I paced around the pretty little corridor impatiently. So much for Kathleen telling me not to be late. I think she successfully managed that one by herself thank you very much. Seriously though, how much time do you need to get a sixteen year old girl ready? I mean, considering that Meybelline hasn't even been invented yet. I strolled up to the door and knocked again impatiently.

"Just coming!" Kathleen screeched from inside. That would have been comforting if she hadn't said exactly the same thing fifteen minutes ago. I was considering mentioning that to her when the door flung open. Now I understood why she'd needed the extra time.

She had a nasty poison oak reaction all over her hands. Big red blotches covered them like burn marks. She looked at me mournfully.

"Oh I'm so incredibly sorry Susie." She told me sadly. I was about to correct her, that my name is Suze not Susie when I noticed my own hands. Not again.

"How did I touch poison oak? I never go near the stuff." I shrieked in horror.

"I'm afraid 'tis my doing. You see last night when I took your hands as I was telling you about Charles. Well, I never noticed what that my skin may have come into contact with the wretched plant. If I had I surely would have stayed away from you. Considering your position with the engagement."

"There won't be any engagement." I muttered under my breath.

"Oh don't be so silly Susie. This is your chance to 'get to know each other' as you put it. As is the same with me and Hector." She told me sorrowfully, looking down at her own ravished hands.

Oh great, so first this girl gives me a hideous, skin deforming allergic reaction. Then she goes about stealing my boyfriend. Jeez. How much can I kill her in one day? I guess it isn't really her fault and all. I mean, how can she know all this stuff? Except from the poison oak thing. That one would take longer to forgive. And the Jesse thing sounded like a crush if I ever heard one. I took deep cleansing breaths, trying to restrain from tearing out her hair.

"It's Suze." I told her unemotionally. She turned her pretty blue gaze up into my own. She was like the only person I'd ever met that was shorter than me. It felt kind of weird.

"What is Suze?" she asked looking visibly confused. Obviously she thought it was another of the nasty slang words I'd learnt from my 'servants'.

"It's my name. You called me Suzie. My name's Suze. If you shorten it that is." I informed her testily.

She wrinkled up her dainty little nose in distaste, obviously not liking the new word at all. I was seriously considering telling her the truth just to shock her. That's how annoyed I was. But then I remembered Jesse, who I couldn't just leave. Especially if she intended to get her claws into him.

"No." she told me firmly, "that will not do at all. I shall call you Susannah, if Susie aggrieves you so much."

I rolled my eyes at her, feeling totally out of depth with this girls' power to get under my skin. We'd barely said hello and I was already planning her murder. I remembered what my mums' psychiatrist back in New York told me. Deep breaths and you'll be fine Suze. Just count to ten………………

"Fine." I told her shortly, having had enough of her lady-like-ness already.

I took the gloves she passed to me without much thought. They were the long ones that everyone seemed to wear. Mine were a creamy white colour to go with my dress. Hers were ruby red. I rolled my eyes again. It was probably the most daring thing she'd ever done.

We hurried down the narrow staircase as fast as we could. It was no joke let me tell you. All those old films where the women just bounded down the stairs to meet her husband or whatever were completely off mark. It was like an Olympic sport. Even Kathleen seemed to find it hard to step at such a fast speed.

She was panting by the time we reached the bottom. That obviously being the only form of exercise that she'd ever done in her life. I almost felt a tad sympathetic. It must be horrible growing up thinking you're a figurine doll, that's only purpose is to marry and squeeze out a load of kids. Boy kids that is. Families didn't actually want girls most of the time.

"Here they are Mr Turner." Said a petite servant with a tight black bun. She was dressed just like any olden day servant would be expected to. It instantly reminded me of the flower girl out of Oliver. She rushed up to meet us as we brushed down our skirts. A habit I'd picked up almost instantly from Kathleen. She seemed to do it every five seconds.

"Come along now girls. The men have hectic schedules' to attend to on their return." She fussed primly. I instantly realised that I wasn't going to like her.

"Come Susannah, my mother will be most excited to talk to you." Kathleen told me excitedly, taking one of my poison-oak-y hands and pulling me forwards.

Not even the realisation of what I was going to see prepared me for the shock of seeing him again. Jesse. He looked almost exactly like when I had last seen him. Except the glow that usually surrounded him was gone, making his skin look much darker than before. You could see that he worked on a ranch. I opened and closed my mouth a few times stupidly before I realised that Kathleen was already introducing us.

"……………..and this is Susannah from Oregon. She is staying with us until her father returns from England."

"And what is it your Father does?" Mrs Turner asked me politely. I knew her instantly as Kathleen's mom. She had the same crystal blue eyes that were such an important part of Kathleen herself.

