This story is dedicated to the following very real and very special people:
Barbara T, for her constant encouragement and unflagging friendship. Thanks so very much, Pard! And, Robert Fuller for the gift of his wonderful portrayal of so many true heroes. Thank you, sir, in this case especially for giving us all a hero named 'Cooper Smith'
Disclaimers:
This work of fiction gives a decidedly alternate backstory for several of the main characters, 'assuming facts not in evidence' as you might say, as far as what was aired on Howard Christie's 'Wagon Train'. The gentle reader, encountering these differences is encouraged to accept these variants as part and parcel of an ''alternative universe'' in which these characters have kinships and histories neither stated nor disproved on the series. Thank you for your kind attention and your patience.
None of the onscreen characters from Revue/Universal's 'Wagon Train' belong to me. And I'm prett nigh onta busted up about that, too. Instead they all belong to the creative mind, and the estate of the late Howard Christie, and all the gifted writers, directors, producers, and actors of that classic, classy Western. Sigh. No copyright infringement or profit taking is intended by this work of fiction, so don't sue me please; the studio/company, etc attorneys have 'many, many things' better to do.
There is no canyon, escarpment or other topographical or geographical site in northern Colorado, southern Wyoming or any other physical, actual location named Los Miraboles. In fact it is the name I invented for another hacienda in another story in another fandom. I just didn't want the gentle reader to go spelunking, rock climbing, or otherwise exploring for a non existent site when there are so many incredible real ones to discover.
D) For those who are trying to keep some semblance of order, the 'present day' events in this story follow … by about a year's time, the events of 'A Tale of Two Cousins –both Coop's Tale and Jess' Tale' aka ATTC2 parts one and two.
Wagon Train characters:
Michael Burns as Barnaby James Tiernan West
Robert Fuller as Nathaniel Kieran Anglim Cooper 'Coop' Smith'
Frank McGrath as Charles Albert 'Charlie' Wooster
John McIntire as Liam Christopher Hale
Denny Miller as Christopher 'Duke' Shannon
Barbara Stanwyck as Kathleen Elisabeth 'Kate' Crawley
Terry Wilson as Liam 'Bill' Hawks
Created, Invented, Original Characters:
Judith Light as Timothea Anastasia Evangeline Reid-Riordan aka
Mujer aguila real/Golden/Bright Eagle Woman
A. Martinez as Joaquin Hernan Eliseo Aguilar akaTzsensa-Kwihnai-Bavi, Brother to Coyote and Eagle,
Stephen Nichols as 'Reverend Anthony Alexander Zerachiel Godsey aka Antonio Alejandro Zacarias Gutierrez
John Smith as Padraigh Micheal Sean Riordan
Julie Pinson as Miriam Rebecca 'Miri' Etherton Randolph
Jay Pickett as Elias Matthew Randolph
Taylor Sprietler as Micaela Eizabeth Miriam 'Micky' Riordan [Thea and Micheal's first born]
Molly Burnett as Eleanor Gillian Rachel 'Nell' Randolph [Miriam and Eli's dtr]
David Gregory as Pihi Toyarohco Heart of a Cougaraka Ramiro Tomas Vicente Aguilar
In the Prologue and flashbacks
Martha Madison as Timothea Anastasia Evangeline Reid, Age 13 and a half
Jacob Young as Nathaniel Kieran Anglim Cooper Smith, Age 14 and a half
Michael Welch as Jemison Stephen Wesleyan Randolph Singer, Age 13
Jacob Young as Jacob Emrys Sayre Smith 'Jess' Harper, Age 12 and a half
Kyle Brandt as Padraigh Micheal Sean Riordan, age 15 and a half
Julie Marie Berman as Gillian Mariamne 'Gilly' Reid, age 15
Jean Paul Lavoisier as Benjamin Joseph 'Benjy' Singer, age 14
Rachel Melvin as Miriam Rebecca 'Miri' Etherton, age 14
Tyler Christopher `` as Elias Matthew Randolph, age 15
Katherine Hepburn as Elisabeth Micaela 'Mrs Beth' Cooper Smith
Herbert Marshall ````as Isaiah Asher Reid
Prologue: Nacogdoches, Texas, December, 1859
''Timmy, c'mon! Timmy, everybody's waitin' on you!'' Sandy haired, grey-eyed Gillian Reid called out towards the just barely open door to her cousin's room. ''Coop's likely to bust in there, just any minute now! And that's only if Jemmy, Benjy, or Micheal don't beat him to it! And I don't know that I could stop any one, much less all four of 'em'!''
