"I thought it was Hannah out here," I said, without thinking it thru.

Wrong thing to say.

"Hannah knows about this?" Adam asked, his voice raising.

"No! Well, not exactly-" I said lamely.

"Why don't you share with us why you're dressed like a-" Brian hesitated, "Like that?"

"I was just trying it on-"

Adam went to the bottom of the stairs, and hollered down, "Hannah!" at the top of his lungs.

"She's not down there-"

"Where is she then?" Adam demanded, before bellowing up the stairs, "Hannah!"

"I'm right here," Hannah said, coming into the kitchen from the living room, and pulling the door shut behind her. "What are you

yelling about?"

Adam gave a sweeping gesture towards me. "Harlie says you know about this."

Now, I'd done it. Adam was mad at Hannah, too.

"I didn't say that!" I protested.

"I know about it, yes," Hannah said, still mildly enough, as if I hadn't spoken at all.

"What in the hell, girl," Adam said, loudly enough that he could be overheard in the living room.

"First of all," Hannah said, "there's no need for you to get so upset. Harlie's not going to keep the outfit."

"You're damn straight she's not gonna keep it," Adam said.

"Adam-" I began.

"You, hush," he said, pointing a finger at me.

"Secondly," Hannah continued on, her eyes snapping in temper, "Lower your voice. You're acting like a fool."

"A fool, huh?" Adam growled.

"Everybody cool it," Crane spoke up.

"You can be heard in the next county," Hannah said. "Crane, will you take some more coffee into the living room, please?" She gave

Adam a pointed look. "Since you seem to be the only level-headed one here right now."

Adam glowered at her. "Hannah-"

"Why do we need coffee in the living room?" Crane asked.

"Because our guest might like some more," Hannah answered Crane, though she looked at Adam.

"Guest? What guest?" Brian asked.

"Karissa has come to visit," Hannah said.

"Oh, boy," Brian said, in disgust.

"Well, that explains a lot," Adam said, his hands on his hips. "I assume that's where this 'snazzy' little outfit came from?" The way he mocked

the word 'snazzy' spoke volumes of his opinion of the outfit.

"Yes, that's right," Hannah said.

I hadn't seen Hannah and Adam have a go-around for a long time. And this one looked as though it could wind up to be a

rough one. My heart was pounding. I hate it when they fight.

"I was just trying it on-" I began again, determined to stop things from escalating.

"I think I told you to hush," Adam snapped.

"Go change out of it," Crane told me, giving me a little push toward the mudroom.

I went into the mudroom, stripping off the offending skirt and sweater. My casted hand caught on the sweater as I pulled it over my

head. "Bat shit," I muttered.

I yanked on my pajama bottoms, and then shoved my arms into the top. Unbuttoning was one thing. Buttoning back up was a lot harder. I buttoned

a couple of the top buttons, and came back out into the kitchen, struggling with the other ones.

Hannah was still talking.

"Karissa is well aware that Harlie isn't keeping the clothes. Or the boots."

"Boots, too?" Adam demanded.

"Yes. Boots. We've already discussed it with her. Harlie was only trying the clothes on because it meant so much to Karissa."

"Even though she's not gonna keep them?" Adam asked, incredulously, as though that was the stupidest thing he'd ever heard

in his life.

"Yes. That's exactly right," Hannah snapped.

"This isn't Hannah's fault," I said, stoutly. "She didn't want me to try the clothes on-"

Adam turned on me in fury. "She told you no? And you did it anyway?"

Oh, boy. I took a step back.

"I didn't tell her no," Hannah said. "And I think we've talked this pretty much into the ground. Harlie, pick up the sweater and skirt,

and go put them back into the box. Tell Karissa we'll be right along behind you."

"Yes, ma'm," I said, scooping up the sweater and skirt, and half-walking, half-hopping, went back to the living room.

Karissa was still sitting in the same exact spot on the couch, a cup of coffee in her hands. To me she looked mostly curious

as she asked, "Is everything alright?"

"Fine," I said, "or it will be."

I sat down on the couch, and laid the clothing back on top of the box it had come in.

"I tried them on," I said. "Then-"

"Yes," Karissa said dryly. "I heard."

"Oh," I said, embarrassed. "Well, I guess none of the guys are very up on what's in fashion." I meant it as a joke, but Karissa

nodded.

"It seems that way."

After a couple of moments, she added, "It's really a shame. That you can't dress as other young women do. Just because you live

in ranch country shouldn't mean that you have to forgo all-"

I heard steps approaching, so I cut her off in mid-sentence. "Really, it's ok. Not too many girls around here wear those sort of clothes, anyway."

Hannah led the way into the living room, Crane and Adam behind her. Brian had obviously decided to abdicate.

I could tell Adam was still ticked off, but he was calm enough, on the surface, anyway.

"Karissa," he said, with a nod of his head.

"Hello, Adam. And Crane. How are you both today?"
"Doing well," Crane said.

"And you, Adam?" she asked, turning to look up at him.

"The day's early yet," Adam said. "Things are bound to start looking up."

I winced. He might as well have declared open warfare.

I watched as the two of them faced off. I hadn't realized I was holding my breath, waiting for an explosion, until Karissa did

one of her about-faces. and smiled disarmingly at Adam.

"I guess I've muddled things again," she said. "Shopping is one of my vices, I'm afraid."

Adam didn't reply, and Karissa talked on. "I see so many things that I'd like to buy for Harlie-Perhaps I lack good judgement."

I could tell by the way that she said that last part that she thought Adam would refute the fact that she had poor judgement.

He didn't.

Instead, he said quietly, "Perhaps."

High color rose in Karissa's face. I knew she was shocked by the fact that her charm didn't work on Adam.

