Then Lisbeth flung herself into her uncle's arms and hugged him fiercely.
"What was that for. Little Bit?"
She grabbed hold of his ears and kissed him before being released.
"Just for being here, Uncle Thad."
When she walked away, she could be heard saying to Emma,
"Did you see what my uncle made for Ben? I guess he's just about the best furniture maker in Texas."
"You've just made another conquest," Caroline said softly, coming up to stand beside him.
"That's nice." He turned to her and stared into her eyes. "But it's not the one I'd hoped for."
She knew she was blushing, which only made her blush all the more.
"Did you enjoy your swim?"
"I decided it wouldn't be any fun alone. In fact, Teacher " his voice lowered intimately " most of the things I'd like to do can only be done with you."
She felt the rush of heat.
"I think I'd better get over to the church and help with the food." As she started away she paused and turned back to him.
"Will you be staying for the dance?"
"It's tempting." He studied the way the sunlight turned the ends of her hair to blue-black silk that would put a raven's wings to shame.
"But I've been away from my ranch chores too long."
Feeling a sting of disappointment, she turned away quickly. Spotting Ben seated proudly in his new chair, surrounded by his friends, she suddenly turned back again. "That was a fine thing you did for Ben Meadows." With a swish of skirts she was gone.
It was a happy, laughing crowd that surged through the doors of the church.
The long wooden planks groaned under the weight of platters of chicken, pheasant, quail, whole roasted pigs and pots of stewed rabbit. There were breads, biscuits, rolls, all lovingly baked and proudly displayed.
On a second plank, at the opposite side of the room, were cakes, pies, tarts and cookies, all being zealously watched over by an army of women to see that hungry little boys didn't sneak any of the treasures before they ate a proper supper.
Caroline joined the ranks of the women ladling out the food and seized the opportunity to chat with the parents of her students. She was amazed that such a small, sleepy little town could produce so many strangers. Some of the ranchers had traveled many hours to join the festivities. And many of their children had never read a book or met a teacher before.
When everyone had been served, the women filled their own plates and joined their families. Some sat inside the church, taking advantage of the wooden pews. But most chose to sit in the grass or on blankets spread beneath the shade of giant oaks.
After such an enormous meal, some of the fathers and their children drifted off to sleep while the women sat around in small groups of four or five, fanning themselves and catching up on all the news of the past year.
For some of the more isolated ranchers and their families, this was the only contact with the people from town.
As the sun slowly made its arc to the western sky, torches and lanterns were lit around the tents and wagons. The scent of wood smoke filled the air as children played tag around the camp fires that punctuated the gathering darkness.
A fiddler plucked the strings of his violin, then started in with a rousing song. Minutes later he was joined by a mouth organ and then a guitar. Men and women got to their feet and began to clap their hands.
Soon, not only the grownups but the children were dancing to the happy, toe tapping music.
Caroline joined the crowd that formed a circle around the dancers.
Clapping her hands in time to the rhythm, she waved to Cole and Jessie as they circled past.
"Having fun?" Jessie called.
"Oh, yes." Caroline barely had time to get the words out before she was grabbed by Sheriff Horn and spun into the mass of twirling couples.
She wasn't sure what to do, but she soon discovered that all she needed to do was to hold on. The stocky sheriff had no sense of rhythm, but he kept her moving in the same direction as the other couples, and once in a while he twirled her in circles until her head was spinning.
As abruptly as they started, Caroline was returned to the sidelines, where she struggled to catch her breath.
"Thank you. Miss Adams. That was mighty fine dancing."
Mopping his brow, Sheriff Horn paused only long enough to catch sight of Bel va Spears dancing with Reverend Symes. Moments later he tapped the reverend on the shoulder and spun away with Bel va in his arms.
Caroline watched as the preacher scanned the crowd, then walked resolutely toward Sara Waverly and her family. A few minutes later, as the widow and the reverend began to dance, Caroline caught the look of happiness on the faces of En una and Ethan.
"Miss Adams?"
Caroline turned to find Manuel and Rosita standing beside her. From their flushed faces, she could tell they had been dancing.
"Hello," she called.
"Are you having fun?"
They both nodded.
"Rosita says she is too tired to dance again." Manuel bowed slightly to Caroline.
"Would you like to dance?"
"Why, I'd be honored."
Placing her hand on his shoulder, she allowed him to take her other hand and slowly lead her through the steps of the dance.
"You have not done this before?"
She shook her head.
' "Do they not dance in the East?"
She shrugged self-consciously.
"Oh, they dance, the same as here, I suppose. But I never had time."
Because Manuel was not much taller than her, their gazes met directly.
"Are you glad you came to Hope, Miss Adams " I'm very glad, Manuel. I like it here very much." " Rosita and I have heard good things about you. The people are happy to have such a fine teacher for their children. "
"Not nearly as happy as I am to be teaching them. It's like wishing on a star and suddenly having your wish come true."
He nodded gravely.
"I understand about such things. Since I first came here, I wanted the chance to own a piece of my own land. And thanks to Senor Con way, I now have my wish."
