Sarah's Heart (29 page)

She nervously chewed
her bottom lip but followed him with ease. Rather than watching her feet, she
peered over his shoulder, concentrating on the rhythm and praying she didn’t
falter. The man had lied about not knowing how to dance. His steps were smooth
and even, his lead, commanding. She flicked a wave at Clarence, the clerk from
the mercantile, who waltzed by holding a woman with a face even rounder than
his.

 
By the time the song was over, Sarah had
mastered the dance.

They applauded the
trio’s musical efforts and returned to the bench. She scooped up her skirt and
sat. “I don’t think I grazed your foot once.”

He sat and peered at
his shiny black boots.
“No, not even a scuff.”

* * *

Sarah blotted her
mouth with her napkin. “That was delicious. I especially enjoyed the glaze on
the ham.” She turned her head and discretely licked the tip of her finger for
one last taste. Her face burned when she looked back and found Jonathan
standing over her, waiting for the empty plate she balanced on her knees.

“The fried chicken
wasn’t bad either.”He made no mention of her childish action, and took the
soiled dinnerware back to the food area.

Leaning back against
the wall, Sarah patted a full stomach. All in all, the evening had been
pleasant. She’d chatted with a few folks, some of them her student’s parents,
and her escort had been a pleasant companion. She waved as she saw him weaving
his way toward her through the crowd.

A caller took the
podium to announce a square dance. Sarah jumped to her feet and tugged Jonathan
onto the dance floor. “Now I can show you how to dance.”

He scooted
backwards. “I… I don’t think I’m up to it after such a filling meal.”

“That sounds like
something a coward would say.” Sarah refused to be denied and yanked his arm
once again. “I waltzed with you when I wasn’t certain I knew the steps.”She
batted her eyelashes at him with mocked exaggeration. “Besides, the caller tells
you exactly what to do.”

“Oh, all right. But
you mustn’t laugh at me if I make a fool of myself.” Jonathan adjusted his
string tie and walked slump-shouldered across to join the men in line on the
other side of the room.

The musicians broke
into a lively tune, and the caller’s voice rang out. “
Meet your partner, two
and fro, send her home with a do-si-do
.”

Sarah chuckled at
Jonathan’s furrowed brow. Following the line, he met her in the middle of the
floor and hooked his arm with hers. He spun her with such force, she feared
breaking loose and twirling back to the bench. They changed arms and spun
again, and when Jonathan was supposed to sashay back into line, he turned and
walked with purpose to his starting place. Sarah covered her mouth to hide her
laughter. She’d finally found something that made Mr. Montgomery nervous—one
thing he didn’t do well.

Jonathan stumbled
through several more calls, but threw up his hands and left the floor. Sarah
followed him, still giggling. “What happened?”

He plopped on the
bench and ran a hand through his dampened hair. “I don’t know how anybody can
make any sense of that dance.”

“But, you were doing
so well.” She stood before him and puckered her lips in a dramatic pout.

“Do si do, forward
and back, swing your partner…I understand most of that, but promenade? What the
hell is that? I’ll stick to waltzing from now on.” He pulled at his collar and
she expected to see steam escaping.

She sat next to him.
“At least you tried.” After patting his knee, she jerked her hand away,
embarrassed by her boldness. “I’m sorry.”

“For
what?”
He gazed into her
eyes. “Touching
me,
or making me take part in that
torturous dance?”

“Both.” She smiled.
“I’ve had a wonderful time tonight. I’m really glad—”

“Well, if it isn’t
our new school teacher.”

Sarah glanced up
into the craggy face of Mrs. Goodwin. Spectacles perched precariously on her
nose as she cast a disapproving glare.

“How
nice to see you again, Mrs. Goodwin.”
Sarah’s gaze raked over the woman’s dress. “Is this the gown you
ordered especially for tonight? It’s lovely.”

The old crone
smacked her weathered lips together. “I sent it back.
Didn’t
like it at all.”

