Chapter 9
As Carly came through the saloon doors in a blur of rich violet, she ranted, "How dare they?! I ain't goin' to put up with it!"
From a nearby table, Sonny exchanged worried glances with Jason, Francis and Johnny. "Honey...what's the matter?"
Angrily yanking off her violet bonnet and in the process almost ripping out the feather in it, Carly turned incensed eyes toward the four men, "Them damn witches! And they have the pre'umption to call themselves ladies. Ha! Ev'ryone knows Amy Vining is hot to trot after all the men folk, and then there's that Mrs. Collins. Why she belongs in the loony bin! Her and her premonitions." She took a heaving breath, before continuing full steam, "And Mrs. Hardy! She's the worst of the lot. That old crow is the most uptight, holier than thou woman I've ever met! And that uppity granddaughter of hers ain't any better! A gal with more airs I ain't never seen. Can't believe ya said that sister of hers actually went to all that trouble over that hog out back. Why her grandmother and sister wouldn't help a dying man if he weren't in the right duds!"
Sonny smiled a little, well acquainted with his wife's ravings. But before he could say anything, Carly continued, "And if it ain't bad enough I have to put up with 'em lookin' down their noses at me, ya wouldn't believe what all them ladies said to me in Chloe's dress shop!"
"They spoke to you?" Sonny asked in surprise. Usually the women in town avoided Carly at all costs.
Shaking her carefully arranged blond ringlets, Carly muttered, "No, 'course not! They more like spoke so I'd overhear them."
Johnny asked curiously, "What did them tabby cats say, Carly?"
Throwing her bonnet on the table, she shouted, "They said that us girls at the saloon would never dare attend their stupid social tonight!"
Sonny stood up and placed a comforting arm around his wife's waist. "Carly, why're you so riled up? You weren't plannin' on attendin' anyway."
Carly explained angrily, "Yep, but that was my decision. Now it's like their forbiddin' me from goin'. I won't stand for it! Sonny, we're goin'."
Shaking his head, Sonny murmured, "No, honey...we don't want that kind of trouble."
"I want that kind of trouble! Trouble for them biddies!" When she saw her husband about to shake his head again, she tilted her chin stubbornly. "If ya ain't comin' along, I'm goin' alone!"
Francis stood up and taking Carly into his arms, he began to spin her around the room in a lively dance. "Don't worry Carly, I'll escort ya. My feet have been itchin' to do a jig."
As Francis spun Carly away from him, Johnny took her into his arms, and said through his laughter, "Ya can count me in, Carly."
When they finally came to a stop, a breathless Carly turned to Sonny with a triumphant smile on her face. "See, I'll have escorts."
With a sigh, Sonny said softly, "Carly...we have other problems right now." He looked over at Jason, who had been sitting quietly at the table not paying any attention to the conversation.
Frowning, Carly walked over to her friend who was staring fixedly at the wall. She ran a worried glance over his unusually dishevelled appearance and sat down in front of him. "Jase?! Ain't ya found her yet?"
Without looking at her, Jason shook his head. "No."
"How dare they?! Why're ya here, Jase? Why ain't ya over there and forcin' those damn Quartermaine's to tell ya where Rebecca is?" Carly's voice had risen in her anger over her friend's plight.
Finally looking at Carly with eyes burning with rage and frustration, Jason sighed wearily, and ran a hand roughly through his already tousled golden locks. "Because Lila asked me to let her work on Edward first."
Carly gave an exclamation of disbelief. "What?! So how long will ya give her?"
"'Til tomorrow, but after that I'm goin' after Edward."
Sonny nodded, as he sat down, "And in the meantime, we've been askin' 'round to see if anyone's heard somethin'."
"Well?" Carly asked impatiently, "Has anyone seen Eve or Rebecca?"
Shaking his head, Jason muttered, "Edward must have had them leave in the middle of the night. I'm betting they're in Topeka by now, but no one's seen a thing. And Topeka is one hell of a large place to look without anything to go on..."
Carly let out an exasperated sigh, "Damn! So what, we wait?"
Sonny nodded, "At least 'til tomorrow. Then we'll have to pay them another visit."
"Well, I do know a thin' or two 'bout torture. Why not let me at Mr. Quartermaine?" Carly suggested with a decidedly evil twinkle in her eye.
Despite his worry and anger, Jason had to laugh at Carly's statement. "No. I think you can leave it to me, Carly. But thank you."
Carly stood up and wrapped her arms around Jason's shoulders. "We'll get her back." Then she paused as she said, "But since we can't do anythin' tonight, we'll be goin' to that dance."
Sonny shook his head firmly. He should have known Carly wouldn't give up her plans so easily. "No, Carly. You know the moment we step foot in that hall, those ladies will either faint from shock or start screaming from horror."
