Westward Holiday (8 page)

              He reached over and took her hand in his.  Jake said, “Rebecca, look at me.”

              It was hard, but Rebecca did it.

              Jake said, “I’m sorry for everything you had to go through.  I don’t know your family and I don’t care to if that’s the kind of people they are.  All I care about is you.  It doesn’t matter to me that you used to be rich and now you’re not.  Money doesn’t make a person.  Look at Joe.  He’s got all kinds of money and yet he hangs around with all of us regular folks.  Hell, he even goes to the Lakota camp and gambles and drinks with them.  Around here, money and prestige don’t mean a whole lot.  So if you were lookin’ for a place where you could be accepted for you, you came to the right place.”

              Tears filled Rebecca’s eyes and she squeezed Jake’s hand.  “Thank you for being so kind,” she said as a few tears fell from her eyes.

              He squeezed back and said, “Well, I can’t have my concert pianist going around being sad, can I?  It’s bad for business if you can’t play because you’re crying.”

              Rebecca laughed a little and Jake smiled.  As the buggy travelled along, Rebecca thought about what Jake had said to her and Joe’s comments about meeting people where they were at started to make more sense to her.  The handsome man riding with her didn’t care that she was a disgraced socialite from Georgia.  He appreciated her for herself and that was something that no one had ever done before in her life. 

              Her parents had only cared that she be the dutiful daughter of whom they could be proud.  The last time she’d heard either of them tell her they loved her was when she’d been a little girl.  Her brother and she had barely crossed paths once they’d reached their adolescent years.  Since coming to Dawson only two days ago, Rebecca had felt more camaraderie and appreciation from its residents than she’d felt in her former social circles in years.

              Jake furtively watched Rebecca.  Her brow was furrowed and she still held his hand.  He wondered what she was concentrating on, but didn’t disturb her.  His gaze travelled over her black, silky hair and pretty profile.  His eyes stopped on her mouth and Jake wanted to kiss her again.  The urge to do so was strong and his other hand tightened around the reins in order to control the impulse.

              During the ride to Wolfe Point, something happened to Rebecca inside.  Unconsciously, she started holding Jake’s hand with both of hers as she felt the inner butterfly she’d tried to describe to Ellie start to spread its wings.  She saw the beautiful colors on those wings flash in the sunlight and watched it lift off and fly away on the breeze. 

              Jake saw her eyes close and a smile of joy spread across her lovely features and couldn’t look away from her.  He’d never seen anything so beautiful in all his life.  Rebecca opened her eyes and looked over at Jake.  Those sky blue eyes of his stared deep into hers and they reminded her of the color of her butterfly.  She slid over close to him and placed a hand on his face and pressed her lips against his.

              Though Jake was surprised, he wasn’t going to pass up the opportunity do exactly what he'd wanted to do moments ago.  With his free arm, Jake pressed her harder against him and deepened the kiss.  Rebecca was no longer cold as their kissing created heat within her body.  He was strong and solid and smelled good.  His mouth was firm yet soft and Rebecca didn’t want to stop.

              Jake was feeling the same way, but he found the control needed to halt things, especially so they didn’t run off the road if he made a sudden jerk with his hand.  As he raised his head, Jake wished he had a team of horses like Joe’s that was trained to drive by themselves to certain destinations. 

              Rebecca smiled at him and said, “Thank you.”

              “That’s a different reaction to me kissing a woman than I’ve ever had before,” Jake said with a laugh.

              “Not thank you for kissing me, although that was…transcendent,” Rebecca said.

              “I have no idea what that means, but it sounds like a good thing,” Jake said. 

              “Hush!  I’m trying to tell you something,” Rebecca insisted.  “I meant thank you for accepting me without judgment, for seeing me as a person and not something to be paraded around in front of other people to be admired.  You actually appreciate my abilities, my talents, and respect me as a woman and not a possession.”

              Jake’s brows drew down with concern.  “Is that what it was like for you?”

              “Yes!  They didn’t care about my hopes and dreams.  All they cared about was whether I played well or danced well!  They didn’t know the real me.  Hell, I don’t even know the real me, so how could they?” Rebecca said.

