by D. F. Jones
“What about the boy?”
“Jonathan? He’s too stupid to figure out that I swindled him out of his dad’s business and it’s too late now. I filed the documents with the State. Rogers Mills legally belongs to me.”
“You better hope he doesn’t wise up. There’s a thing called statute of limitations.”
Dale opened the office door and waved for Mr. Morgan to go through. “I bought the house from Jonathan on the square.”
Morgan’s voice faded. “Does that ease your conscience and make you sleep well at night? And hey, you promised to marry my daughter. Don’t forget that part of the bargain.”
Dale laughed out loud. “That’s what will help me sleep well at night, the sweetest part of our deal—Mae.”
Jonathan’s jaw clenched tight when he heard the door shut. He eased out of the attic and replaced the cover.
Peeking out of the office windows, Jonathan watched Morgan drive away and then Dale.
His racing pulse made his ears ring. He left the room with the original deed to the Mill. He’d talk with Will at the dance. Admittedly, the District Attorney Will Lamb would know a way to help him get the rights to the mill.
He glanced at his clothes now dirty from climbing into the attic. He had just enough time to go home and change before he went to the dance.
Thirty minutes later, Jonathan, dressed in his finest summer suit, drove his Model T into town through the crowded square bustling with activity. People laughed and talked while walking down the flagstone sidewalks lit by gas street lamps.
He drove past the bank, the library, and Doc Smith’s office and parked at The Fox Hunt, his local lodge. Men met at the lodge to drink, play cards, and discuss any local news, statewide, or on occasion, the broader political landmine of the United States along with the escalating tensions across the Atlantic.
Jonathan stuck his head inside The Fox Hunt to tell the barkeep he left his vehicle parked in the open lot while he attended the dance. “Hey, Earl, looks like business is pretty slow tonight.”
Earl stood behind the counter wiping out just-washed beer mugs. “Yeah, the boys are all gussied up to take a gander at the new dame in town.”
Jonathan placed his forearms on the counter. “That so? I guess my work’s cut out for me. But then again, I might be back sooner than you think.” He winked and called out over his shoulder, “See ya later, Earl the Pearl.”
He took a shortcut in front of the general store and noticed Hubern sitting on the porch. “Good evening. How’s the missus?”
“She’s a mite better today.” He gave Jonathan a wide grin. “We’re going to have a baby.”
“Congratulations. That’s great news.”
“I can’t believe I’m going to be a father, but I guess the good Lord knows what he’s doing. I ‘spect you’re going to the dance to see Miss Mae. She asked about you the other day.”
“Yeah? Did she now?” Jonathan put his right foot on the bottom step and rested his forearm on his knee.
Hubern rocked the chair back and forth making the wood plank floor squeak. “She asked if I knew you, and I told her you were a fine fellow, and well, that’s the truth, ain’t it?”
He chuckled. “You’re a sport for putting in a good word for me. So, I guess I’ll head on over to the dance. Be sure to give Margaret my best.”
Mae had asked about him. Hmm.
His anger has subsided somewhat, but the mention of Mae made him want to protect her more than he wanted to date her. Sweet and beautiful and probably spoiled rotten, but she still didn’t deserve what her father had in store for her. Married to his father’s cousin, Dale, a man the same age as her father. Bah.
A butterscotch glow illuminated from the windows of the town hall as he approached the steps. People milled around out front while others walked to the entrance.
The Ladies Auxiliary Club held a countywide dance once a month, and folks from miles around came to eat, drink, and dance. The ladies provided a feast fit for a king, and the proceeds usually went to the hospital, the local school, or the library.
The Saturday night dance also provided the ladies of town a chance to show off their sense of fashion and emulate a high society style of the larger cities in the South.
The recently built two-story Georgian-style Town Hall housed the offices of local government, council meetings, local theater, music recitals as well as the dance.
Every month, the ladies selected a different theme, and this month’s dance celebrated Magnolias in May. Magnolia blooms and vines decorated the entire hall. White linen cloths covered the tables along with fine china and silver, and crystal vases were full of fragrant May flowers serving as the centerpieces for each table.
The Morris Brothers Quartet performed with the local orchestra playing favorites of the day while couples danced.
Jonathan tapped his toe to the music while he searched the crowded room for Mae. He spotted her dancing with his much older cousin, Dale, and clenched his fists.
Someone smacked him on the back, and he whirled around to find his best friend, Will Lamb.
“Et tu, Bruté?”
Jonathan chuckled. “My cousin needs to be shot and for more reasons than one. That man’s old enough to be her father.”
“She’s pretty as a picture and hasn’t had a second to breathe since she got here. Have you seen the spread? Boy, oh, boy, I’m going to eat until I pop.” Will loved food, and his girth showed it.
“Hey, I need to talk to you in private.” In the corner, surrounded by a bevy of gentlemen stood two rare jewels, not from around this neck of the woods. He straightened his tie. “But maybe we can chat later. Who the heck are they?”
“I overheard the two young ladies are visiting family from out of town.”
He placed his hand on Will’s shoulder. “Don’t leave before I talk to you. It’s important. But right now, I think I found a dance partner.”
Will threw up his hands and shouted, “What’s more important than your best friend?”
Jonathan sauntered across the room toward the new lovelies. He eyed the raven-haired beauty with eyes that sparkled like emeralds. The young lady stepped away from her suitors as Jonathan approached. Her female companion continued to soak up the attention of the other men.
He made a grand sweeping gesture by bowing in front of her. “May I have this dance?”
