Now, looking around at everything Hatrack had done to spruce up the place for the party, she felt sure that she had done the right thing, coming back to this place that her husband had spoken so fondly. Everyone in town had helped in one way or another, using their knacks and such. The holiday cheer and excitement had grown and grown. FInally they would see the rewards of all their hard work.

Marie looked down at her emerald green gown. The color was a perfect foil for the copper colour of her hair. The front was probably a bit low as she looked at what the others were wearing. Oh well, at least it was the latest Paris fashion. Marie could not bear wearing anything unfashionable.

When she reached the front of the receiving line she said, "Hello, I'm Marie Bothe. Absolutely lovely party you are throwing here." Looking down at the girl next to the woman she said. "And the belle of the ball here too. You will probably be stealing some hearts tonight?" Marie smiled. She thoroughly enjoyed parties.

Wyatt had never been much for parties. He was more of the quiet type and tended to be a bit on the shy side. But once he got comfortable around people he could really open up and be a great friend and a party seemed an excellent way to meet people around the town.

It did not take long to find the barn and once he did he hesitated only a moment before going inside. Once inside he saw that it was festively decorated.

He saw two women talking. One of whom had on a very lovely green dress. Other than that it did not appear that there were very many people here yet.

"It looks like I am a bit early." Wyatt said in the direction of the two women.

Wyatt – Ready to make some new friends.

"Do you want to dance?"

The red velvet dress trimmed in black lace almost danced on its own accord as Scarlet made her way to a table that was set up with refreshments.

Placing her holiday cheer and food from the pub with the other goodies, Scarlet giggled because she was sure no one would touch her food. The kitchen was not the room she did her best work in.

She caught her reflection in the punch bowl. Her long, soft, black hair tumbled down her shoulders. Her cheeks were blushed from the race to get here and her...oops...seems her low cut neckline had dropped a bit too far with the quick pace she set for herself and Caleb. Scarlet quickly re-adjusted herself back into the dress and looked around the room to see if anyone had noticed. She believed herself to be safe and decided to always check out the punch bowl upon entering a party. Scarlet smiled and shrugged her shoulders.

Walking up to some of the quests, Scarlet held out her small hand, "Hello...I'm Scarlet..Scarlet Malory. My what a lovely idea this was."

Her eyes darted quickly around the room in search of Bradley but he was no where to be seen. Damn him.

She re-addressed the other quests, "I own the Pub on Main street. I am sooooo happy to meet some of the folks here finally."

-Scarlet <---devil in a red dress.

He missed his dad who should have been back home by now. He just missed everyone. Seth was gone away to school, Elisha was busy with the orphanage, his grandparents were busy being political and and who knew what Naomi was doing. She wouldn't even speak to him, let alone look at him.

The only reason he had come to this barn dance was to see her. No doubt she would be there with that James Peacemaker. The two seemed to be all the talk of Hatrack.

The more he thought about it the more he realized that maybe he was just looking like a fool for even being here. He finished off the cider in his cup and watched all the townsfolk having a ball and turned as if to leave.

Elijah-Staying or Going?

Mustering up a bit of courage Wyatt smiled at the lady in the green dress. His heart seemed to beat just a little faster as he offered her his arm saying, “Why it would be my pleasure, Miss…”

Wyatt – Getting ready to dance and get to know the woman in the green dress.

She set down her tray and settled back on one of the benches against the barn wall. Unless Jim Smith made an appearance, she didn't expect to be asked to dance. Well, she was taller than all the other women, and even one or two of the gents gathered here!

It didn't matter if she didn't dance. Aggie liked the music best of all. Whoever was wielding the fiddle knew what they were doing, and her toes tapped underneath her sensible blue skirts as she watched the ladies flit and dance in circles out on the floor.

Seth Fowler appeared in the doorway of the barn. He saw the punch bowl and made a bee line for it. Knocking a man out of the way, he helped himself to a big swig. PSHHHHHHHHHHHHT! Seth sprayed the punch back out of his mouth and onto the head of young boy standing in line - the punch, it wasn't even spiked! What kind of party was this?

The boy began to cry ran to find his mother. Seth turned his attentions to the little vixen in the red dress...

She'd dragged Jenny along to the party with her, although it was impossible to tell these days what her friend's mood might be. Even now, she couldn't be sure whether Jenny had wanted to come to the party, or was just going along to stop Tansy from askin' one more time. Either way, Jenny looked her usual beautiful self, with her brown hair shining, and her green dress clean and fresh. Maybe, Tansy thought, somebody'd ask Jenny to dance. That might put a spring in the Gardener's step.

