buy flowers from us. But every year they'd politely declined to even look at them, until the unexpected spring snow storm had made us their only choice.
"Kaitlin, I remember when you were just knee high to a grass hoper askin your momma if the flowers were magic." Daddy said grinnin.
I smiled for the first time in a week.
"It just takes a little faith," Momma would say. Now I understood how that faith helped the magic happen… All of the older ladies would get together and tie twine around the base of the flowers – but they only used one piece of twine – then, they let gravity do the rest!
Momma nodded her head and smiled. "Girls, I just want you to know how proud I am of you all. Your flowers are just beautiful!"
Dad leaned over and kissed her cheek. "That's what I think every time I look at you."
She blushed. "Tom!"
He looked back at me and my sisters. "And my sweet girls are just b-e-a-utiful, too. I should've brought my shotgun to this gatherin." He laughed.
"Daddy!" Anna giggled.
I tried to smile at his words. Even though it had almost been two years since they'd told me the truth about my birth, I still felt a dull pain when I looked at my parents and sisters together. There was no doubt they were blood.
"Anna, Emma – you girls can go on and find your friends, but don't let me see ya dancing with no boys 'cause you're too young. Ya hear?"
"Yes, sir." They called out, skipping into the crowd.
"Ladies, if you'll excuse me, I need to have a word with a few of the farmers."
Momma's face seemed startled. "Is something wrong, Tom?"
"Nah, nothing ya need to worry about, Honey." He smiled reassuringly.
♦~♦~♦~♦
I loved this time of year. Everything around Main Street was buzzing with life: bird's chirps filled the dry spring air competing with men playing their 6-strings, fiddles and banjos. I scanned the dance floor wondering if the reason I hadn't heard from Billy was because he was bringin' Sue this year. They were across the field on the far side of the dance area with their heads together.
I shifted away as a new loss set in… my best friend would most likely be married soon and I'd be alone.
I turned and looked around the crowded festival.
"Who's that, momma?" I whispered not wanting anyone else to hear me.
"Who dear?" she asked, following the direction of my eyes. "Oh," she sighed. "That's Logan, one of Mr. Henry's nephews. And that's his older brother, Robert, standing by the fence. They're going to be here for a few months visiting."
I nodded and watched, unable to take my eyes off Logan, as he glided across the dirt dance area with a tall blonde wrapped in his arms. I closed my eyes and tried to imagine what it would be like to be the wrapped in someone's arms. The music slowed and pulled me out of my daydream.
I glanced back over in his direction and met his steady gaze. Darting my eyes from his, I scanned from side-to-side, hopelessly trying to see if someone other than momma was standing next to me. A slow grin spread across his face. I watched, dazed, as he leaned in and whispered something in his dance partner's ear. She nodded and made her way over to where his brother was standing.
"Kaitlin, Billy's over there," Momma said, tapping me on my shoulder. "Don't ya think you should go say hello to him?"
My eyes darted in the direction she was pointing and back to the man who was now making his way through the crowd toward me. I looked down and rubbed my suddenly wet palms against the jade dress momma had just finished making me that morning. The straps were too thin across my bare shoulders leaving my pale skin begging for a sunburn, and the hem of the dress rested just below my knees. Not my usual attire, but Momma insisted all the girls my age were wearing them and it was time I looked my age. For once, I was glad I'd listened without objection because the girl in his arms was all curves. I didn't recognize her and wondered if she was his girlfriend from back home, or maybe – hopefully – she was just a friend.
I like the second option better, I smiled to myself. But why should I care? I'm sure once he finds out about my past he will be just like everyone else in this town… I shrugged. Maybe he already knows and wants to tell me I'm making him uncomfortable by fixating on him in front of the town. Oh well…
"Kaitlin, come back to me." Momma said laughing and tugging on one of my lose curls.
I smiled.
"I'll go say hello later, momma." I managed to respond through my clouded mind and pounding heart.
"Mornin', Kaitlin." I jumped and spun around toward the familiar voice.
"Joe! What are you doing here?" I stepped back so I could take him in. He'd only been gone a few months, but he had changed a lot: his unruly mane of copper hair, like my fathers, was now a buzz cut; his smooth, tan face was now replaced by a full beard. I reached up and tugged at the unfamiliar growth.
He laughed and put his fingers over his lips. "Shhh…"
I couldn't help but smile.
"Aunt Beth and Uncle Tom didn't tell ya we were comin' for a visit?"
"No!" I exclaimed, throwing my arms around his neck. "Momma, how could ya not tell me that my favorite cousin in the whole wide world was comin' in ta' town?"
Her dimples deepened. "I just found out last night myself. Your father wanted to surprise you."
"Well, I'm surprised!" I stepped back again eying him. "Something's different about you."
He looked down at his clothes. "You're just not use to seeing me dressed up."
I smiled knowing that was part of it, but there was a light in his eyes that I hadn't noticed before. I narrowed my eyes and scanned him. His grey button down shirt and tan trousers had been pressed free of wrinkles and his boots were shinning. He raised an eyebrow under my scrutiny then pinned me with the look that said "don't ask right now."
"Are your brothers here too?" I asked instead of what's her name, and continued to glance through the crowd desperately trying to see where Logan disappeared to. My heart sank when I caught a glimpse of him standing next to his dance partner and his brother.
