dress and dancing with Cole.
Cole couldn't sleep. He was on his way to the kitchen when he saw Meagan, sound asleep in a straight back chair in the front parlor. A frown rested on features that should have been relaxed in slumber. He carefully removed the dress from her loose grip, setting it aside before lifting her gently into his arms.
He delivered her to her room, removing only her boots and stockings before turning back the bed and placing her in it. She moaned in contentment as her head hit the pillow, and then was still. He smoothed his finger gently across her brow and watched her frown disappear.
He stayed there for several minutes, just watching her, before tiptoeing from the room and shutting the door quietly behind him. He wanted her more than he'd ever wanted anyone before in his life.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
The excitement was contagious and Meagan found herself caught up in a whirlwind of activity as the entire household prepared for the dance. It was less than two hours before they'd leave, and everything was chaotic as first one thing, and then another, went wrong.
They'd intended on having an extremely capable, but very pregnant ranch hand's wife watch the younger children, but she'd gone into labor just hours before. Meagan had volunteered to stay home, but Anne had balked at that idea, insisting she'd stay home instead. Stephen had a run in with a bull, and the bull won. He'd exited the battle with a sprained wrist. Sarah had dressed early so she could help the older boys get ready and had caught her dress in the door, tearing it. She was busy mending it while attempting to calm Jeremy, who hadn't quit crying since he found out everyone was leaving him.
Meagan had never attended the spring dance before, and was anxious to see what all the fuss was about. It was a grand event, as ranchers and town folk from a hundred mile radius gathered together. Women wore their finest gowns. Gossip spread for days, even months afterwards, as people reminisced about the happenings of that one special night.
Meagan chose an emerald green Princess Polonaise gown with a matching silk underskirt from her wardrobe. The overskirt, which attached to the bodice, draped up at the rump, adding a slight pouf. She laid it on the bed and prepared a bath of steaming water. She slipped wearily into it, bending her knees to her chest so she could submerge her body. She washed her hair, then closed her eyes and allowed her tense muscles to relax as she soaked.
"Ouch!"
Meagan sprung from the tub, drenching the floor in the process. "What happened?" she yelled through the closed door.
"Nothing. Never mind." Cole's words were muffled, his tone sour.
"Cole fell down," Amy volunteered, "and he hurt his knee."
"I'm fine." Cole mumbled. "Amy, I want you to get Jeremy and entertain him so your sister can get ready."
"I don't see why she gets to go, and I can't," Amy complained, paying little attention to Cole's orders.
"Just go." Cole demanded. "If you have any complaints, tell Sarah, not me."
Meagan shivered and reached for a towel. Cole was obviously not in the best of moods. She listened to him limp away, and without further delay patted herself dry and sprinkled her body liberally with scented powder. After running a comb through her long, wet strands she began to dress.
She started with a pair of knee length silk striped stockings which exactly matched the shade of her dress. She chose a chemise just a shade lighter, and slipped it over her head. Next she reached for a delicately embroidered cream colored petticoat then slipped into three additional ruffled petticoats, each one a slightly darker shade of green than the one before it. It was awkward to bend with so many clothes on, but Meagan managed to fasten her high buttoned black shoes before glancing warily toward her dress. She hoped that it still fit after all these layers of clothes.
Slipping it over her head, she allowed it to fall around her, stretching to reach the minuscule buttons that ran the entire length up the back. She twisted first one way, then another. It was no use.
She'd have to find someone to help her. She slipped from the room, hoping to locate Anne or Sarah before anyone else spotted her. She hadn't made it more than ten feet before she ran straight into Cole.
He caught her in his arms and righted her. A tender smile touched his lips. He raised his finger and lightly caressed her cheek. "You look beautiful," he whispered huskily. He allowed his gaze to slowly roam the length of her before grasping a damp curl of her hair between two fingers, gently twirling it. "I've believe I’ve made a terrible mistake, not backing out of my..."
"I see you're keeping my date company." Stephen interrupted, grinning down at Meagan as he whistled his appreciation. "You look terrific."
Meagan didn't miss the flash of annoyance Cole shot Stephen's way. She decided it only fair to make things a bit unpleasant for Cole. After all, he would be solely responsible for the misery she was likely to feel as she watched him dancing with Gloria the entire night. "I'm glad you're here, Stephen." Meagan turned so her nearly bare back was exposed. "I can't reach the last buttons on my dress. Could you help me?"
"Whatever my lady asks," Stephen agreed gallantly, fastening each button with slow, exaggerated precision while lightly caressing her skin, his actions letting Meagan know he was on to her game.
Meagan began to squirm uncomfortably under Cole's heated gaze, realizing Stephen might be taking this a bit too far.
Cole's expression was grim, his eyes hard. "I have to go pick Gloria up." He turned abruptly and left, his quick, sharp stride evidence of his barely concealed anger.
Meagan watched Cole disappear then turned sharply to face Stephen. "That was overdoing it a bit, wasn't it. He's not likely to forgive either one of us for that show."
Stephen shrugged. "You wanted to make him jealous, didn't you?"
She raised her chin a notch. "I don't care what Cole feels, one way or the other."
"That's not true, Meagan."
It wasn't a question, so Meagan chose not to comment. She turned away. Stephen followed her. "Meagan, I know how you feel about Cole. I've known ever since you were a kid in pigtails."
Meagan forced a laugh, "that was a long time ago, Stephen. Even if I did feel something back then,"
"You did," he interrupted.
"Even if I did," Meagan emp
hasized, "that has nothing to do with how I feel now."
"You aren't still in love with him, then?"
She didn't care for the direction this conversation was heading. As long as her brother was roaming free, she wasn’t ready to confess her feelings to anyone, not even herself. "I have to finish getting ready, Stephen." She turned to leave.
"What has you so frightened, Meagan? It isn't like you to run away from the things you want."
She stopped and turned back to her friend. His words cut deep, because they were true. She wasn’t typically such a coward. She’d survived a childhood without parents to love her. She’d traveled across the country alone at thirteen to find a father who might not even want her. She’d buried that father four years later and found herself alone again. Still, she moved forward. She found a way to keep going, to do what needed to be done. Until now.
Meagan turned once again from Stephen's intense stare. "I've got to get ready. Thanks for the help with the dress.”
She ignored Stephen’s frustrated glare and returned to her room, shutting the door behind her. She’d felt Stephen's eyes on her back the entire way. She was afraid, she admitted to herself. Afraid to lose a brother she barely knew, but so desperately wanted to love and be loved by. Afraid she might lose the only man she'd ever loved if she clung to a hope for family, a hope for a tie to her mother which could never be broken. It wasn’t a fair choice, and she was afraid to make it.
With less enthusiasm than she'd felt earlier, Meagan picked up a comb and brushed through her hair. She decided to leave it long and loose, because Cole liked it that way. She slipped on a cloak and went in search of Stephen and Sarah. They were in the parlor.
Sarah wore a cream dress, accented with stripes of cinnamon brown and gold. Meagan offered her friend a warm smile. "You look terrific Sarah."
Sarah grinned wide. "So do you." Sarah turned her head and smiled broadly at Stephen. "I can hardly wait to get there."
Sarah's excitement carried Meagan through the long ride to town. She allowed their conversation to dominate the time, while she watched them interact. They were great together. Lulled by the steady motion of the carriage, Meagan forced all unpleasant thoughts aside. She intended to enjoy herself tonight, even if it killed her.
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