Chapter 5

Laurey

Laurey smoothed her dress down one last time and descended the stairs as gracefully as she could.

"How do I look?" She twirled when she reached the bottom, letting the skirt poof up around her legs.

"You look awful pretty"

"No need to sound so surprised, Jud."

He opened his mouth to protest, but she flashed him a reassuring smile, which he returned.

Jud was barely recognizable. He'd somehow tamed his wild, curly hair, so it lay slicked back against his head. He had on a proper shirt, too, with buttons and a collar. It looked new; he'd probably bought it just for the party, just for her, maybe. He looked clean for the first time, clean and respectable, and maybe the tiniest bit handsome.

"You look nice too."

He mumbled a thank you, clearly as embarrassed as he was pleased.

She walked over to where he stood in the kitchen. "Never seen you so dressed up before." He wasn't wearing a tie she could straighten, so she settled for putting a hand on his arm. "C'mon, let's get goin' before it gets dark. Looks like everyone else left already. I wanted to be there early, but with all the girls from Bushyhead comin' over, Aunt Eller made me act like I was the host along with her."

Much as it annoyed her, Laurey had allowed it, hadn't wanted anything to ruin the day of the social, especially not a fight with Aunt Eller. She knew the reason Aunt Eller had kept her busy in the house and Jud busy in the field all day, knew it was a desperately transparent attempt to keep them apart, to try and get Laurey to talk to other fellers. As though Laurey had any use for any boy who wasn't Jud.

She grabbed up her picnic basket in one hand and took his arm with the other. He helped her into the cart, putting her basket in the back. After a moment of consideration, she took out the ribbon from her hair and tied it around the basket handle.

"You ain't supposed to know whose basket you're gettin'" she explained, "and I don't want you havin' lunch with some other girl tomorrow. So now you know mine's the one with the purple ribbon"

"That's smart."

"You ever been to a box social before?" She regretted the question as soon as she asked it, knew full well that he probably hadn't been to many parties. Maybe none at all.

"No"

"You're gonna have fun. At least I hope you will; it's really nothin' that excitin', just dancin', then there'll be the auction at night. Then tomorrow we'll go on our picnic. If you decide to bid on my basket, of course. I don't wanna assume."

"Of course I'm gonna–"

"I know, I'm just teasin'" she put a hand on his arm. He was getting better at recognizing when she wasn't serious, but there were times she still had to let him know.

They weren't lagging as far behind as Laurey thought, and soon some of the other partygoers came into view in their carts and surries.

"Didn't know I was supposed to hire a rig. Did you want me to hire one?" he asked.

"'Course not. I think that's a silly thing to spend money on" she reassured him, her eyes scanning the road to see…there he was. The last time Curly had come by, he said he was going to rent a rig, and he had after all. She just wasn't the one riding alongside him like she was in the pretty picture he'd painted with his words.

"Curly and Gertie Cummings are goin' together" she pointed out as placidly as she could when she realized Jud was following her gaze and it would have been more awkward to pretend she hadn't been looking. "D'you know her? She's sweet. Probably the only girl in the Territory who could actually put up with his awful jokes. I think her father owns a store" she added, eying Gertie's dress. Even if she had the talent to make something that fine and frilly on her own, she wouldn't be able to afford the fabric.

Eager to get off the subject of Curly and how pretty Gertie's dresses were, she spotted another couple. "Did you hear about Ado Annie and the peddler? Well," she continued, knowing that Jud had no way of knowing any gossip unless she told it to him "see, her Pa promised her to Will Parker if Will could make fifty dollars. And he did make fifty dollars in Kansas City, but then he spent it all on presents and things, and…" She continued talking all the way to Skidmore's Ranch, telling Jud absolutely everything she could think of, so he'd know just as much as she did when they got there.

She kept his hand in hers, squeezing it in delight at the sight of everyone in Claremore in their best clothes, of the lanterns, of the tables bowed under the weight of food and drinks, They put her basket with the others, then edged closer to the crowd.

"Wanna dance?" She asked, once she absorbed as much as she could.