Carly shrugged and smiled wickedly. "And that's a problem 'cause...?"
Sonny sighed. He loved his wife and would do anything for her, but she was awfully ornery. But so was Sonny when it came to her safety. "We're not going, Carly." Then in a softer tone, "Why don't we have our own shindig here? A new stock of whiskey came in just waitin' to wet some whistles. It'll be a lot more entertainin' than some stodgy country dance."
For a moment it looked as if Carly would continue to argue, but then her eyes lit up and she jumped out of her chair. "Yep...our own shindig! And we'll invite all the men! Won't those damn tabby cats be spittin' when they see all their men folk leave that dance for here."
The men had to smile as Carly began pacing and calling for her girls. As she gave out her orders, they had a feelin' those fine upstanding women of Heaven were in for a big surprise.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~
Later that evening, Elizabeth put on another smile as she oh so carefully offered what must've been the hundredth person in the town hall a glass of punch. She had been relegated with Miss Vining to punch duty, and she was extremely agitated about the whole thing. How could her grandmother not remember what happens when she was near something as dangerous as red cranberry punch?
Even as the thought ran through her mind, she heard a scream, "Oh Lizzie, enough, enough!"
As she tilted the ladle full of punch, Elizabeth looked over to Mrs. Bobby Jones and then down to her overflowing glass. Oh dear! "I'm terribly sorry Mrs. Jones, I..."
Bobby smiled slightly as she took her hanky and wiped her stained hand, "Well, no harm done really, Lizzie. Just be a little more careful." With that, she was off carrying her two glasses of punch over to Reverend Jones.
Elizabeth let out a little sigh as she used a cloth to clean the table. Really, she had known that this night would be a disaster even before it had started. As she heard the musicians start up another dance, a waltz this time, she mistakenly glanced over at the most striking couple in the room. Sarah and Lucky. He was looking even more handsome tonight than usual with his dark brown suit, and matching cowboy hat. And his eyes were so bright with happiness as he took Sarah into his arms. Elizabeth looked away. She had tortured herself quite long enough...oh but the torture was just beginning. How would she survive when Lucky announced his love for her sister later in the evening?
"Lizzie," Amy said as she smiled and batted her eyelashes at the man before her, "This kind gentleman has just asked me to dance. You won't mind if I left you for awhile?"
Before Elizabeth could even, as expected, reply that she didn't, Amy was off clinging to the unsuspecting cowboy's arm. As almost everyone was dancing, Elizabeth sat down in the hard wooden chair behind the table and looked over the crowd. There was Luke spinning Laura expertly around the dance floor, and next to them was Ned Ashton and Alexis Davis. They were a rather good looking couple. And a very handsome blond man was escorting Chloe Morgan onto the dance floor. Elizabeth had never seen him before. The doc and his wife were there, but as usual she was much too busy chatting to dance. Oh and there was the town mayor, and his wife.
The sheriff and his men were scattered throughout the room, not dancing but looking out for trouble. Elizabeth noticed that Mrs. Felicia Jones was watching him wistfully. Why couldn't the man see that the widowed schoolmarm was head over heals in love with him? Recalling her conversation with him, Elizabeth thought it most likely because he was filled with too much resentment and anger to see anything else.
But as her eyes wandered over the crowd, she was more struck by who wasn't there than who was. Not one of the Quartermaines were present. That was quite unusual as Edward Quartermaine loved to strut around a social, letting people see he was still king of all he saw. And there were of course none of Moreno's men, or the crowd from the saloon, but this was not surprising since those folks never showed up to a gathering of the upstanding folks of Heaven...
As Elizabeth's wistful eyes moved over the crowd, a couple pairs of young eyes were watching her in slight irritation. "When will she leave that table?"
Thirteen year old Maxie Jones turned to her eleven year old cousin, Lucas Jones and laughed, "Now, Lucas, you know Lizzie Webber rarely ever dances at these things. They're still trying to forget what happened last time!"
"I know...I know. But how're we suppose to liven up this shindig if she don't leave?"
Maxie glanced nervously around. "Shhh. Don't speak so loud. What if the sheriff hears you? Or your father?"
Twelve year old BJ Jones laughed. "Father is too busy espousing the heavenly goodness of giving to Mrs. Hardy. The goodness of giving to the parish of course."
Maxie shook her head and stared at her cousins. "I can't figure out how you two can be the children of a man of God!"
Exchanging mischievous glances, the brother and sister laughed. But Lucas quickly turned the subject back to the obstacle standing in the way of all his fun for the evening. "Well, I think some drastic action is necessary. BJ, when this dance is done, you go and suggest to Uncle Luke to ask Lizzie to dance. He likes her so he won't likely turn you down like the other men." The turning to Maxie he said, "You keep an eye on Miss Vining. I'm thinking she won't let that poor gent go, but if she does, you keep her from gettin' back to the table."
