Moon Racer (15 page)

"What am I going to do with this dog?"

Jonah laughed in amusement. "That is the ugliest
dog I have ever seen. I don't think you will find
anyone to give him a home. It looks like you are
stuck with him."

Abby glared at him. "This dog might look ugly to
you, but Rob gave me something he treasured. I am
going to take him home with me. It was a beautiful
gesture."

Jonah looked at the mongrel clutched to her
chest. "What you did for the boy was a
compassionate and beautiful gesture," he said
quietly. "And the boy was right you are mighty
pretty, Miss Abby."

Abby drew in a deep breath, stumbling for the right
words, but they were stuck in her throat. Why did
Jonah always catch her at her worst, and why did
she care so much? "I have to go now. I've got
supplies to order."

Jonah would have said more, but Grant Zachary
came out of the hotel at that moment and stopped
beside him.

"Abby? Abby Hunter? Can that be little Abby all
grown-up? It can't be anyone else with those
dazzling eyes."

The ranger's infectious smile was well known to
her. "Grant," she said with affection warming her
voice, "what a pleasure it is to see you again." She
reached out, and he took her hand, dwarfing it in his
giant one. "Does Brent know you are in town?"

The laugh lines at the corners of his eyes
deepened. "Not yet. I thought I'd ride by and see
him later on. I heard about him getting hitched."

Abby was wrestling with the dog, and she finally
solved her dilemma by shifting the animal over her
shoulder. "It's been much too long since we have
seen you. I imagine Frances would make you her
famous chocolate cake if you came by the ranch."

"Tell her I'll be coming by Saturday next. I hear
Diablo will be celebrating an anniversary with
fireworks and a dance. I'm hoping you'll go with
me." He nodded at Jonah. "You might even save
the major here one of your dances."

She-shook her head. "I don't usually attend the
town dances."

Grant remembered all too well how the
townspeople had treated Abby after the family
tragedy. In the past he had defended her name on
more than one occasion. "I can't believe you are all
grown-up now." He shook his head and held her at
arm's length so he could see her better. "I want you
to go to the dance with me, and I won't take no for
an answer."

Jonah was irritated by the happy reminiscing
between the ranger and Abby. "How does it happen
that the two of you know each other?"

"I've known this pretty little gal since she was no
more than knee-high to a stump, and I've just been
waiting for her to grow up so I could dance with
her."

Jonah glared at the man. "You are full of
surprises, ranger."

Abby didn't want to admit to either of them that
she didn't know how to dance and that she didn't
have a dress suitable for the occasion. "Grant, I
don't think I-"

He stopped her before she could refuse him. "I'll
be coming for you, Abby. I think I can get there in
time for supper if you ask me nice-like."

He left her no way to refuse, because she wanted
him to come to the ranch so everyone could see him.
"I'll tell Brent you're coming so he can be there,
too." She was still wrestling with the dog. "I have to
go now." She nodded at Jonah and then at Grant.

Grant reached out and took the pup from her until
she could mount her horse, then handed the animal
up to her. He touched the brim of his hat. "Good
day to you, Abby. I'll be seeing you Saturday."

Jonah wondered why he hadn't thought to help
Abby with the dog. He had been deeply troubled
when Abby smiled at Grant the way she never had
at him. Although he had no reason to object, he
didn't like the idea of her dancing in the arms of this
man-or any other man, for that matter.

Grant waved as she galloped away. "She's 'bout
as pretty as a speckled pup. A man would consider
himself lucky if he could win her affection."

Jonah glowered at the ranger. "How long have
you known her?"

"Her brother Brent and me are friends. We met
when we were just boys at the fishing hole south of
town. I spent a lot of time at their ranch."

"You lived here in Diablo?"

"For the better part of my youth." He watched
Abby ride out of sight. "She has grown into one
very fine-looking woman. I reckon she's about the
prettiest gal I've seen in a long time. Do you know
if she's spoken for?"

Jonah stared up at the clear blue sky, feeling a
sudden possessiveness toward Abby and knowing
he had no right to feel that way. "You would have
to ask the lady."

Grant, hearing the biting tone in Jonah's voice,
turned to him. "I intend to, Major-I certainly
intend to. When I saw her just now, after not seeing
her in over three years, something hit me like a
train. I certainly have it in mind to go courting at her
door. Lately I've been thinking about taking me a
wife and settling down somewhere, buying a little
spread and raising kids and cattle."

There was a hard lump in Jonah's throat. At the
moment he wanted nothing more than to smash his
fist into the ranger's face. "You think you can come
riding into town and expect Abby to marry you?"

Grant thumbed his hat back and shook his head.
"Well, no, it won't happen quite that easily. I'll
have to do some dedicated sparking."

Doubts tore at Jonah's mind. Abby did seem to
be fond of the ranger, and Grant appeared to be a
good sort of man. Needing to distance himself from
the situation, Jonah stepped into the street. "There is
something that needs my attention."

Grant nodded, blissfully ignorant of the turmoil
that churned inside Major Tremain.

Abby met Glory at the front door and took her
hand, pulling her inside. "You have to help me!"

Glory looked puzzled-she had never seen her
sister-in-law like this before. "You know I will. But
what do you need me to do?"

Abby ran her hand through her hair, untwisting
the braid and allowing the wavy mass to sift
through her fingers. "Everything is wrong about
me! I want to cut my hair. I don't have a proper
gown to wear to the dance, even if I knew how to
dance, which I don't."

Glory removed her hat and tossed it on a chair.
"Halt, stop, slow down. I haven't understood one
word you've said."

