My Heart Will Find Yours (32 page)

Sally’s blue eyes turned tender, and she hugged him. “She was some lady. I miss her.”

Royce nodded and stepped back.

Jason, big grin on his face, grabbed Royce around the neck. “Get away from my wife, old man.”

Royce hugged his younger brother. “I’m happy for you, runt.” Matthew stepped up and took Royce’s place.

Royce needed to get outside. He made his way to the church lawn and sucked in deep gulps of air.
Put it behind you, Royce. Move forward, not back.

Royce started as a hand touched his arm. Sally’s widowed sister from Austin looked up at him. He wasn’t sure but thought her name was Ruby.

“It’s lovely out tonight.” As she spoke, she looked up at the sky.

He cleared his throat. “Yes, it is. I’m surprised it’s not colder.” Her arms were bare, and her skin had a pearly glow. If he touched her, she’d be smooth as silk. Her gown dipped low in the front exposing a good portion of her breasts. They were lovely, but he preferred women to be a little more modest when it came to showing their charms.

“Don’t you need a wrap?” Royce knew she wouldn’t be shocked if he touched her. Over the past month she’d been in Waco, he’d seen her at church and at Sally’s folks, and she’d made it clear she would welcome his advances.

“I have one in Papa’s buggy. Will you walk me there to fetch it?” Royce took her arm, and they strolled toward the buggies.

He reached into the back seat and picked up a blue velvet cape. “Is this yours?”

“Yes, it is.” She turned her back to him and dropped her head forward exposing the skin of her neck and back where her gown dipped low. The exposed skin was tempting. He wanted to lean forward and place a kiss on her nape. The thought chilled him, and he quickly covered her with her cape.

She turned back around. “Thank you.”

He extended an arm. “May I walk you to City Hall for the dance?”

“I’d like that.” She placed her hand on his arm.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Texanna almost shouted with joy when the light burst behind her closed eyes. It had happened. She’d traveled back. She wanted to open her eyes and see the train’s changed interior, but fear kept them tightly closed. Gingerly, she touched the seat and sighed with relief to find it hard and uncomfortable. Her rear-end told her it was, but she’d had to double check. She opened one eye and saw the lit kerosene lamps on each side of the door that led to the next car and breathed, “Thank you, God.”

Her hand went to her breast to clasp the locket. It was gone. Panicked, she searched her clothes hoping to find it in the folds. When that failed, she stood and searched the seat, and then the floor.
No! Oh God, please don’t do this to me.
She sat back down, closed her eyes, and took deep breaths to calm herself.
She had to be in the right time, please God.
Tears dropped from beneath her eyelids, and she gulped back her despair.
Have faith, Texanna. Just compose yourself and have faith.

The noise of the train speeding along the tracks kept time with the gallop of her heart. Her mind wouldn’t stop jumping from one thought to another.
Forget the locket. Think about something else—Royce.
How would he react when he saw her? It’d been over four months. What had he told folks when she’d disappeared again? Was her reappearance going to be a problem? That was too bad if it was. They’d come up with something to tell them.

When the train stopped, she stepped off the coach and stared at her surroundings. It looked the same as when she’d left. Heart pounding with anticipation, she breathed in the cool fresh air. Yes, there was the smell of manure and coal from the train, but the scent was comforting.

It was dusk, and few people were out on the streets. Dim lights flickered from a couple of businesses. Laughter and the tinkle of the piano from the saloon across the street echoed on the air. The streetlights didn’t give off much illumination, especially compared to the bright ones of the twenty-first century. She picked up her carpetbag and started toward the community center. It was getting too late to be on the streets alone, and she had to know if she’d arrived on time. Without the locket, she wasn’t sure.

The lights in City Hall were dimly lit. She’d never been inside but knew the building was used for community functions such as weddings, receptions, and dances. Her shoe heels echoed on the wood plank floor as she entered. But for the beautiful table set with a tall cake, punch bowl, and other snacks, the room was empty. Atop the cake stood the delicate figure formed of confectioner’s sugar of a bride and groom. Napkins lined the one end of the table. She sighed with relief at the banner reading ‘Congratulations Sally and Jason’ tacked on the back wall.

