I let out a airy, annoyed sigh.

''Dammit Roseanna do yall have to be so rough?" I snapped, my brow twitching.

I was awarded with a playful smack on the shoulder from my older sister. She was currently attempting to make me into a ''proper country woman'' for the night. Our family was invited by a good family friend of ours to attend some hoedown or party or somethin to that affect.

''I promised mama that I'd get you into a dress if it meant wrestlin' ya to the ground. And I wouldn't have to be so rough if you would just hold still, now stop fidgeting, ya here?'' she retorted in her motherly voice.

I rolled my eyes and bit back another snap at my sister, letting her lace up my dress. 'I wonder if the Hatfields were invited,' I mentally wondered. It had been several weeks since I had last encountered William, or as he now called himself, Cap. I closed my eyes, thinking of anything else so that my mind would not drift to him. I tried thinking of something, anything. But the moment I closed my eyes, he was there. Him standing face to face with me, grinning like an idiot and countering all my clever and quick remarks. I quickly reopened my eyes, the heat rising throughout my body. 'God help me,' I mentally sighed.

''Done!'' Roseanna grinned, obviously pleased with dressing me up like a doll.

I trudged myself to the mirror in the room we shared. I gasped. I was obviously not a girl who liked wearing dresses and gettin all fancy to try and impress people. But Roseanna had managed to accomplish the impossible. I looked up and down at my reflection, the white dress shocking me. It was absolutely beautiful. Unlike the large, poofy dresses that resembled pastries, the dress fit my body perfectly. It was flowing, but enough to show off my womanly body. It ended to my ankles, a slit on the side of my leg to show some skin. It was long-sleeved but the sleeves were see-through, clinging to my arm with little flower and vine designs going up my arm. I was a modest woman, for the most part, but even I had to acknowledge I looked the best I've ever had. I let my wavy hair fall over one shoulder, my smile beaming. I turned to Roseanna.

''I don't hate it,'' I grinned playfully, she laughed with me, holding my hands.

''You look amazing, every boy won't be able to keep his eyes off you.''

''Why a white dress?''

''Mama said it was for your suitors to know that you're pure.''

My face heated at the reason. I didn't want a man in my life at the moment. I had plans in life, places to go and things to see. I didn't want to follow in the steps of every woman here. The idea of getting hitched and popping out babies wasn't my aspiration in life. Despite what daddy always told me, I knew I was different and better than a life of being the submissive housewife. I wanted passion and love, not traditional marriage shit. I opened my mouth to talk to Roseanna about it but was interrupted when I heard Mama call us down to get loaded into the wagon. I sighed but smiled up at my sister who took my hand, eager to show off her work to our parents. We exited our room and walked to exit the house. Roseanna stepped out into the refreshing summer air first, me hesitantly following her lead. It was Calvin who saw me first. His eyes lit up and he had the biggest smile in the world.

''Now what did you do with my sister?'' he grinned.

The rest of the family turned around, eyes wide with shock. Mama of course was the one to overreact. Her eyes watered with motherly pride, stepping away from the wagon and approaching me with wide arms.

''Oh Paige, you are a sight,'' she said softly, making me smile at my mother.

''Mama,'' I blushed modestly.

Papa looked at me in a sad, unsure way. It was the look of a father who realized he was losing his little girl and gaining a woman. I saw him and met his sad gaze, a sympathetic smile gracing my lips. I stepped away from my mother and hugged him.

''Come on Daddy, we have ta get goin so you can save me a dance,'' I smiled, hoping to cheer him up.

When he laughed I knew it had worked. He returned the hug, embracing me in his arms. My father and I didn't have too many moments like this. He was loud, foolish, a heavy drinker, and a stubborn man. However, nothing could change the fact that he was my dad. He gave me life, he provided the best home he could for me. Even though I didn't necessarily like my father all the time, I would always love him. Always.

The hoedown was held in the barn of our family friend. Although it was so nicely decorated I hardly noticed it was in fact a barn. Lights hung from the rafters and hay lofts, tables set up with chairs for those who didn't feel like dancing, music filling the room. It was perfect. Roseanna immediately teased me, warning me of how every man in the room looked at me. I nudged her with my elbow and dragged her to the dance floor. The sound of fiddles radiated throughout the room. My sister and I laughed like complete fools as we spun around and clapped and moved to the music. I squeaked with joy when Calvin grabbed my hand and spun me around, twirling me around the room. Tears of happiness filled the corners of my eyes as I laughed so hard. I didn't notice the smirks and grins of the men watching or the glares from envious women, I was in my own world. The lights contorted in a blur as I spun around. Suddenly I felt my back bump into something hard.

''My goodness, I am so sorry-,'' I stopped when I looked up to see Johnse Hatfield.