"And how am I suppose to do that, Lucas?"
Lucas smiled, "Oh you'll figure a way." He patted the bulge in his jacket and said, "And I'll look after the rest. This is going to be the best shindig this town has ever seen!"
As the three youngin's went about their business, the dance had ended and people were once again lining up for their refreshments. As Elizabeth was alone, she tried as best as she could to serve everyone, but a few spills here and there were inevitable. When Luke came up to her, she had just finished with the rush.
"Why Lizzie, gal. Ain't you lookin' pretty tonight." Luke smiled at the pretty image the girl made in a simple high necked peach dress and her curls dressed up with a simple matching ribbon. It was nothing as fancy as her sister's flowing white and blue gown, but it set off the girl's creamy complexion. He wondered at the foolishness of the young men around him, including that son of his. Too worried about what was on the outside and not the inside...well what could he do? The youngin's had to learn the hard way for themselves. "Darlin', why've you been sittin' here all evenin'? Why don't you make an old man happy and give me the honour of a dance?" Luke held out his hand.
Elizabeth blinked and then said shyly, "Oh no, Mr. Spencer. Please don't worry about me. You know I don't dance very well." And that was an understatement if there ever was one!
"Don't be ridiculous Lizzie! You're comin' with me!" And with that, he grabbed her hand and dragged her to the dance floor.
Almost stumbling over her own feet, Elizabeth stepped onto the wooden floor to hear the fiddles strike the first notes of a...Oh no! A reel! A dance which required some co-ordination...something she was sorely lacking. "Mr. Spencer, it's a reel. I c-can't dance this!"
Luke smiled kindly but shook his head firmly. "Lizzie, there's nothing you can't do. Just have fun."
"Alright ladies and gents form your lines," cried the caller on the stage.
With her heart pounding, Elizabeth reluctantly joined the middle of a line with Luke across from her on her left. She looked at the head of the line near the stage to see Amy and her cowboy, and at the foot was Sarah and Lucky. Oh heavens...this was going end in calamity!
The music began, and the caller shouted out, "Bow to your ladies." The gents all stepped in toward the ladies and bowed while the ladies curtseyed from their spots. Or tried to curtsy, as Elizabeth almost tripped over the hem of her own skirt in the process.
"Right hand to the ladies!" As she watched all the couples approach each other with right hands upraised, Elizabeth quickly followed suite. And then she pressed her hand to Luke's raised one. Fortunately, Luke kept his hand to her height or she would never have reached it. Unfortunately, as all the couples turned clockwise once, Elizabeth went the other way, running right into the gentleman next to her. "Oh sorry!" she cried as she quickly reversed directions. Oh dear!
As she floundered back to her place in line, Elizabeth's face was a bright red. She couldn't even look up at Luke, afraid he was mortified being her partner. But the caller soon shouted, "Left hand to the ladies!" And once again Elizabeth found herself moving toward the inside of the line toward Luke. As she reached him and placed her unsteady left hand in his, he whispered, "You're doing fine, Lizzie. Just look at me." She looked up in surprise, and found him smiling down at her. As she turned counter-clockwise, she strangely found herself smiling a little.
Then she returned to her position in the line. "Both hands now!" She concentrated on Luke and as he came into the middle, so did she. And as he raised both hands, she did as well. And she followed his lead to turn clockwise, and then returned to her position in line once more. She had done it! Elizabeth beamed at Luke who smiled proudly back at her.
"Do-si-do!" Oh dear! Elizabeth realised the dance was still continuing, and quickly stepped into the middle where all the dancers already were and circled around Luke to his right without touching him, then returned to her place.
Then she watched as the head couple, Amy and her cowboy, sashayed down the middle of the line and as everyone around her whooped and hollered, Elizabeth couldn't help but give a small shout herself! Oh my, this was fun!
Amy and her cowboy returned to the top of the line, and did a one and a half turn clockwise until they faced the line of the opposite sex. "Now strip the willow!"
Amy and her cowboy went down the line doing a complete turn with each person in line. When it was Elizabeth's turn, she had been studying the direction so determinedly that she managed to go in the right direction without incident. Finally, Amy and her cowboy made it all the way down the line, and all the steps to the dance began again.
Elizabeth was much better this time and only stumbled a little, and when it came her turn to 'strip the willow' she found her partners very helpful in turning her in the right direction when she forgot. The only truly embarrassing moment was when her hand touched Lucky's and she forgot where she was. He and everyone had to tell her a few times to turn, but they all laughed good-naturedly with her. So by the time the dance ended, a flushed Elizabeth was smiling shyly up at Luke as he escorted her back to the refreshment table.
