Hey guys! Sorry it's been over a month since I updated, but with the hustle and bustle of graduating and starting my job, I've had little time to write. My schedule is fairly hectic, so I don't know how much time I'll have to write in the future, at least while I'm still adjusting to post-college life (LOL), but I promise to update as soon as I possibly can! Enjoy the next chappie! Just a heads up, it was written a bit hurriedly since I wanted to get something up for all of you, so I apologize if there are type-o's/if anything doesn't seem to flow exactly right. Still, I hope you like it.

Chapter 10

Avonlea lay in her bed, touching her fingers to her lips. She felt as if they were palpitating in accordance with the beating of her heart, and she had never been so aware of their presence since the very first time she had been kissed. But the two circumstances hardly compared. Carl Lawrence had stolen a kiss from her at the gate after taking her on a walk on a Sunday afternoon – nothing more than a soft peck. Her kiss with Little Joe had been deep and overwhelming and soft in an entirely different way. Carl had been shy and slightly embarrassed – a characteristic some women would find endearing, but Joe had been passionate and confident, sweeping her off her feet. She couldn't get the vision of his eyelids closed over his eyes in euphoria out of her mind, and she could still feel his cheek upon her own. Had her mother felt this way about her father once? It suddenly hit her, the expression in Joe's eyes. She could not ignore the sincerity she had found there and it confused her. Everything she thought she knew about the male species was beginning to crumble. Perhaps they weren't all deserters. Perhaps they had true feeling, like the expression she had seen in Joe's eyes earlier that night.

Joe, on the other hand, slept soundly, a contented smile spread across his lips as he dreamt. Kissing a woman was all in a day's work for the youngest Cartwright, but he drew a particular amount of satisfaction from his success in this instance. What a wonderful moment they had shared. He couldn't get the vision of her that night, standing in the doorway, or the touch of her cool skin on his out of his head. He was most definitely falling for Avonlea Summers, and every moment they were together only enforced his inevitable surrender.

"Is somethin' wrong, Avonlea?" Joe asked as her cantered up to the pretty maid. She had been uncharacteristically quite throughout the duration of their lesson and, though she was growing more and more confident with each one, it almost seemed as if she was avoiding him when she hurried ahead of him. She mounted herself without accepting any of his help as she usually did and their eyes had hardly met once. He had heard of playing hard to get, but this was something else entirely. It was almost as if she was scared of him somehow.

She looked back at him, allowing her eyes to stare into his momentarily. "I thought I was improving."

"You are, every day," he assured her instantly, drawing his horse closer. "Just seems like somethin's on your mind. You've hardly said a word all afternoon."

She turned away. "I'm fine, Joe."

"I just thought, after last night, you'd feel more, I don't know, comfortable with me."

She couldn't help herself; she had to turn back and gaze into his eyes. They were so imploring that she felt her own lining with tears, but quickly brushed them back. She had known the Cartwrights long enough now to understand local gossip, and Little Joe was recognized as quite a western Romeo around these parts. Oh, he was harmless enough, but his reputation didn't instill much confidence in his loyalty as a romantic partner. She knew she would always have him as a friend, but she still didn't quite believe that another beautiful woman wouldn't come along and sweep him off his feet as she had.

"I'm sorry about last night, Joe."

"Sorry?" He was absolutely shocked.

"I don't want to hurt you."

"What d'ya mean?"

"I shouldn't have kissed you."

"Why not?"

"You really like me, don't you?"

"If it isn't obvious by now, I'm not doin' a very good job showin' ya."

"You think I'm pretty."

Joe drew his horse right up next to hers. "I think you're beautiful."

"But I'm sure you've known lots of beautiful girls, Joe."

He shrugged. "I guess so. Avonlea, what are you getting at?"

"I can't feel for you the way you feel for me, Joe."

"Avonlea-" He reached out his hand to touch hers, but she pulled her horse away.

"You're a good friend, Little Joe. I hope we'll always be friends," she said softly, unable to look at him.

"Just friends?"

"Is that such a bad thing?"

"When ya feel stronger for someone than just friendship, it's the worst thing in the world."

Silence followed as she cast her eyes upon him once again and then finally muttered, "D-do you love me, Little Joe?"

Joe pulled his horse up alongside hers once more. "What if I said yes?"

"I'd tell you you were crazy."

He smirked. "There's nothin' crazy about fallin' in love with a beautiful woman."

"You are crazy, Little Joe," she whispered, more to herself than to Joe.

Silence followed, and finally she looked up at the sky, noticing the deep orange hue of the sun as it met the horizon, lighting up the sky with one last burst of color before disappearing for the night.

"It's late. We should be getting back. Grandfather will be wondering where I am."

Joe consented wordlessly, knowing that the conversation was over and there was no use in pursuing it. He shook his head and allowed her to fall in behind him as he led her back to the ranch. Every time they talked he felt more confused than he had the time before. She kissed him one day and told him she could never love him the next. What was going on? Was it all just a game to her? And what was she afraid of? He knew now there must be something, for every time he drew near she pulled away like a frightened fawn.

Adam sat on the front porch, strumming his guitar as they approached. After riding in an uncomfortable silence all the way back to the ranch, it was a welcome sound and instantly shook Avonlea from her daze.

"How're the lessons comin' along?" Adam asked as she and Joe made their way to the house after tying up the horses.

"She won't be needin' 'em pretty soon," Joe said with a weak smile.

"Joe's a good teacher," Avonlea added.

"He has his moments," Adam agreed with a laugh.

"What were you playing as we rode up?"

"Just a new song I picked up."

"What's it called?"

"Red River Valley."

"Oh, I love that song. When I picked up the stage in Missouri there was a man who rode with me for several days. He played it almost every night, and I fell in love with it."

"Well, why don't you accompany me, then? You haven't sung for us since your first visit."

She blushed slightly but took a seat beside him, Joe beside her, as Adam began to sing.

"From this valley they say you are goin'

I will miss your bright eyes and sweet smile

They say you are taking the sunshine

That has brightened our pathway a while."

Avonlea leaned in closer to him and joined in the chorus.

"Come and sit by my side if you love me

Do not hasten to bid me ado

But remember the Red River Valley

And the cowboy who loves you so true."

The words sank into Little Joe's heart, watching Avonlea's face brightening as she exchanged fond glances with his older brother. He knew now that he truly did love her, but she seemed much more comfortable with the other members of his family than with him – the man she had kissed only a night ago. Perhaps he was too forward. She needed a man like Adam, who took his time and never fell head over heels, but he couldn't help it. There was something so intriguing, so alluring about her that he couldn't repel his feelings. He wanted to be the one to open her up and save her, to hold her hand and teach her all he knew. The riding lessons were a start, but they wouldn't be enough. He wanted to spend even more time with her, but it dawned on him that this might not be possible any longer, now that she seemed to be pulling away just as he thought she would begin to draw closer.

The two continued to sing, Adam taking the second verse and Avonlea repeated the chorus with him, and Joe felt, as he listened to their voices merge in perfect harmony, that the words could not be more appropriate than in that moment.

"I've been thinking a long time, my darlin'

Of those sweet words you never would say

Now at last all my fine hopes have vanished

They say you are going away

Come and sit by my side if you love me

Do not hasten to bid me ado

But remember the Red River Valley

And the cowboy who loves you so true."