Beside Still Waters by Tracey V. Bateman Read Free Book Online Page A

area.
    Long poles had been erected at the four corners of the floor and rope strung between them. Hanging lanterns lit up the entire area, including the tables and benches set along the sides of the dance floor. Caleb Owens and Victor Mansfield made up the band: Caleb on the banjo, Victor playing the accordion.
    Jonesy tied up Lady Anne to the nearest hitching post and walked the rest of the way to the dance. He scanned the area for any sign of Eva.
    He saw the sheriff leaning against a post, sipping punch and watching the dancers. Jonesy came up beside him. “Evenin’, Sheriff.”
    Billy acknowledged him with a nod. “You made it.”
    “Any reason to think I wouldn’t?”
    A side grin split his lips. “According to my little sister, you’d better not show up if you know what’s good for you.” He clapped Jonesy on the shoulder. “You have about as much to learn about women as I do. Only don’t wait so long as I did, or you might just end up all alone.”
    “Yeah, thanks. I’ll remember that.” He continued his perusal, but the dance floor was so crowded, it was hard to see faces unless they were right in front of him. “Where’s Eva?”
    “I saw her dancing with Pa a minute or two ago.”
    “Help me look, will you?” He saw her just as she saw him. Her eyes widened, then narrowed. Her lips pressed together, and she lifted her chin, turning away from him.
    So she was going to be stubborn. He’d show her right good and well. He grabbed Billy’s arm and strode across the dance floor. The sheriff yanked his arm away. “If you think I’m dancing with you, you’re crazy.”
    “I need you to dance with Eva so I can talk to your pa.”
    “Pa? Oh, boy. I hope you know what you’re doing, because this is going to make Eva right hot under the collar.”
    “For a little while maybe. But we both know she can’t stay mad longer than it takes to saddle a horse.”
    He chuckled. “From the look on her face, I’m thinking this might be the first time she holds a grudge.”
    “Don’t let him cut in, Pa.” Eva’s low tone reached Jonesy’s ears as her gaze cut through him like a hunting knife.
    Andy Riley filled out his buckskin jacket as though he were still a young man, and Jonesy wouldn’t have wanted to tangle with him for any reason.
    Ignoring Eva’s outburst, Jonesy glanced at her pa. “Sir, may I have a word with you?”
    Eva sputtered. “You came out here to get my pa to leave me on the dance floor? Why, you … you … baboon.”
    Billy took her by the arm. “Take it easy, sis. He brought me along to take Pa’s place.”
    “I don’t need you to find me a dance partner, Benjamin Jones. I can find one on my own.” Jerking away from Billy, she stomped up to the nearest man, Lily’s pa, the owner of the general store. “Dance with me, Mr. Brewster?” She turned to Lily. “You don’t mind dancing with Billy, do you?”
    Lily flushed, then gave a shy wink of her dimples. “I—if the sheriff doesn’t mind, I don’t suppose I do.”
    Billy turned red. “It’d be my pleasure, Miss Lily.”
    Eva turned to Mr. Brewster. “Well then. Now that that’s settled, how about you and me?”
    The old-timer scowled. “That was sort of embarrassing for my daughter, Miss Eva.”
    “Embarrassing?” She took the first step and placed her hand on his shoulder, then waited expectantly for him to do his part. “Mr. Brewster, Lily is my dearest friend. Don’t you know I have her best interests at heart? Besides, if you’ll dance with me, I’ll tell you a secret.”
    He placed his hand on her waist and took her upraised hand. “What sort of secret?”
    Jonesy watched as she charmed the old buzzard.
    “My brother Billy has been moon-eyed over your daughter for as long as I can remember. And why do you think she won’t look at another young man? She’s mooning over him, too. So I did them both a favor.”
    A smile spread across the wrinkled face. “I see. Then the least I can do is give you this