''Well, you'll just have to stop them, Gilly!'' Bright blonde, hazel-eyed Timothea Reid called back, peaking around the doorsill. '' We can't let those rowdy boys into our dressing room! Why, it would be an absolute, absolute scandal!''
''And besides, Gilly, you'd be locked away in your Daddy's garret, and me and Timmy, we'd be locked up in Timmy's Granddaddy's attic, till we're all blind, toothless, helpless old maids, if anybody found it out!'' dark auburn haired, dark eyed Miriam Etherton, Timmy's foster sister responded.
''Then quit your danged fool primpin' and paintin' and get on out here, Timmy! There's a dance floor all polished up an' waitin' for you an' me to step out on!'' Micheal Riordan, the tallest and oldest of the girls' suitors called out, laughing on the far side of the door Gilly and Miri were guarding.
''He's right about the polishin', but what it's waitin' for is you an' me, Timmy!'' Benjy Singer, another cousin, visiting from Raleigh, jovially insisted.
''The heck it is!'' Jemmy Singer and Cooper Smith, Benjy's brother and one of their east Texas cousins chorused, while Jemmy tried his latest model skeleton key on the locked door between them and the girls.
''That's never gonna work, fellows.'' Eli Randolph, next oldest of the boys, from Norfolk now calmly told the pair of would-be burglars, and their companions, as he joined them in the hallway.
''And just why is that?'' all four of his friends demanded.
''Mainly that's because Timmy's Granddaddy doesn't want to have to lock her away in his attic until she's toothless. He wants her to make a fine match and move out just as soon as she's turned seventeen at the latest.'' Eli explained. '' So he fixed her door so it can't be opened from the outside, not a bit.''
''And if that were so, just how would you know it?'' Micheal asked, frowning.
'' That's mainly because I wanted to ask Timmy to wear my pin, just as soon as I get it. And so I came up here, about the middle of last week, and they were working on that lock. Old Mr. Reid, Timmy's Granddaddy, was supervisin' the work, himself. And he wouldn't tell me what he had them do to it, either.''
''Why, Elias Matthew Randolph!'' Gilly exclaimed, jerking the door open. ''You should be completely, completely ashamed of yourself! That's a … danged lie and you danged well know it! You told me only a week ago that you wanted Miri to… ''
''Gilly!'' Miriam shrieked, pulling her cousin back inside the room, but not before all five boys tumbled inside, and lay there in a jumble. ''I swore you to secrecy on that very issue, not even three days ago!''
''Well, it looks to me as if not only is that particular cat out of that particular bag, but that door is now wide open, girls.'' Timmy Reid laughed, walking out of her boudoir into their mutual dressing room. '
'And so, just by telling a little white lie, Miriam's beau got what they all wanted, scandal or no scandal! But it's still not proper in the least for you to even think of peaking at us, much less conversing with us, much less joining us; while we get ready! So you five boys, for your pe Nellce, will now peaceably retreat to the foyer and wait there, quietly, patiently for us, as proper Southron beaus are supposed to do!''
''Well whoever said they were proper, or anybody's beaus, anyhow?'' twelve and a half -year-old Jess Harper, another east Texas cousin, called out from the hallway. ''And what's the matter with all y'all? Why are y' makin' all this fuss? It's just 'nother dumb ol' Christmas dance, anyhow!''
This slur on their manners, their relationships and their manly honor so outraged the quintet of suitors that they rose almost as one and proceeded to chase the younger and swifter offender down the hallway, the wide, main staircase, out through the foyer and off the verandah. Jess outran them all, except for Jemmy, whose youthful pride was largely founded in being Wake County's champion foot-racer. These two cousins tumbled and tussled in the circular drive below the dooryard, and were soon joined by their elders, every bit of dignity shucked along with their best jackets. None of them were paying any heed at all to the rainy, windy December evening, or the grass and mud stains that now marked their faces, their hands, their best trousers, vests and shirts.
This melee went on, and grew in numbers, as the housedogs, a mix of mastiffs, spaniels and setters joined in. Some of the older boys attending the party were sent to stop the fray and only found themselves rapidly recruited to it. Next, some of the younger set, including Coop's younger brother, Jefferson tried their hand at breaking it up, which only added insult to injury, in the original combatant's view. By this time more than a dozen boys were fighting, while another group egged them on; and there looked to be no end in sight.
