They walked her down to the classroom where about fifteen kids were doing crafts, playing board games, and watching videos. The volunteers in charge greeted Clara warmly and seated her at a table with two little girls who were making necklaces out of colored macaroni.
“Do you think she’ll be all right?” Rush asked as they walked back down the hall.
“She’ll be fine. It’ll be good for her,” Tracy said. “Now, what do you say we do some
dancing?”
They made it back to the gym in time for a slow waltz. Holding Tracy in his arms and drifting with the music was as close to heaven as he’d ever been, Rush thought. He wanted a life with this woman and the special family they would find a way to create. It was too early in the relationship to propose, but he would do his best to keep things headed in that direction.
The music ended, and the guitarist of the Badger Hollow Boys stepped up to the microphone. The antiquated P.A. system in the gym was hard to understand, but he seemed to be introducing a new performer. The audience applauded as a figure walked onstage.
Long dark hair, topped by a weathered Stetson, stunning dark eyes, and that fringed, beaded rock star coat . . .
Rush almost laughed out loud. Unbelievable. It was Conner’s dream woman.
“I saw her today,” Tracy whispered. “She was watching the parade.”
Rush guided Tracy toward the foot of the stage. “Conner saw her, too. Come on, I want to watch this up close.”
With his arm around Tracy, Rush scanned the dance floor until he spotted his partner. Conner was staring drop-jawed at the stage. Ronda May was tugging at his arm, wanting his attention and not getting it.
The music started, the bass guitar pumping out a throbbing beat. The stunning singer leaned over the mike and broke into a cover of the old Patsy Cline hit “Walkin’ After Midnight.”
The audience, who’d stopped dancing to listen, applauded wildly. As the clapping faded, she gave them a smile, nodded to the band, and began to sing “Jolene.”
She was pretty good, Rush conceded. Not Patsy Cline or Dolly Parton good, but good enough for Branding Iron on a Saturday night. She’d chosen great songs, and the audience seemed to love her.
Rush kept an eye on Conner. With Ronda May hanging on to him like an anchor, the man was visibly suffering. It was a pleasure to watch him.
The mystery woman sang two more songs, then walked off the stage and vanished. As the applause faded, the band took up a lively dance tune. Ronda May had pulled Conner back onto the dance floor. Short of shoving her away—and he was too much of a gentleman for that—Conner was helpless to go after the woman who’d cast a spell on him.
“We should check on Clara,” Tracy said.
They walked back up the hallway to the room where the children were being entertained. When she saw them in the doorway, Clara ran to meet them.
“Look at the necklace I made!” Eyes sparkling, she showed them the string of macaroni that hung around her neck. “I’m making a bracelet now. And I have a new friend. Her name’s Brandy.”
“It sounds like you’re having a good time,” Tracy said. “Are you ready to go home yet?”
“Do we have to go now? I want to stay and play a little longer. Okay?”
“Okay,” Rush said. “We’ll give you another half hour. By then it’ll be past your bedtime.”
He caught Tracy’s hand as they hurried back down the hall. “Another half hour to dance with you. Let’s not waste a single minute of it.”
By the time they went back to get Clara, she was tired. Her new friend had already gone home, so she didn’t mind leaving. Rush carried her outside. By the time they made it to Tracy’s car, she was almost asleep.
At Tracy’s he transferred the booster seat to the Hummer and buckled Clara into it before he turned back to Tracy. She melted into his arms for a lingering kiss. “This was a perfect evening,” she murmured.
“Yes, it was. Thank you.” He kissed her again for good measure. “I’ll see you in the morning when I come to vaccinate the kittens.”
“I’ll have breakfast ready for you,” she said.
He left her and drove back to the ranch, humming Christmas songs along with the radio. Things couldn’t have gone better tonight. Dancing with Tracy in his arms had been a dream. He was already looking forward to seeing her tomorrow. And Clara had enjoyed a grand time, too.
A smile tugged at his lips. He could hardly wait to hear what Conner had to say about finding his dream woman.
Travis’s truck and Conner’s Jeep were still gone from the driveway. The house was as he’d left it, with the porch light on and no sign of activity inside. Clara was awake. He could hear her unfastening her safety belt. He climbed out of the Hummer and went around to lift her out of the booster seat.