Whirlwind Groom (14 page)

She shifted her gaze to the Eishens' home. It was bigger than Cora's and the white frame home was extravagant. Framed by the lush foliage, it was sprawling with a veranda that went around the whole house. The trees sat some distance from the house. Spaced well apart to allow for their full, spreading branches, they formed a wall of sorts around the sides and back. Nothing obstructed the front view of the house with the wide porch as they rolled up the road, packed hard from years of wagon use.

Behind the main house, Josie saw a springhouse and a garden and a couple of large buildings. She'd heard the Eishens were one of the wealthiest families in Taylor County. Her eyes widened. “How many barns do they have, Cora? I can see two from here.”

“Only one is a barn.” Her friend pointed to the building closest to the trees. “The place we're going is a cleaning room for the nuts.”

“A cleaning room?” Josie had never heard of such a thing.

Loren looked interested, too. “How do you know that, Sister?”

“Sometimes for extra money—” the other woman's voice cracked “—Ollie worked the pecan harvest.”

Josie reached up from her place in the back to pat Cora's shoulder. Loren passed his sister a handkerchief.

“I'm all right,” the widow said, pointing to the building's doorway, which was wide enough for two wagons abreast. “After the pecans are knocked out of the trees with padded sticks, they're tossed into the wagons. The wagons drive inside the cleaning room and deposit the nuts there throughout each day's harvest. Then the hulls are removed, the nuts are loaded into burlap bags and driven to the train in Abilene where they're transported back East.”

“I never knew there was so much involved in getting pecans.”

“It's long, tiring work, especially the cleaning. The Eishens hire a lot of people from around here to help.”

“How long does the harvest usually last?”

“Oh, usually anywhere from about mid-September until December, depending on the weather. It's starting a couple of weeks late this year because of the rain we got in August.”

Josie was amazed at the number of waiting horses, wagons and buggies parked in front of the building where Loren braked their wagon.

After he helped her down, she adjusted the velvet wrap she wore over her evening gown and followed Cora inside, carrying an apricot pie. All the women wore their best finery and even a lot of the men had put on their dressier shirts.

The smooth pine floor was amazingly clean. The only bits of red Texas dirt in the place were being tracked in by the guests. Two rows of solid wood columns that marched from front to back separated the sides from the big center area and formed a long rectangular dance floor. To the left of
the columns two trestle tables were shoved end to end, already filling up with pies and cakes. Large pewter bowls at either end held punch. The right side of the room bustled as people arrived and greeted one another.

Josie followed Cora to the far end of the tables and was introduced to their hostess, Lettie Eishen. The large, raw-boned woman took their wraps and gloves, pointing across the room to her husband, Glen, who was built just like her. After a few minutes, Josie and Cora added their pies to those on the long tables. A sudden spate of whispering drew Josie's attention and she glanced up at the women on the other side of the table.

Esther Wavers, Pearl Anderson and a woman Josie didn't know stared at a point over her shoulder. She turned, her stomach fluttering as Davis Lee strode through the door, removing his hat. He walked toward his brother, who must've arrived while she was speaking to their hostess.

Josie tried to squash the pleasure she felt on seeing him, reminded herself of the way he'd backed out of her lessons. The way she'd gone as soft as butter the second he kissed her. As annoyed as that made her, she couldn't take her eyes off him. The square line of his jaw looked freshly shaven. A black shirt and trousers molded the powerful lines of his body. The brilliant blue of his eyes glittered in the burnished copper of his face. Her throat closed up and she turned away, greeting Catherine and Susannah as they walked up to the table together.

“Can you believe it?” a woman said behind her. “I never thought we'd see
him
here.”

A quick glance back told Josie that the woman was talking about Davis Lee. From the sound of more hushed voices around her, several people were surprised at his appearance.

Catherine tugged Josie over to join her and Susannah, away from the whispering women.

“Cora said Davis Lee never comes to this dance,” Josie
said. “Judging from all the attention he's getting, I guess she was right.”

