Texas Pride: Night Riders (13 page)

Danny frowned. “I don’t need another person who thinks I’m too pretty to be a man.”

“Who would say such a thing?”

Carla hadn’t heard the kitchen door open and was surprised to see Ivan had entered the room. “Danny thinks Kesney’s daughter won’t like him.” But Ivan wasn’t looking at Danny. He was looking at Carla in a way she found unnerving and unexpected.

Myrtle’s having practically ordered Carla to marry Ivan had forced to her realize her feelings toward him were more than mere liking. She wasn’t in love with him, but every time she tried to pin down her feelings, they eluded her grasp. Ivan was no help. He was such a gentleman, his manner so practiced and easy, it was almost impossible to guess what his feelings might be.

“How could anyone not like a young man with such a beautiful sister,” Ivan said before turning to Carla and saying, “but you should not wear that dress.”

“Why?” Ivan had never been critical before.

Danny was quick to defend his sister. “I think she looks beautiful.”

“She is more than beautiful,” Ivan said. “No one will be able to see anyone but her.”

Carla’s breath caught in her throat. The look Ivan was giving her had nothing to do with polished manners or gentlemanly behavior. It was the look of a man who sees a woman he desires. It was a look that would have cut across a crowded room or through a haze of smoke to reach her. It was a look that caused heat to rise from somewhere deep inside her body. It was a look that told her Ivan was susceptible, that the castle walls were not built so high that they couldn’t be breached.

Yet she wasn’t so taken with Ivan’s flattery that she hadn’t noticed Danny’s mischievous smirk.

“Carla says everyone will be too busy looking at Kesney’s daughter to pay her any attention.”

“Your sister does not have very good judgment when it comes to people.”

Carla didn’t like to be criticized, but the sensual undertone of that look was powerful enough to blunt even the sharpest barb. What Ivan’s code of conduct would never allow him to say with words, he said with his eyes. Carla wanted to know if he really did harbor warm feelings toward her, but she wasn’t sure she was ready to find out.

Danny’s grin reached from ear to ear. “Why would you say that?” he asked Ivan.

“I have seen Kesney’s daughter. I have danced with her and had lunch with her. I have spent a morning shopping with her. At no time did I ever think she was more beautiful than your sister.”

Danny laughed. “So why do you think Carla shouldn’t wear her new red dress?”

“She will break many hearts.” Ivan shook his head sadly. “It is not good to see a man waste away until he has no will to live.”

When Ivan said things like that, it made Carla wonder if she knew anything at all about him. He was too serious to make jokes like Danny, but he certainly couldn’t believe a man could waste away because of a broken heart. She knew Myrtle would say they couldn’t because Myrtle was certain men didn’t have hearts.

“Stop it, both of you. I don’t think this is funny, Danny. And as for you, you Polish prince in exile, I don’t think it reflects well on your family to tell such whoppers.”

“I do not know about these
whoppers
you say I speak, but I do not shame my family. You are truly more beautiful than Miss Kesney ever could be.”

The sincerity in Ivan’s voice caused Carla to blush deeply.”It’s time we started for the dance,” she said to both men. “We don’t want to be the last to arrive.”

Danny’s mischievous grin was back. “Yes, it would be terrible to see all the men leave their partners standing the moment they slapped eyes on you.”

Carla decided it was better not to respond. Her brother liked few things better than teasing.

On the way into town, Danny ran through a list of nearly everyone within twenty miles of Overlin, wondering if they would be at the dance, who they would bring, what they would wear. Carla knew that would be very helpful to Ivan, but she wasn’t sure he was paying much attention to Danny. She had insisted on driving her buggy while Danny and Ivan rode. She needed time to think, and she hoped Danny and Ivan riding together would give her the opportunity.

It didn’t work out quite as she planned. Even though Danny talked almost nonstop, and even though Ivan appeared to be paying polite attention, he still managed to direct several glances laden with meaning her way. Ivan was as far from indifferent to her as she was from being uninterested in him. It was in that unsettled frame of mind that she arrived at the dance.

Overlin wasn’t a large town, but it was too big to hold a major social event indoors. In preparation for the dance, lanterns had been strung from ropes tied to poles that formed a big square. A platform had been set up for a band of a fiddle, two banjos, and a drum. A couple of tables off to one side offered drinks, lemonade for free, and beer and whiskey for a quarter. There was also food for those who had traveled so far or fast they hadn’t taken time for supper. Wagons, buggies, and horses were parked out of the range of the lanterns. Though they had arrived a few minutes before starting time, there was already a crowd gathered, which forced Carla to park her buggy farther from the dance area than she wanted. She hoped her shoes wouldn’t be covered with dust before the first dance.