Finally, the master of the house, old Isaiah Reid, solved the problem by standing on his verandah's front steps and firing his favorite musket into the wintry sky. That was more than enough to get the participants' attention; just as he intended it should.
''I don't mind you young gentlemen working off some of your extraneous exuberance, truly.'' the still tall, powerfully built old man noted, as the muddied 'troupe' got to their feet, blinking and grimacing. ''But I'd much prefer you not doing so where you might be trampled upon by the horses and carriages of my guests still arriving. And I'd even more prefer you not doing so where you might trample upon my carefully planned, newly planted, albeit still dormant, long awaited rose garden! Thank you, very much indeed for your kind attention. Now, be good enough to use the summer kitchen to make yourselves as presentable as is possible, once more.''
''Yes, sir!'' most of the boys answered, those who didn't have split lips or ringing in their ears.
They began tromping towards the large frame structure behind the mansion, as dejectedly as they expected Napoleon's Grande Armies must have felt. Then a soft cry from the house got Coop's attention, and he looked up and around, grinning wide as the Braxos. Up on the second floor of the Reid mansion, a 'widow's walk' had been built years back. Now solely 'Timmy' Reid, smiling and waving her handkerchief, populated it.
She looks like a princess in a tower, certain sure. Coop thought. Smilin' and wavin' at the knights fightin' for her favors… She ought t' be fought for, that's somethin' else that's certain! She's a prize if ever there was one! Wish I thought she'd … Aw, why in blue blazes would she give a fig for me? Look at how many beaus she's got, a good two years before she'll 'come out'! Look at how much she's grown up with! What kinda fool would think he could ever take her away from the life old Isaiah's made sure she's always had?
''She is gorgeous, isn't she, Cooper?'' Jemmy asked, stopping beside his cousin.
''A fella would have to be blind not to know that's so.'' Coop admitted, glumly. ''Don't figure she's waving to either of us, though, Jem. ''
''Why, what … '' Jemmy frowned and looked where Coop pointed. A yard away, Micheal Riordan stood grinning up at the lovely girl they all admired. The already tall, broad-shouldered fifteen year old was a newcomer here, born and raised in the wild territory up along the Dakotas, which fact alone won him the attention and admiration of a great many youths and girls in Nacogdoches. He'd come to stay with his mother's people, only when most of his family died in that wilderness, which also touched and impressed a lot of people. Added to that, he already had an appointment to Virginia Military Institute, an achievement Coop wasn't alone
in envying.
''Sure looks to me like Timmy's got her cap set for ol' Micheal, there.'' Jess suggested, joining his cousins in watching the pair silently communicate. '' Whyn't he just ask ol' Isaiah for her hand or whatever he asks for, an' get it done? Then it could be all settled, and all y'all could stop fussin' about Timmy, or Gilly or any of them dumb girls … an' get to fussin' about the real thing comin' down th' pike! Y'all do know we're gonna have us a all-out shootin' war for certain sure now, don't y'?''
'' Figure we did hear somethin' about that, yeah.'' Coop drawled. ''Did we, Jem?''
''Figure we might've, Cooper.'' Jemmy gave a sour laugh. '' Can't say it's anything to look forward to, though. Jess doesn't seem to get that, does he, though?''
''Hey! Don't go talkin' like I ain't standing right here!'' Jess complained. ''What in blue blazes do you think I don't get, Jemmy?''
'' You don't get a lot of things, Jess.'' the Raleigh native frowned. '' Mostly in this case, Jess, you don't' seem to get that 'a all-out shootin' war' means us fellas are really, really likely to be shootin' at some other fellas.''
''Naw, just some dumb ol' farm boys, some thick headed DamnYankees, is all!'' Jess insisted. '' They can't shoot straight, can't ride worth a dam, can't march, can't fight a bit, anyhow! The whole shootin' match'll be over in three, four months, tops, an' ever' body already knows it! C'mon, Jemmy! C'mon, Coop! Why've y' got such danged long faces on?''
''Oh, no reason, except we're still standing out here, soaked through, muddied up to our ears, cousin.'' Jemmy answered, with more of a smile. ''And you still don't get why we're not happy as clams that Timmy Reid has taken such a shine to 'ol' Micheal Riordan there'? Well, maybe in another couple of years, you'll get it, Jess… if you live that long, anyhow. I'm going in to clean up. Y'all stand out here in the rain all you want. Just don't yelp about the mustard plasters you have to have put on, when you catch your near-death of cold!''
