His Errant Educator (Willamette Wives Book 3) (14 page)

Dust motes danced upon the air as dozens of feet formed the intricate patterns, while bows flew over the strings of the dueling fiddles played by the Owen brothers. Mr. Parker stood between the men, calling out the steps to the groups of dancers, his booted foot tapping along with the beat. Teresa laughed as Roger twirled her about before passing her off to Wyatt who grabbed her hand, twirling her again. The four making up their group were panting when the last note was heard and then clapped to show their appreciation of the musicians' talent.

"Whew, dancing sure makes a man thirsty," Roger said, taking claim of his bride-to-be by wrapping his arm about her waist. "Would you like some lemonade, Tessa?"

"Yes, please. Perhaps we should sit out a few…"

"Nope, I promised I'd dance every dance," he said, bending to give her cheek a kiss, drawing both a gasp and a small smile.

"Roger, what will people think?"

"They'll know that you are mine," he said, unconcerned about possible gossip. "I'll be right back."

Teresa watched him walk away, her cheeks flushed a bit brighter than warranted by the fast-paced dance. He was so very handsome even with his dark hair a little unruly from the ducking and weaving required in the square-dance. His eyes had seemed to sparkle in the light from the many lanterns hung around the large barn, but it was his smile that made her heart melt.

The second group of four, consisting of Charity, James, Anna, and Richard, who had danced adjacent to Teresa's group, welcomed Barbara as she joined them.

"Why are you limping?" Anna asked as Barbara grimaced.

"All of you looked wonderful in that dance," Barbara said, moving to stand beside her sister. "So far all my partners seem to have two left feet."

Charity smiled and patted her arm. "Maybe it's because they are so enthralled by your beauty that they can't remember the steps."

Barbara giggled and shook her head. "I promise that if I took off my shoes, my feet would definitely not be a pretty sight." Everyone laughed as she gave an exaggerated grimace.

"That's a sound I love to hear," Benjamin said as he and Catherine joined them. "Your laughter is more entertaining than the music. Are my girls having a good time?"

"I'm having a wonderful time," Teresa said, "are you?"

"How could I not be?" Benjamin said, giving Catherine a smile. "I've got the perfect partner who doesn't seem to mind if I miss a step or two."

"Ben," Catherine said with a smile. "You lead so well that I don't even have to think about what I'm doing. I just am allowed to have fun."

"Ma, maybe you should take a break," Agatha suggested. "You look a bit tired."

"I'm fine," Catherine said. "I don't want to miss a thing. It's been far too long since I've had such fun."

"I'm so glad the town decided to hold a dance," Anna said after all their men followed Roger to obtain some refreshment as well. "I agree with Catherine. I can't remember the last time I've had this much fun."

"I don't even recognize everyone," Charity said. "I know the town is growing, but goodness, there must be over a dozen new faces here tonight."

The dance was being held in the Owens' barn just outside of town. Richard had pulled the wagon into the field alongside dozens of others. Those who had ridden on horseback had put their mounts into the corral, where fresh water and feed had been provided by their hosts. Inside the barn, long tables had been placed against one wall, where women had set various dishes to be shared by all. A large bowl had been filled with lemonade but if one was observant, they could catch many a man nipping at flasks pulled from trouser pockets as well.

There were children dashing about, squealing in joy as papas swung them into the air during a dance. The night was filled with the sound of gaiety as the townspeople enjoyed a much needed break from the isolation caused by the snow and ice that had covered the valley for the past few months.

"Catherine, I need some of that delicious cobbler before we dance again. Shall we?" Benjamin asked, slipping his arm around her waist at her nod. "And maybe you can cut me just a tiny sliver of that cake."

"Of course," Catherine said with a smile, "just a sliver?"

"Well, maybe a bit more. After all, I need sustenance so I can escort the belle of the ball around the floor again. It would be far too embarrassing to swoon in the middle of a do-si-do."

They listened to Catherine's tinkling laughter as the older couple moved away towards the refreshment table.

