Sleepyside Junior-Senior High School, Thursday 11:10 A.M.

It was a picture perfect fall day. Indian summer had finally arrived after a brief cold spell. The leaves of the maples and oaks were quickly turning into a riot of yellow, orange and red. The gray squirrels ran from tree to tree, chattering to one another, replacing the calls of the songbirds that had already left for warmer locations. Yes, it was a perfectly-perfect day, unless you were Trixie Belden and stuck in Advanced Composition.

"Honestly Honey", Trixie moaned. "This will probably be the nicest day of the fall and here we are stuck inside!"

Madeline Wheeler brushed the wispy blonde hair that contributed to her nickname "Honey" away from her face. "Shhh"! Honey hissed under her breath. "Spending time in detention for talking won't get you out any sooner".

Trixie quickly stuck out her tongue at her best friend and then briefly turned her attention back to her assignment. She glanced up at the clock above the classroom door and was dismayed to see that there was still 35 minutes left until lunchtime. With a sigh, she bent over her paper and began writing again.

An eternity later the bell rang. The students piled their books together and headed towards the door. Walking down the congested hallway, Trixie and Honey were swept along with the crowd moving to the lunchroom.

Gathering their trays, the girls moved along the serving line.

"Yuck, tuna surprise". Trixie turned up her nose. "The surprise is that no one gets sick after eating it."

Honey giggled, "This is when I really miss Mart not being here. I think he would eat at least three helpings."

"That is definite proof that my dear brother is a certifiable nut case!" Trixie joked.

"Oh well," Honey replied optimistically. "After this year we won't have to face it again."

"Yeah, then it will be up to ourselves to cook. You might want to mention to your dad that he should take out stock in Ramen Noodles." Trixie caught sight of Diana Lynch who was busy scanning the crowded room for them. "Over here Di."

Diana Lynch, "Di" to her friends, threaded her way past the other tables and deposited her tray on the table.

"Sorry I'm late. I didn't think I would ever finish that test in Business Law." Di poked a fork at her tuna surprise. "All of those terms start spinning around in my brain and I can't remember anything. I studied for three hours last night, for all the good it did me!"

"Don't sell yourself short Di," Honey chided her friend. "Don't you remember? Even Jim had a hard time with that class, and he's such a brain."

At the mention of her boyfriend's name, Trixie blushed to the roots of her curly blonde hair. "That's right Di, he studied like mad for that one. He knew that he would need that when he opens the school for boys." It was common knowledge that Jim had inherited a small fortune and hoped to open a school for boys after he finished college.

"I don't know why the guidance counselor even signed me up for the class." Di pushed her uneaten lunch away. "I haven't the foggiest idea what I want to do after graduation. Speaking of which, my parents have decided that this weekend we need to start checking out colleges. We are taking off on Friday after school and won't be back home until Sunday."

"I guess our weekly movie night will just be you and me, Trixie" Honey frowned at her lunch and slide her tray back as well. "With everyone else in college it can get boring around here. Have you heard anything from Brian or Mart? They're not coming home this weekend are they?"

"Moms spoke with them a few days ago and it didn't sound like it. Mart has a big presentation he needs to work on. I think they are planning on waiting until Thanksgiving before they head back here."

"Jim is just as busy. However he emailed me last night and said that Brian was coming up to visit this weekend. I wish the guys hadn't decided on different colleges. It would have been nice to keep the Bobwhites together for a few more years. I guess I was foolish to think we would all be together forever."

The wistful tone that came into Honey's voice caused Trixie to grab her friend's hands and give them a small shake. "Hey, remember what you said. No regrets."

Honey gave a small smile, "I know. But after having a crush on Brian for so long," her voice trailed off. After a moment she continued. "No. You're right Trixie. I can't go on like some jilted lover. I've got to move past the fact that he is dating someone from college. I mean, we never actually dated or anything." She paused, and then sighed. "I guess it's easier to say it than feel it."

"It gets easier," Di chimed in. "Don't you remember how crazy I was when Mart broke up with me after his first semester at college? What really helped me was to find a new boyfriend, someone to take my mind off Mart."

"Well I have had all of those guys throwing themselves at my feet," Honey replied sarcastically.

"Honey Wheeler! I know that there have been several guys in our class who have shown an interest in you!" Trixie looked at her friend in disbelief. "Between you and Di, you have half the males in high school panting at your heels!"

The bell ending lunch period cut Trixie's rant short. The girls gathered their trays and headed towards dish room window to dump the remains of the tuna surprise.

