"Well, yes..." Wyatt's logic was, well, logical, and as long as he wasn't the only one doing it, Weedy was all-in! "He say when?" That could certainly be a factor, as there were always such inconveniences as chores. And Wyatt living outside of town. But he had no doubt that the three boys could get their heads together and figure something out.
"Ma has chores for me most days," he pointed out, "although if she's out on a run..." Well, it was easier to be bad when there was no one looking, right?
Conversation had waned, crowds had shifted, food and drink had flowed, and then the music reigned over the festivities. While not at all deep in his cups, Jonah had had just enough of the 'adult' punch to have the sudden urge to ask Leah to dance, and could find no good reason not to.
So, to that end, he approached the lovely young woman and gave a stiff bow. "Miss Steelgrave, may I have this dance?"
For Leah Steelgrave, the evening had been one of, if not the most enjoyable in recent months. The entire event had been relaxed and pleasant for her, not the hurried, seemingly fast-paced life of dealing with the hospital and its details, while keeping one eye open for her father's men and any devilry they might have in mind. Yes, she had her men, who were ever present wherever she went, as inconspicuous as possible, with the exception of this evening's affair. She felt their escort might be just too much, especially since the Pikes had men who would be available.
With a smile, Leah replied, "But of course, Doctor Danforth, I would love a dance with you." She held her hand to him, "This has just been the most wonderful evening! I am so glad we came, aren't you? We have never danced, and I find that quite unusual, though there has not been an occasion where that would have been possible." And she giggled ever so lightly. This was how life was supposed to be.
"It's been very nice," Jonah agreed as he took Leah's right hand in his left and placed his right hand gingerly on her waist. This was the closest they'd been, he mused, that they weren't bent over blueprints, lists or bills, and he liked this much better!
"And you're right, it's a pity we haven't found a reason to dance before this." Such a wasted opportunity! "The season seems to lend itself to things one wouldn't normally consider." He grinned. "Or, Kalispell needs to have more functions!"
She moved so elegantly, it was easy to glide along with her, and fortunately, part of his training had included dances like the mazurka that was playing. And he found that it was very nice just to be with her, so close...
Gliding across the floor in and out of the other couples, Jonah led her ever so smoothly. The man could dance! A side of him she had not experienced, and he was correct about the lack of opportunities for dancing. She would have to see what could be done about that once the hospital was up and running, that is, if there was time.
"Yes Jonah, there needs to be more of such opportunities." She replied. "I shall make it a point to see what can be done about that disparity in the community." She was almost in heaven, it had been a long time since she had been afforded a dance, and with someone who could dance as well as Jonah.
It was almost as if she never wanted this to end, which of course it must. But not since finishing school had a dance been so exhilerating to her. Back when the dances were often, and the young men from the nearby University were all such good dancers. Yet, there was far more to this particular moment in time than just this dance. Something long dead had been awakened in her and she never wanted it to end. But she knew that it must.
Storyteller / Shared NPC
"Well, yes..." Weedy seemed to be in on this exciting plan, "He say when?"
"Not so far but then I won't see him til school is back on," Wyatt explained, for it was Christmas afterall.
"Ma has chores for me most days," Weedy pointed out, "although if she's out on a run..."
"Well, I'm guessing but I imagine Freddy is gonna pick a time right after school. Only instead of all goin' to our homes, we troop on over to the saloon and Freddy does his plan and we get to down a drink just like the men," Wyatt declared, he had had a sip of wine once but that was the extent of his own drinking. He knew his father drank on occasion but he sure wasn't one of those drunks that nobody likes. And Clara.... she would never drink. That might be fun and his sister was not about fun.
He still wasn't quite sure what Jacob saw in his sister? That said, Wyatt loved Clara for all her many faults.
The dance floor was crowded with other couples, so there certainly did seem to be a need for more dances. "Maybe we could find a way to incorporate dancing into the regular community celebrations?" After all, there were some holidays, such as Independence Day and May Day, and box socials, harvest festivals...
"All we'd have to do is find a way to incorporate more formal dances into the square dances." Jonah chuckled. "I have nothing against square dances, mind you, but they are too fast and...distant." Not at all like the more intimate dances such as waltzes and mazurkas.
"To that end, I propose that you learn to play violin and I will endeavor to learn cello!"
"That should be somewhat of a challenge as I can play the piano," Leah informed him. "So you should get busy if we're to be the musicians. But seriously Jonah, there is any number of men who play various instruments that could,and I'm sure would, play for celebrations, such as a Founders Day Celebration. Now that would be a big draw, if it's not in the dead of winter." Then she laughed.
"What a grand idea, having regular celebrations. There are times of celebration, in the fall, Harvest Festival, but there could be more. Last Independence Day could have been much better than it was, and big doings after the spring round-up could be something. Christmas, well that always depends on whether folks could travel. But I'm sure we could get something going more often."
"Ah, yes, hire musicians, and we can lead the dances!" Jonah chuckled. "I'll admit, though, that I'm only schooled in the more common dances, and not at all in group dances." It had been a necessity to mingle in 'higher' society to know some dances, to know how to carry yourself and speak properly. People judged you on how you presented, and he had leaned to present himself...
"I think we can find a way to have more dances. Maybe we can hold a monthly fund-raiser for the hospital, once it's up and running. Music, those little sandwiches...canapes? and dancing. We may very well need help with funds, especially at first, as we find out what the needs are." Even moreso if there was to be an orphanage in the future.
"In and done quick," Weedy agreed with a nod. No problem there, after all, he and Wyatt had faced bank robbers and survived, so what was a little jaunt to a bar for a drink. As for being 'men', the bank robbery, both losing their mothers, taking on chores and such, more than any boy should be expected...
He dropped his voice to a whisper. "I sure hope there are some of those pretty ladies there when we go." Why wouldn't there be, except that it would be just their luck!
(Do you want to get this started elsewhere?)