Hope Leads the Heart
Chapter 14 Fascination
Darkness was falling, October was approaching, and there was a chill in the air, but the Community Center was overflowing with warmth and light. The dance had attracted a big crowd of people eager for some music and dancing. As the Grant family approached, they could hear the laughter and see much of Hope Valley's finest enjoying an evening of entertainment. There were plenty of visitors joining in on the fun, too, and lots of people had spilled out onto the street to get some fresh air.
Tess Stewart and her brother, Ronnie, were there, along with Sam Tremblay. They had made the trip from Brookfield to see the Le Veaux and "size up" the competition as Ronnie was the majority owner and manager of Brookfield's only hotel. He was a fidgety eccentric with sometimes questionable behavior, known for getting himself into predicaments that required the timely interference and assistance of his widowed sister, Tess. Tess was a strong-willed woman and ran a huge ranch just outside of the Brookfield city limits. She ran a massive cattle and horse business that employed many and she ruled the empire with an iron fist. Never one to shy away from an opportunity or a disagreement, she and Bill Avery had a bit of history. It was she that sold Bill some horses and cattle to get the Double M stocked in the beginning. Bill thought she had misrepresented the health of one of the horses who turned up lame shortly after Bill brought them to the Double M. To say the least, he and Tess had a few choice words for each other.
Normally dressed in pants and boots just like her ranch hands, tonight Tess had donned a simple green dress and black shoes. She had taken a little time with her appearance and her hair was brushed and shining as it fell to her shoulders. Those who knew her hardly recognized the older but attractive woman who was joining in the fun and listening to the music. Tess just didn't "let her hair down" very often and was known for having a brash, sometimes abrasive, outlook on life.
The Grant Family made their way through the crowd outside, saying hello to friends, and walked through the doorway to enter the Center. Nathan, Allie, and Bill paused to take in the surroundings. There were simple decorations adorning the walls and small floral centerpieces on each of the small tables that lined the perimeter of the wood floor. Some people were seated around the tables laughing and talking while others were standing near the musicians and the Victrola. 3 pairs of eyes searched all the attendees and each was looking for someone in particular. They saw the Coulters, Tom Doyle and a young man they assumed to be his nephew, Henry Gowan, Fiona, Mayor Hickam, the Stewarts and Sam, Ned and Molly Yost, the Canfields, and Joanna Bryant.
"I'm so excited!" exclaimed Allie. She waved to Angela Canfield who was beckoning her to join a small group that included Mr. Doyle. "Dad, could I go join my friends?" she asked.
"As long as you make yourself available when the music starts and the lessons begin. I want the best dance partner in the room while I am l struggling through with my two left feet," said Nathan. "Could I have the first dance, Allie?"
Allie giggled. "You know perfectly well how to waltz and two step. I am the one who needs lessons, and I will be very happy to have you as my partner, Dad!" With that, she headed towards Angela, hoping to be introduced to the young man standing near her. Little did she know, that she had already caught an admiring glance from him.
As Nathan watched his daughter join her group at her first dance, Tess was approaching him and Bill.
"Inspector Grant, how nice to see you again. It's been quite some time since you visited our neck of the woods in Brookfield, hasn't it? I see your partner is stepping out tonight, too," said Tess as she lifted an eyebrow and tilted her head toward Bill.
"Hello, Tess," returned Nathan. "Yes, it's been a while. Gabe does a wonderful job for you, and we now have Mountie Robert Wolfe looking after Hope Valley. He learned a great deal from his time spent with Gabe. There just hasn't been any need for me to go to Brookfield for Mountie business lately." Not wanting to linger, Nathan cleared his throat and said politely, "Will you excuse me, please? I need to go say hello to some friends before the music starts!"
She nodded then turned toward Bill, who had a wary look on his face. He had remained silent during the interchange between Nathan and Tess. "What's the matter with you, Avery? Cat got your tongue tonight? You could say hello," admonished Tess.
Never one to allow someone else to have the last word, Bill quickly retorted, "Hello, Tess, I didn't expect to see you here tonight." He surveyed her appearance from head to toe and said, "Aren't you missing your riding breeches and boots? Don't think I've ever seen you in a dress before. You clean up nicely!" he grudgingly admitted.
