"So, how's it goin' out there, folks? Havin' a good time?"

Yells, whistles and applause filled the air.

Eve grinned out at the crowd. "Well, you better be, or all of you who knew Gran would know she'd haunt the lot of you who weren't havin' a good time!" More yells and whistles in agreement.

"I think she'd also like to know we're continuing the tradition of celebrating her birthday by showing some New Yorkers how it's done, don't you?" She motioned towards the crowd where her friends were gathered, beers in hand. They waved as the "yeahs!" and "hell, yeahs!" echoed from the crowd.

"Well, guys, what are you waiting for? Let the music begin!" Her favorite local band launched into a Creedance song as Eve took Bull's hand, and they launched into a two-step right in the middle of the crowd.

Quon Lee danced by with Marcus, barely keeping up. "Great party, Eve!"

"Thanks!" Eve called out.

After one dance, she went into the kitchen to check on Cindy. Christine was helping her get some of the last minute party food together, and laughing, they carried it outside to the already overflowing tables.

Dan caught her from behind. "Need to stop and enjoy your own party, Eviegirl," he kissed the back of her neck as he said it.

She swatted him away. "I will! We have all night. Trust me."

He took her by the hand and twirled her around. "I really like that dress. What if I want to get you alone for something else before this is over with?"

"You're acting like a newlywed or something," Eve said, blushing, hoping no one heard.

"Well, aren't we? It's only been what, six months?" He kissed the tip of her nose.

"Don't even pretend you don't remember!"

Harry and Mac worked their way through the crowd, beers in hand. "Eve, this is amazing! Are you sure the neighbors won't mind all the racket?"

Eve motioned around. "What neighbors? There's not another neighbor for a half mile."

Dan pointed to an old couple cutting a rug on the dance floor. "And, there they are."

"Cute," Mac nodded. "But, isn't half of what's going on out here breaking all sorts of laws? You know, public drunkenness and noise ordnances and such?" He named several of more common laws they dealt with back in Manhattan.

"Don't forget prostitution," Dan motioned towards a rather heavily-made up woman hanging all over an older man, who looked like he was enjoying himself.

"Really? Here? There's that kind of thing? No way!" Harry had had a little too much to drink.

Eve shrugged. "There's one in every small town."

"And she's waltzed through my courtroom just as much as some of the regulars in New York," Dan added.

"I know small towns can be a little . . . uh . . . close-knit. It hard to get used to that?" Mac asked.

Dan draped his arm over Eve's shoulders. "I had the Cantrell name behind me. It's worth its weight in gold in the entire county."

"Gonna change the name of the farm? I saw the 'Cantrell Farm' sign we got you when you left New York hanging at the gate? You know, Cantrell-Fielding or something like that?"

Eve looked up at Dan. "We discussed it, but it's been Cantrell Farms for four generations. My grandmother didn't even change her last name at all when she got married. Didn't seem right to change it now."
Harry shook his head. "You know, I never thought I'd see the day when you lived on a farm, Dan. If you'd have told me it would turn out like this, I'd have told you that you were crazy."

"Hey, I live here. I don't farm it."

Eve laughed. "No, he doesn't!"

"I don't even like horses. Or cows."

"The gentlest horse we had threw him right in the creek the first week we were married. I laughed so hard, I almost fell off mine."

Dan took a swig of his drink. "Haven't been on one of those beasts since."

"Oh, come on, Dan! There's gotta be something you like?" Harry asked.

"Oh, sure. You should see the sun come up over the mountains in the morning. And the peace and quiet. And watching the foals play. It's all really . . . fulfilling." He looked down at his wife. "I wouldn't change any of it. Especially since Eve can fix my car! Whoever says a mechanic in the family isn't priceless is crazy!"

A gaggle of children ran across the dance floor, squealing, trying their best to avoid being stepped on, momentarily distracting them.

"So, how's Bull working out?" Mac asked.

"Good, actually. He and Callie moved into the foreman's house. Marcus built him another house just over there. He's great to have around for all those heavy-duty chores. And, the animals just love him."

"Mistakes him for their maker, I guess," Dan muttered. Eve elbowed him in the side, and he gave her a dirty look.

Roz, all decked out in with cowboy hat, boots and tight-fitten' jeans sauntered up. "Not bad, Eve, not bad. Good food, good beer, good music. Somebody might get naked 'fore it's over with."

Harry and Mac laughed.

"Don't laugh. It's happened before." Dan pointed out.

"I doubt it this year. After all, the judge is in residence now," Eve giggled.

Roz shrugged. "Wouldn't stop most these folks, I imagine. 'Specially that chick," she pointed at the 'town trollop' who was dragging the older man towards the barn.

Dan rolled his eyes. "Excuse me, while I break this up. Not on this property, she won't."

"Oh, I've got to see this!" Mac and Harry followed closely, giggling like children.

Eve and Roz watched them go. "So, you happy, Eve?"

"Very."

Roz nodded once. "Good. I'd hate to have to kick his ass." She was quiet for a moment before continuing. "I never thought in a billion years that the two of you would ever get back together. But, when both of you came waltzing into Harry's office that night, wanting him to marry you, I had to admit, I was happy for you. Both of you."

"Even Dan?"

Roz made a face. "Yes, even that cretin. But, now he's your cretin, so I guess I have to make nice."

A few days after Dan had interviewed for the judge's position, she'd returned to New York with him. He turned in his two-week notice, then they'd waited until the night session to 'waltz' into Harry's office, as Roz so eloquently put it, to ask him to marry them.

Reluctantly, she returned home the next day without him, now Mrs. Evelyn Cantrell Fielding, and Agatha had thrown the world's largest hissy fit, declaring that her grandmother would be appalled that she'd even consent to marry without even a decent wedding gown.

Eve let her grandmother's old friend rant, and when she was done, kissed her on the cheek and told her that Gran would have most certainly approved. That's how she married Pappy anyway. Before an Army priest.

"Well, that was wartime," Agatha grumped, but couldn't argue. But, she could argue with Dan's absence.

But, he wasn't gone long. The minute his two-week notice was up, Eve was knee-deep in furniture, wondering just where in the hell she was going to put all his junk.

But, dammit, she was happy!

It was close to dawn before the last of the party-goers stumbled to the barn to sleep it off or were driven home by someone who was hopefully a little more sober. Harry, Christine, Mac and Quon Lee were staying in the extra rooms in the field house with Bull and Cindy. Roz was supposed to be sleeping upstairs in Eve's old bedroom, but she had mysteriously disappeared earlier in the evening, along with one of Eve's part time-helpers and longtime friends.

She and Dan were sitting on the front steps, surveying the damage.

"So, how do you think Buster's guitar got way up there in that tree?" Eve asked, craning her neck. She could just barely make out the silhouette of a guitar near the very top. She was sitting one step lower than he was and leaned against his leg.

"I don't know, but I'm not going after it." He lightly played with her hair, and his fingers were warm on her skin. "So, we have to do this every year?"

"I don't see why not. Plus, you seemed to enjoy yourself." She gave him a little shove with her shoulder.

"I did." He shoved back. "But, I will not enjoy cleaning this up. Too bad I have to go into the office tomorrow morning."

"Oh, no, you don't, Dan Fielding! You will not leave me with this mess!"

"Isn't that what Bull's for?"

She stuck her tongue out at him, and he laughed.

They sat that way for a long time, the soothing sound of crickets filling the cool fall air.

Yes, dammit, they were both happy.

Thanks to my loyal readers! Hope you enjoyed it. - tonygirl