THE CHIPPEWA FALLS DAWSONS
Chapter Eighteen
Rose and Jack sat on the blanket with Elaine
and Michael. Katrina, Thomas, and their baby took another blanket, with the
adults taking one for them. The food was good and there were lots of little
kids running around excited. It was turning into a nice day, a little hot, but
typical for July. Rose gave Jack a look and he nodded his head. Rose picked up
her beer and started to stand up. She accidentally tripped and spilled her beer
all over Elaine. Elaine cried out and Rose started saying, "I’m sorry. I’m
so sorry."
Elaine stood up and started to wipe at her
dress. Michael stood up and handed Elaine his napkin. Jack stood up to steady
Rose, who was also trying to wipe Elaine dress. "You’ve ruined my
dress!" she yelled, and started crying. She only had a few dresses, being
a lady’s maid. Rose looked a little ashamed; she hadn’t meant to spill her
whole beer, just a little.
Ruth came over to see what was going on. In a
rare act of compassion, she held Elaine, and told her that Rose would have to
pay for a new dress. Ruth gave Rose a warning look. She knew it had been no
accident. Ruth pulled away from Elaine a little, enough to see the stain.
"I think if you go home right now and soak it, you might be able to keep
the stain from setting too badly."
"I’ll take her home. But we’ll miss a
little of the games this afternoon," Michael said.
Rose’s plan came clear to Ruth. A little
spill and Michael would have to take her home, and they would be all alone for
the first time. A perfect time to get to know each other, a chance to see if
they really had feelings for each other or not. Ruth didn’t approve of her
daughter’s meddling, but now there was nothing she could do. Except have a talk
with Rose sometime later.
Michael went to get the horses, and Elaine
stopped crying. They just stood there, no one saying anything. Rose and Elaine
started to put the food away. "Mr. Dawson, may I speak to you?"
"Sure."
They walked a little ways away from everyone.
"I know Rose is a little overeager, but I expected more realism from
you."
"Relax, Ruth. Her dress will be okay,
and it really was an accident."
"Don’t lie to me, son. I saw the look on
Rose’s face as you left the revival, and I knew right away she was up to
something."
"I know what you’re thinking, but we
didn’t want to ruin her dress. We just wanted her and Michael to have to spend
some time alone together before we moved to our farm."
"A noble cause, and I certainly hope
something good comes out of it. From now on, I hope that you and Rose think a
little more before you play anymore pranks."
"Yes, ma’am."
"Don’t take that tone of voice with me,
young man. I’m only trying to help. You two are getting older, and you need to
start acting that way." At the look on Jack’s face, Ruth softened the tone
of her voice. "Jack, I think you are a wonderful young man. You have been
a good husband and friend to Rose. You have even let me into your house. I’m
just saying that I think it’s time you realize that you can be adult and still
have fun."
"Okay, Ruth. I understand. I’ll talk to
Rose myself. Let me handle this."
"Okay. I appreciate it. We still aren’t
best friends."
"You’re coming around. At least now you
listen to her. She does love you, and is happy you’re here."
"Thank you, Jack. I think I needed to
hear that."
Michael and Elaine were off, and nobody was
sure when they’d get back. Rose and Jack left to go watch the three-legged
races, and the adults sat around talking. Katrina and Thomas took the baby and
went to watch the pie-eating contest.