"You look stunning. Your hair up like that,you look like one of those ladies on the boats."
She smiled happily. "Ladies on the boat."She whirled around as if dancing. "I wish I were going on a boatride, instead of a dance."
He chuckled. "You act like you're going to ahanging. Most women enjoy going to the dances. Waltzing in themoonlight."
"I guess I feel a lot older than I used to.I don't know Frank. I don't know what possessed me to accept hisinvitation. This is crazy."
"You'll have fun. Every man there will wantto dance with you."
"Yeah, but only once, until I step on theirtoes."
He chuckled.
"It won't matter, they won't be looking atyour toes." He laughed.
"I wish you were going." She murmured.
"I kinda do too, now." He grinned. "MaybeI'll hang back and watch how it goes for a bit, before Ileave."
"Well, I guess if you are ready to take me,we should go." She sighed heavily.
"What time is he going to be there?"
"Six." She told him.
"What time do you want me to pick you up?"He asked.
"Around nine." She told him.
"That's a bit early for a grown woman." Wessuggested. "I was actually talking to Mr. Tate and we both agreedit might be a good idea that I'm taking and picking you up. Thisway, you're being a widow, it won't look like a date, but someonewho wants to dance with you all night."
She grinned. "That's right, it will. But Imay not dance with him all night. I mean if I get otheroffers."
"He might be mad about that. I mean, he'sthe one that invited you to go."
"Well, I'll have to inform him that I'm awidow and he doesn't own me, just because he asked me to come.After all, so far, I haven't agreed to him courting me like hesuggested. And I'm glad. It's too soon after Jim dying, and I don'tknow Mr. Campbell that well. He'll just have to understand."
"I guess as long as you make up the rules,you have the upper hand. And that's a good thing, since you’re awidow."
"I think you are right about that." Shechuckled. "Being a widow has its advantages."
It was an hour later when they pulled up infront of the huge building. It was constructed some time ago, butnever finished, so they turned it into a community ballroom.
Kate heard the music playing and she lookedat Wes.
"Good luck." he murmured kissing her on thecheek.
She wanted to turn her head and kiss him onthe lips, but she was in public and she couldn't do that. Still,she wondered why that thought crossed her mind.
She blushed and he helped her down.
He went inside with her and there wasalready a crowd of people there. There were long tables of food, aband playing in the distance and everyone in the community seemedto be there.
Wes felt suddenly out of place.
She reached for Wes' hand though and he gaveher a quick squeeze. "Knock 'em dead, honey."
Funny but his hand was sweating. Or was ithers?
There was that word again, that sweetpossessive word that tied her heart in a knot. They were friends,good friends, she reminded herself.
"Don't be scared." He murmured next to herear.
He knew she was afraid, but she made it thisfar and when everyone got a look at her, she'd be dancing allnight. And that was exactly what happened. She was whirled out onthe dancefloor by an old timer who could dance up a storm and shehad a hard time keeping up with him, but he never got close enoughfor her to step on his toes. Wes smiled when she tossed him aglance.
Then Frank saw her and took her away fromthe old man and danced with her. Frank was dressed like a countrygentleman and he whirled her around the dancefloor like a realdancer. Kate glanced up several times to see if Wes was there, butsuddenly he was gone, and her heart fell to her stomach.
She had no time to think about it. As Frankcontinually danced with her. He was a fine dancer and she felt abit inadequate. A few butted in on them and she was whirled awayagain. Actually she didn’t mind. She was thankful. There wassomething about Frank she didn't like but she couldn't put herfinger on it. She saw Frank head for the punch. It was a reliefactually.
The night was filled with dancing andtalking and then Frank wanted to go outside with her. She asked himto get her a punch first, and he did. Then he took her outside andthey walked in the cool night air.
"Mr. Campbell, it's rather unseemly to beseen walking in the moonlight with a man when my husband is notcold in the grave yet."
She sipped the punch slowly; it didn't tastespiked.
"I figured you needed to catch yourbreath."
"Yeah, I guess I did."
"You look fantastic tonight."
"Thank you. So do you."
"I was afraid you might not show up." Headjusted his tie and sent a gloved hand over his hair.
"Well, I debated as I'm not the best ofdancers." She chuckled.
"I thought you delightful."
"I really wasn't sure about coming as it istoo soon after Jim's death."
"Yes, I thought of that too. I guess it is agood thing you were delivered and being picked up the first fewtimes, at least."
"Uh, yes."
"Tell me are you still officially mourningyour husband?"
Kate didn't know how to answer that. But sheknew honesty was always best. "Well, in some ways, I suppose so.But for some reason when the cat was killed, I felt better aboutit. As though his death was avenged. And he was resting easily oncemore."
"Yes, I can understand that. And it was yourhired hand who killed him, I'm told."
"Yes, Wes Dolan." She smiled.
"Dolan that name isn't familiar to me. Wheredid he come from? I mean, he's not from around here, I'd know if hewas." Frank asked, his nose scrunched up with distaste.
"He's a friend of Dickens." She said, notgoing into detail about Wes. Somehow, she didn't feel this manneeded to know everything.
"Ah yes, Dickens, the hog farmer." The wayhe said that, with the slightest sneer to his nose. Something roseup in Kate at that moment. She wanted to defend Dickens and Wes
