“I would think blue is more your color.”
Kate looked up, surprised to have yet another young man appearing at her elbow. But she’d never seen this one before. She would haveremembered that tanned, handsome face, those perfectly straight teeth, the sharp looking uniform. And so tall and strong. Even with her uncommon height, she had to tilt her head to look up at him. His smooth, low voice sent a little shiver down her spine. She swallowed, staring at this gorgeous stranger. What had he just said?
“Here.” He reached around her, leaning close to pluck something from the shelf in front of her. He smelled of cedar and something else she couldn’t put a finger on. Something musky, alluring, masculine. Her heart fluttered. She looked up into his enthralling eyes. They seemed to shift and swirl in different colors: first green, then gray, then dazzling hints of blue as they caught the light. His hair fell in waves the color of fresh honey. He held something next to her face, his gloved fingers just brushing her skin. Her breath caught. “Just as I thought,” he said. “Blue is much more your color.”
Kate suddenly realized she was staring, and she looked down with a fierce blush. He laid the navy ribbons he had chosen into her hands, effectively hiding Andrew’s pink ones. They were beautiful, just the color she would have picked for herself. She swallowed again and said breathlessly, “I do love blue.”
“As I thought.” He smiled, teeth flashing white in the light from the window. “But where are my manners? Allow me to introduce myself. Officer Garrett Ramsey, at your service.” He took her hand and bent into a sweeping bow. “And you, stunning creature, must be Diana, the beautiful huntress of the myths of Rome.” He kissed her fingers, eyes sparkling.
“Oh, goodness, no. I’m just Kate.”
“‘Just’ Kate? Oh, I don’t think you could bejustanything.” His words tingled across her spine. “There’s a dance happening this evening. I would be honored if you were to accompany me.”
“Me?” she gasped softly.
“Yes, you, ‘just’ Kate.” His soft smile melted her insides.
“That would be”—she swallowed—“absolutely lovely.” She looked down and glimpsed Andrew’s pink ribbons and felt a sharp pang of regret. “But I’ve already given my word to someone else.”
He tsked. “What a shame. I would have been the envy of every man in the room with you on my arm.”
“Oh, I’m not so sure about that.” Kate looked down. “Here,” she said, holding out the blue ribbons, “my ma will have my hide if I spent what little we have on somethin’ so frivolous.”
He closed her hands around the delicate fabric. “Please, take them. A gift.” He tossed some coins on the plank counter by the old shopkeeper and stepped close. “Just save a dance or two for me in return.”
“How very generous,” she whispered. She couldn't seem to catch her breath. “Thank you, Officer Ramsey. I’ll be sure to look for you this evenin’.”
“Please, call me Garrett,” he said, taking her hand, brushing her fingers with the lightest of kisses. He leaned in and whispered in her ear, “I shall count the seconds until tonight.”
Kate trembled as the breath of his voice slid across her neck. She felt cold and tingly and warm all at once, and her heart beat so fast and strong she was afraid he could hear it. She swallowed. “It was very nice to meet you, Garrett.”
“Likewise, ‘just’ Kate.” He stared into her eyes for a long moment. Then he winked and whirled away, leaving Kate breathless, the scent of him lingering in the air among the dust motes.
Kate lifted a hand to her warm cheek. What on earth had just happened? Was she dreaming? It was a dream so beautiful she couldn’t have even imagined it herself. No man had even noticed her before, let alone compared her to a mythical goddess of ancient Rome. She had always been intimidated by others, never knowing what to say in conversation. No young man had ever wanted to reach out to the quiet girl whosometimes wore a man’s hat rather than a bonnet. But now to be asked to a dance twice in one day? Had it really happened?
Her handful of ribbons came into focus, and she grinned in giddy excitement. This was going to be a night to remember.
Chapter 14
Thearmymesshallteemed with noise and light, music and laughter. A throng of strangers filled the space between the benches and tables stacked against the walls. Kate fanned her face, already feeling lightheaded. She craned her neck, searching the crush of people, absently fiddling with the ribbons in her hair. She was thankful that her mother hadn’t asked about where the ribbons had come from, though she had given Kate a knowing smile. She and Ma had managed to hide most of the pink, winding them through her hair and pinning it up in such a way that the blue took pride of place. But she was so used to her braid falling down her back that she felt almost naked without it. Her neck hurt from the weight of all her hair piled up on top of her head. But Ma had been so pleased when she’d asked for help getting ready, so she’d sat under her mother’s deft hands for what felt like hours. Kate hoped it accomplished something more than the headache growing at her temples.
“Lookin’ for someone?”
She snatched her hand down to her side and glanced quickly up at Andrew. “No, ah, just admirin’ all the people.”
“It’s somethin’ to behold, for sure.”
“Mmm.” Kate smoothed her navy skirts. Ma had insisted she wear her very best dress, but it made Kate feel a little self-conscious. She didn’t want it to seem like she was trying to draw attention to herself, although it did happen to match the blue ribbons perfectly. Her heart fluttered.She tried to take a deep breath to calm her nerves, but Ma had tugged her corset as tight as it could go. She could feel every inch of boning cutting into her ribs. The army band launched into a fresh tune.
Andrew turned to her stiffly. “Shall we?”
Kate hesitated. She took another look around the crowded room, but she didn’t see any honey-haired officers. Her heart sank a little. It’s not like a dashing man like Garrett Ramsey would even remember her anyway. Then Andrew placed a firm hand on her back and guided her into the whirling dancers.
Once her feet found the rhythm of the song, she let go of her worries and allowed herself to enjoy the excitement of the evening. Besides, it wasn’t like she lacked partners. With the regiment at the fort, the men outnumbered the ladies five to one. Kate barely remembered all the faces of the men she danced with, let alone their names. There was a cocksure private with flaming red hair, a blushing and awkward farm boy barely old enough to start shaving, and even a gap-toothed old trapper who, surprisingly, was one of the finest dancers she’d ever paired with. She laughed and clapped and sang along, refusing to let the evening be dampened by the increasingly sullen Andrew. They paired together many times through the evening, but he grew so dour and taciturn that she was relieved when he withdrew to watch from the edge of the crowd.
“Has my Diana saved any dances for me?”
And suddenly there he was. Tall, broad, and resplendent in his uniform, there was something about Officer Garrett Ramsey that made the people around him move out of the way. And he had eyes only for her. She blushed under his heated gaze. “Of course, Officer Ramsey. I was waitin’”—she swallowed—“I was hopin’ you’d remember.”