"I told you, you would do fine, Lizzie! You're a mighty fine dancer, if you just give yourself a chance."
With some pride, Elizabeth said quietly, "Thank you, Luke." However her joy was to be short lived as her grandmother and sister came up with Lucky in tow.
"Lizzie! I thought I told you not to dance!" Audrey began angrily, "Why poor Luke here probably won't be able to walk for another year, with your stepping on him every other step!"
Luke frowned, "Audrey! Lizzie is a mighty fine dancer."
"It really is kind of you to say so, Mr. Spencer. But we all know how clumsy Lizzie is," Sarah said as she glared at Elizabeth. "Really Lizzie, if you had to dance, how could you join our line?"
Lucky stared at Sarah in some surprise. "Sarah! How can you say such a thing?!"
Realising how she sounded, Sarah blushed and quickly changed the subject, "Lucky do you not think it's time to make the announcement?"
With an apologetic smile at Elizabeth, Lucky turned to Sarah and nodded.
As her grandmother, Lucky and Sarah made their way to the stage, Elizabeth sat down behind the table. Luke gave her a sad smile, and then he too made his way to the stage.
As she poured herself a glass of punch, Elizabeth felt her eyes water. This was the moment she had been dreading all night long. Taking a sip of the cool refreshment, she saw Lucky speak to the musicians. He was likely telling them he had an announcement to make. As she felt her misery increase, she stared fixedly down at her drink and as she was really quite thirsty, she finished off the glass rather quickly. It was rather nice as it went down...
"Lizzie!" Elizabeth looked up to see Lucy Collins. "May I have some of that lovely punch please." Without saying a word, Elizabeth quickly poured the lady a glass of the cool drink, hoping she would leave before the announcement came. She really could not take the woman's prattle at the moment.
"Here you go Mrs. Collins," And then out of nowhere, she said without thinking, "You'll need to make sure you're not too dry in the throat to prattle on about my sister's reeling in of Lucky."
As Lucy gasped in surprise, Elizabeth's eyes widened. Had she really said that?!
"Really, Lizzie!" Lucy exclaimed as she rushed off.
She really should be shocked at herself, Elizabeth thought, but for some unknown reason she felt rather good. There was this very pleasant feeling tingling up and down her body and she felt so light-headed...smiling she sat down and poured herself another glass of punch.
"Oh heavens!" Maxie whispered to Lucas and BJ as they watched the refreshment table from behind a nearby pillar. "Lizzie's really going at that punch!"
Lucas's shoulders were shaking with his barely contained laughter. "She's on a bender!" He opened his jacket to reveal the now empty flask of rum and laughed harder, "Lordie, I can't wait to see what happens when the rest of these ladies have some of my special blend."
BJ giggled nervously as she glanced around. "But you'd better make sure Uncle Luke never finds out you stole his rum or you'll find yourself in deep you know what!"
Dismissing his sister's worries, Lucas watched in avid interest as Elizabeth finish off her second glass.
As she licked her lips and watched Lucky walk onto the stage with Sarah, Elizabeth couldn't help but giggle. It was very strange but she was not feeling nearly as horrible about the announcement as she thought she would...
"Howdy everyone!" Lucky shouted out. The crowd turned their attention toward the stage and handsome couple. "I have an announcement to make. Many of you may already know by now, but I want to make it official." He took Sarah's hand in his, and beamed at her while he shouted, "I want y'all to know that Miss Sarah Webber has made me the happiest of men and has agreed to become my wife!"
As Sarah beamed at the crowd, the men broke out into hoots and hollers and the women clapped loudly. Soon Lucky was surrounded by the men and Sarah by the women, but they were the center of attention for only a short moment, as a lean cowboy came charging through the double doors at the far end of the hall and shouted, "Hey! They're havin' a shindig at the saloon and the first round is on Corinthos!"
Every single man's eyes lit up at the news and then all hell broke loose! Many of the men immediately formed a stampede out of the town hall, and others would've have followed if it were not for the fact the women in their lives had death grips on them!
Elizabeth giggled out loud at the sight of Amy's cowboy pulling her hand off his arm so he could follow his friends. And she felt the tears of laughter come to her eyes, as she made out her sister's enraged red face. She along with Audrey were shaking their hands angrily in the air! Apparently that den of sin had stolen Sarah's thunder this evening!
Amidst all this chaos, Elizabeth thought to herself, why couldn't she too go to the saloon? She had been wondering the past few days how Burt was faring and surely no one would miss her...not if she were only gone a moment. "Yep, I-I'll slip...in and ow-out...or is that owt and in?" Giggling to herself, Elizabeth got to her slightly unsteady feet...
And as she suspected not one person noticed the little lady in peach leaving the building as they were all too busy dealing with one of the many unexpected events that were to occur that night...
