Christmas With Hover Hill (20 page)

Bud stopped her and pointed into the timber. “See
that?”

“
Oh my! A fire in the forest!”

Bud shook his head. “No, that's fox fire.”

“
What is that?” She inquired.

“
Let's turn around, and I'll tell you.” As they
headed back to the house, Bud said, “That glow in the timber is a
natural phenomenon. Old folks called the lights will-o'-the-wisps
when they told stories about ghosts roaming in the woods. They
didn't know any better, but now we can explain what we see.
Actually, it's a gas given off from rotting leaves and dead wood.”
Bud settled down on the swing seat and patted his lap. “Sit with
me.”

“
Will the swing hold both our weights
up?”

Bud laughed. “We'll find out together, won't we?
Better sit easy just in case.”

Elizabeth eased onto his lap and smiled at him as
their eyes met. “We didn't break the swing.”

They stopped smiling and just looked at each other.
The stare stretched into seconds, then minutes. As Elizabeth's head
came near him, Bud kissed her. “Now the redbird saying came true
for sure.”

“
So it did,” Elizabeth said. She picked her
feet up and put her head on his shoulder. She stayed very still
except for the strands of her hair picked up by the breeze that
brushed against Bud's face.

He put his arms around her and swayed the swing
gently back and forth. “There's a Memorial Day dance coming up at
the Legion Hall on Saturday. Want to go with me?”

“
To the dance? Are you sure you want to take
me?”

“
Whew! I'm just glad I got the words out. If I
didn't want to take you I sure wouldn't have worried myself about
how to ask you,” Bud said. “You haven't a reason not to go now that
you don't have to hide anymore. That must be a good feeling,
Lizzy.”

“
It is,” she said.

The evening darkened and cooled. Shadows gradually
stretched across the grass, letting them know it was time to go
inside.

The next morning, Elizabeth woke up and started
worrying immediately that she shouldn't have accepted the dance
date. It wasn't fair to keep going out with Bud if he was expecting
more from her than she could give.

On the other hand, she didn't know how to tell him
no. She did enjoy the Christmas dance they attended. One thing was
for sure. If she went, she wanted to be dressed for the occasion.
That meant all her dresses, folded in boxes, were wrinkled and not
quite the style for the area. She didn't have a clue what to wear.
A light bulb went off in her mind. Maybe Susie could give her some
advice on what type of dress to pick.

After Bud left the house, Elizabeth gulped down the
last of her coffee. “Hover, want to go to Wickenburg with me this
morning? I'm going to have to find a dress to wear to the Memorial
Day dance.”

“
Why would you need me along?”

“
You can help me pick a dress.”

Hover grumbled, “Oh, no! If I remember correctly, you
told me that I was not programmed to choose your wardrobe. That
still stands as correct.”

Elizabeth relaxed back in her chair and studied him.
“Do you have total recall on everything I've ever said to you?”

“
That is correct. My memory bank does not erase
anything.”

“
All right, guess I'll go by the Maidrite and
ask Susie to help me,” Elizabeth said.

“
Sounds like a plan to me,” Hover
droned.

“
Yes, I think so. You know the more I talk, the
smarter your memory bank is going to get. That is the way I see
it.”

Hover replied, “We are both so very gifted, aren't
we?”

By mid morning, the Maidrite wasn't so busy.
Elizabeth hoped Susie would have time to talk to her.

Elizabeth sat on a stool at the counter. The
waitress, Mary Beth, came over. “What can I get you?”

“
A cup of coffee. Is Susie around?”

“
Sure. She's in her office. You want to talk to
her?”

“
Yes, please.”

Mary Beth looked her over. “Can I give her your
name?”

“
Yes, Elizabeth.”

The waitress returned quickly. “Susie said to come
back to her office to visit and bring your coffee.”

“
Thank you.” Elizabeth reached in her purse for
change to pay for the coffee.

“
Susie said tell you the coffee is on the
house. Go through that door, and you will see the
office.”

