Free Not Quite A Mail Order Bride (Mail Order Brides) by Susan Leigh Carlton Page A

best, however, he decided to leave his boys at the ranch with Hetty.

Chapter Twelve   The Dance
     
     
    The day of the dance dawned bright and clear. There were ice dogs in the sky over the mountains. The winds were calm and not a cloud was in sight. The Barnettes and Martha left for Laramie an hour after lunch, planning to spend the afternoon with the Carruthers. Luke would be leaving later in the afternoon. Jed had promised to get him a room at the hotel when he registered himself. He dropped the ladies off at the Carruthers, took the carriage to the livery stable where he made arrangements for the care of the horses. He then walked to the hotel, where he registered for the rooms he needed as well as one for Luke as well. He put their bags in the rooms and walked over to the Carruthers.
     
    “Jed, it’s good to see you,” Grace said as she gave him a hug. “I’m glad we’re going to see you in church tomorrow. Can I get you something to drink?”
     
    Watching the greeting, Martha confided in Sarah, “I think Grace is the warmest individual I have ever met, except for you of course.” She laughed.
     
    Sarah countered, “I would agree with you 100%.”
     
    After she greeted, Jed, Grace turned to Martha. “Luke is your escort for the dance tonight? I imagine your paths cross frequently since the schoolhouse is on his ranch. How is he doing?”
     
    “I don’t actually know”, said Martha.. “I still see a cloud cross his face when there’s a mention of Clara or if some reference is made. My students and I spent the night in the main house after the storm, and I don’t think he’s moved a single thing of hers.
     
    “I suppose your church would frown on you going to the dance wouldn’t they?”
     
    Grace nodded and said, “I’m afraid so. I’m expecting a full review of the goings on from the two of you.”
     
    Her daughter padded into the room and immediately walked to her mother’s chair. She held out her arms to be picked up. Watching this, Sarah said, “I can’t believe how fast Emma Rose is growing. She’s getting to be quite a pretty young lady isn’t she?” Sarah said.
     
    “She surely is, and her daddy spoils her rotten,” agreed Grace. “She must be the most inquisitive little person ever. She has to investigate everything. I’ll be glad when she passes through this phase.”
     
    Sarah, the mother of two laughed.“I hate to tell you,” said Sarah, “but mine haven’t grown out of it. Just hang on and enjoy the ride. If it weren’t for Mattie, I don’t think I’d survive.”
     
    Jed was at the church, helping John with some minor repairs, when Luke rode up. Jed tossed him the keys to his room and said, “Here you go, you’re all set. Front facing left room.”
     
    “Thanks, Jed,” Luke said. “Any upfront payment?”
     
    “No, there wasn’t. Just settle up when you leave. By the way, Martha is really floating on air about the dance. You made her day.”
     
    “She’ll probably come down pretty quick after I have stepped on her toes a few times. I haven’t danced in years.”
     
    “Nor have I,” said Jed. “I think the secret is to just keep moving and act like you do it every day.”
     
    John interjected, “it’s nice to see you two enjoying yourselves again.”
     
    “Why shouldn’t we be? We’re both blessed with good fortune and good health. For the most part, life has been kind to us, and to top it off, we’re going dancing with the two best looking girls in Laramie,” Jed enthused. Luke said nothing, just stood there with his ten mile stare.
    “John, would you, Grace and Em ma join us for dinner as my guest?” Luke asked.
     
    John replied, “That’s very kind of you to offer, but I need to work on my sermon for tomorrow. The subject is “The Evils of the Dance., He said, with a twinkle in his eye.
     
    “Come on, John. Grace deserves a night off from cooking. I’ll go tell her you accepted,” Luke urged.
     
    When he went back into