"Well maybe you should pray to the Lordabout that." Dickens told her.
Kate stared and then wiped her eyes, "Youknow you are right!"
"Sure I am. Glad you noticed." Dickenschuckled.
"And I want you to know, I'm still thinkingon moving in with you."
"I hope you do."
Moby came and stretched out by Kate's feet."Now that's one no account dog. But I love him. At least heappreciates that."
"He's a lazy fella."
"Hey," Kate snapped. "He's a great dog. Hekeeps me company. I can talk to him and somehow I feel heunderstands."
"Well, that's probably the only thing he'sgood for." Dickens laughed.
She stuck her foot out and played withMoby's tummy. "Hey, I know you are a good dog, don't let him get toyou."
Moby kind of grunted and laid back so shecould get all his tummy for him.
Wes cleaned up the fields as good as hecould and ploughed them under. It took a lot of backbreaking workand Kate helped him dump all the leavings in the wheelbarrow. Withthem both working it was easier and faster.
But in the evenings, after supper, Wes begantrying to teach her to dance. Dickens watched and offered to teachher some of the faster dances like square dancing and all, but Westaught her the slow dance. With Dickens watching there was nochance Wes might get a bit personal, nor her either. But being inhis arms was enough. A couple of times he stared into her eyes andshe held her breath wishing he would kiss her.
Dickens got up and taught her the reel andasked Wes to be one of the swingers. So she could learn how tomove. Kate was a bit slow to learn. She'd never done anything likeit before, and she wasn't a natural. They practiced every night andby Friday, she was better, but not as graceful as she would haveliked to have been.
When they slow danced, Dickens got herfather's fiddle out and played it for her to dance to. It made iteasier to keep up to the music.
When she stepped on Wes' foot, she turnedbright red, "I'm not very good at this." She apologized.
"You get all prettied up and he won'tnotice," Dickens told her.
"I hope you are right." She chuckled. "Idon't know him too well, so don't know how he'll act."
"Just relax and be yourself, he'll like youjust fine," Wes told her.
When they realized she was really worriedshe told them what was bothering her. "Jim's folks didn't like me.They went to dances all the time and played in the band, but they'dmake fun of my attempt to dance. So much so, I quit going."
"They obviously didn't have anymanners."
"I never went to dances when I was little.My momma and papa did, but I always played outside, never went into watch. So I didn't learn. I should have watched. Momma wanted meto, but I was kind of tom-boyish."
"Well, just smile and look pretty and no onewill notice so much honey." Dickens told her.
"Did you go to dances much when you wereyounger, Wes?"
"When I was just a boy, I did like you, hungoutside and played. When I got older, I learned. My mother taughtme so I could take a girl to the dance." Wes informed her.
"That's so sweet."
He chuckled, "More like embarrassing thansweet."
She chuckled too.
"Is there anything else I need to know?"
"Naw, well, you know they'll have punch, andunless it is spiked you should have some. Thank the musicians andhave a good time."
"I just don't want to make a fool ofmyself." She chided.
"It's the men that usually does that."Dickens told her.
She chuckled.
On Friday, Kate went over to Annie's to trythe dress on, and Annie bragged on her endlessly. "You are gonnacatch every man's eye."
"I just want to catch one."
"Frank Campbell?" Annie asked.
"No, Wes Dolan's."
"I knew it, I had a feeling all along thetwo of you would hit it off."
"We hit it off as you say, but he's adrifter and the crops are in, I figure when I pay him next weekhe'll be gone."
"Oh, oh my, well, wait until he sees you inthis dress. The blue in that gown really makes your eyes stand out.You'll be gorgeous."
"I wish I had your confidence." Kate toldher.
"Now why don't you come over here tomorrowbefore the dance and let me fix your hair."
"Oh, I was wondering what I'd would do withit."
"Just come by. I'll fix it in no time. I'mreally good with hair. And you have beautiful hair."
"Alright, I'll have Wes bring me over."
"Good," Annie's eyes sparkled.
ChapterEighteen
But that night Kate asked Wes if he'd takeher.
"Oh but Frank should pick you up." Wes toldher.
"I didn't know that, so I told him I'd meethim there and you or Dickens could take me and bring me home."
"That's not how it's done, honey." Wes letthe word slip from his lips.
Flabbergasted at him calling her such asweet name, she looked up with innocent eyes. "It's not?" Sheswallowed hard.
She shrugged quickly, "Well, under thecircumstances I thought it best, as I hardly know the man. Youdon't mind, do you? I mean, I am still a widow and no matter how Ifeel about it, it's a fact and people will expect me to actaccordingly, I'm sure."
Wes studied her worried face, "Well, I guessnot. I mean you do have a point. You don't know him well."
"That's what I was thinking. I barely knowthe man." She kept saying.
"Alright I'll take you." He smiled trying tosettle her nerves.
"I need you to take me to Annie's first, toget my hair done up."
"Oh, yeah, that will be nice." Wes nodded."Fine we'll leave a bit early then."
"Good, thank you. Oh, and I'll have your paynext week when I go to the bank."
"Next week huh?" he repeated dully.
"Yeah, I'm sorry I haven't been sooner, butI'll get it for you."
"I'm not worried about it." He told her.
"You're not?"
"No, I know you'll pay me."
He saw she was still on edge about tomorrownight. "Try not to be nervous. He's just a man."
"I just don't want to look like a fool."
"You'll probably be the prettiest girlthere." He told her.
Suddenly something occurred to her, "Ohno!"
"What?" he looked
