Re: Say the Words - ch.34 -- The Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman Fan Exchange

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Date Posted: 07:34:35 03/26/03 Wed
Author: dqfan
Subject: Re: Say the Words - ch.34
In reply to: dqfan 's message, "Re: Say the Words - ch.33" on 07:31:09 03/26/03 Wed

CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR

"Have I told you how beautiful you look tonight?" Provocatively, Peter whispered in Sophie's ear, his fingertips brushing her bare shoulder for just an instant as he reached around to place a glass of punch before her on the table.

"Why, thank you�" Sophie watched with a smile as Peter hung his jacket over the chair beside her and sat down next to her.

From their secluded corner of the room, Peter and Sophie had an excellent view of the festivities. Dinner was a huge success and Frank had blown out all the candles on his Chocolate Ecstasy birthday cake in one single huff. Everyone seemed to be having a good, if, perhaps, somewhat subdued, time.

Now, the Cliffhangers were back in the kitchen, engaged in a task they knew all too well - washing the dinner dishes�

"So, how's it going out there?" Shelby asked, approaching Daisy with a wet dishrag in her hand.

"Hard to tell�" Daisy mumbled, peering through the small circular window in the kitchen door. "They're just sitting around�"

Overhearing Daisy's worries, Alexander interjected quickly, "Well, I can take care of that�"

Confident that the Cliffhangers had matters well in hand in the kitchen, Alexander searched for a particular song he'd seen on Ezra's Sinatra CD.

With a twinkle in his eye, Alexander strode determinedly out into the dining room and grasped an unsuspecting Charity by the hand just as Old Blue Eyes began singing, "Come dance with me - romance with me�on a crowded floor."

Charity giggled like a schoolgirl as Alexander swung her into his arms. "What brought this on?" she marveled, holding tightly to his shoulders.

"Kids thought the party needed a little spark," Alexander laughed, twirling Charity about. "Whatd'ya say we give Peter and Sophie some ideas�?"

"I'd be delighted�" Charity smiled as others began to follow them onto the dance floor. "I can't thank you enough for all your help tonight, Alex."

"All I did was watch the kids," Alexander shrugged off his contributions. "Your cake was delicious�"

"Oh, it was Annie's foolproof recipe that made it a success," Charity admitted honestly. "I'm afraid the most I ever cook is chili�"

Charity's dark secret brought a wide grin to Alexander's face. "Me, too�" he revealed to Charity's surprise as, together, they shared a hearty laugh over their mutual lack of culinary expertise.

"So, do you see them?" Ezra asked Daisy, who was maintaining her post as lookout.

"Peter's aunt and Sophie's dad?" Daisy questioned. "Of course, I do�"

"No, not them�" Ezra exhaled, fearing Daisy was losing focus. "The old couple from Oakhaven�"

"Oh them�" Daisy nodded intently, piquing Ezra's anticipation as she stared long and hard.

"No�" her answer was succinct and to the point.

Ezra's face fell dejectedly. "They'd be here by now if they were coming," he remarked sadly as Daisy reluctantly agreed.

Just then, the front door blew open suddenly with an unexpected gust.

"Wind must be picking up�" Curtis mumbled as he moved quickly to shut it.

Unphased by the momentary interruption, the party continued cheerfully, while, quite invisibly, two last-minute guests moved toward the back of the room.

"Sully, we're late�" Michaela feared, smoothing the folds of her floor-length light blue dress.

"Not my fault you couldn't decide what t'wear�" Sully mumbled, fiddling awkwardly with the vest on his black suit.

"It's been so long since we've been to a party," Michaela bubbled with excitement.

"But, perhaps I overdressed," she fretted, seeing everyone in far more casual attire.

"Michaela," Sully commented with an indulgent sigh. "Nobody can see ya but me. And t'me you look just as beautiful as the last time ya wore it."

"The Sweetheart's Dance�" he recalled romantically, fingering the lace at Michaela's collar.

"You remembered�" Michaela blushed and melted at her husband's touch.

"How could I forget?" Sully's eyes sparkled as they both relived the first kiss of their courtship.

"Folks seem t'be havin' a good time," Sully observed the room with interest.

"'Specially, Charity�" he noted with a grin as she spun gracefully under Alexander's outstretched arm.

"My, yes, she does seem to be enjoying herself�" Michaela chuckled, wishing Hank were here to see his granddaughter in action.

"Oh, Sully, look�Peter and Sophie�" Michaela pointed out.

Quickly, she and Sully turned their attention to the reason for their visit.

"Cake's good�" Sophie commented innocently as she took a mouthful of the Chocolate Ecstasy from her fork.

"Ummhmmm," Peter agreed, locking his eyes with hers as he swallowed his bite.

"But it's even better without the fork�" he added seductively, stirring a delightful past memory for them both, along with a definite flash of intense electricity.

"Wanna dance?" he asked her, lightening the tension.

"Oh, no�Peter�my ankle�" Sophie objected, still feeling conspicuous as she anxiously awaited the removal of her walking cast in one more week.

"You'll be fine," Peter shook his head, ignoring her excuses as he lead her onto the dance floor.

