Free Amelia's Journey by Martha Rogers Page A

lashes brought another round of titters.
    â€œI don’t know, but I’ve known Ben and Mary Beth since we were children. That may have something to do with it.” Amelia left the girls to their talk and hurried through adjustments to her hair and gown. The time would drag until next he held her in his arms.

    Ben headed back to his family’s table after leaving Amelia. He wiped damp palms down his trouser legs, his nerves a wreck. So much he wanted to say to Amelia, but all they’d exchanged was that little bit about his dancing. A groan escaped his throat. His tongue had become thick as a slab of beef. Next dance he’d do better; he’d have to, or Amelia would never know how much he wanted her to come to Kansas.
    He seated himself next to his grandparents and mother. His mother grasped his arm and leaned toward him. “I can see why you’re so attracted to Amelia. She’s beautiful tonight.”
    â€œYes, she is.” His throat filled, and he could say nothing more.
    Ma squeezed his arm. “Please don’t get your hopes too high. Like your father said once, Mr. Carlyle won’t be inclined to let his daughter become involved with someone who lives in Kansas, even if our families are longtime friends.”
    â€œI know that, but if Amelia returns my feelings for her, how can he keep us apart?”
    â€œHe will try, my son, he will try, and even as free-spirited as you say Amelia is, she won’t go against her parents. She has too much respect for them to do that.”
    Mary Beth returned with several other acquaintances, all giggling like schoolgirls, but each one stopped and composed herself before rejoining their families. His sister seated herself beside him, but his line of sight followed Amelia back to her table.
    â€œCan’t take your eyes off her, can you? She’s been a wonderful friend these past few weeks and has introduced me as though we’d been best friends for a long time.”
    Ben grinned and turned his attention to Mary Beth. “Well, our families have known each other a long time and been friends, even from a distance.”
    â€œAll I can say is, I hope you two get together. I’d love to have her as part of the family.” She grinned then held her hand toward the young man now claiming her for the next dance.
    Ben gasped. How could she have known that’s exactly what he wanted too? He blinked his eyes and glanced across the room to see Isabella Killingsworth staring at him. The music had begun, and he realized it was his turn to dance with her. He pushed back from the table and hurried to where she sat. He bowed and extended his hand. “I believe the next dance is ours, Miss Killingsworth.”
    She placed her hand in his and stood. “Why yes, Mr. Haynes, I believe it is.”
    He led her to the dance floor where he held her as he had Amelia. Because Isabella was petite in size, he had to keep his chin and eyes downward to talk with her. That kept him from spotting Amelia and her partner.
    Two more to go and he’d be with her again. A finger tapped his arm, and he snapped back to attention with Isabella. She batted her eyelashes again and smiled. “Mr. Haynes, it is such a great pleasure to dance with you. We’ve enjoyed getting acquainted with your sister Mary Beth. It’s nice that you could return to Boston to be her escort tonight.”
    â€œThank you. We’ve had a good time on this visit.” The musicians must have added an extra page or two in this number because it went on much longer than he desired.
    â€œTell me what it’s like living on a ranch in Kansas. Are there still horrible Indian raids and massacres all over the place with girls being kidnapped and men scalped?”
    â€œFarther west the settlers still have some trouble, but for the most part things are quiet around our part of the country. We’re about a half hour from town on horseback. Of course