"It's wonderful to see everyone having such a good time," Anna said, giving Agatha's hip a bump with her own. "Your ma seems to be having a wonderful time."

Agatha didn't even have to turn her head to find her mother. She'd kept her eyes on Catherine for most of the evening. Presently, her mother was slicing the cake and handing the plate to Mr. Goldman. He bent down to say something to her, causing her to laugh again, her cheeks flushing. When he offered her a bite of the cake, she opened her mouth and bent forward, accepting the offering from the tines of the fork he held.

"Ah, that's so sweet," Charity said, also watching the exchange. "It is so nice seeing her have a good time. She never smiled much when on the trail."

"No, she didn't," Anna agreed.

"Why in the world would she?" Agatha asked. "Wallace made sure of that."

Teresa listened to the exchange, and while not having traveled over 2,000 miles with these women, she felt that she knew enough about Catherine to join the conversation. "All I know is that I haven't seen Pa smile or laugh as much until Catherine came to live with us—"

"She doesn't live with you," Agatha interrupted. "She works for your pa and should remember that."

"I-I only meant…"

"Agatha!" Charity said, her face showing her surprise.

"It's the truth," Agatha said. "I hope everyone is not gossiping about Ma."

"Why would they?" Anna asked, her expression showing her puzzlement.

"Who knows why people decide to be mean? I just know that some are just… just plain evil."

Anna reached out and put her hand on Agatha's arm. "Agatha, that horrible man is gone. No one here is doing that. Like Teresa said, everyone thinks your ma is wonderful." At Agatha's shrug, she asked, "Are you all right?"

"I'm fine, I'm just saying that I know people talked behind our backs and it was just awful. I don't want Ma to have to—"

"I hope you saved some of that cobbler," Anna interrupted, causing all the women to turn and discover that the couple was returning.

"There's a bit left," Catherine said. "But the cake the girls made is almost gone. If you want a piece of it you'd better hurry. Anna, those preserves you sent have truly been put to a good use."

"You are just being modest," Benjamin said. "Your cobbler is lovely. Almost as lovely as you are in that dress. That color brings out the blue in your beautiful eyes."

"Why thank you, Ben," Catherine said with a smile. "You look quite—"

"Where is that lemonade? I'm parched," Agatha said, cutting her mother off mid-sentence. "Did you have Ma make that as well? No wonder she looks exhausted."

"What? No, I mean, I believe the lemonade was provided by the Owens," Benjamin said, his own expression showing a bit of confusion. "It really is refreshing. Catherine, would you—"

"Ma doesn't need to serve anyone tonight," Agatha said, "she is not being paid…"

"Agatha!" Catherine said, shaking her head.

"I was asking your mother if she'd like a glass. I would be glad to bring you one as well, Agatha," Benjamin said. "I'll get some for all of you."

"No need, the men are supposed to be doing so," Anna said.

"Um, well, if you're sure," Benjamin said. "Catherine, shall we enjoy a cup before the music begins again?"

"I'd like that," Catherine said. "If you girls will excuse us?"

They watched as the older couple again walked away and once out of earshot, Anna whirled on Agatha.

"What is wrong with you? That was rude! Don't you want your ma to have a good time?"

"I want Ma to be…"

"What was rude?"

The women turned again to see their husbands had returned. It was James who asked the question as he handed a cup of lemonade to his wife.

"Nothing," Charity said and no one corrected her as she added, "Thank you, honey. I'm parched!"

"Yes, it looks delicious," Anna said, downing half the cup that Richard handed her in one swallow.

If the men perceived the tenseness surrounding the group, they didn't mention it, though they did exchange a few looks between one another. When the music began, Roger smiled and held out his hand. "That's our song."

"We have a song?" Teresa asked, her body tingling the moment his fingers closed around hers.

"They are all our song," Roger said with a grin. "After all, I promised I'd dance with you all night, and darlin', the night has just begun."

Teresa smiled, relinquishing her empty cup to Charity with a polite, "thank you," before her fiancé whisked her back out onto the floor.