As Carly came through the saloon doors in a blur of rich violet, she ranted, "How dare they?! I ain't goin' to put up with it!"
From a nearby table, Sonny exchanged worried glances with Jason, Francis and Johnny. "Honey...what's the matter?"
Angrily yanking off her violet bonnet and in the process almost ripping out the feather in it, Carly turned incensed eyes toward the four men, "Them damn witches! And they have the pre'umption to call themselves ladies. Ha! Ev'ryone knows Amy Vining is hot to trot after all the men folk, and then there's that Mrs. Collins. Why she belongs in the loony bin! Her and her premonitions." She took a heaving breath, before continuing full steam, "And Mrs. Hardy! She's the worst of the lot. That old crow is the most uptight, holier than thou woman I've ever met! And that uppity granddaughter of hers ain't any better! A gal with more airs I ain't never seen. Can't believe ya said that sister of hers actually went to all that trouble over that hog out back. Why her grandmother and sister wouldn't help a dying man if he weren't in the right duds!"
Sonny smiled a little, well acquainted with his wife's ravings. But before he could say anything, Carly continued, "And if it ain't bad enough I have to put up with 'em lookin' down their noses at me, ya wouldn't believe what all them ladies said to me in Chloe's dress shop!"
"They spoke to you?" Sonny asked in surprise. Usually the women in town avoided Carly at all costs.
Shaking her carefully arranged blond ringlets, Carly muttered, "No, 'course not! They more like spoke so I'd overhear them."
Johnny asked curiously, "What did them tabby cats say, Carly?"
Throwing her bonnet on the table, she shouted, "They said that us girls at the saloon would never dare attend their stupid social tonight!"
Sonny stood up and placed a comforting arm around his wife's waist. "Carly, why're you so riled up? You weren't plannin' on attendin' anyway."
Carly explained angrily, "Yep, but that was my decision. Now it's like their forbiddin' me from goin'. I won't stand for it! Sonny, we're goin'."
Shaking his head, Sonny murmured, "No, honey...we don't want that kind of trouble."
"I want that kind of trouble! Trouble for them biddies!" When she saw her husband about to shake his head again, she tilted her chin stubbornly. "If ya ain't comin' along, I'm goin' alone!"
Francis stood up and taking Carly into his arms, he began to spin her around the room in a lively dance. "Don't worry Carly, I'll escort ya. My feet have been itchin' to do a jig."
As Francis spun Carly away from him, Johnny took her into his arms, and said through his laughter, "Ya can count me in, Carly."
When they finally came to a stop, a breathless Carly turned to Sonny with a triumphant smile on her face. "See, I'll have escorts."
With a sigh, Sonny said softly, "Carly...we have other problems right now." He looked over at Jason, who had been sitting quietly at the table not paying any attention to the conversation.
Frowning, Carly walked over to her friend who was staring fixedly at the wall. She ran a worried glance over his unusually dishevelled appearance and sat down in front of him. "Jase?! Ain't ya found her yet?"
Without looking at her, Jason shook his head. "No."
"How dare they?! Why're ya here, Jase? Why ain't ya over there and forcin' those damn Quartermaine's to tell ya where Rebecca is?" Carly's voice had risen in her anger over her friend's plight.
Finally looking at Carly with eyes burning with rage and frustration, Jason sighed wearily, and ran a hand roughly through his already tousled golden locks. "Because Lila asked me to let her work on Edward first."
Carly gave an exclamation of disbelief. "What?! So how long will ya give her?"
"'Til tomorrow, but after that I'm goin' after Edward."
Sonny nodded, as he sat down, "And in the meantime, we've been askin' 'round to see if anyone's heard somethin'."
"Well?" Carly asked impatiently, "Has anyone seen Eve or Rebecca?"
Shaking his head, Jason muttered, "Edward must have had them leave in the middle of the night. I'm betting they're in Topeka by now, but no one's seen a thing. And Topeka is one hell of a large place to look without anything to go on..."
Carly let out an exasperated sigh, "Damn! So what, we wait?"
Sonny nodded, "At least 'til tomorrow. Then we'll have to pay them another visit."
"Well, I do know a thin' or two 'bout torture. Why not let me at Mr. Quartermaine?" Carly suggested with a decidedly evil twinkle in her eye.
Despite his worry and anger, Jason had to laugh at Carly's statement. "No. I think you can leave it to me, Carly. But thank you."
Carly stood up and wrapped her arms around Jason's shoulders. "We'll get her back." Then she paused as she said, "But since we can't do anythin' tonight, we'll be goin' to that dance."
Sonny shook his head firmly. He should have known Carly wouldn't give up her plans so easily. "No, Carly. You know the moment we step foot in that hall, those ladies will either faint from shock or start screaming from horror."
