“Thank you, sweetheart, now eat,” she laughs and points at the plate.
“Yes, Ma’am.” The food fills her belly, but she still feels strange.
Soon the barn is warm enough to dry meat and Martha makes the rounds with multiple glasses of cider on a tray.
“My, but it’s hot in here,” Clara mumbles and tugs at the collar of her dress a half hour later.
“I thought it was me,” Anika says as Martha offers a fourth glass of cider. “I really shouldn’t, but it is so hot.”
“I could open a door if you wish?” Martha offers while she refills glasses.
“Martha, you’re so right, we should open the doors.” Clara declares with a giggle as she fans herself.
Daisy burps and all the women laugh in shock, “Oh, my goodness.”
“I’m dizzy,” another woman murmurs and Martha smile widens as she eyes her Mother.
“I want to dance,” a young girl declares and jumps up to find her friend.
“We need music,” another shouts.
“Let’s sing.” Three of the youngest start to sing.
“I can play the fiddle,” Anika murmurs and soon someone is pressing one into her hands.
Clara laughs and spins on the floor, pulling Daisy and some of the older women with them.
Delighted, Martha laughs as she watches the scene unfold.
“What’s that noise?” Allen says puffing on his pipe.
“Sounds like… music?” Dr. Parker states.
“More like someone killing an instrument,” Glenn mutters, and they start walking towards the barn. The closer they get, the louder it grows, and they begin to move faster. They open the doors to the barn, and all the men stand, staring, with their mouths open in stunned, fascination. Heat rolls out in waves followed by flushed, giggling, women. Some laughing, while others spin and sway, all move like a wave towards them.
“What the--?” Dr. Parker watches Clara with a grin of surprise.
“Josiah! I've been waiting for you.” She grabs him and whispers in his ear as she pulls him to the floor.
“Clara Parker!” He shouts in laughter at her lewd suggestion.
Martha frowns as she watches from the corner. Allen laughs as Daisy picks up a harmonica and tries to play. Glenn covers his mouth with a grin when he realizes the noise was Anika trying to play to the fiddle.
“Why won’t it work?” she mumbles and tries again, sawing at the strings.
Martha tries to intercept him as he makes his way to Anika, but she is stopped by two girls dragging her to the floor to dance. “Let go of me, you fools!” She hisses, but they just laugh and imitate her.
“Let go of me you fools,” one of them slurs.
Anika saws at the strings, stopping to frown, “I think it’s broken.”
“It works better when you hold it the right way,” Glenn flips the violin over and hands it back to her.
“I knew that,” she frowns at him.
“Looks like they started without us,” one man says.
“Can’t have that,” another laughs and rushes to get his instruments. One has a banjo, another a harmonica and Anika has the fiddle.
The moment they start playing Anika smiles, “Oh, I remember.” She jumps up, swaying on her feet and waits for the room to stop spinning before moving towards the men. Anika doesn't wait for a break in the music, she jumps in. Everyone stops moving, and then a roar of approval sounds out from the men.
Glenn watches in awe as she plays and holds her own with the men.
“Glenn! I've been waiting for you,” Martha rushes up at him and smiles, “Can you believe this behavior? It was Anika,” she starts to say, but he turns away.
Glenn barely takes his eyes off Anika and smiles when she hands the fiddle to another man and takes a break.
“Excuse me,” Glenn murmurs, completely ignoring Martha, and follows Anika.
“Anika?” he calls out.
She spins with a grin and snaps, “Where have you been? I want to dance.”
“Well, lead the way, my lady,” he says pulling her into his arms.
“I love to dance,” she says spinning in his arms, and he laughs.
“I think the floor is moving,” she says happily leaning against him.
“What have you been drinking?” he laughs.
“Only Apple Cider, it’s my special recipe.”
“I bet it is.” Glancing around Glenn can't help but stare at the sight before him.
Anika stops and frowns up at him, “Glenn?”
“Yes, love?”
“You have way too many clothes on. It’s hot.”
Glenn throws his head back and roars with laughter. “It's not funny, I can't breathe.” She pulls at his shirt to untuck it, and he grabs her hands.
“Okay, honey, I think we should take a walk and cool you off.”
“I want to touch your skin, taste it,” Anika stops moving and looks at him in wonder and leans over to whisper, “I dream about you sometimes too.”
His mouth falls open again, and he's forced once again to grab her hands. “Anika,” he groans and glances to his right, where movement catches his attention. Martha is holding a small bottle in her hand, and she tosses it on the floor, smashing it to bits before dragging her mother to the exit.
“What was that about?” Allen calls out as he rushes to get a broom to sweep up the shattered pieces, frowning when he recognizes the color of the glass.
Glenn frowns when Anika pulls away to stare at the crowd of people. “So hot,” she murmurs.
“Look how long my arms are?” One excited voice calls out. She waves her arms around and laughs hysterically, while her friend laments, “Mine are tiny,” and falls to her knees sobbing.
One of the older women begins to stomp and clap her hands on the dance floor to a song