"I'll see you guys this afternoon in the parking lot." Di stacked her empty tray and hurried off towards her next class.

Trixie and Honey threaded their way down the hall to their lockers. After grabbing her books, Honey shut her locker with a bang.

"My goal will be to have a date before next weekend. I noticed some of the freshman looked fairly naïve. They don't stand a chance with an older woman like me." Honey vamped.

"That's the spirit. "Are you trying to seduce me Mrs. Robinson?"" Trixie attempted a poor imitation of Dustin Hoffman. "I guess there are advantages of dating a much younger man. They can't drive yet so you don't have to worry about them running away."

Honey laughed, "You really know how to build my self-esteem. Thanks for that vote of confidence. Hey, by the way. Is Bobby dating anyone?"

"Away with you, you wanton wench. How dare you attempt to seduce my baby brother!" Trixie could barely contain her laughter. "I'll see you after school. Seriously, checkout Aaron Traynor. He has been giving you the eye all year."

"Great," thought Honey to herself. "Aaron has the maturity of a 7th grader. Why is it that all the guys in high school act like Adam Sandler on speed or testosterone laden Neanderthals? That was one thing Brian had going for him, he was mature. Well, if I'm going to find a date by next weekend, I better not be so picky." She opened her history book. "I am drawing the line at hairy knuckles."

Manor House Stables Thursday 3:00 P.M.

"Leave it to me to pick the warmest day of fall to unload hay". William Regan, Bill for short, and Regan to his friends, paused to wipe his forehead. A hayrack, three quarters full of large, square bales sat waiting to be unloaded. Several of the horses that were in the corral lifted their heads when they heard Regan's voice. "Yes, I'm talking to myself", he addressed Jupiter, a big black gelding, who seemed to nod in agreement. Zeus, the newest resident of the Manor House Stable nipped at Jupiter and the two geldings galloped to the end of the corral.

"Thank goodness for the hay elevator, or I'd be chucking them up through the haymow door." He paused again and wiped the sweat from his forehead on the back of his sleeve. "I had forgotten how much work this is or I might have waited to buy hay when Dan was home for the weekend."

Regan turned his attention back to his task. He sent several more bales up the elevator and then went into the stable and climbed the ladder to the loft. The temperature inside was easily 10 or 15 degrees warmer than outside. After moving the first bale into position, Regan stripped off his denim shirt and hung it from a nail. Without a doubt, the t-shirt was much cooler. He worked steadily stacking the bales until he finished with the pile. Climbing down the ladder he surveyed the remaining bales. "Definitely should have waited for Dan." He flipped the electric motor on the elevator and hopped back up onto the hayrack and started more bales on their way into the haymow.

The sound of gravel crunching under tires signaled an approaching vehicle. Instead of continuing up the laneway to the Manor House, it turned toward the stable. The blue Mustang cruised slowly past the tree lined paddock and pulled into the area at the front of the stable. Quickly the doors opened and the occupants piled out into the warm sunshine.

"Hi Regan," the girls chorused as they grabbed duffle bags out of the trunk.

"Afternoon ladies," Regan called. He jumped down from the rack and shut off the elevator. "I didn't expect to see anyone this afternoon."

"That's obvious", thought Honey as she tried to avoid looking a Regan's muscular chest and abdomen, clearly defined by the tight white t-shirt that clung to his sweaty body. She lifted her eyes and saw that Regan was watching her with amusement. She blushed and shifted her gaze to the horses standing at the rail.

Trixie sensing her friend's discomfort quickly answered. "Oh Regan, the weather is beautiful. We had to come out to ride, it's ok with you isn't it?"

"Lets see, a stable full of horses that haven't been out of the exercise yard in over a week, three girls that haven't been down here in over a week and a beautiful fall day. Do you think I would try to keep you away from those horses?" Regan shook his head with a chuckle. "Hurry up and get them saddled and you should still have almost two hours of daylight left."

"We came right from school, so we need to change into riding clothes." Di lifted her duffle bag. "Can we use your office?"

"No problem. I'll get started on the horses for you." Regan turned and walked towards the waiting animals.

Honey watched as the groom walked away. She had never noticed what broad shoulders he had.

"Earth to Honey", Trixie nudged her friend. "Come on, lets get dressed."

The girls trooped into Regan's office. Like the rest of the stable, the office was neat as a pin. On his desk were several photographs. One of Dan at his high school graduation, a shot of the Bob-Whites in their jackets and one from Saratoga, Regan with Trixie and Honey, their arms around his waist.

