Chapter 35

Jess gently took Caroline's arm as they made their way toward the center of town. The night was pleasantly cool for the first Friday night in September. "Perfect weather for a dance, don't ya think?" Jess looked down on her and their eyes met again.

"Yes, it is." Carrie returned his gaze. Maybe Mandy is right, she thought. I feel so different when I am with him. Those dark blue eyes are like windows to his soul, and I like what I see there. He's the best looking man I ever met. I love his smile and that deep voice. He's so rough, so capable. And yet he seems so honest and genuine. I feel so safe with him. "I'm glad the dance is tonight, Jess. We need something pleasant right now. At least I do."

"We both do. And, Ma'am, I intend to make shor' that you have a wonderful time." The music started as he spoke, "Let's dance all evening, Carrie. We don't have a worry in the world tonight. Alright?" He led her to the dance floor.

"Yes, Sheriff Harper, that's exactly right." She smiled up at him as they began to dance among all the other couples who had just entered the dance floor.

Caroline had never danced with a more skilled and agile dancer in her life, and what amazed her was the way that Jess could stay on the floor dance after dance without taking a break. After the fifth or sixth dance - she had lost all track of time- , he asked, "Do you want to take a break and sit this one out?"

"I think so. You're some dancer, Jess Harper. You must go to dances all the time in Laramie."

Without directly answering her, Jess led her toward the benches that had been set up on the opposite side of the dance floor from the pie-judging tables. "Would you like some punch?"

"Yes, thank you. That would be very nice."

Jess spotted Ben standing just a little way from the benches that they were heading toward. "Ben, would you mind sitting with Caroline while I bring some punch?" Jess was determined to have a lawman by her side every minute tonight.

"Not at all, Boss." Ben led her to the bench and then said over his shoulder, "It'll be a nice change to have someone else to talk with besides Jess. You know, Caroline, he can be a little boring." He grinned at Jess as he sat down beside Caroline.

Jess laughed good naturedly, "Don't mess with my girl, Ben."

Carrie wondered how he meant "my girl." Yes, I am his date for this evening, she thought, but does he really consider me "his girl"? Is he with me every minute tonight because he promised Pa that he would protect me? Or does he want to be with me outside of his responsibility as the sheriff? She watched him walk down to the table with the punch. She couldn't help but notice the way he walked. He was as handsome going as he was coming.

She was finally distracted by Ben's voice.

"So what do you think, Caroline?" Ben was waiting for her answer.

"I'm sorry, Ben. Did you say something?" She was slightly embarrassed when she saw his expression. Ben was apparently amused that she hadn't heard a word that he had said to her.

"I asked if you thought that your mother would win the pie contest this year. I saw her come in with all those pies."

"Oh, I don't know, Ben. She made three new recipes this year. I think she's determined not to take second place again this year." Caroline laughed as she glanced back toward Jess and the punch table. She saw that he was talking with Amanda as Mrs. Fenton was pouring the punch.

Amanda had been dancing with Carl Nelson's oldest son, Tate, and they had decided to get some punch at the same time that Jess approached the table. Mandy managed to speak with Jess when Tate had turned to talk with one of his friends.

'You're quite an accomplished dancer, Jess."

"I enjoy it. Your sister is a very good dancer herself."

"Yes, I can see that she is really enjoying spending the evening with you." Mandy hoped that Jess wouldn't take what she was going to say the wrong way. "I hope that you did not ask her to the dance just because Pa wanted you to protect her tonight."

Jess was surprised not only at Amanda's frankness but also that she would think that his only interest in her sister was in his official capacity. He had seen her previous knowing looks at different times, and he was sure that she had noticed just how interested he was in courting her sister.

Amanda quickly continued, "Well, that's certainly not what I think. But you need to understand my sister. She prides herself on being the careful and thoughtful one in the family. I think she assumes that Papa asked you to protect her tonight and you're staying with her because he asked you to." She smiled at him. She liked Jess a lot, and she just knew that Carrie and Jess were right for each other. "It doesn't matter to me why you're with her tonight. But if you're interested in more than merely protecting her, you might want to make sure that she knows that. You can't hint with Caroline. She'll second guess what you mean. You have to be frank. Believe me, I know my little sister." Amanda smiled at him as she turned back to Tate, "Oh, thank you, Tate. This punch is delicious."

Jess took the two punch cups that Maggie Fenton handed him, thanked her, and headed back to the bench that Caroline and Ben were sitting on. Had Bill told Caroline that they had discussed her need of protection at the dance? Did Caroline think that was the only reason that he took her to the dance? He had to make sure that she knew how he felt about her. He would just have to risk being rejected if Amanda was wrong about Caroline's interest in him. Today was September the 3rd. She was supposed to leave for Baltimore on the 20th. That didn't give him much time to convince her not to go to Baltimore. He handed her a cup and sat down beside her.

Ben continued his joking tone, "Well, Carrie, I'll leave you ta the boring Sheriff. Boss, I'm gonna check out things on the other side."

"Stay away from the pies, Ben, until they're judged." Jess joked back.

