NOVEMBER 23, 1860
Caller Bob instructed Tally, Ted, Jesse, Jacy and Melissa where to put the scarecrows, hay bales and the pumpkins around the barn at. After all the decorations were properly placed, the five of them worked on setting up the tables and chairs around the outer dancing perimeter. They got everything arranged just in time for the first arrivals.
The first two to arrive were Samantha and Desiree. They had signed up to bring desserts, so Jacy showed them which table would be the dessert table, and Samantha and Desiree placed their pies and pastries on the table. Next Teaspoon arrived with two lovely ladies, Rachel and Grace. Rachel and Grace had prepared two of the turkeys that had been caught for the occasion. Some of the other ladies had volunteered to cook and bring some turkeys, too.
Walter came walking in. He had already contributed to the affair by catching two turkeys a few days ago. He wondered if he had won the turkey competition. He knew Caller Bob wasn�t going to announce the winner until later that evening.
Other people started to arrive and the barn was slowly but surely starting to fill up. After all the people had arrived and the food had been placed in their appropriate spots, Caller Bob announced that Teaspoon was going to say the blessing before the eating line was open. Teaspoon walked over and stood by Caller Bob. Caller Bob stepped back and let Teaspoon have the floor.
"Dear Lord, thank you for the food we are about to receive and be with all our family and friends both today and everyday as they go about their busy lives and protect them always. Amen!" Teaspoon cleared his throat and looked at Bob.
"Amen," Bob said. And it was followed by a lot of other amens from the crowd. "Well, the food line is open. Start em� up." Him and Teaspoon headed for the turkey table where they both started carving some turkeys and they placed the meat on everybody�s plate as they passed by.
After supper Caller Bob decided to start off the dance with a waltz. He had Walter play his fiddle and then he went to find him a girl to dance with. He spotted Desiree standing with Samantha and he pulled her out onto the dance floor. Everybody else started pairing up then and the dancing was on.
An hour later Caller Bob made an announcement about the winner of the turkey competition. "The one who brought in the biggest turkey was Ian?" He walked up to Caller Bob and received his prize, the fifty dollars.
After the announcement Caller Bob hollered, "Square Em� Up!" Everybody grabbed them a partner and formed a square. Jacy and Cody became a head, Melissa and Michael became a side, Walter and Desiree became a side with Walter being Jacy�s corner. Tally became partners with Charity and they stood across from Jacy and Cody.
Teaspoon watched as Grace and Ike stood in a corner and talked. Ike knew how to square dance, but he was making sure that Grace wasn�t lonely. Teaspoon smiled at the thought of that. Ike was a nice lad. As Teaspoon sat down to watch the square dancers, Jesse joined him. "Aren�t you going to dance?"
"No." Jesse sat down by Teaspoon. Teaspoon didn�t question him why. He probably didn�t know who to ask since Rose wasn�t here.
Samantha sat down to watch the square dancers, too, and so did Ted. He didn�t have a partner. His class partner, Meghan, was dancing with her husband, Luke.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Serena and Daniel entered the party and immediately went to a table to put her contribution down. Serena had made candied yams and she was proud of her dish. Daniel placed a hand on the small of her back and led her to their table.Serena sat back with a contented sigh and glanced at the decorations and the people already there. "Isn't it lovely, Daniel?"
The doctor nodded silently but looked around the room for signs of his daughter and her husband. A small rap on his knuckles brought his attention back to his wife. "She's not here yet. I've already checked."
Daniel smiled tenderly at her. "I should've known. So what type of fireworks can we expect tonight?"
"None if I can help it. Meg and Luke shall have to be on their best behavior. I won't stand for less."
"Lord help anyone who crosses you." Daniel replied with a smile.
Serena giggled softly. "That's right."
A short while later Corey and Dean arrived, and they sat amicably with the older couple. Despite what the young man did for a living and where he did it, Daniel found that he liked him. He was polite and he genuinely seemed to care for Corey both of which scored him points with the doctor and his wife. Every few minutes Daniel would catch both Corey and Serena glancing at the doorway, both women slightly dreading the moment Meg walked in.
Meghan smiled as she watched Ian struggle with the giant turkey he had hunted and she had cooked. She glanced at Luke who was barely controlling the smile that threatened to split his face and shook her head slowly. "You could help him you know."
Luke glanced at her and shrugged. "I've offered, and he refused. He wants to show off for you ladies."
