Chapter Twenty-Six
After Annie was settled and resting at the Ponderosa, Shiloh began working on her ledgers at the dining room table while Adam sat in the living area reading a book. When Joe walked out of the kitchen, Shiloh stopped him.
"Joe, do you have a minute?"
"Sure," said Joe, pulling out the chair across from her and sitting down.
"I had every intention of accepting your offer to escort me to the dance tonight. I'd like that if the offer is still good."
Joe grinned. "Oh yeah, the offer's still good."
"Well, this may be a little awkward. I need to stay close to Annie, so we'll need to ride together to the dance. But other than making sure that Annie and Edwin have a good time, I promise, you'll have my undivided attention."
Later that afternoon, the Cartwrights were waiting in the living area for the girls to come downstairs. When they appeared, Adam excused himself to go hitch the buggy.
"Adam, you don't need to do that. It's taken care of," said Joe, smiling innocently.
Adam stopped, crooking his jaw and creasing his eyebrows, perplexed. "You hitched the buggy?"
"Mm hm. Yeah," Joe said, wrinkling his nose. "Oh, don't you remember…the other night at the dinner table…I asked Shiloh to the dance? I'll be taking her and Annie."
Shiloh, noticing his confusion, slightly smiled at Adam's raised eyebrow. "It's true. I'm sure Joe wouldn't mind if you 'd like to ride with us," she said.
Joe pinched his smile, looking disappointed that he had just missed an opportunity to best his big brother. "No, not at all."
Shiloh danced the first dance with Edwin. "Isabella, you really didn't have to afford me the first dance."
"Edwin, please don't call me Isabella. I'm known as Shiloh here. And I did have to have the first dance with you because I know you'll be sitting for the remainder of the evening."
"Why Shiloh?"
"What do you mean?"
"Why not Isabella?"
"I don't want anyone here to know, that's all. It's a privacy issue." Satisfied as much as he could be with her reason, Edwin found a table after their dance, and sat sipping a glass of champagne. Adam was occupying Annie's time, though Annie was a bit reserved, and Shiloh danced the next four with Joe, and then asked to take a break. They joined Adam and Annie at Edwin's table.
"Annie, what do you think about the dancing here?" asked Shiloh, teasing.
"It's more like hopping around on the correct foot," she answered, garnering a laugh from both Shiloh and Adam.
Adam stood, offering his hand to Shiloh. "May I have the pleasure of the next dance…that is if it's all right with Joe," he said, menacingly eyeing Joe.
Shiloh looked over at Joe who rolled his eyes, then asked Annie to dance. The four of them excused themselves from the table.
"Shiloh, why aren't you paying attention to Edwin?"
"Edwin's perfectly happy right where he is. He doesn't dance. He sits and watches and listens for mannerisms, speech inflections and accents. Then he applies them to some of the characters in his plays to make them feel more authentic."
Adam mouthed the word Oh.
"Why do you think he's such a good actor?" Acting is nothing more than the imitation of life. The more of life you observe and can apply, the more real the acting will be."
"I don't think I completely agree with that, but that's a discussion for another time." Adam took her hand and placed his other hand at her waist. She blushed at the feeling of his hand on hers, noticing the warmth and strength of it. Even though she couldn't actually feel the warmth of his hand at her waist, it still felt…commanding…as he led her across the dance floor. She even noticed his scent, aware for the first time of how comforting…and how edgy it made her feel.
When the music ended, she took a step back. "I think I'd like something to drink," she said, smiling, but avoiding his eyes.
"What can I get for you?" asked Adam.
"Edwin has champagne and glasses at the table." Adam held her arm at the elbow, guiding her through the crowd back to the table where Joe stood and poured her a glass of champagne.
"Thank you, Joe. You read my mind," she said, sitting next to Annie. "Are you having a good time, Annie?"
"It's a departure from what I'm used to, but I have to admit it is more relaxed. The people here don't seem as stuffy as those that frequent dances in Boston."
"These people work hard all day, every day to eke out a living from the dirt. They work hard…they enjoy the times they aren't working…something many of the people of Boston don't understand." Shiloh leaned forward to see Edwin. "Edwin, are you learning anything?"
"Actually, I've learned quite a bit just by watching you," he replied.
Shiloh's eyes widened looking at Edwin, and then her eyes moved away self-consciously. "Joe," she said without looking at him, "shall we dance." She stood, walking around the table to him, taking his arm, and walking to the dance floor.
Shiloh and Joe danced most of the evening, taking a break here and there to speak to Annie and Edwin, who were both perfectly content to sit and watch, sipping champagne. Adam sat…for a time. Then he moved to different places around the dance floor, talking to friends, watching Joe and Shiloh, talking to friends, but ultimately watching Joe and Shiloh.
Edwin said his goodbyes early and returned to the hotel, and when the evening was over, Annie and Shiloh sat in the back seat of the buggy quietly talking while Joe and Adam sat in the front with Adam driving, both silent. When they arrived at the Ponderosa, Annie excused herself to change her dress. Joe took Shiloh's hand leading her to the front porch, leaving Adam standing alone in the living area. He loosened his tie and sat on the hearth, wondering to himself why he was in a bad mood. It had been a pleasant evening with good company. Edwin was always interesting, and Annie was intelligent and charming, certainly able to carry on a lively conversation. For some reason, he was bothered by Joe and Shiloh dancing the evening away, and now out on the front porch. She was charming, laughing…alive as Edwin had put it, while she danced with Joe. He wondered if she was performing.