              Jake was surprised to hear her swear, but it sounded so classy that it wasn’t the least bit offensive.  If she hadn’t been so worked up, he would have smiled.  As it was, he didn’t want to interrupt her because she obviously needed to talk.

              “I was like those little dogs that people parade around on leashes and make do pretty tricks.  As surely as I am sitting here with the most handsome, virile man I’ve ever laid eyes on, they issued commands and expected me to sit up or lie down or speak!  Rebecca, play this song, Rebecca wear this dress, Rebecca, eat this food!  And then when my poor excuse for a father swindled people and did all kinds of despicable things that I don’t even want to know about and lost everything we’d ever had, I was plunged into the very depths of hell, Jake.  The very depths, I tell you!” Rebecca shouted.

              Her accent and impassioned speech was creating havoc inside of Jake.  Her cloak had fallen open a little and her chest rose and fell as she breathed a little more rapidly.  Her green eyes held a fire that captivated him and Jake desperately wanted her to keep talking.  She placed her hands on his thigh and Jake jumped a little.

              “Do you know what it’s like to have everything you’ve ever known ripped from you?  Do you?”

              Jake shook his head.

              “It is not fun, I’ll tell you.  I was the proverbial belle of the ball.  I had the finest of everything.  Clothing, food, jewelry, tutors, houses, and I had many suitors.  I was like a princess high in her castle and then the next moment, the princess fell from that tower and sank deep into the moat.  The water was dark and murky and cold and she just knew she was going to die.  But, Jake, just when I thought I had been cursed to live a life of despair and drudgery, you came into my life and rescued me like the fabled knight in shining armor,” Rebecca said.

              “Then what?” Jake prompted her. 

              “You showed me that the richest people aren’t those who have wealth and power; it’s those who have happiness.  Ever since I arrived in Dawson, I’ve seen so many happy people.  Everyone has problems, but it seems as if the people here have risen above all of that and they make the most of every day.  And every night.  I have felt more joy the past two nights than I’ve felt in forever, Jake.  People want me to play because they appreciate my music and it moves them, not because it’s expected or to show me off.”

              “Well, I do want to show you off a little, I mean, look at you.  You’re the prettiest thing I’ve ever seen,” Jake said.

              Rebecca looked down and realized that her hands were squeezing his leg.  She immediately removed them.  “Oh, I’m so sorry!”

              Jake’s chuckle was a little husky.  “That’s ok.  I’m not complaining any.”

              “I sometimes get carried away like that.  What you must think of me,” Rebecca said and looked down at her lap.

              “Oh, no.  Don’t do that,” Jake said as he guided the team around a curve in the road.

              “Do what?”

              “Don’t hide the real Rebecca again.  I like the real Rebecca.  Feel free to speak your mind any time you want.  How else am I gonna get to know her if you keep hiding her from me?” Jake said.  “I’m really liking the real you, so don’t quit now.”

              Rebecca said, “See?  That’s what I’m talking about.  You don’t care that I’m fanciful and dramatic.  My mother used to tell me that I was too melodramatic and I talked too much. Women should be quiet and sensible.”

              Jake said, “I don’t want you to be quiet or sensible.  I mean, a little sensible, but don’t be too sensible.  And don’t be quiet.”

              Rebecca looked at him and said, “Do you know that is the first time I’ve ever had anyone tell me to
not
be quiet?  I could marry you for that reason alone.”

              Jake laughed.  “That’s a heck of a reason to marry a fella, but I’ve heard worse.”

              Rebecca laughed and sidled close to him again.  She put her head on his shoulder and they rode in silence the rest of the way to Wolfe Point.

              When they returned to Dawson, it was early evening.  They’d had an amazing day with each other and weren’t ready to part ways.  Rebecca held Jake’s hand after they’d dropped the team off to the livery stable.

              “Teach me to dance like you do,” Rebecca said.

              “You mean now?” Jake said.

              “I mean right now,” Rebecca answered.