Meg glanced at the other woman in their party. She had been surprised when Ian told her he had invited Charity to be his date for the night. She sighed softly, it could be worse, she thought, it could've been Elena.
As the small group approached the door, Meg wondered if Corey would be there and how would her friend behave toward her. Of course Corey would be there, Meg realized, the party was for the square dance students and Corey was one of them. Tonight, Meg vowed, tonight she would try to make things right.
She told herself that as the group entered and split up. Ian went to put the turkey down on one of the tables with Charity following him adoringly with her famous stuffing. Meg clasped her husband's hand in hers firmly and sought out her father and stepmother. She spied Daniel first and with a huge grin, dragged her husband in his direction.
Daniel spotted her right away and glanced quickly at the others sitting at the table. His wife, Corey and Dean paid him no mind. They were all in their own world, completely engrossed in their own conversation.
"Hi Daddy." Meg called out as she approached the table. Immediately the other voices at the table quieted as Daniel enveloped his daughter in a hug. Luke grimaced slightly when he saw Corey and Dean then quickly turned his attention to his wife. Meg had pulled away from her father and was turning toward Serena when she realized who else was sitting at their table. Her smile fell.
She had prepared herself to see Corey, but seeing Dean sitting at the table surprised her. Meg looked at Serena, the confusion evident in her eyes. Her stepmother rose wobbly to her feet and hugged Meg.
"You're looking well Sweetie." She began. "Do you know Dean Hamilton? He'll be joining us for dinner tonight."
Meg glanced from the young man to her friend then on to her family. The betrayal she felt cut her deeply and she turned to walk away but was blocked by Ian and Charity. The gossip smiled sweetly while Ian stepped forward and held his hand out to Dean.
"Ian Grant. You look like a fish out of water sitting here. I'll assume you're an outsider like me."
Dean smiled. "Dean Hamilton. I'm Corey's date."
Ian turned his attention to the petite blonde by Dean's side. "Nice to see you again." He said as he held the seat beside Dean out for Charity then sat beside her.
She nodded but stared expectantly at her friend's back. Meg was still facing away from the table, and Luke sighed and stepped in front of her. He lifted her chin up, "Meghan?"
"I don't think I can sit with him, Luke." She whispered.
"You said you were going to try tonight."
She rolled her eyes heavenward then sighed. "Fine." Meg turned back to the table, but she refused to look at Corey or her date and took the seat beside Ian which was furthest from them.
Serena sighed dejectedly and Daniel squeezed her hand. "The night is still young." He whispered. "Give it time."
She nodded and turned to Meg with a bright smile. "My Meghan, what a lovely coat. Is it new?"
Luke winced slightly as he drew the coat off his wife's shoulders, and Meg nodded. "It was a gift . . . from Ian."
All eyes turned to the man who smiled back at them. "It was nothing one friend wouldn't do for another. I realized she needed a coat and bought her one."
Serena arched an eyebrow at Meghan who glared back at her defiantly. She knew the look on her stepdaughter's face. It was the one she used when she was annoyed with the world around her. Defeated, she sat back and shook her head slowly.
The blessing was said and dinner was served. As the group at the table talked quietly, Serena stood up. "I'd like to make a toast." She said to the members of her table. The small group quieted down and she smiled at each one of them. "I just want to say how incredibly thankful I am for the events of the past few months. My small family has grown immensely as a friend has become a family member-" She smiled at Luke, "and with the addition of my own child that grows within me as well as with the child that Meg carries. We have also been blessed with the addition of fine friends. Some we've known now for a while." She smiled at Corey who timidly smiled back. "And others are newer." She glanced at both Dean and Charity. "And still some have come a great distance to find a piece of them that was missing." Ian smiled up at her. "And with each addition, our lives have become richer."
"Here, here." Daniel said. "Very nicely done Serena."
Meg glanced down the length of the table to eye Corey, but her friend seemed to be doing just fine without her friendship. She was leaning into Dean and whispering. Meg frowned and stared across the table at her husband who was watching Ian like a hawk.
"I think we should all say what we are thankful for." Daniel stated into the silence. "We used to do that every year in Boston. Do you remember Meg?" His daughter nodded silently. "Good, Serena has already started and we'll go back and forth down the table. Corey?"
