"So how about that Clark fellow, Alice?"

"What do you mean?" She tossed her ballet flats into the old fashioned bag, kneeling over on the ground to button the side.

"Don't act as if you don't see the way he looks at you from across the room. I think he likes you."

"Clark? Oh please, he's nothing but a fellow performer. Acquaintance at the very most." She swung the bag over her shoulder, blowing a strand of her curly hazel hair away from her eyes.

The petite brunet struggled to close her bag, finally standing to rush over to Alice. She had always been very nosey(although she had kind intentions), impatient, and above all adorable. Her button nose and dark brown eyes were probably her key features. Although her gracefulness was the reason for her talent in dance, as well as Alice's.

"You're not fooling anyone. There's no need to be ashamed, he's terribly cute. And I wouldn't be surprised if you were to receive any proposals of some sort soon enough."

"Whatever you say, Janet. Unlike you, I'm not one to count my chickens before they hatch." She rolled her eyes at the friend of hers, "Do you think Mr. Hall will ever allow us a holiday? We've been having longer practices and oddly enough my feet are aching."

"Do we ever?"

"But our last performance was last week, you'd think we'd get some form of a break."

"Well unfortunately Mr. Hall is one tight strung prude."

"Janet!" Alice found herself reluctantly laughing at the comment. How Janet seemed to make her laugh so easily, even with the most naughty of jokes.

She had to have been five inches shorter than her, and while short stature was often looked down upon by casters and teachers she was able to prove them wrong and overcome her weak spot with her amazing talent. It was probably one of the only things her and Alice had in common, but it was enough for them to become best friends. One of the only true ones she would ever have. The two continued their way out of the studio, chatting it up as the typical New York girls would.

Alice was taken by surprise as the two exited the large doors. Against the wall leaned the infamous Clark Richards. This was the man who had stared in so many acting performances with her that there were too many to count. After so many shared performances he seemed to take a liking to her, and lately had been going out of his way to see her. Alice was not particularly fond of him, but dealt with him all the same as if she was. He smoothly stood back up approaching Alice with his every growing aurora of charm flowing throughout the atmosphere. She plastered a sweet smile to him as she could feel and hear the obnoxious Janet's giggles and nudges.

He was handsome without a doubt always being dressed as if he were attending a fancy dinner party. Under his hat laid his wavy dirty blonde hair brushed back so nicely. He had a strong bone structure in his face, with a bright smile that almost stole her heart the first time she met him when he was her main love interest in a play. His emerald green eyes stared warmly down to her as he smiled, "Hello, Alice."

She turned her head to frown at the giggling Janet. She clamped a hand over her mouth to conceal her pleasured laughter. Alice turned her head back to him, matching his grin,

"How pleasant it is to see you, Clark. I do apologize for my friend. What are you doing here?" She politely asked.

"I thought I might give you a ride back to your Father's house, it is too long of a walk for such a delicate flower as yourself." Janet silently squealed. It sounded as though it had came from a mouse, Clark merely tipped his hat to her in response to the humorous noise, "And your friend if she needs one."

"Oh me? I'm quite fine, I just live down the street! And I'd hate to be such a burden and get between you two. I best be going anyways, Goodbye, Alice!" With that she started down the street with her usual bop to her step. Alice laughed self-consciously at her friends babbling exit,

"She's a mouthful isn't she?" He commented.

"She's something… a ride home would be a very kind gesture indeed, Mr. Richards."

"Mother?" She quietly shut the large mansion door behind her. She stumbled on into the house admiring her beautiful entrance room, "Mother?" she called out.

"No shouting in the house, Alice." She turned her head to see her mother sitting in the parlor. Charlotte, her mother, sat knitting in her rocking chair not even lifting her gaze to greet her daughter. She spoke sternly, but it was just her way of showing affection through her authority.

The daughter stepped her way into the parlor where her mother was. She leaned over to kiss her on the cheek, "Good evening, Mother."

"How was your ballet practice?" She questioned,

"It was fine. Clark drove me home."

"I've always favored that boy. He seems like a fine suitor." Alice groaned quietly. Why was everyone bringing up her and him being together? Her bag dropped from her shoulder onto the wooden floor beside a chair,

"Pick it up. " She rolled her eyes at her mother as she picked the bag up once more, hanging it on a peg on the wall. She reached for a table drawer to pick up her own knitting, but was stopped, "Oh, Alice, your father would like to see you in the study."

"Did he say why?"

"No, only that it was important."

She could smell the familiar smoke before even entering the room as she stepped down the long hallway. It was the same scent that was always emitted by her father's favorite pipe. He smoked it so often that it had become one of the most prominent memories of her childhood. The doors to the study were open, and she could see her father sitting at his desk writing something intently. Most likely something business related. She would never know. He lifted his head from his work to see her enter the room,

"Oh, sweetheart I've been waiting for you. How are you?"

"Hello father. I am fine." She stepped farther into the room, "Mother said you needed something?" The man stood up from his desk, taking his lit pipe from the desk. He motioned her to the window where he now stood, taking his pipe from his lips as he leaned against his desk,

"Uhum, yes. I have some good news." She smiled as she joined him by the window, still a step or two behind him, "But first I'd like you to tell me about your day."

"Please father, what is it?" He smiled over to his daughter. The words she spoke reminded him so much of something she might have said in her childhood if she wanted something badly. She rolled her eyes at his reluctance to share the secret, " Mr. Hall seemed to work us harder today, making class more difficult than normal. I don't understand it, being that our last performance of the show was last week."

"It's all discipline."

"If you say so, Father. Clark gave me a ride home today in his new automobile. He made a comment that he thought I was wonderful in the show." Her gaze must have drifted before for she had to redirect her smiling gaze to Charles when she started to speak again, " The automobile was nice, but I still prefer to ride the horses and ponies we rode near the stables."