The lovely woman lowered her eyelashes, then looked in his eyes. “I would love to dance.”
Jonathan knew most of the young men, and they knew him.
Back in high school, he’d been the football captain, and he’d been known to box for fun as well as winning a few extra silver dollars in the process. While a few jaws clenched, no one challenged him.
He offered her his arm and said, “My name’s Jonathan. What’s yours?”
“I’m Dagny.”
The rise and fall of the waltz ended as they stepped onto the dance floor, and a new song, “Ballin’ the Jack” began to play.
He asked, “Do you know this dance?”
“I sure do.”
The lively tune and the fun dance steps had Jonathan and Dagny laughing their heads off. Mae stood by the food table with Dale, and she looked madder than a wet hen.
At the end of the song, the orchestra leader announced a short break.
Jonathan walked Dagny back to the lads waiting their turn to dance. He bowed and kissed the back of her gloved hand. “You’re a fantastic dancer, but I don’t want to monopolize your time. Thank you for the dance.”
Dagny gave him a small curtsy. “The pleasure has been all mine.”
With a raised brow, he turned to the young men. “Play nice, fellas.”
Jonathan walked away and heard Dagny laughing in the background.
He walked toward Mae Morgan as she chatted with Doc Smith’s wife, Lizzie. If she didn’t want anything to do with him, he’d return to the lovely Dagny for another dance before finding Will then he’d call it a night.
Ma
e’s eyes widened as he approached. He nodded to her and turned to Lizzie. “I didn’t see Doc tonight. Is he out on calls?”
“Several of the Sprat family have come down with influenza. He wants to make sure they stay home. He’s trying to educate them on cleanliness as well as the dangers of spreading the sickness to everyone in town.”
“He’s a saint, Lizzie. Hey, would you mind terribly if I stole Miss Morgan for a minute or two?”
Laughing, Lizzie pressed her hand to her chest. “I have missed you. You need to come to town more often.” She turned to Mae while holding onto his forearm. “Watch him, Mae. He’ll steal your heart.”
He locked eyes with Mae, and his pulse raced. “Would you like to step onto the terrace for some air?”
“I would like to cool off a bit. Lizzie, please let’s get together soon. I want to hear more on the Ladies Auxiliary.”
He offered his arm, but she refused it, then turned and marched through the double glass doors, practically stomping along the way.
He snickered.
Mae stared out at the night sky. With her back to him, she said, “The girl you were dancing with is stunning. Do you think she’ll mind you’re out here with me?”
He turned her gently to face him and lifted her chin with his hand. He looked at her slightly parted lips and noticed her rapid pulse from the faint thin line of the vein along her kissable neckline. “I wanted to dance with you, but noticed you had a full dance card. So, I figured I’d dance with someone else.” He chuckled again.
She jerked away from him and narrowed her eyes. “Do I amuse you? I have to dance and be charming to all of the males in this god-awful town because my father asked me to.”
“So, what’s so god-awful about our little town?”
Rolling her eyes, she said, “After living in Atlanta, moving out here to the boondocks is like stepping back in time. I mean no disrespect, of course.”
He leaned against the stone balustrade with his arms crossed over his chest. “Of course not. See, we country folk have no idea about uppity big town manners and all, so, you’ll just have to enlighten me.”
Mae’s face softened as her dress swished back and forth on the terrace floor. Desire reflected in her eyes, and she bit her bottom lip. “I didn’t mean to disrespect the town or upset you. But my father decided to move here without even discussing it with me. I have friends in Atlanta.”
“Friends, huh? Did you leave someone special in Atlanta?” He inwardly groaned as she bit her bottom lip. “Don’t bite your lip.”
She opened her mouth, then closed it, then opened it again. “You’re fresh. Didn’t your mother teach you manners? It’s not polite to discuss those things.”
He shoved his right hand in his suit pocket. “My mom died when I was young, so I’m afraid my manners are lacking. If you give the town a chance, you may grow to like it.”
The band played, “I’m Always Chasing Rainbows.” He reached over and held her hand, rubbing his thumb across her delicate skin. “Let’s forget about manners. Dance with me.”
“Hmm. Are you going to be nice?”
He laughed. “Very nice.”
“All right then.” She nodded, and he led her onto the dance floor.
Holding Mae in his arms, staring into her sky-blue eyes, felt right.
She giggled. “I have to admit it. I believe you’re probably the best dancer in town.”
“That’s not saying much. I’d like to see you again. Let’s go on a picnic after church tomorrow.”
She leaned her face on his shoulder and sighed. “I’d like nothing better, but I have a prior engagement tomorrow. My father has invited your cousin over for lunch. He wants to develop new business with him.”
The song ended, and he ushered her to a quiet corner away from the crowd. “I’ll give you a piece of advice. Don’t trust my cousin. I won’t get into the details, but please keep your distance.”
“I wish I had a say in the matter, but I live under my father’s rules. See, my mother died too. He’s all I have in the world.”
“I know you don’t know me from Adam, but I’m warning you about Dale. He has no scruples.”
“To be honest, he gives me the creeps.”
He held her hands in his for a moment. “Hey, do you want to go for a walk now? There’s a garden below that leads to a pond. The moon is full, and I want you to myself.”
“I’m afraid that’s not possible. Maybe we could meet in the park one day next week?”
He brushed a silky copper curl behind her ear. “I won’t be coming into town until next Friday. Will that work for you?”
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Also by D. F. Jones
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