The girl's ready smile pushed her cheeks against her keeper's hands, crinkling the corners of her eyes. "That must be the third time I've heard that today," she laughed. "But it feels good to be back." Her eyes darkened and Alex caught his breath, preparing for renewed tears. Instead, the girl sighed and looked apologetically up at him. "Have I been that unstable?"

Quickly, Alex assured her that she hadn't.

"No, I guess I wasn't prone to show any emotions, huh?" Michelle worried at her lower lip and Alex withdrew his hands, resting them on Michelle's shaking hands. "Alex, I just wanted to apologize to you for the way I acted. No, no, let me say this," she said as he tried to quiet her. "I apologized to everyone downstairs, I know. But I wanted to apologize separately to you. I reacted in a very selfish way, not thinking that everyone else was just as hurt." Bitter laughter grated on Alex's ears. "I was able to convince myself that his-" She closed her eyes against the ready tears and clamped her lips shut. After a moment, she continued. "I convinced myself that it had hurt me the most. I'm so sorry, Alex."

"I know you won't believe me but we all understood. No one's upset with you, Michelle." Alex tried to make her understand. "We expected you to grieve; everyone did in their own way. Aaron was a much loved man. It was the degree that began to worry us. But not for a moment did anyone hold it against you. We love you, Michelle."

He placed another kiss on her lips, brushing away the rest of her fears with the deft touch of his love. A few silent moments passed but the lack of words did not mean that there was a lack of feeling.

Guiltily, Michelle drew away from her fiancée. "When should we tell your parents?"

He looked blankly at her. "Tell them? What?"

"Our engagement," she exclaimed with a touch of exasperation. "When did you want to tell them?"

Alex's face fell as reality came crashing down on his shoulders. "Your parents won't help, will they?" His glum tone indicated that he already knew the answer. Not waiting for Michelle's reply, he went on. "I guess as soon as you're feeling better," he answered evasively.

"Oh no! I asked you and they're your parents." She fixed him with a stern blue gaze, pinning him to his seat.

With a chuckle, Alex's lips twisted with dry humor. "You're one to talk, Miss Michelle." He feigned concentration. "Who was it that told your parents again?"

An angry scowl was sent Alex's way but it quickly disappeared as Michelle laughed. "Point taken. Point taken." She brought her hands up in a mollifying gesture, smiling brightly.

A gentle breeze came tapping at Michelle's closed window, almost hiding the light knock that rang against her door.

"Come in."

Sandy haired head peeped through the doorway and Michelle waved him in.

"Hey, Danny. What's up?"

The boy looked awkwardly at Alex and then caught his sister's eyes, glancing meaningfully at the door. It took a moment for Michelle to catch on but then she asked if Alex would mind leaving for a moment. The young man's brows drew down for a frown but he quickly smiled, brushing Michelle's limp hand as he left the room.

The girl decided to wait for Danny to speak first but a few minutes had passed and the boy remained silent. Michelle peered at her brother's down-turned face and tears sprung to her eyes. Danny's cheeks were moist with still falling tears and he kept sniffling under his breath. Michelle's pointed chin began to quiver with renewed tears and she pulled her shaking brother to her side. His sobs shook them both and before she knew it, Michelle was weeping with him, all the grief that she'd kept locked up flowing from her body and mingling with her brother's.

They cried together till the pain was assuaged and their eyes were red and dry. Danny pulled away first, his cheeks red and his eyes sullen. Michelle recognized the shame in his face and tried to relieve it.

"Danny, it's okay to cry. There's no shame in it." Her breath caught as she remembered the night not too long ago when Aaron said these same words to her. Help me, godfather, she pleaded silently. "Danny, I once went to Aaron for help and I cried. I felt ashamed of myself for doing so but he took my chin and told me, with his deep voice. You know-" Michelle deepened her voice and imitated her friend. Danny's eyes brightened and he nodded vigorously. "Well, he told me to go ahead and cry because there was nothing wrong with crying. And I think that he would want us to cry if we felt like it. . . " The girl paused, chewing over her next words before voicing them. "And I think that he would also say that if the pain goes away, not to feel guilty when we stop crying. Do you understand, Danny?"

The boy was silent for awhile and Michelle could see the inner turmoil that he'd been living with since the old cowboy's death. Guilt flushed her cheeks at how selfish she'd been, thinking that she was the only one who truly missed Aaron. When Danny spoke, it was haltingly but clear.

"I just missed him, Michelle. . . And you - you were up here all day. . . And Mom and Dad were by themselves most of the time so -" he stopped and thought. "We all missed him, Michelle but then we missed you too and Mom and Dad didn't know what to do. . . I felt alone."

"Oh, Danny. I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to hurt any of you. I was just too busy feeling my own pain that I wasn't thinking about anyone else's."

"I'm just glad that you're all better now," Danny exclaimed with a grin, wiping away the residual dampness from his cheeks. Michelle awarded him with a loving smile and opened her arms for a hug.

The younger boy only hesitated for a minute before jumping into his big sister's arms and squeezing her until she was forced to beg for a breath. Michelle laughed first and it didn't take Danny another thought to join in. Tears mingled with laughter, but these tears were ones of release and happiness, leaving the siblings spent yet content.

The breeze rattled the window shade again and the moment left with the wind. Michelle relaxed against the headboard; Danny stood as if to go. "Danny, could you take the tray with you?" The young boy scooped it up with comical chivalry and made a clumsy bow, almost dropping the tray on the floor. Michelle laughed again, making her brother flush hotly at his own lack of grace. "Thanks, Danny."

