Coralee tugged the hem of her jacket into place, brushed the dust off her skirt, and steeled herself for what lay ahead. You have nothing to fear. Houston’s just a friend from your past. At least, he had been her friend.
The scent of barbecued steaks beckoned her to come closer. Not that she was hungry. Her stomach felt a bit queasy. No doubt from the heat, or perhaps it was the interaction with the blond, blue-eyed ranch hand to whom she’d promised a dance. Despite having enjoyed whirling over the dance floor when she was younger, she hadn’t done so in quite some time. On the rare occasions when she attended a ball or a barn dance, she tended to keep busy serving refreshments. But she was here now, and she intended to enjoy herself.
She reached the yard where the festivities were taking place. Conversations buzzed all around her as people ate from plates heaped with steaks and the side dishes prepared by the Harts’ excellent cook. She was pulled into one group after another. Some of the women, members of the committees on which she served, had heard the news about the Christmas Eve Ball and wanted to know how they could help. A few folks asked after her father, and she gave them the usual vague responses, protecting his privacy as he’d begged her to when he was still somewhat lucid. But not one person mentioned Houston’s return, which was odd, given that the party was being held in his honor.
And there he was, standing on the porch with his father on one side of him and Travis on the other. She froze. Houston stopped speaking and stared at her with parted lips. She licked hers and struggled to breathe. The moment went on and on, rendering her powerless to move. Heads turned, looking from Houston to her and back again. “Aha! I knew it.”
Clarice Spanner’s grating voice restored Coralee’s senses. She turned and responded with practiced civility. “Miss Spanner. How nice to see you.”
The busybody’s eyes shone with satisfaction. “When I mentioned the invitation at our meeting yesterday, you went as white as that blouse you’re wearing. There’s a special connection between you and Houston Hart, isn’t there?”
“I knew him before he left, but so did many of the people here.”
“He hasn’t looked at anyone the way he just looked at you. If I’m right—and I usually am—you two were sweethearts at some point. But things didn’t work out, did they? A romance with a tragic ending, I suspect.”
“Oh, look. There’s Patty Brown. She had an idea for the ball she wanted to tell me about. If you’ll excuse me.”
Miss Spanner caught Coralee by the arm. She resisted the urge to shake the woman off. “I know there’s a story there. I have a nose for sniffing out such things.”
Of that, Coralee had no doubt. “If you must know, Houston and I went to school together. He left town. He’s back. That’s it. Now, I really must speak with Patty. Enjoy the party.”
Coralee made her escape and wove her way through the crowd until she reached the carpenter’s wife. “Good evening. I thought now would be a good time to discuss your ideas for the ball, if that’s all right with you.”
“I quite agree.” Patty cast a disapproving glance in Miss Spanner’s direction. “That woman might be a talented seamstress, but she’s a nuisance. But enough about her. We’ve more important things to discuss. If you’d like, we could do so over dinner. The scent of those steaks on the barbecue has my mouth watering.”
The food was delicious, what little of it Coralee was able to choke down. Her appetite had long since vanished. She enjoyed the company of Patty and her husband, Giles, but the moment they shoved their plates back, she excused herself.
As though drawn by some invisible force, her gaze scanned the crowd until it landed on Houston, seated between Travis and a young boy who had his full attention, presumably Travis’s new son. Houston removed his hat and placed it on his nephew’s head, causing the young fellow to beam.
Coralee hid behind a large shrub and studied Houston. The years had been good to him. He’d been attractive enough at eighteen, but at thirty he was tall, dark, and more handsome than ever. His shoulders were broader, his hair longer and slightly mussed, which she found strangely appealing.
His clear blue eyes hadn’t changed. His gaze was as penetrating as ever. She’d done her best to appear calm and unmoved when he spotted her earlier, but those few moments when their eyes had locked stirred feelings long buried. Love, anticipation, and exhilaration. She’d felt them all back then.
But they’d been followed by disappointment, confusion, and a pain so intense that she’d vowed never to give Houston the opportunity to hurt her again. Calvin didn’t have to worry about that happening, because she wouldn’t let it.
The sound of musicians tuning their strings brought her back to the present. Since she had no desire to dance, she started for the barn. She’d come to Houston’s party, talked with his guests, and let him know she was here. Having fulfilled her obligation—and satisfied her curiosity—she was free to leave.