"Bad habit, I guess." She smiled shyly.
"Oh I don't know. You always kept pretty good time." He chuckled.
"I never knew you noticed." She said saucily.
"You might be surprised what I notice." He smiled. "By the way, they already got the new barn up, at least the hull of it. So that's where they'll have the dance."
"That was fast."
"Well, Talbot has a lot of friends, and he wanted to have the new barn nearly done so we could dance in it, sort of christen it."
"That's nice…" Callie smiled.
When Gil stared at her too long, she got nervous.
"Sam you about ready?" She felt suddenly clumsy.
Gil was being overly nice and she couldn't help but wonder what he was up to.
Sam came out in his best pants and shirt and his hair slicked.
"You look right handsome…" Callie smiled at him.
"Thanks…I guess." Sam blushed as Gil stared at him.
"Don't worry Sam; there will be others your age there and plenty of great food." Gil suggested.
"I hope Mrs. Elder brings her apple pie. I love her pie." Sam said thinking about it.
"Then I guess we are ready."
Gil gulped down the coffee and escorted them out the door and onto the wagon. Precious was in the back of the wagon and Sam climbed in with him, petting him as the dog curled up beside him.
At the dance, Gil told Precious to stay in the wagon and they went inside. There was already a crowd and the music had started. Everyone took their guns off and hung them on a long line of pegs at the door. Homer was there as he said he'd be and Gil nodded to him.
A long table was made of sawhorses and boards for the food, and it was full of wonderful smelling homemade pies and cakes. A couple of punch bowls were set up too by the Reverend. Saul and David greeted them with smiles and hugs and they all spoke to Sam.
Lou brought Jo and they spotted Gil and Callie.
"Good to see you Callie, you are looking pretty as a picture." Lou said, giving Gil a quick once-over.
"You clean up pretty well, boy." Lou laughed. "I see you brought Sam along."
"Yeah," Callie turned to watch Sam survey the long line of pies and laughed. "We got a cougar stalking the place at night, I was afraid he'd try to play hero and to after it if I left him at home."
"A cougar, well, maybe we should talk to Ed Grimes or even Mr. Dugan about that, they are both good at catching cats."
Callie nodded. "I hadn't seen Mr. Dugan and Sally in a long time."
"They are here, somewhere."
"Looks like everyone is here, just about." Gil remarked, glancing around the room.
"Yeah, well when you only have one or two of these shindigs a year, most turn out for them." Jo added. "Callie that dress is beautiful."
"Thanks, it was Ma's. I just fixed it to fit me."
"I didn't know you sew."
"Yeah, Mrs. Boggs taught me a couple of years ago. And my Aunt showed me a few things too. I can embroidery now and knit a little. I need a little practice on the knitting though." Callie blushed when both Lou and Gil turned to look at her.
"How is she, Callie?" Jo asked.
"Who?"
"Mrs. Boggs. I know she's been ailing a while now."
"Not well. I don't think she's going to make it through the winter. She's barely eating and the spark's gone out of her eyes." Callie's smile faded. "I go over there about once or twice a week to check on her. But she doesn't eat enough to keep a bird alive. And I don't honestly think anyone else even looks in on her."
"I'm sorry to hear that. She was always a nice lady. Too bad Joe doesn't take an interest in helping her."
"Yeah, she's been one of my best friends." Callie glanced at the men.
Jo guided her to the punch bowl. "Let's let the men talk a while, get their business taken care of so we can enjoy this dance."
Callie glanced at her with surprise. "That's a good idea."
She was already tapping her foot to the lively music.
"I'm glad you came Callie. I don't see enough of you these days." Jo patted her arm. "And Sam, he's sure growing up."
"Sam wasn't too happy about coming, but I don't like to leave him home at night." Callie explained.
"Yeah, you are right, he don't belong out there alone at night. He'll calm down when he sees all the food, and there are several girls his age here too."
"Oh boy, he's girl shy," Callie laughed.
"He'll grow out of that, and you'll be wishing he hadn't." Jo laughed.
