THE CHRISTMAS BALL

Enjoy this excerpt from "Natches Above The River"

We are determined to have a wonderful Christmas. Vicki decided to have a Christmas Ball on December the twenty second at Popular Bluff. Vicki and I were busy making arrangements for the ball.

Vicki and Ted’s ballroom was perfect for a Christmas Ball. The drapes were green velvet. All the tables were adorned in red lacey cloths over white ones. The flowers were white with the Christmas red and green velvet ribbon.

All of Natchez and her homes were gaily decorated. There were none that were more impressive than Popular Bluff’s. Tonight Vicki’s drive was lit with Christmas lanterns. Papa and I arrived early. There was another carriage in the drive and it was not Mama Charlie’s. Inside we found that Uncle Jake had just arrived.

I gave him a big hug and said, “We decided that you were not going to make it.”

“We just docked a half an hour ago. I wanted to be sure to be here before the crowd. Vicki says I am worst than a woman making a grand entrance.”

“You always had an interesting entrance. I remember once that you entered in your hunting clothes. You swore that you had chased a wily fox all over the county. Vicki swears there wasn’t a bead of sweat on your brow. She also said the fox probably had long blond hair.”

“Vicki, Darling, surely you didn’t doubt me. That sounds more like Charlene. Vicki, I am wounded, totally wounded."

“What sounds more like me?” Mama Charlie says from the doorway.

“Charlene, don’t you have a hug and kiss for your brother?”

“No, not at the moment. Why didn’t you get here this morning and have lunch with me?”

Jake looked at his watch and said, “I have only been here for forty-five minutes. That wasn’t enough time for you to have lunch with your favorite brother.”

“I am well aware when you arrived.”

“Oh, were you that eager to see me that you sent a spy to the docks?” Jake asked.

“No, indeed. It was an accident that I knew.”

“Charlene that is interesting.”

“Jake, I am glad that everyone has made you so welcome. Would you like to stay at Grand Oaks tonight?” Papa asked.

“No, he wouldn’t. I have his room all prepared,” Mama Charlie said.

“Mother, I have some things I would like to discuss with Jake. You can have him for the rest of his stay.”

“I don’t want Tess playing poker,” she said.

Lu laughed and said, “Mother, you don’t want anyone playing poker without you. Tess is old enough to play if she likes. I think it was you that taught her or was it Jake?"

“It is a shame that I have lived so long to see my son being so disrespectful.”

“Ted I believe I hear voices in the foyer. Perhaps we can form some kind of receiving line,” Vicki said.

The butler announced each person at the door of the ballroom. Most of the guests stood talking while waiting for the first dance. The butler in a distinctive voice said, “May I present Miss Louise Marie Shaw of Charleston? There was silence in the ballroom. All eyes were on the vision of loveliness that walked through the door. She was tall, slender and carried herself like Vickie. There was no mistaking her face. It was a duplicate of Jake’s.

She was wearing a soft green gown that highlighted her emerald eyes. Her golden hair was piled on her head and a few curls fell down the back of her head. You could hear whispers asking who she was. I heard Mama Charlie’s intake of breath. Vicki was stunned.

Jake nudged Vickie and said, “It is time you and Ted start the dance. I will dance this first dance with this Louise.”

Vicki was in control again. To the wonderful music of the string quartet Vicki and Ted started the first dance. Vicki was so graceful that even Ted with his limp looked great on the dance floor. Jake started toward Louise but Papa was there first. He turned Louise around the dance floor. My partner and I had just started our first dance. Jake tapped him on his shoulder and said, “Please excuse me but I have just steamed down the great Mississippi to have this first dance with this lovely southern belle.”

“Well Jake, you are improving. You didn’t call him a peacock.”

“Oh, dear me! I certainly meant to do it.”

“Jake, you are bad to the bone. Who is Louise?”

“Tess, I am so glad that you are not being followed around by another peacock.”

I shook my head and asked again, “Who is Louise? You and Papa nearly broke your necks trying to get to her first.”

“I do not know who Louise is. However, it is very obvious that
she is a member of this family. I would say she is older than you
by three years. That would make me only twelve years old. She is
not mine.”