As if to reassure her, the next Sinatra track coincidentally began to play, "Let's take it nice and easy�it's gonna be so easy�for us to fall in love�"

"See�" Peter smiled, pulling her gently into his warm arms.

"How did you do that?" Sophie wondered admiringly.

"I have my ways�" Peter teased as they listened to the music continue�

We're on the road to romance - that's safe to say.
But let's make all the stops along the way.

The problem now, of course, is, to simply hold your horses.
To rush would be a crime.

Cause nice and easy does it every time�

And, as Peter took it nice and easy, Sophie relaxed further into his embrace, wrapping her arms tightly around the base of his neck as they swayed rhythmically to the music.

"Sully, these lyrics are rather inappropriate�" Michaela frowned, glancing at the CD case. "And the way they're dancing�" Michaela was positively aghast.

"Looks like a lot more fun than one-two-three, one-two-three," Sully chuckled; and, copying his grandson's movements, he pulled Michaela tightly to his chest.

Michaela's objections virtually evaporated as Sully kissed her deeply and whispered with a boyish smile, "Think I might like dancin' after all�"

Blissfully, Michaela and Sully danced, pausing now and then to observe Peter and Sophie, in similar pursuits.

Although Sophie seemed comfortable enough in his arms, Peter could tell there was something on her mind - something she'd been waiting to ask him all night�.

"Mountain Man," Sophie purred a little too sweetly as he rocked her back and forth to the music, "About these 'ways' of yours�"

"Yes?" Peter whispered expectantly.

"Can I ask you something?" Sophie's enticing question pleasantly surprised him.

"Anything�" he sighed delightedly.

"It's just�I mean�I'm really happy to have them back�but how�?" Sophie hated to ask but her investigation was stymied and her willpower shattered.

"Peter, they keep turning up everywhere�" The mystery of her reappearing goddesses had finally gotten the best of Sophie.

Peter grinned from ear to ear, realizing his little plan was working like a charm� "It's driving you crazy, isn't it?"

Unfortunately, Peter was so thrilled by his presumed victory that he failed to remember his jacket, which he'd draped over the back of his chair.

The ribboned package was barely visible except to the sharp eyes of one diligent little girl.

"Somebody's up past her bedtime�" Sully hinted to Michaela, pointing out Gracie, crouched behind the counter, spying on the festivities as she waited for her chance to whisk Peter's latest present to a new hiding place.

Before Michaela could comment, Sully placed a single finger over her lips and watched with fascination as Gracie managed to cloak herself behind Peter's jacket undetected.

"She moves like the Cheyenne," Sully complimented in awe.

Slowly, stealthily, Gracie's tiny little hand crept around the jacket's lapel and into Peter's pocket. Gently, she slid the package upwards, without making even one sound.

But out of the corner of Sophie's eye, a split-second flash of red ribbon managed to catch her attention�

"What was that?" Sophie asked suspiciously as Gracie knelt frozen, but still unseen, behind Peter's jacket - the precious package now clutched in her hand.

"Oh, she's in trouble now�" Sully shook his head, wishing he could help Gracie somehow.

"She reminds me of Katie�" Michaela smiled, remembering the mischief her little girl was so fond of.

"What was what?" Peter asked innocently, trying to twirl Sophie around in the opposite direction.

Deviously, Sophie raised her voice, loudly enough for Gracie to overhear, "What was that I saw�over by the jukebox�?"

Sophie's misdirection worked like a charm. Thinking she had a chance to escape, Gracie darted from behind the jacket only to run smack into Sophie's waiting arms.

Peter and Sully winced simultaneously while, as a mother, Michaela had to admire Sophie's very clever ruse.

"What'cha got there, Sweetie?" Sophie asked as she tugged Peter's package gently from Gracie's grasp.

"It's okay, Gracie," Peter smiled encouragingly. Then, afraid his trusty accomplice was about to cry, Peter knelt quickly to place his comforting arms around her.

"Really?" Gracie's lower lip quivered, disappointed by her capture.

"Not in trouble?" She looked to Sophie for additional reassurance.

"Of course not!" Sophie winked, giving Gracie a kiss on her forehead, while simultaneously muttering to Peter, "You should be ashamed of yourself�"

"You play the best game of hide and seek in the world�" Sophie complimented proudly.

"I do?" Gracie's bright smile was back on her face once more.

"Yup�" Sophie nodded without question. "And to prove it, I'm gonna give you a piece of chocolate cake to take back to bed with you."

Playfully, Sophie poked Gracie in her stomach. "You can hide it in your tummy�" she teased her.

Happily, Gracie accepted her prize and headed off to bed, leaving Peter to face Sophie's exasperated disapproval.

The evening's romantic glow appeared to be fading fast�

"Oh, dear�" Michaela saw the look on Sophie's face.

"Oh, no�" So did Ezra and Daisy.

With her back turned away from Peter and Sophie, Charity felt Alexander's embrace stiffen and questioned him with her eyes.

He panicked as only a pilot could.

"Mayday�"

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Replies:

Re: Say the Words - ch.35 -- dqfan, 07:37:50 03/26/03 Wed
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