Irritated by his sarcasm Tess found her voice and said, "Dresses don't work well for riding and roping cattle or running a ranch, Avery. You do know that, right? Or are you still pretending to be a rancher and hiring on a huge crew to do the actual work? Wouldn't want you to dirty that suit you are wearing!" Before Bill could reply, Tess continued on, "You are still carrying a grudge about that horse!"
"Nice deflection, Tess. Admit it. You don't mind the way I look in a suit, do you?" countered Bill.
"I'd just as soon look at a baboon as look at you!" retorted Tess with annoyance.
"Well, you'll never get a man's attention or a dance partner with comments like that! I'm going to ignore your bite and tell you what I think. When you are uncomfortable or don't want your emotions to show, you use sarcasm to change the subject and turn the tables. I think you've spent so much time doing a man's hard labor and running that ranch that you've forgotten how to be a woman! You've become hardened, shrewd, and stubborn!" said Bill with exasperation. This encounter was not going the way he had hoped tonight.
The look on Tess's face would have caused the heartiest flower to wilt. Before she could spit out a retort, Bill continued.
"Why did you come tonight, Tess, and why did you get all dressed up? Admit it, we both look pretty good tonight," he said in a somewhat softer tone. "It's a nice evening, the music will be grand, and Hope Valley has an opportunity to laugh and enjoy. Do you want to trade insults or should we try to be civil and enjoy ourselves?" Pausing for a few seconds, he continued with a slight smile, "You do remember how to relax, laugh, and enjoy some dancing…..right?"
Taking a deep breath and pausing a few moments to think about Bill's words, the rigidity of Tess's posture relaxed a little. She chose her words carefully and with a slight twinkle in her eye she said, "What I remember about dancing is that you need a good partner to enjoy it with."
Bill smirked a little at her response. "Why, Tess. Are you asking me to dance with you?"
"That depends, Avery. Are you a good partner?" she replied.
"I don't usually get many complaints," he answered.
"Well, then. I guess we should at least take a turn or two around the dance floor so that I can judge for myself," Tess said saucily.
Holding out his hand to her, Bill suggested, "We have a few minutes before the dance lessons start. Why don't we get some punch?"
With that, Bill guided Tess toward the refreshments.
Across the room, Allie was giggling nervously in the circle of young people that included Mr. Doyle's nephew, Matthew. He was a handsome young man who had pleasant features and an infectious laugh. He was far from shy and joined in the merriment with Cooper, Angela, Emily, and a few others. About 4 inches taller than Allie with brown hair, blue eyes and dimples, he fit in with the group very nicely. His wandering eyes constantly sought out one member of the group in particular, and he found himself watching her and hanging on every word she spoke. Of course, the source of his attention was Allie. She was special, Matthew thought, and the prettiest girl at the dance.
Already a favorite of most of Hope Valley's citizens, tonight all those pairs of eyes were focused on the transformation of a tomboy into a beautiful young woman. No longer awkward and lacking in self-confidence, they noticed that Allie carried herself with strength as well as grace, perfect posture, and a genuine smile that she bestowed on everyone around her. More than one attendee remarked that Nathan's little girl wasn't a little girl anymore, but promised to be the belle of the ball. Rosemary Coulter nodded her head in approval at Allie's appearance, for it was she that designed Allie's dress and had insisted on the wide blue sash. She looked sweet and lovely in ivory. Matthew certainly noticed and wanted to get to know her better.
Allie thought she would faint at the sight of Matthew in his gray suit. As cute as she thought Robert was when she had a crush on him, Matthew was just handsome in a more mature, appealing way- an older man of 18! He was polite, but witty, and listened intently to the conversation. He looked at her directly with his blue eyes and she could feel herself blush from his attention. She wanted him to ask her to dance…..desperately! A dance with Matthew would be icing on the cake.
"So, how long will you be visiting us, Matthew?" asked Allie.
