Georgia reckoned it was appropriate that she and Laney had agreed to meet up with the Konohana boys at high noon, because her stomach was doin' a jig like she was headin' to a showdown unarmed.

It wasn't helpin' none that it was shapin' up to be one of the hottest Summer days in recent memory. The sun was beatin' down on her and her two favorite girls as she rode Dakota up the steep incline of the mountain. Laney's arms circled tight around Georgia's waist, holdin' on for dear life.

They weren't trotting fast enough for Laney to have any reason to be clingin' like a burr, but she wasn't experienced with riding the way Georgia was. Between them, on Laney's lap and digging against Georgia's back, was the picnic basket they'd stocked full of summer treats to chow down on later. Laney had thrown in some napkins and wet-naps too, because Goddess knew those dirty boys weren't gonna think to bring any along.

The first thing she was gonna do when they arrived at the waterfall was let Dakota have a nice, long drink from the creek. Heck, Georgia had half a mind to join her, get on her knees and gulp down the water 'til her thirst was quenched.

They reached the mountain's summit, and Georgia urged Dakota to slow down even more. She released her grip on the reins momentarily, swiping at the sweat sticking her bangs to her forehead. That dip in the river couldn't come soon enough, and it was the first time since bein' invited that Georgia could say she was lookin' forward to it.

Swimmin' meant wearing a swimsuit, which she currently was hiding 'neath knee-length board shorts and the sleeveless terry-cloth zip-up. Georgia's opinion was that her wearin' a swimsuit was akin to tryin' to put flip-flops on Dakota. Ridiculous and useless, and people were gonna do nothin' but gawk at how silly it was.

"You know," Laney spoke up as they began their descent towards the Konahana side, "Phillip said that this get-together was all Kana's idea."

Georgia's response was a snort that could have rivaled one of Dakota's. Why'd Laney have to say it all sparkly-like, as if Georgia was supposed to be awed and, even, interested?

"Well, then Phillip'd be lyin' like a no-legged dog, 'cause if Kana ever had an idea of his own, it'd die of loneliness. I'm only goin' 'cause you want me to come along, and we spent all that money on these new swimsuits. Might as well get some use out of 'em."

"The guys'll be wearing swimsuits too." Georgia could practically hear Laney wiggling her eyebrows, suggestin' this was supposed to be a good thing.

"'Course they will, they ain't gonna be swimmin' around buck naked!" Goddess, or would they? She wouldn't put it past any of 'em, and suddenly it felt like fire ants were crawlin' up her neck.

"Hm, now why would you be thinking of something like that?" Laney teased.

"If you say one more word involvin' Kana and swimsuits, I'm turnin' this horse around!" Georgia directed Dakota into the beginning of a u-turn, and Laney conceded.

"Okay! I won't, I promise!" Her grip left Georgia's waist and, Georgia assumed, was hugging the picnic basket where her precious pineapple creme bars were stored. There wasn't much that meant more to Laney than sharing new recipes with her friends, and that wasn't fixin' to happen if they turned around now.

They continued on in a welcome silence, and after a few minutes, the waterfall came into sight—and into earshot, as Georgia could hear its low roar. The cool mist drifting out from its waters cut through the oppressive humidity surrounding them. She brought Dakota to a halt where the grass faded into a stone bridge that crossed high above the creek.

It didn't take long to find the boys. Even with the rushing waterfall, she could hear 'em carrying on down below. She saw Phillip first, his ginger hair makin' him stand out like a fly on a wedding cake. He was sitting on the edge of the dock, feet hangin' in. Dirk was splashing around, hootin' something that was making Phillip retaliate by kicking sprays of water at him.

Kana... well, Georgia didn't see him, but it ain't like she was lookin' for him!

Laney greeted them by calling down in her best Georgia impersonation. "Hey, y'all!"

Phillip and Dirk cheered and hollered, motioning for the girls to come and join them. Georgia could only shake her head. If she saw a bear dance by in a frilly pink tutu, she'd think it more normal than those two ding-dongs.

"You go on," she told Laney as they dismounted. "I'm gonna go tie Dakota over yonder. Don't let those hooligans eat all our snacks 'fore the day's even begun!"

