“This is so exciting.”
Kitty hopped up and down and clapped her hands with such enthusiasm Jace laughed. He was a glutton for punishment, but he’d wanted to be with her when the carousel went up. Her reaction was every bit as good as he’d expected.
The official carousel opening wouldn’t happen until the Land Run celebration, but today they were setting everything in place and testing the mechanics.
Jace was on the circular wooden platform helping Ned thread a brightly painted pony onto the metal pole that would provide its movement. The prancer was the first of two dozen restored animals to go up, along with three chariots.
A local trucking firm had moved the horses and body of the carousel to the city park, and a dozen city workers helped position the ride beneath the newly built pavilion.
A smattering of Jace’s volunteers was there, too, eager to see the fulfillment of long hours and late nights. Along with Nate and his friends from the shop class, they unloaded carefully wrapped ponies from a truck bed and carried them inside the covered pavilion. Kitty, Cheyenne, Ida June and Sunny Case had stopped screwing miniature bulbs into the unending number of light sockets to watch the first pony mounted.
A reporter from the Redemption Register appeared, snapping photos. He spotted the exuberant Kitty and pointed the camera. Jace didn’t blame the reporter one bit. In a pink flowered blouse and pale pink capris, Kitty looked as pretty as the azaleas blooming in the square. Maybe his imagination had gone crazy, but he thought he caught her distinctive rose fragrance mixed with the smells of blooming plants and diesel fuel.
“Here we go.” Jace hoisted the colorful pony upward while Ned threaded it into position both above and below.
The camera flashed.
They maneuvered and adjusted until the horse stood proud and handsome beneath the brightly painted roof. He was a polished beauty, his white legs curved in an eternal prance, his pink and turquoise mane flowing backward in a make-believe wind.
“Oh, he’s even more beautiful now. Look at him.” Kitty clapped again.
Jace stepped back, hands on his hips. “Sweet. Very sweet.” He shook his head. “I still can’t believe we’ve pulled this off.”
Kitty playfully whapped his arm. “Pessimist.”
He rubbed the spot as if it hurt, drawing a laugh from her.
She’d not missed a beat since that night a week ago in his kitchen. She worked on the project almost every day. She stayed late every night, and if she thought it odd that Jace walked her to her car without trying to kiss her again, she didn’t let on.
He’d wanted to. Oh, how he’d wanted to. But he knew what she didn’t and that was enough to keep his hands at his sides and his lips to himself.
No one had kissed her since her husband. After all these years of remaining loyal to her husband’s memory, why had she chosen him?
Jace’s chest expanded, both tormented and thrilled by the knowledge.
He couldn’t forget the way she’d felt in his arms or the way she’d softened and melted against him. She was not the kind of woman to do that lightly.
He loved her. He couldn’t have her, but like a stray dog, he’d take any crumbs she threw his way.
“Got another box of bulbs for the ladies.” Donny stepped upon the circular platform, his focus on Kitty.
Some of Jace’s good mood fizzled. Regardless of his good intentions and determination to be more charitable toward Donny, tension gripped him whenever his old cellmate talked to Kitty.
Call it worry. Call it caution. Call it jealousy. The feeling was there, hot and dark and powerful.
Kitty set the carton at her feet next to two others. Both were full. “Thank you.”
“Anything for the prettiest lady in town.”
On his haunches, Jace unwrapped a glossy black pony and tried to ignore the conversation. Kitty knew Donny found excuses to talk to her. But then, Jace had done the same. Hadn’t he orchestrated this moment so he could see Kitty’s reaction to the first carousel horses?
From the corner of his eye, he watched Donny fidget as Kitty removed a bulb from the box and went back to work.
“When’s this gizmo fire up for riders?” Donny asked.
She took another bulb from the box. “Next weekend. The first night of the Land Run Celebration. I can’t wait to see it filled with riders, the lights ablaze and music playing. The park is going to be…like a beautiful fairy tale.”
“Oh, it will be. It will be. All because of you.” Donny took the bulb from her fingers and stepped closer.
