The lights from the lanterns that hung from the rafters filled the room, the flames flickering above all the happy people, couples young and old dancing together.
Thirteen year old Woodrow Pride sat with his back against the wall of the old barn turned dance hall, elbows resting on his bent knees and a bored expression on his face.
Right now he would rather be anywhere else but here, not because he disliked dancing or because he was bad at it, quite the opposite really.
No, it was because she was here.
Jessica Jane had moved to town a few weeks prior with her father Pete and Woody, along with the rest of the boys in town, had taken an immediate likin' to her.
She didn't wear dresses like the other girls in town, instead opting to run around in jeans with cow-skin chaps and a blouse, her bright hair pulled into a single braid tied with a yellow ribbon and a red hat pushed low on her head.
She looked every bit the part of a cowgirl from hat to boots and Woody liked that.
Still, he would rather muck out his horses stall than watch her dance with all the other boys.
The slow song ended and Woody's mother came over to him.
"Your father and I are leaving early, you know your curfew," Bonnie Pride said, looking down at her son.
"Woody, do try to enjoy yourself." The young teen held back a sigh.
"Yes, ma'am."
"Why don't you dance with that Jane girl? She's been lookin' at you all night."
Woody's cheeks burned at his mother's words, if that girl had been watchin' him like he had been watchin' her then she must have seen him lookin'.
Just the thought of being caught staring made him want to hide. He nodded mutely and Bonnie dropped a light kiss to the crown of his head before leaving the dance hall.
Woody must have zoned out for a few minutes because the next thing he knew he was being pulled to his feet by none other than Jessie.
"Dance with me, Cowboy." The thirteen year old boy tried to hold back the blush that was sure to break out across his cheeks by acting like the cowboys he'd seen at the police station.
Rocking back on his heels a little, Woody tipped his hat at Jessie. However, any witty remark he had planned to say abruptly died on his lips when she grabbed his hand and pulled him out on to the makeshift dance floor.
The fast pace of the song was one he knew well and he led Jessie through the steps of the dance. She followed each step and by the time the song was over they were both smiling.
While they were dancing her arms had found their way around his neck.
One of his hands was holding his hat while the other rested on her waist, very close to her hip. Before they had time to react the next song had started, a rather fast one, and they spun and hopped through it as well. Woody spun Jessie around and she threw her head back laughing. His cheeks were red, he knew they were, but he couldn't help it. He had seen her dance all night and she never put her arms around the other boys' necks.
He decided then and there that he liked this red-haired cowgirl who liked to ride horses and run around in jeans.
When the song was over Jessie's father told her that it was time to go home and Jessie blushed when she realized that she still had her arms 'round Woody's neck.
"See ya later, cowboy." She pressed a light kiss to his cheek and took off after her father, holding her hat down as she ran, the heels of her cowboy boots thudding on the wooden floor.
Oh yes, Woody thought to himself, he liked her and there was nothing he could do about it.