Summary: At the end of the month we will have our Harvest Dance with a twist (a Sadie Hawkins Dance). The ladies ask the men to the dance. For this month’s Starter, in 600 words or less, have a lady ask a Cartwright to the October Harvest Dance OR write a story of how you would ask your date to the Dance.
Rating: G, Word Count: 2651
Pie, Coffee, and An Invitation
Not sure how to even approach him, Marcy decided on the direct approach. She served him the coffee and pie he had requested and stood at the table until he took notice that she wasn’t leaving. Usually he was one to banter with her so she was concerned that something might be wrong which is what he asked her.
“No, but I was wondering if something was wrong with you. You seem extra quiet.”
“Just my brothers. They’ve been giving me a harder time than usual.”
“What about this time?”
“No one has asked me to the dance. They’ve both had multiple offers to mull over, and I haven’t had one. They both have theories, but most center on me being too picky, too serious, too arrogant, and well, you can guess at the rest.”
“Well, there are those stories about you spanking a woman who was a guest in your home.”
“That was one time, and she destroyed my guitar, my brand new guitar that I sent away for all the way to New York.”
“That could be seen as a good reason, I suppose. Now there is the saloon girl you took up with who got killed and you ended up in jail. You’ve ended up in jail charged with murder more than once. That could be offputting to a lady, don’t you think?”
“I’m sitting here free so nothing ever came of any of it.”
“No, you were always found to be innocent, but you do seem to get in a lot of messes. And the friends you pick! Tom Wilson, Howard Mead, Sam Bord, Sherman Clegg.”
“Clegg was no friend.”
“Well, you get the general idea though. And all the ladies you’ve been with, and not a one ever got a ring.”
“It wasn’t that I wasn’t trying.”
“You didn’t seem to try too hard with Laura Dayton.”
He smirked a little. “Do you blame me for that one?”
“All right, that one was smart. I’ll give you that. Aren’t you ever lonely?” She could see that hit home.
With eyes that seemed to reflect a million miles of empty trails, Adam looked at her. “You’re good for me. I like talking with you. If it was within the rules, I’d ask you to the dance.”
“If I thought you weren’t toying with me, maybe I’d ask you to the dance.”
Adam Cartwright pushed the plate and cup of coffee away as he looked around the restaurant. It was two in the afternoon and all the other customers had left the small café. He stood and Marcy thought she might have offended him somehow so she expected he would drop some money on the table and leave. Instead, he took one of her hands and tugged to see if she would willingly step toward him. She did. He wrapped his other arm around her waist and pulled her close as he moved his hand from her hand to her cheek caressing it softly as he leaned down and kissed the other cheek. Kissing her nose next, he moved to her lips and brushed his lips across hers before pressing his lips to hers. She was grateful for that muscular arm around her waist. She wouldn’t have been able to stand without it. Pulling back a few inches then, he looked into her eyes and she could still feel the warm breath as he asked her a question.
“Are you willing to ask me to the dance now?”
“Dance? What dance?” He smiled down at her. “Oh, the dance. Yes, would you take me to the dance?”
Lucy and her sister, Isabelle were walking down the boardwalk in Virginia City when they spotted a poster for an upcoming dance.
“Belle, it’s a women’s dance! The women are to ask the men to the dance,” Lucy read.
“That should be fun. Who will you ask?” Isabelle asked.
“I don’t know.” Lucy shrugged.
“Oh come on, I know you’ll want to ask Adam Cartwright. I know you like him.”
“So does every other girl in Virginia City. I’m sure he’s already been asked. I don’t think I’ll go.”
“What if he hasn’t been asked yet?”
“Belle, I could never ask him to a dance. I’m not smart enough for him. Or even pretty enough. Adam likes girls who are smart and pretty,” Lucy replied.
“Luc, you are pretty. Don’t think otherwise. I’ve seen how he looks at you when we’ve been at other socials or at church.”
“He probably thinks I’m ugly and wonders how I can show my face in public.”
Isabelle playfully smacked her sister’s arm.
“Stop it, Lucy. He likes you. You should ask. There’s no harm in it.”
“I guess.” Lucy sighed.
Days later, Lucy was still agonizing over the dance and Adam. Lucy and Isabelle were at lunch talking about the dance again.
“How am I to ask? I can’t even get the courage to ask him! He’s come in here a few times to send telegrams for his father and I go to ask him, but chicken out,” Lucy lamented.