Jace’s gut tightened. He paused, listening. Yes, even though he knew Kitty’s feelings toward Donny were more compassion than passion, Jace’s protective instincts went wild. Kitty’s feelings might be platonic. Donny’s weren’t.
“I can’t take the credit. Jace found the carousel.”
A smile ballooned in Jace’s chest.
“Don’t be so modest, Kitty. The idea came from your pretty head.” Donny reached for her hand and brought it to his lips. Jace cringed; resentment boiled up in his chest like a tidal wave of heat. “It would be my great honor to escort you to the grand reopening next week.”
Kitty’s smile faltered. “Well, I—um— You’re very sweet to offer.”
Okay, that was enough.
Jace dropped the wrench and pushed to his feet. He shouldn’t interfere. He should keep his mouth shut.
Jaw tight, he blurted, “Kitty’s going with me.”
Two faces turned toward him—one annoyed, the other surprised. He was pretty surprised himself. The words had spewed out like an unpredictable geyser. Regardless of his decision to show more trust in Donny, he wasn’t about to trust him that much. Not with Kitty. She was smart enough to make her own decisions but Jace was taking no chances.
They both knew he hadn’t asked her to accompany him anywhere, but he’d wanted to. He braced himself for her denial.
Donny tilted his head, glittery black eyes squinted. “That a fact?”
Jace opened his mouth, hoping something sensible would come out. Before he could speak, Kitty said, “Yes.”
A combination of fear and exhilaration shot through him. Later, she’d probably tear his head off for assuming, so he’d better enjoy the moment.
Donny’s face darkened but he handled the refusal with grace. “Another time.”
He hopped off the platform and strode away.
Jace kept his voice low as he spoke to Kitty. “Am I in trouble?”
“Big trouble.” She tried to glare but succeeded only in looking cute.
“You don’t have to go with me. I was just—” He shrugged.
“Just what?” She fisted both hands on her hips.
“Being stupid, I guess.”
“So, you lied to Donny. You don’t want to take me to the celebration?” Her face crumbled. “Now I’m embarrassed.”
Oh, man. He’d run his right hand through a router saw before he’d do anything to embarrass Kitty. He was trying to protect her, not hurt her.
“I wasn’t sure you’d want to.”
“I wasn’t sure, either.” She bit her bottom lip. “I don’t…date.”
“Yeah, I know.”
“I don’t let men kiss me either.”
“I know.”
Her eyes twinkled. “Not men in general. Just you.”
“Yeah?” Jace’s stomach dipped, lifted and dipped again.
“Yeah.” She cocked her head to one side. “So do you want to take me or not?”
What else could he say?
“I do.”
The April night was cool and clear with not a cloud in the sky, a rare treat in Oklahoma’s tumultuous spring. The wind, which had been annoying all day, showed her respect for the Land Run Celebration by settling to a soft whisper at sunset.
From the parking area to the far back corner where each fall pecan trees still dripped their seeds into a meandering creek, Redemption Park burgeoned. Street vendors worked out of trailers with such diverse items as sugary funnel cakes and homemade lye soap. Carnival rides were set and ready to run, children already buying their tickets at the booth.
People from all over the state gathered for the two-day festival which had begun at high noon with a thrilling reenactment of the 1889 Land Run.
The citizens of Redemption were in full festival mode, many of them dressed as Kitty was in 19th century garb. She was waiting, along with Jace, the Land Run committee, Ned and dozens of others, for Mayor Frost to make his speech and cut the ribbon on the newly installed carousel.
“Wonder what Opal Banks would have thought of all this?” Jace murmured close to her ear.
Kitty adjusted her hand-crocheted shawl and turned to look at her date. Her stomach jittered. She was on a date. For the first time since she was in high school. All week she’d suffered doubts and more than once, she’d picked up the phone to back out. She’d even prayed that he would back out. He hadn’t. He’d telephoned twice, both times just to talk. Jace Carter, who seldom strung five sentences together in a day, had called to make small talk.
