Want... dolls!
Posted November 2, 2020 | Bridget Monahan | Present: Pronto; Emeline; Clara; Brendan
Bridget watched the conversation between the man with the shiny badge, Clara, the girl who had helped her when she fell over, and the handsome non-bad cowboy, even if she didn’t seem to be listening to it.
Her attention was distracted for a few seconds as a couple of boys appeared and managed to stuff a significant percentage of the cookies on offer into their miraculously capacious pockets. She thought of doing the same thing herself, but her dress didn’t have any pockets and her clutch purse was so decorative and teeny that it would scarcely fit a cookie inside it.
The Pie Lady and Arabella eventually returned with a jug of cream each, not that the latter stayed long, and before she knew it, the first dance was being called. This was the moment that she had practiced for! She wished she was dancing with Arabella, who had taught her the steps, but she knew that the idea was really to dance with the gentlemen who were there.
As the first notes of the waltz started, she naturally assumed that she would dance with the nearest man standing to her: she held out her hands to Brendan to lead her onto the dance floor.
Sit down, shut up, don't touch anythin'
Posted November 2, 2020 | Addy Chappel | Present: Jay
"Cheers ta you!" Grinning widely, meeting his toast. His compliments were flattering, although she wasn't sure how to take it. Oh, she was able to accept praise when it came to handling the stage over rough roads, or dealing with troublesome animals. But praise for being a lady...that was something unusual, and it it put her a little off balance. Still, this was Jay, and she found that she wanted the kind words from him, although it wouldn't have hurt anything to have some alcohol in the punch!
"Would you like to dance now?"
"I'd like that real good." Her smile widened as she took his hand and walked with him to the dance floor. She could dance a waltz, it was a favorite of hers, such an elegant dance, making her feel all the more like a lady...a lady stage driver!
Posted November 2, 2020 | Barnabas Pike | Emeline
Hearing the caller announce the first number Pronto looked around for Em and spotted her with the one called Arabella and strode over to her. "Why Miss Em, might I have the first dance with you? Seems it's a waltz, just my speed."
He reached for her hand, knowing he could 'shake a good hoof' in the proceedings, the waltz would just be a warm up for those dances that would follow.
"The law is the law."
"Mining's not everyone's choice of hobbies, it just happens to be mine."
Posted November 2, 2020 | Henry "Speed" Guyer | Present: Leah Steelgrave
“Marshal? Can I help you?” Leah asked, taken aback by his presence on her door step.
“Yes Ma’am, I was thinkin’ that I didn’t see you at the dance, and that you might not have been asked. If you’ would do me the pleasure, I would be honored to escort you. One shouldn’t miss the best time we’ll have in Kalispell this spring.”
“Why, I hadn’t planned on attending, I, oh, please, come in. I seem to have lost my manners as well as train of thought.” She stepped aside and Speed entered. “I’ve been working on a presentation for the Town Council as well as The Kalispell Ladies' Society in advance of the Town Council meeting.” She explained, actually quite proud to have been invited to The Kalispell Ladies' Society meeting.
“So, you’ve made some inroads as far as the project is concerned and that is good, actually for both you and the town.”
“I’d like to think so, and while I’m at it, convince the ladies and the Town Council that this is not about me, which for some, may prove difficult, and that my father is not involved in either project in any way shape or form.” She laughed lightly. “That will be quite the task.”
“Yes, I’m afraid it will, but there are those of us that believe in what you are trying to do.” He stated. “However, perhaps your appearance at the dance might aid in your cause, or at least, that would be my thinking.”
“You might be right, Marshal. Let me freshen up a bit and then I would be happy to have you escort me to the dance.” She replied.
Retired Characters and NPC Writer.
Posted November 3, 2020 | Jay
It was nice to be amongst people again. Especially when they were having such a good time with music, punch, food and fun.
Jay smiled as they stepped on the dance floor and he reached for Addys hand and placed his other one on the small of her back. There was enough distance between them, not to cause any weird looks but they were close enough for Jay to be happy.
He had learned to dance as a teenager as was decent at it. So was Addy. In fact, she proofed to have grace and knew exactly where her feet were, so they never stepped on each others toes.
With her in his arms Jay moved to the music twisting and gliding along the dance floor. It was marvelous. For a moment he felt care free and happy.
"Beautiful." he commented, leaving it open whether he meant her or the dance.
Posted November 3, 2020 | Brendan Connolly | Present: Clara, Pronto (technically he's moved on), and Bridget
Brendan was shocked at at the way things had turned out. He was shocked at first when Clara refused to tell Pronto the names of the people who had shot at her. She was right that she hadn't seen them, but she knew damn well it had been Billy or Greer. And he was even more shocked when she adamantly refused to press charges. And still more shocked when Deputy Pike relented and went off to ask the woman Clara worked with for a dance.
Clara had patched things up nicely and he almost felt guilty for mentioning the shooting. There could have been a big ruckus because of him, and it was only because of her insistence not to charge anyone - and her knowledge of the law! - that things had been smoothed over. But they weren't smoothed over between him and her yet.
