Read Online Cherished by Jill Gregory - Free Book Online

help
her.
    “Gil,” she said slowly, “I need some
information. It’s important. Did you ever hear of two men named
Wade and Tommy Montgomery?”
    “No, ma’am, can’t say as I have. Are they kin
of yours?”
    “The very closest of kin. They’re my
brothers.”
    Briefly, while the other guests danced and
stomped their feet and clapped their hands to the fiddler’s tune
all across the parlour, Juliana explained in low tones. She
expected him to frown when she told him that her brothers were
desperadoes, and to warn her that she’d do best to steer clear of
them, but instead he merely stared at her calmly and said:
    “Ahuh.”
    Warmth flooded through her at this ready
acceptance. Her delicate face flushed as she leaned impulsively
toward him, hopeful at last of having an ally. “And I ... I haven’t
the vaguest notion how to find them,” she rushed on, “but I’m
convinced they’d want to see me if they knew I was here in
Colorado. What do you suggest I do?”
    He met her eager gaze soberly. “Let me ask
around. Some of the boys in the bunkhouse or someone in town will
know something. You can be sure of that.”
    “Oh, thank you, Gill! I’ve been wondering how
I should manage to make inquiries without Aunt Katharine and Uncle
Edward finding out ...”
    “Here you are, Juliana.”
Her aunt’s
voice boomed directly behind her, making Juliana jump. “Tiresome
girl, I’ve been looking for you for quite some time.” Buxom and
formidable in her gown of rippling green silk, Aunt Katharine
bestowed upon her niece a look of extreme annoyance from those
great mahogany-colored eyes.
    “Speak of the devil?” Gil muttered in
Juliana’s ear. Aunt Katharine swung toward him. “I beg your pardon,
young man?”
    He gave her his lopsided grin. “No need to do
that, ma’am. I was jest saying to Miss Montgomery here that
speaking of dancing, I’d be honored if she’d step out with me for
this here jig ...”
    “My niece is otherwise engaged.”
    Juliana knew that tone. Aunt Katharine was in
no mood to brook an argument. She spoke up quickly, flashing the
red-haired cowboy a swift smile. “Thank you, Gil, for the
lemonade—and everything.”
    “It was shore my pleasure, ma’am. I reckon
I’ll see you again before too long.”
    “Why, yes, I hope so.”
    When he was gone, slipping into the throng of
plaid-shirted men and gingham-clad women, Aunt Katharine fixed her
with an exasperated glare. “Juliana, instead of parading around
here like a common hussy with a bunch of cowboys, you could be
dancing with Mr. Breen! He’s been asking for you, and I’m certain
he would like to engage you for a dance tonight, if you can find
room for him with all of these scruffy cowboys sniffing around
you.”
    “Aunt Katharine, I don’t wish to dance with
Mr. Breen.”
    Her aunt stared at her as if she’d gone mad,
“Why in the world would you say a thing like that?”
    Juliana tore her gaze from the circle of
whirling dancers to meet her aunt’s frowning countenance. “Because
it’s true,” she said simply. “Aunt Katharine, Mr. Breen makes me
most uncomfortable. His demeanor ... it’s all wrong. He seems to
have feelings which I can’t return ... and he is so possessive, so
overly concerned about me. I feel smothered—and I barely know the
man. Something isn’t right.”
    “Mr. Breen is merely being kind, Juliana. He
is treating you with ordinary civility. Really, you are most
ungrateful. And conceited. Merely because a man is solicitous of
you does not mean he is smitten with you, young lady. And if he
were, I can hardly think of a more desirable match—”
    “Aunt Katharine,” Juliana interrupted,
placing one hand on her aunt’s arm. “I truly wish to honor my
promise to you not to offend Mr. Breen. The best way to do that is
to avoid encouraging his attentions so that I am not in the
position of rebuffing him!”
    “Nonsense. There he is now.” She smiled
broadly across the room to the parlour