Denver (19 page)

As she nodded, he tucked her arm in his, striding to the barn, where a fiddler was playing. The sound of music and voices floated in the air.

They danced, and he was oblivious of others around him. They stopped once between dances to chat for a time with her parents, and Dan caught a glimpse of Reuben Knelville staring at him.

Louisa flirted with Dan constantly, making his pulse race. Her hands brushed him continually when they danced. He danced to the far side of the barn, where they were out of sight of her parents, took Louisa’s hand, and hurried away to slip through the open back door.

She had stood in the same spot the night before with Reuben. Louisa gazed up at Dan, thinking he was the more handsome of the two men and the more exciting.
But Reuben was more powerful, and he was wealthy, something far more important.

“We shouldn’t be out here.”

“I want you, Louisa,” Dan whispered, leaning forward, bending down to kiss her, stopping her protests. He crushed her to him, holding her close. One hand slid down her side, then up again over the full softness of her breast. She moaned and clung to him, sagging against him as he held her and kissed her passionately.

“Sir!” She pushed away. “I must go inside. If Papa caught me out here, I’d be in trouble forever.”

A dark shadow appeared and Reuben paused in front of them. “Damn you, Castle. Take your hands off Louisa!”

He pushed Dan away from her, his fists clenching. Dan stepped back. He didn’t want the scandal of a fight with Reuben, because it could ostracize him from society as a troublemaker.

“Reuben!”

Dan heard the note of pleasure in Louisa’s voice and could have groaned, because it would only encourage Knelville.

“I won’t fight you here,” Dan said softly.

“You coward,” Reuben said with a sneer.

“I won’t unless you force me to,” Dan rejoined, knowing he would either look terrible in Louisa’s eyes or have to fight Reuben, because the man wasn’t going to let it drop.

“Shall we go inside, Louisa?” Dan asked.

“Stay away from the silly coward, Louisa. She’s coming with me.”

“All right, Knelville,” Dan said softly, stepping forward, his left fist shooting out. Knelville feinted, but Dan was ready, throwing a right that sent Knelville spinning. Instantly Dan’s hand closed over Louisa’s wrist. “Come on, Miss Shumacher.”

He pulled her inside, expecting Reuben to catch up with him at any second. He swung Louisa into his arms to fall in with the dancers. A half-smile curved her lips.

“So you’re not such a coward after all. I believe you knocked Reuben unconscious.”

“No, I didn’t,” he said, thankful Reuben hadn’t caught up with him before they reached the dance floor. “And you liked every moment of it, you wicked little beauty,” he said softly. “You provoked him, Louisa.”

“Who, me?” she asked with round-eyed innocence.

“And I’ll make you pay for that,” he threatened in a husky voice. “When we’re in the carriage on the way home, you’ll see what happens when you provoke sleeping lions.”

Her eyes sparkled and her cheeks flushed. She laughed. “Should I be terrified?”

“It won’t be terror I’ll make you feel,” he said, glancing over her shoulder to see Reuben standing on the fringe of the dancers. Except for a cut on his cheek, the only evidence of their brief altercation was the burning look of rage in Reuben’s eyes as he gazed at Dan.

“Now I have a strong and powerful enemy.”

“And does that frighten you?”

“You already know the answer. I do believe your parents are leaving.”

She turned to glance over her shoulder as her mother waved. Louisa waved in return. “I have Papa’s permission to stay out until midnight.”

“We have an hour,” Dan said. After two more dances, he led her to the door.

“We’re going home.”

“We have lots of time,” she said with a pout. “The dance isn’t over.”

He held her coat. “We’re leaving now, Louisa.”

Louisa’s heart fluttered. Dan Castle was an exciting, forceful man. The fight with Reuben had barely started before it was over, and she had no doubt that Reuben would retaliate in some manner. Reuben would be furious and jealous, and perhaps he would lose a little of his masterful arrogance. She gazed around the barn
and saw him watching her. She turned, giving Dan a full smile.

“I’m ready.”

Dan followed her glance, looking at Reuben, and a little twinge of anger came over him. Louisa Shumacher was a troublemaker. But what a beautiful, exciting one! He slipped his arm around her. Grizzly had been summoned, and waited with the carriage, and Dan stepped up to the box to whisper instructions to him before helping Louisa inside.