“Pity, but I do
admire the one you’re wearing.” Sarah forced a smile, wishing the old hag
dressed in what looked like a sack would leave.

Instead, the matron
cupped her jowls and surveyed Jonathan. “Despite your previous rude behavior
toward me, I’m at least pleased to see your taste in men has improved. But I
wonder if you aren’t better suited for that
half-breed
you rode into town
with.”

Sarah jumped to her
feet.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

“How dare you!”
Sarah glared at Edwina Goodwin, leaning in until their faces were only inches
apart. “You’re nothing but a judgmental old biddy.”

The woman took a
step back, her eyes wide, mouth gaping; her rouged cheeks appeared even more
garish against her pale skin. “Well, I never…”

“Never
what?
Think before you
speak? Consider other people’s feelings? I don’t know what gives you the right
to be so high and mighty. I barely know you, but what little I’ve seen has
shown me quite enough.”

Edwina stood,
speechless, amidst a handful of curious people who’d gathered around her. Her
pleated lips pulled into a thin line.

Sarah picked up her
belongings,
then
glanced at an obviously stunned
Jonathan. “I’d like to leave now. Please.”

He stood, and taking
her shawl, placed it around her shoulders.
“Of course.
The crowd seems to be dwindling anyhow.” He turned a steely gaze to Mrs.
Goodwin. “Besides, there doesn’t seem to be anyone left that I care to associate
with.”

Edwina spun on her
heel and huffed away as the onlookers dispersed.

Recalling the
shocked look on the old heifer’s face, Sarah’s anger turned to satisfaction.
Her temper cooled and so did the room. She pulled her wrap tighter and cast a
remorseful look at Jonathan. “I’m sorry for that unlade-like display, but that
old biddy unnerves me with her rudeness.”

“I take it this
isn’t your first encounter with her?”

“Unfortunately
not.
I had the
displeasure of her company at the mercantile one day. Please don’t make me
relate the story.”

“I think I can
imagine it,” he said with a chuckle. “Let’s get going.”

Sarah led to the way
to the door, and once outside, shivered at the dramatic change in the air. She
grasped the ends of her shawl together. “Brrr. Earlier it felt like fall, but
now it feels like winter’s here.”

Jonathan raised his
collar against a stiff breeze and jammed his hands into his pant pockets.
“Maybe walking wasn’t such a good idea. You wait here while I go get the
carriage.”

“That isn’t necessary.
I’m sure we’ll warm up once we start walking. Besides, it isn’t that far.”

“I insist, Sarah.
The last thing I want is for you to come down with the croup. You stand here in
the doorway and I’ll be right back.”

Seeing that arguing
was fruitless, she nodded.

Hunched against the
growing wind, Jonathan hurried towards the livery stable. Leaving room for
others to exit the dance, Sarah stepped back into the arch over the doorway and
gazed at the canopy of twinkling stars that had blossomed in the night sky. Her
thoughts wandered to being on the trail with Wolf and the many nights they’d
spent sleeping with a similar blanket overhead. Her heart ached with want to
see his face, hear his voice.

As most everyone
departed, the night turned quiet and the street vacant. Except for the muted
sounds inside of a few people cleaning up, Sarah heard only frogs in the
distance until clip-clopping hooves on the rutted main street drowned out the
melodious croaking. She stepped farther back into the shadows and watched a single
rider pass by. If only the animal bore the dappling spots of Wolf’s pinto and
the rider was the man she craved. She bit her knuckles, frustrated at her
inability to stop wishing for things that would never be.

On the heels of the
horseman, Jonathan brought the buggy to a halt in front of the building. He
jumped down and scurried around to help Sarah aboard. “That didn’t take too
long, did it?”

She shook her head.
“Not long at all.” In reality, her thoughts had traveled a hundred miles since
he left to get the rig.

With a flick of the
reins, Jonathan set the carriage wheels in motion. Sarah had barely settled
back when he halted in front of Maggie’s place. “Here we are.” The moonlight
shone on his handsome face. “I’m sorry I didn’t think to bring the buggy in the
first place. I didn’t expect it would turn so cold.”

