Michelle squirmed on the cold cement steps. "I haven’t even decided whether I should or not. I told Alex that I would give him my decision tomorrow afternoon," she said in a tiny voice.

Aaron slipped a strong arm around her shoulders. "Kitten, if you don’t want to accept, just tell him instead of stringing him along."

"Oh but Aaron, I want to say ‘yes’ more than anything. But I still have so much schooling to go through and I didn’t think that it would be fair to drag Alex through that." Michelle stared at her hand and twisted the silver ring on her finger.

"Sweet, if he didn’t take the ring back, he’s not going to. I’ve seen the look in his eyes when he looks at you and for him the world would stop turning if you rejected him." Aaron gave Michelle a gentle squeeze, waiting for her to unload the rest of her fears.

"There’s my father too. I don’t think that he likes Alex anymore. For the past couple of days he’s been acting kinda’ strange, cold like. It’s only when Alex makes his presence known, too."

Aaron chuckled and Michelle glared at him for making light her predicament. "Michelle, your daddy’s just scared because his baby girl is growing up. He, too, sees the way that that young man looks at you and the thought that soon you will no longer be his little Michelle hurts him, like he’s losing a part of himself and you as well."

Michelle pondered this and began to ask Aaron what she should do when she was blinded by headlights.

"Looks like Tallia’s home. Guess I should go hit the hay." Aaron pecked Michelle on the cheek and ambled away to his bunkhouse.

Michelle merely waited while Tallia and Danny walked up the driveway and opened the door for them. She attached herself to their little group and followed them into the living room.

"So, what did you guys do all day? And how did you let Dad give you the day off?" Michelle queried.

Danny described what the two boys had done and the typical trouble that they had gotten themselves into. "The day was going okay until after lunch. We decided to go walking through their open pasture and we didn’t want to hop the fence because of the splinters, so we just walked through the gate." Danny grinned sheepishly. "I guess we didn’t latch the gate properly and five of their younger horses got out." Now Danny laughed. "Me and Nick were so shocked we didn’t even run out after them. It wasn’t until his older brother saw the horses making a beeline for the hay repository that we even left the pasture. Nick’s brother was on horseback so once he got the horses together he herded ‘em back in but there was one horse that kept cuttin’ from the herd and it was givin’ his brother fits!"

Michelle smiled and Tallia gave her ‘the look.’ Michelle wiped the smile off her face and stepped into the living room. She could her Tallia scolding her son even though she had lowered her voice.

"Daniel Valentine, the Felderans may not have minded and let you off scotch free but I’m very ashamed of you. You will have to learn a little more responsibility before you go out to your friends’ houses anymore." Michelle could picture Tallia raising her hand to forestall any arguments that Danny might be able to come up with. "Go up stairs and clean up and then you can stay in your room and think about what you should’ve done to prevent this accident."

"Oh, that’s easy. We should’ve latched the gate," he quipped. "Do I still have to go up to my room." Now he was whining.

Tallia was about to scold him for taking the mishap so lightly but Michelle could tell that she was going to relent by her deep sigh. "What am I going to do with you? Your sister never caused me half as much worry and heartache as you have and are bound to."

Michelle looked over her shoulder and saw Danny smirk. "That’s because Michelle’s so boring and never likes to have any fun." Danny shot Michelle a malicious glance out of the corner of his eye and his smirk deepened when she visible stiffened.

Tallia lifted one arching eyebrow and Danny’s face became neutral again. "Sorry," he muttered miserably.

"Yeah, well, you don’t have to stay in your room," she stopped Danny’s whoop before he could even think about it, "but you are still grounded to our acreage. They can come here but you’re not leaving for a week."

Danny knew this was final and walked into the living room. When Michelle looked at him, he simply shrugged and said, "You can’t win ‘em all."

The big sister clocked him with a pillow and then launched herself at him before he could get off a ‘shot.’ Then her father stirred in the armchair where he had fallen asleep and Michelle stopped the game. Strangely enough Danny didn’t question her.

Michelle got off the couch and kissed her mom good night. Tallia looked weary and her bright blue eyes were dull. At Michelle’s concerned inspection, Tallia brightened again and her eyes shone. "I love you so much, sweetie. Don’t ever forget that."

