For two weeks she had been planning this dance. Two weeks of hard work with the hope that a "certain" man dressed all in black might actually ask her to dance with him. Now it was almost over and all she had to look forward to was the disappointment.
He had actually shown up for the dance. Which had kinda surprised her since he never really seemed to prefer attending social functions. But then again she had made it abundantly clear that all seven men needed to be there due to the threats made to prevent the social from occurring.
But what had he done all evening? Just stood over in the corner of the room talking with what seemed like everyone who passed by. Everyone except her that was. Buck had danced with a few ladies. JD and Casey shared a few as well. Even Vin had danced with Nettie Wells! But where did Mr. Larabee spend all his time? Over in that damn corner!!!!
The last song for the night began. When it became apparent that Chris had no intention of asking her to dance, Mary felt the let down begin to overcome her. She quickly found her wrap and then Inez.
"Inez, would you please take my place with the clean-up?" she asked, trying desperately to hold back the tears.
"Sure, Mary. Is everything ok?" Inez inquired.
"I just need to be alone-by myself for awhile," the blonde answered, then quickly headed for the door.
Chris had spotted Mary talking with Inez, then saw her sudden departure-by herself. So he decided to catch up with her and see she got home safely.
It had begun to rain sometime during the dance. But Mary was so distracted and upset she hadn't noticed or even bothered to put her wrap around her. Only a few feet away from the barn and she was already soaked to the bone. But she didn't notice that either!
From behind her, she heard him calling her name. Not wanting to stop for him, she continued on towards home.
"Mary! Mary, hey wait up!" Chris yelled to her.
But she must not have heard him because she didn't stop. When he closed in on her, he reached out to touch her arm. But she pulled away from him.
"Mary, stop! Didn't you hear me yelling for you?" he asked anxiously.
"Go away! Please just leave me alone, Chris!" she pleaded to him as she tried to start walking again.
He didn't understand why she said that. He couldn't tell for sure, with it raining so hard and as wet as she was, but he thought she might have been crying.
"Mary, what's the matter?" Chris asked with concern as he stepped in front of her to stop her again.
She just shook her head and tried to get past him. But he stopped her by putting his hands on her arms.
"Mary?" the tall man tried again.
"Why did you follow me out here?" she asked sharply, looking directly at him.
"I wanted to make sure you got home OK. It's not safe for you out here at this time of night," Chris replied.
"Oh sure! Now you pay some attention to me!" she spat out at him in a tone he'd never heard from her before.
"What do you mean by that?" he asked, totally dumbfounded by her attitude.
"Oh, it's just all night long you couldn't be bothered with saying two words to me. But as soon as I walk out the door you're right on my heels!" she said in exasperation.
"I told you I wanted to escort you home safely." he said as he tried to take her arm and lead her towards The Clarion.
But the angry woman would have no part of it. She whipped her arm from his hand.
Her voice raised as the anger built up in her, "I am not some kind of helpless animal who needs to be led around and protected by the likes of you, Chris Larabee! I'm quite capable of finding my own way home!"
Chris was shocked by that outburst, not knowing where it came from.
Confused, he asked, "Why are you so mad? What did I do to deserve this?"
Mary had just about enough of this by now. She couldn't believe he didn't understand why she was so upset.
"Mad?" she sputtered, "Oh, I'm way past mad, Mr. Larabee! And it's what you didn't do that's made me so furious at you!"
Chris thought to himself, Great! This just keep getting more complicated!
Then he asked, "Mary, what are you talking about?"
Before turning on her heels and heading toward home, she threw her hands up in the air and exclaimed, "If you don't know, then it's not even worth explaining to you!"
In the middle of the street stood one Chris Larabee, dumb-founded and getting drenched.
+ + + + + + +
After watching Mary slam her front door closed, Chris took a moment to try and figure out what just happened here. He still had no clue what she was talking about, or why she just gave him such an attitude. It took him only a few moments to realize he was getting soaked. Then, curiosity getting the better of him, he headed for the Clarion.
He looked in the window of the door before knocking and spotted Mary standing in front of the fireplace. Her arms were wrapped around her waist, her head bowed low. It dawned on Chris that if he knocked, she probably wouldn't let him in.
So he quietly opened the door and walked into the office. Just as quietly, he closed the door behind him and turned towards her. He thought he heard a sob come from her. Then he noticed her shoulders were shaking. She was crying and, as always, the sight of Mary in tears wore on his emotions.
He made his way over to her, put his hands on her shoulders and turned her toward him. She didn't protest any and gratefully went into his embrace. He held her tightly, doing his best to comfort her.
Gradually her sobs subsided until he believed she was done crying. That's when he pulled her slightly away from him and looked down into her tear-stained face. Pushing her wet hair off her face, he tenderly said, "I'd like you to explain to me why I've made you so upset. But first I think you should change out of these soaked clothes before you catch cold."
She wiped her hands across her face and said to him, "I should have something in the back for you to change into as well. You're just as wet as I am." Then she turned towards the back to get the clothes for him.
As she reappeared and handed him some clothes, she told him, "I don't think they're really the style you're accustomed to. But they are dry."