As they wound their way between the parked vehicles, the sound of the fiddle tuning up caused her worries about Ivan to fade. This was an evening for having fun, for visiting with friends, for flirting, for catching up on gossip, for doing all the things people who lived in semi- isolation did when they got together. Some would drink too much. Others would laugh too loud or say things they would regret the next day. There would probably be a fight or two. It seemed it was impossible to gather men, women, and liquor in the same place without somebody taking a poke at somebody else. But even that was part of the exuberant high spirits that characterized these gatherings.

“Want some lemonade?” Danny asked his sister.

“No.”

“How about you?” he asked Ivan.

“None for me.”

Danny grinned. “I expect you want something stronger than lemonade.”

“I drink nothing stronger than water as long as I am responsible for your sister.”

“Glad I’m not you. I’m parched so I’m off to get something to drink.”

Danny took two steps in the direction of the lemonade and came to an abrupt stop. “Who is that?” he asked in an awed whisper.

Ivan turned to follow the direction of Danny’s gaze. He wasn’t surprised Danny was staring at Beth Hardin standing with her father under one of the lanterns. The young girl looked lovely in a simple white dress with a white flower in her dark brown hair. Her animation, her high spirits, were reflected in her smile and girlish laughter.

Carla grinned at her brother. “That’s Beth Hardin. She’s the girl you said you didn’t want to meet, remember?”

“I was a fool,” Danny mumbled in nearly reverent tones. “I have to meet her.”

“Wait until you’ve had time to get that stunned look off your face. She’s liable to think you’re half-witted.”

“Why don’t you get us all some lemonade?” Ivan suggested.

Too dazed to remember Ivan and his sister had only moments earlier refused his offer of refreshment, Danny wandered off toward the drink table.

“Did you see the look on his face?” Carla asked Ivan with a laugh. “I’ve never seen him bowled over by a young woman. Usually they’re gaping at him, and he can’t wait to get away.”

“I wish it were that way now.”

“Why?” Carla sounded surprised.

“Danny is young. If this is his first infatuation, being refused will hurt very much.”

“Why should Beth refuse to dance with him?”

“I do not refer to dancing. I refer to love.”

Carla frowned. “Don’t be ridiculous. Danny’s just set eyes on the girl. He doesn’t know anything about her. He can’t be in love with her.”

“What he sees when he looks at Beth is his idea of perfection. She is the girl he has dreamed of but has never met. It is knowing nothing more about her that makes it so easy to fall in love.”

Carla looked at him as though he was losing his mind. “Why do you say this? Danny’s no silly, idealistic boy. He’s seventeen. He’s been a working cowhand practically since he could ride.”

“When I was eighteen, I, too, had worked for many years, but my heart was like that of an innocent child. Then one day I saw a woman of great beauty such as I had not thought possible. My heart was lost before I knew what had happened. I did not care that she was Russian or that her father owned many estates. I loved her as only one who loves for the first time can. It would have been better if she had not shared my passion, but she felt as I did. I dreamed of a life of such happiness as can only be imagined.”

“What happened?”

“What anyone but a lovesick fool would have known would. Her father could not allow his daughter to marry a penniless Pole, even one who would become a prince. She was immediately engaged, and soon married, to an equally wealthy Russian. I learned later that she’d agreed only on the condition that her father send me to school.”

“She sacrificed her happiness for yours?”

“I did not think so at the time. I was bitter. I studied hard, determined to become a great engineer, grow very rich, and get my revenge by finding an even more beautiful and wealthy bride. Only gradually did I realize she must have known a love such as ours could not long endure.”

“It was better to break it off while it was still alive and wonderful, rather than hang on while it withered and died.”

“I am sure it was best, but it was years before the pain went away. Even now it hurts to remember.”

“Why did you tell me this story if it’s so painful?”

“Because I do not think Kesney will welcome Danny’s interest in his daughter.”

Carla bristled impatiently. “For goodness sakes, Ivan, Danny has just clapped eyes on Beth. Let another pretty girl show up, and he might forget all about her. Even if he didn’t, there’s no reason to think Beth will have a similar interest in him.”

“Have you been watching her?”

“No. I was listening to you.”

Carla’s gaze followed Ivan’s when he turned toward Beth. She was still standing next to her father, but her gaze was locked on Danny. Beth tugged on her father’s sleeve and spoke without taking her eyes off Danny.

“I believe she asked her father for his name,” Ivan said.