He gently shut the door behind him and Michelle clutched her stomach, smiling at the slight ache in her muscles from laughter. Lids closed over her blue eyes, the breeze floating through her window and caressing her warm face. A senseless joy welled up in her soul and seemed to dance with the wind, wiping her mind clean of its pain. Her thoughts drifted out the window and roamed on the playful drafts of air. In her mind's eye she could see the structures of the ranch: the barn, the corrals, the tack shed, the fields. And in the middle of this picture was Aaron's seamed face, smiling at her. She could sense herself smiling back at this memory without the knife-edge of pain that usually accompanied it.

Her blue eyes were unveiled at the sound of her door easing open. With a resigned breath, she collected her thoughts and put a smile on her face for her guests. It was Alex.

"Just can't stand to stay away, can you?" she said, her lips curling into a genuine grin.

Her happiness was not reciprocated, at least not visually. Alex continued into the room and behind him trailed Mr. and Mrs. Rave. Both adults had a puzzled expression on their faces and not a little bit of worry.

"Ohh. . ." Michelle's smile faded into a look of resignation. "I see."

"You do?" Denise questioned. "I don't. What's this all about, Alex? Michelle should be resting right now, not entertaining visitors." Her tone was slightly reprimanding but a hint of curiosity colored it too.

"Mom, Dad, I just want you two to listen. Just listen, and please try not to say anything until we're done, okay?" He glanced at Michelle but found no encouragement there. The young woman was just as uneasy as he, although a careful mask hid it from the adults. Alex took a deep breath and then began.

"About two weeks ago, something happened which involved me and Michelle, and according to her parents, all of you too. I didn't plan it but it happened none the less and I'm not sorry it did-"

"Alex," hissed Michelle. "Why don't you just say it?" Her blue eyes were dark with restrained nervousness. She wiped her sweaty palms on the comforter.

Alex gulped and looked out the window.

"Alex, why don't you just tell us what exactly happened," encouraged Eric. "You're not getting any where by beating around the bush."

"Well, you see, it's just not that easy. I can't just say it because I don't know how you'll react. Dylan sure didn't take it too well," he added under his breath. Michelle was about to goad him on but he quieted her with a look. "Here it goes. . . I asked Michelle to marry me and she accepted."

There was not the expected explosion or yelling or demanding questions, just silence. Alex looked at his parents. His mother looked as though a light had just been turned on and a darkened room had only now been revealed. His father - Alex bit his lip - his father looked as though he'd been smacked upside the head with a board and hadn't recovered from the shock.

"Mr. and Mrs. Rave, I know that this is coming as a complete surprise and I know that I can't possibly understand what you're feeling right now but please-" Michelle trailed off, not knowing what to say.

"Mom? Dad?" Alex peered at his parents and they stared blankly back. The young man cast a worried glance at Michelle, his brows furrowed.

Denise shook herself and looked first at her son and then her future daughter-in-law. Her voice was shaky. "I don't know whether to scold you or congratulate you." Eric was still silent. "Honey? Eric, honey, say something."

The man's eyes slid to his son, looking him up and down. Blinking, he leaned against the wall. "Denise, I'm sure that they've been scolded and congratulated. But congratulations can't be overdone so-" Eric pushed off the wall and hugged his son. "Congratulations, son." He turned to Michelle and grinned. "Do you have any idea what you're getting yourself into, young lady?"

Michelle grinned back. "Well, sir, I'm sure I don't but I've always been one for adventure." She opened her arms for a hug and Eric's large figure filled them. "Thank you, Mr. Rave," she whispered. She didn't need to say what for; the man already knew.

"I should have guessed this would come sooner or later," Denise said. "You two seemed destined since first you met. Congratulations, Alex, Michelle." Eric moved aside and the woman hugged both youths at the same time. Her light lipstick left twin marks on both their cheeks.

Denise caught Michelle's eye. "And what are you going to do since you're still a minor? I thought you had pretty big college plans."

The girl's eyes shifted away. "Well, I've found a college around here where I can get started and then finish in another college not more that two hundred miles from the Montana border. As for my age-" she caught Alex's eye, "that's something that will be cured in six months time. It's also agreed that nothing will happen until after I graduate."

A quiet fell among the four in the room and outside the yelling of the wranglers could be heard.

Eric finally broke the silence. "Well, son, Michelle, I think that we will have to go and talk with Tallia and Dylan, let this sink in." He wrapped his arm around his wife's waist and guided her out the door. Alex and Michelle remained mute for awhile after the adult's departure, both thinking.

"Was that a good meeting?" Michelle finally asked.

Alex bit his lip. "I guess." He smiled wryly at his fiancée. "At least they didn't yell."

Michelle smiled back but there was no fire behind it. "Was it the right thing to do? Getting engaged with out talking to our parents, I mean," she explained.

Worry darkened Alex's face. "Do you regret it, Michelle?" His voice was low but she could hear the hurt in it.

Her loving smile scattered his doubts to the four winds. "Not for a second since I said yes. I just- I don't know why I asked."

"I think you just wanted to make sure I was still in your thrall. I'm on to you, Michelle Valentine," he growled menacingly.

Michelle put on a 'discovered' expression. "I should have known better than to try to fool you," she said in a breathy voice. "I'm just no match for your stunning intellect." She put the back of her hand to her forehead and fell dramatically onto her pillow.

Alex stretched out beside her, entangling his fingers in her hair. "You just say that to make me feel in charge. I know how it works, Michelle. I've known you too long to mistakenly believe I control you."

"You underestimate yourself, love." Michelle rested her head on his chest.

"I would never desire to control you, Michelle. That's not my goal."

"What is your goal then?"

"To love you for as long as breath fills my lungs and hold you until my arms can no longer do so."

"Is that a promise?"

"It is." And he sealed it with a kiss as the breeze entered the window and teased their hair, mixing the long strands with the short until one was the other and both the same.