11th Hour Rose (8 page)

“Sorry, Brady, cutting in.” David grabbed Lilly’s arm just above the elbow and slipped the other about her slim waist, nimbly sweeping her away from the other man’s embrace and into his own.

Lilly gasped, obviously surprised by the sudden switch and stumbled against his chest.

Davy smirked at an equally stunned Marcus—still standing with his arms up as though holding a woman—then glanced down to Lilly. “I believe this dance is mine.” He half carried her a few feet away, trapping her within the fold of his arms for the dance.

“David, let me go.” She struggled against his hold. “You are behaving like a brute.”

He held her fast. “Dance with me,” he commanded, forcing her to meet his gaze.

“David—”

“I’m not releasing you. Dance.”

She skewered him with a mutinous glare.

For whatever reason her expression did not further irritate him, but struck him as damnably adorable. He bit back the sudden urge to grin. “Lilly, please,” he cajoled, switching tactics, softening his grasp slightly on her arms. “Dance with me. You are the only reason I came here tonight.”

“Do you expect me to believe that?”

He shrugged. “Believe what you wish, but it’s the truth.”

After another moment of futile tussle she sighed and finally complied, resting a hand unenthusiastically on his shoulder. Davy further relaxed his grip on her, spreading a palm across her lower back. Together they shuffled awkwardly to the music. He ignored the interested stares cast their way by other couples and bystanders alike.

One-two-three. One-two-three.
Davy kept silent count in his head for the first few turns. He hadn’t danced in years.

“Ouch!” Lilly jerked her left foot back.

“Sorry,” Davy mumbled, concentrating less on the waltz tempo and more on avoiding her toes.

“You’re a terrible dancer,” Lilly observed, scooting back a bit in his arms.

Davy took a long step inward, pulling her sweet little frame right back in. “Never claimed to be anything but.” He curled her in nearer still, holding her much closer than he ought. She inhaled sharply, gaze snapping up to his, but did not attempt to pull away, and the intimate stance helped them settle into a more natural flow of steps. “I warned you to stay away from Brady,” he said sternly.

Lilly rolled her eyes. “Because he may be a voracious killer? Don’t be absurd. He was hardly attempting to seduce me or lure me into a darkened alley.”

“Seduction is not always obvious, Lilly. I happen to know something of men and their intentions.”

“Oh?” Cool eyes flicked back to his. “And you deemed his intentions toward me to be less than honorable?”

“Yes.”

“Really?” Lilly scoffed, sarcasm thick in her tone. “You don’t even know what we were discussing.”

“I don’t need to.”

“Then what did Mr. Brady do to so offend you? Aside from politely ask me to dance?” Her eyes flashed pure fire against his, challenging him as few others dared.

“Damn it, Lilly, must you fight me in everything?” Their gazes locked and his anger faltered. He drew in a slow breath, gaze traveling from her iridescent eyes down the soft curve of her cheek and throat, across her slender bared shoulders. A fat curl slid down her neck and rested against the milky skin exposed above her bodice. “All I want is to protect you. Why can’t you see that?”

In a flash, the irritation melted from Lilly’s features. She softened in his arms, swaying into him fully. The ruffle over her breasts breezed against his chest and a hint of perfume wafted up from her hair. “You wish to protect
me
?”

Davy swallowed, suddenly disconcerted, his vision simultaneously clear and clouded. He could point out that it was his civic duty to worry over everyone, but, the truth was, he
did
worry over her, more so than anyone else, and it seemed a rather recent development. He gazed down into her wide, curious eyes and slid his fingers ever so slightly up her back, tracing the trail of buttons lining her spine. The sense of being completely at home settled over him once again. The sensation terrified him, and yet he could not tear himself away.

She reminded him of autumn with hair the color of fall kissed leaves or golden apple butter. Her cheeks held the perfect hint of wind kissed pink even when there was no wind and her eyes… her eyes were like sparkling diamonds. His gaze dropped to the sensual curve of her mouth, round and red like an apple. Would she taste as crisply sweet? “Lilly,” he whispered, shifting closer, linking his elbow around her waist, pulling her against him. They scarcely shuffled to the music any longer. In that moment he wanted to discern once and for all just how this feisty woman would taste. “I—”

“Excuse me, Marshal, but I think I’ll cut back in now.” Marcus stepped swiftly behind them, slinging an arm about Lilly’s waist attempting to yank her out of David’s arms.

