Read Online [Song of Alaska 02] - Morning's Refrain by Tracie Peterson - Free Book Online Page B

player, and guitar player, as well as a pianist. She’d already heard some of the music they’d created. It was amazing they could get such a beautiful sound from so few instruments.
    Perhaps they would let me join, she thought. What a joy that would be. She missed her music more than anything else.
    Just then she saw Dalton make his way through the crowd. He spoke momentarily to his mother, then moved to the side. Phoebe suddenly got an idea. If Dalton wouldn’t come to her, then perhaps she could approach him on the excuse of asking about the orchestra.
    She started to make her way toward him. Just then the music began and the governor and his wife stepped forward to start the dance. Phoebe had barely taken two steps when a tall man dressed in black asked her for the dance. She had been unprepared for the question, even though she knew she was one of the few unattached young women. Nodding, she allowed herself to be led onto the dance floor.
    Phoebe tried to keep track of where Dalton was. At the moment he was standing with another young man, deep in conversation. Where Dalton was dark haired, the other man was blond. They were about the same height and weight, and both looked quite capable of doing a hard day’s work.
    Another man approached Phoebe and her partner, not even waiting for the music to end. They quickly exchanged Phoebe as if by earlier agreement. As the new stranger danced her away, he introduced himself.
    “Reginald Cavendish, at your service. I hope you don’t mind that I stepped in. We have so few women with whom to dance that we rarely wait for the break of a song.”
    Phoebe nodded. “I was surprised, I must say.”
    “You should get used to it. Most dances will find you with three or four partners before the music concludes. If I’m not mistaken, we are being approached even now.”
    She glanced over her shoulder to see an older man draw near. He smiled in greeting, revealing a missing tooth. Phoebe recognized him as one of the store owners, but for the life of her, she couldn’t remember his name.
    And so the evening went. Phoebe found herself passed from man to man, all in the name of good manners and fun. She hated to disappoint anyone, but after dancing for nearly an hour, Phoebe felt a desperate desire to leave the party. When the orchestra took a break, Phoebe decided it would be the perfect moment to excuse herself.
    Making her way through a gathering of Sitka wives, she paused only long enough to allow her mother to introduce her to several women. Phoebe smiled and made all the appropriate replies to their questions.
    “I hope you’ll excuse me,” she finally said, turning a hopeful gaze toward her mother’s watchful eye. “I need a bit of air.”
    “Don’t go too far,” her mother warned. “Better yet, try to find one of your brothers to accompany you.”
    Phoebe nodded but had no intention of asking her brothers for help. She hurried from the room and bounded out the door.
    Right into the arms of Dalton Lindquist.
    “Running away?” he asked.
    She looked up, mortified to have once again entangled herself with the handsome man. Phoebe tried to turn and free herself from his hold, but Dalton held her secure.
    “You sure have a way of creating a scene.”
    Phoebe felt the heat rise in her cheeks. Why must she always be doing the wrong thing when in the presence of the only man she wanted to impress? She pulled her elbow free from his grasp. “Yes, first by falling out of the boat, and now this.”
    “Don’t forget our mishap at the house,” he interjected.
    “How could I—especially with your lovely reminder.”
    She lowered her face and wished silently that the earth would swallow her up. Why did it have to be so light outside? He could, no doubt, see her embarrassment.
    He laughed, making her all the more uncomfortable. Phoebe fought the urge to reprimand him as she might one of her brothers.
    “You really shouldn’t take yourself so seriously,” he said.
    Phoebe