She gazed at him intently, and he realized she actually thought he was taking her home. For a moment he credited Reuben Knelville as a man of little imagination. The carriage began to move, and Dan turned so his knee pressed against hers.

“You wanted us to fight.”

“Of course not!” she denied primly.

He rubbed his knee against hers, and pressed his calf against hers while he laughed softly. “Of course you did, Louisa.” He leaned forward. “You didn’t care what kind of trouble it caused, as long as we fought over you. You like to have power over men, don’t you?”

“Of course not,” she answered breathlessly, her hands pressed against his chest.

“Remember what I told you. You’re not to goad Reuben into fighting me again. Can you remember that?”

She tilted her head to study him. “And if I do, what then?”

“You may be the one destroyed, Louisa,” he whispered, bending down to place his lips firmly on hers, opening her mouth and crushing her to him while he kissed her deeply. Her struggle was brief, gone almost as swiftly as it started. He kissed her throat, and his hands slid to her breasts to push away the soft material.

She gasped and clutched his wrists, but he bent his head to stroke her nipples with his tongue, and she moaned, all resistance stopping. He pushed away her lacy chemise and kissed her, sucking and biting gently,
while he slipped one hand beneath her skirts to her thighs.

“Dan, please stop. You mustn’t touch me.”

“Oh, yes, Louisa. I must touch you. You set me on fire and I’m going to do the same to you. I want to touch you all over.” His knees nudged hers apart, moving between them. In minutes she was gasping, crying out, clinging to him, and returning his kisses wildly.

“Marry me, Louisa,” he asked all at once, gazing down at her. He wanted her, and marriage was the only way he could have a woman like Louisa Shumacher.

“I can’t.”

“Yes, you can. Marry me,” he whispered, kissing her breasts, his hand moving between her legs. Marry me so I can love you night after night. Marry me.”

“Yes, oh, please. Yes.”

He stopped all at once and tilted her face up. “You mean it. Look at me, Louisa. Will you marry me?”

She raised her lashes. Never had Reuben made love to her like Dan Castle. His kisses had never been as fiery, and he wasn’t as forceful or as seductive. For a moment she forgot about wealth and power. “Yes, I mean it,” she said, knowing if she changed her mind, she could get out of the engagement later. Right now, she wanted him to kiss her again. She burned with longing for him.

“Oh, Louisa,” he said, feeling as if he would burst with happiness. “You are the most beautiful woman on earth!”

“Kiss me now, Dan. Please…”

He kissed her, pulling her onto his lap, pushing her skirts away to caress her legs, touching her intimately, making her cry out with ecstasy, yet knowing she wouldn’t allow him to possess her until they were married.

Finally she pushed against him and scooted away. “You are a rascal. How can I go home disheveled like this? Mama waits up for me.”

“We can stop. I’ll show you my house and you can get your clothes in order.”

“I’ll be scandalized if I’m caught in your house at this hour.”

“Be daring, Louisa. You won’t be caught. We’ll go in the back.”

He hadn’t planned on bringing her to his house, but he instructed Grizzly of the change. A fire still burned low in the grate, and Dan drew the heavy drapes. “This will be your house someday, Louisa.”

He pushed her coat off her shoulders while she gazed around. “It’s beautiful,” she breathed, thinking it truly was one of the grandest houses in town. He had little furniture. There was a horsehair sofa covered in blue velvet, and a wooden rocking chair. He carried her to the sofa. “We still have half an hour before midnight. Let me look at you,” he said. He untied the ribbons to her bodice, unfastened the pearl buttons, and pushed away her dress. He bent his head to kiss her, and she gasped, winding her fingers in his hair. She watched him through narrowed eyes. He was exciting. Her parents would never consent to his proposal when they had known each other for such a short time, but she was still interested in him. He had an elegant house, a better one than Reuben could build at present. Dan’s hand slid beneath her skirt and she lost her train of thought. She succumbed to his caresses momentarily, until he pushed her skirts high.

She scooted away so quickly she almost toppled him off the settee.

“No! We have to stop!”

Dan wanted to push her down and seduce her, but he understood why she wanted to wait. And for the first time that night, he heard the unmistakable note of firmness in her voice.

He watched her in a steady gaze while she dressed.

“Dan, I can’t go home looking like this.”

