Chinese New Year

"This seems like a good spot," Adam said as he unfolded the blanket on a rise above Virginia City. "We can see the big fireworks show from here." The sounds from Chinatown rose up to the heavens and Adam and Zoe could still hear the beating of the drums and the yelling of the children as they chased the dragon and then turned, shrieking in fear when the dragon turned their way and rolled his huge head from side to side threateningly. The adults would laugh at the antics remembering when they themselves were afraid of the dragon even though he was an omen of good luck.

Zoe put out her hand and touched him. "Thank you, Adam, for…well, I know it's a silly fear but ever since I was a child, I've been afraid of fireworks; the noise and then when the fire falls from the sky—I was always afraid it would set everything aflame. My father used to try to explain that it would never happen but I would close my eyes and plug my ears with my fingers, terrified the whole time."

Adam chuckled. "I suppose we're all afraid of silly things."

"What are you afraid of Adam that's silly?" Zoe and Adam had settled on the blanket. Adam's guitar was in the buggy; he took it whenever he went sparking Zoe because she liked to hear him sing. She called him her personal troubadour.

"Wasps. I'm afraid of wasps."

"Well, that's not silly. That's a rational fear—horrid insects. It's said that God created bees and when the devil tried, he ended up with the wasp instead. But I mean something like the dark. Are you afraid of the dark?"

Adam sat for a moment and then sighed—he would tell her. "Closed spaces; I don't like closed, dark spaces. I feel trapped and as if there's no air."

Zoe noticed his breathing step up. "I understand, Adam. I do. There's nothing worse than being trapped, nothing. My father had a hired a man once to dig a well for us. He ended up being buried under the earth—the ground had collapsed around him and he was smothered under it all. My father and the neighbor and some hands tried to dig him out but the harder they tried, the more earth fell. So they gave up. I couldn't believe it, that they were going to let him just lie under all that dirt. I made a cross out of twine and sticks and stuck it on top but I never went near that spot again. I used to think that he haunted us for letting him lie in the ground that way. I blamed every noise on him, ever odd thing that happened." Zoe looked up at Adam, feeling foolish. "But I was young and impressionable. I'm so much more mature now and am only afraid of being set aflame by fireworks!" Zoe laughed and Adam joined her.

"Well, I'm glad you have that fear because now we had to leave the celebrations. This spot is much better and I get to be alone with you and not in the crowd watching the parade. And when the big fireworks go off, we'll be able to see them. And, best of all, I didn't have to maneuver to get you alone."

"Did you want to get me alone?" Zoe tilted her head slightly.

"Oh yes, very much."

"Why?" she asked. Adam looked at Zoe, one brow raised in surprise and then she blushed; he didn't have to tell her why—she knew.

"Now, if I wanted you to think I was clever," Adam said, "I could say that when I asked you to come with me for the parade and fireworks, that I knew that you would want to watch them from a distance and that I saw this as my chance to be alone with you and not sitting on your front porch with your father peeking at us through the curtain to see if I was behaving."

Zoe laughed and Adam grinned. "Don't blame him too much, Adam. My father thinks that you're too experienced for me; he's told me to be wary of you and your intentions. He's afraid you'll break my heart."

"And what do you think, Zoe?"

"I know you're more experienced than I. Why, you went east to school and traveled to Europe and all over this country. You've seen wonderful things and I'm sure you've met beautiful women and drunk champagne with them—maybe even out of their slippers." Adam laughed. "And then there's me. I've never been out of Nevada except for a trip to visit a dying aunt in St. Louis years ago; you forget, Adam, I've lived in Virginia City for a long time, practically my whole life, and I've heard all about the Cartwright sons and of you in particular, Adam. You have the reputation for being a ladies' man. But I don't care. I like being with you, especially up here on the top of the rise with all the other people below us. Besides, I have no interest in any other man but you." She smiled at him and Adam's heart filled with joy. But Zoe dropped her eyes and added, "But Adam, I do hope that you won't break my heart. I know I could protect myself by never giving it to you-but I already have."

Adam watched Zoe's elegant profile as she looked out at the view. He had seen her so many times before until that one day when he saw her in church sitting quietly by her father. Zoe had turned her face toward him and it seemed to Adam as if a corona surrounded her and Adam knew then that he wanted her. Zoe wasn't beautiful in the sense that she "fried your eyeballs" as Joe would put it, but beautiful in a quiet, serene way. She gave Adam a sense of peace, a place to rest. Zoe was at least eight years younger than he but Adam didn't care about her naiveté; it only made him want her more. And Adam made up his mind on that Sunday in church that he was going to marry Zoe even if it took years to win her.

Adam reached for Zoe's hand and she looked over at him and smiled gently. She reached out and clasped his hand and scooted closer to him. He put his arm out and around her shoulders and Zoe leaned her head against him. Adam sighed. This felt right. So this is what love feels like, he thought to himself. It's a fitting together, a completion of the self—I know now. Adam kissed Zoe's hair.

"Hop Sing said that this is the year of the Dragon. It's the most favorable year for babies to be born or for people to start a new phase in life."

"Are you starting a new phase, Adam?" Zoe asked softly.

"I want to. How about you, Zoe? Would you accompany me so I won't be alone?"

Zoe sat back to face Adam as the firework display started and the explosions of colors and lights began to fill the night sky. "Is Chinese New Year like our New Year in that if you don't kiss someone, you'll be alone all year?"

"Now that I don't know," Adam said. "But I don't think it's worth taking a chance, do you?"

"Well, my pa says that gambling is wrong—the devil's pastime and taking a chance would be gambling."

"Now what are we going to do about it?" Adam looked serious.

"Well, maybe we should kiss—at midnight, of course."

"Well, here's the problem. I don't think I brought my pocket watch," Adam said with mock seriousness. "So what shall we do to ensure a happy year?"

"Well," Zoe said, her brow furrowed as she thought, "I think that we should kiss for a while in order to account for the margin of error."

"What a very clever girl you are." Adam pulled off his hat and threw it aside. He reached out for Zoe who fell willingly into his arms. Adam pulled her down on the blanket with him and held her while he kissed her softly at first but then with more passionate feelings, his mouth crushing hers, his lips traveling down her slender neck. Zoe matched his ardor with her own passion, clinging to him. And the fireworks broke and exploded over them as the two lovers embraced one another high above the happenings of those below, above the people enjoying the festivities and who had no idea that a man and a woman had silently declared their love to one another under the moon and the stars and the explosions that were set off in the darkness.

TBC