"I uhh . . ." She frowned slightly. "I'm thankful for all of you who have stood by me and supported me as I searched for my family, then so openly welcomed me into yours when I came back. And I'm thankful for my new friends, too." She smiled shyly at Dean.
Meg stared up at her, was she saying that she wasn't being supportive? Rolling her eyes she glanced at her father who was saying how thankful he was for Serena and the child she carried. Next was Dean, and Meg listened as he gushed about how thankful he was that Anjanette had decided to move to Dreamville. Charity said a quick thanks to Serena and Daniel for allowing her to eat dinner with them. Then it was Luke's turn. Meg smiled as he blushed.
"Well, obviously you all know that I'm thankful for finding and wedding Meghan, and I'm grateful to Daniel for allowing it." He glanced up at Ian. "But I'm also thankful for old friends who want to mend fences."
Ian smiled. "And I'm thankful for the opportunity to mend the fences. As well as the hospitality of Meg and Luke who could have thrown me out into the street if they wanted to."
All eyes turned to Meghan. "I'm thankful that Elena's not here." She stated then went back to eating.
Daniel frowned. "Meg be serious."
She sighed in exasperation and glanced up at the group. "What do you want me to say? I'm thankful for my marriage? Well I am. You need to hear that I'm thankful to be carrying a child, that I am, too. What about the things that I'm not thankful for? Like the fact that I've ruined my greatest friendship over a silly fight." Her eyes welled up with tears and she glanced down the table. "I miss my best friend, and I'm too stupid to apologize, because I can't get over the fact that her beau works in a bordello." She wiped at her cheeks. "I want to go home. Excuse me." Meg rose and suddenly put a hand to her abdomen.
Daniel was on his feet and by her side instantly. He fired questions at her rapidly as he moved his hands over her swollen belly. When Meg didn't answer him he looked up at her to find that she had a huge grin plastered on her face. Soon after, she was laughing. "Meg?"
"I think I just felt the baby move." She said softly.
Luke practically flew over the table to stand beside her. "What?"
She turned to him, tears running down her cheeks. "It moved Luke, I'm sure it was the baby. I felt him . . . her . . . our child."
He stared down at her abdomen in wonder and placed a tender hand on it. When he glanced back up at her he had tears in his eyes. "When will I be able to feel him?"
"Not for another couple of weeks or so." Daniel replied as he clapped his son in law on the back. "You just wait, it's an amazing feeling Luke."
Luke caressed his wife's cheek gently and kissed her. "Our miracle." He whispered.
Meg nodded and turned to sit down again but found Corey by her side. She smiled at her friend. "I'm so incredibly sorry."
Corey returned the smile and hugged her tightly. "I should have told you I was bringing Dean."
"It's over and done with, and whoever you choose to spend your time with is none of my business." Meghan replied.
"Thank you Meg."
"I missed you."
"Me too."
The two friends giggled softly as their friendship was renewed. Serena sat back with a satisfied grin and Daniel shook his head. "I suppose you'll take credit for that?"
"And why shouldn't I?"
"You had nothing to do with Meg feeling the baby move."
"I'm her doctor I'll take whatever credit I can get." Daniel rolled his eyes and kissed her temple.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Dean and Corey entered Caller Bob�s together. Tonight was the Turkey Trot, and they had been invited by Daniel and Serena to eat with the family. Corey wasn�t sure if Meg knew or not, but she was sure that either way Meg wouldn�t be too happy about it. As they approached the table, Daniel and Serena stood and welcomed their two guests.
"Corey, I�m so glad you could make it," Serena told her warmly as she embraced the young woman. "And Dean, I�m so glad you�re here as well," she told him with a genuine smile.
"Thank you, I was honored to accept the invitation," Dean told her as he walked over and shook hands with Daniel.
Daniel nodded and patted him on the back. "Good to see you Mr. Hamilton."
"Daniel?" Corey asked, her voice barely a whisper. "Does Meg know we�re here?"
Daniel and Serena exchanged quick glances before Serena answered her. "No, not yet."
Corey grimaced but found Daniel by her side instantly. "Corey, you�ve always been like a daughter to us. We�re not going to stop feeling that way just because you and Meg have had a disagreement."
Corey smiled and thanked them both as Dean held out her chair for her. Before they knew it, the four of them were deep engrossed in conversation and didn�t even hear Meg, Luke, Ian and Charity arrive.
