“Guess I owe you one, David.” Relief washed over Seth, bringing with it an unexpected lightness.
“I’ll introduce you to the prettiest girl here,” David replied, his tone teasing. “Then you’ll owe me two. I like it when you owe me.”
Seth groaned, shaking his head in amusement. They both knew he wouldn’t find any joy in the bustling swirl of skirts and polite conversation. But tonight, maybe just for tonight, he could pretend there was nowhere else he’d rather be.
*****
THE HOT SUMMER NIGHTmade Brenda seriously second guess herself as she made her way up the steps of the small church. She paused for a moment, smoothing down her dress with slightly trembling hands. She felt her heart beating faster, and wished the sweat wasn’t glistening off her face.
“Here goes nothing,” she said to herself before pushing open the heavy wooden door. Her sisters were all behind her, happy to let her lead the way, but Brenda didn’t mind. She was strong, and she was going to help her sisters where she could.
Inside, lanterns cast a golden glow across the faces of eager bachelors and hopeful maidens. The room buzzed with energy, each person present for the same reason. The promise of finding a partner for their lives. There were a few local women there to help make introductions and to provide food, but that’s all they were doing. This dance was about her and her sisters finding mates.
Brenda’s gaze swept through the crowd until it caught on a man who stood out from the rest. There was a man with broad shoulders straining against the fabric of his shirt. He looked to her as if he was uncomfortable in his suit and tie, but who could blame him? It was scorching hot. His hair was dark, tousled by the wind, and his eyes were dark. At least they appeared to be from across the room.
He wasn’t the sort to fuss over appearances, evident by the scuff on his boots and the hint of stubble shading his strong jaw. Yet there was an unmistakable air of anticipation about him, a readiness that seemed to draw the room’s attention.
Those hawk-like eyes found Brenda just as she stepped fully into the light of the hall, and for a moment, time seemed to slow. He watched her, not with the fleeting interest of a man at a party but with a focus that hinted at something deeper, something unspoken.
“Evening, Miss Brown,” he called, his deep voice carrying over the chatter. Thankfully, David had been kind enough to tell him all the ladies were Miss Brown. That made things easier.
“Hello,” Brenda replied. “You do not look like you want to be here.”
“I don’t,” Seth said, a hint of a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. “But I want a wife, and Mrs. Tandy wrote me a letter telling me to come here and meet single ladies. Where else would I go?”
“I’m sure I don’t know!” Brenda said. “Who are you, anyway?”
He chuckled. “I guess me knowing that you and your sisters are all Miss Browns doesn’t make it so you know my name. It’s Seth. Seth Clinkinbeard.”
“That last name is a mouthful. How long after a marriage would you give a lady to learn to spell it?”
“Oh, at least a week.” Seth hadn’t expected to be charmed by one of the ladies looking for a husband. Of course, he’d had no idea what to expect, but he liked this one. “And your first name, if you don’t mind?”
“Brenda. My name is Brenda.” She offered him her hand, and he surprised her by kissing it. The man looked like he should be out with his animals, not in a church turned event hall. But he had manners, and she liked that. She liked it a lot.
Brenda’s eyes widened a touch as Seth’s gaze settled on her, an intensity in his eyes that she hadn’t anticipated. She felt a flutter in her chest. Tilting her head slightly, she took in his tall frame and rugged features, wondering what thoughts were running through his mind.
“See something you like?” Brenda asked, her tone light, as she approached Seth amidst the hum of the partygoers.
“I guess I do,” Seth replied, the corners of his eyes crinkling with amusement.
“Well, then should we talk and get to know one another? I think we could be seated together for supper if we asked Mrs. Dailey nicely.”
“No need to bother Mrs. Dailey,” Seth said. “Her husband is a good friend of mine. He’ll make it happen.”
“That sounds nice then.”
Seth leaned back against the wall, creating a small pocket of calm in the festive chaos.
“Truth be told, Miss Brown, I’ve got more cattle than sense when it comes to fancy gatherings like this,” he admitted, his voice carrying a note of confession.
“Sounds like we’re in the same boat, then,” Brenda said, folding her arms. “I’d rather face a room full of rowdy children than try to make heads or tails of finding a husband.”
“Then why come tonight?” Seth asked, genuinely curious about what drove a woman like Brenda to attend a dance aimed at tying bonds.
“I want a family of my own. Back east, I was a nanny for delightful children with awful parents.” Brenda shrugged, her honesty laying bare her uncertainty.
“Fair enough,” Seth nodded. “I’m here more out of obligation than want. The ranch needs a steady hand, and they say a wife’s good for that.”
