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.
Hugh Jones, one of the most notorious desperadoes in Little Falls, held Grace as if he already had claimed her—and perhaps he had. Several break-ins and fights had been attributed to his gang, but the citizens were helpless to stop them—just as the other men were helpless to stop him from dancing with Grace now.
Sheriff Pugh was rumored to be one of the desperadoes and he didn’t bother to enforce the law. Judge Barnum tried to hold them accountable, but without the support of the sheriff, it was pointless.
The gang members rarely showed their faces in the Northern, but they were frequent customers at Dew’s place, a brothel and saloon south of town, near the river.
Why had Hugh come? Was it simple curiosity to meet the Bell sisters? Or was he looking for trouble?
Hugh’s cronies peppered the edge of the dance floor, waiting for their turn to dance with Elizabeth and Grace. They would have to contend with over eighty prospective grooms who stood nearby—not to mention Jude, who suddenly felt a deep responsibility to make sure Clarence’s daughters married well.
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