SEPTEMBER 7, 1860
Beauregard was drinking a beer at the saloon. He looked at Ivy and thought about the job switching that had occurred in town. He wished that he could have traded places with Daniel then he would have been near Destiny every day. But he knew better than to do that because he didn't have any skills for the occupation of doctor.
A lot of people were switching back to their regular jobs, and it wouldn't be too long before Destiny went back to running the boarding house. Tonight was Thursday and he figured that she would be at Caller Bob's place. He didn't think she had missed any of the square dance classes. She was an angel helping Jesse learn the moves. To him she was an angel, too. He wished he had taken lessons. Maybe when they start another class he would join and Destiny would be his angel.
He was getting bored hanging around Dreamville with nothing to do. He was running the railroad by mail, and he knew he should ride out and take a look at the work in progress, railroad tracks being laid and coming this way. He hoped that the people of Dreamville would appreciate a train in their area. As soon as the tracks got closer, he would have to take some of the crew off from laying the tracks to start building a railroad station nearby Dreamville. He finished eating his supper in his room and decided to ride out to watch them square dance.
He walked into the barn and sat down. His little pumpkin, Jemima, seemed to be having fun, twirling around with a smile always on her lips. Javier seemed to be doing a good job of helping her with the new calls. He watched as Jesse twirled Destiny around the square. She seemed to be happy with a big smile on her face, but Jesse didn't seem happy.
Jesse was still in a slump. He missed Rose. Destiny tried to cheer him up and make him laugh or at least smile, but all her work was failing. After their tip was done and they had a break, Destiny went to talk to Jemima about Jesse.
"Jemima, I just can't seem to get Jesse in a good mood. Do you have any suggestions?" Destiny inquired.
"Well, I don't know momma. Lately since Rose left, I've only seen Jesse in a good mood a few times." Jemima looked up into her momma's face. She wished she could be of more help to her momma.
"And when was this?" Destiny smiled at her little baby.
"When Melissa was making him laugh. She can sometimes cheer him up." Jemima smiled back at her because maybe her answer would help her momma.
"Hmmm . . . ok, thanks honey." Destiny hugged her daughter and then went to seek Melissa. Destiny chatted with Melissa for a little while.
The next time Caller Bob called Square 'Em Up, Melissa went and grabbed Jesse's hand. Melissa took Destiny's place, and Destiny replaced Melissa. Michael was baffled about the exchange, but Destiny filled him in on why they had traded places.
Melissa cheered Jesse up some by making a few mistakes, twirling and bumping into Jesse, grabbing his hand and holding on longer than usual when doing the right and left grande, and other little things drew Jesse out of his shell, and he begin to livin' up a bit. After the tip he was actually smiling and teasing Melissa for messing up. Melissa didn't mind the teasing. She was glad that she could make Jesse happy. She liked him more that way then when he was sulking. She knew it was only a temporary solution. Hopefully soon he would get over Rose and start acting better, but Melissa knew that it takes a while for time to heal wounds. Her own wounds hadn't healed yet. She missed her sister a lot, and sometimes her depression still showed.
When classes ended Beauregard asked Destiny if he could escort her and Jemima home. Destiny accepted the offer. Jemima smiled up at her momma when they were all seated in the buckboard. Jemima wanted her momma to be happy, and she seemed to smile a lot lately when Beauregard was around. Jemima liked Beauregard because he made her momma happy.