Bride School: Mary (The Brides of Diamond Springs Ranch 4) Read Online Free PDF Page B

their nose out of joint.”
    The caller gave instructions for everyone to trade
partners, and to keep doing so with every verse of the song.
    “Miss Campbell, I think this would be a good time
for you to decide if you’re ready to marry. Unless these men are blind, they’re
gonna take a good long look at you. It wouldn’t be… fair to mislead them.
Would it?”
    She looked a little green, like the idea of being
a married woman didn’t sit well with her either, and he was relieved. “What
should I do?”
    “Tell them the truth. Tell them you’re not ready.
They’re honorable men, so they’ll understand.” He reached out and gave her hand
a squeeze, then together they turned and faced the rest of the dancers coming
toward them.
    A woman with a familiar, hungry look in her eye
hurried to his side and slipped her hand around his elbow claiming him like a
prize—a prize she might have won for having the widest smile. Two men stepped
up to Alexandra and pretended not to notice each other. Both held out their
elbows and left it to her to decide with whom she would dance first. She
glanced John’s way and grimaced. She took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and
laid her left hand on the nearest arm. The losing man smiled good-naturedly and
went in search of another dance partner. But the look in his eye promised he’d
be back for his turn with her.
    John watched closely as Miss Campbell was led onto
the dance floor. The music suddenly drowned out any conversation, and he was
left wondering how the girl would tell the man she was no longer in the
running.
    “My name is Mary Lou,” said his partner. John’s
attention caught on the young woman on his arm. Colorless hair, calculating
eyes.
    Not even close to Alexandra Campbell .
    “I’m John.”
    Luckily the dance steps required all their breath
and most of their concentration. Ever so subtly, he was able to guide his
partner closer to Miss Campbell, not that he wanted to be near her—he just didn’t
want to miss the look on her partner’s face when he realized the pretty bird in
his arms was not his to keep. But it seemed the other couple had little breath
to waste on conversation either. And worse, they seem to be enjoying
themselves. The man stumbled, trying desperately to keep from stepping on her
toes, and she laughed.
    She laughed like Mary.
    Though he knew it was irrational to think of her
that way, he couldn’t seem to separate Miss Campbell from his mountain girl. In
his mind, she was no longer safely tucked beneath her father’s roof. If there
was a row of simple wooden crosses on a hillside, with a small bush of pink
roses growing at the base of one, he no longer wondered if Mary lay beneath it.
In all the world, it didn’t matter where the real Mary Radley was; she was
suddenly there, before him, dancing with a man who was far too old for her to
marry.
    Though the first verse had yet to end, John
reached out and tapped the girl’s partner on the shoulder. “Excuse me, Charlie,
is it? Since you may not know that Miss Campbell there is no longer interested
in marrying yet…” He shrugged, suddenly unsure how to finish. “I wondered if
you’ve met Mary Lou?” He gently turned his partner and urged her forward toward
Charlie Sparks. Then he plucked Alexandra’s hand out of the air where it
hovered, uncertain. He led her around Charlie, then pulled her into his arms
and danced away.
    Miss Campbell’s nimble feet scurried to keep up,
but he was more than willing to carry her away from the half-bald Sparks if
need be.
    After there was a safe amount of distance between
themselves and the other couple, he finally dared look her in the face. “Before
you scold me, Alexandra, allow me to explain.”
    She raised one brow, strongly advising him to do
so quickly.
    He chuckled. “You’ll think I’m touched in the
head, I’m sure.”
    She smiled and bit her lip.
    “Fine. I guess I asked for that.” He struggled to
remember to keep moving his feet,