No Place for a Lady by Maggie Brendan Page B

handiwork, she admitted that Kate looked years
younger. Crystal hurried to her room and brought back rouge
that she applied to Kate's cheeks, finishing with a sprinkling of
powder.
    "Rusty won't recognize me:" Kate stared at her reflection in the
mirror. Crystal leaned over and gave her aunt a hug, and they
giggled conspiratorially.
    "You'd better get changed, love," Kate said. "Our guests will be
arriving soon. I need to be there on the porch to greet them. Now
scat! And thanks for your help"
    Crystal spent more time on her toilette than she had intended.
There was a giddy feeling in the pit of her stomach. She wanted to
impress Kate's friends and wanted them to accept her. The sounds
of wagon wheels and loud greetings told her she'd wasted enough time. She took one last look in the mirror and wiped her moist
palms on the moss-colored gown.

    "Miss Crystal, Kate sent me in to get you. Everyone wants to meet
you." Carmen stood at the doorway dressed in a festive red Mexican
skirt trimmed in black ruffles with a matching top that hung off her
shoulders. "You look beautiful. I have never owned a dress as fine as
this:" She said in awe while fingering the luxurious material.
    "Bless you. Maybe you'd like to borrow it sometime?"
    "Oh, I couldn't do that"
    "Sure you could. I wouldn't mind at all. The color would be
perfect with your dark complexion, although I love what you are
wearing;' Crystal said.
    Carmen's eyes shone in admiration for her new friend. Crystal
hooked her arm through Carmen's elbow and said, "Shall we go?"

    It was now dusk, and the lamps had been lit in the barn, casting a soft glow and transforming its surrounding lofts and stalls
into a wide dance hall. Carmen's culinary delights lined the tables
alongside Crystal's pies. A huge bowl of strawberry punch threatened to spill over.
    Several people had already helped themselves to the punch and
now stood about talking. Curly and Jube were the first in line to
eat, as usual. They talked in soft tones about the available young
women who stood in a close-knit group and pretended to ignore
the men's bashful glances.
    Kurt stood talking with Rusty, whose arm was around Kate's
waist. Rusty listened, but he was busy watching Kate. "There's Jim
and Alice;" he interrupted.

    Jim McBride escorted Alice to their side, followed by his son,
Josh, and daughter, April. "My, you're looking prettier than ever,
Kate;' McBride said.
    Kate greeted them with enthusiasm. `And both of you are looking fit as fiddles:'
    "Evening, Rusty." McBride stretched out his hand. It was obvious that Rusty had no kinship with McBride, but he stuck his
hand out to him. McBride was one of the biggest cattle barons
and was still trying to add more to his vast empire.
    McBride let his hand fall to his waistcoat. Alice turned to admire Kate's hair and inquire of Crystal. Alice was tall like her
daughter, with the same fine, delicate features. April politely excused herself from the group of adults and headed in the direction
of her friends.
    "I wonder what's keeping Crystal," Kate said to no one in particular.
    Kurt waved his hand in the direction of the barn's entrance.
"There she is, he said, starting toward Crystal and Carmen.
    Crystal paused at the doorway. She was unaware of the admiring looks from the cowhands and the envious looks of the women.
She was a picture of loveliness in the moss-colored gown, with her
beautiful hair piled high and trailing curls touching her slender
white shoulders.
    As Crystal looked around for her aunt, the size of the party
surprised her. The cowboys were cleaned up in their best pants and
shirts, with boots shining. A place near the back had been cleared,
and Rusty, along with a couple of older men she didn't recognize,
proceeded to set up their instruments for the evening's music. Rusty
picked up a fiddle and plunked out a fast-paced tune, while the others joined in with a guitar, harmonica, and a washboard. This
was a side to