"Hi Daddy." Meg called out as she approached the table, looking at Serena, the confusion evident in her eyes at seeing Corey and Dean there. Her stepmother rose wobbly to her feet and hugged Meg.
"You're looking well Sweetie." She began. "Do you know Dean Hamilton? He'll be joining us for dinner tonight."
Meg glanced from the young man to Corey then on to her family as Ian stepped forward and held his hand out to Dean.
"Ian Grant. You look like a fish out of water sitting here. I'll assume you're an outsider like me."
Dean smiled, grateful for another friendly face. "Dean Hamilton. I'm Corey's date."
Ian turned his attention to the petite blonde by Dean's side. "Nice to see you again." He said as he held the seat beside Dean out for Charity then sat beside her.
Corey nodded but stared expectantly at her Meg�s back, waiting for her to acknowledge her. Meg was still facing away from the table and Luke sighed as stepped in front of her. "Meghan?"
"I don't think I can sit with him Luke." She whispered.
"You said you were going to try tonight."
She rolled her eyes heavenward then sighed. "Fine." Meg turned back to the table but she refused to look at Corey or Dean and took the seat beside Ian, which happened to be furthest from them.
The blessing was said and dinner was served. As the group at the table talked quietly, Serena stood up. "I'd like to make a toast." She said. The small group quieted down and she smiled at each one of them. "I just want to say how incredibly thankful I am for the events of the past few months. My small family has grown immensely as a friend has become a family member-" She smiled at Luke, "and with the addition of my own child that grows within me as well as with the child that Meg carries. We have also been blessed with the addition of fine friends. Some we've known now for a while." She smiled at Corey who timidly smiled back. "And others are newer." She glanced at both Dean and Charity. "And still some have come a great distance to find a piece of them that was missing." Ian smiled up at her. "And with each addition, our lives have become richer."
"Here, here." Daniel said as everyone smiled and raised their glasses. "Very nicely done Serena."
"How are you holding up?" Dean whispered to Corey as he squeezed her hand.
She looked up at him and offered him a weak smile. "I guess I�m okay. I�d be doing a heck of a lot worse if you weren�t here."
Meg glanced down the length of the table to eye Corey, but her friend seemed to be doing just fine without her friendship, she was leaning into Dean and whispering.
"I think we should all say what we are thankful for." Daniel stated into the silence. "We used to do that every year in Boston. Do you remember Meg?" She nodded silently. "Good, Serena has already started and we'll go back and forth down the table. Corey?"
"I uhh . . ." She frowned slightly, as she was caught off guard. "I'm thankful for all of you who have stood by me and supported me as I searched for my family, then so openly welcomed me into yours when I came back. And I'm thankful for my new friends too." She smiled shyly at Dean who grinned back at her. "Okay, your turn!" She said to Dean and giggled girlishly.
Dean stood up, obviously nervous and looked at Corey who smiled supportively. "I�m so thankful that Anjanette chose Dreamville to move the bordello and that I�ve made the wonderful friends I have," he said, smiling warmly at Corey.
Next was Luke�s turn, but Corey tuned it out as she fought the urge to run over to Meg and beg her to talk to her. No matter how hard she willed her, Meg just wouldn�t turn her way. Finally it was Meg�s turn to give thanks and Corey waited with baited breath to hear what she would have to say.
"I'm thankful that Elena's not here." Meg stated then went back to eating.
Daniel frowned. "Meg be serious."
Meg sighed and glanced up at the group. "What do you want me to say? I'm thankful for my marriage? Well I am. You need to hear that I'm thankful to be carrying a child, that I am too. What about the things that I'm not thankful for? Like the fact that I've ruined my greatest friendship over a silly fight." Her eyes welled up with tears and she glanced down the table, causing Corey�s own eyes to mist over. "I miss my best friend and I'm too stupid to apologize, because I can't get over the fact that her beau works in a bordello." She wiped at her cheeks. "I want to go home. Excuse me." Meg rose and suddenly put a hand to her abdomen.
Daniel was on his feet and by her side instantly. "Meg, what�s wrong?" When Meg didn't answer him he looked up at her to find that she had a huge grin plastered on her face and was laughing. "Meg?"
"I think I just felt the baby move." Meg said softly.
Luke practically flew over the table to stand beside her. "What?"
She turned to him, tears running down her cheeks. "It moved Luke, I'm sure it was the baby. I felt him . . . her . . .our child."
