Absaroka County Harvest Fest

Absaroka County Harvest Fest was a full day; of pancake breakfast, parade, pumpkin decorating contest, largest home grown vegetable contest, pony rides, face painting, carnival games, and craft sales, that culminated in a twilight dance the first Saturday every October.

At the end of the long busy day, a little more than an hour before sundown a local band took to the bandstand, near a very large dance floor that was assembled on the grass of the Town square, alongside the specially constructed band stage pavilion. Once the band had settled in and tuned up, they announced the dance would begin in about 5 minutes and added that any requests should be given to Lani, who was seated at a table near the stage.

One of the local clingy divorcées glommed onto Walt, as soon as the band began to play and drug him out to the dance floor. Vic noticed and hastily placed a request with Lani for a song to be played 'very next selection' explaining it was imperative and personally really important. Lani and Vic had gotten to know each other pretty well over the past couple of years and Lani liked Vic so she took care of the request by writing next in bold print on the form and putting it on the top of the stack.

Once that was done, Vic found Cady and zeroed in on Ferg, she looked at Cady and instructed, "When I nod, before this song is over, you come dance with Ferg." Cady started to say something but Vic glared, "I don't have time to explain, just do what I said, when I nod you come dance with Ferg."

Cady continued to stare, with a confused expression on her face, but she nodded her head and mumbled a subdued, "Okay."

Vic grabbed Ferg by the wrist and hauled him behind her to the dance floor. The song was a bit up-tempo and she could see Walt doing his water pump priming motion and a sideways hot step. She did her best to maneuver herself and Ferg, while they danced, over to where Walt and the clingy divorcée were bobbing about. The woman's hand, that traditionally would have been on Walt's shoulder, was everywhere but his shoulder. Walt's look of discomfort was, Vic determined, less about having to dance to the up tempted song as it was being pawed at by the over eager woman in his arms.

Ferg muttered, "What are we doing?"

Vic turned to him and said, "Rescuing Walt of course."

"Ooookay." He said but sounded totally unconvinced.

They closed the gap between themselves and Walt and his handsey partner in time for Vic to hear the woman say, "Lizzie told me you two broke up because you're infatuated with your deputy. But I told her she was crazy there's no way you'd be interested in a big mouthed, big city, bottled blonde, Walter."

Vic heard the woman purr his name and had to resist pushing her out of Walt's arms. She waited until the song was more than half way through then quickly nodded at Cady, who hurried over to her and Ferg. As soon as the younger woman reached them Vic turned her partner over and made a beeline for Walt and the clingy, purring, groping, divorcée.

Vic, well aware that the song still had a little ways to go, tapped the woman firmly on the shoulder. When she turned surprised eyes to Vic, she didn't hesitate, "You don't mind if a big mouthed, big city, bottled blonde dances with Walt now, do ya?"

Although opposite to the woman's actions, Vic acted as though the woman had voluntarily relinquished Walt and stepped between the two. Walt had already released his hold on the woman and Vic's move forced the woman to let go of Walt in return. Vic threw her a final look, as the song came to an end and cooed, "Thanks so much. They're playing our song next and I'd just hate to miss it." She made sure to add as much saccharin to her tone as she could manage without laughing at the woman and her stunned expression.

When she turned to face Walt he was already reaching for her, but he was also laughing, even though he had tried desperately not to, he was laughing; hard.

Vic looked at him and mouthed 'Shut-up' which did nothing to help him regain control. She stepped closer to him and Walt lowered his head a little, Vic blocked his being seen by most of the assembled dancers and spectators. He turned so he was facing the band and Vic was closer to everyone else, effectively using Vic to shield him from the view of everyone, but the band. In her new vantage point Vic noticed the clingy divorcée stalking over to stand next to Lizzie Ambrose; both were attempting to bore holes into Walt with their icy stares.

Vic whispered, "We're being watched by Lizzie and her friend and I use that term loosely. You wanna to stop dancing?"

As one song merged with the next Walt shook his head, "No way! Don't wanna miss 'our song'."

Vic laughed at him, and then boldly said, "Well listen closely to it then, 'cause I picked it out special..." She halted her words as the singer began the lyrics of Uncle Kracker's Smile.

Vic lip synced the lyrics and made little miming gestures that matched the lyrics. She smiled at him, in a different way, each time the lyric was 'you make me smile' and she wiggled and shimmied when it was 'you make me dance like a fool', she also held her breath 'forget how to breathe', made buzzing noises 'buzz like a bee', and spun in his arms each in time the lyrics said 'spin like a record'. He had heard the song before, but had never thought of it as something so fun. Toward the end of the song Walt was a bit behind her but he smiled at Vic a different way each time he heard the 'smile' part of the lyric.

As the song was coming to an end he heard Vic say, "Boy, you make me smile" instead of 'Oh, you make me smile.'

They were both grinning and laughing by the end of the song. As the assembled crowd applauded the band, Walt pulled Vic into a hug and said softly, for only her to hear, "You make me smile, Vic."

At that moment someone in the band announced, "That song there, Smile, was played at the special request of Deputy Vic Morretti. Hope you enjoyed your song little lady. Anybody else wants to make a request please see Lani Strong Dove over at the table there ..."

The announcement went a bit longer but Vic focused her attention on Walt and realized that although there was no music at the moment he still had his arms around her.

She whispered, "I'm sorry Walt, I didn't know they would announce who had requested the song."

Walt looked at her with a hint of confusion lining his face, "No need to apologize Vic, I really like 'our song'."

She laughed at him and impulsively hugged him.

He kept his arms around her as a slightly slower song began and bent his face to her ear, "Dance with me?"

They were already moving together, but Vic nodded her consent anyway. Walt braced his arms a bit more firmly around her, pulling her a little closer. Vic tried to relax in his arms but the announcement was still bothering her, she shifted a little and turned her face to Walt's, "I just want you to know I didn't mean for everyone to know I picked a song out that we danced to. I mean ..."

Walt angled his head slightly so his words would flow straight to her ear, "Vic most of the town saw us playing around with that song. Besides Lizzie clearly thinks she has us all figured out and hasn't wasted any time spreading her gossip. I don't see where anyone knowing you picked the song out makes any difference."

She merely nodded but then stumbled a step.

Walt helped her maintain her balance as he read her nervousness clearly, "Stop worrying."

Vic said flatly, "It's a small town."

He leaned his face closer and breathed, "Yep, but it's too late."