Susie was standing in the office doorway, waiting for
her. “Morning, Elizabeth. What can I do for you this morning?”

“
I am completely flummoxed. I wondered if you
could give me advice on a dress to buy to wear to the Memorial Day
dance. I have all kinds of dresses, but I'm not sure what fashion
is right to wear here.”

“
I see. Is Bud taking you?”

“
Yes, he asked. Did Bud tell you that my former
boyfriend came to see me? I don't have to stay undercover anymore.
Bud helped me convince the man I wanted him to leave and never come
back.”

“
I am so glad. It will be good to see you out
and about in town more now. So about the dance. Didn't Bud tell you
the dance is a fairy tale costume dance?”

Elizabeth said in surprise, “Not one word.”

“
Men! They don't seem to think that little bit
of information is important for a woman,” Susie said
indignantly.

“
That means I have to figure out what would be
appropriate to wear. I don't even know where to look for such a
costume. What do you suggest?”

Susie said, “There's a small antique store three
blocks south of here that has costumes to rent. Usually, the
costumes are used for a Halloween dance. At this late notice, most
of the costumes may be picked over.”

“
Oh, dear. That is a problem.”

“
Tell you what. Before the lunch crowd gets
here, let me go with you. Maybe between the two of us we'll find
something.”

“
Thank you so much. What are you going to
wear?”

“
I'm going as Little Red Riding
Hood.”

When they reached the All Things Old store, Susie
introduced Elizabeth to Holly Winterode, the owner. Dark haired
Holly, in her mid thirties, asked what she could do to help
them.

Susie explained the urgent need for a costume
gown.

Holly groaned. “Not much to pick from now. As soon as
the dance was announced, women flocked in here to get first
picks.”

“
I was afraid of that,” Elizabeth
said.

“
Are you sure there isn't a gown here that
would be right for Elizabeth?” Susie insisted.

Holly started to shake her head no then she
brightened up. “Wait a minute! I put a gown in the back room that
needed some work on the hem.”

“
I'd be glad to fix the hem,” Elizabeth said
eagerly.

“
Oh, I got it fixed. I just forgot to bring it
back out. Come see what you think?”

Holly led the way behind a curtain into a dingy
storage room filled with broken and uncleaned antiques. Hanging on
a nail was the gown she wanted them to see.

Susie said, “Wow! That's really fancy.”

“
What fairy tale does that belong in?”
Elizabeth asked.

“
It's Cinderella's dress.”

“
I'm surprised that wasn't grabbed up right
away,” Susie said.

“
It would have been if I hadn't taken it off
the rack. It's been needing the repair since last Halloween when
Mary Peters wore it. She hooked one of her spike heels in the hem.
Since there wasn't a demand right away for the gown, I didn't get
in any hurry to fix it until yesterday.”

Elizabeth moved closer to inspect the dress. The gown
couldn't be very old. The material was still crispy new and bright
looking. White satin covered with sheer material dotted with pearl
beads. “What do you think, Susie? Is this gown a little over the
top for me?”

“
No way! I think you, in that gown, will be the
bell of the ball. I'd take it home if I were you.”

Elizabeth said, “I'm not so sure about this, but what
other choice do I have? I'll take it.”

When Bud came home that afternoon, Elizabeth
mentioned she had been to Wickenburg to look for a dress. “Why
didn't you tell me the dance was a fairy tale ball? I wouldn't have
known if your sister hadn't helped me. No telling what I could have
worn that wasn't right for the dance.”

Bud shrugged. “Sorry about that. I thought whatever
you wore would be all right.”

“
Well, you thought wrong. Everyone is supposed
to be in character.”

“
So who are you going to be?” Bud
asked.

“
I'm not telling you. You just wait and see.”
Elizabeth sounded like she meant it.

After she left the kitchen, Bud whispered to Hover,
“Do you know what kind of dress she bought for the dance?”

“
Yes, it is a Cinderella gown.”

“
Perfect,” Bud said, grinning from ear to
ear.

