Exotic dancer
It almost created a scandal. A strange new act came to town featuring a beautiful woman belly dancing in scantily clad Arabian harem wear. Petite with a beautiful figure, a slim exposed midriff and translucent, sheer gossamer draping her long legs, she moved with graceful undulations to exotic music. The men ogled, the women were appalled, sometimes hiding their eyes with a hand. Her straight, dark brown hair, originally pinned up, cascaded down during a dramatic music movement and nearly touched the floor. Men gasped at her stunning beauty.
The Cartwrights were all there, right up in the first row, a status spot afforded the privileged. A cultured Adam smiled, enjoying the music and dancing. A blissful look on Hoss' face, he whooped it up during the applause, and Ben, sensitive to the potential clamor this unexpected performance might cause gave a half-hearted, polite applause. How was he going to explain this to the straight-laced ladies of Virginia City? After all, he was the one who sponsored this event in hopes of bringing some culture in the town. When they advertised exotic dancing, he did not expect this.
Drinking in what he saw, Joe was mesmerized. He made deliberate attempts at eye contact during the show. It wasn't long before she noticed him and returned the smiles. At the end of the performance, he led the audience in a rousing applause, enthusiastically jumping up and clapping and whistling. Ben slumped in his seat, hiding his eyes with his hand. Adam watched his father's discomfort with amusement.
After the show there was the usual throng of men clamoring back stage. "We want to see Elisha!"
But the beauty's sister, Shayla Moore, the coordinator of this event, smiled prettily and sent them on their way. "You can see her at her next performance."
The women cackled, the men avoided them with smiles on their faces, and the crowd noisily left the building. They disbursed to reveal a lone young man leaning against the wall. When they had gone, he pushed himself off and lazily sauntered over. Shayla cocked her head as he approached. He had a few words with her.
In her dressing room, Elisha smiled in the mirror thinking about the flirtatious young suitor. She bunched a fold of her hair and brushed back as far as she could. There was a knock on the door.
"Yes?" she called out.
The door opened to reveal her older sister, Shayla. She was cute, but not as pretty as her younger sister. But then who was? "There's a Mr. Joe Cartwright waiting outside to meet you."
"Who's he?" Elisha asked, not interrupting a brush stroke and looking at her sister in the mirror.
"Only the son of one of the richest men in Nevada," Shayla replied.
"Ha! Just because they come from wealth they think they have special access to me!" Elisha cried, thinking it wouldn't be good to be seen with another man if she expected the young man from the audience to approach her. "Is he good-looking?" she asked turning back to look at her sister.
"Well . . ." Shayla smiled slyly, "looks aren't everything."
"I knew it! They're never rich AND good-looking." Elisha huffed. "Send him away!"