Laney laughed, setting off with the picnic basket ahead of Georgia, practically skipping down the ledges leading to the river.

Georgia took her time guiding Dakota, and was so focused on her baby girl that she didn't notice she had company until an all-too-familiar voice disrupted her.

"Hey Georgia!"

She didn't need to turn and look to know it was that danged Kana, but she did anyway. Turn, and look.

His swimming trunks were the same leafy green as his usual work duds, but the half above it... it sure wasn't usual in any way, to what Georgia was used to seein'.

'Course he was firm and muscular—he put in a hard day's work on the daily. No surprise in the least, but Georgia couldn't keep herself from admiring, and now she didn't have any need to share a drink with Dakota, because her mouth started waterin' perfectly fine on its own.

"Where the hell were you?" She demanded, hopin' the slight crack in her voice weren't as obvious to Kana as it'd been in her own head.

"Just goin' for a swim." He grinned, running a hand through his hair. It was hangin' limp, like a shaggy dog who'd just gotten a bath. "Over there."

Kana nodded south a-ways from them, towards what could only be considered a pond, where another dock jutted out. It wasn't as deep as the area around the waterfall, but when it was hotter and stickier than the devil's armpit, Georgia couldn't see why anyone would be choosy 'bout where they'd go paddling around, so long as it were there.

"And actually," he continued, "I figured you'd bring Dakota, so I was waiting here so I could show you where to tie her up. Plus, y'know, Dirk and Phillip are fun, but I needed a bit of a break after they tried to pants me for the fifth time. Two against one gets old."

Georgia had no idea what to say to that—between Laney and those two, why was everyone so obsessed with Kana wearin' as little clothes as possible?

Luckily—or maybe, unluckily—Georgia was saved from havin' to speak by Dakota gettin' her two cents in. She nickered happily, tired as she must've been, as Kana moved closer and stroked her withers. Kana gave a bright laugh in return, and looked to Georgia for permission to lead Dakota where he'd mentioned.

She nodded a go-'head, and he grabbed the reins loosely, escorting Dakota. Georgia stayed on the other side, wonderin' when exactly it'd been that she'd become trustful enough of Kana to let him handle, even come within ten feet of Dakota. It'd had to have been something that'd gradually developed over the past year, much like the wordless communication they'd just shared.

See, this was one of the many things that, in the not-too-distant past, Georgia couldn't have even fathomed. Her and Kana sharin' all they needed through glances—which was sometimes a blessing, him shutting his yapper—made her feel... strangely special, and also especially strange. Neither of which were altogether bad.

"Under the bridge there's just a bit more shade and it's closer to the water, but it's too narrow there," Kana explained as he roped Dakota to a tree standing at the very edge of the creekside. "She wouldn't have room to move around much. Wouldn't want you to learn the hard way, like I did with Hayate, last time I came swimming here. She was sore with me for the rest of the day."

Seemed backwards, that she was more fixated on that smile he was flashin' her and the kindness behind it, than the neck and shoulders holdin' it all up.

"Well, that's mighty kind of you to be lookin' out for her." Georgia hitched a smile back up, knowin' there was a part of her that still insisted she didn't need his stinkin' help, especially where Dakota was concerned. But she couldn't rightly say that to him anymore, not with all the time they spent in each other's company that wasn't entirely related to their horses.

Like last Winter, she'd even invited him to his first ever Starry Night Festival. It was the first year in centuries that Bluebell and Konohana hadn't treated the other like the plague, and Phillip had started it all by showin' up at the Moon Viewing Festival to see Dirk, even though he was livin' in Bluebell at the time.

All in the name of unification, 'course. For the towns. Nothin'... personal-like. Or, that's what she kept tellin' herself, expecting it was likely how Kana felt—didn't want to let her thoughts go off to the races, push themselves too hard only to come up lame.

They started towards the waterfall, where Georgia could see Laney had already unfurled the picnic blanket, settin' out her treats, with Dirk and Phillip swarmin' around like skeeters, waiting to dig in.

"Say, Kana?" Georgia fiddled with the braid hangin' over shoulder, anything to keep from goggling at Kana too long. "Was this your idea? Us all gettin' together like this?"

"For the most part, yeah. Here, watch your step."