Carly shrugged and smiled wickedly. "And that's a problem 'cause...?"
Sonny sighed. He loved his wife and would do anything for her, but she was awfully ornery. But so was Sonny when it came to her safety. "We're not going, Carly." Then in a softer tone, "Why don't we have our own shindig here? A new stock of whiskey came in just waitin' to wet some whistles. It'll be a lot more entertainin' than some stodgy country dance."
For a moment it looked as if Carly would continue to argue, but then her eyes lit up and she jumped out of her chair. "Yep...our own shindig! And we'll invite all the men! Won't those damn tabby cats be spittin' when they see all their men folk leave that dance for here."
The men had to smile as Carly began pacing and calling for her girls. As she gave out her orders, they had a feelin' those fine upstanding women of Heaven were in for a big surprise.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~
Later that evening, Elizabeth put on another smile as she oh so carefully offered what must've been the hundredth person in the town hall a glass of punch. She had been relegated with Miss Vining to punch duty, and she was extremely agitated about the whole thing. How could her grandmother not remember what happens when she was near something as dangerous as red cranberry punch?
Even as the thought ran through her mind, she heard a scream, "Oh Lizzie, enough, enough!"
As she tilted the ladle full of punch, Elizabeth looked over to Mrs. Bobby Jones and then down to her overflowing glass. Oh dear! "I'm terribly sorry Mrs. Jones, I..."
Bobby smiled slightly as she took her hanky and wiped her stained hand, "Well, no harm done really, Lizzie. Just be a little more careful." With that, she was off carrying her two glasses of punch over to Reverend Jones.
Elizabeth let out a little sigh as she used a cloth to clean the table. Really, she had known that this night would be a disaster even before it had started. As she heard the musicians start up another dance, a waltz this time, she mistakenly glanced over at the most striking couple in the room. Sarah and Lucky. He was looking even more handsome tonight than usual with his dark brown suit, and matching cowboy hat. And his eyes were so bright with happiness as he took Sarah into his arms. Elizabeth looked away. She had tortured herself quite long enough...oh but the torture was just beginning. How would she survive when Lucky announced his love for her sister later in the evening?
"Lizzie," Amy said as she smiled and batted her eyelashes at the man before her, "This kind gentleman has just asked me to dance. You won't mind if I left you for awhile?"
Before Elizabeth could even, as expected, reply that she didn't, Amy was off clinging to the unsuspecting cowboy's arm. As almost everyone was dancing, Elizabeth sat down in the hard wooden chair behind the table and looked over the crowd. There was Luke spinning Laura expertly around the dance floor, and next to them was Ned Ashton and Alexis Davis. They were a rather good looking couple. And a very handsome blond man was escorting Chloe Morgan onto the dance floor. Elizabeth had never seen him before. The doc and his wife were there, but as usual she was much too busy chatting to dance. Oh and there was the town mayor, and his wife.
The sheriff and his men were scattered throughout the room, not dancing but looking out for trouble. Elizabeth noticed that Mrs. Felicia Jones was watching him wistfully. Why couldn't the man see that the widowed schoolmarm was head over heals in love with him? Recalling her conversation with him, Elizabeth thought it most likely because he was filled with too much resentment and anger to see anything else.
But as her eyes wandered over the crowd, she was more struck by who wasn't there than who was. Not one of the Quartermaines were present. That was quite unusual as Edward Quartermaine loved to strut around a social, letting people see he was still king of all he saw. And there were of course none of Moreno's men, or the crowd from the saloon, but this was not surprising since those folks never showed up to a gathering of the upstanding folks of Heaven...
As Elizabeth's wistful eyes moved over the crowd, a couple pairs of young eyes were watching her in slight irritation. "When will she leave that table?"
Thirteen year old Maxie Jones turned to her eleven year old cousin, Lucas Jones and laughed, "Now, Lucas, you know Lizzie Webber rarely ever dances at these things. They're still trying to forget what happened last time!"
"I know...I know. But how're we suppose to liven up this shindig if she don't leave?"
Maxie glanced nervously around. "Shhh. Don't speak so loud. What if the sheriff hears you? Or your father?"
Twelve year old BJ Jones laughed. "Father is too busy espousing the heavenly goodness of giving to Mrs. Hardy. The goodness of giving to the parish of course."
Maxie shook her head and stared at her cousins. "I can't figure out how you two can be the children of a man of God!"
Exchanging mischievous glances, the brother and sister laughed. But Lucas quickly turned the subject back to the obstacle standing in the way of all his fun for the evening. "Well, I think some drastic action is necessary. BJ, when this dance is done, you go and suggest to Uncle Luke to ask Lizzie to dance. He likes her so he won't likely turn you down like the other men." The turning to Maxie he said, "You keep an eye on Miss Vining. I'm thinking she won't let that poor gent go, but if she does, you keep her from gettin' back to the table."