"Wow," Di stripped off her shirt. "I have never noticed that Regan was so burly. Did you see his chest?"

"Oh, I think Honey had a good look." Trixie kicked off her loafers and slid out of her dress pants. "Remember dear girl," she continued with a haughty accent. "It is poor breeding and totally uncouth to lust after the riding staff."

Honey blushed a deep red and hissed, "Trixie be quiet! What if he hears you?"

"I know I told you to find yourself a new guy, but I didn't mean you had to start this afternoon."

"Trixie, you can't begin to believe that I would be interested in Regan!" Honey tugged a lightweight turtleneck over her head. "I mean," she paused. "He's older."

"He's not that much older than we are, maybe, what 8 years?" Trixie sat on a chair and wiggled into her riding boots. "Remember girls mature faster. It doesn't seem like that big of a gap."

"You're right." Di chimed in, "My father is six years older than Mom. I don't think it has ever been a problem for them."

"Think about it Honey," Trixie continued. "Eighteen and twenty-six doesn't seem so bad. It's not like you're twelve and he's twenty."

"Stop it, both of you." Honey stowed the last of her school clothes in the duffle bag. "Lets go." With that she opened the door and went out to help get the horses ready.

Regan was occupied with his own thoughts as he went to bring in the horses. "Obviously I've embarrassed Honey, but you'd think she had never seen me in a t-shirt before. I guess I better get my other shirt back on so I don't fluster her any more." Regan chuckled at the thought of the red faced Honey staring at his chest. He grabbed the halter of Suzy, the little black mare and led her into the stable.

As he started down the aisle to the haymow ladder, the tack room door swung open. Honey, her arms full with the saddle and bridle, collided with the unsuspecting Regan.

"Whoa there," Regan helped to hold onto the saddle that had started to slid from Honey's arm. "Do you need an extra hand with that?"

Honey colored, "Um, no, I've got everything, it's fine." She stammered. "I was planning on riding Starlight today, or should I ride someone else?" "Oh my god! Did I just say that?'" Honey wished the earth would open up and swallow her.

Doing his best to keep a straight face, Regan bit back a smile. "I'm sure Starlight would enjoy some exercise and I think Di should plan on taking Lady. I still don't want anyone riding Zeus. It's going to take a while longer to get him settled down. I'll have Trixie take Suzy today because I took Spartan for a short ride yesterday. I think he misses Dan. "

Regaining her composure, Honey managed to look Regan in the eye. "When does Dan think he'll be coming home for a visit?"

"The way he talked when I spoke with him last week, it won't be until Thanksgiving. Between work and classes he is staying busy. He even claims he's too busy for a social life."

"I find that hard to believe!" Trixie chimed in as she and Di made their way down the alleyway. "He emailed Mart that he was dating a "hottie" he meet in his sociology class. It's a good thing my elder sibling and almost twin is as big a gossip as I am, or we would never know anything."

"At least one of the Bob-whites has luck when it comes to dating." Honey replied absent mindedly as she concentrated on securing the saddle on Starlight's back. "He's probably not sitting at home by himself Friday nights."

"Honey, why don't you come with me and my parents on those college visits?" Di had retrieved Lady and had tied her to the hitch ring. "It could be a lot of fun, checking out the campuses and the guys."

"There you go, a fun filled weekend with Di Lynch. Men throwing themselves at your feet and only those not enamored with your charm are blind or gay!" Honey slipped the bridle onto Starlight.

Regan colored slightly. "Um, this conversation has definitely taken a different turn, so I think I'm going to get back to work. I want to get the rest of that hay up before it starts to get dark. Make sure you watch the trails; Mr. Maypenny is still working repairing the damage from those rainstorms last month. I expect you back by 5:30pm so you have plenty of time to get the horses cleaned up."

"Can do Regan," Trixie swung into the saddle. "Lets start towards the lake and then head into the preserve."

"Sounds good." Di turned Lady towards the trail.

Honey placed her foot in the stirrup and gently lifted herself into the saddle. As she adjusted her stirrups she lifted her eyes and realized that Regan's gaze had remained on her. She gave him a slight smile and felt the color rising to her cheeks again. "Great, I can't look at Regan without turning beet red, I haven't done this since I was 13." She nudged Starlight into a trot to catch up to the others.

Regan watched Honey ride away. "Alright old man, stop ogling the boss's daughter. That's a great way to get yourself fired." He walked back to the hayrack and started loading bales again, "What I really want to know is, when did she grow up?"