His eyes had also drifted to the window, his body slightly turned to the glass panes. The pipe in his hands puffed smoke as he blew into it,

"So you do know Mr. Richards."

"Very well. What about him?" His eyes shifted back to his daughter, then to the floor.

Charles was not a tall man, in fact he would be considered almost short for a man of the time. Yet the way he carried himself was with great authority, the leader and guardian of his family. His hair was dark and thick with waves that shone in the light from the window. He lifted his gaze back to look at his daughter, slightly weary of how she would take the news.

"That's who my news is about. He seems to have taken a liking to you. Yesterday he asked for your hand in marriage." Alice felt her stomach drop as a look of horror and agony fought it's way to appear on her face. Every thought that had previously floated throughout her mind, her ballet practice, the stables, and the promise of good news had disappeared. It took all of her might to repress it, only showing signs of pain in her eyes that began to pool with salty tears. She mouthed the word what before her father could continue, " A nice boy he is, and I gave him my condolences." Alice let out a small cry, Charles's head sharply looking up from the floor,

"Father I don't love him!" She protested, tears becoming more relevant in her eyes. He took the pipe from his mouth, laying a hand on his Alice's shoulder,

"Oh my daughter, my sweet Alice. Clark is a nice man…"

"Father!"

"I wouldn't have given him my daughter unless I had the utmost respect and trust in him. If I had any doubt that he would not be the best suited for you I would have sent him on his way." Warm tears fell from her eyes, " I do this because I love you."

Alice's lips pursed, her cheeks grew warm, tears now flowing from her sockets. She took two steps back away from her father letting his hand fall to his side. Marriage to someone she barley liked was something she had never considered to be her own fate. Her eyes were pained at the idea of it,

"If you love me so, father, allow me this one thing… Before you give me off to a man as if I were nothing but a slave-to-be, I've never even left home. Let me know the world before this, madness!" She turned to run out of the study doors.

A hollow existence seemed to spread throughout her full room. It was quite large, expected from such a large house. Walls were decorated with famous paintings, her favorite being one by the artist Degas. It showed many dolled up girls prancing around a spectator who seemed to nod in approval of their skill. It reminded her of her childhood, always living impress her parents with dance. Always living to gain approval.

A knock sounded throughout the thin walls as an obvious fist clambered against the wooden door. Eliza, she thought.

"Miss Alice?"

"Come in." The dark skinned woman entered the room without much thought, an instant look of annoyance and pity swept across her face as she sighed. Almost as if to ask, Really? Once she saw her bundled on her bed,

"Child, do you plan on sittin there like you've just seen the devil for the next hour?"

"I can wallow in my own self-pity if I feel need be, Eliza." The desolate girl's face appeared quite pathetic. Her normally shining gaze now left her eyes seeming to droop in their sockets. She had replaced her dancing ensemble for a more casual nightgown. It's silky fabrics falling limp to show her slender figure. She held a pillow in her arms as she leaned against her rather large headboard. Her hair was messily pinned up into bun as if it keep some sense of dignity in her state.

"It ain't healthy, I can tell you that much." She plopped the clothes she had been carrying on her way through the door into dark mahogany drawers attached to her dresser. Slamming them rather vigorously, "It's time for supper." With a groan, she threw her pillow to the flat bed as she complied in attending dinner.

The only force driving her down the squeaky stairwell was the sole hope of convincing her father of the false judgment in suitor. To convince him that she would be better off with her own choice was her goal. But ultimately, it came down to her need to please. If her father ever so wanted her to marry his choice of a man, then she would.

Entering the room, she instantly caught the attention of both her father and mother. Their expressions of shock differed, her mother's lips pursed as her jaw dropped while her father merely looked up from his meal with his eyes. He peered at her through his spectacles, but soon dropped them as to continue eating. Charlotte closed her mouth as she brought her brows together to form a frown,

"Alice Marie Thatcher, what on earth are you thinking carrying yourself in such a manner." She didn't respond, only taking a seat next to her father who sat at the end of the table. She gracefully lifted a fork full of salad leaves to her mouth as to not acknowledge her mother, "Do you hear me?"

"Charlotte." Adam, her wealthy father, spoke to silent his distressed wife, "Alice why don't you go prep yourself a bit and come down when you are ready?"

"What's the point father? My life is a wreck as it is."

"Now why is that?"

"I don't believe I have to respond for you to know your answer."

Silence followed the witty response. Such insolence was not expected from a girl of upper-class status during this time. Looks were exchanged between parents as Alice continued to stare at her plate. Adam opened his mouth to speak, but was interrupted,

"Father, if I am to marry Clark. May I ask something of you beforehand?"

"Anything, my child."

"Allow me to take a trip, to see the world before I become nothing but a wife. Even if it's just a small part of it."

"An independent woman taking a trip with no man accompanying her?"

"You've raised me so, I should believe I would remain alright."

"I'd hardly think so with no man at your side."

"Father!" She protested. He lifted a finger to silence her,

"But, I might have a safer alternative." He paused to gain reassurance of her cooperation, "You have a cousin, who lives in a little town quite far away from here. There I believe you may experience uh… quite a different world than what you're used to from what I've heard."

"Where is it?"

"I believe it's, oh what was it… Blackwater? Yes Blackwater, Texas." Her mind raced. Texas? Of all places she could escape from, why would he send her half was across the continent, "He's had a series of unsuccessful general stores throughout the frontier, I believe he could use some help down there in his little pioneer town." The man had finished his meal. Leaning back in his chair, he lit his pipe, "He could teach you a few things, teach you skills you need to know to be a proper wife. Who knows, this request could be a blessing." BlackWater… the name continued to repeat itself. So unknown to her, what would she expect to find in this place that awaited her arrival?