Kitty was both exhilarated and nervous. Once she’d even gone into the office and talked to Dave’s picture, asking his opinion. When Cheyenne, Annie and Sunny had found out about the date, they’d gone into pushy girlfriend mode. They’d done her hair and nails, insisting that nineteenth century women enjoyed manicures.
“Our persnickety Opal would have considered you a most unsuitable rogue.” Kitty shook a tiny painted fan under Jace’s nose. “And would have swooned in fear of being accosted by such a wild and reckless-looking cowboy.”
Jace laughed, smile flashing above the red bandanna tied around his neck.
Somehow during their long phone chats, she’d convinced him to dress as an Old West gunslinger. The result was every bit as good as she’d imagined. In denim pants and leather vest with two day’s growth of scruffy beard and a pair of six shooters laced to his thighs he was heart-stoppingly handsome and decidedly dangerous-looking. He’d drawn more than one admiring glance since their arrival at the park, and to her delight, he’d not even noticed.
But she certainly had.
He tipped his chin toward the small, makeshift dais. “Here’s the mayor.”
“Yea!” She clapped clenched knuckles, her fan wafting a tiny breeze against her warm face. “Finally.”
Jace’s eyes twinkled down at her. Funny how he didn’t have to say a word to make her feel special. All he had to do was look at her with pride and pleasure.
Though reluctant to break eye contact, she turned her attention to the microphone. Mayor Frost and several dignitaries formed a semicircle on the platform. The mayor began his speech, lauding the Land Run Committee for their hard work on the celebration, Kitty for discovering the carousel most people didn’t even remember and Jace for his single-minded determination to find the ride once he knew it existed. He went on to praise the workmanship, the volunteer corps and the sense of community generated by one man’s dedication.
Beside her Jace fidgeted, unused to compliments. Kitty squeezed his arm, felt humility flowing from him and admired him all the more because of it.
“As you can see the lead horse on the carousel has yet to be unveiled,” the mayor said, making a sweeping gesture toward a blanket wrapped pony.
“I hadn’t even noticed,” Kitty whispered, turning curious eyes to Jace.
Eyes twinkling in a way that told her he knew what was going on even if she didn’t, he shook his head and pointed at Ned who stood on the platform beside the covered pony.
“What?” she whispered. “What is it?”
Jace only shook his head.
“Now if I could,” the mayor intoned. “I’d like to have these people join me on the platform, please. Kitty, Chuck and Trina Wainright.”
Kitty startled at the mayor’s request. Jace’s wink told her something was up. He nodded toward the mayor and gave her a gentle push. “Go.”
She’d not even realized Trina and Chuck were present, but she saw them coming forward, holding hands. Her heart hammered as she joined them up front.
“Ladies and gentlemen, all of you know that Redemption lost a native son to war. Dave Wainright was a fine man, a good son and husband and a brave soldier.”
At the mention of Dave’s name, Kitty’s throat clogged with tears. Oh, my. Oh, my. What had Jace and Ned done?
“Ned, will you unveil the lead horse please.”
Ned, looking self-conscious and anxious and one hundred percent uncertain teenager, slid the blue covering from the animal. Kitty gasped and gripped Trina’s hand. The crowd exploded in applause.
A stars and stripes design in vibrant red, white, and blue set the lead pony apart from the others. He was a warrior, a jumper gloriously alive, with proud head high, expression brave as his mane and tail flowed into an imaginary wind. An eagle, wings spread, flew from his breast harness, and the image of an American flag draped beneath the saddle looked real enough to be cloth.
In all the weeks they’d worked on the carousel, she’d never seen this horse.
“He’s beautiful,” she murmured.
Trina nodded in agreement. “Amazing.”
He absolutely was. And so was the man who’d discovered a way to focus Ned’s talent. Kitty’s gaze found Jace, her gunslinger for the night, grinning proudly from the audience.
When the applause and admiring noises subsided, the mayor continued his speech.