The space under the bridge narrowed out, too tight for them to remain side-by-side. Kana went ahead, then offered a hand to help Georgia sneak around too. She understood what he meant, it bein' too cramped for any horse to properly relax here, even if it was plenty cool.

Well, the air was. Her body—specifically, the hand holdin' to Kana's—felt warmer than a sheep in a wool sweater, and jus' as fuzzy inside too.

"Why?" Kana pulled her along, not lettin' go even after she'd hopped around the curved path, and they were now in full view of their friends.

"No reason!" Georgia answered all too quickly, yanking her hand away—not that Laney and the boys were focused on anything but their food. "Jus' wanted to know who I was to blame for not gettin' a good night's sleep, with this bein' on my mind all week."

"So you were laying in bed thinking about me, huh?"

"That ain't what I said, you doofus, an' you know it." Georgia's eyebrows scrunched into a frown, and Kana responded by bobbin' his own brows, not doin' a thing to refute her claim of his doofus-ness.

"Hey, if you two want anything to eat, quit flirting and get over here!" Phillp called over, his words garbled by a mouth crammed full of food.

Georgia didn't have to be told twice, 'specially since nothing of the sort was goin' on; she slipped around Kana and hustled over to where the picnic awaited, only pausing to shuck off her shorts and cover-up, revealin' her swimsuit.

If Kana noticed it, seein' as how this was the first time he'd seen her in such attire, he didn't say anything. But it was most likely that he didn't notice. Georgia wasn't built with all the bells and whistles that Laney had been blessed with. 'Course, she knew some men were the type to ogle anything so long as it breathed, but still—she wasn't going to end up make anyone rubberneck when they passed her.

Her suit was a deep navy blue with a sharp white collar and red decorative buttons at the modest neckline, makin' her look like a sailor. There hadn't been any one-pieces, so this was what Georgia had settled for—at least it covered most of her tummy. The bottoms were the same navy, trimmed with white at the waist and in a style that Laney had told her was called "boy shorts". Well, they were so danged tight, she didn't see how any boy would go about shovin' his nether regions in 'em (properly, anyway).

And so, she couldn't help but glance at Kana as the two took a seat—beside each other, because that was the only way they could sit, which Georgia had a sneakin' suspicion was planned. It was nothin' more than the green eyes of jealousy makin' her wonder if Kana would have any reaction to the swimsuit Laney was showin' herself off in.

Laney'd chosen a cute white bikini with cherries printed all over it. The top had a little knot and tie in the middle, sorta shelf-like in design, makin' Laney look like one of those old vintage pin-ups. A flimsy tie-dye wrap hung loose around her waist, but Georgia didn't see the point in it. There wasn't much left to the imagination, her legs all smooth and creamy, on display for whatever ravenous wolves might wanna take a gander. Luckily there weren't any wolves around, just two jackalopes, one on each side of her, tearin' into her pineapple bars and chuggin' down some ruby-red liquid.

"Want some?" Phillip extended a carafe of the red drink, smiling wickedly as he explained to Georgia, "It's sangria." He motioned to another carafe setting on the blanket, a similar color with bits of oranges floating inside. "And fruit—"

"—punch!" Dirk interjected, reaching around behind Laney to sock Phillip on the arm.

Georgia laughed; they all did. Despite all the discomfort leading up to this moment, Dirk and Phillip sure had a knack with makin' others smile, even if they were nuttier than a squirrel's refrigerator.

"Sure, pass it 'round!" Georgia answered even as Phillip handed the sangria off to her. She took a swig, reveling in its lip-smackingly delicious crispness. Before she knew it, Kana's arm was around her, peeling it out of her fingers so he could take a sip of his own.

Thank goodness for Laney there to keep some semblance of order as the rest of the treats were passed around: what remained of her pineapple bars, and Georgia's blueberry-honey granola cakes. To counter the sweets and to complement their refreshments, the boys had brought along fried risotto balls, which Dirk took to scarfin' down like an anteater who'd discovered an anthill.

"Oh man, good things you never entered these in the cooking contest, Lane." Phillip groaned after another bite of what must have been his fourth or fifth pineapple bar. "You would have wrecked us."

