JUNE 13, 1860
Simon had tried to convince Jacy that Ivy and Clover were twins, but had not succeeded. She still believes them to be the same person. Simon wasn�t much on talking with ladies, he preferred shootin� the breeze with the cowboys. "That Jacy is one stubborn young lady," he muttered as he shook his head.
"What�s wrong pa?" Javier asked.
"Oh nothin�, son. Just some gals you just can�t talk no sense into their heads." He left it at that and went in the back room. He sat down, leaned back in his chair and thought about the first day he had set eyes on his lovely, Esmeralda.
Javier had seen his pa getting depressed more and more lately. It started right after the Easter picnic. He figured it was because his pa was thinking and missing his ma more lately. Javier had watched his pa watching all the young couples frolicking around and knew that he was thinking of all the good times his pa had with his ma. Javier wished there was something he could do to help his pa be happy again. He had been thinking of nothing else lately, but he just couldn�t think of any ideas that might work. He finally dismissed the gloomy thoughts as his girl, Lilly, walked in the door.
Since it was Sunday and the store is usually very slow on Sundays, Javier and Lilly planned to take a ride in the country. Javier told his pa that they were leaving, and Simon nodded and grunted as Javier turned from the room to leave.
While sitting by Ripple River, which Javier and Lilly had named it a month ago on their first visit, they discussed the newspaper articles. Some of the articles were quite funny, and others they just couldn�t believe they were true. But the one that Javier pointed out with eagerness was the advertisement about the Square Dancing Lessons. He convinced Lilly to sign up as a student and then he would volunteer to help. It will be something that they could do together and have fun at the same time. Lilly agreed, so when they arrived back in town later that day, they both signed up.