Texanna was nervous and didn’t know how she should go about presenting herself. She’d considered standing outside to wait for Royce but discarded that idea. Maybe she could stay incognito for a while until an opportunity arose. She hung her cape on the cloak rack and found a chair in the far corner of the room. It was so dark, and, with the deep blue of her dress, she’d be hard to spot.

As guests arrived, Texanna watched with pleasure as they filled the room with happy chatter. When Royce entered, she stopped breathing and gaped. She stifled the moan that bubbled in her throat with her fist. Her husband, her love...he’d lost weight, and his face looked gaunt. Had he been ill, worse yet, wounded? Fear rushed through her veins like ice water.
Oh Royce, my love...
She stood to move toward him and then noticed the handsome woman on his arm. Stunned, she plopped back down into the chair.

The woman’s blond hair was piled high on her head, and pearl earrings hung from her ears. When Royce took her cloak and hung it on the rack, Texanna could see her low-cut dress showed the skin of her back and a fair amount of breast above the neckline. The woman clung to Royce and squeezed close to whisper in his ear. Her action brought her breasts in contact with Royce’s arm and gave him a good view of her cleavage. His eyes dropped to the abundance of flesh. Jealousy clawed at Texanna, and it took all her strength to keep herself seated.

Jason and Sally entered on a flurry of laughter and chit-chat. Sally, lovely in Pearl’s wedding gown, was flushed with happiness. Texanna’s heart sang for the joy she saw in both Jason and Sally’s faces. She tried to concentrate on the happy couple, but her attention kept returning to Royce and the blonde together in the receiving line. Texanna noticed his face was drawn, but when he smiled down at the woman, the lines vanished.

Matthew moved to the middle of the room. “Folks, raise your punch cups. I’d like to make a toast to my baby brother and his beautiful bride.” The young couple moved to his side, their faces aglow. “Sally, Jason. Live and love as if every moment is your last. Don’t let the sun go down on your anger, and love each other enough to forgive. We hope your lives will be blessed with many special moments and lots of healthy children.”

Royce raised his cup. “Here, here!” Through the tears in her eyes, Texanna could see the sheen in Royce’s. A look passed between the three brothers, and they moved together to slap around on each other in a manly hug. Texanna had to bite her fist to keep from sobbing.

A cord sounded as one of the violinist drew his bow across the strings. It broke the tension. At the end of the room, a musical group was set up ready to play. The bride and groom moved onto the floor as the band started playing a waltz. Like Royce, Jason was a good dancer, and he twirled Sally around the room. They had eyes only for each other and didn’t notice when their guests joined them on the floor.

Royce hadn’t once glanced her way. Why should he? He had the blonde’s breasts to keep his eyes occupied. Texanna’s face heated with anger. She wanted to walk toward the pair, grab the woman’s exaggerated neckline, and yank it up to her eyeballs. But that would serve no purpose and only make her appearance more shocking.

Texanna’s heart turned over when she saw Garrett push his way through the guests to get a piece of cake. She choked back a sob. He’d grown taller in the past few months. He looked up to make sure he wasn’t watched, and when he did, his eyes locked with hers. He froze, looked around, and then back at her. Mouth open, he drew in air to yell, but she covered her lips with a finger and shook her head. His mouth snapped shut, but he still hadn’t moved. She held out her hand and, like a sleepwalker, he started toward her.

Thanks goodness the dance floor was crowded. Due to swirling guests, she could no longer see Garrett but within a short moment he stood before her.

Tears choked him. “Ma?”

Texanna nodded and opened her arms. He flew into them, and her soft sobs joined his. “Shhh now, don’t cry. We’ve got to be quiet. Sit beside me so we can talk.”

“But you’re dead. We buried you.”

“Garrett, I don’t know the whole story, but I think your pa used the locket to take me back home. He didn’t want me to die and knew I could be healed in my own time. Since he had the locket, he never expected me to get back and thought it best for everyone to think I was dead.” She clutched his hand. “That’s all I really know. Can you trust us to tell you everything later? I don’t have a clue how to let your pa know I’m here.”

With a big grin on his face, he blurted out. “I’ll tell him.” He turned to race off, but she caught him by his jacket.