After a moment of stilted silence, Adam said, "Well, we'd best get back to work. You ready, Crane?"

"Ready," Crane said.

Adam showed no poor manners when he told Karissa goodbye. He was civil enough. Karissa answered with her own goodbye

but I saw the ice in her eyes.

When they'd gone, the three of us sat there for a long quiet moment again.

"I think I'll let you and Harlie visit," Hannah said, getting to her feet. "I've got some housework to finish."

Karissa nodded, and then said, "I could take Harlie out to lunch. Perhaps to Angels Camp?"

I remembered, and I knew she did, too, that when Adam and Brian agreed to me visiting with Karissa, that the visits were only to be

at our house.

Hannah spoke quietly, "I don't think so. Not today, anyway. Harlie really needs to get the ice back on her ankle, and try not to walk on it."

"Of course, that's right," Karissa said.

After Hannah had gone back towards the kitchen, Karissa looked at me, her face sad.

"It seems that Adam and I will never reach a point where we're friends."

I'm not claiming to be the smartest teenager, but I'm not completely without some savvy, either.

"Do you want to be friends with him?" I asked her directly. "Because it doesn't really seem as though you do."

Karissa was surprised, and then she gave a slight shrug, looking sheepish. "Well. Maybe friends is the wrong choice of words. If we could be at least

civil to one another, I think it would make the future easier for all of us."

"He was civil when you came to lunch last week," I defended. "And when he and Brian met up with you awhile back, to talk things over,

he was civil then, wasn't he?"

"He was," she agreed.

"Adam doesn't like to be pushed," I told her. "Neither does Brian."

"I've learned that much," Karissa said, dryly. "It's just, that with my plans for the future, it's hard to be patient."

I readjusted the ice on my ankle. "What are your plans?" I asked, thinking she was talking about herself.

"Oh, so many things," Karissa said, looking enthused again. "Traveling, museums, all of those things."

"Where are you planning to travel to?" I asked.

"Well, I'm open to anyplace. So that will depend on you."

"Why would it depend on me?" I asked, puzzled.

Karissa gave me a smile. "Because, sweetheart, I plan on traveling with you. So, it will be the locations that interest you, the places you

want to go."

I was so startled that I just stared at her for a moment.

"You want me to travel with you?" I asked.

"Of course. Isn't that something you would like?"

"I'd like to travel, I guess," I said. "Sometime. In the future."

"The time to travel is when you're young, Harlie. That's the very best time to visit Europe."

Europe? Now I was past surprised. I thought she'd been talking about visiting nearby states, or something.

"Europe?" I asked breathlessly. To me, Europe has always seemed someplace vague, not really attainable, way out of the

realm of everyday life.

"I see your eyes all lit up," Karissa said. "So Europe does interest you, doesn't it?"

"Well, yeah, I think I'd like that. Someday."

"Someday is soon, Harlie," she said, and I felt a sense of foreboding washing over me.

"Well, I couldn't go now," I said. "And after I graduate, I've got to start thinking about college, and veterinary school."

"Why?' she asked abruptly.

I looked at her, confused. "Why, what?"

"Why do you have to go to college right away? You could take a year or so off to travel."

"If I do that, it will just be that much longer until I finish," I pointed out. "Veterinary school is tough-"

"So, I've heard. I've often wondered why you feel you must go into that field? Is it because of the older man. Doc B?"

"Doc G," I corrected her.

"Doc G. It's because of him that you feel this way?"

"I'd been thinking about it before I started working with him. But part of it is because of him, a little, maybe."

"I'd just hate to see you pushed into something that's not really what you want," Karissa went on. "Out of a sense of trying to

please your brothers, or because of the memory of Doc G."

"It's not like that," I said, feeling frustrated. "Doc G was the least pushy person I've ever met! He would never want me to do

something I didn't want to do!"

At her startled look at my outburst, I went on, "And neither would any of the family!"

"Alright, sweetheart," she said, in a conciliatory tone. "I just know how much you want to please your brothers."

"I do want to please them," I agreed. "You make it sound as though there's something wrong with that."

"Not at all. It's admirable. You're very fortunate to have such a family."

Another one of her about-turns. I looked at her, confused, and saw only an agreeing smile.

"I am lucky to have them," I said.

"Most girls your age would be rebelling."

"Well, sometimes I do," I said.

"When you feel they're too strict? Or unfair?" she asked.

"Sometimes."

Hannah chose that moment to come back thru the living room, her arms filled with folded baby clothes.

"Everything going alright?" she asked.

"Harlie and I are having a lovely talk," Karissa said.

"Good," Hannah said, and then looked at me. "Do you need some Tylenol or anything?" she asked.

"No. I'm fine."

"Well, we'll have some lunch here after a bit," Hannah said.

"Will the fellows be coming in for lunch?' Karissa asked.

"I think so," Hannah said.

Karissa nodded. "I should be going. I have a meeting."

"Oh. You can't stay for lunch?" Hannah asked, looking surprised.

"Not today. Don't worry, I'll come again," Karissa said breezily, standing up.

Hannah went to get Karissa's coat as I got to my feet as well.

"You take care of that hand, and that ankle, too," Karissa told me.

"I will."

When Hannah handed Karissa her coat, she put it on, and then patted my arm, and started for the door.

"Here," Hannah said, picking up the box with the skirt and sweater. "You don't want to forget these."

"Oh, of course not," Karissa said, taking the package, and then picking up the boot box as well.

Hannah and I went out onto the porch with her. We watched as she got in, and then she waved jauntily, and drove away, down the

driveway.

"Whew," Hannah said.

I had to admit, at that particular moment, I knew exactly how Hannah felt.

7