The Deputy’s Duty

this house where she worked six out of seven days. Panic gripped her. How was she going to face that, knowing how he affected her? Knowing that he could never be hers to love again?

Like she had faced everything else: with dignity and faith. Somehow, she had to believe God would work this out. Maybe Joe would be marrying soon and would buy his own house. Or maybe Geneva would fire her, since she had always ensured that Lanna’s work hours did not overlap with Joe’s scheduled visits home. Still, that did not stop the sting of regret that pierced her heart.

She loosened her cloak. “That’s what you always said you would do. Come back and practice law here in Angel Falls. Though I imagine it was tempting to stay back East.”

“Boston was nice enough, but it’s not Montana.”

His fingers brushed her nape as he helped her out of the garment. She felt dizzy-surely the heat and the crush of people. Not Joe’s closeness.

“It’s my opinion that small town life is more…fulfilling.” He handed off her cloak to one of the hired servants. “Everything I’ve ever loved is in this town. What is Boston and some fancy practice compared to that?”

Surely he was speaking of his family. She had to quiet a sudden wistful pang. It was not right. It was not welcome. “Your mother must be thrilled. She is ready to plan the wedding, you know-”

“The wedding?”

“Yes… You look stunned.” Poor Joe. Weddings seemed to be hardest on the grooms. Lanna held her heart perfectly still. She would always adore him, always want the very best for him. His happiness was what mattered. “I gather Geneva has not kept you informed of her plans. I only know she wants the house scrubbed top to bottom again for the end of January. She’s mentioned hopes for a February wedding.”

“That will be mighty hard to do seeing as I’m not even engaged.”

“You’re not?” A vine of hope managed to find a crack through the walls around her heart.

“Is that what she told you?”

“Y-yes.”

“To Adrianna Beauchamp?” He fisted his hands. “Mother is the one who wants such a marriage. I do not. Adrianna is the daughter of my uncle’s business partner. We were forced to spend time together on Sunday dinners.”

“You don’t have to explain to me, Joe. We broke up. We have been apart for years. Of course you would beau other girls.”

“I’ve never beaued anyone but you. Adrianna was no more interested in me than I was in her. It was our families’ hopes, never ours.” His throat worked and he swallowed hard. His chest felt all tangled up with a confusing array of emotions: anger at his mother, sadness at ever having lost Lanna. But also happiness when he looked into her eyes and saw the joy that his words had brought. “Has my mother told you something like this before?”

She shielded her eyes, bowing her head. Soft golden tendrils tumbled across her face, but nothing could hide her heart from him. How could his mother interfere like this? She was headstrong and loved him, but that was no justification. But gazing at Lanna’s face, he could not hold on to any negative feelings-all his anger and hurt was washed away by his affection for her. He cleared his throat, but the emotion remained, stalwart and true. “Believe me, Lanna. I am not courting anyone.”

“You d-don’t have to tell me this.”

“The only lady I have ever courted was you.”

“I remember those wonderful times.” She looked up at him, daring to meet his gaze.

“So do I.” He offered her his arm. “Let’s go into the ballroom. The music has started.”

Lanna couldn’t hear a thing. Not the string orchestra, not the clamor of the guests surrounding her, not even the pad of her slippers on the perfectly polished floor. There was nothing but the rush of bliss in her heart.

Joe was not getting married. Joe was not courting anyone.

You’re being foolhardy again, Lanna, the logical side of her said. Just because he was unattached did not mean anything. He had asked her here out of old friendship. And if those old dreams began to whisper with hope, then that was simply foolish. If she listened to those whispers, then she was bound to be disappointed and worse, hurt. She was no longer the kind of woman that Joe, the former governor’s son, would court. She had to be sensible.

But with her hand tucked in the crook of Joe’s arm, it was terribly difficult to be sensible. With each step she took, she felt as if she were floating on a fluffy white cloud. That’s what it was like to be with Joe and at his side.

“Remember the last night we were here together?” His baritone was a low, familiar rumble. “It was New Year’s Eve then, too.”

“It was right before your family was set to leave for the capitol.”

“Yes. It was also the last time we saw each other.” Sweetness filled her at the memory-and at the way he took her by the hand with pride and led her into the crowded ballroom. A stately sonata lifted from the strings of the violin and cello in the far corner of the grand room.

Some things had not changed. The skip of joy in her veins, the buoyancy of being on his arm, the feeling of being alive again and young. It was as if she’d left her worries and hardships at the door. Her love for Joe returned as strong as ever, as if time had stood still.

“Look at everyone staring.” His voice rumbled against her ear. “We’ve surprised them.”

“I would say so.” But all Lanna could see was Joe, breathtaking in his formal black suit and tails.

“May I have this dance?” He took her hand and claimed her heart.

FOUR

How could she say no? The lilting strains of a waltz shimmered in the air and the light of hundreds of candles reflecting off the crystal teardrops of the high chandeliers made her remember another time in this same ballroom.

“I would love to waltz with you.”

That made him smile and he led her to the edge of the dance floor. Stately couples had already started the slow, graceful three-step. Nerves twinkled in her stomach as she placed her hand on Joe’s iron shoulder. When his hand rested at the small of her back and she gazed up into his dark eyes, the floor tilted.

“This reminds me of old times.” He shuffled a step, bringing her gently with him. “Do you remember that night?”

“How could I forget?” She had been a farmer’s daughter, even if her stepfather had been well-landed, and she had never seen such a lavish place as this ballroom. She had worn a gown of yellow silk adorned with pearls and French lace. The cost of the dress could have fed them all for a year these days, but how she had adored that gown.

But it wasn’t her feelings for the dress that she remembered most about that magical evening. That had been the night they had fallen in love. Gently. Sweetly. Like the quiet notes of a sonata lifting into the brilliant winter’s night. All he had done was take her hand and asked her to dance, but it had been like grace coming to her soul. She no longer heard the music and the presence of the other dancers faded away. It was as if they had been alone, lost in each other.

After they had danced, he led her out onto the terrace, giving her his jacket to keep her warm-and they had watched the star-strewn sky. They had kissed-their first and only-and he had told her he intended to marry her one day.

He had promised to love her forever-but surely he did not remember that after all these years. Too much time had passed. Some promises, no matter how sincere, were not meant to be kept.

Or were they? Anything seemed possible when she was in his arms.

There she went, being nonsensical. She did not know how Joe felt. Yet, she couldn’t help but hold on to a tiny flicker of hope that he still cared, just a little. He remembered their last ball-at least, perhaps it was special to him, too…

“You know, that night I felt like a fairy-tale princess who had caught the charming prince.”