When I started this chapter I was going for a suspenseful ending, hope I have succeeded. Anyways thanks and please R&R

Chapter 12: The Thanksgiving Festival

Dante got up bright and early on the fourteenth and got the cookies ready for Elli, he would take Night for a ride and go and drop them by her house before the end of the day.

Elli had not taken up all of his thoughts though, the rumours of Karen drinking a lot made him uneasy, he was sure she had shared all of her secrets with him, at least, that is what she had said, she said she wouldn't, and wasn't, keeping anything from him. He still thought that maybe the rumours weren't true, after all, his own advice was that they were all lies or twisted, she probably only visited the inn and had a few glasses one day and left, that was all. But since the inn Dante had heard Manna, the motor mouth of the village, say such things to Anna.

Oh well, he could not let such things hinder him from his work, Karen was gone, she was probably never going to come back.

Dante tended to the animals and pastures when he heard something approach, he turned to find Stu, Elli's little brother, staring up at him.

"Hey there Stu, what's up?" Said Dante as sweetly as he could manage, it was a stretch.

"My grandmother heard from Miss Anna, who hear from Miss Manna, who heard from…someone that you love my sister Elli, I'm protecting her from bad people, are you a bad person" Said Stu trying to take on a low voice that did not fit his young face or structure.

"Why, no, I don't think so" Said Dante laughing.

"Then do you love her?" Said Stu sharply, yet he sounded unsure. That stopped Dante's laughter, he had to consider what he said now, if he said he didn't he would never be able to tell Elli otherwise, and if he said he did the whole town would know and if Karen ever came back he could never have her back. Dante had to stop living in the past, his aim was to create a future, and Elli was going to be a part of it, love or not.

"I guess I do, but we'll keep that between you and me, top secret!" Said Dante playfully, winking at Stu.

"Top Secret!" Said Stu as he made a salute and began to walk off.

"You're a good guy Dante, take care of my big sis" Said Stu before walking off and going down the street.

Fable came up to Dante and sat near his feet. Dante patted her, she was a good wolf, she protected the animals of the farm and acted as a sheep dog when Dante needed her to. Night also came over and stood near Dante, they could feel that he was downcast and they were trying to comfort him the only way they knew how, by being close.

Dante say that the sun was going down so he went inside and grabbed the cookies. He rode bareback on Night as they went down the street at a trot to where Elli lived. The policeman Harris was standing outside and Elli's grandmother, Ellen, was out the front with a sad look on her face and tears in her eyes. Dante rode up and asked what had happened, Ellen burst into tears as Harris explained that Elli had gone to the woods that morning and should have been back at 12pm, it was now 5:30pm and she was not back, they feared something had happened to her.

Dante backed up on Night and heeled him to a gallop towards Mother's Hill, the fastest way there was through the farm, as he and Night passed through he whistled to Fable and she joined in the chase. Because of the rough terrain and the trees everywhere Fable could easily keep in time with Night. Dante stopped at the foot of Mother's Hill and instructed Fable to look for Elli; he gave her a sniff of a handkerchief Elli had left that smelled like her perfume. Fable caught the scent and dashed off, Dante and Night followed. Fable went around the base of the mountain to the forest bellow Mother's Hill and ran into the forest. Night followed Fable easily as she was trying to keep a hold of the scent and it was slowing her down a bit.

Fable slowed soon as she began to get closer to her target. Soon Fable came across a bundle on the forest floor, she sniffed it and began to prance around happily to show that it was Elli, she licked the bundle and jumped back. Dante got off Night to see what had caused her to dislike the taste of Elli, Fable loved Elli and was forever licking her hands and face. When Dante approached the bundle and turned it over he could see that it was Elli and Dante took a step back in shock.

Tears formed in his eyes…why hadn't he been there…

Author's Note

Sorry this one was so short, but I had to chuck in a few shorties. Please R&R