"Miss Goldman, will you dance with me?" a young man asked, his cheeks a bit flushed and a hang-dog expression on his face. "I'll try not to step on your feet again."

"No need to worry, Mr. Franklin. My toes went numb an hour ago," Barbara said, giving him a dazzling smile and accepting his arm.

Richard followed with Anna, while Charity and James moved to return the cups to the table.

"Are you all right?" Wyatt asked, as the couple stood alone.

"I'm fine," Agatha said, "I'm just a little tired."

"Would you like to sit down for a bit?"

"That might be nice…" she began, only to see that her ma was again in Mr. Goldman's arms. "No, I can't… not now. I-I'm going to go check on the children." Before she could step away, he reached out and snagged her arm.

"Aggy, what's wrong?"

"Nothing."

"I know something is bothering you, honey. I can't help if you won't tell me what it is."

"I'm not asking you to help," she said, pulling a bit against his hold. When his eyebrows drew together, she added, "I mean, I don't know what you could do."

"I don't either unless you tell me what is needed."

Searching for anything besides having to admit the truth, she said, "I'm afraid that there is gossip going around."

"What sort of gossip?" Wyatt asked, his eyes going to the dancing couples and then taking a glance around the room. "Everyone looks happy to me and I haven't heard anything."

"Men don't pay attention to those things," Agatha said quickly. "You know, just whispers about how it is unseemly and very inappropriate for a woman to live with an unmarried man."

"What? Who's living together?"

Just barely catching herself before rolling her eyes, she said, "Ma."

"Your mother? That's ridiculous. Catherine's not living with any man; she simply has a room in the house where she is employed. Her room isn't even in the Goldmans' living quarters, it's in the kitchen."

"See? That's why gossip is so horrid. People whisper and repeat something until it is so twisted that it makes no sense and yet people believe it. Wyatt, you have no clue as to how gossip spreads and it is just as dangerous as wild fires. It isn't given in the open but hidden, and… and it can destroy a person."

"I assure you that if I ever heard anything like that, I'd put an immediate stop to it. Is that what Charity meant when she said it was rude?"

"What?"

"If you think that any of us believed Charity when she gave that answer, then you truly don't know us. It's quite obvious that something was said while we were getting the lemonade. Were you upset because of something you heard?"

"No, it really was nothing. Now, if you'll excuse me, I told Anna and Charity that I'd check on the children." She forced herself not to fidget as he studied her. They were bumped by a couple dancing by who laughingly apologized. Finally, he bent closer.

"Fine, but Agatha Wilcox, this discussion is not over. I don't know what has you upset, but I'm not buying your story. I suggest you give it some thought and we'll discuss this later."

She couldn't think of anything to give as a response that wouldn't have him deciding they'd discuss it right now… in the middle of what had become a very crowded dance floor. Giving him a nod, she pulled away and hurried towards the open double doors of the barn. The sound of laughter had her giving a glance over her shoulder to see her ma being twirled about the floor in her employer's arms.

She walked towards the house where the little ones had been placed on beds and pallets on the floor to sleep while their parents enjoyed the festivities.

Why couldn't anyone else see what she did? How could her ma be so blind as to not know that she wasn't being courted, she was being used… again. Wallace had used her to get her land, which he'd promptly sold to drag them west. He'd used her as a cover, to make himself appear a proper man of the cloth when he'd really been a monster. He'd used her as his own personal punching bag. Despite her ma's assurance that he'd never hit her, Agatha didn't particularly care. What he'd done was even worse… beaten her down emotionally with his harsh, ugly accusations and predictions that she'd burn in hell if she dared complain. Agatha paused before entering the house, her heart pounding as she remembered the nights she'd lain in her own bed, nothing but a thin wall separating her room from her ma's, or when she'd slept beneath the covered wagon on the trail, the floor her ceiling, listening to the man grunt and groan as he claimed his husbandly rights with a woman who had only wed him in order to save her daughter. It didn't matter that the man was dead. He'd done damage that would never be forgotten… never forgiven.