Author's Note: One final warning: Go see Tuck Everlasting in theaters this weekend! Oh, and I hope no one gets mad about the cliffhangers. Some seem to think that I am being cruel by leaving them like that. I hope that no one is upset with me again today. Did I give away too much? Sorry! Read on to find out…

Chapter Twelve

Hours later, Winnie rolled over in her bed, unable to sleep. Her hands were clasped together over her stomach and her head rested comfortably against the fluffy down pillow. Rebecca had loaned her a flannel nightgown that reminded her of the one offered by Mae Tuck when she had slept at their house years ago, only Rebecca's was much smaller. Winnie's toes curled slowly under the quilt, filling her with warmth. She had never been so comfortable in her entire life.

But she still couldn't sleep.

Winnie tossed once more and sighed. Her head swirled with images of Jesse laughing and talking, singing and showing off for her. She thought back to the night that she had stayed at their home in the woods and remembered the way his face looked in the moonlight when he suggested they get married. Oh, how she wished he were here now to ask her again. Then maybe she wouldn't wonder if she was making this journey for nothing.

Her thoughts returned to the Fergusons and dinner. After they had polished off the pot roast, Rebecca had brought out a freshly baked apple pie in honor of their guest. Winnie was very flattered at the gesture and felt happy that the couple had welcomed her so kindly into their home.

As it turned out, Tom was quite the piano player. He sat down at the bench after dessert and performed a few songs for them. Rebecca accompanied him with her beautiful singing voice while Winnie looked on. They made quite the pair, and Winnie had felt that indescribable feeling creeping up on her again. She wondered if Jesse had a good singing voice.

Now, lying in the Ferguson's bed, she found that she desperately needed to know the answer to that and other questions. What if he didn't want her? What if he thought she was ugly? What if he turned away from her in disgust? She gasped as another horrible image descended upon her. What if he had found someone else?

The picture of Jesse with another girl brought tears to Winnie's eyes. No, she chided herself. You cannot think of things like that. The Tucks had stumbled upon her quite by accident and would never chance to tell another person their story, especially after their friends had thought them witches. No, Jesse could not have found anyone else. She knew that he was fond of her and she knew that he would be waiting for her to return to him. He would never betray her by finding another girl.

Winnie turned toward the window and looked out at the moon. Jesse was waiting for her. The thought made her smile. He was waiting for her to come back to him so they could get married and live together in the woods. By now, Winnie was grinning madly. Yes, they would be very happy. All she had to do was drink the spring water.

Winnie had been so absorbed in letting her imagination run wild that she had nearly forgotten that she would have to take the drink. Before she could even think about what she was doing, Winnie sprang out of bed and dashed over to her satchel on top of the wooden chest. She dug around among the clothes and finally found what she was looking for in the pocket of her dress.

Winnie looked at the bottle for only a moment before unscrewing the lid. Inside, the water gleamed, reflecting the moonlight streaming in from the window. It occurred to her that it didn't look any different from normal water. Anyone who didn't know the secret wouldn't have thought there was anything unusual about it at all.

Without wasting another second, Winnie raised the bottle to her lips.