Jude looked at the wall clock and paced across the lobby. If the Bell sisters didn’t come soon, the men would get anxious and Jude would have trouble on his hands.
Finally, two sets of feminine boots appeared at the top of the stairs under two brightly colored hems. For some reason, Jude’s heart rate picked up speed as they made their way down the steps.
Elizabeth and Grace had gone up to change as soon as supper was over, but now they descended and Jude couldn’t take his eyes off Elizabeth. She was the prettiest woman he’d ever met. Yet, it was more than her looks that attracted him. Her eyes were filled with intelligence and she had a drive and a determination that he admired. She carried herself with a graceful mixture of confidence and humility. She wore a blue gown, tight at her slender waist and belled down to the floor. Her dark-brown hair was done up in ringlets with a blue ribbon woven through the curls. Delicate earrings dangled from her earlobes and matched her necklace.
Her sapphire eyes caught the light and sparkled when she looked his way. Color filled her cheeks—but was it from excitement or was she embarrassed to catch him admiring her?
The innocence of the thought warmed him and made him smile. He’d spent most of his life around women who no longer blushed at being noticed by a man. It was refreshing to be near one who wore innocence and purity like a garment.
The door opened again and another group of men entered.
Elizabeth and Grace looked their way.
Catcalls and whistles pierced the air, and while Elizabeth’s blush deepened, Grace seemed to thrive on the attention.
“Gentlemen,” Jude said above the noise. “I’ll kindly ask you to be respectful or you’ll have to leave the hotel.”
“I’m not leaving until I get a dance,” said Alec O’Conner.
“Then I’d advise you all to keep your remarks to yourself and head into the ballroom.” Jude leveled him with a serious gaze. “Or you’ll be on your way out.”
The men grumbled their agreement and walked toward the ballroom.
“How many friends did you invite?” Elizabeth asked Jude.
“A few dozen or so.” He offered his arm to her. “Shall we?”
She gingerly wrapped her hand around his arm and he tried not to notice how good she smelled.
“I don’t know about you,” Grace said as she smoothed the front of her green gown, “but I’m beyond excited to dance again.”
Elizabeth wiggled her fingers just enough for Jude to notice. “Me, too.”
He hadn’t kept track of how many men had entered the hotel—and he was surprised to find at least eighty standing before them when they entered the ballroom.
Already, the fiddle and mouth organ were being put to use, but no one was dancing. How could they? There were no other women in the room.
Another catcall filled the ballroom, followed by whistles and shouts of approval.
Elizabeth tensed at his side and her hand gripped his arm tighter. “This is what you call a few friends?”
He grinned. “I have more.”
She glanced up at him and smiled at his joke.
“Gentlemen,” Jude called, putting up his free hand.
The room quieted as eager eyes roamed the women from head to toe.
“I would like to present to you Clarence Bell’s daughters, Miss Elizabeth and Miss Grace.” Jude indicated each woman. “They have just arrived in Little Falls and will be living and working here at the hotel. They are here to enjoy an evening of visiting and dancing. As you can see, there are only two ladies and far too many men—”
“I’ll say,” said a man in the back and the group broke out in laughter.
“So you won’t all get a chance to dance,” Jude continued. “Be gentlemen and don’t forget your manners.”
Jude nodded toward the stage and met the fiddler’s gaze.
The music started up again and the men swarmed around the ladies. Jude extracted his arm from Elizabeth’s grip and took a step away.
Her gaze found his and he smiled, satisfied that his job was done for the moment. “Have fun.”
“Where is Reverend Lahaye?” she asked over the din.
It pleased Jude to know she had remembered Ben. Of all the men Jude knew, Ben was the most worthy of her attention. Jude looked around the room and spotted Ben near the mirror, not pushing or demanding attention.
Just like Ben.
For once, he’d like his friend to be a little more aggressive. Maybe he’d have a wife by now if he was.
“He’s over there,” Jude said to Elizabeth.
“What?” Elizabeth mouthed—it was too loud for him to hear the word.
Without thinking, Jude took her hand and began to tug her out of the crowd.
She maneuvered through the throng. Her hand was warm beneath her glove. When they were beyond the thick of it, she stood close and smiled up at him. “What did you say?”
Jude was so taken with her smile, he couldn’t think for a moment. “I don’t remember.”
Her smile slowly faded as she became serious. “I asked if Reverend Lahaye is here.”
“Oh.” Jude pulled his gaze from hers and pointed across the room. “He’s being inconspicuous by the mirrors.”
At that moment Ben noticed them and left his sanctuary.
“Where are the women?” Elizabeth asked as they waited for Ben.
He hadn’t even thought to invite other women. His only concern had been to get the single men in the door.
“There you are,” Jude said to Ben. “Elizabeth has been looking for you.”
She pulled away from Jude’s hand and shook Ben’s.
Jude’s skin was hot where she had touched him—but it cooled considerably as she gave her full attention to his friend.
“I’ve been looking forward to our dance,” she said warmly.
Ben grinned down at her. “I hope I’m not too rusty.”
They moved away without another word to Jude, their heads bent toward each other as they laughed and took their place on the dance floor.
Jude was soon joined by dozens of men who were forced to watch the ladies waltz with other partners. The dance floor cleared off and the music began in earnest, but Jude’s temporary victory over Elizabeth and Ben diminished when he spotted Grace and her dance partner.
