Dagny McKinley And A Time to Dance

“Wildflower Ballet” by David Taylor

And A Time to Dance By Dagny McKinley

1911 –Rifle, Colorado “Make sure you have a clean shot. There’s no need to make it suffer,” said Sam “Pop” Perry. Charlotte raised her gun, looking into the bear’s eyes, which were wide withfear. “See, Pop, she’s nothing but a sissy.” Charlotte’s older sister, Marjorie, stepped up and sighted the bear with her own gun. A shot rang out. The bear dropped to the ground. Shallow breaths replaced grunting. Resignation replaced fear. “That’s my girl,” said Charlotte’s father, clapping her on the back. Charlotte watched the pain fade from the bear’s eyes as the life went out of her. “I won’t do it again.” She looked to her father, tears running down her face. “That bear would kill you without a second thought.” “I won’t kill another animal.” “What’s the matter with you?” Sam Perry turned away from Charlotte to Marjorie. “Help me gut it.” They skinned and gutted the bear as the sun set behind the mountains. Charlotte’s friend Portia reached for her hand, squeezing it in sympathy as they tended to their horses. On the ride back to camp, Charlotte’s lagged behind the group, feeling like an outcast. Their guide, Blaze, wasted no time cooking the bear meat with potatoes and beans. “Help yourselves,” hesaid. As they did, he offered his version of a prayer. “For any food, we must be thankful. Thankful for those who brought us this meat and thankful for the bear who gave her life so that we might live.” “You done good, Charlotte,” said her brother, Bobby,trying to lighten the mood. Charlotte pushed her food around her plate Sensing her sister’s defeat and going in for her own kill, Marjorie cleared her throat. “You know, I saw the strangest thing when I went to fetch water yesterday.”

“Don’t,”warned Charlotte. “How exactly would you describe it, sis?” Charlotte jumped up, spilling her food. “You want me to say it? Is it so important to you that Pop hates me and loves only you?” “What are you two blathering about?” demanded Sam as he rubbed thetip of hismustache. “What Marjorie found so fascinating yesterday was me kissing Portia,” declared Charlotte. Portia didn’t dare look up. Bobby glanced at the two women. He couldn’t save his sister. “Shut your mouth,” roared Sam Hank slid away from thefire into the night. Sam rubbed his temples. “I love her.” Charlotte whispered staring into the fire. Sam looked his daughter over. “When we return home you will have one week to pack your belongings. I will not tolerate someone like you living under my roof. Charlotte’s cheeks burned with shame. “You are dismissed.” Portia followed Charlotte to an open meadow surrounded by aspens and filled with wildflowers, their brightness drained by the night. Hummingbirds darted from flower to flower, seeking nectar. “Remember at Smith College? We believed we could be anyone? Do anything? I want to feel that way always. You’re doing it, Portia, but me… What’s my future? Kicked out of my own home?” “What do you want your future to be? “I don’t know. I want to make a difference.” Portia pulled Charlotte down next to her linking her fingers through her friend’s. “You can.” “Do you really believe that?” asked Charlotte. “I believe in you.” “Why?” “Dance with me.” Portia stood and took off her clothes, the moonlight illuminating her skin. She danced to her own rhythm, without shame, unafraid. “You dance like a nymph, a fairy, a falling star.” “Dance with me.” Charlotte hesitated. She felt her father’s disgust deep inside. “Let go, Charlotte. Be who you want to be.” Charlotte stood, letting her arms rise above her, as she leapt, twirled, swayed and shivered. Her accompaniment was the wind, the yipping of coyotes in the distance. As she moved, the world fell away. Portia reached for her, covered her face with soft kisses. “Portia, I want to open a camp for girls in the mountains where they can dance and act and be whatever they want.” “If you can dream it, you can do it.” “We can do it. What do you say?” The moon slid below the horizon, stars faced above as morning spread over the meadow lighting aspen, columbine, mountain bluebells and sunflowers. A hummingbird hovered, watching Charlotte and Portia dance until they became one, until their bodiesglowed in the light of a new day as night’s shadows disappeared.