Audra threw back the covers and then looked around silently to assure herself that no one had heard her and decided to investigate. She dressed swiftly, something she had a reputation for being unable to do. Her brothers didn't know her as well as they thought. Of course, not completely undressing had helped. She began quietly making her way down the stairs.

The evening had been wonderful. The birthday party was just the way o be introduced to young gentlemen. Or older gentlemen. Sixteen. Oh, how grown up that sounds! Susie's ben married six months already and she'd just seventeen. Mother and Father were approached by several young men this evening. I hope they asked permission to call on me. Oh! I hope Father gave them permission! Don't hit the third step; it's the noisy one.

She skipped the third stepfrom the bottem as gracefully as possible and, luckily, without sound. She made her way through the kitchen and out the back door. It must be very late. The door creaked and she shuddered, huddling. Recovering, she made her way to the back garden and to the gazebo. She carefully folded her wrap and laid it on the bench. Audra promenaded to a small clearing in full moonlight. The beams gave a soft glow to her hair and made her deep September blue dress shimmer. She was truly beautiful with a beauty surpassing her stunning appearance at the party, a beauty not dependent on outward looks.

She made a curtsy, perfect from long hours of practice. She reached out and her small and was enveloped, her left arm rested perfectly in its place, and her waist was held snuggly. They waltzed. It was much too slow for a dance floor. But for that garden, it was perfect, right in its place with the scent of April flowers lingering in the air. Another waltz. Then a gallop. A polka. Back to the waltz, slow and even. The hours passed y uneeded, dancing with the moon as she had since her seventh birthday, a private annual tradition. Those evenings were her special times, just for her, her and her partner, moonbeams.

The time came to leave, the dark sky fading, the stars bedding down for daytime. Father and Nick would be up in another hour, and she couldn't risk being caught. She picked up her skirts and made her way back to the house. Silas wasn't in the kitchen as she prepared to climb the stairs.

"Miss Audra, I's believin' ya forgot ya's wrap." He handed it to her and disappeared from view. She called out a soft thanks and reached her room. She quickly closed the door behind her and breathed a sigh of relief. Silas wouldn't tell and she didn't have to think up an excuse for her wrap being on the gazebo. Another year with no one knowing.

Tom shut the bedroom door quietly. Audra still didn't know that he had watched her since she turned seven. He smiled, thinking about his little girl. Not so little anymore, he reminded himself. I'll have to watch out that moonlight is her only partner. He needn't have worried. Moonbeams were her only partner for every birthday of her life. And every year, someone watched. First her father, then her brothers, then her husband, children, grandchildren, and even great-grandchildren. And she watched them, as well, making sure that moonbeams were their only partner.