"I'm not sure, but my Uncle Tom has welcomed me for as long as I wish to stay. Since finishing school a few months ago, I've been trying to decide what to do next. I'm not sure I want to go to college or work on my parent's farm. Fortunately, my parents encouraged me to take some time to think about it all. Uncle Tom has been really generous with his time and has had some great suggestions, too. He's been encouraging me to talk to some of the business owners here in town as well as the Mounties. I'm hoping to do that soon," replied Matthew.
Emily chimed in, "Well, if you haven't met our Mountie, Robert Wolfe yet, we can introduce you! He went to school with us when he was younger and we all had Mrs. Thornton for our teacher."
"Unfortunately, Robert isn't here tonight," said Allie. "My dad said he is working on Mountie business and covering rounds so that my dad can be here. Maybe we can introduce you tomorrow or on another day during the week."
"Thank you, Allie. I would appreciate that," replied Matthew. The conversation then turned to different topics as they waited for the music to begin and the lessons to start.
Nathan had joined Joanna, who was conversing in a group that included the Coulters, Tom Doyle, Fiona, and Sam Tremblay. Tess's brother, Ronnie, had just left the group to head back to the Le Veaux to nurse a headache. The friends were having a good time catching up on the news Sam brought them from Brookfield.
"Well, I must admit that I am enjoying seeing everyone so beautifully dressed," giggled Rosemary who considered herself a fashion icon. "Lee almost never wears a suit and tie to work anymore and you, Nathan, must wear blue more often! Red Serge fits your job position nicely, but blue really brings out those Nathan eyes of yours! Doesn't it, Joanna?" Rosemary queried coyly.
Noting his wife's attempt at matchmaking, and Nathan's flushed features, Lee stepped in during an awkward pause. "Sweetheart, why don't we take this chance to talk to the Canfield's before the dancing starts?" he said as he firmly grabbed Rosemary by the elbow and led her toward Joseph and Minnie.
"But, Lee!" Rosemary protested.
Fiona used the opportunity to grab an arm of Sam and of Tom. "Gentlemen, I have something important to discuss with you and I need your help." She guided them toward the front corner of the room to discuss the dance lessons.
Not having a date herself and noting that neither of them appeared to have one either, Fiona was trying to determine which one of them could serve as her partner. After sharing her dilemma with them, she learned that Tom was an experienced dancer who already knew how to foxtrot and was very comfortable teaching others to do it. Sam admitted to knowing nothing about a foxtrot but was eager to learn.
"Thank you for your honesty, Sam," said Fiona. "For the sake of providing a good example to everyone who wants to learn, I think it would be most helpful if Tom and I demonstrated the steps and the rhythm." Boldly, she added, "I do hope you will save me a dance later, though, Sam."
Smiling, Sam replied, "It would be my pleasure to be your dance partner, Fiona!"
"And I as well," added Tom, not wanting to be out done.
"Well, I'm glad that is settled, and it is a great relief, too!" said Fiona.
While all this was going on, Nathan and Joanna were left alone. Nathan was glad for the opportunity to have Joanna's attention exclusively for a while, but was annoyed at his reaction to Rosemary's comment. Why did he blush so easily? It was a "happening" that he couldn't control and it annoyed him tremendously.
"I have to agree with Rosemary, blue is definitely your color, Nathan, and it sure does bring out those eyes of yours!" said Joanna, ignoring his blush. "If I'm going to be honest, I was hoping I would get to look into those eyes a time or two tonight, while you were guiding me around the dance floor. Do you enjoy dancing, Nathan?"
"I don't have much opportunity to dance, Joanna, but when I do it definitely is something I enjoy very much. I love music, I love singing and getting to listen to both while I am guiding a lovely woman across the dance floor is very pleasant and relaxing as well," responded the Inspector. "And I must say, you look absolutely lovely tonight, Joanna. It's nice to see you in that beautiful dress, without the doctor's white coat and the stethoscope around your neck."
"Thank you for noticing. I haven't worn this dress since I arrived in Hope Valley because there really has been no opportunity to wear it. Since I twisted my ankle, I haven't seen you very much except on your rounds, Nathan, and was beginning to think you were ignoring me," said Joanna.