Lucy worked as a telegrapher in Virginia City and enjoyed the work. Her father was a farmer. Their older brother, Steve, helped on the farm also. The girls got jobs in town to help support the family.
“I have already asked Ryan. Steve’ been asked too. I heard that Adam’s been asked many times to the dance,”
Isabelle said taking a bite of her sandwich.
Lucy groaned. “I’m too late.”
“No, you’re not.”
“What do you mean?”
“He hasn’t said yes to any of those girls. He said that he’s waiting for the right girl to ask.”
“You’re joshing.”
“I’m not. You should ask!”
“But he’ll say no. I’m not the right girl for him.”
“Sure you are. Adam will say yes to you because you’re the one he wants to be with. That girl is you.”
“That sounds like a fairy tale,” Lucy scoffed.
“And look where that got Cinderella,” Isabelle joked.
“Oh you.” Lucy laughed.
The next day, Lucy was walking back to the telegraph office when she ran into Adam.
“Adam, I’m sorry, I didn’t see you.”
“It’s all right. I was hoping to see you,” he replied.
“You were?” she asked in surprise.
Adam smiled and nodded.
“Well, I have been wanting to talk to you. I, um, wondered if you wanted to go to the dance with me?” Lucy
stuttered mumbled.
She had looked away when she asked.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t hear what you said.”
She looked up at him.
“I wondered if you wanted to go to the dance with me,” she repeated.
“I would love to go to the dance with you.”
“You would?” Her voice going up on octave.
“I would.”
“But I heard you were waiting for the right girl to ask you.”
“I did and it was you.”
Lucy’s eyebrows went up in surprise.
“I didn’t think I would be the right girl.”
“Well, you are and I would be happy to accompany the prettiest girl in Virginia City to the dance. I’ll walk you back to work.”
He took her hand and walked to the telegraph office, both wearing big smiles.
Asking the Right Cartwright
Clementine Hawkins’ niece, Millicent O’Connor had recently moved to Virginia City from Liverpool, England. With her aunt’s help, Millie settled in quickly and was smitten almost immediately with one of the handsome Cartwrights. The problem was Clementine couldn’t tell which one, until one day…
The ladies left the sweet shop and were heading home when they spied the four Cartwrights across the street. Millie began to get all fluttery as she had said she wanted to ask one of them to the Harvest Dance but couldn’t get up her nerve. Ben and Hoss headed their way so Clemmie came up with an idea.
“Look dearie, let me show you how to ask a gentleman to the dance, then you can do the same for your gentleman.” She patted Millie’s hand and stepped toward Ben as the men stopped to greet them.
“Coo Benjamin, what a lovely day it is.” She smiled at Ben and continued. “Might I ask if you would like to accompany me to the Harvest Dance at the end of the month?”
Hoss missed his pa’s nervous swallow as his own eyes were on the lovely red-haired Miss Millie.
“Why, I’d be delighted to accompany you to the dance, Clementine.”
Clemmie turned to Millie to say how easy that was but suddenly Mille burst into tears and ran home.
Apologizing to the men, Clemmie followed her. Ben and Hoss shrugged at each other and moved on.
At the house, Clemmie got Millie to calm down and was shocked as the problem was revealed.
“Oh, Aunt Clemmie, it’s all ruined. Couldn’t you see that I wanted to ask Mister Cartwright to the dance and now it’s impossible.”
Clemmie thought fast. “My dear Millie, Benjamin is much too old for you an’ besides didn’t you see how Hoss was smilin’ at ye so happily? He’s the one ye need to be askin’ to the dance, luv.”
Millie looked at her aunt with wet, puppy-dog eyes. “Really, but he’s so….so…..”
“Smitten with ye. Oh my dear, let’s go find him and you can see for yourself.”
The ladies caught up to Hoss outside the general store. Clementine nudged Millie forward with a wink.
Millie rolled her sea blue eyes up to Hoss. “Uh, Mister…I mean Hoss, would you like to go to the Harvest Dance with me?”
“Woo-hoo, darlin’! I’d be mighty glad to.” Hoss picked her up and swung her around.
Across the road, three more Cartwrights tipped their hats to Clementine Hawkins who gave them a big smile and a wink.
Hope you enjoy.