For herself, Tansy was happy just to be invisible. She was only thirteen, and had no hankerin' to be out dancing herself. She didn't even know the steps. The food, now, that was another matter. There were platters and plates, a variety of airy desserts to tempt anybody, and Tansy had brung a basket of biscuits with Joshua's wild honey to share.

The music was playin' when Tansy walked in, and it looked as if everybody was havin' a good ol' time. Tansy didn't see Miss Charity or Ruthie, but there were plenty of other familiar faces from her fish-delivery route, and she waved to them. The only people who didn't seem to be having a grand time were the ones standing too close to the table where someone had knocked over the punch bowl. It looked like some little boy had tried to help himself and lost control. He was crying and covered from head to toe in spilled punch.

He looked around the room, catching all the familiar faces, and trying to remember the folk he hadn't met yet so that he could remedy that ailment soon as someday. He was threading his way through the crowd toward Elijah when he caught a whiff of something awful powerful. It wasn't that smell some folks got when that hadn't taken a dip in awhile, and it wasn't exactly the smell of death neither, it was more the smell one gets when they try to take a shortcut through someone's field and ends up stepping through the pig's pen.

Shaking his head to clear the tears that had started welling up from the powerful swell of decay, he crossed the room, skirting the expanding dance floor.

"Hello there, Elijah, staying or going? Wonderful party they got here, ain't it? Just wanted to let you know, ain't no need to worry none 'bout the inn tonight, 'cause Will's got it all covered, and besides everyone's going to be come here tonight anyhow."

Under her red velvet dress, her black leather boot moved from side to side to the beat of the music. She wanted to dance like nobody's buisness, but it seemed as if most of the men here were spoken for as far as dancing was concerned.

Scarlet sighed.

She held her small mid-section tight, then released one hand. Pretending to look at something interesting on her fingernail, Scarlet daydreamed about herself and Bradley.

She could see the two of them tightly holding eachother. His arms would be around her waist but dropping lower with every turn. Scarlet would have her arms over his strong shoulders and around his neck. Her hands would be softly stroking the back of his hair as they exchanged breath. His face would be so close that she would want to bring him even closer. Their bodies would have no space between them. His chest would be pressed firmly against hers. Their thighs would be touching and..and..and...

Scarlet smelled something strange.. something like cow droppings. She tried to pull herself back into her daydream but that awful smell was just too overpowering.

Scarlet looked around the room and hoped someone would ask her to dance.

-Scarlet <---wishful thinking

Reluctantly she found a suitably green dress for the occasion and Ruthie wore the red dress she was given in Boston. Miss Charity had been kind enough to alter it and adjust it for Ruthie's changes in size.

I will not speak to Elijah if he's there. Surely he won't be there.

She saw Will working at the desk as she and Ruthie headed out. Elijah was no where in the inn.

I have never met someone so...stubborn. Naomi knew that wasn't the truth but was too stubborn herself to admit it.

The evening was chilly and hinted at snow. As they approached, the barn looked warm and inviting. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad. The light from inside the barn fell on Ruthie as she entered in front of her sister. Naomi was surprised to see just how beautiful Ruthie was in her red dress and her hair piled on her head. Following behind, Naomi perused the scene.

There were many familiar faces, and some not so familiar. The music was inviting and there was laughter. A smile started to creep onto her face and then she saw him.

Elijah must have seen her at the same moment because he started a bit and his eyes darkened. His look made her heart wretch a bit, though she tried to mask it by acting as though she were looking for someone. James Peacemaker had apparently not made an appearance as of yet.

Her eyes were drawn back to Elijah. He looked so miserable. As she stood by the side of the door, she tried her best not to look miserable herself. Maybe she shouldn't have come at all.

***********

Ruthie couldn't believe how beautiful everything was here in the barn. Quickly she spotted Tansy and rushed over to meet her.

"Isn't this just lovely, Tansy!"

Looking for a familiar face, KAt's gaze settled on Mr. Planter. She hadn't gotten to know the man as well as his wife (I hope we are talking about the same planter...) but he seemed preoccupied and a little worried.

He strode over to the little strumpet in the red dress.

"Hey there, precious. Let's dance."

He wrapped one of his hairy meathooks around Scarlet's waist and began to dance. Well, Seth danced, Scarlet got her feet stepped on. His garlicky scotch breath was close to her neck...