He heard the music start up and he was agonizing over whether to ask Clara for a dance right away or let things cool off when Bridget stepped up to him with her arms outstretched. He stared at her for a moment. It wasn't normal for a girl to ask a guy to dance, but then she wasn't really asking.
After a moment of gaping at her, he took her hands in his. "I don't reckon you've been to many dances before. Normally the gentleman asks the lady to dance first. Lucky for you an' me, I don't count as a gentleman in Miss Redmond's book."
He glanced at Clara and smirked before putting one hand on Bridget's waist. "Hope you're constructed for a waltz. Guess you wouldn't'a asked for one if you weren't."
He had unconsciously slipped into the soothing voice he used with animals. Bridget seemed a mite flighty - not skittish, but close to it and he wanted her to feel at ease, especially after the comment he'd made about her gingery hair.
Posted November 3, 2020Present: Clara by herself
Here she had put herself out there to prevent Brendan from getting into trouble and this was the gratitude she got? Off he went with Bridget for the first dance after making a smirking remark too. Yes, it was true she had at one point said he was not a gentleman, definitely with reasons too. But maybe what she should have also had mentioned was 'ungrateful', it would certainly fit!
Emeline was out then on the rapidly filling up dance floor with her soon to be husband, she noticed Mr. Ryker, who had once been their guest at the farm when he helped her father with shoeing a horse and fixing a barn roof was now dancing with ...oh yes, Addy! She almost didn't recognize the woman, she looked ....well fancier than her everyday appearance. Good for her. There were plenty of others out there too having a good time.
As for her, she was alone. She should have known, Emeline got her all gussied up and the nice dress but in the end it didn't make any difference. She was on the outside looking in, as she had worried she would be. Her first inclination to skip the dance had turned out to have been the right one.
Clara turned back to the table of assembled baked goods and reached for a cookie. Hmmm, the cookie supply was really disappearing fast? With a sigh, she bit into one and chewed. Maybe she should excuse herself to Emeline once this first dance finished and just go home.
I took an oath for this job. The oath says bring him in. That's what I'll do.
Posted November 4, 2020 | Charlie Wentworth | With: Clara
Charlie had been watching the goings-on at the baked goods table for a while now. Even though he couldn't hear what was going, he couldn't help wonder what they talking about. Things were beginning to look interested when he saw the deputy address the new fellow but then that went nowhere with the deputy departing to dance with Mrs. Blakesley. Soon after, the new fellow took the shy girl away to dance. His brother Matt had told him the name of the girl when he had seen her in the street the other day but for the life of him, he couldn't remember what it was.
Seeing that Clara was now by herself, he took the opportunity to go up to her on the pretence that he was getting something to eat. As he approached the table, he took a deep breath as he thought of what he should say first. Almost every time he talked to Clara, he somehow always made a mess of it, making her either angry at him or sad. He still had no way of knowing what to say to her but hopefully this time around they could have a pleasant conversation.
Taking of his hat, he half-bowed, "Evening, Miss Clara," he said in a pleasant tone, "before you say anything, can I apologise to you in advance just in case I say something that might upset you. I don't mean to do it, it's just that well...darn it, you're just not the type of person I want to lie to and that's why I guess I'm sometimes too direct and too honest when I talk you."
Posted November 4, 2020 | Emeline & Pike
"Of course I'll dance with you." That was what she'd been looking forward to for some time, and she took his hand as he led her to the floor. It had been a long time since she'd had an opportunity to dance, and to have that opportunity with Barnabas was more than she ever could have wished for.
The music started, and Barnabas led them smoothly around the floor, and she found that it was so natural and comfortable, just like everything was with him. The wedding was a couple weeks off yet, and she was wondering if they could move that up...like, tomorrow! She was tired of waiting, and wanted to be Mrs. Pike!
"Everybody can feather their nest, but it's not just anybody that can lay an egg!"
Posted November 4, 2020 | [Arabella & Ralph Flandry]
The slalom run that Arabella made through the crowd that night to get to the grog tent on time to claim her dance from Ralph Flandry would put a modern Olympic skier to shame. Most folks she could simply dodge as she kicked up her heels and ran helter skelter through the bunch, some she had to shout a warning to: “Coming through!”, and one frail old lady, who was blocking the doorway, had to be gently moved aside with a brief but polite “’Scuse fingers!”
Eventually she stood panting before the transplanted barman of the Star Saloon and the waddling form of Cookie.
“Mr Flandry?” she yelled excitedly “Can I have my dance now? I know it’s the worstest one cause the floor’s half empty and an’ the band ain’t warmed up yet an’ everybody’s starin’ and laughin’ but I just gotta have this first dance with you. Please, please, please, please, please!”
The big cook standing next to him shook her head in exasperation.
“Lawd, lawd, Mr. Ralph, yes, please, please, please do! Cause if you don’t take that girl out there and dance with her right now, I will!, just to hush the chile up!”
Arabella jumped up and down at this slightly backhanded bolster to her plea, and held out her hands to the big tough bearded man.