Caroline looked up at him as she sipped her punch. "It's such a lovely evening. Ma was just saying today that she thinks we'll have an early winter. It's so nice and cool out."

They made small talk about the weather and the town until they finished the punch. "You want ta walk around a little 'fore we dance again?" Jess asked.

"Alright." She rose up just as one of the ladies was collecting punch cups. They headed around the edge of the crowd, and Jess took her arm again. As they rounded the corner behind the men who were playing the music, they were hidden behind a make-shift barricade.

Jess stopped walking and turned toward her, "Do you know how beautiful you are, Caroline Simpson?"

His question took her a little off guard. Before she could answer him, he tenderly placed his hands on both sides of her face and kissed her.

Jess was well aware that she responded to his caress, and he kissed her again. Just as he was moving his lips away from hers so that he could look her in the face, they both heard the clanging of a chuck wagon dinner bell.

A little breathlessly Carrie whispered, "Jess, the bell means that Rev. Douglas is ready to announce the pie contest winner. We need to go back to the crowd before we embarrass ourselves."

"Yes, Ma'am. I'd never want ta embarrass you." He gave her his most impish and endearing grin. Then taking her arm in the most proper fashion, he led her back to the edge of the crowd that had gathered at the pie-judging table. Jess saw Julia, Ma Poole, and Alice Donnelly standing near Rev. Douglas.

Amanda and Tate came up beside Jess and Caroline. "Looks like Mama is in the running again this year." Amanda said as she smiled at Jess and Carrie. Then she continued, "Rev. Douglas always asks the three finalists to join him at the table as he takes one last bite of the top three pies."

"Does he know whose pies he's eatin'?" Jess asked. "I thought someone said that he judged them without knowing who made them."

"Oh, he doesn't know, Jess." Caroline explained.

"My mother never enters the contest," Tate announced, "so she's the one who keeps the list of who made the pies. As soon as Rev. Douglas decides on the top three, my mother finds the ladies and brings them to the front."

"And they can't say anything to give away which pie is theirs." Amanda added.

"Sounds like these ladies take this very seriously." Jess commented.

"You bet, Jess." Bryce Mosley had come up behind them. "It's all good natured. But we have some fine cooks here, and each one of them wants to be known as the first place winner for the year." Then Bryce spoke more quietly to Jess, "Ben says ta tell ya everything is real peaceful still. Nothin' unusual anywhere."

"Good. Thanks, Bryce. Go ahead and tell Ben he can relax and come on near the pies. I don't need him to stay on the edges right now." Jess quietly told Bryce.

Just then, Rev. Douglas announced that the first place winner was the pear custard pie, the second place winner was the mixed berry pie, and that the third place winner was the rhubarb lattice pie. Mrs. Nelson handed Rev. Douglas the list, and he congratulated Alice Donnelly for first place, Ma Poole for second place, and Julia Simpson for third place. Everyone clapped and got in line for a piece of pie.

Mandy turned to Carrie, "Well, we'll tell Mama how good a cook she is for the next week and hope she is not too disappointed that she didn't take first or second place this year."

"Maybe you all need to have a cake bakin' contest. Julia's chocolate cake is the best I've ever tasted, but you better not tell Ma Poole I said that." Jess commented.

"She'd love it if you'd tell her that yourself, Jess." Carrie smiled up at him.

The rest of the evening passed all too quickly for Jess. He and Carrie danced many more times and were one of the few couples still on the dance floor during the last song. Bill had long ago told Jess that he and Julia were heading back to their house, and Jess had assured him that Carrie would be quite safe with him. Amanda and Tate had left two numbers ago. Jess had already told Ben and Bryce that there was no longer any need for them to watch the dwindling number of townspeople. When the last dance ended, Jess and Caroline began walking back to her house. The evening breeze felt so pleasant on their faces. As they reached the Simpson's residence, Jess stopped walking and turned to face Carrie. "I know the housewarming for the Wilson's is this coming Friday. But I hope you'd consider letting me take you to dinner on Saturday evening." He looked intently at her, waiting for her reply.

"That would please me very much, Jess." She returned his intent gaze.

Once again he held her close and kissed her passionately. He could tell that she was pleased. But then she said, "You know Mandy is probably watching us from the window, don't you?"

"Let her look." Jess smiled down at her.

"Well, we don't know who else is watching, Jess. We don't want rumors to start about our new sheriff and the Simpson girl, do we?" She giggled slightly. "And people in Rock Springs do have strong feelings about what is proper and what is not – especially my mother."

"I wouldn't ever want to hurt your reputation, Caroline, with anyone, especially your mother. Would she object to my kissin' ya?"

"No, but if we stay out here too long, she might." She knew she was blushing slightly.

"Well, let's git ya to the door then." Jess knew he needed to tell her goodbye even though he would have rather never let this evening come to an end. As she opened the door, he said, "I'll see ya in church Sunday morning if not before, Carrie. And ya can count on next Saturday evening."

"Yes. Good night, Jess." She smiled at him again as she closed the front door.

Jess happily made his way back to the boarding house. He was thrilled that Carrie had agreed to dinner on Saturday. However, neither Carrie nor Jess knew at the moment that the planned Saturday night dinner would not take place.