“And any pretty, experienced girl will do, is that it?”
His face changed, his pride took over. “I’m not Justin and you’re not Kimberly, so we’re even.” He brushed past her to return to the camp.
Instantly Leah’s anger drained away and she knew she’d been wrong. Wesley was right. What had happened had not been planned and she’d been wrong to ruin the moment.
She started to call out to him but stopped herself. It was better this way. Lately they’d been becoming too friendly. When it came time for their separation and his marriage to Kimberly, she didn’t want to be in love with him. Yes, it was better to stay away from Wesley and concentrate on Justin. Perhaps Justin could make her forget all the feelings she’d ever had for Wes.
Chapter 11
Leah found it quite easy to concentrate on Justin. He always seemed to be just a few feet away from her, always ready to help with any chore. He smiled at her a great deal and gave her flowers.
One ev
ening as Leah was standing by the wagon holding a handful of wildflowers Justin had given her, Sadie approached. “So you’re thinkin’ of choosin’ the little one,” Sadie said.
“I’d hardly call Justin small,” Leah answered, not pretending to misunderstand. “Besides, there’s never been any choice in the matter. Wesley Stanford is engaged to Kimberly and he’s very much in love with her.”
Sadie snorted. “He may have been at one time, but that was before he had to spend twenty-four hours a day in her company.”
“What do you mean?”
“Don’t act innocent with me, young lady,” Sadie chided. “I know very well that you can sense what’s going on between them.”
“I haven’t seen anything,” Leah said. “And besides, it doesn’t matter to me what Wesley does. I think I may be falling in love with Justin.”
Sadie only grunted as she went into the woods to empty a pan of dirty water.
Two nights later they camped near three families, one of which played fiddles, and they invited everyone to an impromptu dance.
Leah spent a long time choosing her dress and in washing and brushing her hair until it shone and sparkled like melted rubies. Her low-cut dress was deep rose-colored silk that caught the light when she moved. Darker rose ribbons were entangled in her hair and tied under her breasts.
“You look like a princess,” Sadie’s oldest son said with a gasp when he saw her.
At the dance were five women and fifteen men. Four of the men were the big, good-looking, energetic sons of one of the women, and they caught the hands of Leah and Kimberly instantly, leading them into romping dances near the cooking fire.
“I don’t like this,” Kimberly said as she tried to catch her breath between dances.
Leah didn’t have time to reply as another man pulled her away to dance with him.
“You seem to be enjoying yourself,” Wesley said later as he pulled her into his arms.
“I don’t want to fight you,” she said, enjoying the music and the moonlight.
“You look beautiful, Leah,” Wesley whispered. “You’ve changed since—.”
He stopped at the sound of Kimberly’s insistent voice from across the camp. “Wesley!” she demanded.
“You’d better go,” Leah said, starting to pull away from him.
Wesley wouldn’t relinquish her hands. “Not yet,” he said, his jaw set. “I’ll go when I’m ready.”
She gave him a cold look. “You’ll leave when Miss Shaw pulls your chain,” she said hotly. “Now if you’ll excuse me I’d rather dance with someone else.”
She was shaking as she walked away, and when she saw Justin she clung to his arm. “I need to get away from this crowd,” she murmured, and Justin led her into the dark forest.
Once out of sight of the people, Leah nearly flung herself into Justin’s arms and planted her lips on his. She needed to feel she was a woman. She was sick of rejection, sick of feeling as if she’d been discarded. She’d thrown her body and her love at Wesley and he’d used what he wanted and told her he wanted no more. Kimberly sat on her throne and Wesley knelt before her, offering gifts.
“Marry me,” Justin whispered, kissing her face and neck. “Marry me tonight.”