Later on Saturday, Bud said he had to go check the
cows before they left for the dance. Elizabeth should go ahead and
get ready while he was gone. Elizabeth thought that was strange. He
usually did his cow checks early each morning. She did as Bud
suggested and dressed in her gown.

As usual, Hover stood sentry at the window while
Elizabeth circled the living room several times, swishing in the
full satin skirt. Finally, she forced herself to sit down. That
didn't work. She couldn't stay still. She got up and made another
circle.

“
You should calm down,” Hover droned. “You are
like a bunch of Indians circling a wagon train, anticipating your
attack.”

“
I can't help it. I've never felt so ridiculous
in my life, wearing this Cinderella gown,” she retorted.

Hover made a loud drone.

“
What's wrong with you? Bud coming?”

Hover said, “He sure is. I think I should warn you
that you are in for a large surprise. What you have been waiting to
circle is not a covered wagon. Not by a long shot.”

“
Now what!” Elizabeth joined him at the window.
She stared at Bud ambling toward the house and giggled at his
outfit.

Chapter 15

Elizabeth glanced past Bud and did a double take.
“Mercy, Hover! How do you suppose Bud managed to get his hands on a
coach like Cinderella rode in and two white horses to pull it?”

She opened the door and burst out laughing. With a
silly expression on his face, Bud waited for her to calm down
enough to talk. “Look at you, Bud. Who are you pretending to
be?”

Bud grimaced uncomfortably at his knee length white
pants and white full length stockings. “Susie said this is how
Prince Charming dressed in the fairy tales. She was playing a trick
on me, wasn't she? This is the silliest outfit I ever saw let alone
wore out in public.”

“
I know how you feel,” Elizabeth sympathized,
patting the skirt of her gown. She gave him another inspection. “I
want you to know I think you look quite handsome, Sir. Just the way
the Prince Charming should look that is going to take me to a
dance.”

Bud stared at her unabashedly. “ Not half as good as
you look, Lady. Wow! You're the prettiest Cinderella I ever
saw.”

“
I thank you, Sir, though now I'm wondering how
many other Cinderellas you're acquainted with. Looks like, clever
man that you are, you found the appropriate conveyance for a
Cinderella and Prince,” Elizabeth complimented, pointing at the
coach.

“
I think so. Shall we try that coach out?” He
held out his arm for her to take.

“
Tell me, did Cinderella's coach have bows on
it?” Elizabeth asked, amused.

“
I haven't the foggiest idea. That book wasn't
on my reading list when I was a kid. I just added the bows to
brighten the coach up.”

“
A festive touch for a regal coach.” Elizabeth
relaxed in the seat next to Bud and checked out the inside. “Where
did you find something this over the top?”

“
At the salebarn in a horse driven carriage
sale. I couldn't resist buying it.” Bud gave her a searching look
again. “Seems to me, some woman I know told me that there wasn't
any such thing as fairy tales with happy endings. I have produced
the fairy tale, my lady, but sooner or later you're going to have
to make up your mind which way you want the story to
end.”

“
Oh, how good you and Hover have become at
throwing my words back at me. I've been resigned for some time now
to live alone for the rest of my life. It's rather hard to get out
of that deep hole I dug for myself,” Elizabeth declared. “For now,
can we just go have fun?”

Bud winked at her. “You got it, Cinderella.”

The ride was as magical as the moment. Ahead of them,
the sunset colored the horizon in pinks and lavenders. As the cool
evening air met the warm ground, a misty film hovered over ponds
and in draws, adding a mystic atmosphere.

A cluster of men and women in a variety of costumes
mingled in front of the Legion Hall, enjoying the fresh air before
the dance started. Mouths dropped open when Bud and Elizabeth
parked. Bud came around the coach and helped Elizabeth out. She
waited while he led his horses over to a hitch rack at the edge of
the park.

Not only were they a hit with the crowd that evening,
but they won first place for the best costumes contest. Elizabeth
was convinced the addition of the coach to the dance theme helped
influence the judges.