Red Heart Balloons
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Amber felt her stomach do a flip-flop. She had just received an invitation to the Red Heart Ball, a social event that would take place in less than two weeks.
She knew exactly what this meant. It meant that she was on the verge of being accepted by the community and becoming a true member of the Red Heart family. She would no longer be a guest but a permanent resident. She could even become a citizen of the town.
This was also the first time Amber had been invited to such a formal affair. It was usually the women who were given the privilege of attending this party. It was one of the few times when they were allowed to wear their finest attire. The men, however, usually wore their everyday work clothes.
It was obvious that the people of Red Heart did not want any outsiders to know about this ball. Not only was it a rare opportunity for the women to dress up and show off their finery, but it was also the first time the men were going to get a glimpse of the women’s real selves. This was where they would learn if they were interested in getting to know the ladies better or not.
The last thing Amber wanted was to be viewed as a curiosity. She was a woman of the West, not some Victorian creature. She didn’t need to hide behind a veil and play a part. She was here to help these people and to help herself.
“You look beautiful,” Chase said with a smile. He held out his arm to her. “Shall we?”
She took his arm and he escorted her toward the entrance. They entered the hall and found themselves at the front of the room.
The people of Red Heart were dressed in their finest. Most of the men wore suits, but there were a few who chose to wear their Western outfits. Amber didn’t recognize many of the faces. She was still new to the town, but she had seen most of the people at least once before.
The tables were arranged in a horseshoe shape. The center of the room was reserved for the musicians. The musicians were on stage and their instruments were positioned in the front row.
There was a small buffet table next to the buffet line. Amber had never been to a fancy party like this. It was so different from the social gatherings in Kansas City. Her mother would have loved to attend a ball like this. She would have been thrilled to wear her finest gown and have the opportunity to dance with her husband.
Amber could see the women eyeing the food. They were all wearing their finest dresses. Some of the women wore long, formal gowns. Others wore floor-length, flowing skirts. There were even a few who wore the traditional Native American dress.
Amber saw the woman who had asked her to help her in the first place. She was sitting with the mayor. Amber’s heart did a flip-flop. She hadn’t expected to see her there.
Amber quickly turned away from the mayor and her friend. She wasn’t sure if she should approach them. They were both looking at her.
“What is it?” Chase whispered in her ear. He squeezed her hand. “Do you want me to go talk to them?”
“No,” she said, shaking her head. “I think I’ll just wait.”
It was hard for Amber to sit through the entire event. She didn’t know what to do or say. It was obvious that the people of Red Heart did not trust her. They were waiting to see how she would behave. Would she act like a lady or would she show her true self?
She found herself avoiding the mayor and her friend. She knew they were watching her every move. They were trying to figure out if she was capable of doing what she had promised. She wasn’t sure how long she could continue to avoid them.
Amber wasn’t interested in being part of the conversation. She sat at the table with Chase and listened to music. It was beautiful.
“Do you like this?” Chase asked. He glanced over at her. “I hope you don’t mind that I asked one of the musicians to play the flute. I thought it would be nice for us to dance to a love song.”
“That was very thoughtful,” Amber said. She felt butterflies in her stomach. She had never been to a dance before. She was nervous about how she would look in her fancy dress. She also worried that she might trip over her skirt.
“We’ll just have to see how we look together,” Chase said with a smile. “I’m glad you came. I know it was hard for you to face your fears.”
He held out his hand and she took it. He led her onto the floor. He was so tall that she had to look up at him. His eyes were bright as he gazed down at her.
The band played a soft, romantic melody. The dance was slow and intimate. They moved in perfect unison.
Amber’s heart pounded in her chest. She wasn’t sure why she was so nervous. She had danced with men before. This was nothing new. It was just that this was the first time she had ever done it in front of people.
She looked around the room. Most of the other couples were holding hands. Some were dancing in a circle.
Amber turned to Chase and smiled. He was the only man there who wasn’t holding someone else’s hand. He was alone. Was that what she wanted?
She had been raised to believe that marriage was a sacred thing. A woman belonged to her husband. It was an arrangement that should be honored. That was why she had left Kansas City. She couldn’t continue to live the way she was.