"I do, but I dunno how good—"

"You don't have to be good," she beamed at him, "you just have to hold me. And I know you can do that" she whispered, emboldened by the excitement of the night.

He nodded and put his hand on her waist, leading her onto the floor.

He was a better dancer than she would have thought, spinning and even lifting her in the air. The secret, selfish part of her loved the fact that the first time they were seen together as a couple, he was presenting himself better than usual. That way no one could think she'd made a terrible choice in picking him over Curly.

"You're strong" she giggled, as he set her down.

He shrugged, clearly pleased with her compliment. He kept a hand on her waist, kept her close against him, as they danced.

"All right, now! Time for a square dance!"

She had enjoyed the idea of mixer dances before they'd gotten to the social. It would be impossible for a man to do anything untoward to her, and it would be worth a few awkward seconds of dancing with Curly to meet new people and get caught up with folks she rarely spoke to. But as the dance was announced, something hot and sharp flared through her at the thought of Jud dancing with anyone else. There were so many girls at the social, and they all seemed prettier than she was, whether they were more rounded up or more graceful or had more expensive dresses. Jud had told her he'd never leave her alone, but it was hard to believe with so many pretty girls around. And his bidding on her basket was sweet, but it didn't mean much, just that he was willing to spend a few pennies on her.

She knew from watching Ado Annie how quickly women could entrap men, and her mind was filled with the image of a tiny, perfumed hand slipping into Jud's, a soft mellow voice saying how brave he was, inviting him to come over some time. Fathers would probably like him too, since it seemed as though every farmer in the Territory was worried about his daughter's running off with a cowboy or someone similarly shiftless. Farmers who didn't know Jud's reputation of being a little strange would likely be overjoyed to have him as a son-in-law; if he so much as kissed a girl behind a haystack, there'd be a shotgun wedding, and then Laurey would be alone without him to protect her. She wouldn't let that happen if she could help it.

"Let's get some punch before it's all gone. I'm gettin' awful tired."

"Yeah, all right, darlin'."

They got punch and a bit of food before wandering to the side of the barn, away from the music and the pretty girls.

"You wanna sit down and catch your breath?"

"Huh? Oh, no, I…" she bit her lip; it wasn't fair to him if she lied. If he was interested in other girls, she might as well find out then and there instead of being caught by surprise as she just started liking him more and more. "I'm sorry, I know it's awful, but I just…I didn't want you dancin' with other girls. But you can, if you want, of course. You deserve to have fun, I just…" she did want to give him the option, wanted to seem neutral about it, but her eyes filled with tears before she could stop herself.

"Hey, hey, it's all right" he hugged her tight against his chest. "Come on, tell me what's wrong."

"It's just there's…it just seems like…like every girl here's prettier'n me." Saying it out loud made her cringe from her own pettiness, but didn't stop another flood of tears, didn't stop the sort of embarrassing confession he was able to draw from her with his silence and his serious understanding. "And I'm scared that you're gonna dance with…with the pretty girls, and you're gonna like 'em more because they look like your French postcard girls you have on the wall, and so that's the kinda girl you like, 'cuz you have pictures of 'em, and you're gonna wanna be with one of 'em forever"

He shushed her and stroked her hair until she'd calmed down enough to listen to him.

"No one I like better'n you, oughta know that by now. Prettiest girl I've ever seen, too."

"Really?" she sniffled. "But-but I ain't…I don't look like them other women. The ones you like. I'm just…I dunno…plain or-"

"Don't ever say that, darlin'. You're so beautiful. You know, I used to look at you through your window and-and just think how much I wanted you, 'cause you were so pretty. And postcard girls are nice to look at, but I want a real woman—I want you so much more. 'Sides, I-I bet if you was on a postcard, everyone'd want to buy it and look at you. I sure would."

She smiled against his chest. On the rare occasions Curly told her she was pretty, she never fully believed him, always worried he was teasing her. But Jud didn't lie like that. He must have meant it. Must have really thought she was the prettiest girl in the world.

