Jenny (25 page)

They started back, each regretting the loss of their
intimacy. They walked slowly, for they were in no hurry to return to the crowd. They liked being in each
other's company better.

"Dan-" she said his name softly. "How did you
come to be here in Durango? Did you grow up around
here?"

"No. Actually, I'm from St. Louis. When I was
young, I had heard a lot about Colorado and the
mountains. All the talk fascinated me. I knew I had
to see for myself. As soon as I was old enough, I
came West, and all it took was one trip. I made the
move permanent about eight years ago. I started off
in Denver and then came here with the railroad. I've
been here ever since. Durango is right for me. It's
where I belong."

"But why did you become a bartender? Didn't you
ever want to do anything else?" She'd never known
anyone else who'd worked in a saloon, and his choice
of jobs intrigued her.

Dan was quiet for a minute. A lot of people looked
down on him because of where he worked, and usually sophisticated women like Rose would have nothing to do with him, considering him to be beneath
them socially. Dan considered the possibility that
Rose was toying with him that he was a lark for
her an adventure and nothing more. Someone she
could enjoy being with while on vacation in the Wild
West, but who she'd soon forget once she'd returned
home. It surprised him that the possibility had the
power to disturb him.

"I've asked myself the same thing occasionally, but I like what I do and the pay is good," he told her
simply.

"Do you have any family back in St. Louis?"

"My mother and sister are there. What about you?"

"I live with my parents, but I enjoy traveling. This
trip to Durango has convinced me of that." She didn't
add what she was truly thinking-that her travels had
brought her to Dan and that was the real reason she
was enjoying this particular trip so much.

"Do you plan to organize more groups to come to
the Lazy S?" he asked, hoping she'd be returning to
Durango regularly, so he could see her.

"I want to help Jenny as much as I can. That's why
I was so excited about taking the photographs today.
I know my photographs can show how beautiful
everything is much better than words. But as far as
being in charge of any more of the groups that come,
I don't think so. My lifelong dream has been to have
my very own photographic studio, and I think with
the pictures I've taken on this trip, I can do it."

"Have you developed them yet?"

"Not yet. I'm going to do that when I get back to
the ranch."

"Won't it take a lot of money to open a studio?"
He wondered where she'd find the financing to do it.

"Once my father sees what I've accomplished, he'll
realize how good I am. He'll know that I'm not playing, that I'm really serious about photography, and
he'll help me. He's always supported my decisions in the past, so there's no reason why he shouldn't back
me now."

Dan had known from the beginning that Rose was
a lady, but he'd never thought about the possibility
that she came from a wealthy family. The revelation
emphasized how impossible any real relationship
would be between them.

Rose lived a moneyed, sophisticated life in the
East.

He was the bartender at the High Time.

"Let's just hope Fernada and I didn't break your
camera when you took our photograph today," he said
with a smile, trying to lighten his own mood. "I'd
hate to end your career before it started."

"As handsome as you are, that would never happen," she replied.

Then on sudden impulse, she grabbed his hand and
tugged, wanting him to follow her into a dark alleyway. Dan wasn't about to resist her. Alone for a moment, Rose looped her arms around his neck and
brazenly kissed him.

It was a wild thing for her to do.

It was a crazy thing for her to do.

And she loved every second of it.

They were quite near the dance and might be discovered, but Rose didn't care. She didn't know when
she'd ever see him again after he left her tonight.

Dan reveled in her spontaneous embrace. His grin
was lopsided when she released him.

"I don't know what I did to deserve that, but whatever it was, I'll gladly do it again."

He noticed when he stopped speaking that Rose
looked a bit sad.

"What if we never get to see each other again?"
she asked, lifting her troubled gaze to his.

Dan grew very serious. He knew there was no future for them. They were worlds apart. They were two
very different people, and yet he also knew that he
couldn't just let her go.

"We will," he said seriously. He drew her gently
to him. "I promise you."

His mouth sought hers in a soft, cherishing kiss.
Then he slowly and regretfully let her go.

"We'd better go back."

"I know," she agreed.

They returned to the social and joined the other
couples on the dance floor. They remained together,
dancing every dance, dreading the moment when Dan
would have to leave and return to the High Time.

Cole was beginning to believe the night would never
end. All he wanted was for it to be over. Ever since
he'd tried to talk to Jenny and Mira had interrupted
them, Mira had not let him out of her sight. He had
made the mistake of inviting her, so there was no way
out of it now, but after tonight he would make sure
he never got himself in this situation again.

Cole had learned a lot about himself tonight, and
what he'd learned had been a revelation to him. He wasn't quite sure what he was going to do about it,
but he had to do something.

"I'm having such a wonderful time, Cole," Mira
told him. "Thank you for bringing me."

"It's been an enjoyable evening," he lied.

"I think so, too," she agreed.

Certainly, Mira knew things could have gone better, but there had been no way she could have prevented Jenny from showing up. Even though Cole had
stayed with her since the incident, it infuriated her
that he'd gone chasing after Jenny in the first place.
This was the woman who'd dumped him at the altar,
and Cole had acted like a lovesick fool! Mira was
certain that if he got involved with Jenny again, he
would be the laughingstock of the whole town, and
that would be very humiliating to her knowing that
he wanted Jenny more than he wanted her. There was
no way she was going to stand by and let herself be
embarrassed like that.

"Would you like more punch?" Cole offered. At
least, if he went after refreshments, he might have a
moment away from her.