She was supposed to marry the man of her father’s choosing. It didn’t matter that he wasn’t a good match for her. He was her father’s choice.
There was no one in Red Heart who could challenge her father. There was no one in the whole world who could take his place. He was the law in Red Heart. If he said she was going to marry this man, then she would do it.
But Chase was different. He was her friend. He was kind and thoughtful. She knew he would never force her to do anything against her will.
Her father was furious when he learned that Amber had been in Red Heart. He had expected her to come back with him. When she hadn’t, he had threatened to send her back.
He had tried to get her to agree to the marriage. But Amber had refused. She told him she would not go.
She had never imagined that she would ever feel like a lady. She had been raised to believe that women were inferior to men. In fact, she had never seen a woman in a position of power.
But Amber was a free woman. She wasn’t owned by anyone. No one could force her to do anything against her will. She was the only person who could decide how she would live her life.
Chase had been so nice to her. He treated her like a lady. He had invited her to this ball. He had asked her to dance. He had given her a lovely dress. She wasn’t sure if she was worthy of all these things.
“I don’t know if I’m doing this right,” Amber said.
“You’re doing fine,” Chase said. “We’ll just have to see how we look together.”
They moved in perfect unison. They were moving so close that she could feel his warm breath on her face.
“What do you think?” Chase whispered in her ear.
Amber couldn’t help but smile. The music was so beautiful. It seemed to come from the very depths of her soul. She had never felt like this before.
Chase smiled down at her. His eyes glowed with such happiness. She wondered if he felt the same way she did.
She wasn’t sure what she wanted. She wasn’t sure what she should do. She was so confused. She wanted to stay with Chase. But she also wanted to return to Kansas City. She wanted to go home.
The band played a waltz. They danced slowly. Amber was afraid that she might trip over her skirt.
Chase’s arms wrapped around her waist and pulled her closer to him.
Amber gasped. She didn’t know how to respond. She wasn’t used to being touched by a man.
His lips brushed against her cheek. He was so close to her that she could feel his breath on her skin. She closed her eyes. She was so happy to be dancing with Chase. She had never felt so much joy in her life.
She opened her eyes. She saw that Chase was staring down at her. There was something in his eyes that she couldn’t identify.
The song ended and the band played another slow, romantic melody. Amber looked up at Chase. His eyes were bright as he gazed down at her.
“I enjoyed this dance,” he said. “Would you like to dance again?”
Amber nodded. She held out her hand. He took it and led her onto the floor.
This time they moved in perfect unison. Their bodies were pressed tightly together. She could feel his heart beating against hers.
“Are you nervous?” he asked.
“Yes,” Amber admitted. “I don’t know if I’m doing this right.”
Chase chuckled. “It’s natural to be nervous. We’ve never done anything like this before.”
He was right. She had never been alone with a man before.
Chase held her hands in his and brought them up to his shoulders. His fingers caressed her arms.
“Do you think we’re doing a good job?” Amber asked.
“We’re doing fine,” Chase said. “Just relax and let me lead the way.”
They moved in perfect unison. The music was so beautiful. It seemed to come from the very depths of her soul. She had never felt so much joy in her life.
The band played a fast waltz. They danced so quickly that Amber almost tripped over her skirt. Chase caught her by the waist. He held her up.
“You’re so strong,” she said.
“I’ve had a lot of practice,” he said.
Amber smiled. She hadn’t known that he was such a good dancer. She had always thought men were better than women at everything.
“Let’s do it again,” he said.
They danced for hours. She found herself thinking about their relationship. She wasn’t sure what she wanted. She liked being with Chase. She liked the way he treated her.
But she also wanted to return to Kansas City. She was so confused. She didn’t know what to do.
***
When they returned to the hotel, Amber went to her room. She was exhausted. She was still in her dancing clothes.
She undressed and changed into her nightgown. She crawled under the covers and tried to go to sleep.
Her mind was racing. She couldn’t seem to calm down. She kept replaying the events of the ball.
What did she want? She wasn’t sure. She wanted to be with Chase. But she also wanted to return home.
Amber sighed. She was so tired. She closed her eyes. She tried to relax. She knew that she would have to make a decision soon.
“I hope I’m making the right choice,” she whispered.
***
The next morning Amber woke up early. She had never been so excited about anything in her life. Today was the day she would return to Kansas City.