"Look…" Jo pointed when Mary Hodges walked over to Sam and they started talking.
"I can't look. If he sees me, he'll never enjoy himself. Does he look pleased?" Callie asked her.
"Sure does, he's smiling from ear to ear." Jo laughed.
"Good. At least I won't have to worry about him all night."
Jo looked at her intently. "Are you worried about someone else?"
"No…not really. I want to enjoy this evening as much as I can. I don't get out very often." Callie remarked. "And I so enjoy the music."
"Gil's headed this way…" Jo whispered.
Callie turned to look at him and suddenly Susan Higgins sidled up to Gil. "Hi Gil, didn't know you were coming to the dance."
"Yeah, I brought Callie," He nodded toward Callie.
"Oh, didn't know you and her were sweet on each other." Susan's nose rose to the air.
"We've been good friends all our lives." Gil defended.
"Friends, oh yes. Then I guess it would be alright if you dance with me?" She pulled on his arm; she glanced at Hal who had found a pretty girl to dance with.
Gil pulled back, "I'm sorry, but I promised Callie the first dance."
"Well…I never…."
"Maybe you should see what Hal is up to." Gil pointed in the general direction of Hal and some others his age.
Gil shook his head as she walked toward Hal. He glanced at Callie. "Want to dance?"
Callie blushed. "I'd love to…" She said sweetly, and took his arm.
But she was anything but calm when he took her in his arms. "Why didn't you dance with her?"
Callie nodded toward Susan.
"I brought you, that's why." Gil stared at her.
"Well…it's not like we're anything to each other. I wouldn't mind." Callie said.
"You wouldn't?" He asked twirling her about.
"Of course not." She glanced at his scowling face. "But…thanks for thinking of me…"
"I brought you, didn't I?" He remarked and swayed with her.
"Yes, you did." She smiled sweetly.
They danced several dances, and then he got her some punch. Gil was a good dancer and she was beginning to enjoy herself.
"Let's go outside a while. We can still hear the music out there."
Callie braced herself for his questions. They were bound to come. That's why he brought her, and that's why he didn't want to dance with others.
She sighed and he offered his arm.
She looped her arm in his.
He found a good spot and they sat under a weeping willow tree.
"It's pretty out here, isn't it?" She asked sitting down on a bench. There was a stream not far away and they heard the frogs croaking. The sun was setting and it left a hue of purples and pinks in the sky.
"Yeah…sometimes I feel crowded in places like this." He admitted.
"If you don't like dances, why did you come?" She asked, gearing up for the drill.
"Well, one I asked you, and two, I figured it's a better way to get to know people. Only I wish it were more one on one. So you could get to know people better."
"Who do you want to know better?" She asked.
"Well, you for one…" he began and looked away.
"Now what would you want to know about me? You've known me all my life, Gil." Callie chuckled.
"Oh, I don't know. I know you’re a girl. A very pretty girl, I know you like music. But…I didn't know you sew; I didn't know y
ou help so many of the sick people around here. I didn't know you like flowers until I saw them in your cabin." He smiled.
She glanced up. What was he up to? Not one word about Joe.
"I do like flowers. It brightens a dull place up, and our place is pretty dull." She commented. "Sam's growing up, and I want him to realize the importance of such things. He'll likely find himself a girl and settle down one day, he needs to know about the little things in life that make it so much better. You know, I've heard a lot of talk from other women that prairie life is rough and hard on a woman, but I think part of the secret…is to enjoy the little things, like flowers, or whatever makes you happy. Life can be full of hard work, and good times."
"That's a good way of looking at things. And I guess you are right. The right attitude is a big part of living good. I've seen lots of shacks Callie, and yours isn't like most. You've changed and I didn't even know it." He sat down beside her now. "What made you change?"
Callie thought about it a minute. She had changed. "I think we all change some when we start growing up."
She glanced at him, and he nodded.