              Jake smiled.  “Ok.  I can do that,” he said as he unlocked the back door and brought her inside.  He took her hand and led her through the dark hallway.  He knew the route by heart, but he didn’t want her to trip or run into anything.  Once they were in the barroom, Jake told her to stand still while he lit some lamps.  Warm light spread through the large space and Rebecca followed Jake’s progress as he lit a few more.

              “I can’t dance like that in a suit jacket,” Jake said and took it off along with his suit vest.  He undid his shirt cuffs and got rid of his tie, too.

              Rebecca remembered how his body had looked that morning and wouldn’t have objected if he’d taken the shirt off.  Just the thought of that made her feel warm.  She undid her cloak and laid it on the piano bench.  She saw Jake looking at her critically.

              “What is it?” she asked.

              “You’re never going to be able to dance in that dress without tripping.  It’s too long,” he said.

              “I’ll take it off then,” she said.

              “Whoa!  What?  No!” Jake said even though the thought didn’t bother him too much.

              Rebecca laughed at his reaction.  “It’s fine, Jake.  I have so many petticoats and such on under here that it won’t make any difference if I remove the outer layer.  Trust me.”

              Jake eyed her suspiciously at first and then said, “Ok.  If you’re sure.”

              “Good.  Just a moment,” she said.

              Jake felt as if he should turn around so he couldn’t see her take it off, but then thought what did it matter?  He was going to see her underthings anyway.  He watched her unzip the garment and draw it down from her upper body.  Jake swallowed hard as she shimmied the rest of the way out of it.  As she’d said, there were many petticoats underneath it and the underthings didn’t show off more than the dress did except for her lower calves and feet.

              He grinned.  “Perfect.  And beautiful.  You can just wear those from now on.  I won’t mind.”

              Rebecca laughed.  “I think that would be frowned upon by some people.”

              “You’re probably right,” Jake said.  “Ok.  Now the thing you gotta remember about this type of dancing is that your hips and shoulders drive everything you do.  You’ve got to be loose in your hips to do it right.  It’s not like ball room dancing where you keep a good frame and your upper body is stiff.”

              “How do you know all of this?” Rebecca asked.

              “My Ma was a dancer, remember?  She taught me from the time I was kid.  It came in handy with the girls when I got to be a teenager,” he said with a wicked grin.

              “I can just imagine,” Rebecca said. 

              “Yep.  So the hips have to be loose because you’re gonna be doing a lot of twisting and if you hold your hips too stiff, you could pull something,” Jake said.  “We’re gonna start off with easy stuff.”

              “All right.”

              For the next two hours, Jake taught her how to do simple moves until she could put them together into one long routine.  Then he showed her one of the dances that he and Lacey did together.  Jake was pleased to find that she had natural grace and good instincts.  When he felt she’d had enough for one night, he stopped the lesson even though she protested.

              “I’m having so much fun,” she said.

              “Me, too, but I don’t want you to be sore tomorrow so it’s best to quit now,” Jake said.  “I’ll walk you to the hotel.”

              “All right.  I’ll put my dress back on,” Rebecca said.

              Jake could have groaned as she donned the dress and turned around.  “Will you please help me?”

              “Yeah,” Jake said and stepped behind her. 

              Rebecca drew her curly hair away from the zipper so it didn’t get stuck.  The movement exposed the creamy skin of her neck and Jake wanted to kiss it.  Instead, he zipped her up quickly and moved away.  He didn’t trust himself to not do something inappropriate.

              “All set,” he said.

              Rebecca noticed his hurried manner and asked, “Did I do something wrong?”

              Jake laughed.  “No, you didn’t do anything wrong, sweetheart.  You’re just so damn pretty.  Honestly, it’s hard to keep my hands off you.”

              Rebecca smiled and blushed. “Oh, I see.”

              “That’s another reason, we should quit for tonight,” Jake said.

              “Thank you for being such a gentleman, Jake,” Rebecca said.

              Jake nodded and put his heavy coat on and gave her cloak to her.  “Better bundle up.  I’m sure it got colder out.”

              Rebecca gave him a look that could have melted a glacier and said, “I don’t think I’ll notice.”

              “Me, either,” Jake said.

              Jake walked her to the hotel and kept their goodnight kiss short even though he didn’t want to.  Sleep was elusive that night.