As Luke listenedto Edith Vosburg review their ideas, he still couldn’t shake the sense Judith was hurting. Her discomfort was almost palpable to him and perhaps anyone who bothered to look at her.
Since he’d first compared her to Gypsy—he must never let the beautiful Judith learn he’d thought of her in terms of a horse—Luke had remembered other occasions where he’d thought she was being snooty but now recognized as protecting herself.
Ever since she’d stepped off the train, her rigid posture and raised chin had given him the impression she considered herself above him. And people in town had thought the same thing.
It reminded him of the tea at the Circle B that he’d taken Doris to last summer. It had been the first one Judith had held, and she’d invited Doris to help serve. Luke had meant to drop his sister off and then leave. But something had prompted him to go inside.
As Judith had taken her seat to begin serving tea, he’d been drawn to her table. At the time, he’d wondered if he liked the pain of her condescension. While sitting stiffly straight and tense, she’d been surprisingly gracious, contrary to the shrewish way she usually behaved. Once he’d accepted a cup of tea and not had his head bitten off, a few other men had braved speaking with her. And she’d visibly relaxed. Judith Breckinridge was a confusing woman.
“So,” Edith said, finishing, “we’re looking at talents the men would like to take part in or watch.”
“In trade for sitting quietly for your more refined activities?” Abe asked.
“That’s quite a trade, sheriff,” Marshall said, grinning when Doris elbowed him. “But what’s to keep the men from leaving before the more genteel activities?”
“Have the turkey shoot be the last of the outdoor events,” Luke said. “Open with rope tricks and mix in some cowboy poetry in between the musical performances.”
“Oh, I like it,” Mary cried.
“Cowboypoetry?” Judith sounded like she was trying not to let her sarcastic side show, but she failed.
Irritated, Luke shifted in his seat to look at her. “You assume creativity is limited to people back East who get to attend fancy schools? My men spend a lot of time in the saddle. They find interesting ways to pass the time, including music and verse. Doris told me you’ve been searching out their sketches for your art gallery. I’m surprised you’d assume they’re all a bunch of know-nothings.”
Maude coughed.
“Sorry,” he muttered to Judith.
“My apology,” she said, stiff again, her face pale.
“It’s a shame you don’t own a piano, Luke,” Maude said. “We might have been able to convince Frances to play.”
“Oh, I miss hearing her beautiful music,” Doris said, her voice wistful.
“Frances plays the piano?” Luke felt stupid for not knowing that.
“Doris may be a gifted painter,” Maude said, “but Frances creates magic on a keyboard. She’s so passionate it comes through the music she plays. Just before Father died, he’d arranged for her to enroll in Dr. Domrosch’s new school he opened this year in New York. He’s the godson of Franz Liszt and doesn’t believe Americans should have to travel abroad for advanced music study.”
“Then Father died, and her hopes came crashing down.” Doris sniffed.
“Aren’t there any pianos in Lilac City?” Luke asked.
“Besides the honky-tonk in the saloon?” Abe asked.
“And the pump organ in the church,” Edith added.
“Frances had a Steinway back home,” Maude said.
“I hate to think of that beautiful grand piano under a dust cover.” Doris sighed.
“I’m sorry,” Maude said. “I didn’t mean to distract from the conversation. What else should we consider for the program?”
“How about tall tales?” Abe asked.
“Oh, yes. We should include a tall tale competition.” Edith gave her brother a nudge with her shoulder. “This big lug has a few that would curl your toes.”
While the others moved on to discuss the order of the program to encourage the most people to stay for the day, Luke made a mental note to look for a piano.
He glanced at Judith. What could he say to smooth things between himself and her? They were family now, after all. He’d waited too long to have one again, and he didn’t want to be the cause of any awkwardness at family gatherings. To say nothing of his wish to convince this woman to let him take her out for a ride.
