Free The Reluctant Debutante by Becky Lower Page A

backing yours.”
    Joseph nodded briefly at the compliment before Ginger continued, “But why are you taking one back to St. Louis instead of selling them all here?”
    “Because I plan to ride back home on horseback. I do not like these railroads.”
    “Frankly, I can’t wait to ride the train to St. Louis. It’s going to be my reward for behaving myself through the season.” She smiled at Joseph and Basil.
    Before Basil could reply, a voice broke through the din. They glanced around to see William Davenport entering the box, in full military dress. They stood as William greeted Mr. and Mrs. Fitzpatrick, Ginger, Elizabeth, and the two men. As the theater began to darken, they all took their seats. William snuck into the seat next to Ginger where she’d hoped Joseph would sit. Joseph said nothing, and took a seat in the row behind them, where he could watch every move William made.
    • • •
    At intermission, Joseph stood silently at the back of the box. Basil had stepped out for some stronger refreshments than the lemonade provided in the box. He also wanted to greet other friends whom he had spotted and had not yet talked to since his return from St. Louis. And Joseph knew he was hoping to get backstage during intermission and steal a kiss from the lovely Rachel. The box was crowded as people milled around, saying hello to George and Charlotte, or, if they were younger, stopping by to see Ginger and Elizabeth.
    The ladies were among the most popular of this season’s debutantes, and the parade of young gentlemen had not ceased all during the break. Joseph kept watch, as Basil had requested, thinking he much preferred the mating rituals of his mother’s people. A young Indian man, before taking a woman as a wife, first had to prove he could take care of her, which meant demonstrating his strength mentally and physically. He must take part in a buffalo hunt and go through the manhood challenges, including a vision quest. After those rites of passage, a young Indian male needed to assemble gifts to take to his chosen one’s father. The more comely the maiden, the more gifts he needed. A man could take months assembling a cache of presents to exchange for his wife, consisting of bison meat, deerskins, horses, and furs.
    Joseph looked around at the pasty faces and soft bodies of the men in the box, and thought none of them would have been able to survive the most basic of Indian rituals. He grabbed a glass of lemonade as the waiter made his way through the box. He waited.
    And watched.
    William took Ginger by the hand and led her to a corner. She seemed to go willingly enough to begin with, until she realized she was about to be trapped. She turned, only to discover he was mere inches away from her, with an arm on either side of the wall at her back, corralling her into the corner. Joseph quietly glided over near them.
    “Officer Davenport, what are you doing?” Ginger’s eyes widened as she realized her dilemma. She grabbed his forearms and tried to push him away.
    “I’m only trying to capture your heart, my sweet. It’s too difficult to express my feelings for you if you never allow us time to be alone together.” He attempted to lean in and steal a kiss from her, but Ginger dodged his lips and he kissed the air next to her ear.
    Surprised by her adroitness, William growled, “So, you like to play hard to get, do you? Well, I like things a little rough myself at times.”
    He narrowed his arm span on either side of her, and boldly moved his mouth toward her plunging neckline. Ginger stomped on one of his feet in protest. He let out a yelp and backed away a few paces. Ginger quickly skittered around him, freeing herself from the corner, just as Joseph appeared at her side with a glass of lemonade.
    “Here is the lemonade you requested, Miss Ginger.”
    He handed her the glass and gazed into Ginger’s eyes. He then looked at William, who glared at him. Joseph calmly returned the glare of the young man