"Thank you. I'm sure they'll be just fine." he replied.
Shortly after Chris had changed into what he assumed were Steven's old clothes, he made himself busy tending the fire. Maybe when Mary was changed they could sit by the fire and she'd tell him just what was bothering her.
He was standing at the front window when she came back into the room. She made her way over to the fire and sat on one of the chairs Chris had put there.
He gave her a minute by herself, then joined her. Minutes passed like hours as neither said a word. Then, at the same time, each spoke the other's name.
Once the ice was broken, Chris spoke up, "Mary, please talk to me. Tell me why I made you so mad."
She looked at the floor when she answered him, "I guess I owe you an explanation for my little outburst. It's just that all night you practically ignored me at the dance. Then, when I left, you decided to pay attention to me. Why?"
"I didn't ignore you." he defended himself.
"Chris, you never said "Hi" to me, let alone anything else!" she broke in.
"You were busy working. You did organize the dance." he stated. She didn't say anything to that remark for a few minutes. Finally she turned toward him, but remained silent.
He seemed mesmerized by her face but found his voice to ask, "What didn't I do that upset you so much?"
She had fresh tears forming in her eyes and was barely able to say, "Didn't you want to dance with me, Chris? 'Cause I wanted to dance with you."
She quickly stood and started to turn away from him. But he was right there to turn her back around to face him.
He put a hand on her chin to lift her face up to meet his and asked, "You wanted to dance with me?"
She nodded her head and the tears fell down her cheeks. He brushed them away as she said, "I was looking forward to it more than I even realized. The whole time I was planning this thing I was hoping you'd ask me for a dance. But then you never did and I had to get out of there before....before everyone got to see the same thing you did out there in the street."
Chris realized he was the reason she was so upset. He took her in his arms again and said to her, "I had no idea you'd want to dance at all--let alone with me. I figured you'd be too busy since you'd organized the dance and all. I didn't notice you dancin' with anyone else either."
"Chris, do you think anyone was brave enough to have asked me with you right there in the room? Besides, I think I'm too independent for any of the men in this town. At least that's the latest gossip I've heard," she added.
"You're not too independent! Stubborn, maybe, but not independent!" he said jokingly.
Trying unsuccessfully not to laugh, she left the comfort of his arms to look up into his green eyes. They were shinning in the firelight. And once again she saw emotions she couldn't pinpoint.
"I'm sorry, Chris. For what I said earlier and how I treated you." she managed to apologize.
"And I'm sorry for making you so upset, Mary. I'll understand if it's too late. There's no music here; but would you care to dance with me?" he asked timidly.
She could not figure out this man. Only a short while ago she was furious with him and wanted nothing to do with him ever again. Now he was standing in front of her asking her to dance with him. She smiled, gave her hand to the one he offered her, and went into his arms.
"Oh, I'm not so sure, Chris. I think I still hear some music." she murmured to him.
He chuckled softly as they began to dance to the song that only the two of them could hear.
They seemed so connected, so in rhythm, you'd swear there was music playing in the confines of that newspaper office. Mary was thoroughly enjoying the feeling of being in Chris' arms. He was a very good dancer--just as she imagined he'd be.
Soon, Chris began to experience feelings he hadn't for some time now. He felt warm and alive. Mary was so soft to hold against him like this- he thought he may never let her go. Barely before that thought was out of his mind, he realized she had moved her hand up and was cupping his face with it. He leaned back slightly and looked down into her light blue eyes.
Chris saw mirrored in them what he had begun to feel himself. She was asking him to kiss her. So he did.
She was as sweet as he'd imagined her to be. He explored her mouth hesitantly at first. But when she began to meet his demands, he deepened it.
Mary felt very lightheaded with the sensations rushing through her. So she held on to Chris even tighter pulling him closer to her.
This was magical, plain and simple. Neither had any idea it would be this good between them. And neither were willing to give up these wonderful feelings they were experiencing. Only when the desperate need for air surfaced did they break their lips apart, keeping their foreheads resting against one another.
When Chris' breathing returned to somewhat normal, he commented with a smile, "If I'd known dancing with you would be this great, believe me I would've asked you a lot sooner!"
Mary laughed at his joke, "You always know exactly what to say to make me feel better, Mr. Larabee." Her smile began to slowly disappear. Then she asked shyly, "Will you please just hold me Chris?"
His heart melted from her request. So he led her over by the fireplace, sat down first, then gently pulled her down beside him. There they sat, with his arm around her shoulder and her head resting on his chest, comfortable and content with each other's company.
Finally he asked, "Why did you want to dance with me, Mary?"
Quietly she answered, "Because I care about you, Chris." She paused, then continued, "I know it doesn't seem like I do, with the way we're always disagreeing 'bout everything. But I do. Maybe it's 'cause our pasts and grief are so similar. But I feel connected to you. Am I just imagining it or do you feel it too?"
"Yeah, I feel it too." was his simple response as he pulled her closer to him.
And right then and there, without even realizing it, they had both just taken the first step towards a new life together.
The End