"I won’t, Mom." Michelle hugged her and ran up the stairs. Danny followed and when she reached the landing to look down the stairs at her mother, Danny continued on to his room. "Love ya’ too, Mom."

Tallia smiled at her beautiful daughter and watched as she disappeared around the corner and into her room. The woman of the house walked into the living room and saw her slumbering husband where she had left him. "My poor Dylan," she murmured. "Losing your baby girl, but you don’t realize that you’re getting a beautiful, intelligent woman in her stead."

She brushed an errant hair off Dylan’s forehead and kissed him lightly. She could feel his eyelashes flutter against her cheek and pulled back to look into his eyes. He leaned forward and they kissed again, a lasting kiss that conveyed perfect happiness.

They pulled apart again and Tallia settled herself on her husband’s lap. "When did you get home?" he asked, his voice still thick with sleep.

"Just a little while ago. You’ll never guess what Danny did." Tallia went on to tell him just what their son did while out from under their watchful eyes.

At first Dylan had looked like he was going to go up and give Danny what for but then he just started laughing. Tallia joined him and after a while had to wipe the tears from her eyes. When she looked again at her husband with clear eyes she could see sadness within him and decided to talk to him about it.

"Dylan, she wasn’t going to stay a little girl forever, you know. It was just a matter of time before she found someone with whom to spend the rest of her life." At Dylan’s frightened look, she raised a stern eyebrow.

"You know exactly what will happen when Michelle turns of age and you know who it is I’m referring to. Alex Rave is a good young man and he loves our daughter immensely. You can’t tell me that you’ve missed it when he looks at her. They must look like we did when we were younger."

"You still are young, fire of my heart," he whispered.

Tallia got a little flustered but she wasn’t to be put off. "Dylan, don’t do to Michelle what my parents did to us," she pleaded. "They love each other and I think it’s great. When you think about it, they compliment each other perfectly. Michelle is rational and thoughtful while Alex is more headstrong and reckless. They’re both strong-willed and opinionated, but thank goodness their beliefs run along the same lines so there will be few arguments. Michelle shows Alex reality and Alex shows her how to relax and enjoy life." When Dylan didn’t say anything Tallia pursed her lips.

"Dylan, have you even noticed how your ‘little Michelle’ has grown up? Her body has matured and she’s grown into a responsible young woman. You should be proud that she has such good judgement." Tallia bit her lip and looked away. "Would you rather her be with Johnny?" she asked in a quiet voice.

Dylan shook his head vigorously. "No, I’ve seen how he treats her and he expects too much control over her, thinks that if she loves him then she’ll do what he says. No, that would never work." He fell silent and then said, "You’re right, love, and I should be proud of her. I am proud of her," he said firmly.

Tallia smiled warmly and slipped off his lap. Unexpectedly, Dylan lifted her off her feet and cradled her in his arms. "I think I should make you proud of me again," he said in a low voice. "I’ve been acting horrible these past couple of days."

Tallia laughed deep in her throat and looked up at him coyly through her lashes. "Well, we’ll just have to see what you can do to make it up to me."

Michelle was just slipping on her nightshirt when she heard a tap on the connecting door. "Come in," she said, her voice muffled as the shirt passed over her head.

The door opened and Alex walked into her room. She had to keep herself from ogling: Alex walked into her room in only his shorts. He must work out, Michelle told herself as her eyes passed over his built upper body.

When she finally looked into Alex’s face, his lips were twisted into a wicked smile. Michelle knew that he was enjoying every minute of her discomfort and blatantly looked him over one last time, trying to make it seem like she was inspecting a horse up for stud. Alex scowled and plopped down into the chair, crossing his arms across his bare chest.

"Nice," was all she said as she gave an appreciating nod. His scowl deepened and Michelle’s only grew wider

They sat there in silence until Alex finished pouting and remembered what it was he had come to ask. "So where’d you disappear to earlier?"

Michelle couldn’t tell him that she’d gone out to ask Aaron his advice about the proposal so she just shrugged and said, "I went outside to walk around. It was, umm, nice outside."