The group fluttered around Meghan anxiously, all excited and waiting to see if the baby would move again. Corey took a hesitant step forward and placed a gentle arm on Meg�s shoulder, causing her to turn around.
Meg smiled at her friend. "I'm so incredibly sorry."
Corey returned the smile and hugged her tightly, ecstatic that their arguing was finally over and that she had her best friend back. "I should have told you I was bringing Dean."
"It's over and done with and whoever you choose to spend your time with is none of my business." Meghan replied.
"Thank you Meg." Corey said sincerely.
"I missed you."
"Me too." Corey was grinning like an idiot and felt as if nothing in the world could make her happier at that moment.
The two friends giggled softly as their friendship was renewed. The rest of them settled down to enjoy the rest of their Thanksgiving dinner. Each and every one of them had something to give thanks for that night.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Buck, Jimmy, Noah, and Cody had gone hunting and came back with one of the two turkeys that Rachel had cooked for the Turkey Trot. Lee wished that she could dress up, but she knew that she couldn't without putting her job in danger.
After Buck left to go pick up Caly, there was a knock on the door of the bunkhouse, "I'm here for Noah"
Lee called out to him, "Noah, Ivy's here."
Noah went to the door and saw that Ivy had on a deep purple ball gown, and her straight golden hair was hanging down her back in a neat way. She did look beautiful. However, anticipating that Clover would try to trick Noah into taking her to the Turkey Trot, Ivy had told Noah that she would wear her hair up in a bun and tie a purple ribbon around it. Noah was also supposed to pick Ivy up at the boarding house. So he knew right off that this was not Ivy.
Thinking quickly on his feet, he said, "Ivy, I thought that we were supposed to meet at the fishin' hole."
What? Ivy told me that she was to pick him up. "Well, I changed my mind."
"I have it all set for a surprise for you, though. Go on to the fishin' hole I'll be there shortly."
Thinking that Noah might have intended to propose to her sister, Clover left immediately before Ivy could get there. Noah would propose to her and not Ivy.
After Clover left, Jimmy asked, "What was all that about?"
"That was Clover. I'm supposed to pick up Ivy at the boarding house, and we thought that Clover might come down first and try to trick me, so Ivy had told me that she would wear her hair up with a purple ribbon in it. When I saw that her hair was not pulled up I knew that it was Clover, and I just made all that up to keep her out of mine and Ivy's way tonight."
"That was quick thinking, Noah. Think it will work?" Cody asked.
"I hope so." Noah whispered.
After everybody else had left for the Turkey Trot, Noah left to go get Ivy.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Buck rode up to the SJ Ranch and knocked on the door. "Good evening, Mr. Johnson."
"Good evening, Buck. Caly will be ready in a minute. She's putting the finishing touches on the cake she made for desert."
Buck stepped into the pallor to wait for his date, while Steven made sure that Michael was ready. Steven let Buck drive Caly in the buckboard to the Turkey Trot while he and Michael rode their horses behind them.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Richard knew that he wouldn't win the $50 for the biggest turkey. Too bad that there wasn't a prize for the smallest turkey for he was sure he would have gotten that prize! Kathleen cooked the turkey that Richard had hunted. As Richard carried the turkey in, Kathleen looked around to see who all was there.
The whole town seemed to be there. Although Ivy did notice that one person wasn't there. "I'm glad that Clover didn't show up," she remarked to Noah.
"Oh I forgot to tell you, she showed up at the station in a dress identical to the one that you're wearing and since she had her hair down, I knew it wasn't you, and I sent her to the Fishin' Hole. I told her that we were supposed to meet there, and that I had a surprise for her there." Noah laughed.
Not too far off, Lilly and Javier seemed to be having a good time. "Looks like Lilly and Javier are getting real close." Caly remarked to Buck.
"Yes, it does."
"I wonder if we will have another wedding here in Dreamville soon."
Simon seemed to be enjoying Destiny's conversation and Jemima was talking to Michael when Caller Bob yelled "Square 'Em Up"
Everybody went to their squares and had a wonderful time.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Clover waited at the fishin' hole the whole night, and Noah never did show up. At first she thought that something had happened to him so she went looking for him. When she didn't find him, she went back to the boarding house. She saw Noah drop Ivy off and place a kiss on her cheek. Boy are they going to get it!!!! She would think of a way to get even.