Tansy glanced around the barn. It was quickly filling up with friendly faces. Even the habitual scowlers were having a hard time keepin' their mouths turned down. Lanterns hung all about the room, glowin' orange and yellow, and there had to be just about every color in the rainbow swirlin' around on that dance floor.

There was no real reason to be nervous, but Julietta's heart always beat a little faster at the start of an event such as this. Her cheeks were becomingly flushed as she selected her first dancing partner at random from a circle of devotees who all claimed to have watched her dance many times on the stage. Some of them still had frying-pan-shaped scars on their brows to prove it!

Wyatt was impressed and a bit flattered to be dancing with such a beautiful woman so soon after arriving in town. He had been wandering for many years, staying a bit here and bit there. Doing whatever needed to be done. And in that time he had made friends with women, but he had always been very careful to never let them get to close. Wyatt did not want to be hurt again and so he was always gentleman and a friend but he worked hard to never let it go much beyond that. And usually he tried to not get entangled at all.

Shaking the memories from his thoughts, Wyatt decided that tonight he was here to have fun and fun was what he was going to have. Letting himself be charmed by Marie’s beautiful red hair and her low neckline, he noticeably relaxed into Marie’s embrace.

“Why I reckon I must be the luckiest man in Hatrack to be asked to dance by one so beautiful as you the moment I walked in the door.” Wyatt said to Marie as they danced. He surprised even himself at how much he was enjoying dancing with Marie. He did not seem to notice that the barn was beginning to fill with people. He simply enjoyed dancing with the charming woman in green.

Maybe Hatrack will not turn out to be such a bad place after all, He thought to himself.

Giving Elijah a cold look and a friendly shove toward his confrontation he said, "Now don't go causin' a scene so early in the night. Wait 'til most of the crowd's cleared out before you two start with the name-callin' and the hair-pullin'. Just you take a swallow o' courage, suck in your gut, and tell her how you feel. May not solve a thing, but at least it'll all be out in the open."

With his new (young wipper-snapper) boss out of the way Jim answered Kathryn's wave and threaded his way back around the dance floor. He gave her a friendly hug along with his 'How do you do' and offered his arm.

Finally, he decided on the good old fashioned excuse of taking 'em some punch. He walked around the perimeter, keepin' as much to the shadows as he could to hide the blush that was burning his ears something fierce. He filled two cups with punch from the large bowl laid out, then nearly tripped when one of his legs caught on the table. He managed to avoid spilling the punch he was holding all over himself, but a goodly amount did manage to spill on the floor. For some reason, this caused the little boy nearby to start crying so hard his mom had to take him outside. By the time Birley had decided on apologizing, he already had the cups filled again and the woman was nowhere in sight.

His second attempt got him all the way across the barn, and face to face with the moment he'd been waitin' for and dreading at the same time. Not able to decide on where to look, his eyes just kept dropping farther and farther until he was staring at their shoes before he managed to say, "I'm, uh. That is, I was. I mean, I'm... I... I brought you some punch."

She didn't know many people in town and wasn't sure if this man was an old timer here or a new face. Scarlet looked around the room trying to get a feel for his place here in town. Did others know him? Was he a nice man?

"Ahhhh..yes...ehem...nice party?" Scarlet managed to choke out. She worked at breathing as little as possible with short quick gasps.

Scarlet finally looked into his face and tried to hide her surprise. His eyes...er..eye. Only one seemed to be working correctly and she couldn't tell which one it was. Scarlet didn't know which eye to look at so she moved her face and her eyes away from the rough stranger and hoped for the dance to end soon.

-Scarlet <---getting grossed out.

"The others might be roses too, but you are the only long-stemmed kind." Jim smiled down at her with a twinkle in his eyes.

The musicians started a lively piece. Jim had learned how to dance in the court at Camelot and knew most of the steps. He almost allowed distaste to show in his face as he thought about the high-born ladies who had though a quick roll in the hay would be fun with him. He quickly smiled at Aggie again.

She had not had fun like this in ages as they moved across the dancefloor. She kept a lookout for her daughter, but after two rounds across the dancefloor, she had not seen her yet.

After Wyatt and Marie had left the dance floor Wyatt saw that the party was at full swing. The barn had filled up with the people of Hatrack and many were having a good time. There were folk of all ages dancing, talking and enjoying the refreshments.