“Oh!” Lilly cried out in surprise, eyes wide.

Davy tightened his hold on Lilly, folding her into his left side, angling her away from Marcus. “Stand down, Brady.”

The other man’s eyes flashed possessively and Davy’s suspicion that something about Marcus was not right flared to new heights.

Brady looked to Lilly, his expression disbelieving. “Are you going to tolerate this treatment?”

For once Lilly did not immediately respond. She remained absolutely still at Davy’s side, fingers curling into his arm. Had she seen the gleam in Brady’s eyes as well?

“Davy, do you need a hand?”

David slid a quick glance to the right. His younger brothers Craig and Jacob stood side by side, creating an intimidating wall.

Brady’s eyes narrowed, and he clenched his fists at his side. “You Rebs are all crazy. Ask a girl to dance and the whole Confederate Army rises up.”

“Now see here, Brady!” Davy relinquished his hold on Lilly, striding forward with his brothers, fist balled and half-cocked. “You can either—”

“Stop!” Lilly rushed between the men, arms held out, cheeks stained with embarrassment. The music whined to a halt and everyone in the crowded pavilion stared at the unfolding scene. “Stop this right now.” She backed away a few steps before whirling and marching off the dance floor. “Go back to dancing,” she called to the crowd. “There is nothing to see here.”

Brady moved as though to follow her, but David stepped swiftly into his path, gaze narrow and unwavering. “Stay away from her,” Davy warned.

Brady scowled, wrenching a mutinous glare from Davy to Craig and Jacob before he finally turned and stalked away.

A low buzz hummed through the crowd. David ignored the attention, striding off the dance floor in the general direction Lilly had vacated. His brothers followed closely as a fiddle once more began to hum the waltz.

“Sweet on the sheriff’s daughter,” Jacob quipped, clapping him on the shoulder. “What does old George have to say about that?”

“Nothing.” Davy shrugged off Jacob’s hand. “There is nothing for the sheriff to comment on.”

Jacob and Craig exchanged a disbelieving glance before roaring simultaneously with laughter. “Your near fisticuffs a moment ago would speak to the contrary.”

“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” Davy grumbled, tilting his hat further down his forehead.”

“Oh, I think I do,” Craig replied jovially. “Truly though I am glad to see you taking an interest in the fairer sex.”

“About damn time,” Jacob interjected, grinning from ear to ear.

Davy ground his teeth, resisting the urge to slam a fist into his youngest brother’s mouth. “It’s really not what you think. And even if it was it doesn’t matter.”

“Oh?”

“My transfer request within the Marshal’s office has been approved. I’m going west.”

Craig and Jacob fell instantly silent, all good humor draining from their faces.

“With the railroad going through there is an increased need for Indian agents.” Davy shrugged, unsure what else to say. “It’s no different than when I went off to
West Point
, we all knew I’d be stationed away from home.”

“I suppose.” Jacob sighed heavily, raking a hand through his blond hair. “That seems like a long time ago…” His voice trailed off. He lifted his gaze to Davy. “Pa isn’t going to like this.”

Davy shrugged. “He doesn’t like anything that doesn’t involve us falling into
his
line.”

“This is what you want?” Craig asked quietly. Only a year apart in age, Davy and Craig had always been close.

“It is.”

Craig nodded curtly though he did not look pleased. “Then I wish you luck. When do you leave?”

“I’m not certain. Probably in a few weeks.” Davy would like to get the mess with the murders solved before taking up his new post.

“Well, I know exactly when I’m leaving and where I’m going,” Jacob said, his tone considerably more upbeat and a mischievous twinkle lighting his eye. “There is a card game at
Schooners
and a redhead just waiting for me.”

“Jesus,” Craig muttered. “You still haven’t paid me back for the last time you played cards.”

“Which is why I need to play tonight. Recoup my losses.” Jacob glanced up to David. “Care to join me, Davy?”

“I’d rather pluck off my own fingernails than piss my money away on cards. If you want my advice—”

“I don’t.”

“—walk past the card table and go straight upstairs with the redhead.”

“I’ll take that under advisement.” Jacob tipped his hat and strode away with a grin. More than a few wistful young ladies gazed after him, no doubt hoping he’d change his mind and ask them for a dance. Not likely. Jacob was far more interested in drinking, cards, and women that didn’t require more attachment that an hour’s worth of coin.