“No Garrett, wait a minute. And keep your voice down. I don’t want to make a scene and spoil Sally and Jason’s wedding.”
But I sure would like to spoil the blonde’s fun.
“Who is the woman your father’s been dancing with? The blonde? Has he been seeing her?”

Garrett shrugged. “We see her at church every Sunday and at Sally’s folks. She’s Sally’s older sister. Her husband died a year ago, and she moved back here from Austin.”

“Does your Pa like her?”

Garrett’s brow furrowed. “You mean like a sweetheart, to kiss and stuff?” He turned to watch his father on the dance floor. “I don’t think so. He hasn’t kissed her like he used to you.”

Texanna felt better but wasn’t completely reassured. It was time to get out of here. She’d wait for Royce by the buckboard.

“Garrett, you see that black cape on the first hook.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Will you get it for me, and I’ll meet you at the door? Then you can take me to the buckboard. I’ll wait for your pa there.”

They’d made it outside when the door opened again, and Royce called out to his son. Texanna slipped into the darkness under the tree.

“Garrett, where are you going?” The blonde joined Royce on the porch and closed the door behind them.

“I want to go check on Josie, Pa. She might be lonely.”

Who’d taught this kid how to lie? She’d have a talk with him tomorrow about lies turning around and biting you on the butt.

The blonde’s sugary voice reached their ears. “Let the boy go, darling. You know how impatient children get at events like this.”

Darling? Texanna wanted to snatch the woman bald. She started forward when Royce answered. “All right, Son. Don’t be gone long. We’ll head home soon.”

Garrett had no choice but to keep walking leaving Texanna in her hiding spot.

“Let’s stay outside for a minute, Royce. It’s so stuffy in there.” Royce took her arm and they walked down the steps.

Why, that hussy is dying to get Royce under the darkness of this tree.
Texanna stayed still and tried not to breathe. They stopped on the other side of the tree trunk. The tree was a tall pecan, and it had very few leaves left, but with the shadow of the building, it still afforded enough darkness to hide her.

“Royce, I’m cold.”

“Is that right? Here, let me give you my jacket.”

She stopped him. “That’s not necessary. You don’t want to let your wounded shoulder get cold. Just let me slide my hands under your jacket, and you put your arms around me.”

Royce Dyson, if you touch her you’re going to sorely regret it. Texanna was about to explode with fury. Blondie was coming on to him, and he wasn’t doing a thing to stop her. Then the realization hit her. Wounded shoulder? Oh dear, had he been shot? Was his shoulder permanently damaged, could he use it? Well hell, from her vantage point, it looked like he could. There, not fifteen feet away from his wife, her husband stood with his arms wrapped around another woman. Blondie titled her head back and Royce’s dropped down and...he...he kissed her.

“You pervert!” Texanna’s hiss echoed louder than she’d intended.

Royce froze. His head came up like a deer sniffing danger. He shoved the woman toward the building and said something under his breath.

Texanna turned and ran.

“Stop right there, woman. If you know what’s good for you...dammit, I said stop.”

Texanna ran as if her life depended on it. Then she started giggling. By the time she reached the buckboard, it was all she could do to keep from howling with laughter.

****

Royce was enjoying Ruby’s company, but she was a bit clingy for his taste. He might have been interested in her, but it wouldn’t go any farther if she didn’t loosen her grip on his arm. Dancing with her was fun. He didn’t doubt she’d be an interesting sexual partner, but, as to a good mother for Garrett, he had his reservations. Why was he even thinking about her? If he wanted sexual release, he’d visit Josephine’s. Getting involved with a widow wasn’t smart. Her goal would be to get him to the altar.

He looked up to see Garrett with a woman. Just before she’d covered her hair with the cloak, he’d caught a glimpse of red hair. It couldn’t be. Many women had hair the color of Texanna’s, but the mere possibility made his heart thunder. The black cloak completely covered the woman except for a small part of her skirt, which was blue taffeta. It was a color that would have been beautiful on Texanna. She slipped through the door, and Garrett followed her.

“Excuse me, Ruby. I need to check on Garrett.” He tried to remove her hand from his arm, but she clung to him.

“I’ll go with you. It’s hot in here.”