As Wyatt and Marie drank their punch he looked out over the dance floor. There were many couples dancing but Scarlet Malory, the owner of the Pub on Main street stood out. Wyatt had noticed her when she first came in and introduced herself and he had made it a point to see her about a job later. She was dancing with one of the most disgusting men Wyatt had ever seen. < I’d have thought someone like her might have better taste>, he thought to himself, but her dancing partner was of no concern to him. However he did hope that he would get to talk to her at some time during the party and see if she needed a hand. He had enough money for a while, but it would eventually run out and he could not stay the inn forever. He hoped that she might have a job for him behind the bar or in the kitchen. He loved to cook and had a couple of special recipes that might be to the towns liken. Also the pub would be an excellent way to meet some more of the locals. He had also noticed that there appeared to be apartments above the pub and thought he might be able to find a more permanent place to stay.

Realizing that he had not said anything for a while he turned his attention back to Marie. He had noticed that she kept looking around as if looking for someone else and assumed that she was probably getting a little tired of having to dance with the same man all night. But not wanting to be rude and realizing that he still did not know much about Marie he decided to strike up some conversation, “So how long have you lived in Hatrack Marie?”

As she was answering another gentleman approached her and asked if she would like to dance. He looked at Wyatt as if for his approval and not wanting to keep her all to himself he gave the gentleman a small nod.

Noticing that the man dancing with the woman in the green dress was now standing by the punch bowl, Scarlet hoped to get his attention. It seemed he had looked over at her a moment ago and she wished he would look again.

Scarlet raised an eyebrow and cocked her head...almost in a pleading manner. She wanted him to come over and cut in on her torturous dance with this stranger. But then again she thought, maybe he's no better...could be worse. Scarlet was having a rough night.

She slightly raised her small hand that forcefully rested on her dance partner's shoulder. She motioned a limp waive to the man by the punch bowl.

But when a sweet boy came by and timidly offered her some punch, she finally spoke up.

"Uh, sure. Thank you." She smiled awkwardly. He was much younger than she was, and that put her at ease.

Will's curiousity got the better of him as he strolled down the main street, following behind some stragglers who were destined for the party. With his hands shoved into his pockets, he wandered closer to the group. Maybe Lize'd be there.. He hadn't seen her for some time.. he was beginning to worry.

He arrived soon enough.. dodging a particularly eager boy with a pack slung across his shoulders.

"My, my.." he whispered, a faint smile coming to his lips. Will hadn't celebrated Christmas since he was ten. When was that? Nine years ago? <Your memory is getting a bit fuzzy, ol' chap..> he thought, as midnight blues perused the crowd for any familiar faces.

Lavender had reluctantly given in and prepared herself for the dance. When she came out from the bedroom Elisha gasped. "My lady, you look astonishing. You'll be the envy of all the ladies at the dance and I will be the envy of every man!"

The two looked around the dance floor until Elisha spotted Elijah. "Look, there's Elijah. Let's go say hello."

Elisha popped his twin brother on the back with his cane and said, "What's with the long face?"

"Nothing. It's nothing really," Elijah answered, faking a smile. "I just don't feel too well. I think I may leave and go back to the Inn and finish up some bookwork." Elijah nodded towards Lavender. "You look beautiful tonight," And then his eyes strayed in the direction of Naomi Charming who appeared equally as beautiful to him.

"Well, get to feeling better. We're going after some cider. I can check on you later if you like, on the way home."

"No, that will be fine. I'll be okay." Or would he? He wondered if he would ever be okay again or if this misery were going to last him the rest of his life.

Elisha and Lavender ushered off to the refreshment table and a new song began to play. A slow song this time, quite a change from the upbeat tempo the musicians had been playing for most of the night.

Couples began embracing and swaying to the music. Elijah looked across the room at Naomi who did not even seem to notice him, or even care anymore. He felt truly alone once again, as if there were no purpose anymore. Just like the day his step parents had died in the fire and they had taken him off to an orphanage, putting him in a room with people he barely even knew. Just like in this barn. He ran away from all that and disappeared into the streets of Boston.

He started towards the exit, almost bumping into James Peacemaker along the way. Elijah looked up at him, not with hate or malice, but with regret, and said, "Guess the better man wins. You deserve it."

James replied quietly, "It's never been a competition except in your head. I'm not after anything of yours." The young deputy walked through the barn, making sure everything was peaceful and in order. He had even dressed for the occasion, causing many folks to take a second look at the deputy who had never been seen in anything except his beat up hat and tattered clothes.

Elijah sighed and went out the exit and into the night, barely able to breathe. Outside, he walked around to the side of the barn and leaned up against it. He looked up at the stars and whispered, "Please come home father."

