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Lauralee’s eyes shifted and took in the rest of his facial features after having already seen how virile and muscled he was in his skin-tight black breeches and pale blue denim shirt. He had a long, straight nose, a set jawline, and lips that seemed way too sensual to be a man’s. She wondered how it might feel to be kissed by them.
Then she shook herself out of her reverie when she realized where her thoughts had taken her. Now she felt for certain that she was betraying Dancing Cloud’s love for her. Allowing another man to cause her insides to grow weak was wrong.
She could not feel anything for this man.
She could not allow her uncle’s scheme to work!
She would marry Dancing Cloud one day. She adored the thought of living with him forever as his wife.
She was relieved when someone else came into the room, her very presence breaking the tension. Lauralee looked over at the middle-aged woman, instantly liking her. A gentle warmth radiated from her, her blue eyes dancing, her perfectly shaped lips smiling.
Dressed in a fully gathered cotton dress, her golden hair tied in a bun atop her head, she was tall and statuesque.
“Abner, how nice it is to see you again,” June said, rushing toward him with an extended hand of welcome. She clasped onto his hand and shook it, then turned wondering eyes to Lauralee. “And this must be Lauralee.”
Lauralee was not at all surprised when June came to her with a warm hug. She found herself returning the hug.
Then Lauralee blushed uneasily when June stepped away from her and looked over at her son with a twinkle in her eyes, then gazed at Lauralee again.
“I’m sure you two young people have other things you’d rather do besides stay in the house,” June said, again smiling from Paul, back to Lauralee. “Son, why don’t you take Lauralee and show her our pond? Get acquainted.”
Lauralee gave a panicked look at Abner. She then sighed resolutely when Paul was suddenly there, his hand at her elbow, ushering her outside.
She walked stiffly with him down the steps, and across the wide stretch of lawn. Neither of them spoke until the pond was reached, where the moon made a path along the water and crickets sang love songs.
“You’ll have to pardon my parents,” Paul said almost bashfully as he gave Lauralee a half glance. “I think they are worrying about this bachelor son of theirs way too much.”
“I noticed,” Lauralee said, laughing loosely. “And I imagine you may have noticed that my uncle has the same thing on his mind about his niece.”
“I heard talk about you coming to town to live with the Petersons,” Paul said, giving Lauralee another shy glance. “You staying long?”
“That was my father’s intentions when he wired my uncle and aunt from his deathbed,” Lauralee said. She flinched when he took her hand and led her to the ground beside the pond, then sat down beside her.
Lauralee eased her hand away from his and rearranged her skirt beneath her on the grass. She then primly folded her hands on her lap as she coiled her feet beneath her.
“I’m sorry about your father,” Paul said, drawing his long, lean legs up before him, to hug them. “It must be rough to have lost both parents.”
“It’s the worst feeling in the world,” Lauralee said solemnly. “It’s all because of the war. But I’m not the only one whose life was altered by it.” She gave him a soft look. “I was told that you lost a brother. I’m sorry.”
“It’s been hard to live with the knowledge that I’ll never see Brad again,” Paul said, his voice breaking. “But I keep busy on the farm. That helps me forget. At least for a while.”
“It was kind of your father to take Dancing Cloud to Dr. Kemper’s,” Lauralee said. She inhaled a quavering breath as she envisioned Dancing Cloud in bed now, trusting her as he slept.
“The reason my uncle and I paid your family such a late visit tonight was to thank your father for what he did for Dancing Cloud,” she quickly added. “Also, I would like to ask about Dancing Cloud’s horse. Is it in your stable?”
“Yes, Pop brought it home but planned to take it to Abner’s tomorrow,” Paul said. “If it’s all right, I’d like to bring the horse. Perhaps you and I could talk some more?”
“If you wish,” Lauralee said, without thinking. Then she felt guilty again over Dancing Cloud because of her easiness with Paul.
Torn with feelings she did not understand, Lauralee tried to convince herself that it was only out of kindness that she was behaving this way with another man. How could she feel anything for him, when the most wonderful man in the world loved her?
“I truly must go,” she blurted, rushing to her feet. “I’m sure my uncle has said his thank you’s by now. I am bone-weary. I need to get home.”
“I understand,” Paul said. He rose to his full height, towering over Lauralee.
Lauralee started to walk back toward the house, but Paul’s warm hand in hers stopped her.
She was all eyes and breathless when he swung her around to face him.
