CUPID CAPER DANCE

"LOVE PROMENADE"

Melissa was happy tonight. She had decided earlier that she wasn't going to let Jacy spoil her evening. So far she hadn't even seen Jacy. She scanned the barn once more to make sure she hadn't missed her. Where could she be? Surely she wouldn't miss the Cupid dance. Then she decided to scan the place for Cody because she hadn't seen him yet either.

"Are you lookin' for somebody?" Michael asked her.

"Huh?" Melissa knew that Michael had asked her something but she didn't know what.

"I asked if you were looking for somebody?" Michael asked again.

"Yes, I'm looking for Jacy and Cody, but I don't see either one."

"That's strange because Cody left before I did." Jesse stated as he joined them. "Maybe they're off together." He smirked at Michael, but Michael looked at Melissa to see her reaction.

Melissa gave Jesse a frown, and Michael said, "I'm sure they'll be here soon."

Melissa wasn't so sure, but she wasn't going to worry about it. She intended on having fun. "Come on Michael let's go talk to Caly and Buck." Melissa took Michael by the hand and led him to where his sister was talking to Buck.

Walter and Desiree walked into the barn. "Wow!" Desiree exclaimed as she saw all the Valentine decorations.

"The children and Caller Bob did a great job, didn't they?" Walter asked as he saw Desiree's eyes light up as they entered.

"Yes, they did." She smiled at him. "I'm glad you changed your mind about coming tonight.

"Well, I closed the dining room and Marta's checking in people at the hotel for me." Walter explained how he had maneuvered his busy schedule and had the opportunity to escort her to the dance. She smiled at him. As Walter watched Desiree eyeing the room, he said, "I don't see Tally."

"Oh, you won't." Desiree stated.

"You know that for a fact?" Walter inquired wondering why she would know that.

Walter had been hoping to talk Tally into buying the mill. He knew he was good with lumber because he had built Jacy's home. It would be a good opportunity for the young lad if they could work out some financial agreement, so that he could purchase it. But first Walter wanted to get him interested in this valuable opportunity.

"Well I . . ." Desiree paused as she saw Tally walking in. Her face fell.

Walter wondered why Desiree was so gloomy. "What's wrong, Desiree?" He asked with concern in his voice. Then he followed her gaze to the barn door and saw Tally.

Desiree was upset. Why was Tally here? He should be meeting Samantha. Unless . . . unless Tally wasn't Samantha's Cupid. Samantha was going to be mighty disappointed. "Nothin's wrong."

She smiled at Walter.

"Are you sure?" He looked at her questionably. She nodded her head. "Will you be ok for a few minutes? I would like to talk to Tally. You know men talk." He grinned.

Desiree smiled. "Sure, I'll be fine."

Desiree spied Rachel, and after Walter walked over to speak with Tally, Desiree joined Rachel who was with Teaspoon, Grace and Charlie. As she walked up to them she heard Teaspoon saying, "It looks like we're missing some people." He started counting them off on his fingers. "Cody, Jacy, Ted, Luke, Meghan, Elena, Jimmy, Noah, Charity, Ike, and Clover. That's one square and almost one fourth of a square."

"Maybe they're just running late." Rachel suggested.

Desiree wondered if any of those fellas could be Samantha's Cupid. The only two that she didn't think had a girlfriend were Ike and Ted. Neither one seemed like the perfect match for Samantha. About ten feet away another person was thinking the same thing.

Lilly had heard Teaspoon's remark, and she was thinking about Samantha. Earlier today she had tried to convince Samantha to come to the dance. Her reasoning had been that it wouldn't be all square dancing. There would be some slow dancing, and Tally would be there. She tried really hard to get her to come, but then Samantha finally told her about the Cupid letter. Lilly was sure it had been from Tally, but when she saw Tally arrive, she knew he couldn't have made it to Rock Point and back to the dance in such a short amount of time.

Thinking about the fellas that Teaspoon had mentioned, Lilly knew that some of them wouldn't have sent Samantha the note, and the other ones that were left just didn't seem to be Samantha's type. Besides Samantha liked Tally. Disappointed that it hadn't been Tally, Lilly pulled Javier aside, away from anybody that might listened to them, to discuss Samantha and Tally.

Tally looked around the barn hoping to see Samantha. He shouldn't have got his hopes up. She wouldn't show because she didn't know how to square dance. He saw Melissa and Michael together, and then scanned the room for Jacy. No Jacy! So far this evening didn't seem like it was going to be very good. He would go over and ask Melissa about Jacy, but he knew they both weren't getting along very well, so he decided to go ask Desiree about Samantha instead.

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Lilly and Javier saw someone they hadn't seen before. So they went up to introduce themselves.

"Hello, I'm Javier Cromwell, and this is Lilly Watson."

"I'm Rev. Sean Dennington. I'm the new preacher. Hopefully we can get a church built soon."

Javier and Lilly looked at each other with smiles on their face. "Can you do us a favor then?" Lilly asked.

"What is it?" The Reverend looked at them.

"We just got engaged on Christmas. We were wondering who would officiate, but if you're our new preacher, then would you do us the honor of marrying us on Easter?"

"Sure." Sean said happily. His first wedding in his new town, and he had just arrived a few days ago.

Kathleen and Richard were enjoying themselves at the dance when Javier and Lilly stepped up to the stage and announced that on Easter they were going to get married and that the new preacher would officiate. Everyone at the dance clapped and was very happy for them and turned to see who the new preacher was.

Buck took Caly out for some privacy after the announcement. She was wearing a new form-fitting bodice with a full skirt. As he looked into her eyes, he couldn't help himself, he leaned down and kissed her on the lips, and she returned his kiss.

Simon and Destiny talked about their friendship, and how Simon wasn't ready to move on, but he treasured her friendship. Destiny understood. She treasured Simon�s friendship and didn't want things to change.

Jesse and Jemima had a blast square dancing and talking with Melissa, Michael and Brianna.

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Grace looked around the dance nervously. She smoothed out the ruffles on her skirt. She had no idea why she took the time to dress herself up that way. She didn't even have a Valentine. Ike wasn't there and he hadn't asked her to be his anyway.

Charlie watched Grace from across the room and smiled to himself. She was alone this was his chance to go talk with her. He made his way over to her, and he startled her when he took her hand and kissed it "My lady you look enchanting." He smiled to her. She was a wonderful seamstress and her dress was one of the prettiest in the room.

"Hello Mr. Montgomery," she quietly replied.

He still held her hand and smiled. "Call me Charlie please."

"Okay, call me Grace," her voice was barely a whisper. She didn't know why she was so nervous around Charlie. She thought he was a very nice man and a handsome one, too. But she cared about Ike. Or did she?

Charlie leaned in a bit closer, "My dear will you do me the honor of this dance? Before the square dancing starts I'd like at least one spin around the room with the most beautiful woman in the place." He lifted her chin to tilt her face up to his, "Please?" He smiled then offered his arm.

"All right," she smiled and took his arm allowing him to lead her out to the dance floor. What she didn't know was that she was to be Charlie's dance partner the rest of the night as well. Charlie had requested Caller Bob place Grace in his square with him. Soon Grace was smiling and laughing with Charlie allowing him to dance her across the room.
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