“He’s a beauty, all right, a fitting symbol of this carousel’s new theme—a permanent and useful exhibit to honor our dedicated men and women in the armed forces. By special request of those who restored the carousel, and with the approval of the town council and the Land Run Committee, I am happy to ask Dave Wainright’s family to help me cut the ribbon and then to take the first ride.”
Hefting a huge pair of ceremonial scissors, he waited for the three Wainrights to place their hands over his. They were all shaking.
“In honor of David Charles Wainright, I give the citizens of Redemption and future generations the newly named, Hero Carousel.”
Kitty hardly felt her hands moving as the ribbon was snipped and she and the Wainrights were honored with the first ride. Tears swam in her eyes. Trina wept openly while Chuck placed an arm over her shoulders and snugged her close.
When the ride was over, her photo had been taken dozens of times, and she’d exchanged hugs with the Wainrights, she stumbled off the platform, knees trembling.
Cheyenne and Trace, Annie and Sloan, and Sunny Case surrounded her. Trina and Chuck joined them. Hugs and pats and congratulations only brought more tears from Trina and Kitty and glassy-eyes from Chuck. Kitty didn’t want to cry but this unexpected honor to Dave overwhelmed her.
“This is the nicest thing. Such an honor,” she babbled, too emotional to say more.
“Well deserved. A great idea. We’re all proud of it.”
She looked around at her wonderful circle of close friends. “Did you all know?”
“Of course,” Cheyenne said. “The fun and the hard part was keeping you in the dark. You are so nosy.”
The group laughed.
Behind them, the carousel opened for business as families climbed aboard and the music began. After a few more minutes of congratulations and conversation, the crowd dispersed, leaving her alone with Jace. Across the way she could see Trina and Chuck surrounded by friends and a reporter. She was fine with that. Let them enjoy the moment. Dave was their son far longer than he was her husband.
The older couple’s faces glowed with joy.
“This means so much to them,” she said.
“Can’t be easy losing a son.”
“Their only son. They’ve never really gotten over his death.”
Jace was silent, almost brooding as he watched the carousel circle round and round. She wondered what he was thinking, but didn’t ask. She was too excited, too happy. The evening was perfect in many ways. The dedication to Dave, her in-laws’ joy and now this time with Jace to explore the feelings growing between them.
“You did this, didn’t you?”
He broke out of his reverie, his gaze coming back to settle on her face. “Not by myself.”
It was just like Jace to give others the credit, but she knew, and her heart was full with the knowledge that he would do this. Jace Carter was a good, good man.
“Ready to explore the park?” She hooked her hand over his elbow. “I think I hear a cinnamon roll calling my name.”
Cinnamon was just one of many scents drifting on the night air. Cotton candy, fried onion burgers, barbecue and funnel cakes warred with each other for attention.
Jace’s eyes twinkled. “What? No s’mores?”
Kitty laughed, the bubble of happiness so big she thought she might pop. “The park is full. You never know.”
Flirting with Jace was too much fun to resist. They circled the carousel in pursuit of sensational cinnamon delights, passing men wearing ten-gallon hats and six-guns and ladies in bustles or prairie bonnets. The festive, Old West atmosphere added to her enjoyment.
Trina and Chuck stood talking to friends. As Kitty passed by, she caught Trina’s gaze and smiled. Trina’s eyes flashed to where Kitty gripped Jace’s elbow. Her face froze in shock before she turned and said something to Chuck. Then they both frowned in Kitty’s direction.
Kitty’s spirits plummeted. Her step faltered. Jace slowed his pace, looked down at her with a questioning gaze. “What’s wrong?”
She shook her head, lips pressed together. She shouldn’t feel ashamed and yet she did.
When she didn’t answer, Jace looked around. He must have seen Trina and Chuck. “Do you want to go talk to them?”
“No.” What would she say? “I don’t want to ruin their evening.”
Jace’s jaw tightened. “And you think your being with me would ruin their evening?”
“I’m sorry.”
The light in his hazel eyes dimmed. “If you want me to leave, I will.”