"Are you ready yet?" Jack called up the stairs.
"We're coming!" Gale called down the stairs. Volley, Spaz, and Gale came down the stairs first. Volley was dressed in a pale blue skirt and a white lawn blouse. Spaz had on a sunshine yellow dress with daisies embroidered near the neck. Gale had on a pale green dress with tiny pink rosebuds embroidered near the hem.
His little sister followed behind them a little slower. She had on a pale pink, floor length chiffon dress. Her golden brown hair settled into gentle waves against her shoulders with part of it tied back by a white silk ribbon.
"Wow," Jack said. "What'd ya do wit me baby sista? I coulda sworn she was hea taday."
"I'm still here Cowboy, just changed my feathers a bit. Do ya like it? Papa James sent it over for me to wear tomorrow to go to the dressmaker's, but I thought I should wear it tonight."
"It's beautiful, Angel, just like you. Let's get going. It has been left up to me to escort you lovely ladies to the party."
****
The party was turning out to be a smashing success. Grandpa Stewart had really out done himself. Everything was tinged with a little bitterness because it was a going away party. The whole evening was a whirl of color to Ella. She had so many partners she had to split her dances. Champ finally announced the last dance Ella found herself in Hoops's arms.
"So you're really leaving? It's hard to remember when you weren't here," Hoops whispered close to her ear. "I'm going to miss having you around."
"Its going to be weird not being a newsy. I'm going to miss waking up and not having 15 other people in the room and not eating with a room full of people," Ella murmured sadly.
"Do you wanna go outback and get some air?" Hoops asked a few seconds later.
Ella nodded her response and Hoops grasper her elbow gently and steered her through the crowd. The tiny lot behind the pub was lit with moonlight. Hoops led Ella to a small bench that was right in the center of the moonlight. They sat in silence for several minutes. Ella felt more at ease right there on that bench with Hoops than she knew she would ever feel with her father and his family. After awhile Hoops slowly and gently slid his arm around her slender shoulders.
"I'm sorry I was such a jerk about you and Montrose. I just get a little protective of my girls."
"It's ok. My brother Jack probably would have acted the same way," Ella said turning her head to give him a reassuring smile. Their eyes locked and Hoops reached over and caught her chin between his forefinger and thumb. Before he realized what he was doing, he leaned forward slowly, giving her time to react and then gently kissed her. He let all his feelings pour into that sweet, brief meeting of their lips. He quickly pulled back.
