Ol
No one had been outside for about an hour , and in that short period of time over an inch had accumu lated on the ground . M . L . shouted , " Hey , everybody ! It ’ s snowing outside !” and everyone jumped up and went to the windows . Big flakes were swirling around in a stiff wind and in the glare of reflected Christmastree lights it was a beautiful sight .
Helen had been busy almost all evening and really hadn ’ t seen much of Lonny . Since M . L . had arrived , however , she decided to leave the kitchen up to him and , taking off her apron , she went out into the den . Little groups were gathered in various places around the house , and as she looked over her guests she realized that she really didn ’ t know many of the women who were there . Lonny was listening to Roger Milton tell about the time he won a mare class on a gelding as Helen eased up next to him . Smiling at her , he put his arm around her waist and said , " You
QUESJT
Ol
a . uj e by Charles Barry Sanderson
Needless to say , Lonny and Helen were pleased with the way the party was going . They had never done much entertaining at home because they just didn ’ t have enough room , and Helen had always been a little bit unsure of herself in the role of hostess . This time , however , it was different . As she stood at the wide doorway looking into the new den she could not help her feeling of pride . Since the Festival they had managed to repaint their home and build on a beautiful new den complete with bar , built-in stereo , trophy case and pool table . It was a large room with rough oak beams and natural wood walls , with a big stone fireplace at the end .
The atmosphere at the party was unusual , as every one appeared to be in a rather quiet mood . They were obviously having a good time but , in contrast to Christmas parties of former years , no one was getting drunk and rowdy . Counting those in attendance , Helen noted that , out of the forty-two people they had in vited , over thirty were there . That was good , consid ering that some people had to travel quite a long way to get there .
Christmas music was gently rising above the din of conversation and the smell of burning logs in the fire place added an extra touch to the affair . The evening was just getting started and Helen was getting wor ried about Martin Luther , their groom . He had prom ised to come early and help her with the chores of serving in the kitchen .
She had returned to the kitchen for another platter of hors d ’ oeuvres when she heard feet stomping on the back stoop . As she opened the door , M . L . came bounding in to get out of the cold . " Man , it ’ s getting colder out there and the snow is beginning to fly !” Helen was astonished . " Snow ? ... Is it snowing ?” she asked as she parted the curtains in the kitchen . fellows all know my bride , I guess .” They made smai talk for a while and Lonny said , " Come over here am I ’ ll introduce you to some of the other gals .” Ap proaching a chattering group gathered next to the fire , he said , " You girls know Helen , don ’ t you ?” After a brief introduction he walked over to another group , leaving Helen with her guests .
Small talk dominated the conversation of the little group that Helen was in , but she felt a tone of resent ment from a couple of the wives of other trainers . A particularly flashy and loud redhead eased the con versation around to the Festival Horse Show , and said , " You folks appear to have made some real mon ey lately , darling . Did little Lonny make it all at one horse show ?” As they all laughed , one of the women said , " Don ’ t let them get you down . . . they ’ re sore because their husbands didn ’ t win it .” Helen smiled and said , " We were just fortunate . . . I . . The redhead spoke up again and said , " Well , sugar , with a group like Four Square Enterprises behind you , I guess you were fortunate .” They all laughed again as Helen got up . She smiled and started to leave . Looking at the redheaded woman , she said , " I do
appreciate your interest . By the way , dearie , isn ’ t it a little bit warm in here to be wearing squirrel ?” The redhead stood up and , spreading her fur coat , said , " This , my dear , is mink !” Helen smiled as she walked away .
Helen had always been somewhat conservative in her dress and felt a bit out of place even in her Sun day best at her own party . She looked around the room and noticed that a lot of the women were wear ing the latest fashions , including miniskirts and kneehigh boots . It looked good on some of the younger girls , but the shortest skirts always seemed to be on the older women on the plump side . Don Hill ’ s wife ,
22 Voice of the Tennessee Walking Horse