She looked away from Alex when he gave her quizzical look, his lips pulled into a half smile. "You just went outside to take a walk?" Alex laughed and shook his head. Michelle looked back at him as his laughter abruptly stopped.

She raised her eyebrows in a question and waited for him to say what was on his mind.

"So, have you. . . Have you decided whether or not to. . ." Alex trailed off and stood up. "Never mind, I’ll just go back. . . Good night, Michelle." He closed the door before she could drag it out of him so she called through the door, "Night, Alex."

She opened the window in her room and sat down on her bed. She sat that way for nearly an hour, her legs growing numb and her eyes beginning to slip closed. Instead of going to bed, though, she tapped on the connecting door. When she got no response she eased it open and slipped into the guestroom on quiet feet.

She searched for Alex in the bed and finally found the lump that must be his head. She pulled a chair to his bedside as quietly as possible and sat down with her feet beneath her bottom. She pulled the covers back to reveal his face and took in Alex’s features, trying to see him as a stranger might. The boy’s eyes were set in a wide face that tapered down to a strong, square jaw. His nose was blunt and a small bump half way up the bridge was the only imperfection. His face didn’t have the finesse of some but a ruggedness that in itself was attractive. The only mark marring his otherwise perfect face was the purple bruise, which turned his ruddy coloring a muddy, thistle color.

Michelle ran a gentle finger around the perimeter of the ugly bruise and drew her finger away when Alex began to stir. As he settled back into sleep, she traced the rest of his features and brushed the hair away from his face. Before she left his room, she kissed him lightly on his mouth. The faintest hint of a smile curved his lips; she didn’t flatter herself with the thought that it was due to her.

She looked at him a little longer and finally left to go to bed. As the connecting door clicked shut, Alex peeked through one eye to make sure Michelle was gone and ran a finger over his lips. The smile returned to his mouth and he fell back asleep.

The next morning, Alex made a beeline for Michelle’s room before he was even properly dressed. He was surprised to see the bed all made up and looking as if no one had slept in it. He checked the closet and Michelle’s boots were missing. Shaking his head, he walked back into his room and dressed in yesterday’s jeans and the shirt he’d changed into after his shower. He merely ran his fingers through his hair and slipped into his boots.

He walked down stairs and everyone was at the table. Everyone but Michelle. He sat down and helped himself to pancakes and bacon while the conversation whirled around him. He found that there was no setting made for Michelle.

He finished his breakfast as fast as he could without aggravating his stomach and then asked, "Does anyone know where Michelle went to?"

The conversation stopped and Alex felt the force of six eyes on him. "She told us not to tell you," informed Danny with a smirk.

Alex looked to the two adults at the table to explain and was surprised when it was Dylan that took the initiative. There was none of the stoniness in his face that had been there lately, especially when he looked at Alex.

"Michelle woke up extra early and actually woke us up to tell us that she had work to do today and that we weren’t supposed to tell you where she went."

Alex tried to get more information out of the Valentine family but they all became tight-lipped. He finally gave up and cleaned up his mess. He thanked Tallia for breakfast and left the house in search of Michelle.

He checked the barn and Fancy, of course, was missing. The strange thing was that her tack was all present and accounted for. On looking closer he realized that the mare’s halter was missing. Then he remembered what Michelle had said about working Fancy a little today.

His quick, sure steps led him confidently to the small covered arena, positive that he would see the beautiful, black, surging mare at one end of a lounge line with Michelle at the other. His forehead creased with confusion when his eyes met with the empty arena.

He methodically checked each arena, corral, and paddock with the same results as before. Then he noticed a squat building that had somehow escaped his search. He walked to the large salle-type building and tried the door. It was locked.

There were two more doors on the side and what Alex assumed was the back of the building but it was not to be penetrated. He sighed with frustration and ran his hand through his hair. The sun glinting off windows caught his eye and for a second he thought that he had seen a shadow flicker across the bright surface but as soon as it had appeared, it was gone.

Alex shook his head as if to clear it and walked back to the barn. He looked in on his colt and remembered that he had to feed the little guy. He jogged back to the big house and returned with a slightly warmed bottle of milk.