"Us?" Georgia asked. Since when did Phillip, who was a regular at her dad's shop and had won numerous livestock festivals as a resident of Bluebell, claim himself as a Konohanan? "You forgettin' 'bout that ranch you lived at for a good year, right outside of town?"

"Hey, I have way more room for fruit trees and crops in Konohana," Phillip replied. "This sangria probably wouldn't be a thing if I were still livin' over in Bluebell. Even with the tunnel, it's still way easier to get seeds and fertilizer when I live there."

"Oh, c'mon, dude." Kana spoke up, snagging the sangria from the center of the picnic blanket. He took a quick gulp and tried to vaguely point at Phillip with the same hand curled around the neck of the carafe. "We all know the real reason you're hangin' around town."

"You... you do?" For the first time that Georgia could remember, Phillip actually looked abashed.

"Yeah, man! That's where all your bros are! Me, Dirk, Hiro..." Kana looked down at Georgia; they were too close for this to feel anything but private, yet here he was, talkin' for all the world to hear. "Can you blame him for puttin' down roots in a town filled with... well, us?"

Georgia huffed, trying to inch away from Kana and the sweet scent of the sangria surrounding him. "I already believed him when he said about the seeds and fertilizer—you goons are all full of the latter!"

"Where is Hiro, anyway?" Laney asked, for which Georgia was thankful. Goddess bless this girl's keen sense of timing.

Phillip's momentary lapse of confidence had passed, and his smile lifted back up. "Oh, you know. At the clinic, being a drag. Somethin' somethin', important research, possible medical breakthrough. But hey, check it, we can pretend he's still here."

Phillip stole the sangria back from Kana and swallowed some. After a satisfied "Aaaah!" he looked around at the others, adopting a strict, formal tone as the told them, "Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids!"

Laney giggled, and Georgia did too... until Phillip stretched over towards her and Kana, shoving a tube of sunscreen at them.

"Now, Kana, be sure you wear sunscreen." Phillip dropped the sunscreen into Kana's lap, using his now-free hand to grab ahold of Georgia's. "Here, Georgia can help you apply some... make sure you massage it in vigorously!" He mashed Georgia's hand against Kana's shoulder, demonstrating his instructions by rubbing it around.

"Why, you—!" Georgia wrenched out of Phillip's grasp, mortified. Someone had to be rightly ashamed in this moment, since Kana sure as heck wasn't, his warm laugh reaching her already-hot ears.

Phillip had already forgotten about her—about them—and selected his next target.

"And Dirk, you have to wait thirty minutes after eating to go swimming. It could upset your stomach, especially someone who eats as much as you."

Dirk frowned around a mouth full of another pineapple bar. He was still holding the other half of it. "Who...mmfff..." He quickly swallowed, and restarted his question. "Who said I'm goin' swimming anytime soon?"

His answer came in the form of Phillip launching himself at Dirk and making a valiant attempt to wrestle him down—some combination, Georgia deduced, of stealing the pineapple bar and trying to throw him into the water.

"Yeah, that's right," Phillip went on, groping away at Dirk. "Doctor's orders. No more desserts for you, fattycakes."

"Dude, knock it off. This is the last one. Don't—ow!" Dirk turned this way and that as Phillip basically climbed all over him, trying to snatch the pineapple bar away. "Watch it, Philly, don't make me drop it! ... Nggrrk...ggggh."

Philly? Georgia raised an eyebrow and exchanged a fleeting but loaded glance with Laney, who wore an equally nonplussed expression. She'd never heard anyone call Phillip a nickname of any sort. To hear it come from Dirk was 'bout as strange as if he'd just spontaneously started speaking French.

"Guys," Laney spoke up over their roughhousing, "I can always make more, it's not—"

"It's the principle of the thing!" Phillip turned back to Laney, giving Dirk the second he needed to promptly jam the pineapple bar in his own mouth and scuttle back on his hands, crab-style.

"Watch this," Kana whispered to Georgia, picking up one of his risotto balls and tossing it at Phillip. It binked off Phillip's head.

"Hey, what the—!?"

"Run for it, Dirk!" Kana shouted.

And that's what Dirk did, ripping the pineapple bar from his mouth as he got to his feet and clamored over the picnic set-up and his friends, narrowly dodging another attempt by Phillip. "Whoops! Sorry! 'Scuse me! My bad!"

