Echoes of the Heart (20 page)

           
“I
think Cash may have had the wrong impression.”
 
He appeared undaunted.

           
While
she wrapped his goods in brown paper, he continued to smile.
 
He leaned over the counter and kissed her
cheek then covered his mouth hiding a laugh.
 
When he left, the sound of his chuckle made
her feel like a dunce.
 
The men in this town must think I am a joke.

           
She dropped her face in her
hands shaking her head, a little miffed at Cash’s lack of concern.
 
He could have been a little bit jealous.
 
He really did not care at all.

Twenty-five

           
Bathed
and dressed for the big event Raeden stood before the mirror admiring her
gown.
 
The deep-green color showed off
her eyes and the cut accentuated her small waist and full breasts where a small
jade pendant hung just above the crevice between them.
 
She had pinned the sides of her hair up
letting ringlets frame her face.
 
The
remaining tresses draped in thick chestnut curls down her back.

           
She
heard Cash had left town to move a prisoner.
 
At least he could not spoil her evening with his gibes and sarcasm.
 
She would have a great time.

           
A
forest green cape draped over her arm, she met her aunt downstairs.
 
Diane looked stunning in the blue gown Raeden
had made and Mike so dashing in his western tuxedo and glossy black boots.
 
They held hands and glanced at each other
like lovers.
 
It’s what I want if I ever get married, a man to love me like that
after so many years.

           
Diane
always her mentor had shown Raeden women could be strong and successful, more
than some man’s trophy.
 
She would accept
nothing less.

           
She
had arranged to meet Jimmy Hathaway, the doctor’s nephew at the ball.
 
On the way into town, they chatted gaily, all
anticipating a fun evening.
 
She could
hardly wait.

           
Massive
pillars stood around the enormous porch of the double-story mansion ablaze with
lights.
 
Carriages and fine horses
encircled the drive.
 
The voices from
within beckoned through the night air, inviting their arrival.
 
The music peeled softy through the sounds of
the crowd.

           
Jimmy
met Raeden at the carriage and lifted her down.
 
He looked so handsome in his fancy suit with a narrow ruffled white
dress shirt. Excitement filled her senses when they walked over the threshold
into the foyer lined with tall beveled mirrors.
 
The throng of people milled around with broad smiles and the sound of
laughter and conversation, drawing her inside.

           
Jimmy
removed her cape, scanned her bare shoulders and neckline then sucked in a
breath.
 
“You are beautiful, Rae.”
 

“Thank you, James,
and you are very handsome.”
 
He beamed
with pride escorting her into the crowd, his hand around her waist.

Food of all kinds
stood on long wooden tables along the right side of the ballroom.
 
Musicians in the corner played while couples
danced on the wooden floor polished to a lustrous shine.
 
Padded Victorian chairs lined one wall.

           
At
the far end of the room, two huge carved doors swung open into a glass enclosed
carpeted area sporting a large oak bar.

A young girl
passed with champagne in cut glass flutes.
 
Jimmy lifted two from the silver tray and handed one to Raeden.
 
“Would you like to dance?”
           
“I would be delighted.”
 
They walked to a table and sat down their
glasses.

“I don’t care much
for this stuff.
 
After we dance, I’ll go
get some whiskey.”

“I like champagne.
 
Do all the men in the Dakotas
drink only whiskey and beer?”

Jimmy
chuckled.
 
“I guess you could say
so.”
 
He guided her onto the floor.
 
Raeden felt energetic gliding around the
ballroom and enjoyed the sound of the taffeta petticoats crinkling under her
full skirts.
 
After all the days of hard
work, she felt relief from the pressure.

           
Raeden
took delight in watching all the beautiful gowns she made floating around the
dance floor.
 
She could tell the women
felt proud in their new attire, confident it would bring in more business.

Wayne
hurried to her side when the dance ended.
 
“May I have the next dance, Rae?”
 
A jealous glare flew from Jimmy, which Wayne
ignored.

As the evening
progressed, Raeden ate little, however she consumed several glasses of
champagne.
 
She flirted and danced with
many arduous suitors, laughing with abandon as the liquor went to her
head.
 
It seemed a long time since she
danced and acted frivolous dressed in a ball gown, drinking champagne.

When she felt she
might collapse, Billy pushed past the young men collected around her.
 
“May I have the next dance, Rae?”

           
“Wait
a minute, Billy.
 
She’s here with me.”

           
 
Billy stood in his face, daring him to object
further.
 
“I don’t see your brand on
her.
 
Get out of my way, or I will knock
you flat.”

Her face flushed
hot, she felt exhausted as she hurriedly stepped between the two men.
 
“I need a rest, James.
 
Would you care to escort me outside for some
fresh air?”

His lips tilted
upward creasing his eyes.
 
“Of course,
I’ll get your wrap.” He tossed a predatory glare at Wayne and Billy before he
walked away.
  
It did not take long
before he rushed back. A yearning glance poured over her frame while he draped
the cape over her shoulders then she placed her hand over his arm, leading her
outdoors.

The covered porch
surrounded the entire house.
 
Soft lights
burned behind them while she stood near the rail feeling lightheaded from the
drink and so much dancing.