"I unfortunately have been very busy with Mountie business and the ranch of late, but have been looking forward to tonight very much. I'm hoping you will do me the honor of dancing with me a time or two! I promised Allie the first dance tonight, but I have a feeling that after that dance a young man named Matthew will be occupying her time!" said Nathan. "My daughter is growing up and won't want to be seen with me too much. She doesn't like my jokes, and I would hate to be the wallflower tonight."
Giggling, Joanna replied, "Oh, Nathan, you could NEVER be a wallflower! I thought you would never ask me, and I would be delighted to dance with you tonight. In fact, I would take it as a personal insult and regard the evening as a total failure if you didn't ask me to dance! Not happy about being second choice, but since it is your daughter that I am competing with, I will make an exception. It is my plan to have you all to myself tonight!"
Blushing again, Nathan remarked, "Are you flirting with me, Joanna?"
"I most certainly am, Nathan. Some men need a little nudge. You, however, need somewhat of a push!" she said boldly. "And I am just the woman to take care of that."
Unaccustomed to having women talk to him this way, or pursue him for that matter, Nathan was speechless while he took all this in. Before he could collect himself and respond, Fiona moved to the center of the room with Tom Doyle.
"Hello, everyone and welcome to the first dance in our new Community Center! My partner, Tom, and I will start the dance lesson in about 2 minutes. Don't hesitate. Grab your partner and join us on the dance floor," she said gaily.
"Will you excuse me, Joanna? I need to find Allie!" said Nathan.
"Of course," Joanna replied as she searched the room for a dance partner for herself. As luck would have it, Sam Tremblay approached her.
"Hi. Would you be my partner for these lessons and the first dance, Joanna? My name is Sam and we met briefly through Rosemary Coulter. I must warn you, before you say yes, that I am not much of a dancer and don't know anything about the foxtrot!" he said. "But I won't be able to learn without a partner!"
"Why thank you, Sam," said Joanna as she grasped his extended hand and walked over to the dance floor. They took a place close to where Nathan and Allie were standing.
Fiona clapped her hands to get everyone's attention and to get them to quiet down so everyone could hear. "Well, now that everyone has a partner, let's get started with the foxtrot. It is a very popular dance and when I visited my family in San Francisco, it was all the rage. Tom will help me show you the steps," said Fiona.
Her partner held out his hand, and the music started low, and quietly. "Now the foxtrot is 4/4 timing and is counted 1,2,3,4 or if you prefer, you can think of it as "slows" and "quicks". Slows get 2 beats of the music and quicks get 1 beat so think of the rhythm as slow, slow, quick, quick. Count 1-2, 3-4,5,6. The gentleman leads the lady to form a box on the dance floor and so it is called a box step. Watch us as we demonstrate!" said Fiona excitedly.
Expertly, Tom guided Fiona in a box as she counted out the "slows" and "quicks". First, he led her in the forward direction while he moved backwards, and then he reversed it. The couples were watching them intently and in awe of their ease and grace. They were in perfect time to the music.
"Now. Let's see the ladies try it by themselves. Just watch and follow what I do as we count together," coached Fiona. "I'll turn my back to you as though I am facing my partner and so that you can mimic me."
Allie, Joanna, Tess, Rosemary and the rest of the ladies focused on Fiona and tried their best to stay in time. After a few tries, they all agreed that they felt pretty comfortable moving in the "box". Fiona was pleased with what she saw and complimented her students.
"Now, gentlemen," said Tom. "Take your positions and ladies, please step aside as the gentlemen try to move with me in time to the music." He then stepped out the rhythm slowly and then encouraged the males in the room to mimic him. It took a few tries, but eventually Nathan and Bill, Sam and the rest felt fairly competent at stepping in a "box".
"That was very good, all of you," exclaimed Fiona. "Now just another word or two about working together as good partners. Gentlemen, the ladies won't know which direction you want their feet to go unless you give them a signal. You do that by gently applying pressure with the hand that is at the ladies' waist in hold and sometimes using the hand that is holding the ladies', too. Tom, let's demonstrate because you lead beautifully and I know exactly where you want me to step next."
