Free Beverly Jenkins by Night Song

her back. “Ah, Miss Henson, and who is this handsome man?”
    Cara turned to Virginia and made the introductions.
    “Pleasure, ma’ am,” she heard Chase say.
    “No, Sergeant Jefferson, the pleasure’s all mine . . . You know, I was a bit skeptical about having this soirée. You and your men are very famous but I had visions of trampled rugs and broken crystal. I’m glad to see I was wrong. Your men are quite well-mannered and, in fact a few are most handsome. Wouldn’t you agree, Miss Henson?”
    “Yes, the men are well-mannered, very clean.”
    Virginia laughed softly. “Ah, Miss Henson, you would concentrate on their manners. Sergeant, our Miss Henson is a most competent educator, butI’m certain she wouldn’t know what to do with a handsome man if he fell facefirst into her . . . lap.”
    Cara’s eyes blazed, but she held her tongue.
    “Come dance with me, Sergeant,” Virginia invited.
    Chase heard the velvet-sheathed order, but since he took orders only from the United States Army, he said, “I’d like that, but I promised the first dance to Miss Henson.”
    Cara could have kissed him. But she forced herself to recall that after he was gone, Virginia would still be there. She decided it was best to be gracious. “I don’t mind, Sergeant. Besides, I’m not much of a dancer. You go ahead. We can dance later or another time.”
    “Are you sure?”
    She nodded. “I’m going to get some punch.”
    “Excellent idea, Miss Henson,” Virginia said.
    “Well, don’t go far, Miss Henson,” Chase cautioned in a voice that made her heart start doing those crazy flip-flops again. “Wouldn’t want to lose you in this crowd.”
    “I won’t get lost,” Cara replied and went off to find the punch table.
    From across the room, Cara watched Chase and Virginia dance to the slow sweet strains of a Spanish guitar. Virginia’s smile was her dazzling best. It was easy for Cara to see why so many people considered the Black Widow one of the loveliest women in all of Graham County. Few women possessed such flawless golden skin, such big sherry-colored eyes as she or such hair the color of dark wine. No wonder that few men could resist her beauty, Cara thought. As much as she disliked Virginia, she realized that the older woman knew much more about handling a man like Chase than she ever would.
    Not wishing to watch them together for another moment, Cara stepped back into the crowd, then made her way to the back door. Sophie’s gently restraining hand suddenly stopped her.
    “Have you seen Chase, dear?”
    “He’s dancing with Virginia.”
    “Is that why you’re running off?”
    “I’m not running. I—I need some fresh air.”
    “Ah, I see,” Sophie said, then added, “don’t let that woman run you out of here.”
    “This has nothing to do with Virginia. It’s warm in here is all.”
    They both knew it was a lie, but Sophie let it go.
    Near the back door, Cara passed Miles Sutton, leaning against a wall with a drink in his hand. He leered and toasted her with the glass. She ignored him.
    Once outside, pulling in deep lungfuls of the cool night air, Cara felt much better. From her spot on the long wide porch, she saw others who’d come out to escape the crush inside. Under the lights of the moon and of lanterns stuck on poles, several men were pitching horseshoes, laughing, talking, and passing jugs.
    “Well, hello, Miss Cara.”
    She turned to see the sheriff stepping up onto the porch and nodded at him. “Sheriff.”
    “What are you doing out here all alone?” he asked with a smile. “Young, pretty woman like yourself should be in the middle of all that dancing in there.”
    The music had changed. Lively strains of fiddle music were drifting out to them now. When Cara did not reply, his voice became tinged with concern. “You feeling poorly, Miss Cara?”
    “I’m fine, Sheriff Polk. Just came out to get some air.”
    There was a shared silence, then he said, “I went ahead and talked to