It was the better part of an hour before Sassy and the others came back and Alistair was waiting for them at the edge of the park. Just as he predicted, the first thing she wanted was the rest of her lunch. "The sheriff arrested Charlotte."
"For ruining my clothes?"
"Nay," Alistair answered, "for neglecting to pay for the pie before she took it."
Sassy grinned. "Good."
"Come, Sarah has your lunch and she saved a place for us on the grass." He offered his arm and was pleased when she took it, just as gracefully as any fine lady would. And why not, she was dressed in Mrs. Goodwin's expensive white shirtwaist, with pearls sewn into the lace, a dark blue skirt and a pair of practically new shoes.
As Alistair carefully wove them between the wandering crowd, Sassy giggled and leaned closer. "Even the skin beneath this shirtwaist is blue."
Alistair pretended to be shocked, "My dear, a gentleman should never know these things."
"A gentleman does not know a lady has skin?"
"Good heavens no, not until his wedding night."
She rolled her eyes. "What a discovery that must be."
The prim and proper Alistair could not help but laugh.
*
At exactly half past six, two men began to scatter a fine layer of cornmeal on the smooth cement to make it easier for the dancers to make their turns. It was then the Mayor called for the musicians to take their places on the pavilion. "But first," he said, "to begin the evening activities, allow me to introduce the finest singers in Colorado Springs, The MacGreagor Quartet."
Never had they been so nervous, but Shepard, Prescot, Brookton and Egan walked to the front of the crowd and climbed the two steps up to the pavilion. Shepard asked for a middle "c" from the violinist and when they were ready, gave the signal to begin.
Hannish had not heard they were calling themselves the "MacGreagor Quartet," and it made him proud. He, along with everyone else, listened to the medley of songs "his" quartet sang, and when they ended with The Star Spangled Banner, everyone stood, even the elderly. He watched several men respectfully take off their hats and he took his off too. He missed Scotland, but it was an honor to be counted among the people of this new country. He felt a sense of pride in what they had accomplished -- after all, they beat the British -- something Scotland never managed to do.
*
As soon as the orchestra began to play a waltz, a couple of teenagers decided to demonstrate a few rag-tag steps and were, with the approval of the crowd, yanked off the dance floor by their parents.