"Just so long as-as you like lookin' at me, that's the important thing" she whispered, not wanting to sound vain by making him elaborate. "And you don't wanna dance with no one else? There's no other girl you took a shine to?"

"No one. Just you."

"I'm glad about that." She rested her head against his shoulder as the light faded around them.

"You okay? Now that it's gettin' dark? I can take you home whenever you need, even if we miss the auction."

She shook her head. "I'm okay when I'm with you." That wasn't quite right; lately she was only okay when she was with him, but she had confessed enough that night. "We oughta go back to the party" she mumbled, once she could hear that the square dance was over. "People will say…well, you know how folks talk."

"Yeah"

They danced together some more, and this time Laurey paid no mind to the other girls, no matter how lovely they were.

By the time her feet and legs burned with exhaustion, it was time for the auction. Even under Aunt Eller's scrutinizing gaze, Laurey kept her arm entwined around Jud's in front of everyone.

Aunt Eller pointed to Laurey's basket, and Laurey squeezed Jud's arm. "All right, now this one looks mighty pretty, oughta be a cherry pie inside and–"

"Five dollars!"

There was a smattering of laughter through the crowd, and Jud looked around, the familiar mistrust and anger back in his eyes.

"They ain't laughin' to be mean" Laurey whispered. "They're just laughin' because it's supposed to be anonymous. But since you bid so fast, you must've known it was mine. They probably all think it's sweet"

Aunt Eller wasn't laughing, though. "Right, that's five dollars to Mr. Fry. Anyone else? Looks like a mighty nice basket."

Laurey's eyes darted to Curly. She had been momentarily worried he'd try to do something stupid, but he kept his head down and his eyes glued on Gertie's basket, which rested by his feet.

"Five dollars and two bits" Cord offered.

"Six dollars" Laurey could tell Jud was trying to stay calm, but the slight snarl in his voice hushed everyone up.

"Cord, wanna bid some more? Looks like there might be gooseberry tarts inside."

"Nah, wouldn't feel right biddin' against Jud, not after what he done."

Aunt Eller sighed audibly, looking out at the crowd. "Anyone? Going once…going twice…"

"Just say 'gone' already!" Will Parker groaned.

"Fine. Gone. Basket goes to Jud Fry for six dollars."

He handed her the money while everyone in the crowd applauded. Applauded for them louder than they had for anyone else, which was what Jud deserved.

They got in his cart, her basket once again safely resting in the back.

"That was wonderful,' she crooned. "I had the best time with you. We oughta go dancin'…as often as we can" she yawned.

"You can go to sleep if you need. I'll wake you when we get back to the farm."

She nodded, and let her eyes close and her head rest on his shoulder.

"Hey, Laurey, we're back"

She groaned, her mind too fuzzy with exhaustion to answer properly. The only thought that popped into her head was that she'd drooled on his shoulder, and she certainly wasn't going to mention that out loud.

"Need me to carry you to your room?"

She nodded and he eased her out of the cart and into his arms.

"The basket" she mumbled.

"Right, can you grab that for me?"

She obliged and let it dangle from her hand. By then she was awake enough to walk, but she didn't want to tell him so, wanted him to hold her as long as possible. She dropped the basket on the kitchen table, and he carried her up the stairs to her room, where he gently set her on her feet.

She hugged him one last time, eager for their picnic the next day, yet not wanting the night to end. She whispered against his neck the thing she'd fought against saying for weeks, whispered it so low he might not hear; she wasn't sure she wanted him to hear anyhow, didn't want to be the first one to say it.

He did hear, though, and it made him hold her closer and press his lips against her ear. "I love you, too"

They squeezed each other tighter before she dropped her arms and took a step back.

"Sleep well" he leaned forward, but only kissed her forehead. "Gotta be rested for our picnic tomorrow, right?"

"Yeah, I-I will" she nodded. Tired as she was, she waited a few seconds, waited until he was downstairs and out of the house, before she took off her dress, knowing that her lamp would illuminate her for him while he watched from outside. He deserved it.