"Grant Zachary has asked me to the dance next
Saturday night, and I don't know how to dance!"

Glory was dumbfounded. "I want to meet the
man who has made you want to wear a gown and
cut your hair. Tell me all about him."

"Who?"

"Abby, you can be so maddening at times. Tell
me about this Mr. Zachary. What's he like?"

Abby was puzzled. "Grant is Brent's friend, and
he's a Texas Ranger. I've known him most of my
life-he's like a big brother to me."

Glory stared at Abby in bemusement. "He's like
a brother to you, and yet you are willing to cut your
hair for him?"

Abby led her confused sister-in-law down the hallway to her bedroom. She searched in her mending
basket until she found her scissors, then placed them
in the palm of Glory's hand. "Please, just cut it."

Glory was still puzzled when Abby sat down
before the mirror.

"I like the way you do your hair. Cut mine like
yours."

The redhead felt as though a tornado had just
swept through her life-sometimes Abby had that
effect on people. She lifted a long black strand of
hair and shook her head. "I can't. It's too beautiful
to cut."

"Close your eyes and do it," Abby urged.

Glory met Abby's gaze in the mirror. "I'm not
sure closing my eyes to cut your hair is a good
idea." She took a tentative snip. "Quince is going to
kill me for this."

Abby closed one eye and stared at the reflection
of the scissors with the other. "Just do it before I
change my mind."

Glory drew in her breath and snipped, still
wondering what in the world had come over Abby.

Soon long black tresses lay at Glory's feet, and
she stepped back to observe her handiwork. Now
that the weight was off Abby's head, the rest of her
hair curled about her shoulders and face in ringlets.

"I never knew you had curly hair."

Abby ran her fingers through her hair in
amazement. "The curls have been a source of
irritation to me for as long as I can remember. Since
I didn't know what to do with them, I found it
easier to wear my hair braided."

Glory pulled the curls away from Abby's face and
studied her attentively. "You look very different."

Abby turned to look at her sister-in-law. "Will
you help me find a gown and teach me to dance?"

Glory stood back and studied Abby closely. "We
are about the same size, except you are a few inches
taller than I am. I have a yellow gown that would
look good on you. I would have to lower the hem a
bit, and maybe put lace around the bottom."

Abby stood up. "Now teach me to dance."

"I'll-try," Glory said doubtfully. "But I don't
know how to lead-you would need a man for
that." Glory suddenly frowned. "We don't have
music. I can't sing, can you?"

"Not so well that anyone would want to listen,"
Abby admitted. "If only Crystal were here, she
could sing or hum for us."

"Let's find a room with more space," Glory said,
getting into the spirit of adventure. "It's too
crowded in here."

Glory walked out of the room, and Abby followed
her to the parlor. Under Glory's direction, they
moved furniture until they had cleared a wide area.

"Let me see," the redhead said, taking Abby's
hand. "You put your hand on my shoulder, and
I'll-No, that's not right. I put my hand o n... I'm
confused, Abby. We need one of your brothers."

"Will I do?" Jack said, poking his head around
the corner.

Glory beamed at her father-in-law as she went
forward and dragged him into the room. "You are
just the person we need. I want you to teach your
daughter to dance."

Jack looked at Abby in wonderment. Something
about her was different. She still wore her trousers,
but... "You cut your hair!"

Abby fluffed it and smiled. "Do you like it,
Papa?"

He studied her for a long moment, and then had
to clear his throat before he could speak. "It's
almost like I was looking at your mama." He shook
his head and went toward her. "I think we should
start with a waltz, since it's the most fun."

At first Abby felt nervous because she had been
consciously avoiding her father for so long. But she
had not seen him drunk in several weeks; he
seemed to be trying to stay sober. He had stopped
muttering about Matt under his breath, something
he did only when he was drinking.

He smiled down at her and gently instructed her
with patience as he led her through the dance steps.
Abby began to relax a bit. He hummed softly while
he whirled her around the room, and she became
caught up in the dance.

"You - learn fast," he commended her. "You
follow my lead like a born dancer." He could have
told her that her mother had been a fine dancer, but
she didn't want to hear any more about her mother
from him.

After a while, Jack was taking Abby through the
steps of a polka. Then he showed her the motions of
a slow dance. "You won't have trouble following
any man's lead. Your moves are natural."

"Thank you, Papa," she said, laying her head
against his shoulder, warily at first, and then expe riencing a glimmer of the same love she had felt for
him as a child.

Glory was beaming at her sister-in-law's
progress. "Now we just have to get you into a gown
and shoes. I'll come over early the day of the dance
and dress your hair."

Jack held Abby away from him. "You will be the
prettiest one at the dance."

"Will you be going to the dance, Papa?"

"No, I won't, Abby. But I'll picture you there
dancing with all the young men and stealing their
hearts away."

Abby smiled and snapped her fingers. "I almost
forgot. I have something for you. Wait right here
with Glory until I get it out of the barn."

Jack looked inquiringly at Glory, but she
shrugged her shoulders.

Moments later Abby returned carrying a dog,
which she shoved into Jack's arms. "He's yours,
Papa, a thank-you gift, or maybe a birthday gift."

Jack held the dog away from him. "My birthday
isn't until January."

"I know that, but it could be an early birthday
present."

Lifting the dog, he could only stare at the homely
creature. He preferred pedigree in any animal,
whether it was horses or dogs. This pup was
certainly at the bottom of the ladder in breeding.

"He's a mongrel," he said, shoving the dog back
at Abby.

"Yes, I know," she said, shoving the pup back to
him. "But he has personality and character. Look how he's wagging his tail-he wants to belong to
you."