Lean, Mean and Lonesome

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People would be arriving any minute, but for now it was just her parents and the hands making sure there were enough tables, chairs and picnic tables outside for people to have a place to sit and eat.

Mandy wandered away from the lights so that she could enjoy the luminous heavens. She loved living on the ranch away from the city lights. It gave her a sense of belonging to the land that she had never felt whenever she visited anywhere else.

From her sheltered position, Mandy spotted Dan and Rafe when they came out of the house. They looked so grown up in their Western-styled summer suits. She’d never seen Rafe dressed so formally. He’d chosen a light beige, which set off his bronzed skin tones. Rafe and Dan were opposites in coloring, opposites in personality, but were as close as brothers, closer, even, because they never really quarreled.

Dan had been the team quarterback for the past two years. Because of the extra time it took for him to practice and play, Rafe had covered for him here at the ranch, doing the work they’d both been assigned without complaint.

Rafe showed no interest in sports. He’d always been a loner and seemed to prefer his own company even when he was on the ranch. He probably wouldn’t have come to the party if her mother hadn’t insisted that the party was for both of them.

A couple of hours later Mandy found herself on the dance floor, having the time of her life. It must be the dress. All of Dan’s classmates seemed to suddenly discover her tonight and were giving her the rush.

She loved the attention. She hoped Rafe had noticed.

When she looked around for him, she saw him standing with her dad and some of his friends, listening to them talk. With newfound courage, Mandy walked up to him and in front of her dad and everyone else said, “When are you going to dance with me, Rafe?”

His ears reddened and one of the men chuckled, causing Rafe to stiffen slightly. “How about now?” he replied in a husky voice.

He held out his hand.

Mandy couldn’t believe it. He was actually going to dance with her. She almost laughed out loud, but that wouldn’t do. She smiled, the smile she’d been practicing in front of the mirror, and grasped his hand.

He felt warm, which wasn’t surprising. Even though it was after ten o’clock, it was probably still eighty degrees outside. He looked as if he’d like nothing more than to remove his Western string tie, unbutton his collar and toss aside his jacket.

That was the first thing she asked him when they started to dance to the slow, melodious music from the tape deck that had been set up for the party.

“Why don’t you get comfortable? It’s too hot for a jacket.”

He glanced around at the other males, young and old, dancing nearby. “I don’t know. I guess I thought I was supposed to wear it all evening.”

“Naw. Dan had his off fifteen minutes after the party started.”

He smiled. “You look cool enough, like cotton candy.”

“Yuck. That stuff is so sticky it gets all over you.”

“I was thinking about your bared shoulders. That dress makes you look years older.”

Ah, bless him. What a wonderful thing for her to hear. “Thank you.” She took a breath, then blurted out, “I think you look very handsome in your suit, Rafe. I’ve never seen you in one before.”