Free Her Safe Harbor: Prairie Romance (Crawford Family Book 4) by Holly Bush

understandable,” Jennifer said. “I will convey your
regards to Father, Julia. He wanted me to tell you how sorry he was to not be
able to make this trip. That he is very proud of Max and Jolene and that he
misses you and would have wanted to apologize in person and meet his
grandchildren. I think he particularly wanted to see Jillian again.”

 
    Chapter Six
     
    “I have not danced like this in
ages!” Julia said to her husband, Jake, and Jennifer as they stood to the side
of the ballroom on the evening of Max’s swearing in.
    “And you look as pretty as a picture in that new dress,”
Jake replied, and dropped a kiss on his wife’s cheek.
    “We had an exceptionally enjoyable time at Jolene’s
dressmaker,” Jennifer confessed with a smile. “The seamstress must have thought
us ridiculous with all of our laughter and giggling.”
    Jennifer looked around at the ballroom as she tapped her
foot to the music. Two-story windows graced one entire side, with layers of
cascading draperies in yellow and blue. Dozens and dozens of couples twirled
their way around the gleaming wood floors to the sounds of the orchestra’s
music. She was wearing a new dark red gown with a daringly low neckline and
lace sleeves, and enjoying herself immensely at the celebration ball for Max’s
election. She knew very few guests and would never remember all of the men and
women Jolene had introduced her to, but she would remember the admiring gazes
from some of the young men she’d been introduced to. She’d been asked to dance
every dance so far.
    “Good evening, Jennifer,” Zeb Moran said just as a waltz was
forming. “May I have this dance?”
    All the good humor and gayness drained from Jennifer’s face
as she was reminded of her shame, and her secrets. She had tried not to let
herself think of Zeb, even though she compared all of the men she met that
evening to him and found them lacking. Not every young man could be thin-hipped
and broad shouldered like Zeb, she said to herself. Not many men had his light
brown hair that melted to blond at the crown or pale blue eyes that focused
completely on her as he spoke.
    “Yes, of course,” she replied, and handed her glass of
lemonade to Julia, who winked at her.
    Zeb was a good dancer, and just the right height for her,
swinging her around the dance floor with ease, maneuvering them through the
throng and past older sedate couples who were moving slowly, without taking his
eyes off of her.
    “Are you enjoying Washington?” she asked.
    “I miss Texas, but yes, I am enjoying Washington. I have the
greatest regards for your brother-in-law, and am honored to serve him.”
    “I imagine you are very good at your work.”
    “I like to think so, but . . .”
    He stopped midsentence as he pulled her close to his chest
as a very large man stumbled by, knocking other dancers out of the way.
    “What a clumsy fool!” Zeb groused, and released her to her
natural dance position. “Too much whiskey, I’d say.”
    Jennifer took short breaths and concentrated on not
fainting. Zeb had pulled her close by reaching around her and grabbing her by
her side, exactly where Jeffrey had hit her the night at the theatre. It was
all she could do not to cry out, but even still she winced in pain. Within
moments, she found herself whisked through double doors and on to the side
patio. Zeb immediately took off his jacket, set it about her shoulders, and led
her to a stone bench.
    “I am so terribly sorry, Jennifer,” he said as he knelt
before her. “I’ve hurt you. Tell me what I can do?”
    She shook her head. “I will be fine. I just need a moment to
catch my breath.”
    “Did I step on your foot? I’m a clumsy oaf in these new
boots and was in a hurry to get you out of the way of that lumbering drunk.”
    “You did not step on my foot, Zeb,” she said, and willed
herself to smile. “It is nothing.”
    He stared at her. “Did I hurt you when I pulled you out of
the way? When I touched you