The Baker Twins

He pulled out a fifth of scotch that he lifted from Black Shep Baker's saloon, and headed over to the to the punch bowl once more to spike it full of liquor.

"Why certainly Mr. Planter. I would be delighted." She placed her gloved hand on his arm. The draft from the barn door blew a few tendrils of hair into her face. She had left it down this evening, letting the natural curls go where they may. "I used to be quite a dancer... Let's just see if I can remember after all this time."

Once Miss Malory was back on her feet he smiled at her and nodding his head slightly said, “It looked like you were not enjoying your dance partner and so I thought I might step in and do a bit a rescuing." extending his hand shake hers he continued, "My name it Wyatt. Wyatt Freidman and it is a pleasure to meet you Miss Malory.”

Wyatt – Relived he did not have to get into a fight.

[This message has been edited by Wyatt Freidman (edited December 14, 2001).]

He glared at Wyatt with his one good eye about an inch from Wyatt's face.

In a malodorous whisper audible only to Wyatt, Seth spit out:

"Don't think I didn't notice you just tried to ruin my good time, fancy pants. You watch yourself - because I never forget. I'm looking at a dead man. I've got other business in town, but you'll be a nice extra ciricular activity. Mark me, Mr. Hero."

Wyatt watched as the man walked back to the punch bowl. Still a bit stunned he had not really heard most of what had been said because of the smell of the man’s breath. Wyatt had never smelt anything so horrible in his life. Not even the sewers in Paris smelt as bad as this man’s breath. It reminded him of dead fish, manure and sour milk all rolled into one.

Though he did not catch every thing the man had said, he caught enough of it to know what he meant and it was quite obvious that Wyatt had not gotten off as easy as he had hoped. Wyatt was tall but he was not a large man. He was slender and liked to work with his mind rather than his muscle and though he had been in a scrape or two through out his travels he never did take much to fighting. He preferred to work out his differences and beat his opponents using his brain. But it was quite obvious that this man would not have much in that department and would probably resort to some kind of physical intimidation. Wyatt did not want to get in a fight and he would do his best to try and avoid one. He would have to stay on his toes and be careful to not cross this man’s path if he could help it. But in the meantime he had other business to take care of.

Turning back to Miss Malory he decided not to worry about it much. Things would work themselves out later, they always did. Smiling at Scarlet he said, “Well I guess that is one less person I’ll be baking cookies for this Christmas. Who is he?”

Wyatt - Looking at life with a smile.

"I don't think he eats cookies...he looks more like he eats glass." Scarlet whispered.

She was so grandly relieved to not be in his company any longer that she asked Mr. Wyatt to dance. Scarlet never asked a man to dance first, she never had to. Putting out the friendly gesture, Scarlet added, "I do want to thank you for coming over to cut in. Not enjoying myself ...well, thats a very nice way of putting it." She took a quick glance at the rough man, now standing by the punch bowl. "I don't know who he is and I don't think I want to." She paused and caught herself. "I'm sorry, you must think me rude to say such a thing, but...well..."

Scarlet cut herself off.

She smiled up at Wyatt again, this time without her hand covering her mouth.

-Scarlet<---able to breath again.

Miss Malory was pretty and was great company and Wyatt was glad that he had cut in. She seemed to have a head on her sholders and Wyatt liked that. They danced for a song or two and then walked over to the side of the barn. They talked for a little while and Wyatt told Miss Malory how he had just got into town. After a little more small talk Wyatt decided that he had better get his business out in the open before it got to awkward.

“Miss Malory, I could not help but over hear you as you came in this evening that you own the pub on Main Street. Seeing as how I am new to town I will be needing some employment and I was wondering if you had a place for me behind your bar or in your kitchen?”

Wyatt – Waiting to find out if he gets the job.

He lifted his head from the floor and smiled in satisfaction. He hadn't never been called handsome, and that was a fact. Even with the cold chill running laps up and down his spine, he felt the back of his neck burning from the blush that was creeping its way to visibility on his face.

"My name's Birley. It's an English name, 'cause I'm from England, but now I live at the blacksmith's. That's cause I'm Master Smith's new Prentice Smith, even though I'm older than the boys he usually takes on. That's what he said anyway. You sure are pretty. I've never been to a party before. I don't know how to dance, but it sure looks like fun. Is it hot in here? I don't even know your name. You do have a name don't you? Do you know how to dance?"

