Ella Mae’s eyes widened. “You fought for the Union?”
He nodded. “I did. Until my eye sustained a hit from a misfire, and then I was discharged. Honorably, at least, but…” He shrugged. “Not how I expected it to go.”
Wincing, Ella Mae had to resist the urge to ask what he had expected. She instead asked, “What will you do now that Mr. Perkins has died? Will the new owner keep you on at the stable, do you suppose?”
Grinning behind the bandana, John said, “I had a long talk with him yesterday, in fact. I not only get to keep my position, he has put me in charge of the entire operation.”
“Really?” Her eyes rounded with joy. “Why, that’s wonderful. I mean…” She paused when the dance required a more intricate move. “That is, ifyouthink it is.”
He chuckled. “I do, actually. I am the new owner, Ella Mae. The stable, the horses, the equipage, the property… I have the deed to all of it,” he stated, apparently unaware he had used her given name.
“You’rethe new owner of Galena Stable?” she asked in awe, her query sounding at exactly the same moment the music ended. The dancers nearest them turned with looks of curiosity and surprise, and General once again took the opportunity to make an appearance andyowlfrom the edge of her hem.
“The ghost is back,” an older gentleman called out from where he was seated with three others, engaged in a game of cards. His comment was met with a round of laughter and gasps from those who hadn’t been in the ballroom before the dance had started.
Grinning, John said, “That reminds me,” as he led her to the refreshment table. “Sergeant was riding on the back of the phaeton the night I drove you home,” he said. “I didn’t discover him until I was on my way up to my rooms above the stable.” He offered her a glass of punch.
“Oh, I’m so sorry,” she replied, sure her face was bright red, and not from the exertions of the dance.
“No need to be. I feared you would miss him, though.”
“Hardly,” she replied, arching a blonde brow.
A loud, lowhowlsounded from the other side of the ballroom. The music hadn’t yet started for the next dance, so conversations suddenly ceased. Sure General was to blame, Ella Mae glanced down to discover him peeking out from beneath her gown. “That wasn’t you,” she said, her gaze darting about to see others in the ballroom had grown nervous. When the howling happened again, this time longer and louder, an older woman screamed.
“That was the real ghost!” someone else called out.
Several women rushed for the doors while some of the gentlemen pulled their wives closer to their sides.
That’s when Ella Mae saw him.
Admiral.
The cat’s head was poking out from beneath her mother’s costume, the orange fur a stark contrast to the blue skirts of her Georgian-era gown.
“Admiral,” she scolded, loud enough to be heard across the room.
The orchestra chose that moment to begin the next dance set, the music drowning out some of the sounds of pandemonium as a few were still trying to escape the ballroom while others were laughing at the cat.
“This is positively mortifying,” Ella Mae complained. “On the night of my come-out, no less.”
“Paawsitively?” John repeated, his visible eye conveying his humor at hearing her comment.
She scoffed. “There was no pun intended, I assure you. He’s become such a pest.Allof them have become pests.” Across the room, her father had scooped up Admiral and was headedfor the door. Apparently deciding he didn’t wish to be bodily removed from the ballroom, General darted out from beneath her skirt and followed her father.
Next to her, John chuckled. “If it’s any consolation, they have certainly provided a good deal of entertainment this evening.”
“It’s not,” she mewled. After a moment, a grin lifted the edge of her lips. “They have managed to make it less crowded in here, though,” she added, arching a brow.
“More room for us to dance,” he said, holding out his hand.
She glanced up at him. “This will be our second. You’re only allowed two,” she reminded him.
He seemed entirely too pleased with himself. “Not according to your father.”
Her eyes widened in delight. “Why John O’Connor, whatever did you say to him?”
John was already pulling her into his arms for the dance. “That would be between him and me,” he responded.
Stunned to learn she had been a topic of conversation, Ella Mae blushed. “Whatever did he say to you?” she pressed.
Several steps into the dance, John leaned down and whispered in her ear. “I’ll tell you later.”
Scoffing at hearing his reply, Ella Mae gave him a quelling glance. “You had better,” she said.
For the next few sets, she danced with others, including her father. He left her standing in front of John, though, and they spent most of the next dance simply staring at one another.
That is, until John said, “Marry me, Ella Mae.”
