Abby’s clear laughter rang out. She was trying to show the rancher a dance step. Collier was trampling all over her toes and Matthias didn’t like the way his hand eased down Abby’s back.
“Holden,” Matthias said. “Is the minister in town today?”
“Sure is.”
“Find him. I’ll have a job for you before the day is out.”
Holden chuckled. “Consider it done.”
Mrs. Clements glided up to Matthias. “Our Abby looks like she’s having a wonderful time. What’s this, her third or fourth dance?”
“Fifth.”
Mrs. Clements bit back a smile. “But who’s counting, right?”
“Exactly.”
“And have you seen the line of men over there waiting to dance with her?” Holden said.
Frowning, Matthias followed the direction of his gaze. “What!”
“Over there by the large cottonwood tree. I hear they are drawing straws so that it’s fair.”
He’d been so intent on watching Abby that he’d not noticed the collection of men by the tree. As Mrs. Clements had said, one held out his fist, which was filled with a handful of sticks. A rancher pulled out a stick and when he saw it was long, cheered. The rancher turned the straw back in and walked to the back of a line now seven men deep.
That did it.
Matthias strode across the grassy field toward Abby. Collier had snaked his hand another couple of inches down her back. Dressed in faded denims and a clean gray work shirt buttoned up to his throat, he stood an inch shorter than Abby. He smelled of hair grease and bay rum.
Matthias bit back the murderous urge and managed a smile that looked a little like a snarl. “Abby, care to take a break?”
She glanced up at Matthias, her eyes a mixture of relief and worry. “That sounds lovely.”
Collier held tight to Abby. “We just started dancing.”
Matthias clamped a strong hand on Collier’s shoulder. “You don’t mind if the lady takes a break, do you?”
Collier frowned, stopping so suddenly he trampled on Abby’s toe. “As a matter of fact I do mind.”
Matthias squeezed as his gaze bore into the man.
Collier tried to wrestle his shoulder free but Matthias held tight. The man grimaced. “All right. But the next dance is mine.”
Matthias grinned. “Sure, pal. But take your time. Have some punch. Maybe a cookie or two.”
Collier glared at Matthias as he moved toward the saloon.
“You could have at least let the man finish his dance,” Abby said.
Matthias took Abby’s hand in his. The warmth of her skin felt good. “He was finished, he just didn’t know it.” He guided her toward the food table where he poured her a glass of water.
Her fingers brushed his as she took the cool glass. Grateful for the water, she drank it all down. “I’ve been craving water for the last hour but every time I went to get a cup someone else was asking me for a dance.” She refilled her glass and drank more. “I’ve not danced like that in years and was having so much fun I didn’t know how to say no.”
He noted the rise and fall of her chest, the gentle curve of her neck, and the bead of perspiration on her forehead. These last few days, he’d worked harder than he ever had, hoping fatigue would dull his senses enough so that he didn’t want to touch her. It hadn’t worked. “You looked like you knew what you were doing out there.”
“My parents loved music and dance. They both were quite good.”
Damn, small talk had never been his strong suit, but he knew women liked it. And if he were going to win Abby he’d have to woo her properly. “How about we take a walk. I don’t think you’ve had a proper tour of the town.”
She glanced at the collection of eight buildings. Her eyes danced with amusement.
He laughed, pressing his hand into the small of her back. “All right, I’ll admit it won’t take long, but I thought you’d like to stretch your legs and get away from the line of dancers that are waiting for their turn with you.”
She glanced over her shoulder. “There’s a line of men waiting to dance with me?”
The glee in her voice grated. “Looks to be about a dozen at this point.”
She grinned, satisfied. “My, my. I’ve never had a line of men waiting for me before. It’s rather refreshing.”
He guided her toward the mercantile. “Refreshing.”
Her eyes twinkled with a bit of mischief. She really was enjoying herself. “I really shouldn’t disappoint them. They seemed to be waiting so patiently.”
If another man put his hands on her he’d break. “They can keep waiting. Right now you are all mine.”
And he knew exactly what he wanted to do with her.
Chapter Fifteen
A warm glow spread over Abby as she stared up at Mr. Barrington. It would be so easy to love this prideful, strong man. She swallowed and pulled her hand out of his. “I really do think we better get back to the party.”
His eyes narrowed. “What’s the rush?” Frustration made his voice sound more like a growl.
“You are a dangerous man, Mr. Barrington.”
His eyes narrowed. “And that’s bad?”
She tipped her head back, willing her emotions to remain in check. “Very.”
“Why?” His voice sounded angry, defensive.
“Because you are the very kind of man that I could love. You are honest, direct and there’s no denying that you adore your children.”
Her honesty disarmed him. “Then what’s the problem? Stay with me.”
“You’ll break my heart,” she whispered.
He rubbed his chin. “Abby, what the hell are you talking about?”
“Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.”
He lifted an eyebrow. “You’re talking again about that nitwit Douglas.”
“At the time I loved him with my whole heart. I gave all of myself to a man who could never love me. I can’t do that again.”
He snorted. “You didn’t give him everything, Abby. You were a virgin when we made love.”
Made love. She liked the way he said that. “I wanted to sleep with him. I would have if we’d not been discovered.”
“But you didn’t. Because deep in your heart you knew it wasn’t right, otherwise you’d have found a more private place to be with that twit. You’re a smart woman. Your instincts are good.”
“So my instincts are telling me that I should love you?”
“Exactly. Your instincts are just waiting for your brain to catch up.”
She lifted her chin. He was so close to her right now she had only to lean forward and she could kiss him. “But your heart will always be with Elise.” He frowned, ready to rebut, but she raised her hand to silence him. “Don’t misunderstand. I will always admire that. You truly loved your wife. She was lucky to have had you love her. But no matter what my feelings, I fear that I would always be second to her.”
He straightened his shoulders. “I will admit that a part of me died with her. But I’m not the same man I was when I met her.” Scowling, he drew in a ragged breath. “I’ve learned there’s more to marriage than love.”
“Honest to a fault,” she said grimly.
“Yes, I am. I’ll never lie to you, Abby.”
“I know.”
She looked into his blue eyes. Right now he was as handsome as any man she’d ever seen. His black hair skimmed the tops of his open collar, which revealed dark chest hair that curled up from deeply tanned skin. His lips were set in a grim line, yet she remembered how soft they’d felt when pressed against her naked breasts. “I wish you could love me.”
Before he could respond gunfire sounded. A scream echoed from the other side of town.
Mr. Barrington tensed instantly. “Stay here,” he ordered.
“The boys!” Abby said.
“I’ll get the boys. Stay.”
Wild horses couldn’t have kept her in her place.
He started ru
nning toward the party. And Abby was right behind him, running with her skirts hiked up. When they reached the picnic, her side ached from running and wisps of hair had fallen from her chignon.
A crowd had gathered into a semicircle. The fiddle player had stopped and no one was talking or laughing. Mothers kept their children close and the men stood angry and defiant. Most of them had left their guns in their wagons, in respect of the family gathering.
Abby searched for the boys but didn’t see them anywhere. Fear ripped through her body and she ran along the ring of people looking for them. Finally, she found them on the front row, just feet from Collier. She ran to the boys. The instant they saw her they broke away and ran to her. She hugged them close. Fear jockeyed with relief. “Are you two all right?”
“Yes!” Quinn said. “He shot the mama dog.”
Tommy burrowed his face in her bosom. Abby tightened her hold around his quaking body. All her men were safe and she doubted she’d ever been more grateful than now.