Scene 9

Memories

Caroline had hopped into her truck and drove like there was no tomorrow. Parking the car at the bottom of a hill she then walked up a small dusty trail. Only one side as strewn with trees - the other boulders. It was only when she was sitting on a log over-looking the huge lake did the gal begin to have memories came back; They were ones which validated what's she'd said to Ben. The truck was forgotten and she began to -temporarily - live in the past.

A summer breeze blew through her hair as she rode in the carriage with Ben. He was laughing and Caroline found herself joining in. Leaving the shawl in the carriage the gal allowed Ben to help her down and walked up to a tree with initials engraved into it's bark.

"Boys did that the first summer Adam left." Ben's voice was deep and rich as he spoke.

"When did he come back?" Caroline had asked with her hand in Ben's.

"Last summer. Said his itching feet weren't so itchy anymore." Many scenes played itself in front of her eyes. All were comfortable and full of laughter - even a few gentle kisses, nonetheless, they - the memories - left and allowed another set to start playing.

The lake -more like pond- held two grown men covered in mud. Hoss was wiping mud off his hat and Adam was grinning with his own shirt wide open. It was only after Hoss was gone did Adam see Caroline standing behind a tree.

"So you saw the whole thing, uh?" Adam didn't bother buttoning up his shirt.

"You do that kind of thing all the time?" Caroline giggled.

"Enough to irritate my Pa I dare say." Adam chuckled as she backed up against a tree.

"Afraid I might get you dirty?" Adam gave a lopsided grin.

"No, I just…" Caroline's eyes filled with conflicting emotions and Adam leaned in closer.

"You sure?" His chuckle quickly died as his mouth claimed hers. It was only when he pulled back did he offer to clean up and take her for a drive. And he had too. However she'd had to fight hard against thoughts the picture of him covered with mud had put into her head, or of his lips on hers.

"You all right?"? He'd asked with concern in his eyes as he'd stopped the buggy in front of her house when they'd finished their drive.

"Of course, why wouldn't I bet?" She straightened out her dress only to be pulled into Adam's arms.

Neither one had talked and Adam had lowered his head. His kisses were smooth and she'd found herself clutching onto his arm only to pull away and hurry inside.

"They didn't mean to hurt ya, Ma'am." Caroline jerked, and blinked her eyes, to have any scenes flee as she found Hoss sitting on the same log as she was.

"How long have you been there?" Slightly irritated with him showing up unexpectedly.

"Not long. Are yer going to leave?" Hoss raised own eyes began to hold a lost puppy look as he twisted his fingers together.

"No, I'm not leaving." Caroline straightening up as if ready for battle worried Hoss and he said as much.

"Ya, gonna send us away then?" Hoss hated that idea too.

"No, not if ya'll don't want to." Caroline then asked Hoss to please leave her alone though. The gentle giant left not knowing what else he could do ,but hope she meant what she said.

"What's the matter." Adam's arm was above her head and leaning on one of the barn's post.

"Nothing, but don't you think you should put a shirt on?" Caroline did her best to keep her eyes off his shirtless torso.

The man's voice lowered and took on soft honey-smooth tone, "Can't expect a man to work in the summer's heat making a horse shoe now can you?" Before she could stop him he had her in his arms and his lips on her mouth. The kiss grew just as deep -if not deeper than the first. Caroline's her hands - of their own accord- slid up his stomach, onto his chest and then round his sides.

"Adam, we have to stop." Caroline gasped and pulled back with her heart racing as his hands and slid down her sides to her waist.

"If you say so, but don't claim you hated it, because I won't believe you." Adam stepped back catching his own breath. He hadn't said anymore because she'd fled and he'd looked over to see that his father had witnessed his advances on Caroline…neither men had said anything, though both had clouds residing in their faces.

"Oh, Ben, Adam. What do I do?" Caroline couldn't help but let her tears race down her cheeks. Adam and Ben were both having their own memories, and both were hiding in their rooms as they did so.

"That's so sweet." Caroline hugged Ben as he'd handed her Jethro - a small puppy to replace Jasper who had been killed by a rabid wolf. It was if someone had pushed a button and another picture took its place. "Ben, thanks for taking me to the dance. Kind of surprised you would still ask me with Adam ….well…" She'd grown a bit uncomfortable and Ben had given her a slight hug.

"Don't worry about Adam. He'll be fine." Only he hadn't. That dance had been the last time Ben had taken Caroline anywhere before she'd fled.

Caroline's fleeing pried on Adam's conscious just as hard - if not harder- than Ben's. "I didn't expect to feel this way Adam. I'm confused I need time." Tears had started slowly sliding down her cheek.

"Caroline, I love you." Adam sat in the chair nearest the steps with his shirt only half-way done up. "I'm sure Pa cares for you, but can't you see we belong together. You can feel it , I know you can." He'd stood up and Caroline had sobbed.

"Adam, there's no doubt we're drawn to each other, but a marriage can't just be based on physical attraction." That was the real issue with Caroline -was what she was feeling just physical with Adam, or was it more? And Ben, what about her feelings? Did she really love him, or was it just because she felt he was 'safe'?

"Caroline, you know it's more than that. We have a bond people rarely get, and it's far beyond any animalistic lust though I'll not deny the pull exists." Adam pulled her close only to have her yank away and run. Groaning to himself the man sighed. Adam was still convinced he'd been right, but he shouldn't have pushed so hard -not with someone that torn.