''Yes, Doc Singer!'' the east Texas cousins chorused, and then ran ahead of Jemmy towards the Reid House' summer kitchen. They'd been razzing their cousin from North Carolina for more than a year now, on every occasion that offered, about his penchant for reading every medical tome and journal he could get his hands on. Jemmy took their teasing in stride, knowing his course already set … or at the least, well and firmly planned for. Now, determined not to lose his other claim to distinction, the Raleigh-born and raised cousin raced ahead of the pair of Texans and handily beat them to reach the white frame structure and the rest of their friends.
'' We're just friends, silly!'' Timmy Reid insisted, as Cooper Smith finally managed to 'buttonhole' her at the dance, several hours later. '' I don't know why on earth you would think anything more serious was goin' on! Micheal's a nice boy, surely. But I …''
''You haven't made any promises to him?'' Coop asked, feeling more hopeful than he wanted the lovely girl beside him to know.
''Well, for heaven's sake, of course I haven't! I'm only thirteen and three quarter's years old! This isn't the Dark Ages, after all, Cooper. This is eighteen fifty-nine! Now, please, can't we just sit and talk in a friendly fashion, as we always have done? Or if we can't do that, can we go back and dance some more?'' Timmy asked, shaking her head and smiling at him, her wide, bright eyes full of fun, as always.
'' Surely, surely, I suppose so. We can talk. Figure I just… Micheal's a fine fellow… truly. He's fine… And … reckon I just wanted to … Timmy, with all this war-talk…'' Coop started and stopped. He didn't wholly understand why some things seemed abruptly so important to him. They just did. And he needed very badly to know if they seemed that way to this lively, happy, extraordinary girl.
''Oh, pooh! I don't wish to hear anything more of that! I simply won't hear anything more about politics, Yankees, secession, fire-eaters or war! This is still the Christmas season! We are still at peace, now, aren't we? Why, not even the entire South has seceded, yet! Jemmy was just reminding me that North Carolina has yet to vote on the question. He seems rather put out on that basis, too. But I made Jemmy, Eli and Micheal all promise me, and I'll have your promise, too, Cooper Smith. No more of these dreadfully depressing topics!'' Timmy exclaimed. ''Well, are you going to give me your word, Sir, or shall I have to banish you from my kingdom?''
''Oh, no, please, Queen… that is, I mean, Empress… that is, Your Royal … ness, Timmy, I swear I won't breathe a word about … anything you … dislike, not a word, not a syllable, honest!'' Coop readily promised her
''Your Serene Highness will do quite nicely, thank you, Sir Knight.'' Timmy laughed, and the sound was all warmth and light that seemed to weave a wall around them both for a moment. ''You may now accompany me on my return to the punch bowl, and the confectionery. I simply must deduce the recipe of those tea-cookies! And then, if you continue to behave as a true Southron gentleman…''
'' … If I behave… what?'' Coop asked, swallowing on a mixture of wild hopes and wilder panic.
''Then you may have the honor of my next dance, Sir Knight. But you may not make another attempt to so monopolize me. A reigning monarch must be seen to be entirely equitable with her devoted subjects… all her devoted subjects… '' Timmy giggled, and dropped her 'royal' manner for something more like the schoolgirl she was.
''At least until she chooses her favorite?'' Coop somehow found the nerve to suggest.
''That's exactly right. At some point, a reigning queen or empress must choose and bind herself in marriage to the proper Prince-Consort. It's no more than her people, or her granddaddy, expect of her. You understand. You do understand, don't you, Cooper?'' the girl asked and fixed her wide, shining eyes on his face.
'' I think so. I hope… I hope it wouldn't be … it wouldn't be a capital offense, Your Serene Highness… if I … '' Coop didn't know what he was going to ask, or do, until Timmy turned back to look him directly in the eye. Then he couldn't seem to keep from sliding off his chair, pulling her close and kissing her soft, sweet lips. Before he knew it, his hands were dropping away from her perfect, heart-shaped face; and he didn't know they'd been there, caressing it while he pressed his mouth to hers. Timmy was staring up at him, her eyes wide and intent on his face; not seeming afraid, or worse, aghast, but just startled, just surprised, a bit.
''Ah G-d! 'M sorry! Timmy! I'm … I shouldn't've done that! '' Coop exclaimed, feeling his face grow hot.