The two dance teachers then showed everyone how to use the subtle hand signals to step right or left, forward or back, with ease and grace, without missing a beat. After this, Fiona had all the couples practice leading and dancing in the box step as she and Tom wandered around the room giving guidance and encouragement.
"Very nice, everyone! You all get an "A" for execution as well as effort. Now, enjoy the rest of the evening. Musicians- fox trot music, please!" said Fiona as she and Tom received a round of appreciative applause.
The band started playing Pretty Baby, and people scurried around the floor to grab their partners and start dancing. Nathan was very happy to dance his first foxtrot with Allie so that he could practice his newly acquired skill.
"This is so much fun, Dad," Allie said enthusiastically, as Nathan guided her in the steps. Aren't Mr. Doyle and Fiona the BEST dancers! Great teachers, too. Well, I suppose Mr. Doyle should be a great teacher, after all the practice he gets with my class!"
Nathan laughed at her comment. "This IS a lot of fun, Allie. I get to dance with my best girl and I haven't stepped on her foot yet! Good that you gave me the first dance of the evening, because the way a certain young man is looking at my daughter makes me very nervous! I bet I won't get another dance with you this evening."
"I'm your best girl, Dad?" she asked, ignoring the rest of his comment.
"Of course you are! You'll always be my best girl, even when you are all grown up and dancing in the arms of some sweetheart, who by the way, will have to pass inspection by me!" Nathan replied. "Allie, tonight you look like a lovely young princess at a ball. I am so proud of you, and I love you very much. I don't think I tell you that enough, and shame on me!"
"Awww, Dad! I love you, too, and I feel so special to be your princess. But it's time for you to think about yourself more. I want you to find your queen, Dad. Someone who will love you, and cherish you and take care of you. You deserve that, Dad. You deserve some beautiful, smart lady that will have eyes only for you and will never hurt you like…," Allie abruptly clammed up.
Ignoring the painful memory her words brought back, Nathan softly replied, "And you wouldn't mind if I found someone special like that?".
Allie gave her dad an immediate and enthusiastic answer, "Of course not! I want that for you. Very much! I would love to welcome a new mom into our family. A brother or sister would be nice, too."
Before Nathan could ask her if she had someone in particular in mind, he felt a slight tap on his shoulder.
"Excuse me, sir, but may I cut in and dance with Allie?" said Matthew.
Nathan was a little surprised, smiled inwardly, and raised an eyebrow at Allie. Her cheeks were a beautiful, glowing, rosy red.
"Why, certainly, young man," said Nathan putting on his stern "dad" voice. "Take good care with my daughter, now."
"I will, sir" replied Matthew.
"Allie, thank you for the dance," said Nathan as he stepped away and went to find Joanna.
He thought Tom and Fiona were the masters of the dance floor as he saw Tom whirl her around and add some fancy turns and footwork. Nathan also saw Bill and Tess dancing…..well, kind of dancing. Tess seemed to be trying to lead Bill all over the floor and Bill was having none of it. Even from a distance, Nathan could see fireworks flying between the two of them. The Canfields were taking things slowly but doing well with the basic steps and Nathan smiled when he saw Rosemary and Lee enjoying the music and having a good laugh between them.
Feeling somewhat disgruntled and overprotective about Allie, Nathan's mood suffered another blow as he gazed across the dance floor and saw Joanna laughing and dancing with Sam. A pang of jealousy enveloped him. Was he holding her a little too tightly or was it his imagination? Joanna didn't seem to mind and sure wasn't struggling to free herself from his hold.
The long foxtrot ended as the music finally stopped, and Nathan was rather relieved. He headed straight toward Joanna as Sam excused himself and walked out the front door of the Community Center. Nathan was surprised to see Sam make such an early exit. He appeared to be enjoying himself. Henry Gowan left early, too, but that was no surprise as Henry was not one to enjoy dancing.
As Nathan approached Joanna, her face lit up with a beautiful smile and she unabashedly said, "Well it's about time, Inspector. I was beginning to think you were going to ignore me for the rest of the evening. You know, I really love Allie but I don't intend to share you with her anymore tonight!" Joanna exclaimed petulantly. "Besides, she and Matthew Doyle seem to be having quite a good time becoming acquainted tonight!"