"Well, some of it is because of my Aunt Sissy. She's the only relative we have left. I visited her last month. She lives over in Porterville. She doesn't have any children. It's just her and her husband, Uncle Levi, and she's always sort of taken me under her wing. I was telling her how drab the place looked and that there wasn't much to look forward to, and well…she did change my mind about a lot of things. She said a small place could be as pretty as a big place. She said flowers brighten a home, any home. And she was right. She said pretty curtains made it look nicer. So I made some out of some scraps Ma had in her trunk."
"Yeah, but it's more than the shack, Callie, you've brightened yourself up some too. I mean you are wearing dresses now." Gil remarked.
"My Ma's. I fixed them so I could wear them. Ma was bigger busted. But Aunt Sissy said I'd have to fix myself up some too. She said I couldn't expect Sam to take pride himself, if I don't set an example, and she was right. So I wear dresses more. 'Course I can't wear them when I'm working, you know slopping hogs, or feeding chickens and stuff. But I dress up more and it's funny she was right. I do feel better about things now. Life can be dreary and dull, or you can work at making it better."
"You look real pretty…"
"I do?" She looked up at him as he stood up and stared at her.
He took her hand and pulled her up close to him. "You do…"
His lips hovered just over hers and her breath hitched as he came closer.
Just as he would have kissed her again, someone grabbed his arm and pushed him away.
"Hey you're with my girl…." Joe Boggs laughed as he pushed Gil away. He was staggering around, as though he'd been drinking.
"I'm not your girl." Callie quickly corrected him. "Gil invited me to this dance. I'm with him!"
"Him?" Joe snarled.
"Joe, Callie is with me…just like she said." Gil stood poised with his hand at his hip, but there was no gun, because he had hung it on the rack as he came inside the barn, with all the rest.
Joe however hadn't checked his gun.
"Forget something Sutton?" Joe glanced at Gil's empty hip and laughed.
"I don't want any trouble, Joe. But you are interrupting our dance." Gil said and took Callie's hand.
"That's my girl you got there," He hollered so others would hear.
"I'm not your girl. I’m no one's girl. But I came with Gil and I'll leave with him." She pulled away from him and ran back to Gil.
Gil put his arm out to guard her.
He had an audience now and Gil stared hard at Joe.
"Pick another time, Joe. This isn't a place for arguing." Gil warned him.
"On second thought, who wants her?" Joe laughed. He turned to see everyone glaring at him. "Don't mind me, folks. I got better places to be."
And he staggered to his horse and rode off.
Callie let out a breath.
Gil turned to look at her. "I can't believe he walked off."
Lou came up to them. "What did he want?"
"Just to cause trouble." Callie answered.
"You look a little pale, you alright, Callie?" Jo asked as she came up to her.
"I'm fine."
Gil looked at her face and saw something strange, something almost like fear. He'd never seen Callie afraid.
"Let's dance…" He smiled at her.
Relieved that he didn't ask her questions she nodded.
They danced several dances. Callie noticed Sam and Mary were dancing too on the side.
Sam and Mary joined everyone when they sat down to eat. Sam wasn't embarrassed at all. Callie found it surprising.
Later, when they rode home Sam laid down in the back of the wagon, beside a sleeping Precious. "I'm tired." He quipped.
Precious laid his cold nose on Sam's leg and they both settled down.
"We'll be home in a bit…but you can nap until we get there, if you want."
"I'm a little surprised you didn't ask me about Joe." Callie looked at Gil.
Gil shot her a quick glance. "I saw something in your face tonight, that I never seen before."
"What?"
"Fear."
"I was shocked he showed up. I was afraid he was going to make a scene, or goad you into a fight."
"Are you his girl?"
Callie sighed heavily now, then cast him a quick look. "This might shock you, but no. I am not his girl. I'm no one's girl. I feel as though I just became a girl lately and I'm still getting used to the idea myself."
He stopped the wagon for a bit.
"Why are we stopping?" She asked.
He seemed to think on it a bit, and then he looked at her in the moonlight. "A girl should be kissed in the moonlight…"
She opened her mouth to object, but he covered it with a kiss she never expected.
It was sweet, and tender and caring and it gave her stomach a jolt. Her heart skipped several beats and the kiss went on.
