Daylight Main Street Sometime Before the July 4th Celebration

Arden Summerfield was in town again this day, he'd been coming into town quite often lately considering he lived on a farmstead  a good few miles away to the east. Ever the dutiful son, he was careful to keep up with is daily farm chores but he now had a pressing reason to go to Kalispell lately. The Fourth of July celebrations were closing in and the local paper and town gossip all claimed it would be the best festival yet for the small Montana town. While honestly he did not have much personal experience with such events, this time he was positively eager to attend. 

And it all had to do with the upcoming dance too. Another thing he was hardly experienced with either but it wasn't just that. Yet again his annoying, make that maddening, cousin had gotten to him once more. His relative's teasing, jibes, and cocky attitude angered Arden. So it was it ended up in a bet. And one with, at least to this farmboy, important stakes. Loser had to give up his saddle. Now Arden only had the one saddle, course he only had the one horse too and that itself had been a gift from his folks on his latest birthday. He tried not to even think about how upset his folks might be if they discovered he'd gambled away his saddle. It would also mean a lot of bareback riding til he saved up enough money for a second saddle. Adding to that would be the misery of his cousin lording it over him every time they saw each other.

What was the bet one might wonder? Quite simple - Arden had to ask a gal to go to the dance with him and she had to say 'yes'. If that sounded easy enough, it was decidedly not. Well, more than that really, she also had to actually then attend with him and stay the duration too.

Arden was a virtual unknown in town, he'd never even attended the local school as a boy. He didn't spend a lot of time ever in town even. Then there was the young man himself. Perhaps he was being hard on himself but he was hardly the strapping piece of manhood some young men were his age. He was strong enough but most might not think so at first glance. 

Then when people did manage a closer up look at the young farmer, that's when his eyes....make that eye...would definitely call attention to itself. One eye was brown but the other was....well, barely even there, all white and milky. Plain for anyone to tell he was blind in that eye too. He'd been teased for it many times too, even by his rotten cousin.

Despite all that and a certain normal enough lack of confidence with the ladies, Arden was absolutely determined to go to this dance. It just remained for him to find the right gal to say 'yes' to him. His first attempts were immediate turndowns, some fancy looking blonde girl who smirked her refusal and kept walking being the latest. Arden was a realist, it was evident he had to lower his standards.

And not a few minutes earlier he found this one gal walking down the boardwalk all by her lonesome, basket in hand. Even from across the street it was apparent she was certainly not pretty....alright more like homely. Now as he drew closer, he noticed the freckles too, good lord, that was a whole passel of freckles. No matter, he had to ask. He figured odds were no other young man in town had approached her. Beggars couldn't be choosers was the old saying.

"Ummm, excuse me, miss?" he announced as soon as he was in easy talking range. 

Unfortunately his attempt to stop her for a quick bit of conversation quite startled the poor thing.

"Oh, you frightened the life out of me!!" she panted, holding her hand dramatically to her heart.

"Oh, I'm sorry," not a great start for this Arden thought.

Then she suddenly grabbed him by the arm and blurted "Come on, it's not too late, I'm sure that Mrs Ashby will see you and that she will like you very much!"

Wait! What was she doing? He was plainly startled by the move.

"Excuse me, miss, I don't even know who Mrs. Ashby is. There is some kind of mistake here," he didn't want to pull away, that would be rude. 

"I was hoping to simply have a quick word with you actually," the young man clarified his wish.

"Oh, you're not after the job?!" now the little redhead joined him in his confusion.

"No, miss," Arden shook his head, 

"I was hoping to simply have a quick word with you actually."

She wanted to keep moving, "Oh well... er sure, but I need to keep walking... I mustn't be late for work!"

"My pardon, I won't take long if you just let me explain...........as we go," he easily kept pace with her as his legs were longer than hers.

"I will come out with it then. I trust you are aware of the 4th of July celebrations, including the big dance? I would like to ask you out ...you know, go to the dance with me?"  there he threw it out there. 

Already given her haste and her seeming mix of annoyance and discomfort, he full expected she would give him the mitten.

As Arden suspected, the young miss was spooked alright. He could figure out why too. It might be partially his sudden approach of her like that out on the street but more likely the biggest reason was his looks, specifically his eye. Like he could help that.

"I'm afraid I'm not going to the dance!" she said hurriedly, not looking at him. "I'm busy that night! My mistress needs me to do things!" she blurted as they reached a side door of some house, he'd never been in this part of town before really.

The door opened and there was a dark haired girl. 

"Oh good, you're back! Who's he?!" the black hair asked.

Arden did not get a chance to answer though, the two gals talked as if he wasn't even present.

"Oh, he's no-one. Asked me to the dance but I'm not going!!" ginger answered quickly and darted in and away. 

The young man blinked, there she goes. So much for her then. 

The other girl looked him over up and down as if studying him. Arden was quite ready to walk away then but before he could even turn...

"Gave you the mitten, huh?!" she said.

"Yes, I'm used to it though," Arden shrugged.

"Say, come in. Let me fix you a cup of coffee and a cookie and we'll discuss your future, son"

Alright, he did not see that coming? And 'son'? Really?

He would have simply thanked her for the offer and left but a part of him wondered if he should ask this one? He didn't know her anymore than he had known the redhead but she was a damn sight friendlier than the other.

"I suppose I could, for a few minutes anyhow," he answered softly but did not step inside quite yet. He had a question first.

"What about my future?" Seemed like a fair enough question.

She was sarcastic, this one. And no need for it, he was only being polite and not wishing to be a bother to any of them. Arden had one basic question for her. Her answer was in the form of a promise but with no real details. Annoying. But he stepped inside. There was another older woman sitting there who looked surprised.

"What the divil is wrong with your sister, Hersh, and and who's this now? Not another one for the footman's job?" the ulsterwoman asked.

Herschelina looked at the lad behind her.

"Take a seat, this is Mrs Lampeter. I'm Herschelina Colquitt and that girl you were bothering is my sister Stephens Colquitt. Yes, I know they're stupid names, don't bother to say so. Sit there."

Well, at least he got names now, as for her brusque order, he was not inclined to meekly obey.

"I will stand thank you, don't plan on being here very long," Arden declared softly but firmly.

"He asked Steve to the barn dance, no wonder she's gone into hiding"

Arden winced.

"Oh... how romantic!!" gushed Mrs L.

Herschelina didn't look so convinced. She put a cup of coffee and a plate with a couple of cookies in front of Arden.

"Kind of you but no thank you," she informed her calmly.

"Tell us your name and why you asked my sister to the dance, and I want the truth! Was it just to make fun of her?" the girl demanded.

He frowned.

The other woman urged him to cooperate.

"I will not make fun of her. Me, of all people, would make fun of someone? Hardly, miss," he defended himself.

"I really want to go to this big dance coming up. Never been to the like. So I have been asking various young ladies in town, you see I don't live in Kalispell but on a farmstead ..........oh beg your pardon..."

"My name is Arden Summerfield, nice to meet you both," he also removed his hat too, having forgotten that in all this confusion.