Carla was no lip reader, but it was easy to see Kesney had said
Danny
Reece
. Carla couldn’t tell what Beth said in response, but when she looked to where she and Ivan were standing, she could guess. Speaking once more to her father, both of them started in their direction.

“They are coming here,” Ivan said.

“I can see that. What should we do?”

“Nothing. If Danny had not stayed at the ranch all week, they would have met before now.”

Danny was concentrating so hard on not spilling the three glasses of lemonade he didn’t see Beth until she had almost reached them. If Ivan hadn’t taken the lemonade from him, he’d have dropped all three glasses.

“I was wondering when you would get here.”

Beth’s remarks appeared to be meant for Carla, but her gaze remained locked on Danny. Her expression was so close to the dumbfounded look on Danny’s face Carla’s heart sank. Kesney, too, seemed worried.

“I want to see if Ivan remembers his lessons.” Beth’s gaze didn’t leave Danny.

“I’m sure he does,” her father said. “Would you like something to drink? You’re not looking quite yourself.”

“Here. Have my lemonade.”

Danny practically shoved his glass at Beth. Looking as though she had been offered something akin to the holy grail, Beth reached for the glass. Their hands touched for so long Carla was certain Kesney would say something, but he seemed unaware of the true nature of his daughter’s affliction. When the fiddle stuck up the first tune of the evening, he looked even more worried.

“I don’t think you ought to dance just yet,” Kesney said to his daughter. “Why won’t you sit for a while?”

“I’ll sit with her,” Danny said to Kesney. “I’m Danny, Carla’s brother,” he said to Beth.

“This is my daughter, Beth,” Kesney said to Danny. “She’s only been in Texas a short while. I don’t think she’s used to the heat yet.”

“Maybe the lemonade will help,” Danny said to Beth.

“But now you don’t have any.”

“He can have mine.” Ivan had to place his glass in Danny’s hands because the boy couldn’t take his eyes off Beth.

“I’d offer to dance,” Kesney said to Carla, “but I don’t want to leave Beth until I’m sure she’s all right.”

“That’s okay,” Carla said. “I don’t want to dance a jig anytime tonight, certainly not the first dance.”

“And not in that dress.” Kesney hadn’t been so concerned for his daughter that he had failed to take notice of Carla’s dress. “Half the good ladies of Overlin would probably faint.”

Vaguely annoyed by his comment, Carla said, “I bought it from Sadie.”

“I’m surprised it didn’t burn down the store.”

“Ivan said I shouldn’t wear it.” She didn’t know why she said that. She knew Kesney didn’t think Ivan had the right to have any opinion in regard to her.

“He was wrong.”

“He said it would attract too much attention.”

The look Kesney cast Ivan wasn’t friendly. “He’s right about that. If anybody tries to get fresh, just let me know. I’ll set them right.”

“No one will take liberties with Carla as long as she is with me,” Ivan announced.

Carla wasn’t worried about anybody taking liberties, but the tension between the two men was uncomfortable. It was flattering to have two handsome men squaring off over her, but having it come out in the middle of a dance was not good timing. “I want to say hello to some of the ladies,” she told Kesney. “And Maxwell wants to talk to Ivan about digging a deep well for the town.”

“I know nothing about a proposed well,” Ivan said to Carla as they walked away.

“Neither do I, but the town could use one.”

“So why did you say—”

“I wanted to get you away from Kesney. It won’t improve the atmosphere to have you two glaring at each other.”

“I do not glare.”

“Maybe not, but you have that look of an aristocrat about to squash a bug.”

“I am not an aristocrat. I am a cowhand. And cowhands do not squash bugs. We swat them.”

Carla laughed. “I’m glad to know you’re catching on to English.”

“It is an impossible language. I do not understand—”

“Carla Reece! That dress is a disgrace.”

Carla turned to see Myrtle elbowing her way through the crowd, a look of outrage on her deeply lined countenance.

“I will hold her if you want to run.” The twinkle in Ivan’s eye caused Carla to smile.

“If I had any sense, I’d take you up on your offer, but she’d probably follow me.”

Having reached Carla, Myrtle declared, “Where did you find that… that… that abomination? No place in Overlin, I’m sure.”

“I bought it in Sadie’s shop.” It wasn’t an abomination. It merely showed part of her shoulders, her upper chest, and her arms below the elbow. Myrtle thought every unmarried woman’s dress should be made out of gingham and button at the wrists and under the chin.

“Sadie Lowell is a foolish woman, but she would never allow such a dress through her doors.”

“In her defense, she didn’t want to sell it to me.”

“I should think not. I don’t know why Ivan let you out of the house. I’m sure there’s not a dress like that in the whole of Poland.”