Ben Cartwright scanned the tidy businesses and residences of Germantown, Ohio as his small covered cart moved down the main street in the fading light. The town was busy with pedestrians when he pulled his cart to a stop. There was an air of frivolity amongst the townspeople that passed by.“I’m hungry, Pa.” The dark-haired four year-old boy’s weary voice informed to his father.Ben set the brake and wrapped the reins around the handle. “Me too, son. That’s why we’re stopping. Let’s go see what we can find.”
Not far down the boardwalk they found a restaurant. Ben was surprised to find the establishment empty of patrons when they entered. Hearing the bell on the door, a woman in her twenties with dark braids coiled on the sides of her head came out from the back.
“Willkommen!” The woman wiped her hands on her apron offering them a merry greeting and sweet smile.
“Good evening, miss. My son and I were hoping to get some supper. Are you still serving?”
“Ya. You can get your evening meal. There is plenty.” The woman spoke with a heavy German accent. “Please have a seat. Would you like Sauerbraten or Wiener schnitzel?”
Ben’s brows rose. “I’m not familiar with either. Maybe one of each. What’s this Weiberfastnacht and kisses business, and a dance?”
Marta Schmidt had a musical laugh. Ach no! No kisses required here, even if it is Weiberfastnacht — women’s festival. She turned to go into the kitchen and then paused. “Oh, my name is Marta. Welcome to Germantown.”
“Thank you. I’m Ben Cartwright and this is my son, Adam.”
Marta returned shortly with their dinner. No other guests came in; so she ran back and forth checking on the Cartwrights and cleaning up the kitchen.
“You’re probably in a hurry to close up”, Ben commented when Marta came to check on them.
“No need to rush.”
“You’re not going to the dance?” Ben’s eyes twinkled with his question.
“Not this year.”
“Not even on the special ladies’ night?”
“No, there was only one man —” Marta looked away. “He’s been gone for a while now..”
“I’m sorry. It’s been four years since I lost my wife.”
“I’m very sorry, Mr. Cartwright — Adam.”
“Pa gets sad get sometimes.” Adam piped up.
“Adam.” Ben gently scolded.
“It’s all right, Mr. Cartwright. Adam is just speaking the truth and that’s a good thing. I understand, all too well.” Marta’s eyes were shining.
“Please tell me about your husband.”
“Ach, you don’t have time for all that. Adam is tired.”
“Adam is fine. We have time. Please? Sometimes it helps to talk.”
Marta and Ben had no sense of the passage of time as each shared about the loves they had lost. They suddenly realized that Adam was curled up on the bench by the door.
“I’m so sorry to have kept you.” Marta rose and reached out to clear the dishes from the table.
“Not at all. It was my pleasure.” Ben’s dark eyes radiated warmth.
He stood and held out his hand to Marta. “I know it’s Weiberfastnacht, but may I have this dance.
Marta’s head dropped, but then she placed her hand in Ben’s. Though no music played, they waltzed carefully in the opening between the tables. After a few moments, they came to a stop.
Ben bowed and then gazed at Marta sincerely. “Thank you for the dance, your company and good food. He pressed some coins into her hand.
“That’s not necessary.”
Ben curled Marta’s fingers around the coins. “Thank you. Goodnight.”
“Auf Wiedersehen, Ben Cartwright.”
Big, huge thanks to my good pal AC for putting me wise to this. I forgot the sourdough starter is about the Harvest Dance. Thanks AC.
Ok so here’s the thing. I go over to the Ponderosa to ask Adam Cartwright if he wants to go to the dance and I find he’s already been asked. If I find the trail sister who….well anyways I’m ticked off. This is not the news I want to hear.
I head over to this saloon place to get a brandy. It’s for medicinal purposes you understand. I have a very bad knee and Doc Martin won’t give me any more laudanum because……he hates me.
Anyway I’m in this Saloon getting very happy and telling anyone who will listen about this party going on and well long story short I’m here with Bill Ender’s and Billy McCord.
Ugh how am I going to get through a whole night with these two. Bill Ender’s keeps going on about his ex friend Adam and Billy keeps talking about getting his first notch. If he means on the bed post he can just forget it.
Well anyway here I am. I came early so I could pick a quiet corner to hide in.
I’ve come with a huge pork pie for everyone to eat but it fell in the Saloon and someone stood on it and I think someone might have taken a bite out of it so…I don’t know.
I’m wearing this fine lace dress, I know you don’t need to hear those details but I’m looking very fetching in it so I’m going to show off and I have sheet music to the Irish Ballad The Wild Rover. Very fitting song *No Nay Never No More*
So….is everyone enjoying the party?
