Hearts and Horses Chapter 147: Dancing and Pranks, a when calls the heart fanfic

Chapter 146 – Dancing and Pranks

The group headed into the tents set up for the banquet and dancing. They were shown to the tables that had been reserved for them. John, James, Margaret sat at one table with a couple business associates and their wives. Jack looked at the tables and the remaining group. He motioned to Doug and they pushed the tables together so that the group could all sit together and include everyone in the conversation and it would be easy to add Father Mark when he got there. Once they were all seated, the group was approached by one of the waitresses to get their drink order. She went to John's table first. There were a couple of cards on each table with the list of platters and boards as well as the drinks offered from the orchards and breweries.

"Welcome," The waitress said. "We have several alcoholic and non-alcoholic options. We also have Coke products and several spirits and the bartenders can mix drinks for you there. We also have two different crudité platters and charcuterie boards to start. Otherwise dinner will be served starting at eight. What can I get started for you?"

John looked around the table and each person nodded for him to choose.

"I think we will start with crudité platter number one." John said. "I will have an All-In IPA."

"I will have a Golden Rule Blonde." James said.

"I will have the Hard Pear Cider." Margaret said.

"I will have an All-In as well." The first man said.

"Me too." The second man said.

"I will have Diet Coke." The first wife said.

"I will have a Sparkling Cranberry." The second wife said.

"I will have those out to you in a little bit." The waitress said.

Having heard the waitress talking to John's table. Chris quickly got what everyone wanted as far as the platters and boards. The waitress then moved over to the double table. She smiled at Jack and Doug.

"We are going to share between the two tables." Chris said. "So we will take both crudité platters, but no blue cheese and extra hummus. I will have an Apple/Cherry Cider."

The waitress went around the table and got everyone's drink orders. Most went with cider, but both Peter and Andrew opted for cranberry and sprite. Nathan also broke from them and went with a Coke with a cherry.

"There will be one more joining us." Jack said. "He should be here soon. Can we also get a couple pitchers of water and glasses?"

"I will have this for you in a little bit." The waitress said. "I will get the last drink order when he comes."

Jack nodded. After the waitress walked away, Jack looked at the table.

"Feel free to eat when the food comes." Jack said. "I am going to dance with my fiancée if she is willing."

"Always." Elizabeth said.

"Stay in this tent." Chris said. "I know that the band is outside, but please stay in here where we can see you."

Jack nodded as he stood and offered his hand to Elizabeth. Jack led Elizabeth to the smaller dance floor inside, but near the back entrance to the tent that led to the larger dance floor and where the band was playing.

… … … …

Katie watched the duo walk away and then leaned over to Chris.

"You know." Katie said. "You could ask me to dance and we could keep a better eye on them."

Chris let out a harsh breath.

"You know I have two left feet when it comes to dancing." Chris said.

"Chris." Rob said. "May I dance with your wife?"

"Be my guest." Chris said.

Rob stood and held out his hand to Katie.

"Care to dance?" Rob asked.

"My pleasure." Katie said.

Rob led Katie to the dance floor.

"You really don't mind." Nathan asked.

"I trust Rob." Chris said. "If it keeps me from embarrassing myself and she is happy, I call that a win-win."

Doug and Lee laughed.

"You laugh now." Chris said. "Wait until you are married."

"But we know how to dance." Lee said.

Chris just rolled his eyes and laughed.

"Of course you do." Chris said. "I practiced for weeks just to be able to dance at our wedding. Three dances and I was done. I spent most of the rest of the night watching her dance her heart out."

"You don't know what you are missing." Andrew said. "Maybe I can find someone to dance with later."

"Keep your head in the game." Chris said. "I am sure that Katie will dance with you if you want. I am sure that JP and Elizabeth are going to spend quite a bit of time out there this evening."

Andrew just smiled. While the group was waiting for their drinks, they started talking about different things. There were actually a couple conversations going on around the table when the waitress came back with the drinks.

… … … …

Jack and Elizabeth were dancing to a piece of music that was slow so it was easy to dance. As the song ended and another one started, Jack recognized it as famous piano piece that was erroneously attributed to Frederic Chopin under the 'Spring Waltz' when it fact it was a the 'Marriage d'amour' by Paul de Senneville.(*) Elizabeth wanted to leave the dance floor.

"Stay." Jack said.

"I don't know how to waltz." Elizabeth said.

"Just follow my lead." Jack said. "This is a beautiful piece of music."

"Tell me about it." Elizabeth said.

"It was written for the piano." Jack said. "It was later adapted for other instruments. It was a French piano solo composed by Paul de Senneville and performed by Richard Clayderman for his album 'Lettre A Ma Mere' which means a letter to my mother. It is a love song." (*3)

"I suppose you know how to play it as well." Elizabeth said.

"I have played it." Jack said. "I would need the sheet music which I don't currently have. I would also need a piano to play it. It would be wrong to play this piece on the keyboard."

"Will you play for me some time?" Elizabeth asked.

"Yes." Jack said. "I will play this piece for you some time when I have the sheet music and a proper piano."

"Okay." Elizabeth said. "But that is not what I asked. I know that you have played the guitar for me. But I hear you play several other instruments. I want to hear you play on those as well. I have never been all that musical. Besides, I love listening to you sing."

Jack blushed and ducked his head a little.

"I promise I will play for you." Jack said. "You will be happy to know that Father Mark and I plan on playing some tomorrow and I am sure that Bill will join us and I was hoping to convince Peter to play as well. Bill taught him to play the guitar and he is actually pretty good, but he is shy. I think part of it is his age."