She dressed and went downstairs. The dining room was filled with people. Chase was there waiting for her.
“Good morning,” he said. “Have you eaten breakfast yet?”
“Yes,” Amber said. “I was just on my way up.”
Chase led her to a table. They ate their meals together. She was so happy to be with him.
They talked about the ball. They discussed the band. She told him how much she enjoyed their music.
“We’ll have to come back again,” he said. “Next time we’ll bring some friends.”
Amber nodded. She looked at his handsome face. It seemed that every time she saw him, he grew more handsome.
“What are you thinking about?” Chase asked.
“I was just wondering if I’m doing the right thing,” Amber said.
“Are you sure you want to return home?” Chase asked. “You’ve had a wonderful time here in Texas.”
“I can’t help but think about Kansas City,” Amber said. “I don’t know what I’m going to do.”
“Do you want to stay with me?” Chase asked.
“Yes,” Amber said. “But I’m not sure if I’m making the right choice.”
“If you’re sure, then it’s the right choice,” Chase said. “Don’t worry about anything else. Just focus on having fun.”
Amber smiled. She was so happy. He was such a good man.
“What are you thinking about?” Chase asked.
“I was just thinking how much I like being with you,” Amber said.
“And how much you love me?” Chase teased.
“Yes,” Amber said. “I’m not sure how you feel about me. You haven’t said anything about us. Are you sure you want to be with me?”
“I’m sure,” he said. “I’ve never felt this way before. I don’t know why I didn’t see it sooner.”
“It’s too bad we can’t be together forever,” Amber said.
“We’ll have to find a way to make that happen,” Chase said. “I’ve got a lot of money now. Maybe I can buy a ranch.”
“I’d love to live on a ranch,” Amber said.
“I’ll buy you a horse,” Chase said. “Then we can ride all day and night.”
Amber laughed. She loved the sound of his laughter. It seemed to echo from the depths of her soul.
“I know just the place,” Chase said. “Come with me.”
They left the hotel. They walked for miles. They went through a tunnel under the railroad tracks. Then they came out into a beautiful park.
“This is a very nice park,” Amber said.
“It’s one of my favorite places in town,” Chase said. “Let’s go down to the lake.”
They strolled along the path around the lake. They sat on a bench and watched the water lapping at the shore.
“You’re so handsome,” Amber said. “I wish I could stay here with you forever.”
“Me too,” Chase said. “But we’ll have to come back again soon.”
***
“What are you thinking about?” Chase asked.
“I was just wondering how much time I have,” Amber said. “I know that I’m supposed to return home but I don’t know if I will.”
“What do you mean?” Chase asked.
“I’ve been offered a job,” Amber said. “I was going to accept it when I returned home.”
“What kind of job?” Chase asked.
“I’ll be a seamstress,” Amber said. “There’s a shop in Kansas City that needs help. They pay well.”
“You were always good at sewing,” Chase said. “That’s wonderful news. But why are you still thinking about coming back?”
“I feel like I need to,” Amber said. “I’ve grown so fond of Texas. And I hate to leave my friends behind.”
“It’s not your fault,” Chase said. “I guess we’ll have to find a way to make sure you can stay with me.”
“We’ll have to find some way,” Amber said. “If we’re ever going to be together, then we’ll have to do something about it.”
“What did you do today?” Chase asked.
“I went shopping,” Amber said. “I bought some things for the ball.”
“I want to see what you bought,” Chase said.
“I’ll show you after dinner,” she said.
Chase looked at her. He didn’t know what to say. She was so beautiful. The more time he spent with her, the more he liked her. He wished she were his wife.
“Are you ready to eat?” Amber asked.
“Yes,” Chase said.
They walked to the hotel. They ate in the dining room. The food was delicious. It seemed that every day they had a new feast.
“I’m so glad you’re here,” Chase said.
“Me too,” Amber said. “I can’t imagine my life without you.”
“And I can’t imagine my life without you,” Chase said. “Let’s go up to our room.”
“I hope I’ve done everything right,” Amber said.
“You have,” Chase said. “I love you and I want to be with you forever.”
Amber smiled. She couldn’t wait for tonight. It would be their first night together as husband and wife.
The End