"And how am I suppose to do that, Lucas?"
Lucas smiled, "Oh you'll figure a way." He patted the bulge in his jacket and said, "And I'll look after the rest. This is going to be the best shindig this town has ever seen!"
As the three youngin's went about their business, the dance had ended and people were once again lining up for their refreshments. As Elizabeth was alone, she tried as best as she could to serve everyone, but a few spills here and there were inevitable. When Luke came up to her, she had just finished with the rush.
"Why Lizzie, gal. Ain't you lookin' pretty tonight." Luke smiled at the pretty image the girl made in a simple high necked peach dress and her curls dressed up with a simple matching ribbon. It was nothing as fancy as her sister's flowing white and blue gown, but it set off the girl's creamy complexion. He wondered at the foolishness of the young men around him, including that son of his. Too worried about what was on the outside and not the inside...well what could he do? The youngin's had to learn the hard way for themselves. "Darlin', why've you been sittin' here all evenin'? Why don't you make an old man happy and give me the honour of a dance?" Luke held out his hand.
Elizabeth blinked and then said shyly, "Oh no, Mr. Spencer. Please don't worry about me. You know I don't dance very well." And that was an understatement if there ever was one!
"Don't be ridiculous Lizzie! You're comin' with me!" And with that, he grabbed her hand and dragged her to the dance floor.
Almost stumbling over her own feet, Elizabeth stepped onto the wooden floor to hear the fiddles strike the first notes of a...Oh no! A reel! A dance which required some co-ordination...something she was sorely lacking. "Mr. Spencer, it's a reel. I c-can't dance this!"
Luke smiled kindly but shook his head firmly. "Lizzie, there's nothing you can't do. Just have fun."
"Alright ladies and gents form your lines," cried the caller on the stage.
With her heart pounding, Elizabeth reluctantly joined the middle of a line with Luke across from her on her left. She looked at the head of the line near the stage to see Amy and her cowboy, and at the foot was Sarah and Lucky. Oh heavens...this was going end in calamity!
The music began, and the caller shouted out, "Bow to your ladies." The gents all stepped in toward the ladies and bowed while the ladies curtseyed from their spots. Or tried to curtsy, as Elizabeth almost tripped over the hem of her own skirt in the process.
"Right hand to the ladies!" As she watched all the couples approach each other with right hands upraised, Elizabeth quickly followed suite. And then she pressed her hand to Luke's raised one. Fortunately, Luke kept his hand to her height or she would never have reached it. Unfortunately, as all the couples turned clockwise once, Elizabeth went the other way, running right into the gentleman next to her. "Oh sorry!" she cried as she quickly reversed directions. Oh dear!
As she floundered back to her place in line, Elizabeth's face was a bright red. She couldn't even look up at Luke, afraid he was mortified being her partner. But the caller soon shouted, "Left hand to the ladies!" And once again Elizabeth found herself moving toward the inside of the line toward Luke. As she reached him and placed her unsteady left hand in his, he whispered, "You're doing fine, Lizzie. Just look at me." She looked up in surprise, and found him smiling down at her. As she turned counter-clockwise, she strangely found herself smiling a little.
Then she returned to her position in the line. "Both hands now!" She concentrated on Luke and as he came into the middle, so did she. And as he raised both hands, she did as well. And she followed his lead to turn clockwise, and then returned to her position in line once more. She had done it! Elizabeth beamed at Luke who smiled proudly back at her.
"Do-si-do!" Oh dear! Elizabeth realised the dance was still continuing, and quickly stepped into the middle where all the dancers already were and circled around Luke to his right without touching him, then returned to her place.
Then she watched as the head couple, Amy and her cowboy, sashayed down the middle of the line and as everyone around her whooped and hollered, Elizabeth couldn't help but give a small shout herself! Oh my, this was fun!
Amy and her cowboy returned to the top of the line, and did a one and a half turn clockwise until they faced the line of the opposite sex. "Now strip the willow!"
Amy and her cowboy went down the line doing a complete turn with each person in line. When it was Elizabeth's turn, she had been studying the direction so determinedly that she managed to go in the right direction without incident. Finally, Amy and her cowboy made it all the way down the line, and all the steps to the dance began again.
Elizabeth was much better this time and only stumbled a little, and when it came her turn to 'strip the willow' she found her partners very helpful in turning her in the right direction when she forgot. The only truly embarrassing moment was when her hand touched Lucky's and she forgot where she was. He and everyone had to tell her a few times to turn, but they all laughed good-naturedly with her. So by the time the dance ended, a flushed Elizabeth was smiling shyly up at Luke as he escorted her back to the refreshment table.