"How old is he again?" Elizabeth asked.

"Sixteen." Jack said.

Elizabeth nodded. They finished the song and then headed to the table.

*3 Several Google searches for 'Spring Waltz']

… … … …

Nathan was listening to the conversation around him as well as keeping his eyes open to everything that was going on around him. When he spotted Father Mark, he excused himself and went to greet him. Father Mark saw Nathan walking toward him and as he got closer, he saw his face.

"Everything alright?" Father Mark asked.

"Not really." Nathan said. "But here is not the place to talk about it."

"Are you okay?" Father Mark asked as they walked back to the table.

"I am trying." Nathan said. "I think that Jack is taking a huge risk by coming tonight."

"Did someone explain the risks to him?" Father Mark asked.

Nathan nodded.

"Then I am sure that he weighed those and made an informed choice." Father Mark said.

"But …." Nathan said.

"But nothing." Father Mark interrupted. "He is smart and he understands the risks, but he is also not going to hide from a bully. He has chosen to be bold and take a stand against those who try to destroy him."

Nathan nodded.

"I know that it is not easy." Father Mark said. "I worry about him as well. Sometimes, I think he can be too bold and should take a step back, but as long as he thinks he is doing the right thing, there is little that you or I can do to convince him otherwise. I have learned that it is just easier to pray in the moment and then be there to help pick up the pieces if and when things fall apart."

"Okay." Nathan said. "Never been one of my strong suits."

"I understand." Father Mark said.

When Jack and Elizabeth got back to the table, Father Mark and Nathan were having a conversation, so Jack waited a moment to greet him. The crudité platters and their drinks were also there when they sat back down. Jack grabbed a plate, along with several vegetables and some ranch. He set the plate between him and Elizabeth so that they could share. Jack had once again scooted his chair as close to Elizabeth as he could and had his arm across the back of her chair.

When there was a lull in the conversation as people were trying the crudité platter, Jack looked at Doug, raised his eyebrow and made a small head motion. Doug looked to where Jack was indicating without being overtly obvious. When he spotted what Jack had, Doug looked back at Jack and smiled. Elizabeth saw the smile that Doug had given Jack, so she leaned even closer to Jack.

"What are you two up to?" Elizabeth whispered. "I saw that sly smile Doug gave you."

"I don't want you to worry." Jack said. "I just spotted Bouchard. He is watching you. Don't look and don't react. You will be fine. We won't let anything happen to you."

"Okay." Elizabeth said.

She had momentarily stiffened, but then relaxed as Jack put his hand from the chair to her shoulder. When Jack felt Elizabeth relax, he leaned over and gave her a kiss on the temple.

"Hey Chris." Jack said.

"What?" Chris said.

"Remember that trip to Lake Placid?" Jack asked.

Chris shuddered.

"I still have nightmares about that trip." Chris said. "Why?"

Jack raised his eyebrows and looked to the bar area. Chris turned, looked and saw two potential targets. Chris quickly turned back to face Jack across the table. Elizabeth was watching the whole thing and wondering what was going on.

"No. Absolutely not." Chris said. "There is no way that I would be able to sell that as an accident. So whatever you are thinking, just stop, right now."

Jack mock pouted like a child who had his favorite toy taken.

"What are you talking about?" Andrew asked.

Doug and Lee were pointing at Chris as they were laughing.

"I said NO." Chris said. "You are not fifteen anymore."

Chris getting so worked up only made Doug and Lee laugh harder. At that point Jack was also laughing, while still trying to maintain the mock pout. Their laughter drew John's attention and he came over.

"What is so funny?" John asked.

"We aren't sure." Andrew said. "JP said something about Lake Placid and Chris got upset."

John gave Jack a stern look.

"Get those thoughts out of your head right now." John said. "That little stunt cost me a small fortune. Don't even think about doing it again or I will send you back to the ranch myself."

Jack ducked his head, while Doug and Lee had to cover their faces as they were laughing so hard.

"What happened?" Andrew asked.

"JP." John said. "You started this, so you need to tell the story."

"Yes, Sir." Jack said.

Jack took a few deep breaths to regain control.

"So like Chris said." Jack said. "We were fifteen and at a show up in Lake Placid. Chris was chaperoning because Grandpa James was at a different show with Laura. Doug was jumping as well. Lee was there because he was up here and always came when he was here. Anyway, it was a multi-day show and we were staying at a local hotel. Marco was with the horses at the event grounds."

"So what happened?" Elizabeth asked.

"There was this hotshot who was just ragging on Jack." Doug said. "So Jack came up with this idea to get back at this kid and get him good. I wasn't sure, but Jack talked me into doing it. We were standing in the lobby of the hotel where we were all staying and Jack took a drink and pretended to choke so I slapped him on the back. Jack then proceeded to spew red Gatorade all over this kid and the armchair that he was sitting in."

"The problem was that the kid was wearing all white and sitting in a light colored chair." Lee said. "Chris was so mad at us, we thought he was going to pull Jack and Doug from the show and return us to the farm."

Elizabeth turned to Jack and swatted his chest.

"You were naughty." Elizabeth said.

"The kid had it coming." Jack said. "I didn't expect it to go all over the chair."

"I can see why Chris was upset." Andrew said. "I also agree, don't do it again."

"My sisters taught you all sorts of bad habits." Father Mark said, shaking his head.

"What are you talking about?" Doug said.

"Spewing a drink all over a competitor was a signature Rose move that she taught Emily and Laura." Father Mark said. "Except that Rose never did anything other than water. Both Emily and Laura were known to use Gatorade on occasion."

Elizabeth was laughing and shaking her head.