When Wyatt spoke of employment with her at the Pub, Scarlet began to mull it over in her mind. She thought of the rough man in town and who knew, there might be more men like him around. She might need a man behind the bar to handle things that she couldn't. Scarlet never recalled the town the way it was now. It used to be so nice and friendly, but now..it just had changed soooo much.

Scarlet brought her thoughts back to Wyatt's inguirey. He seemed to be a thinker and not a man that takes to fists too quickly. She surely didn't want some man that would be beating the pulp out of a rowdie customer. She did, however, want someone who could talk a man down with his mind. Wyatt seemed to be just that.

Scarlet nodded her head yes and answered him, "Why Mr. Friedman...I believe that to be a wonderful idea. I could use someone of the likes of you behind the bar or even in the kitchen." She lowered her head a bit to hide her grin, "I'm not toooo good in the kitchen, but I can get around it, you understand."

She jerked her gaze back to Wyatt and continued, "I don't have much business yet, what with the Pub just opening and all. Not to mention the repairs that have had to be made. But I can afford to pay you your due."

She offered her hand in a 'let's make a deal' fashion. "So, what say you?...Does a job behind the bar and a bit of dabbling in the kitchen suit you?"

Scarlet was smiling but her lips wilted as she watched Caleb leave. She raised her voice a bit and called out his name. She wasn't sure if he had heard her or not. Just the same, she was sad to see him make an exit.

Turning back to Wyatt, Scarlet raised her eyebrows in a questioning manner. "You were saying?"

She saw a young man enter and stop Elijah for a moment. The young man cut a fine form in his dark suit. He was almost as handsome as Elijah, and that was a difficult feat. As he turned his face toward the dance floor, Naomi realized it was James Peacemaker and knew why he had stopped Elijah at the door.

Without knowing why she tried to cautiously steal a glance at the young deputy. It might be nice to dance, even if her heart had just left the building. Standing a little straighter she attempted to make her self a bit more noticable.

******************

Ruthie tugged at Tansy's sleeve.

"Isn't that the deputy? He sure is a good looking fellow. I've seen him in the inn a few times,but I never thought he was, well, actually good looking." She giggled.

Elisha and Lavender had arrived earlier and she had watched them dance and dance. Ruthie thought they looked like something from a picture book.

She had wanted to go see Elijah but he had disappeared a few minutes ago. A scandalous thought had entered her head, to ask him to dance. But she also wanted to be with Tansy and giggle. It was a difficult choice and his sudden departure had answered it for her.

"You want some cider, Tansy? I'm thirsty and I want to get a closer look at James Peacemaker."

For now that would have to be scandalous enough.

Wrapping up in her favorite blue shawl, Charity made her way to the barn. The cheerful light lifted her heart and made her feet skip. Still it would be so much more if dear Ben were here to sweep her off her feet. Being so near Christmas, she had hoped he would have arrived from New York by now.

As she approached the door she saw Elijah slipping out looking positively wretched. She knew that there had been problems between he and Naomi Charming since before the girl fell in the river. Apparently nothing had changed.

Instead of going inside, Charity had a notion to say something to Elijah. She had no idea what she would say, but she had to try.

When she caught up with him he was gazing at the stars. She heard him wish for his father.

She grinned at Ruthie instead, and followed her pretty friend's gaze over to the figure of the deputy. That was a man who'd always reminded Tansy of a big ol' tomcat, somebody who could be standing up perfectly straight and more'n half look like he was just waitin' for somebody to pounce. She tilted her head to one side, and her eyes narrowed in judicious thought.

Yes, she supposed from a certain angle that you could say James Peacemaker's style of danger and coiled spring action could be construed as handsome.

She couldn't help but giggle along with Ruthie. Tansy was delighted with the evening, surrounded by her two best friends, both looking so well. The only thing that would have made it better was if Joshua had come himself, but since that wasn't about to happen without Twilla and Asher in tow, Tansy hadn't pressed. Ruthie was plenty fun on her own.

And then she responded to Birley's touch, skin flaring as he brushed against her. Jenny Gardener was a creature of passion, and her body announced every emotion. She was both embarrassed and happy to have someone touch her. Even if it was unintentional.

The young woman's green eyes danced. It was nice to have attention. Jenny always did like the attention of menfolk. She wanted to be special to somebody, only it seemed that it never worked out that the ones she liked felt the same way back. For instance, right now she had feelings for somebody who would never know about them if she could help it. Maybe Birley and the other young men here could help her take her mind off her troubles for a while.