"I told you, you would do fine, Lizzie! You're a mighty fine dancer, if you just give yourself a chance."
With some pride, Elizabeth said quietly, "Thank you, Luke." However her joy was to be short lived as her grandmother and sister came up with Lucky in tow.
"Lizzie! I thought I told you not to dance!" Audrey began angrily, "Why poor Luke here probably won't be able to walk for another year, with your stepping on him every other step!"
Luke frowned, "Audrey! Lizzie is a mighty fine dancer."
"It really is kind of you to say so, Mr. Spencer. But we all know how clumsy Lizzie is," Sarah said as she glared at Elizabeth. "Really Lizzie, if you had to dance, how could you join our line?"
Lucky stared at Sarah in some surprise. "Sarah! How can you say such a thing?!"
Realising how she sounded, Sarah blushed and quickly changed the subject, "Lucky do you not think it's time to make the announcement?"
With an apologetic smile at Elizabeth, Lucky turned to Sarah and nodded.
As her grandmother, Lucky and Sarah made their way to the stage, Elizabeth sat down behind the table. Luke gave her a sad smile, and then he too made his way to the stage.
As she poured herself a glass of punch, Elizabeth felt her eyes water. This was the moment she had been dreading all night long. Taking a sip of the cool refreshment, she saw Lucky speak to the musicians. He was likely telling them he had an announcement to make. As she felt her misery increase, she stared fixedly down at her drink and as she was really quite thirsty, she finished off the glass rather quickly. It was rather nice as it went down...
"Lizzie!" Elizabeth looked up to see Lucy Collins. "May I have some of that lovely punch please." Without saying a word, Elizabeth quickly poured the lady a glass of the cool drink, hoping she would leave before the announcement came. She really could not take the woman's prattle at the moment.
"Here you go Mrs. Collins," And then out of nowhere, she said without thinking, "You'll need to make sure you're not too dry in the throat to prattle on about my sister's reeling in of Lucky."
As Lucy gasped in surprise, Elizabeth's eyes widened. Had she really said that?!
"Really, Lizzie!" Lucy exclaimed as she rushed off.
She really should be shocked at herself, Elizabeth thought, but for some unknown reason she felt rather good. There was this very pleasant feeling tingling up and down her body and she felt so light-headed...smiling she sat down and poured herself another glass of punch.
"Oh heavens!" Maxie whispered to Lucas and BJ as they watched the refreshment table from behind a nearby pillar. "Lizzie's really going at that punch!"
Lucas's shoulders were shaking with his barely contained laughter. "She's on a bender!" He opened his jacket to reveal the now empty flask of rum and laughed harder, "Lordie, I can't wait to see what happens when the rest of these ladies have some of my special blend."
BJ giggled nervously as she glanced around. "But you'd better make sure Uncle Luke never finds out you stole his rum or you'll find yourself in deep you know what!"
Dismissing his sister's worries, Lucas watched in avid interest as Elizabeth finish off her second glass.
As she licked her lips and watched Lucky walk onto the stage with Sarah, Elizabeth couldn't help but giggle. It was very strange but she was not feeling nearly as horrible about the announcement as she thought she would...
"Howdy everyone!" Lucky shouted out. The crowd turned their attention toward the stage and handsome couple. "I have an announcement to make. Many of you may already know by now, but I want to make it official." He took Sarah's hand in his, and beamed at her while he shouted, "I want y'all to know that Miss Sarah Webber has made me the happiest of men and has agreed to become my wife!"
As Sarah beamed at the crowd, the men broke out into hoots and hollers and the women clapped loudly. Soon Lucky was surrounded by the men and Sarah by the women, but they were the center of attention for only a short moment, as a lean cowboy came charging through the double doors at the far end of the hall and shouted, "Hey! They're havin' a shindig at the saloon and the first round is on Corinthos!"
Every single man's eyes lit up at the news and then all hell broke loose! Many of the men immediately formed a stampede out of the town hall, and others would've have followed if it were not for the fact the women in their lives had death grips on them!
Elizabeth giggled out loud at the sight of Amy's cowboy pulling her hand off his arm so he could follow his friends. And she felt the tears of laughter come to her eyes, as she made out her sister's enraged red face. She along with Audrey were shaking their hands angrily in the air! Apparently that den of sin had stolen Sarah's thunder this evening!
Amidst all this chaos, Elizabeth thought to herself, why couldn't she too go to the saloon? She had been wondering the past few days how Burt was faring and surely no one would miss her...not if she were only gone a moment. "Yep, I-I'll slip...in and ow-out...or is that owt and in?" Giggling to herself, Elizabeth got to her slightly unsteady feet...
And as she suspected not one person noticed the little lady in peach leaving the building as they were all too busy dealing with one of the many unexpected events that were to occur that night...