“Yes.” Susannah's brow furrowed as she studied her brother-in-law thoughtfully. “He only occasionally goes to the Founder's Day celebration. He must be here for you.”

“Me! No.” Josie shook her head. “I don't think so.”

Her gaze traveled across the room and crashed into his. He nodded. He had so much work to do that he couldn't spare her an hour in the evenings, but he could come to the dance? She fought back a stab of irritation.

The Doyle brothers, Cal with a mouth harp and Jed with a fiddle, started the dance with the quick-paced “Turkey in the Straw.” Couples hurried onto the floor to polka.

“Rumor has it the two of you are courting.”

Susannah's words had Josie jerking around. “We're not.”

“That's what he said, too.” The blonde eyed Josie curiously before shifting her gaze to Davis Lee.

Josie squirmed, turning to Catherine and changing the subject. “When is your fiancé due back in town?”

“With any luck, in the next two weeks or so. He's been down in Houston wrapping up some business. When he comes back, he'll have his mother and sisters with him.”

“I guess if he's delayed, the wedding can be moved back a day or two.”

“Jericho won't be delayed,” the dark-haired woman said softly, certainly.

Josie accepted a dance with Mitchell Orr and they moved onto the floor along with several other couples. Davis Lee and Riley stood across the room, their legs spread, their arms folded across their chests, watching. Josie didn't see Jake Ross anywhere, which probably meant the deputy had stayed at the jail with McDougal.

The song ended but before Mitchell returned her to the edge of the crowd, Matt Baldwin claimed her for a polka.
After him, she danced with Russ and later their father, J.T. Through every song, she felt Davis Lee's gaze on her like a touch and she fought to ignore it.

When the Doyle brothers took a break, Josie was ready for one, too. She moved to the side of the room with Loren, her latest partner.

She and Cora fetched a cup of punch then joined Catherine and Susannah down at the opposite end of the table. Across the wide expanse of floor, Davis Lee still stood talking with his brother. She caught the flash of a blade in his hand. He was whittling. This time both he and Riley were looking at her. She turned away just as the Baldwin brothers joined them.

“Josie, your dress is beautiful.” Susannah eyed the pale pink silk admiringly. “I guess you made it?”

She nodded. “I saw a pattern in
Godey's Lady's Book
but used it only for the skirt. The bodice draped off the shoulder and I wanted something a little warmer so I put on the high neck and sleeves.”

“I love the lace edging your neckline.” Catherine pointed to the high collar that opened down the front to the base of Josie's throat. “It's so delicate it looks like it might melt.”

“I bet Josie could put some on your wedding gown,” Cora said.

“Yes. Would you like that?” she asked Catherine. “I can add it before your last fitting.”

“Oh, yes.” The bride-to-be looked delighted. “Thank you.”

Josie glanced up and this time found Davis Lee's gaze on her as well as that of the Baldwins and Riley. They stared at her as if she were a broken doll they were trying to piece back together.

“When Jericho sees you in that gown, he's liable to promise you the moon,” Susannah predicted.

The other women laughed softly. Cora moved off to
speak to May Haskell. As Susannah and Catherine discussed the wedding, Josie sipped at her punch, her skin prickling under the intense regard from across the room.

“He's a good man. It's a shame he hasn't settled down yet.”

Josie caught the words uttered in a sympathetic voice and saw that they came from Pearl Anderson. She was with the same unfamiliar woman Josie had seen before.

The other woman, small with dark eyes,
tsked.
“I think he was more hurt by that Rock River incident than any of us knew.”

What incident? Josie wondered. Who were they talking about?

“Did anyone ever find out exactly what happened?” Pearl asked.

“No. Only that there was a woman involved and Davis Lee was run out of town.”

Josie choked on her punch. Davis Lee Holt? Run out of town? She couldn't fathom it. She looked up and saw that Catherine had heard, too.

Susannah frowned and walked off, motioning for Josie and Catherine to join her behind one of the support columns. The music started again, this time with a banjo playing “Buffalo Gals.”

