“Ignore him,” Jolene said. “He’s worried about my heart when all I want to do is have fun.”
“Are you having fun?”
“You know I am.” She sipped the sweet tasting liquid. “I can’t wait for the first round of square dancing.”
“The band leader told me it will start in five minutes. He’s at the drink table relieving his parched throat. I imagine calling tunes is exhausting.” Craig nudged Jolene’s arm. “He’s returning to the stage. Are you ready for a new experience?”
“I certainly am,” Jolene said, “but mostly because I’ll be dancing with an old friend.”
Craig howled. “Are you reminding me or you? You realize, besides the canoe ride, that this evening has been the highlight of my vacation so far.”
Jolene wanted to agree, wholeheartedly, but did not trust her heart. Her father was right. They were playing with fire and her heart was not going to be all right when they parted company at the end of the week.
The caller took his place with the band. “Okay, ladies and gents its time to do-si-do. Gather in groups with three couples.” After a small segment of partners moved onto the dance floor, he bellowed out. “Come on now, folks – you came to dance. All you Christmas cowboys and gals are going to love this. Brought some pro’s along to help y’all when the need arises, so they’ll be joining up with each group to make a total of eight dancers. But if you lose your place, don’t worry; just wait for the next call and join in. Let the fun begin.”
Craig grabbed Jolene’s hand and raced into the middle. Jan and Jim – the experienced couple – joined them, as well as Trace and Barbie and a younger duo; that gave them eight. As others gathered into groups around the room, Jim grabbed the few minutes to cue his set.
“Imagine we have an eight-foot-square,” Jim said waving his arm in their immediate area. While exchanging names, he placed the group into their starting positions. He placed Jolene on Craig’s right side with their backs to the caller; Trace and Barbie went on the callers’ right, and the third couple faced the caller, while Jim and Jan, the fourth couple, stood to the callers’ left.
“You two look like you’re going to catch on fast,” Jim said to Craig and Jolene, “so you and the young whipper-snappers straight across the square are what we call the head couples and Trace and Barbie and us are called the side couples.” He looked at his eager followers. “Everybody good so far?”
Everyone nodded and Jim continued with instruction. “The gent’s corner, or corner lady she’s sometimes called, is the lady on his left. And the lady’s corner or corner gent is the man on her right.”
“A Set can also refer to a group of three changes or square dance patterns. The first change is usually a pattern danced to a jig, the second change is a singing call and the third is a breakdown danced to a reel.”
“Sounds complicated,” Barbie said.
“Not at all. You’ll catch on in jiff-time with that spry young man by your side leading you.” He winked at Trace and to Jolene’s astonishment, her father flushed. “The traditional evening dance format tonight is two couple dances followed by a set of three-square dance patterns and repeated until you all drop with exhaustion. We have two callers tonight so enjoy yourselves.”
Jan added, “No one is looking for perfection, but in looking around the room, I suspect we have the best set of amateurs on the dance floor.”
Everyone laughed. Soothing background music filled the air. “We’re ready, folks,” the caller shouted. “Going back in time for some jingles that carry a 2/4 or 6/8 beat. Got us a fiddler, a piano, guitar, banjo, drums and even found us someone to play the accordion. You’ll swing to these tunes easy enough – we aim to make you all professionals before the nights over.”
For the next hour, Jolene and Craig listened and followed the calls repeatedly until it became a natural response, never missing a beat. The group of eight dancers soon had all the commands down pat; promenade, circle left then right, swing your partner, allemande or do-si-do – music to their ears. They laughed and danced with unbridled enthusiasm.
The music turned to other forms of entertainment for the diversity of participants and when the polka started up, Jolene threw her hands in the air and exclaimed, “I need to rest.”
Jolene pivoted abruptly and lost her balance. Craig reached out to catch her and before she knew it, she was in his arms, mesmerized by the hypnotizing stare holding her frozen to the spot. She saw him transfer his gaze to her lips and knew she was helpless to fight off what they both wanted more than anything at this moment. As he leaned in, she closed her eyes for the inevitable kiss.
Suddenly, Craig was yanked from her arms and she stumbled backward in surprise.
Her eyes bolted open to find Selene swinging her arm back to slap her boyfriend’s face. Craig caught her hand mid-air, before it made contact, aiming a stern scowl toward the girl.
While Jolene attempted to back off from the scene, she watched Selene’s shocked expression turn to fury as she ripped free of Craig’s hold.
Without glancing at Jolene, Selene said with venom in her tone, “Too late to run now, hussy! And you,” she focused her glare on Craig, “when I said to have fun, I didn’t mean for you to kiss my competition.”
“I’m not…” Jolene said but was interrupted by Craig.
“Selene, stop making a scene. Go back to the Inn and we’ll talk in the morning,” Craig said.
“My mother somehow knew about you two. Said you dated not that long ago,” Selene said.
“She