"Hey! If you butt the thing out of my hand it simply takes longer for the milk to reach your empty belly," the boy said admonishingly, tapping the over-zealous colt on the nose.

One blue and one brown eye peeked at Alex over the bottle and half-closed with contentment of a full belly. When the colt had eaten his fill Alex brushed him down, along with his adopted dam. He fed the mare a few carrots and made a friend for life.

When he walked out of the barn he noted impatiently that not much time had passed since he had discovered Michelle’s absence. He just stood for quite awhile, not sure of what to do with himself without Michelle at his side.

The sound of an opening door caught his attention, even when he realized that it was only the kitchen door. What surprised him was seeing the Valentine family – minus Michelle – trooping out, looking like they were on a mission. Tallia had saddlebags that were busting at the seams and all three of the family members were dressed for an outside excursion.

Alex shook off his daze and began towards the trio.

"Where are you guys off to this morning?"

Tallia smiled aesthetically and gestured for him to fall in. "It’s such a beautiful day that we couldn’t pass up the chance for a picnic. We’re going to Spirit Lake. Has Michelle taken you there yet?"

Alex shook his head. "No, but the name sounds awfully familiar so I’m sure she’s mentioned it." He hesitated. "Would you mind if I joined you? Michelle’s taken herself off somewhere and left me high and dry." The latter drew a twitch of the lips from both adults; Danny didn’t bother to hide his glee in being included in on a secret.

"No, we don’t mind at all," accepted Dylan. "We have to ride out there." He gestured meaningfully at the saddlebags.

Alex shrugged his indifference and the now-quartet continued on to the barn. He found himself looking forward to this little trip. He’d never seen Tallia ride before and Dylan only from a distance. Besides, the picnic would take his mind off of other disconcerting lines of thought.

Alex automatically began tacking up Tharo and was a little embarrassed when he and Danny both went to the gelding’s stall. Danny just laughed and continued on down the line, tacking up instead an appaloosa gelding named Shaman. Dylan went to Skye Bolt and Alex paused in tightening the girth to see which horse Tallia would choose.

Down at the end of the aisle, Tallia stopped and leaned on a stall door. A brown and white head emerged, which Tallia stroked and pet.

"Which horse is that, Dylan?" Alex asked.

Without even looking, Dylan answered, "That’s Moonbeam, Tallia’s paint mare. She doesn’t ride much but that mare’s of such a sweet disposition that it doesn’t much matter. A true lady’s horse." It seemed to Alex that the unspoken words "Like she would’ve had in England" hung in the air.

The boy finished tacking his horse up and draped one of the heavily laden saddlebags behind his cantle, securing it with the many leather strips and metal rings. Alex led the gray from the barn and mounted up, swinging easily into the saddle.

Danny was the next one out and he energetically leaped into the deep seat of his trail saddle, settling into the feel of his horse and giving Alex an impish grin. The young man narrowed his eyes but didn’t comment on Danny’s strange actions.

Dylan and Tallia came out together. Alex almost expected Dylan to give Tallia a leg up but the woman slipped into the saddle with no more effort than a young girl. Dylan swung into the saddle and got the feel of the reins, walking Skye Bolt a few steps to settle his seat.

Michelle’s father took the lead and Danny and Tallia fell in behind. Alex assumed the rear position. As the line of horses stepped out, Alex watched Michelle’s family. Dylan rode with the easy grace that Alex had seen in Michelle and Danny had the same poise. Tallia, though, was different. Instead of relaxing with the horse’s movements, she rode erect and stiff backed. She was a good rider, Alex had to admit, though to his eyes her style looked terribly uncomfortable. When Alex had said this to Danny, the boy had laughed and told him that it had taken almost two years to break their mother of her habit of posting during the trot.

All the members of the Valentine family were good riders and Alex felt privileged to have been trained by one of them, most likely the best of the family.

Alex nudged Tharo into an easy lope when Dylan did the same to Skye Bolt. He looked back over his shoulder at the large building and then continued on to Spirit Lake with the rest of the Valentine family.