"He owns a ranch in Oregon." I told her as calmly as I could. Considering the circumstances that wasn't very much. Especially as I noticed my own fatal mistake. Jesse's dad owned a ranch.

Sure enough his brow went up inquisitively. I sighed inwardly. Just like old times. Him telling me I'm wrong and me hopelessly trying to convince him I'm not. Plus the whole lying factor. Should be a piece of cake.

"Where about is this ranch? I've never heard of such a thing in Oregon." He told me. Was it my imagination or was he mocking me? God I hate it when he does that. He knows I'm lying and he's playing with me. Great. Thanks a lot Jesse.

"Then you must be mistaken." I told him in my hardest-most-no-nonsense voice. It only proceeded to make his other brow shoot up as well. He obviously had never encountered someone as 'bold' as me. I'm sure he was used to girls just dropping down at his feet. As most guys in this time obviously were.

"I'm almost certain I'm not. My father also owns a ranch on the borders of California. He would know if there was a land owner in Oregon, and warn them." he told me, sounding slightly amused.

"And why would that be?" I asked, feeling bored of the conversation already. This could go on forever. He knew I was lying. Why didn't he just come out and say it?

"Because there is a rogue for every inch of that county. It is the haven of thieves and murderers." He informed me, like I was an idiot for not thinking about that little formality when I made the whole thing up. He obviously thought I was stupid for not realising that someone may know that no-one worked the land in Oregon. Luckily for me I was a fast thinker as well.

"My father taught me to take care of myself. No rogue would dare come within a kilometre of my ranch. I would have him begging for release before he even lays a hand on me."

I heard the women gasp right on queue. Obviously rogues were one thing little figurines -such as myself- don't handle. Jesse however smiled. He must have heard the message in what I was saying. Keep the hell away from me and you won't get hurt. The problem was he didn't seem to be taking the threat too seriously. I sighed as I looked at the shocked expression on Kathleen's pretty face.

"You cannot be serious. You truly beat rogues to the pulp?" she asked in astonishment.

"Many times." I told her, deliberately avoiding Jesse's gaze. I'd only met him this morning and I'd already screwed up my chances at getting to know the guy again.

"As much as I find Susannah's ability to kill men with her bare hands fascinating, I also wish to witness the beauty of the forest before night fall. So can we please leave now?" Mr Turner asked, obviously having no interest in my past exploits.

I was surprised when Jesse instead of walking off and ignoring me like I'd expected, held out his hand. I took it feeling confused. So, apparently was Charles, who'd obviously planned to be taking me on this outing himself. On Kathleen's instruction of course. He got over his loss quickly however by offering his hand to Kathleen instead. I was also relieved that Kathleen had insisted on both of us wearing gloves. I would have hated to have monster hands now. I smiled. Maybe things would work out.

That is until Jesse bent down and whispered in my ear.

"We really need to talk Miss Susannah."

And proceeded to lead me in a totally different direction to the others. Not that they noticed. I looked up at him guiltily as he abruptly stopped in front of the barn house.

When I saw his dark eyes however, they weren't angry. Instead he looked kind of half amused. Like he knew he should be serious but couldn't help finding the situation funny. I however was not laughing.

"Now," He told me with small smile, "tell me the truth. And this time, please leave out the fairytales."

I felt my stomach drop as I realised something else. He was probably here to marry Maria. Which gave me one week to make him remember that he loves me.

Again.

A/N: heya! WOW. Thank you SO much for getting me over one hundred reviews. YAY!

:does weird little dance:

I hope you guys are taking good care of your invisible smurfs. They can be quite a handful sometimes.

But…um, yeah. Just to answer some questions:

Sweet Shortey- Yes, 'Bonnie' is a real word and it does mean beautiful. They used it back in the 19th century and stuff. I have a feeling that I spelt it incorrectly though. If I have then I'm sorry. Lol

Sweet Shortey- Kathleen is the same age as Suze. Sixteen. I mentioned it in this chappy, so thanks for reminding me! I would have forgotten to say otherwise. You will gradually learn more about her as the story carries on. But thanks for reminding me about that one!

Booksrule39- LOL. I seriously doubt that Charles will turn out to be a reincarnated version of Paul. I have special plans for both of the men in question. You will just have to wait and see what they are though. Sorry about making your head hurt!

All these things are my answers for now though. I have a habit of rapidly changing my mind. Lol. So the best thing you can do is keep reading to find out. Lol. Advertising enough yet?

Please review! Today's special give-away is: Invisible Banana Dudes that Dance the Macarena. How can you resist? Those little banana dudes are just too darn cute!

All you have to do is push the little blue button at the bottom…………..