''No, you really shouldn't've done!'' Timmy giggled and blushed and then shocked Coop speechless by winking, grinning and kissing him back. ''And I shouldn't have done that, either! And I will fervently deny I did, or that I ever said this: But the truth is, I like kissing boys. Oh… that was very wicked of me to say, now, wasn't it? Probably more wicked than the whole, entire kissing part, altogether! Promise me you'll never breathe a word of my awful iniquity to anyone, ever, please, Cooper, dear?''
If she'd just go on callin' me 'Cooper, dear', I'd do anything she asked me, ever! Coop thought, even while he felt sure a particularly mindless grin was spreading across his face.
''Well, Cooper, aren't you going to promise?'' Timmy demanded.
'' I promise!'' Coop finally managed to tell her. ''Oh, I swear, Timmy, I won't say a word to anyone, ever!''
''Oh, dear! Boys are so melodramatic! Why is that, I wonder? A simple promise from friend to friend is all I require. But thank you, I do appreciate your … enthusiasm.'' Timmy grinned again, looking far more like the schoolgirl she still was than she had a moment past.
''Boys are … Timmy… You haven't been… kissin' a lot of boys… have you?''
'' I don't' see how that could possibly be any of your business, Sir. I am not as yet promised, betrothed or married, am I? And if I were any of those things, I would still be a free woman! I would adamantly insist on that, in fact!'' the girl asked, clearly joking with him, now.
''Well, course you're not! Of course you would… I … reckon… But I … we … Timmy, 'm sorry if this … is somethin' else you don't want to hear… And 'm sorry if… I didn't … '' Coop started and stopped and started over… feeling he'd burst if he didn't get the words out.
Timmy laughed aloud, musically and caught Coop's right hand in both of hers, maybe to stop him waving it about, he thought. ''Cooper Smith! You are a darling, really! And I don't know why I hadn't noticed this, just lately. But what Gilly and Miriam told me … it's absolutely true!''
'' Wh-what'd th-they tell you? Wh-what's true?'' Coop demanded, hating the stammer that was tripping him up, no matter how he fought it.
''You talk just exactly like your dear, charming old Daddy!'' Timmy answered. ''You stammer and start and stop halfway through… It's just adorable, truly.''
Normally Coop didn't mind any comparisons drawn between him and his father, Daniel Smith, universally called 'Danny'. The older Smith was admired, honored and loved throughout east Texas and back east all the way to his boyhood home in Tennessee. But the likeness of speech Timmy pointed out now was a trait neither father nor son much liked in themselves.
'' If you say so, Your Serenity.'' Coop muttered.
''My Serene Highness, silly!'' Timmy laughed, and he somehow loved and hated the sound, both at once.
''Silly, yeah, that's pretty much the way I feel right now, certain sure.'' Coop frowned, intently studying his boot tips so as not to show Timmy, or anyone how he felt just now, which was a lot worse than 'silly'.
''Oh, dear, now I have hurt your feelings, haven't I?'' Timmy asked. ''And that was very cruel, and very childish of me. I do beg your pardon. I truly must stop being such an … infant! Granddaddy says so, all the time. He says, being his own heir… and having so much responsibility ahead of me, I truly must learn to be more considerate, and more mature. And I've been thinking about that, quite a bit this winter; especially after Granddaddy got so very sick, earlier on, last month
. So, I'm going to try my best, and I've decided I'm going to start by using my given name; which I think I do like, after all. I will ask all my friends and kin to start calling me Timothea… yes. That will show Granddaddy and … well, just everyone how serious I take such things, now. And I'm going to be much better behaved and kinder to my friends, and absolutely, absolutely loyal to my family and friends, too. Granddaddy says one's never too young to be kind, to be genteel, and to be a good and loyal friend. And we've always been friends, Cooper, you and I; so I surely hope my wayward behavior this evening hasn't … changed that. It hasn't, Cooper, has it?''
Coop shook his head, thinking he'd be better off not saying anything more than he had. But then, Timmy startled him again, looking all innocence again, and holding out her hand as if she expected him to shake it, the way he would another boy's! Now he knew he had to say his piece, even if this changeable as the whirlwind girl beside him didn't like what she heard. She was the most beautiful, most fascinating living creature he'd ever known or even heard of.
And she was sitting here, looking at him, fondly, so it seemed, with her wide, bright hazel eyes looking almost golden in the light from the chandelier far above their heads. Her light brown hair was piled at the back of her head in some way that only made it gleam all the more, and her heart shaped face was glowing. She could be a fairy, a Serene Highness or an angel, or all three, as far as he knew. Only she was real, warm and alive; and she hadn't pulled her hand away when he took it in his own, as charily as if it, and its owner were made of porcelain.