How Dirk stayed so sure-footed was a mystery to Georgia, who yelped as he came a hair away from plantin' his foot on her thigh.

Phillip nimbly darted after him, but Dirk stayed a few strides ahead. At least until he turned on a dime and hopped from the path back to the dock. Georgia could see his plan, hoping to catch an over-enthusiastic Phillip off-guard and use his own momentum against him.

It almost worked, as Phillip skidded to a stop, wobbled with a "Wh-Whoa!" but didn't fall. Able to maintain his balance, he propelled himself at Dirk just as Dirk skipped back over to the path. Instead of landing on dry ground, Dirk collided with Phillip and let out a defeated "NO!" as both of them went crashin' into the water. The pineapple bar went flying, sailing in an arc high above them and dropping, like an afterthought, with a soft splish!

Maybe it was the sangria starting to seep through her, because in her heart she knew this weren't any funnier than Dad's lousy knock-knock jokes, and yet Georgia couldn't keep herself from bustin' out laughing. Probably, too, had to do with Laney and Kana joining in, makin' her feel perfectly comfortable and free in just lettin' loose like this.

Between his own laughter, Kana leaned in close to Georgia. "Oh, I wouldn't be laughin' if I were you."

She wanted to scowl at him, but was still too amused by the boys kickin' around in the water, so it didn't sound anythin' but girlishly light when she replied, "Yeah, and why's that?"

"'Cause you're next."

"KANA!"

Before she knew it, Kana's arms were around her waist, lifting her as he simultaneously got to his own feet. Cursing, she kicked and flailed at him. But it was decidedly difficult to worry 'bout controlling her legs and arms when her stomach had this funny hollow pit in it, and it felt like a hummingbird was flittin' around her noggin, trying to find its way out.

Then he let go, nothin' but air surrounding her for half a shake of a lamb's tail. Just enough time for her to gulp in a huge breath 'fore she went down like a stone, engulfed by the cold mountain waters.

An able swimmer, she kicked up and burst through the surface, greeted by the hoots and hollers of the boys around her. Her bangs were plastered to her forehead, some pieces long enough that they brushed her cheekbones, and her braid had turned scraggly.

"Oh man!" Phillip exclaimed. "You looked like a drowned rat, Georgia."

She was about to retort, but Kana's rich laughter filled her ears. Snapping her attention to the dock, she found him at the edge of it, nearly doubled over and clutching his sides. Through his laughter, he managed to stammer out, "Oh... oh, geez, w-was that you, Georgia, or... or a screech owl? You shoulda heard your—...wh...WHOA!"

Kana stumbled forward suddenly, twisting around as he tried to find his balance. He teetered on the dock's edge, windmilling his arms in an almost comical manner, before plumetting back-first into the water and going under. Seconds later, he broke the surface, flippin' his hair back like one of those movie scenes. It curled back in a bump atop his forehead, makin' him look like he was straight outta a history book, belongin' on western currency.

Laney now stood where Kana had been on the dock, head tilted and wearin' a smile sweeter than pie. Well, if that pie were secretly spiced up with a dash or three of chili powder.

"Oops." Laney shrugged. "Guess I don't know my own strength."

"C'mon Dirk," Phillip declared, easily climbing to sit on Dirk's shoulders, as if it were a practiced routine between them. "Let's get her!"

The two-man tower closed in on Laney, and she tried to scamper away but they were too long and quick. Phillip snagged her by the wrist, and with a mighty tug, pulled a shrieking Laney in.

Georgia heard the splash—splashes, as Laney's fall knocked all three of them into the water—but only caught sight of it out of her periphery. She was too distracted by Kana and the goofy-looking hairstyle on his goofy-looking head. His mouth, that had been sputtering out water, split into a grin as he caught her looking.

She'd been a right fool to indulge in the the sangria and sunshine, letting them lower her defenses and kick up a fierce storm of curiosity inside her. But, she reasoned, that even if she'd been fully alert and somehow had come armed with something, anything, to combat that dang Kana and his advances... it didn't matter too much at the moment.

Because right now, there was nothin' in her that wanted to fend off Kana's grin. Georgia let it hit her, full-force, and fired back with one of her own.