- Simple -

Burr Oak, Iowa, 1897.

For the first time in several years, Jeb Carter visited Nancy Oleson on her doorstep.

"Good afternoon, Nancy. May I come in?"

He stood tall and confident. Nancy's heart fluttered at the sight of him. As a recently returned college graduate from St. Louis, there was an aura of intelligence about him and a peculiar glint in his eyes that she couldn't put her finger on.

"Of course you may," she told him sweetly. He gave her a curt nod as they walked into the parlor together.

Tired of the silence, Nancy fluffed her dress and spoke up, "To what do I owe the pleasure of seeing you today, Jeb?"

She was about to reach for his arm, however, he had walked away from her to stare out the living room window. He seemed to be unaware of her advances as she pouted in defeat.

Finally, he turned to look into her eyes with an unwavering gaze. To Nancy, it was like magic.

"I've heard rumors of conflict that you've been having with Jenny," he stated simply.

Nancy regarded him with alarm. He didn't even care to question her about it first? No, of course he would take her side!

"What makes you so sure it was entirely my fault?" She bit back.

Jeb sighed, "Nancy, I've known you since I was twelve and you never particularly liked neither Jenny nor I for that matter."

Nancy bit her lip. Yes, she did used to mercilessly tease Jeb when she found out he didn't know how to swim. And yes, she knew of Jeb's feelings for Jenny ever since he first set eyes on her in Miss Plum's classroom. Yes, she knew. Yet it was still hard for her to see him still swooning over her almost nine years later.

Jeb could sense her uneasiness. Suddenly, he was standing right in front of her. His hands were on her shoulders as looked into her eyes once more. Only this time, it was with pity. Nancy flinched.

"Really Nancy, you've above that. I thought all this teasing would stop but –

"But what?" Nancy blurted, "Nothing has changed, Jeb! I am who I am – yesterday, today and tomorrow. Apparently your feelings for Jenny haven't changed, and neither has mine. She's a farm girl, Jeb. She's not going to want to travel with you whilst you meet with your editors about your newspaper business. No! She's going to want to stay on a farm. She's a farm girl, for goodness sake!"

"I think you're forgetting that I'm a farmer as well," Jeb argued, "Even though I've lived in the city for the past few years, the countryside will always have a place in my heart."

"Jeb…"

"And so will Jenny."

At that moment, Nancy felt her heart starting to break. Close to tears, she asked softy, "Why her, Jeb? Why Jenny Wilder?"

His answer was simple, "Because I love her."