A Watch In Time – Chapter Four, Part 1

A WATCH IN TIME

A Full Length Short Story by Golden Keyes Parsons

Chapter Four  – Part 1

Click here to start with Chapter One

The music of Fred Phinney’s Iowa State Band filtered through the doors of the impressive Cotton Palace. David stepped from the carriage and cradled Lily Kate’s elbow in his hand as she exited. She gathered the top of her cloak around her chin against the chilly November air. “We’re late.”

“We couldn’t have missed much.”

They stepped into the foyer, and were greeted by a daunting artificial eagle made of red and yellow corn hanging from the ceiling. David took Lily Kate’s cloak and handed it to a nearby servant, but she clutched her reticule in her hand where she had stuffed the note from the baby’s mother. They hurried into the great hall. The frieze under the crown molding illustrating the chariot race from the popular Ben Hur novel, along with coats of arms representing every state in the Union, dominated the interior.

A diminutive woman with blonde hair, sprinkled with attractive streaks of gray, bustled up to them and gave David a peck on the cheek. “I’ve been on pins and needles. You almost missed the crowning.”

David, eyes wide, glanced back at his sister as the woman led him into the crowd. He stammered, “S … sorry. It … well, it couldn’t be helped.”

The woman stopped and turned back toward Lily. “Don’t just stand there with your mouth open, Lillian. Our seats are down in front.”

Lily gathered her voluminous skirt, and followed dutifully behind the confident woman pulling David along. She fingered the watch that she had thrown around her neck, and nodded to first one and then another as greetings came her way. “Good evening, Miss Lillian.”

“Wonderful celebration, isn’t it, Miss Lillian? You must be very proud.”

“Everything looks beautiful!”

She finally caught the name of David’s “escort,”who was obviously his wife. Someone called her “Garnet.”

Pretty—I like it. She’s pretty. Always knew David would pick an attractive wife. Lily put a gloved hand to her mouth and giggled. David—married.

A drum roll interrupted her thoughts as they made their way to their seats. A stately middle-aged man, dressed in a full suit layered over with an ermine cloak—completely made of cotton—led the processional of local townspeople dressed in costume onto the stage. An elegant young woman wearing a heavily jeweled gown and tiara joined him, and the crowning of the first King of Cotton and Queen Texas proceeded.

At the close of the ceremony, the band struck up an inspiring version of Dixie. The audience rose to their feet, stomped and clapped. Shouts of “Long Live the South!” roared from the crowd. Lily Kate looked around as the enthusiastic cheers reverberated through the hall, and shook her head. She retook her seat. The number ended, and the audience moved onto the dance floor eager for the Grand Ball to commence.

David left Garnet talking to a covey of women, and walked to Lily’s side. He leaned in and whispered to her. “This is quite a celebration. Who knew Waco was so progressive in its day? And I’m married?”

“Appears so. Actually, Waco was one of the largest cities in Texas in the 1890’s—even bigger than Dallas and San Antonio. Cotton really was king here. I suppose that’s why the city fathers decided to do a cotton state fair type of thing … ” Her voice trailed off as she surveyed the crowd.

“Thanks for the history lesson, sis, but what do we do now?”

“There’s nothing we can do except play along until we can get back to our own time.”

“And how do we manage that?”

“We need to return to the house. I think the album is the touch point between the time warps.”

Garnet swished to David’s side. “Aren’t you going to ask your wife to dance?” Her hazel eyes glistened as she flirted with her husband. “You’re still the best dancer in town.”

 

 

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Join us next Friday for part 2 of chapter 4.

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