He offered a charming smile, holding me gently by my arms.

''No harm done, Miss McCoy,'' he smiled.

I smiled back at him slightly, despite the awkwardness I felt. Johnse was a well-known womanizer and I saw right through his pretty-boy face.

''May I have a dance with the prettiest lady here?'' he said kindly.

'Bullshit,' I wanted to say. But, for a reason even unknown to me, I allowed Johnse to hold me by the hands and twirl me away further into the dance floor. I constantly looked over our shoulders, making sure my family was nowhere in sight. Thankfully they were either drinking, socializing, or too drunk to notice me. Except Roseanna, she was in the arms a young boy I didn't know.

''Somethin on your mind?'' Johnse asked, dancing gracefully and never missing a beat.

''Just makin sure my Pa don't see us dancin is all,'' I honestly replied, the ghost of a smirk on my face. Johnse returned the small smile.

''You sure you ain't lookin for someone else?" he asked playfully.

My eyes widened and I looked up at him. Did he mean Cap? I hadn't seen the infuriating man all night long. Did that mean he was here? Either way, the thought of him made me dizzy. I mentally cheered when the song ended. Politely excusing myself from the blonde-haired Casanova I exited the barnyard quickly, making sure I went unseen by the guests. I sighed, moving around the corner of the barn to sit on a stack of hay. I glanced upwards, lights stringed above, giving off a dimmed but beautiful source of light. Fireflies could be seen a few yards away, the music from inside muffled but could be clearly heard.

''My brother that bad a dancer?'' a voice made me jump.

I whirled around, my eyes making contact with the son of the devil himself. Cap smirked at me, dressed in a handsome navy blue dress shirt and brown trousers. I had to pry my eyes away from him, praying that he didn't notice my blush.

''The worst, I imagine he's better than you though,'' I smirked at him, Cap leaning on the high stack of hay next to the one I was sitting on. He grinned slightly at me.

''Having one eye doesn't make me any less of a dancer,'' he said softly but with a hint of playfulness in his strong voice. My smirk evaporated immediately.

''I didn't mean it like that,'' I quickly said, softly.

''I know what you meant McCoy,'' he smiled down at me.

His eyes looked me over and I felt my heart skip a beat.

''You sure are the sight in there, everyone can't take their eyes off you,'' he said, making my blush darken several shades.

''Jealous?'' I smiled jokingly.

''And if I was?'' he asked seriously.

I froze, my body going still. Did he seriously just say that? I opened my mouth to say something to him but was pleasantly interrupted. A nice, sweet sounding slow song was now playing from inside the barnyard. A brief, awkward silence fell upon us, my gaze now on the floor to avert his piercing gaze. My mouth fell at what he said next.

''Dance with me.''

It wasn't a question. He didn't ask like any other shy young idiot would have in there. He said it, like a command. And so help me God if it didn't send my heart in a frenzy. His hands took mine as he helped me stand, readjusting himself so that they rested on my waist and so that my arms wrapped around his neck. I gazed shyly at the ground, never being so close to a man before. It was such an intimate thing, to be so close to someone else and look them in the eyes. Cap's surprisingly soft hand nudged my chin upwards gently, making me meet his stare. He offered a reassuring smile, letting me know it was alright to feel this nervousness. I felt myself smile back at him

I finally asked you to dance

On the last slow song

Underneath that moon that was really a disco ball

I can still feel my head on your shoulder

And hoping that song would never be over

''I'm fairly shocked, you aren't half bad at this Cap,'' I smiled at him.

''Cap? Since when have you ever called me something other than a word that would have my grammy blushing in her grave?'' he grinned at me.

''Since I realized you may be the only man who can dance perfectly with me,'' I returned, making his grin widen.

He tucked a stray strand of hair behind my ear and his lips were only a few inches from mine. It frightened me. It frightened me how this man could make my heart beat a thousand times a minute. How he gave me a swarm of butterflies in my stomach with a simple smile.

I can still feel you lean in to kiss me

I can't help but wonder

If you ever miss me

''Cap,'' I began but found that I could say nothing else. However, that was all he needed to hear.

His lips slowly met mine in a soft, shy kiss. His mustache tickled me in the most pleasant way. My hold around him tightened as well as his hold on me. It was the first time I felt something so beautiful and amazing, and I was shocked that all my fear and nervousness vanished as soon as his lips meant mine. What felt like an eternity was only a few seconds. After a second more, we parted.

''That was my first kiss,'' I whispered, not knowing what else I could say.

He smiled softly down at me.

''If we're being completely honest here, it was mine too.''

I beamed up at him, happiness filling my body. He grinned down at me, our bodies stepping away from each other as the song ended.

''You're going to be the death of me Cap Hatfield.''

For me you'll always be 18

And beautiful

And dancin away with my heart