The words were barely out of his mouth when he looked up and broke into a wide smile. Dropping her hands, he gave a little bow and walked away, leaving her alone amid the twirling couples.
Puzzled, Caroline turned. Thad stood directly behind her.
For the space of a heartbeat she forgot about the torches and the music and the people that moved and laughed and talked all around her.
"You came back."
He nodded.
"I tried not to. I thought, if I stayed busy with enough chores, I could forget about the dance."
He opened his arms and she stepped close, placing her hand in his. She no longer worried about moving her feet to the music. It seemed the most natural thing in the world to fit herself into his embrace, her body moving in rhythm with his.
"But then," he murmured against her temple,
"I thought about you here, in the arms of all these men, and I couldn't go on working."
He gave a wry laugh.
"I couldn't even do simple chores like pounding nails." He held up his hand and she could see the dark bruises.
"I hit my thumb with the hammer. That's when I knew I had to give in and admit defeat. I needed to be here, holding you, leading you through the dance."
She gave a deep sigh of contentment as he drew her close against his chest.
Her hand, resting along his shoulder, brushed the pale hair at his collar, sending strange sensations rippling through her.
"I suppose this must seem tame after the dances at that fancy school you attended."
He felt her stiffen before she admitted shyly,
"I've never been to a dance before."
"Then I hope your first dance is special."
"It is," she murmured contentedly.
Her hand lay in his large, work-roughened palm, held as gently as if it
were a fragile flower. His other hand rested at her back, his fingers splayed along her spine. She could feel each one pressing against her flesh, leaving its imprint forever on her soul. She closed her eyes, swaying with him to the music. She would know him even in the dark. For such a big man, his touch was exceedingly gentle.
' "Where do you go when you get all quiet like this?" he murmured.
"I haven't gone anywhere." She lifted her head and her lips grazed his cheek.
"There isn't anywhere I'd rather be than right here, dancing with you."
She fell silent for a moment longer before adding,
"I just wanted to hold on to the moment before it ended."
"What makes you think it will end?"
"The good times always do. It's the bad times that seem endless. The bad times " her voice lowered to the merest whisper " seem to go on forever."
Without thinking, he drew her closer, as if to offer his strength.
"It doesn't have to be that way, Caroline."
"No, it doesn't." She forced a smile to her lips and met his steady gaze.
The fiddler drained his jug and announced the last dance. Instead of another toe-tapping song, the violin soared and dipped with the sad, haunting strains of a song about a home far away and a love left behind.
The mouth organ picked up the notes, followed by the guitar.
Couples drifted off to their tents or wagons. Torches flickered and died.
Candles were snuffed. As the song ended, only the light from the stars illuminated the few couples who were still dancing.
Thad and Caroline paused beside the trunk of an ancient oak. It seemed the most natural thing in the world to keep their arms around each other. And as she lifted her smiling face to him, he couldn't resist the chance to brush his lips over hers.
This kiss was different from all the other times. She felt the change even as she returned his kiss. There was a gentleness. From a man who had never been gentle with her before.
She felt the change inside herself, as well. The answering softness, as though he'd tapped some new well deep inside her. The need for tenderness.
The wanting. The needing. Always before, she'd been able to ignore her needs. She felt for the moment as if all her defenses had been lowered.
He stepped back a pace and touched a hand lightly to her cheek.
"You're tired."
She nodded.
"I've been up cooking and baking since dawn."
"Are you going back to your cabin tonight?"
"No. Sara Waverly invited me to spend the night here in town at her place."
He felt a momentary stab of disappointment. The thought of accompanying her back to her cabin had tantalized him. Still, this was infinitely safer. For both of them.
"Come on." Catching her hand, he led her through the darkness.
"I'll see you to her door."
When they reached Sara's house, the preacher was just taking his leave.
He called out a greeting and hurried on toward the church.
As Sara waited in the doorway, Caroline whispered, "Will I see you tomorrow?"
Thad shook his head.
"I doubt I can spare any more time. I already told Manuel and Rosita to take the day off."
"Well then." She was achingly aware of his hand resting at her elbow.
"Thank you for walking me to Sara's home."
"I wouldn't have missed it." He knew that Sara Waverly was watching, but he couldn't resist the temptation to touch her one last time.
Brushing the backs of his fingers across her cheek, he added,
"Or the chance to hold you while we danced."
"Miss Adams." They both looked up as the sheriff emerged from the darkness.
Touching a hand to his hat, he said gruffly,
"I wanted you to know that my deputy found Fox an hour ago. Actually,"
he added before Caroline could speak,
"I should say. Fox's body."
"He's dead?" She held her breath.
"Yep. And the strange thing is, he was hardly out of town before he was shot. Almost as if whoever helped him escape only did it to get rid of him."
Thad's head came up sharply.
"And the other man? The one who helped him escape? Has there been any sign of him?"
The sheriff shook his head.
"Not a trace. Odd thing, though, that a man would break him out of jail just to kill him." He turned to drop a hand on Caroline's arm.