“There’s a pier glass in my bedroom. It’s the last room in the hall on the right.”

She left, and he moved around the room as he tucked his shirt into his pants. He was engaged to Louisa
Shumacher. He would have to ask her father for her hand, but she had consented. He had asked in haste, and she had consented in haste, but he wasn’t going to worry about that. He wanted her, and he would have to marry her to get her. He thought he would float off the earth with happiness. She was all he had ever dreamed of, exciting, educated, and beautiful. She was the envy of Denver society, and if they wed, he wouldn’t have to worry about his future.

But at the moment he couldn’t concentrate on his future. All he could think about was her breathtakingly beautiful body. He ached to possess her, praying there wouldn’t be any reason for her father to refuse to allow the wedding.

She reappeared. “I’ll be late getting home, and Mama will be furious.”

“You look beautiful and you don’t look as if you’ve been so much as kissed on the cheek.”

“Whereas we’ve actually done much more,” she said, assessing him, her eyes drifting down below his belt.

He crossed the room to her, reaching for her, but she stepped back. “Oh, no! I’m all neat and ready to appear for Mama’s inspection.”

He laughed. “We’re engaged, Louisa. Do you remember you promised to marry me?”

“I remember,” she said. She was charmed by him, and wondered if her father would be too. “My father may have something to say about it.”

“I’ll talk to him as soon as possible. You’ll be mine soon.”

Tingles raced through her as she remembered the past hour and listened to his words. He was exciting beyond measure. Her mother would be enraged, but she would consider her daughter’s wishes in the matter. Her father would be more likely to approve. She glanced at the house once again, thankful it was so elegant.

“Mama wants me to marry Reuben.”

“And your father?”

“I hope you can persuade him.”

“I will,” Dan said confidently, knowing he would do anything to marry her. He wasn’t going to let the second love in his life slip away.

“I must go home.”

He held her coat, turning her to face him. “We’ll have fun. I promise you.”

She laughed. “When Reuben learns about this, he may come to fight.”

“To hell with Reuben,” he whispered, kissing her. “I don’t want to stop touching you.”

She pushed away. “If you don’t, I’ll appear mussed.” Her mind raced over how to break the news to Reuben. She wanted to be the one to do it. Engaged. It was both frightening and exhilarating, and she couldn’t stop thinking of Dan Castle’s lovemaking.

“My father will want to meet your family. You have a brother, don’t you?”

“Yes, in Texas,” he said, wondering if he would ever be able to reveal his past to her, to introduce her to Hattie or Javier.

When he took her home, he stepped inside. Charles Shumacher appeared at the door of the parlor.

“You’re ten minutes late,” he said, gazing sternly at his pocket watch.

“Sorry, sir, we were stuck in a drift of snow as we left the dance. “Thank you, Miss Shumacher, for a lovely evening.”

“You’re welcome, and thank you, Mr. Castle.”

“Mr. Shumacher, may I have a word with you?”

“Of course. Step into the parlor.”

“Good night,” Dan said again to Louisa, his voice softening. He followed Shumacher into the parlor and waited while he closed the door to the hall.

“Sir, I’d like a word with you privately. If this is a poor time because of the lateness of the hour—”

“No, Mr. Castle. Go ahead. Why did you want to see me?”

“I like Denver and have a thriving business started.”

Charles Shumacher stopped stoking the fire and turned to study Dan. As he looked at Dan’s broad
Shoulders, he wondered if the young man wanted to borrow money, to build a house for them, or to ask for his endorsement among his friends.

“I know you do. I’ve heard about your work,” he said, poking the coals, watching sparks dance up the chimney. He put away the poker and faced Dan.

“I expect to settle here, to be successful here. I think my prospects are good, because I think the town’s prospects are good.”

“True enough.”

“I’d like to ask for Louisa’s hand in marriage.”

Charles Shumacher’s jaw dropped, and Dan realized the man hadn’t expected such a request at all.

“I can provide for her well, and in the manner to which she is accustomed. Frankly, sir, I expect to have a successful building career.”

“You’ve surprised me, young man. You and Louisa barely know each other.”

“That’s true, but I know my feelings are strong for her.”

“I’ll have to think about your proposal, discuss it with Louisa and her mother. I’m a father who wants his daughter to be happy.”