"That would be nice." She noticed her brother
Wayne making his way toward her. She wasn't sure
if she was glad to see him or not. When he drank, he
could be trouble. "Where have you been all evening?"

"Just having a good time, sis." He grinned at her,
revealing that he'd had too much to drink. "Evenin',
Cole."

"Wayne." Cole nodded in return. "I'll be right back with your punch, Mira." He was glad her brother had
shown up, for it gave him the opportunity to escape.

Mira was tempted to go with him, but stayed to
talk with her brother.

"I can't believe Jenny showed up tonight."

"So?"

"So Cole went after her earlier, and I got there just
in time."

"In time to do what?" Wayne was curious.

"He looked like he was about to kiss her, and ever
since we came back to the dance, I've caught him
glancing her way."

Wayne heard the unspoken fury in his sister's voice
and knew trouble was brewing. "What do you plan to
do about it?"

"I've been thinking about that, and right now seems
to be the perfect time to have a little talk with her.
I'm going to put an end to this right here and now.
I'll see you later."

With steely determination, Mira made her way to
where Jenny was standing alone on the far side of the
dance floor.

"Good evening, Jenny," Mira said with fake sweetness.

"Hello, Mira," Jenny said with little enthusiasm,
wondering what the woman wanted.

"You know, Jenny, you had your chance to marry
Cole and you chose not to," Mira said, getting straight
to the point. "While you've been gone, Cole and I
have grown close very close. Why, I've even en joyed a good night's sleep in his bed if you know
what I mean." She looked at Jenny, her gaze piercing
and hard as she watched for her reaction.

Somehow, Jenny managed to keep her true emotions hidden. She'd suspected that the other woman
wanted Cole badly, but she'd never thought they were
really lovers.

"I am very happy for you, Mira," Jenny said coolly
with a slight smile. "You just need to understand that
any dealings Cole and I have are strictly business.
Since he is the executor of my father's estate, we are
being forced to work with one another on ranch business."

"Good. He's mine, and I intend to keep him."

With that, Mira gave her a victorious smile and
walked away.

Jenny watched her go and couldn't decide if she
was angry or heartbroken. She knew she had no claim
on Cole. She had no right to be jealous of him. But
the thought of Cole making love to Mira was devastating.

Richard was as ready as he would ever be. His frustration had grown as the evening passed and Jenny
continued to dance with other men. Each time he'd
been forced to stand aside and watch her being held
in another man's arms, he'd grown more angry.

Now that he had finally decided she was the
woman for him, he wanted her all to himself. He had
made up his mind at long last. Tonight, he was going
to propose.

Richard knew he would have to convince Jenny to
give up any ideas she had about living in Durango
for the rest of her life, but he was certain that would
be easy once she realized how wealthy she would be
as his wife. In Philadelphia, as Mrs. Richard Donathan III, she would be sought after; she would com mand respect and attention. He was certain she would
love every minute of it.

"Jenny? May I have this dance, please?" Richard
asked. He'd waited until the woman she'd been talking to had walked away before approaching her.

"Of course, Richard," Jenny said, needing and
wanting to be distracted from her thoughts of Cole
and Mira.

Richard took Jenny in his arms and danced her out
onto the floor. He held her closer than usual, wanting
to feel her against him. He had made his plan, and
he was ready. At a strategic moment, he was going
to waltz her away from everyone. He'd been looking
around and had found a private spot close by. Once
he got Jenny where they could speak without being
interrupted, he was going to propose.

Richard's eagerness grew as they danced. Jenny
didn't seem to notice that he was trying to dance them
toward a particular side of the floor. When he reached
the spot where he could sneak off with her, he
stopped dancing and took her hand.

"Richard what are you doing?" Jenny balked, resisting a bit as he drew her away.

"I want to talk to you alone for a moment."

"What's wrong with right here?" she asked.

"I wanted our conversation to be private, Jenny."

He did not relent and grew more than a little annoyed when she still held back.

"You can talk to me here," Jenny said.

Her refusal to cooperate with him enraged Richard. His anger and his passion came together, and strong
emotion rushed through him. He tightened his grip on
her hand and pulled her with more effort. He was not
accustomed to being denied. He was used to women
falling at his feet.

Jenny didn't want to cause a scene, but she didn't
want to be alone with Richard, either. Still, short of
screaming, there was no getting away from him, so
she finally went along. When he led her to a darkened
corner, she hesitated again.

"Richard whatever it is you have to say-" she
began.

"Needs to be said right now." he finished for her.

And with that, Richard grabbed her and kissed her.
It was a hot, savage kiss that reflected exactly the way
he was feeling. His mouth ground down on hers punishingly. He wanted her to be his-his wife, his lover
and his possession. He meant to have her-one way
or another.

Evelyn was standing with Tillie, happily watching all
the dancing couples. Rose was with her cowboy, Melanie was dancing with one of the men from town,
and Jenny was dancing again with Richard. Everything seemed fine, but then Evelyn grew worried
when she saw Richard stop dancing and practically
force Jenny off the dance floor. She knew Jenny was
capable of taking care of herself in most circumstances, but there was something about the look on
Richard's face that troubled her.

"Tillie, did you see that?"

"What?"

"Richard. It looked like he was practically dragging
Jenny off somewhere that she didn't want to go. I'd
better go after them and see what's going on."

"I'll come with you."