Several hours later, Reggie Mantle is in full cowboy attire, complete with ten gallon hat. He'd spent a lot of time riding around the ranch that afternoon, and had gained a bit of perspective. He didn't know what these new feelings were for Betty, but they were more real than anything he'd experienced in a long time. All the years of skirt chasing had helped him to realize what it was he'd always wanted: someone kind, sweet, considerate, smart… who had a few things in common with him. In other words: Betty. He'd always enjoyed their dates to dances and other school events where Archie and Veronica had paired off. He hadn't even noticed Veronica in the last few months. He supposed Hal was right – all he could do was be himself around Betty, and hope she realized a few things about him as well. Meanwhile though, he wasn't going to mope and spoil his parents vacation. Hence the cowboy get up. Mantle the Magnificent was back.

"Reginald Mantle – I hope you're satisfied. We are late. Your father has gone ahead with the Harrises in their car; we'd best be leaving too." Mrs. Mantle was trying to sound stern, but she was secretly excited. She just couldn't wait to see the look on her son's face when he found out what she knew.

"Buh-buh-b-betty?" Reggie is in shock. He'd arrived with his mom to be greeted at the door by a familiar blonde in a short fringed skirt, white shirt, vest and matching cowboy hat. His mouth drops open when he sees her mischievous smile, as his mother bursts into peals of laughter. Oh, they were good.

'Hi Reggie,' Betty smiles sweetly at the wannabe cowboy in front of her. She doesn't want to admit it, but she'd kind of missed his goofy conversations in the last couple of days. For about a month before school let out, they'd been talking on the phone for hours every night, cracking each other up into the wee hours. When he'd called to tell her about his trip, she'd decided to surprise him by not telling him of her own. The look of shock on his face was worth it – although it did make her inexplicably shy.

"Howdy Miss Cooper. I believe it's plumb rude of me not to escort a pretty lady like yourself through the house to that there barbecue," with his trademark finesse, Reggie removes his hat and makes a sweeping gesture, offering his arm to Betty, who is rolling her eyes but also smiling slightly.

'Ah do declare, it would be mah plezyure, Ah'm sure,' Betty uses her best Southern twang and takes his arm as they make their way through the house, followed by an amused and pleased Mrs. Mantle.

As the remaining Mantles enter the backyard of the Cooper's rented ranch, Reggie makes polite conversation with Betty's father and brother in law who are seated along with his dad and Mr. Harris, but his eyes keep straying to where Betty is tending the barbecue. Jim, Betty's brother in law, is the first to notice this, and with a smirk, decides to say something.

'Looks like you don't trust our Betty's cooking, the way you keep eyeing the grill over there.'

"More like I feel like a chauvinist, sitting here while she works the grill alone." Reggie may have been off form lately, but it is still almost impossible to win one over him.

'I see. In the interest of equal rights, maybe you'd like to help her..' Jim is having a hard time holding back his laughter now. He knows just how Reggie's feeling – he'd been mooning over Polly the same way in the newspaper office for months before finally asking her out. Unfortunately for Reggie, it seemed as though cluelessness ran in the family. Betty seemed completely oblivious to his staring, which was becoming rather blatant.

With a semi grateful smile, Reggie makes his way over to the grill, putting his game face on. 'Charm, don't fail me now' he mutters under his breath as he approaches Betty.

"Miss Betty, such heavy work was not meant for such tender hands" Reggie puts on his best Clint Eastwood voice as he takes skewers from the very surprised blonde.

'Thank you kindly sir, but Ah do think ah can handle a good skewer' Betty's accent is as thick as Reggie's. The two teens were the top students in the Riverdale High drama club, and had often played lead roles alongside each other.

"So little Betty Cooper can handle a skewerin, can she?" Reggie's sudden grin causes Betty to start and blush as she catches his innuendo.

Betty is, however, determined to get the last word. She doesn't know what it is about Reggie that brings out the slightly saucier side of Betty Cooper, but she responds by drawing close to whisper in his ear, 'Wouldn't you like to know?' Drawing back, she's pleased to see his ears turn red as she tries to ignore the slight jump in her pulse by smiling devilishly.

"You're good" Reggie is forced to acknowledge, once he'd recovered the power of speech.

'I learned from the best… and I can't believe I just said that' Betty covers her face in her hands. She's never been THAT brazen before.

Despite the fact that he finds her impossibly cute at that moment, he gives her a gentle jab in the side with a spare skewer.

'Ow'

"Come on out… we need to see those baby blues"

'Five bucks says he cracks before you guys are back in Riverdale' Jim and the rest of the 'guys' table have been watching the little tete a tete with interest.

"You're on… Reggie Mantle will probably move on to some farmgirl by tomorrow" Hal Cooper scowls. He's protective of his baby daughter, especially since she'd had her heart broken by that clod of a redhead, Archie Andrews enough times back home.

'You know, I wouldn't be too sure about that' Ricky Mantle is thoughtful. Reggie had clearly matured in the last year. He'd actually started submitting articles for his dad's paper, and had put some serious time into college preps. Also, he'd stopped maxing out his credit card. Ricky Mantle is starting to wonder if the blonde teenager in front of him wasn't responsible for his son's newfound steadiness. If so, he wanted her to stick around.