The twinkle in Ivan’s eyes grew more pronounced. “I told her she should not wear it.”

“Just the kind of excellent advice I would expect from a man of your caliber. Why didn’t you follow it?” she demanded of Carla.

Carla was as annoyed with Myrtle’s public censure as she was with the gathering crowd of amused onlookers. She wasn’t shy about taking a public stand that women should be treated equally with men when it came to business, but she didn’t feel the same about a public debate on her clothes.

“I chose this dress because I thought it would be fun,” she told Myrtle.

“It’s fun for me,” some male wag in the gathering commented.

“Me too,” said another.

“See.” Myrtle waved a finger in the direction of one of the voices. “Do you want that kind of attention?”

Carla was grateful Kesney was too worried about his daughter to notice what Myrtle was saying.

“This is a dance,” Carla told Myrtle. “People are here for fun. After all the hard work they put in this last week, it’s time to let loose a little—just for tonight. Nobody will expect me to take Eve Lawrence’s place in the saloon.”

“You couldn’t blame them if they did.” Myrtle removed her wrap and handed it to Ivan. “Put this around her shoulders. So much bare skin is bound to stir up already inflamed sensibilities.”

“What about your shoulders?” Carla asked, even though Myrtle’s dress had long sleeves and a collar that buttoned under her chin.

“No one would look at my shoulders even if I were so lost to all decorum as to wear such a shocking outfit. Take her home before all the whiskey is gone.” Having said that, Myrtle turned and made her way through the amused crowd.

“Take your wrap,” Carla called after her.

Acting as though she hadn’t heard, Myrtle didn’t look back.

“Let me put it around your shoulders,” Ivan said.

“I don’t want it.”

“I think you should wear it now. You can take it off later.”

Carla looked at the people who were drifting away from her and Ivan. “It will look like I’m giving in to Myrtle’s bullying.”

“Myrtle is not bullying you. She cares about you.”

Carla felt like Ivan had pulled the stuffing out of her indignation. “I know, but I get so tired of her criticism.”

“She does it out of love.”

“Myrtle doesn’t love anybody except maybe you. You ought to hear what she says about everybody in Overlin. She won’t even talk to anybody under fifty.”

“Yet she talks to you. Why?”

“I’ve never been quite sure.”

“I think she sees in you the person she wishes she could have been. I think she wants for you the things she never had.”

“She’s probably the richest person in Overlin.”

“And probably the most unhappy.”

Carla had to admit that while she often took issue with what Myrtle did, she admired her spirit. She would face down the most powerful man in Overlin with the same ferocity she turned on the boys who delighted in breaking her fence.

“Give me the wrap. I’m not sure you’re right, but I’ll use it just in case.” She let Ivan drape it over her shoulders. “Now I want to dance.”

The twinkle was back in Ivan’s eye. “I know I can dance because Beth has taught me, but I do not know if you can dance. Will my toes be in danger?”

“If I wasn’t sure it would cause almost as big a commotion as Myrtle, I’d punch you in the stomach,” Carla threatened.

“I was told that fights would not start until later. And that drunk men would be the fighters.”

She didn’t know whether to laugh or to punch him anyway. The red dress gave her courage, and she settled on the punch that merely caused Ivan to laugh so loud half the people gathered turned in their direction.

“Stop it,” she hissed. “You have everybody looking at us.”

“After the red dress and Myrtle, there was no hope people would look at anyone else. Did I not say you were the most beautiful woman in Overlin?”

“And you are the most impossible man. Come on. I’ll prove to you I can dance just as well as Beth.”

Under ordinary circumstances, she probably could dance better than Beth, but being in Ivan’s arms transformed her. He was such a marvelous dancer he made her better. They seemed to float over the floor, their bodies perfectly synchronized. She could understand how Beth had been so excited when she danced with Ivan. It was like suddenly finding she had winged feet, that every movement was perfectly executed without effort or thought. The music of the squawking fiddle and twanging banjos changed into a sound that was as soft and alluring as the night air. The light from the dozens of lanterns turned luminous, their softened rays finding only the best parts of the tired, weathered faces that surrounded them.

Carla wondered if Ivan had ever had the chance to dance with that young girl when he was eighteen. If so, how would he compare Carla to her? She knew he liked her. She knew he wanted her. She
didn’t
know if his heart had been so wounded he could never love again. If so, it would be a great tragedy. Ivan was a wonderful man. The way he dealt with Sally’s boys showed he would be a wonderful father. The way he treated all women gave every indication that he would be the kind of husband women only dream of.