He would never admit it outwardly, but Nathan was very pleased to hear that Joanna was waiting for his company. "Is that, so?" he said.
As the music started again, the room was filled with the lovely Fascination Waltz1, one of Nathan's favorites. He loved to waltz. After all, his erect posture and height were an asset in the waltz and he was a bit conceited about that fact. What he lacked in confidence learning the foxtrot, he more than made up for with the waltz.
"May I have this dance, Joanna?" he asked. "Not a foxtrot, but this song is one of my favorites."
Her answer was to immediately step up closer to him and place his arm around her waist while she offered her right hand to him. "I wondered for a long time now, what it would be like to be held in your arms," she replied, gazing up into his blue eyes.
His ruddy complexion returned, but pleased at her response, Nathan said, "Well, I guess we are about to find out. I'll try my hardest not to step on your feet."
Holding Joanna at a respectful distance, Nathan guided her across the floor with the rise and fall of the waltz. For a tall man with very long legs, he was incredibly light on his feet, graceful yet strong, and arguably the best dance partner in the room. Blue eyes gazed into green eyes intently and not a word was uttered between them. Their silence spoke so loudly, everyone in the room heard it.
Rosemary watched the beautiful couple from afar and gave herself credit for knowing a good match when she saw it. Bill and Tess stopped bantering for a moment and looked upon the two dancers with a smile of approval. And Allie, who had finished her dance with Matthew and joined their group at one of the tables, looked at her dad with wide eyed joy. She was overcome with emotion to see him having fun and relaxing with the beautiful doctor that he obviously enjoyed being around. Yep, she thought, this waltz just might be the push her dad needed. Allie wholeheartedly approved of Joanna and decided it was time for her to spend more time getting to know her. After all, it was up to her to look after her dad in the same way he looked out for her!
Enjoying the music, as well as the warm embrace of the handsome man dancing with her, Joanna was the happiest she had been since she arrived in Hope Valley. "Nathan, you are an absolutely wonderful dancer!" she said. Where did you learn to dance like this?"
Pleased to receive her compliment he replied, "My mother and late sister taught me and were quite specific in telling me everything that was wrong about dancing with other partners. Honestly, their training was more difficult than what the Mounties put me through," laughed Nathan. "Fiona and Tom were much more agreeable with their lesson tonight."
"Well, you are quite a natural and I am happy to benefit from their work!" she said.
As they whirled around the floor in perfect unison, they received lots of looks of approval from the other dancers. Some paused their own steps to watch. Fiona and Tom stopped dancing for a moment to tease the two of them about teaching the "waltz" class. While appreciating the praise, the couple of the hour were wrapped up in the joy of beautiful music and dancing. They were momentarily transported to a world where only the two of them were important.
The music stopped and the couple hesitated before ending their embrace. It was as though neither wanted to be separated from the other. Nathan was the first to collect himself and speak.
"Let's find a table and rest for a bit. Shall I get you some punch?"
Joanna declined the refreshment so they found an empty table and sat down, wanting a private opportunity to talk and get to know each other better.
"Joanna, you have never spoken much about your family. Where did you grow up and please, tell me, do you have brothers or sisters?" asked Nathan. "You are so at ease with most people that I imagine you come from a fairly large family."
Laughing, Joanna replied, "I'm a physician, remember? I have to communicate with people and get them to relax so I can assess their needs and treat them. But, to answer your question, I grew up in Hamilton. My dad does carpentry and repairs furniture. He has a little shop. Mother was a nurse, but pretty much gave up nursing to look after my older brother and me. She was the one who inspired me to go into medicine. I attended the medical college in Quebec and had some wonderful mentors."
"It must have been difficult for you. A woman seeking a medical career and surrounded by mostly men in that profession. Our former doctor, Faith Carson, was a nurse who then became a doctor. She told Allie and me how very competitive it was in school and how she had to be that much better to be treated well. I admired her strength and determination very much. She was a good friend to us," said Nathan sincerely.
