FROM CHAPTER FOUR
The dance was already underway when Leah and Johanna arrived. Michael and Patrick stood next to the table with pots of hot cider on it. Michael laughed at something Patrick said and took a large gulp of cider from his cup. A hush came over the room, making Michael look up. He coughed, trying not to choke on the cider.
“Isn’t she a pretty one,” Patrick commented.
Leah stood inside the entrance. Michael’s eyes stayed on her as she tentatively scanned the people in the room. She found her father, who had stepped forward to greet her. She smiled and Michael lost all awareness of anyone else in the room. Patrick led her over to him. From her upswept hair to the boots on her feet, she projected an air of perfection.
Michael set his cup on the table. “May I have this dance?” he asked as he held out his hand.
She gave him a timid smile and nodded. She took his hand and let him lead her onto the dance floor.
The fingers of his left hand entwined with hers while his right hand lightly rested on her waist. Not being very experienced with dancing, he managed a tempo they could comfortably move to in time. His nose being level with the top of her head gave him the advantage of smelling the full strength of the lavender she used on her hair. It intoxicated him. She was so attractive and smelled so heavenly that he thought he never wanted to stop dancing with her. He had wasted eight years because he hadn’t had the courage to tell her what had happened. They could have been married with children by now.
“I like this song.”
His gaze dropped to hers when she spoke. He hadn’t been paying attention to the music; instead, he’d been focused solely on gliding in time with her along the wooden floor. This was a chance to make an impression. “It’s nice.”
She tipped her head to the side and gave him a mischievous smile. “This is one thing we’ve never done together. You’re not a bad dancer.”
“Neither are you.”
“You clean up well, too. Your coat gives you a distinguished appearance.”
Michael grinned. “Thank you, but you don’t need to overdo the compliments.”
Leah’s smile faded a bit.
Patrick tapped him on the shoulder, and Michael handed Leah over to her father. As Patrick whirled her away, Michael searched for Johanna. He’d promised her a dance. When he found her, she was dancing with his friend James. Michael softly chuckled and shook his head while he stepped off the dance floor. He headed for the hot cider, when a female hand touched his forearm.
“Would you like to dance?”
Michael barely recalled the young woman who worked at the local trading post. He’d planned on only dancing with Leah and Johanna, but since they were both occupied, he didn’t think it would be a big deal to give the young lady a spin around the room. He shrugged his shoulders. “Why not.”
He danced one dance with the young woman and meant to head for the cider, but Patrick caught up to him and offered Leah’s hand. He gave her a smile, which she didn’t return, but he took her into his arms anyway. “You and your father dance well together.”
She cut her eyes to his last dance partner. “You and that young lady could be our competition.”
Michael chuckled. “She works at the trading post. By the way, she asked me to dance.”
“That didn’t seem to matter.” Her eyes found his. “You always were the charmer.”
If she wanted his attention, she had gotten it. His eyes narrowed. “You can’t possibly be jealous.”
“You’ve made it plain where I stand.”
She had purposely pricked him and he didn’t like it. All amusement disappeared as his brows furrowed. “We aren’t sixteen and eighteen anymore, Leah. We’re adults.”
“You’re right. I learned long ago that it doesn’t pay to be envious. I should have remembered my place.”
His jaw tightened. “What does that mean?”
Right on time, Patrick showed up and collected his daughter for another dance. She was swept away and didn’t answer him.