Love on the Line - Deeanne Gist [88]
For the most part, though, he could enjoy examining the stock exhibits, listening to orations, watching the Maypole dance, attending a Texas A&M College baseball game, and best of all, taking Georgie to tonight’s dance. He glanced at her, his eyes drawn for the umpteenth time to her animated expression, her wide smile, and the tiny mole beneath her lips.
Her color had much improved since his rescue of the boy. He’d tried to play it down, hoping word would not get around with so much else going on. But already several townsfolk had approached him, saying they’d been told of his efforts and wanted to thank him.
He sighed. Being undercover was not one of his strong suits. He often acted first and thought later. But what else could he have done? He couldn’t exactly leave the boy to his own devices.
Still, his actions could undermine the impression he was trying to give. An ordinary telephone repairman wouldn’t be expected to jump in front of an oncoming team. He hoped word of his swift reaction wouldn’t get back to Necker.
Georgie pointed to the Maifest Queen’s float pulled by high-stepping iron-grays with white tasseled trappings draped across their backs. Luke admired the driver as he kept his horses in perfect time to the music of the marching band.
This year’s theme was the lily, the violet, and the rose. The milliner’s daughter, Lillie Ottfried, had been elected reigning queen and sat in white splendor, clutching a lily in one hand and waving with the other.
White, purple, and red flowers festooned her carriage’s frame while evergreens and arbor vines wreathed the supports of its canopy. The finest decoration by far, however, was the collection of little girls sitting at Miss Ottfried’s feet. Crowns of dainty white flowers rested upon heads of golden curls, their frothy white dresses poofing about them. A more lovely group of train bearers he’d never seen.
Miss Ottfried’s gaze traveled across the crowd, snagging on Georgie. The girl’s smile stiffened. Switching her flowers to the other hand, she turned to the opposite side of the street and began to wave again.
Georgie looked down, her teeth catching her lower lip.
Reaching for her hand, he tucked it in his elbow and gave it a squeeze.
Two carriages containing the queen’s maids of honor followed, with the speakers’ wagonette next, the Hook and Ladder Company, the Bellville brass band, and finally, the decorated wagons and floats representing German mythology, German history, local businesses, and social societies.
Luke recalled his hometown’s parades on the Fourth of July. One year, instead of wrapping his little wooden wagon with bunting, he’d painted its sides red with big white stars. When he was done, the stars looked more like giant circles, but he’d never forgotten the pride he felt pulling his little brother behind him in such a finely turned-out cart.
This parade, however, was nothing like home’s. He couldn’t imagine New York City itself putting out a finer, more elaborate show. A two-seated surrey with a yellow-and-black scheme passed by. A single white horse drew a creation in pink chrysanthemums. And then Georgie’s float, its red-rose cardinal flying high over the procession.
Ladies ooohed, gentleman hooted, children pointed. From inside the carriage, Mr. and Mrs. Patrick saw the two of them, their smiles widening, their waves more insistent. Laughing, Georgie used her entire arm to wave back, jumping up and down like a schoolgirl.
A well of protectiveness bubbled up inside him. She was so young. So naïve. And she had no idea he wasn’t a telephone repairman.
His impromptu marriage proposal flashed through his mind. Never once had he thought the break-in might jeopardize her reputation. He’d been too long on the move. Too out of touch with what it was like to live in a town where everybody knew everybody else’s business.
Had he known what it would come down to, he’d have led Necker and Duane to the float. But he hadn’t known. He should have, though. He should have.
Georgie clasped her hands together, resting them against her lips as she regarded