Feeling a little pang of jealousy Joanna considered his comments thoughtfully. She just had to ask, "So this Faith was your sweetheart once?"
Nathan laughed. "Oh, no. Didn't mean to give that impression. We were just good friends. When Allie and I were going through a difficult time, she really was very supportive. Allie needed a woman's touch at that moment in time and I am grateful that Faith was so generous and took so much personal time to help her through."
"I see," said Joanna, although now she was more curious than ever about this "difficult time" that Nathan alluded to.
During a short break in conversation, the two focused on the couples who were now dancing a Twostep. Joanna glanced at Bill and Tess who seemed to have reached some kind of truce and were actually enjoying themselves without sarcastic comments and momentary pauses to sputter at each other. She really didn't know Tess, but from the facial expressions she had observed Joanna was pretty sure she might be a good match for Bill.
Nathan's eyes watched Allie and Matthew who seemed to be having a good time even if they were not experts at the dance steps. From what he could tell, Matthew seemed like a nice enough young man for his daughter to have a crush on. And, Nathan had to admit, she DID have a crush on him. She was gazing straight into his eyes with a silly smile on her face and Matthew seemed to return it right back. "Lord, help me navigate this latest adolescent challenge," he groaned to himself. If the young man made one disrespectful move….! It didn't calm his nerves one bit knowing Allie looked absolutely beautiful tonight.
Joanna focused on Nathan watching his daughter and she had to suppress a little giggle. The father's adoration of his daughter was there for everyone to see. Heaven help the young man who came calling on Allie and had to pass muster from Nathan! The beautiful doctor found Nathan's devotion to Allie to be one of Nathan's most endearing qualities.
After the musicians took a brief pause, the music started again, and Nathan held out his hand. "Are you brave enough to try a foxtrot with me, too, Joanna?"
"With you leading, I could dance all night and into the morning, too!" she said.
"I may just take you up on that," Nathan replied boldly.
It was a full hour and a half later when the musicians played the final song of the evening and Fiona surprised everyone by singing, Good Night, Ladies..…..Good Night, Gentlemen2…..in a sweet, clear voice.
Everyone applauded and agreed that it had been the most enjoyable evening Hope Valley had experienced in a very long time. The first entertainment event held in the new Community Center was a resounding success.
Nathan started to walk Joanna home, while Bill said his good byes to Tess and went to get the car. Allie joined him after waving good bye to Matthew and his uncle and promising to invite them out to the Double M. Yawning, Bill and Allie were eager to get home and rest after all the activity and hoped it wouldn't take Nathan long to join them on the ride home. Both were very pleased about how the evening worked out for everyone in the Grant family.
Nathan and Joanna walked in peaceful silence the short distance to her rowhouse. Neither wanted to disturb the moment by talking and chose instead, to reflect on their wonderful evening together. As they walked up the steps and reached the front door of Joanna's home, she took out her key to open the lock. Nathan placed his hand over hers as she tried to open the door and said, "Allow me."
Ever the gentleman as well as a Mountie he turned the key, proceeded into the entryway, and turned on a light. He made sure there was no intruder in the house, and then turned to her.
"It was an absolutely lovely evening, Joanna, and I greatly enjoyed your company," Nathan said sincerely as he gazed directly into her eyes. "I hope we will spend more time together, and soon."
"Yes, it was a lovely evening, Nathan. I look forward to spending more time with you, and you can count on it being very soon!" she countered, holding out her hand.
Blue eyes gazed into green ones intently one last time and then he gently grasped her hand, bent over it and kissed it tenderly.
"Good night, Joanna, and sleep well," he said softly as he closed the door behind him.
1 When I was a little girl of about 4, I attended a lot of huge, traditional family weddings. My father, who was an excellent dancer, made a point of teaching me the foxtrot box step and the waltz. He had a strong lead. Fascination was one of our favorites and writing this particular scene has given me a lump and a tear and brought back some lovely memories. What I wouldn't give to have him lead me across the dance floor one more time!
2 Good Night, Ladies is a very old song published on or around 1867. The lyrics have been revised many times, and a popular version was sung at the close of every episode of The Lawrence Welk show.