“It was. I’m sure they’re gone by now.”
“I would hope.”
He noted the feel of her hand in his, his other hand against her waist. He hadn’t been this close to a woman since he last danced with her. He was barely seventeen then, gangly and shy, and only considered her a friend. He knew she’d go home soon, so there was no point in thinking of her as anything else. He didn’t want to go through what Lucy and Max did, and especially not what Mel and Clinton had. Six years of letter-writing? No, thank you.
“I don’t think your nephews are excited to be here,” she commented.
Leo glanced at Bella, who was trying to get Thatcher to dance with Parthena. The pair was soon stumbling toward them, hand in hand. Thatcher at fourteen was all legs and feet and clearly not interested in the exercise. He almost tumbled and pulled Parthena down with him. “Are you all right?” Parthena asked.
“Yes … I … gosh, I’m sorry,” he stammered.
She smiled. “It’s okay. Let’s try this.”
Leo watched as she guided the boy through the first steps of the waltz, then smiled at Savannah. “Your cousin is a good teacher.”
“She has more patience than I do. Me, I’d just lead.”
“I know,” he said sardonically.
She smiled back. “Oh, yes. Sorry about that.”
Leo nodded, looked into her eyes, caught the fire in them and decided he liked what he saw.
Parthena watched Leo and Savannah smiling and having a good time, despite Savannah’s earlier reluctance toward Bella and Mel’s dance-lesson scheme. Bella considered it part of Thatcher, Hugh and Alastair’s school work for the day, and Charity thought it a grand idea and sent Sebastian over to Ma’s house straightaway.
Maybe now Savannah would have the chance to get to know Leo better. The past few days her cousin had made sure Parthena was with her whenever she and Leo did anything. Did Savannah think she needed the chaperone? Leo was a perfect gentleman, so they should be fine. Besides, with this many people on the farm, someone was bound to have an eye on them.
Then another thought occurred to her: Savannah wouldn’t let Leo think she cared for him and leave him with hopes of more, would she? After all, once they returned to Clear Creek, who knew how long it would be before they returned? She hoped she was wrong.
She continued to watch the couple, trying to figure out why Savannah had seemed to be avoiding him. What could it hurt to spend time with the man? It was what she was here for, and really the only thing left to do during the visit. Father and Clinton had spoken at length about the cattle and had several meetings with Arlan and the other men on the farm. Now they were just having fun. So why hadn’t Savannah wanted to have fun with Leo? And if she’d already made up her mind they wouldn’t suit, why hadn’t she said so?
Parthena watched the others. Everyone was happy, laughing and making fun of Gabby and Alastair as they too attempted to dance. Bella dragged Hugh to the middle of the parlor next and the stumbling and laughing increased. Leo and Savannah were clearly the best of the bunch, but Parthena was determined to teach Thatcher a thing or two. Best she stop watching the others and get to work. “You’re pretty good.”
“No, I’m not. I don’t like dancing.”
“You don’t? Why not?”
He wrinkled his nose. “Girls smell funny.”
She stopped. “I beg your pardon?”
“Not you,” he said in a panic, his eyes darting to his mother. “I mean, last year at the Christmas dance I had to dance with Helena Boles, Mr. Miller’s cousin. Her family came to visit him. Anyway, she … well, never mind.”
“She what?”
Thatcher went pink. “She tried to kiss me.”
Parthena bit her lip to keep from laughing. “Whatever did you do?”
“I …” He glanced at his mother again. “I ran.”
A snort escaped. “That’s one solution.”
“That’s not what Mama said. She said I was rude.”
“Some might think that,” she conceded. “What happened?”
His eyes widened. “She chased me all over the meeting hall!”
“Oh, my!”
“It was awful!”
Parthena laughed.
“Thatcher,” Bella snapped. “Less talking and more dancing.”
“Yes, Mama,” he said, looking defeated.
“It’s all right,” Parthena assured him. “Sometimes people are more enthusiastic than you’d like them to be. In this case, it sounds like Helena liked what she saw and decided to let you know how she felt.”
He grimaced. “Did she have to?”
“How old was she?”
“Twelve.”
“Ah, a younger woman,” she