Jimmy closed the
distance between them to place an arm over her shoulder, drawing her
close.
 
She snuggled under his arm and
placed her own across his back, enjoying the nearness as the moon spread its
glow into the night.

Jimmy urging her
against his chest lowered his head to kiss her and she did not object.
 
His lips begged for possession.
 
She felt nothing.
 
Why didn’t his kiss take her breath away?

Twenty-six

           
Cash
rode back after delivering the suspect thinking about what he had become.
 
He knew his anger had grown in the past few
years and wondered if he would ever find peace.

           
He’d
labored hard on the ranch with his father and ran wild with the Indian boys in
the hills and prairies testing their manhood.
 
At an early age, he learned their language and became close to Dull
Knife and his family, a wife, two sons and one daughter.

           
Little
Cloud, the Chief’s daughter and a princess of sorts, had the air of an
angel.
 
He had loved her since childhood
never letting his feelings show.

           
His
time away at school after the death of his mother seemed endless waiting to
return to the ranch and his friends and to breathe in the fragrance of the
country he loved so well.

           
After
his father’s fatal accident five years prior, he wed Little Cloud and settled
down at the ranch.
 
Their life a happy
time, he rejoiced at the news he would become a father within the year and
anxiously awaited the arrival of their first-born.

           
When
his wife died in childbirth and his beautiful son two days later, he went crazy
with rage and tried to rid himself of the guilt he could have somehow prevented
their deaths.
 
After selling most of the
livestock, he drank too much and became a reckless drifter, a hired gun,
thrashing out anger at the least provocation until he finally came to his
senses two years prior.
 
He’d given up
his life as a wandering gunman, took the position as marshal and buried the
pain inside where he hoped it would stay.

He had scores of
women during his rampage, never allowing himself to get close.
 
After using them, he tossed them aside as if
blaming them for his discomfort, vowing never to let his heart break
again.
 

           
His
attraction to Raeden made him feel unfaithful to his wife’s memory.
 
He doubted the animosity and cynicism could
ever leave him and for his own sanity, he must leave her alone.

Should he?
 
She had given herself to Billy in the
store.
 
Perhaps he should just take what
he wanted and rid his mind of her once and for all.

           
Finding
it impossible to concentrate on his work at the desk, he went to the
saloon.
 
After a half dozen shots, he
still could not erase the picture of Raeden and Billy, so he tossed back
another then stood to leave.

           
Feeling
certain she would attend the party in the evening, throwing herself at every
man in the room, he strode to the door still steady on his feet while jealousy
burned in his gut along with the liquor.
 

           
He
rode out to see for himself and salve his conscience regarding the plans for
Raeden he would soon carry out.
 
Why
should he stand by and let every other man in town have what he had been
wanting, needing?

           
Sitting
astride Rabbit smoking a cigar, he could see through the windows of the
mansion, boiling with rage.
 
She threw
herself like some Jezebel at every man in the room, dancing and laughing making
them drool, following a cat in heat.

           
Even
Billy and Wayne made fools of themselves, ready to fight over the bitch.

           
He
watched Jimmy and Raeden walk onto the porch arms around each other while the
anger and frustration mounted and jealousy flared.
 
When she kissed Jimmy, he wanted to choke
her.
 
This had to stop!
 
He
could tolerate no more of her brazen behavior.

           
Charging
the porch, he flew off the filly and yanked Raeden from Jimmy’s arms.
 
His fist delivered a blow to Jimmy’s jaw and
he fell backward onto the porch, hitting his head against the wall.
 

Raeden gasped and
backed away, her eyes wide and her mouth agape as she stood looking down at
Jimmy while he struggled to regain his feet then at Cash.
 
She tried to speak but no words would escape.

           
Jimmy’s
hand went to his head and he started to stand.
 
“What the hell are you doing, Cash?
 
Have you gone crazy?”
 
His
question drew no response, just a frightening glare from glowing predatory
eyes.

           
The
noise drew the guests’ attention as they peered outside watching the
scene.
 
Mike was among them, a wide smile
on his face.

           
Cash
grabbed Raeden’s wrist and jerked her off the porch toward his mount.
 
She struggled to free her arm, yelling
obscenities and kicked with fury when he lifted her onto the saddle and sat
behind her ignoring the protests.
 
He
increased his grip while she squirmed.

           
“Have
you gone mad?
 
What’s wrong with you,
Cash?”

           
He
ignored her protests making her more furious.
 
His arms tightened around her chest to subdue her into submission until
she could hardly breathe.
 
Every time she
tried to speak, he did the same.

           
She
wanted to kill him and eventually, she would get her chance.
 
How dare he ruin her evening?

           
He
dismounted in front of the livery and snatched Raeden from the saddle, pulling
her down.
 
She lost a shoe and shrieked when
her bare foot hit the boards while he dragged her into the stable.

           
Too
angry to be afraid, her fists bounced off his chest.
 
“What do you think you are doing, you filthy
brute?”

           
He
held her forehead away in the palm of his hand, avoiding the claws near his
face.
 
Her question unanswered, she
watched his face grow more terrifying by the second while he yanked her into a
stall covered with fresh straw.
 
He
pushed her farther then she lost her balance and fell her skirt flying up over
her knees.