Craig shook his head. “I’d go along to keep him out of trouble, but Marissa will have my head if I go into
Schooners
.”

Davy chuckled. “I heard what happened the night before your wedding.”

Craig paled. Even five years later the young doctor was loathe to speak of the events surrounding his nuptials. Needless to say, it was understandable why his wife expected him to avoid the saloon.

“Don’t worry,” Davy quickly shifted topics, “I’ll swing in later to make sure Jake doesn’t get himself shot.”

Craig nodded. “Probably wise.” His gaze shifted out over the dance floor, and he raised a hand in greeting. “Speaking of wives, mine is summoning me.”

Davy watched as his brother crossed the pavilion to join his wife. The band ended one lively tune and smoothly transitioned into a sweet waltz. Craig lovingly kissed Marissa’s brow and twirled her into his arms for a dance. She in turn beamed up at him with all the joy of a newlywed.

The sight struck a chord so deeply buried within Davy’s soul he could not readily identify it, but it was not an unpleasant chord, it was… nice. Good.
Right…
And when he closed his eyes Lilly’s face glowed within his mind’s eye.

He snapped his eyes open.
Hell.
What did that mean? Nothing good of that he was certain. Davy wiped a palm over his face. Perhaps he would join Jacob at
Schooner’s
after all. He turned crisply on a heel and stopped dead in his tracks.

Lilly.

She stood off the corner of a wooden outbuilding washed in the golden glow of a lantern, her huge blue eyes raised up, searching his face. Concern and something more… perhaps disappointment... laced her pretty visage.

“Davy,” she whispered, taking one step toward him.

The innocent movement rocked through him, shaking him to the core So much promise lived in that one small step, as though all he need do is close the remaining distance between them  to discover something new… forbidden… something he’d denied himself for a very long time.

He jerked back a step, the movement instinctive and bred of pure self-preservation.

Lilly stopped, a flicker of hurt dimming her eyes. She crossed her arms and raised her chin. “You’re leaving?”

“I am.”

“I see.” Her gaze drifted away for a moment before she turned back to him. “What happened on the dance floor, Davy? We need to talk about it.”

“I warned you about Brady.”

She shook her head, loose tresses swirling around her throat. “No. There is more going on here, Davy. More between us.” She gulped nervously, appearing unsure of how to proceed. “For a moment I thought you might…” her voice dropped to a bare hush, a hint of wistfulness in her tone, and her wide round eyes, so blue it could break a man’s heart just to look at them, pierced him to the core, “kiss me.”

Panic pierced his gut with lightening force. Typical Lilly, direct to a fault, her words never failed to shoot straight to the core of a problem. He steeled his nerves. “You were mistaken,” he replied coolly, ignoring a pang of guilt. Better to disillusion her now before this little infatuation went further. He was leaving. Leaving. In a few short weeks Lilly Hudson would be but a memory.

Fire flared back to life in her eyes, eclipsing the flash of pain. She stalked forward. “If you’re leaving and have no intentions toward me then I don’t see what gives you the right to chase off my prospects.”

“If Marcus Brady is your idea of a prospect then you’re better off alone.”

11
^th
Hour Rose

Seven

Better off alone? Better off alone!

Davy’s insulting claim from the night before circled Lilly’s mind with torrential vengeance. She plunged white petticoats into a bucket of wash water and scrubbed as though it was David Langston’s head scraping over the washboard.

“Stubborn, incorrigible, brute of a man,” she mumbled to herself. Not to mention dishonest. He
would
have kissed her if Marcus hadn’t interrupted their dance. Davy’s behavior had been downright possessive. Jealous even. She didn’t believe for a moment he felt nothing for her—a rather heady insight—though she had no idea what to do with the information. He was leaving after all… moving west.

Lilly wrung the sopping garment and sighed, tossing it into a waiting wicker basket. True despair had accompanied the news of Davy’s departure, leaving her no choice but to admit her growing attraction—and affection—for the man. However often they sparred, she’d become intimate with the David hiding beneath the stern exterior. She’d seen his humor, his compassionate side, even his pain and insecurities about loss. They’d become true friends these last few days. Last night she’d lain awake unable to banish the heat of his arms, the protective strength of his embrace, and the hungry gleam in his eye when he’d been but a moment from kissing her.