Maybe he wasn't coming to talk to me after all.
"I'm afraid not…" Joe paused. "Kaitlin are you listenin' to me?"
My eyes locked on his "Of course I am, silly."
"Did they get–"
"Deployed. Yes. I just wish I could'a gone too," he forced a smile. "Besides, you know they wouldn't miss a chance to dance with pretty girls… And I must say, I don't think I've seen you lookin' prettier."
Joe was a sweet person - the kinda man that would do anything for ya' without thinkin' twice… It didn't surprise me that even though he'd just turned eighteen, he wouldn't hesitate to volunteer for his country. I'd always admired his strength and I really missed being around him. We'd always been close; until he moved away, that is.
He reached up and tugged a lose curl. "Aunt Beth! How did you get her to sit still long enough to get all that long hair pined up and in those curls?"
"I have the patience and persistence of Job," she winked.
He laughed to himself. "Well, how about I take this hardhead off your hands for a little while? We have some catching up to do."
Momma kissed my check. "Sure, you two run along! I'm gonna go check on your sisters."
Joe reached for my hand. "How about we head on over to the dance floor?" he asked wiggling his brows.
I couldn't help but laugh.
"What's so funny, Miss Shorty?"
I grabbed his hand and pulled him toward the dance area. "Did you really just call me shorty?" I asked.
He wiggled his eyebrows oven his dancing hazel eyes. "Yes ma'am, I did."
I shook my head. "Really? Joe you're about the only person in our family that I don't have to break my neck to look up to… But I was laughing at the thought of you dancing with those two left feet." I teased.
He looked down at his boot clad feet. "Kaitlin, I'll have ya know I don't have two left feet anymore."
"When did that happen?" I asked trying and
failing to keep a straight face.
"I just don't!" He insisted.
"Then why don't you show me what you got, Sir?"
He looked down and grinned. I couldn't help but chuckle at the thought of him learning to dance.
"So you've got a girl back home you must really like." I said wiggling my eyebrows.
He blew out a breath. "Just hush! You ask too many questions."
I shook my head and laughed. "Joe, you know me better than that," I teased. "How's a girl supposed to find out things if I don't ask?"
He nodded and grinned. "Okay. I know that look. What else do ya want to know?"
I loved Joe, because no matter what we were supposed ta' know, we'd always let each other in on secrets. "Well, what's going on? Why are ya back?"
He smiled. "For the spring festival… and of course to see all of your pretty flowers on display. I mean, just look at this place. You have a daggum roof made out of flowers!"
I squeezed his shoulder. "Joe," I rolled my eyes and exhaled. "Why did your family come back all this way… and don't lie to me 'cause I can read ya like a book!"
He lowered his gaze. "Kaitlin, it's not for you to worry about."
His response was unexpected. "Just tell me, please."
He sighed. "My father is cursing the day he sold off his portion of the Williamson farm. He's wishin he'd listened to your Daddy and not sold-out."
"I thought Uncle Jimmy said it was the best decision he'd ever made."
"Well the money was great, and we were able to buy twice the land we owned here, but when the first batch of cattle died off, that changed everything –"
I frowned. "What do you mean the first batch?"
He closed his eyes, as if trying to focus on the music. "The whole herd just up and died," he shook his head. "Sad thing is we aren't the only farm that it's happened to… and now it seems to be spreadin' across county lines."
"What do you think is going on?"
"That's the thing, we just aren't sure."
I looked to the far side of the dance area. "So that's why they're meetin' tonight?" I used my head to motion over to where Daddy stood huddled in the corner with all the other farmers.
He nodded. "There tryin' to put their heads together and figure this thing out, before it gets worse," lookin' around town square he lowered his voice. "They thought if they met durin' the spring festival - when there's a large gathering anyhow - they wouldn't cause panic."
I sat in silence not knowing what to say or think. If all the cattle started dyin,' how would Daddy be able to keep our dairy farm going? What if it started transferrin' to the other animals? My mind was racing.
"Now Kaitlin," Joe said, pulling me back to our conversation. "I don't want you worryin' about this. And for the love of Pete, don't tell anyone I told you!"
I squeezed my lips in a tight line and nodded.
"That'a girl." He laughed.
"Howdy, folks!" a voice yelled out. "Now just in case some of ya don't know me, I'm Wayne and these here two fella's are Burt and Walker. We wanted to take the time to thank ya for havin' us out and hope you're enjoyin' the music."
Loud whistles soared through the air.
"Well thank ya, that's much appreciated… but if you don't mind we will be taking a five minute break, so now's a good time to go get you a piece of Aunt Bee's famous apple pie or some of Beth's fresh lemonade!"
"Whew, I was beginnin' to feel my two left feet tryin' to take over; he saved me from embarrassment just in the nick of time." Joe said.
"Why don't we just go sit for a while?" I linked my arm with his.
"That's a great idea." He led me over to a hay bale just off the dance area.
A sly look spread across his face. "So how are things with you and Billy?"
I sighed "He's actually been actin' really weird."
He rubbed his hand over his bearded chin. "You don't say."
I narrowed my eyes at the smile that was creeping across his face. "What do you know, Joe? What's the matter with him?"
"The boy's in love."
I shifted to face him. "Who's he in love with?" I asked.
He frowned. "Well, let's see. I think she has dark brown hair, sky