His mouth moved over hers like a tip of a feather, kissing the corner of her mouth, and tugging at her lower lip that quivered. Suddenly all the jitters and trembling stopped, replaced by a yearning to know more.
He raised his head slowly, staring into her starry eyes.
"Yes ma'am, you sure are a girl." He smiled.
But even though the kiss didn't seem to faze him, it certainly did her. She was sure she'd never be the same again.
Sam didn't make a peep.
She wondered if he saw.
When they arrived at her cabin, she started to get out, but Gil pulled her around. "Let Sam go on in."
"But…I'll be in there in a minute Sam…" she called to an already closing door.
Precious yawned and went back to sleep.
As soon as Sam disappeared, he took her in his arms again. This kiss asked questions. Questions she had no answers for. It was tantalizing, and he wasn't bashful with his arms around her either. Suddenly her arms came up and around his neck and she hung on.
When he raised his head, he stared at her for a long moment. "I think you're my girl, Callie….don't you?"
"I…I…." She couldn't say any more.
She scrambled down the wagon and ran to the door, then looked back at him. He was smiling as though he already knew the answer.
All she could do was stare….stunned!
Chapter Seven
"So now you are Gil Sutton's girl?" Sam repeated when she walked into the cabin with a dazed look on her face. The look on Sam's face mingled from confusion to acceptance.
"Well I…I…" she began, so confused. The cobwebs in her mind wouldn't clear. Not after that kiss. However, for Sam's sake she masked her bewilderment. What had happened? The whole night didn't go as she expected. She searched deep within her for plausible answers. Because the one thing she knew for certain was that the kiss went both ways.
When Sam kept staring, she ran to her bed and cried.
"Oh f
or heaven's sake, I knew you'd be crying before this night was over. Why do girls get all mushy over a kiss?" Sam asked.
"You saw us?" Callie cried aloud.
"Sure I did, at the dance and just now too. Didn't look as though he was trying to keep it quiet. Now did it? If I ever saw a man stakin' his territory, it was Gil. And that's not a bad thing."
"Please Sam…I need some time…to think this night over." She explained. "I certainly wasn't expecting it to turn out like this. I was sure he only ask me to the dance to ask about Joe Boggs."
"If you were so sure about it, why'd you go in the first place?"
"I wanted to see if that was what he was after." She turned to look at her brother. "Instead he bumfuzzled me."
"What's to think about? Gil's sweet on you like I thought. Nothing confusing about that. You're a girl, he's a fella, and you are of age. Nothing wrong in that, is there?"
"He never has been interested before!" Callie cried out. "Why now?"
"You never wore a dress and danced with him before, either." Sam chuckled, his smile widening with approval. "And I’m pretty sure by the way you are acting, you haven't kissed him before either. But as I recall, a long time ago, you and him were kind of sweethearts. Of course, I wasn't very old then and I'm not sure about it. But I remember Ma talking about it once."
"It's not funny!" She protested his lack of sympathy. "That was a long time ago. We were just kids then."
"Sorry sis. But from where I'm looking, it is funny. You never saw it coming. Did ya?"
His sudden amusement compounded her feelings.
"He can't be sweet on me. He just wants information. I know…." Callie barked her face a mirror of frowns now. "You wait and see, he'll be asking all kinds of questions before long."
"The way he was kissing you, I wouldn't worry about Joe Boggs any more. I'd worry about Gil Sutton. I think he means it sis. I think he's sweet on you." Sam laughed. "The way he's going at it, you'll be married before you know what hit you."
"Well, it isn't funny!" She tried to sound upset. "I didn't go with him for that purpose."
"What's so funny is, he's the last person you ever expected. Isn't he?" Sam looked at her with a big smile.
She looked at him and had to smile…"I guess he is…"
"I'm glad. He's not a bad fella. He's got a job, he works hard at his ranch and he cleans up good and all. More than I can say for Joe Boggs. He needs a haircut and a shave all the time. And a bath sure wouldn't hurt any of them."
Brides of the West-Part One Page 66