"Don't you worry. Miss Adams. The man would be a fool to stay around these parts. I have a hunch he's a hundred miles from here by now, if he knows what's good for him."
Despite the heat of the night, Caroline felt a small shiver along her spine.
She was grateful that she was spending the night in town rather than alone in her cabin.
"Thank you. Sheriff Horn." Her voice trembled only slightly, but it was enough for Thad to notice.
As the sheriff hurried toward his office, Thad waited until Caroline disappeared inside Sara's house.
He stood for long minutes, deep in thought. The sheriff had found it strange that the man who had freed Fox had killed him so quickly. It wasn't strange at all. To Thad it made perfect sense. Especially if the man didn't want anyone around who could identify him.
It all went back to the attack on the stage. The stage bearing Caroline Adams to town.
Chapter Sixteen
I had mucked the stalls and forked fresh hay, then hauled buckets of water from the creek. Lifting the hat from his head, he wiped an arm across his brow and glanced at the sky. The sun was a hazy amber globe in the heavens. A gentle breeze rustled the leaves and bent the grass. A good day for a picnic. The thought crossed his mind, and just as quickly he brushed it aside.
He should be grateful for the hard, physical labor, but the truth was, even hard work couldn't keep him from thinking about Caroline. As much as he disliked going to town, he wanted to see her. No, he corrected, needed to see her. It was a need bordering on obsession.
Even working with his prized mare brought him no joy. He led her into a corral and latched the gate, then leaned against it and watched as she broke into an easy trot. She would give him a perfect foal. In fact, many foals to add to his herd.
Why, then, did it suddenly seem so meaningless? What would it matter if he bred the finest bloodline in Texas? He glanced around the rolling hills, the sturdy outbuildings, the graceful ranch house. What would any of this matter if he didn't have someone to share it with?
Someone? Caroline.
He experienced a quick flare of anger. He'd never met anyone he couldn't walk away from. Until Caroline. He'd never fought a battle he couldn't win.
Until Caroline.
He had spent a sleepless night wondering and worrying. Who wanted to harm her? And why? What was she running from? And when was she going to trust him enough to confide in him?
He slammed a fist against the corral and whirled away. He had a better use for all this pent-up anger. There was timber to be cut. And, by God, he'd cut it all before this day was over.
Caroline walked beside Sara and her two children. Her hands grasped the handle of the basket she had prepared for the picnic. There were pale smudges beneath her eyes, the only clue that she had spent a night tossing and turning. And worrying.
The fact that Fox had been found dead had not reassured her. In fact, it had increased her fears. Despite the sunny day and the friendly faces all around her, Caroline couldn't shake the feeling of impending doom.
"Wasn't it nice to see the church so full this morning?" Sara asked.
Caroline pushed aside her morbid thoughts.
"Reverend Symes was in rare form. I liked what he said about building bridges instead of cursing the swollen streams."
Sara gave a deep sigh.
"He makes life sound so simple. I think, when he's been here long enough, he'll understand just how difficult life can be, especially in Texas."
"What makes you think it'
s any harder here than somewhere else?"
Caroline asked.
"Just take a look around you." Sara's pursed her mouth in distaste.
"Bel va Spears loses a husband to a gunman. Cora Meadows is forced to watch a son lie paralyzed. And look at my own children. They lost their father before they had time to know him."
"Those same bad things happen everywhere, Sara. Life in the city is no better."
"Maybe." The look in her eyes said she didn't believe a word of it.
"Sara?" Caroline paused, wondering how to ask the question that had bothered her for so long.
"Do you know why Thad Con way shuns the people of Hope?"
Sara shot her a surprised look.
"I thought by now you would have heard."
When Caroline shook her head, the woman cast a glance around at the tranquil scene.
"You wouldn't know it to look at this little town," she said, "but there was once a bloody battle fought here. There was a gang of gunmen known as the Colby Gang that left a trail of killings across Texas.
When the sheriff heard they were headed this way, he warned the citizens, and they formed a committee to ride out to Thad's ranch and ask him to help. He was, after all, the best gunman in these parts." She shielded the sun from her eyes and stared into the distance a moment, remembering.
"Thad agreed to stand with the men of Hope, but by the time the Colby Gang got here, most of the men had gone home to their families and refused to leave them unprotected to come to town and fight. So in the end, Thad Con way and the sheriff and a few of the men ended up facing up to the gang by themselves."
"What happened?"
Sara frowned.
"It was a blood bath. A dozen gunmen lay in the street dead. Every one of the men who'd fought had a wound of one kind or another. Thad's wounds were the worst. For a while. Doc thought he'd lose him."
"But why would the town shun him if he nearly gave his life to save them?"
Sara paused, deep in thought, then turned to Caroline.
"I suppose part of it was because he made some of the men of the town feel ashamed for not standing with him. And, too, we all saw just how savage a gunfight is. We gave him a job to do and he did it. Too well. The way Thad Con way stood and fought made everyone a little more afraid of him. And we've always been afraid that his reputation with a gun would bring more gunfighters to town, looking to be the one to kill The Texan. I'm sure that day will come. It's just his fate."