“It’s all right. I
enjoyed the walk there and could’ve survived the one back, but you’re always a
gentleman, Jonathan, and I appreciate that. I had a lovely time tonight. Thank
you.”

He laughed. “It
sounds like you’re saying goodnight. We live in the same place, remember? I’ll
help you out then return the rig to the livery. Perhaps we can enjoy a cup of
coffee or tea when I return.”

Before she had a
chance to respond, Jonathan was at her side. His hands spanned her waist, and
he lifted her down. A feeling of uneasiness niggled at her when he failed to
release her once her feet were on the ground. Cocking her head, she gave him an
inquisitive look.

“God, I want to kiss
you, Sarah.” His warm breath washed over her face, still smelling of apple
cider. He closed his eyes and leaned in.

Caught up in the
moment, Sarah closed her eyes, too, but the face she imagined in the darkness
wasn’t his, but Wolf’s. She braced her palms against Jonathan’s chest and
pushed him away. “I’m sorry. I can’t do this. It wouldn’t be fair.”

Jonathan’s eyes
widened. “Fair?
To you or to me?”

She stepped from his
embrace and gathered her courage.
“To
you.
Jonathan,
you are a charming man… handsome, and fun to spend time with, but I can’t let
you think that something will develop between us when I know it won’t.”

His brow furrowed.
“I thought we already had something special.”

“You’re wrong. As
long as I care for another, I won’t lead you on.” She lowered her gaze to the
ground.

Jonathan cupped her
chin and raised her face, then peered into her eyes. “Wolf?”

She nodded, chewing
her quivering bottom lip. The mere mention of his name warmed her blood and
made her heart ache.

“I think I knew all
along, but hoped I was wrong.” Jonathan’s lips thinned.

“I’m sorry if I’ve
hurt you, but what I feel for Wolf is very real.”

A gust of wind
whipped at Jonathan’s jacket, and he pulled his coat together and buttoned it.
His eyes narrowed. “Sarah, how can you believe that you and he have anything in
common? You’re so much better than he is. You deserve—”

“Don’t!” She thrust
up a hand. “Don’t you dare speak badly about
him.
You
don’t know Wolf at all.”

“I know that he
isn’t here proclaiming his love for you. If he felt the same, wouldn’t he be
here instead of me?”

Sarah released a
pent up breath. “It’s complicated.”

“So…”

“I don’t want to
talk about it, please. Just respect my wishes and don’t pursue me any further.
There’s no future for us.”

Jonathan’s shoulders
sagged and he sighed. “All right, Sarah. If that’s what you want, I’ll consider
we are nothing more than friends. We can be that, can’t we?”

“Of course, we can.”
She opened the door but paused. “Thank you again for a lovely evening,
Jonathan, and good night.”

Sarah stepped
inside, closed the door and leaned against it. She heard a crack of leather and
the squeak of wheels turning as Jonathan drove away. Her heart hammered inside
her chest with the realization that she’d confessed her true feelings to him.
Actually voiced them.
Maybe he was right, but it didn’t
matter. There might not be a future for her and Wolf, but at the moment, there
wasn’t room for anyone else in her heart.

* * *

Sarah rubbed her
hands
together,
wishing the heat from the old stove in
the corner would hurry and spread throughout the classroom. Her toes still
tingled from her brisk morning walk to the schoolhouse. The air had turned her
nose icy and numbed her cheeks. Peeking through a clear space in the frosty
window, she watched the sun climb above the tree line and turn the dewdrops on
the playground to a sea of sparkles.

Just the sight of
frost covering the grass sent a chill rumbling through her. She embraced
herself and rubbed her hands up and down her arms. The cold snap had taken her
by surprise. It wasn’t yet fall and summer’s heat was still a strong memory.
While she wondered if the weather would keep the children at home, she heard a
chorus of giggles from the doorway.