Susannah's lips tightened in disapproval as she bent her head close to Josie and Catherine. “Don't listen to them. Millie Jacobson is the worst gossip in town.”

“Is any of it true?” Josie didn't see how it could be.

Catherine leaned in. “I know Davis Lee was the sheriff in another town before Whirlwind. Was he really run out of there?”

“Over a woman?” Josie couldn't imagine Davis Lee losing his head over anyone enough to jeopardize his job as a lawman. Despite their short acquaintance, she knew that about him.

Susannah flicked a look over Josie's shoulder, her blue eyes softening. “I can't talk about it. Riley swore me to secrecy.”

“Susannah, you
have
to tell us what happened,” Catherine breathed. “We won't repeat it to anyone, will we, Josie?”

“Of course not.” Even with her back turned, Josie could feel the men looking at her again. “
Please
tell us.”

“I can't.”

“Not even a smidgen?” Catherine looked hopeful.

“No. I will say that I think Davis Lee's paid enough for that mistake. Just because he followed his heart doesn't mean he was at fault for what happened.”

“Well, if they're saying he did something bad, I won't believe it.” The dark-haired woman glanced fondly in his direction. “He's one of the best men I've ever known.”

“Me, too,” Susannah said quietly.

Josie's mind raced with questions. What had happened in Davis Lee's past that Susannah couldn't discuss? Was that why almost every person at the dance had done a double take upon seeing him arrive? Had the woman involved been his intended? His wife? The possibility jolted her. She didn't know if he'd ever been married or engaged. Until now she hadn't thought about it.

Catherine glanced at her. “Why do Davis Lee and the Baldwins keep staring at you, Josie?”

“I don't know.” She wished they would stop.

“Here comes Davis Lee,” Susannah said. “We can ask him.”

“No!” Josie's spine went rigid. Before she could take a step away, she felt him behind her. His nearness caused her nerves to twitch.

“Evenin', ladies.”

“Davis Lee.” Catherine and Susannah smiled easily at him.

Josie didn't even want to look at him, but she turned anyway. As handsome as he'd looked across the room, he was even more so up close. He was without his badge. Dressed all in black, he was tall and whipcord lean. He smelled like male and the outdoors and soap, but it was the deep blue intensity of his eyes that had Josie's belly quivering. She hadn't been this close to him since they'd kissed.

The soft poignant strains of “Silver Threads Among the Gold” surrounded them. There was a hot, proprietary look in his eyes as his gaze slid down her dress to her black kid boots. “This is my dance, isn't it, Josie?”

She stiffened. “I don't recall you asking.”

He grinned. “May I have this dance?”

She didn't want to dance with him. She'd had enough trouble sorting out her thoughts the last time he'd held her. “I'm a little tired. I think I'll sit this one out.”

The smile he gave her was charming enough to melt her stockings off. “This is my favorite song.”

Of course it would be a waltz. Her heart started hammering hard. “I don't really ca—”

“I knew you wouldn't want me to miss it.” He tugged her onto the floor as if she hadn't spoken a word.

“I said no,” she muttered under her breath as he drew her into his arms. “Are you just dancing with me so the Baldwins can't? I saw y'all talking over there.”

He didn't answer and she looked up, surprised to find him studying her, his eyes warm.

As he whirled her around the floor, she caught glimpses of people who were either slack-jawed with amazement or openly curious. As if Davis Lee's showing up here were the equivalent of hell freezing over.

He held her lightly, their bodies a respectable distance apart, but she felt every inch of him as they moved—shifting, brushing, touching. Hard to soft, curve to muscle. His
hand was hot and big on hers, causing sensation to slick through her.

All she could think about was the way he'd kissed her, how she wanted him to do it again. She didn't look at him, afraid he would see it in her face, but she was helpless to stop her body from straining toward his. Friction traveled between them every time her skirts teased his legs.

His overwhelming maleness frayed her nerves. She felt scrutiny from every corner of the room. “Your coming to the dance has put all the women in a tizzy.”

“Including you?” His voice so close to her ear sent a delicious shiver down her spine.