'' No, Timm… No, it hasn't, Timothea… '' He started over, trying the formal sounding name on his tongue.'' That's not what changed… I have… I've changed. And I need to tell you how… I need you to hear me out, please!''
'' Well, surely.'' the girl nodded, peering at him; as if she could find the change he spoke of, written on his face. ''Surely, Cooper.''
'' Timothea… '' Coop started again.
'' Why don't you just call me Thea, its shorter and prettier, I think?'' she asked, interrupting him again.
'' Thea… Yeah, I … I like that. Thea, your Granddaddy's right. It's never too soon to be kind and good, loyal to your friends and … truthful with them. So, that's what I'm gonna be w-with you, right now. And it may sound real silly… to you… But I'm gonna be fifteen, come summer, and you're gonna be fourteen in February. '' Coop said and dropped his eyes back down to where she was still letting him hold her hand, before he went on.
'' And like it or not, it's certain sure we're gonna have to grow up awfully fast… because it's certain sure, there is gonna be a war… And so I … I just have to tell you…You're so fine and lovely and sweet… Thea… You're the most wonderful gir… young woman I know, or ever hope to. And I … I honor … and I cherish… and I love you, dearly, Thea… And if I had anything … I'd give you anything … I'd give you just everything, if that would … show you I'm only tellin' you th' G-d's honest truth. And if you hate hearin' that… 'M sorry… I am. And if you love somebody else, I won't be th' least bit surprised. And I won't … say another word about this, ever. But it's still nothin' but true.''
Timmy said nothing at all for such a long time after he stopped talking that Coop began to worry he'd either made her furious or made her swoon. But then she did something that surprised him again and at the same time told him everything he needed to know. As gently as if he were made of bone china, Timmy put her other hand under Coop's chin and exerted just enough pressure to bring his eyes back up to meet her own.
Studying her eyes, Coop saw all he needed to see, as they brimmed with tears. And Timmy knew what he saw there, and nodded.
'' You are the sweetest, most caring, … bo… young man I know, Cooper Smith. I'm honored, tremendously honored and flattered by what you told me, honestly. And I'm not promised, betrothed or engaged… that was absolutely the truth. But I am … I am in love. And I've treated you shamefully this evening. I am the one who should profoundly beg your pardon. And so I do! Will you, will you ever, ever forgive my rash behavior?'' Timmy asked him.
''Figure I acted just as … wild. I … kissed you, first, Thea.'' Coop nodded, still unable to be angry with her, even though his insides felt near stove-in, just now. ''So, we'll just call it that th' one cancelled out th' other. What'd you say?''
'' And you're not even asking who I'm in love with?'' the girl demanded, seeming almost unhappy with his lack of inquisitiveness.
'' Well it's Micheal, Micheal Riordan, ain't it?'' Coop asked in turn, barely managing a halfhearted shrug. '' You're in love with him, aren't you, Thea. But you're not promised… so … figure Micheal must be th' only one in th' whole, entire Nacogdoches County that don't know about it yet.''
Now Timmy stared at Coop for another long moment and he thought any minute she'd slap him as hard as she could for putting the matter that bluntly. But the girl, the woman was still full of surprises and proved it by starting to laugh as merrily as ever.
''He surely doesn't seem to!'' she agreed, when she could catch her breath again. 'Maybe Micheal thinks I'm still too young to know my mind! I know I've had quite a time getting Granddaddy to see I'm no such thing! And I can't see what anybody's mind has got to do with such things, anyhow!''
Then her mood shifted again and she seemed about to weep. '' But, Cooper, I'm … I am so sorry to have hurt you. And yet I had to be as truthful as you were with me, didn't I? Wouldn't it have been even worse to lie about such things? Surely it would be a terrible wrong, a sin, to lie about who one loves? Oh, dear! I feel so awful, now! You wouldn't want me to fib… to play some awful, cruel, childish games with you?''
''No, no, course not!'' Coop hurried to reassure her, gently squeezing the hand she still hadn't withdrawn from his. '' You can't… keep from lovin' … or make yourself… love… or …make somebody love you, Thea. That'd be the wrongest kind of thing …especially … between friends. And you were right; we've always been friends. And we always will be. Always. Don't you forget that, Thea. Don't you ever forget that.''
''I won't. I promise.'' Timmy Reid smiled brightly at him, and the warmth of her smile, the shining light of her eyes seemed almost to set his world back the way Cooper Smith figured it had been, a very long quarter of an hour ago.