The Deputy’s Duty

Suddenly, possibility glittered like the frosted snow outside. Joe had come home to her.

“I know a lot of time has passed.” Joe lifted the cup from her trembling hands and set it on the windowsill. “We’ve grown up, you and I. We’re both different than we once were. We should be strangers.”

“Yes, we should be. Yet we aren’t.” She knew exactly what he was trying to say. “When we’re together, it is as if time forgot to pass us by.”

“Yes!” But then Joe’s excitement seemed to dim, and he turned to look hard at the night, instead of at her. “I wrote you. You didn’t answer my letters.”

“I was a farmer’s daughter, Joe. You were the new governor’s son.”

“I don’t see how that mattered.”

No, she could see he didn’t. That was her Joe, so sincere and true, always seeing people for what they were.

Except, maybe, for his mother. She could still hear Geneva’s voice, sharp and confident as ever, on Lanna’s first day of work for her. Joe will forget you entirely, you’ll see. He has his choice of some of the finest young ladies our territory has to offer. He’s actually currently quite smitten with a general’s daughter.

She had only been sixteen. She hadn’t been able to understand that Geneva may have been lying to her-that she may have been feeding on a schoolgirl’s most vulnerable fears. But how did she tell Joe about how vicious his mother had been? She tried to explain why she had not written in another way. “You had many new opportunities, first in Helena and then away at school.”

“And you thought I wouldn’t be interested in a country girl like you?”

“Maybe. I was afraid of what would happen. Of how busy you must have been, and that there would be more and more time between your letters. That one day you would forget to write at all. I decided it was better to lose you all at once than one day at a time.”

It was hard to read his reaction. His was a strong face with the proud, high cheekbones and a granite jaw of his heritage. His nose was a straight blade that was almost hawklike, and his generous-cut mouth was bracketed by two dimples that flashed whenever he smiled. On another man his features would have been severe, but the twinkle in Joe’s eyes and his quick grin gentled his face and revealed his emotions, tender and true.

He nodded slowly. Then he turned to face her again, taking her hands earnestly in his. “None of that matters now. We have another chance.” He paused and took a deep breath. “Is there a possibility,” he asked, “that you would allow me to court you?”

“Every possibility in the world,” Lanna replied, as joy uplifted her. It felt right to stand beside him. She felt hope creep back into her soul. Being with him made her spirit shimmer like the thousands of sparkles on the dark snow. She wanted to gather up her dreams like those sparkles and hold them so she never lost them again.

* * *

As the sonata came to an end, Lanna took the last step of their last waltz together. “I have to go home.”

“But it’s not even nine o’clock. We’ve had only three dances together and a cup of lemonade.”

“I wish I could stay.” The thought of having the chance to twirl to the music just one more time-or even the chance to simply talk with Joe-sounded like an answered prayer.

But she was the main provider for her family and she had to earn the money they needed to survive. “I have work in the morning. You know how strict your mother is about tardiness. She is unforgiving.”

“You’re working here tomorrow?” He took a step back. “Of course. To clean up after this party.”

“It’s extra hours for this paycheck and we will be particularly grateful this week, as tomorrow our rent is due. My parents depend on me.”

“They are blessed to have a daughter like you. Someone they can always count on.” Joe stopped, fearing he was about to say too much. So much about Lanna had not changed. Her sense of goodness, her sense of duty and her devotion to those she loved. He had been one of that treasured few once. There was nothing on this earth he wanted more than to have her love again.

“Are you mad?” Lanna asked, searching his face for any signs of it. “I know the party has hardly started.”

“Have I ever been mad at you?” Joe thought back through their time together, sifting through one memory after another. He could almost feel the soft press of her body beside him on all of those sleighs and buggies and hayrides. Picking berries with her and talking at ice cream socials and church picnics. There had been nothing but the easy way they always shared-even when they disagreed they had laughed about it.

He brushed a stray silken curl from her face. “I could never be truly angry at you.”

“It feels as if nothing has changed between us, but I have to remind myself that we aren’t in school anymore,” she said. “There is much that has not stayed the same. We aren’t the same.”

“But what matters is still the same.” He could feel the truth in his heart as surely as the floor at his feet-Joe wanted to do more than court her. He wanted to laugh with her again. He wanted to devote the rest of his days to her. He wanted to make her his wife. All he needed was the opportunity to convince her. “Let me take you home.”

Lanna suddenly looked down at her hands. “It’s cold outside. You should stay here where it’s warm.”

“I’m tough. I can handle the cold.”

“I know, but-” Lanna thought of her tiny home in town. What would Joe think if he saw it? Then she realized this was Joe. Still, she found she couldn’t face him when she explained her situation. “I’m afraid the grand ranch house is long gone, just like the thousands of acres of land and cattle.”

“Those things do no matter to me, Lanna. You do.” At that, she looked up at him and Joe reached out to brush a curl from her eyes. It was a tender gesture and matched the solemn emotion in his voice. “I’ll send word to have the carriage readied.”

“No, please don’t go to so much bother.” Lanna thought of the fancy carriage and pedigreed horses and the driver. “It’s not far.”

“I see.” Realization passed across his face. “Then let me walk you home.”

Joe took her hand and led her across the room. He kept her at his side, protecting her from the other dancers and sheepherding her safely through the crush of people.

Lanna didn’t even see them. Happiness filled her. It was almost too much-she was afraid that she would wake up, open her eyes and find out that this had all been a lovely dream. But Joe’s hand on her shoulder, firm and possessive, was far more real than any dream.

Joe wanted to court her. Every breath she took made the love in her heart glow more brightly. She wanted more than anything to have the chance to win Joe’s heart again. To share conversation and laughter and emotional connection with him. To fall in love with him a little more deeply with every coming day. To know he was falling in love with her the same way.

Before they reached the door, Chance Bell stepped out of the crowd. “Lanna, are you sure you won’t reconsider?”

“I’m sure, but thank you.” She could not think what had overcome the rakish Mr. Bell. Surely he was only being magnanimous because of the festive evening.

“I’m afraid you’ve crushed poor Chance.” Joe guided her through the arched doorway.

“Crushed him? That’s impossible. He was hardly serious.” She glanced over her shoulder, just to make sure.

But it wasn’t Chance Bell that she saw. There was Geneva, regal in glittering jewels and a gown of crimson silk-staring at her in horror.

Lanna felt reality hit her like a falling boulder. What if Joe’s family objected? The Wolfs placed a lot of importance on their social standing. Everyone in town knew that. No, Joe’s parents would certainly not give their blessing to the courtship.

“Here.” Joe was back, wearing a wool coat and holding her cloak for her. Always a gentleman, he helped her into it with care. “It’s gotten colder out there. It looks as if it’s trying to snow.”

“Are you sure you want to go out in such weather?”

“Beyond all doubt.”

How did he do that, she wondered? With a few words, with his character and strength, he made her worries