Chapter 19 #2
The Heart Falls Cowboy Christmas Party was a success so far, at least as far as Jinx could tell. The food had been amazing. People had taken turns on the stage to play soft music during dinner, a quiet background to the chatting and merriment.
And now that the food was cleared away, the tables were being pulled to the sides of the room and the dance area prepped.
The low buzz of a microphone sounded a split second before an instantly recognizable voice sounded.
“Hello again, Heart Falls.” Malachi Fields stepped to the front of the stage, microphone in hand.
The silver at his temples had spread even farther over the last year, but his tall frame still stood straight.
His deep tone held more than a hint of amusement.
“We went straight to the celebratory meal before. But now that we’re not worried about grumbly tummies or food getting cold, it’s time to take a moment to say a word or two of thanks for where we are. ”
Murmurs of assent carried across the room as people found seats.
“We won’t make this take too long. We thought about how best to recognize people for their work to get the hall built.
The long-term workers, like the committee who dealt with the paperwork and planning, or the groups who did fund raising.
The people who did extra work at home so their loved ones could volunteer to lay sod here for an afternoon.
Or the very important people who did no physical labour but spent this year updating social media, making sure we all knew what was going on so the excitement could build and build.
” Malachi looked out over the room, meeting gazes, moving on.
“All the way to the people who came and cleared walkways and washed floors and decorated for today.”
Quiet expectancy rose as he spoke. Jinx wiggled in her chair next to Sasha. She knew everyone at High Water had come out and helped at some point during the year. She and Sasha had been on the team who’d painted the playground equipment one fall weekend.
Malachi raised a hand in the air. “I could stand here and read out names and ask you to stand and be recognized—until everyone in the room would be on their feet.”
“Darn right,” someone shouted from the back.
Malachi laughed. “Yup, darn right. So we’re going to do something a little different. Everyone who’s able, on your feet. Everyone who needs to sit, raise a hand.”
The sound of chairs pushing across floorboards echoed around the room as people stood. Jinx ended up shoulder to shoulder with Sasha, both of them peering around the room with anticipation.
On the stage, Malachi nodded, pride clear on his face. “Heart Falls. You pulled together and made this happen. Let’s all lift our hands and give your neighbours and yourself a round of well-deserved applause.”
He hadn’t even tucked the microphone under his arm when the clapping began, the staccato sound moving over the crowd in a wave that built and built. Cheers went up with it, and the occasional woohoo echoed against the ceiling.
Malachi grinned at the audience, clapping, then gesturing, then clapping again.
He let it go on until it faded naturally. By then, Jinx’s palms stung, and her cheeks were sore from grinning so hard, but she felt amazingly alive and content to be right where she was.
“Well now, that was mighty fine,” Malachi offered when the crowd finally stopped clapping and slowly resumed their seats.
“To be clear, we do want to recognize all the individuals who helped with their expertise. But we’ll post the master list on social media and the town website.
Please take the time to look it over and then you can thank people the next time you see them. Maybe buy them a coffee.”
“Thanks, Dad.” The shouter was a very familiar voice. Jinx glanced around the room until she spotted Tansy grinning up at her dad.
He shook a finger at her. “A coffee anywhere, not only Buns and Roses. No nepotism here, young lady.”
Tansy bounced to her feet. “Nope, and to prove it, both Connie’s and Buns and Roses have an announcement to make. We’re hosting a joint Celebrate a Volunteer sale from now until the end of January. Coffee will be buy one, get one free when you visit either shop with a friend.”
“Go, Tansy.” The shout came from the back of the room again, and this time a dozen others echoed him.
Malachi stood on the stage, shaking his head slightly but smiling at his daughter. “One more bit of business before the dancing starts. Time to award the final prize for the Tacky Threads Throwdown.”
More cheering sounded as Tansy resumed her seat, then the room hushed, leaning forward even as people glanced at their neighbours and pointed fingers at potential winners.
Malachi pulled an envelope from his pocket, opened it, and removed a folded piece of paper. “The winner of the Tacky Threads Throwdown for December is…” he read the name and his face lit up. “Chance Gabrielle.”
A moment later, Chance was bounding up to the stage, tonight dressed in a very fine suit.
Sasha leaned in close and shared the details as Chance hit the stage and shook his father-in-law’s hand vigorously.
“Emma told me about this. He wore a different outfit for the entire week of the gallery’s December art show—the theme was Upper Crust Art.
He dressed like an old-fashioned English dandy, all ruffles and top hats and impossibly frilly neck scarves.
Every single class from the school went through the show—I think he set some kind of record for funds raised. ”
Chance raised a hand in the air then took the microphone from Malachi.
“To be sure, I’m beyond thrilled to have won.
Thank you to everyone who voted for me. But the honour is more than enough, so I’d like to donate this back to the Throwdown committee.
” He shook the winnings in the air. “They can put it toward whatever new endeavour they get up to in the new year. And much success to it.”
He gave back the mic, got a big hug from Malachi, and then the stage shifted into action mode as the band moved instruments into place and got ready to play.
“A short set up time,” Malachi announced. “Then enjoy the rest of your evening. Late supper at ten, music ends at one. I’ll be home in my bed by then, dreaming of future events here at the new Heart Falls Community Centre.”
A final cheer went up as Malachi waved then left the stage.
“I’ll grab us drinks,” Sasha offered. “Be right back.”
“Okay.” Jinx settled back in her chair, looking around contentedly.
She wasn’t surprised when she spotted Logan pretty much right off the bat. Of course her radar went straight to him.
He stood across the room, chatting with Declan and Sasha’s dad. He seemed so grown-up, listening earnestly to Mr. Stone. Nodding at Declan, then sharing himself, so confident and calm.
Even looking at him made butterflies take off in her belly, but more than the physical reaction, thinking of time spent with him made something inside feel…
Just feel.
They’d spent more and more time together over the past months. Done more physically, but the talking and being together had been just as important.