Chapter Nine

Cashleigh woke later sitting up and stretching. She frowned a little. Where were her father and Caleb? A movement by the window caught her attention and she paled stiffening.

"Sleeping beauty has finally awoken?" The shadow moved away from the darkened area by the window giving her a wide grin.

Cashleigh sighed in relief seeing it was Tyler. "Hi. Where are dad and Caleb?"

"Caleb and Pogue we're sent to do something for you're dad, and now they are in Joseph's study with all our dads. Reid's in Reina's room with her. There both sleeping, and Caleb asked me to stay with you till they were done with their meeting." Tyler told her as he walked toward her, sitting down beside her on the bed.

Cashleigh smiled at him as she leaned into him. "I missed you baby boy."

"I missed you to baby girl." Tyler said kissing the top of her head as he wrapped his arms around her holding her to him. "It wasn't the same without you here."

Cashleigh looked up at him. "Remember before you left for camp?"

"I haven't forgotten. Neither has Gorman who teases me every time he sees me alone without the other guys." Tyler grinned down at her blushing a bit.

Cashleigh giggled as she leaned up a little brushing her lips across his.

Tyler stiffened a little. 'Oh what the hell.' He thought. If the others walked in now they may as well find out about them now rather than later, and he kissed her back.

Gorman stopped in the doorway raising an eyebrow seeing the youngest two children of the covenant kissing again. His eyes twinkled as he remembered the first time.

'Where's Tyler?" Caleb frowned. "We're already running late."

"I'll look for him." Gorman mumbled going to look for the twelve year old boy.

Gorman walked into the old Putnam barn about ten minutes later having looked everywhere else, and he knew the kids liked to come here to play once in awhile. A little girl's giggle caught his attention, and he headed toward it sighing. Cashleigh and Tyler were always together.

"Cashleigh I want you to be my girl. I love you, and I don't want some other guy snatching you from me while I'm gone to camp." Tyler told her holding her hand.

Cashleigh smiled at him. "I'm already yours Ty. I love you too! We'll be together always and forever. There will never be anyone else."

Tyler grinned pulling the ten year old girl to him and kissing her. He was elated when she kissed him back.

Gorman was a little shocked hearing the children's words, and seeing them kiss. He didn't even interrupt them.

Tyler finally pulled away a little breathless as she was. "Your mine always and forever."

"As you're mine." Cashleigh told him with tears in her eyes. "I don't want you to leave me for camp."

"I don't want to go either, but I have no choice." Tyler told her. "I'll miss you so much!" He leaned in kissing her again, and she kissed him back.

"We need to go Tyler." Gorman finally spoke up. He grinned as the children jumped apart looking like they had been caught with their hand in the cookie jar. "The other boys are waiting impatiently." He told Tyler who nodded. Gorman turned heading to the door.

"I love you Cashie. We'll be together soon baby girl. There will never be another girl for me." Tyler told her kissing her quickly before following Gorman.

"I love you too!" Cashleigh called after him. "There will never be another boy for me either!"

Tyler stopped at the door, and turned smiling at her. "Always and forever!" He told her before running after Gorman. He had been the last one to see her before she disappeared.

Tyler pulled away from the kiss. "Always and forever. There never has been anyone but you. No matter how many times the others tried to set me up with someone."

Cashleigh looked up at him crying. "There never was anyone but you for me either. I never stopped loving you. You're all I dreamed or thought about. I never told Reina either. It was the only happiness I had, and I was afraid if I told anyone even that would shatter. Chase took all that from me though that night. You can't still love me."

Tyler frowned. "I love you Cashie. You're mine and he'll pay for what he did to you. I promise you that! What he did to you doesn't change how I feel about you now or when we we're younger. You're still my sweet innocent, little Cashleigh! You always will be." He claimed her lips again not realizing they had an audience.

Gorman heard a little gasp beside him, and he turned to see Reina and Reid standing there with their mouths hanging open watching Tyler and Cashleigh after hearing the last part of the exchange. He frowned a little as he raised both of his hands closing their mouths and taking their arms in his grasp gently leading them back to Reina's room.

"How long have you known Gorman?" Reid asked still in shock.

"Since before we left for camp five years ago. I found them in Putnam barn. Tyler asked her to be his girl always and forever. I was shocked even more when they kissed. They've both kept those vows they made to one another. Cashie thinks she betrayed him though when Chase raped her. I think that's where you two showed up." Gorman frowned..

Reid laughed a little.

"What's so funny?" Reina glared at her brother.

"I was beginning to think baby boy was gay, and here all this time he's been in love with baby girl and being true to her." Reid smiled at his sister. "I'm just relieved I guess. I was worried about him."

Reina smiled at him as did Gorman. "I just thought Cashie was still in the tomboy state."

"What's Caleb going to say?" Reid paled abruptly heading toward the door.

"Where are you going?" Reina frowned.

"To stand outside Cashie's room to head Caleb off, and hopefully warn them." Reid answered walking out the door.

Gorman laughed a little. "I'm glad you're back Reina. Out of all the boys Reid was the most I was worried about. He changed practically over night. Picking fights, sleeping with every girl he met, and picking up a negative attitude to everything but Tyler. He and Caleb we're at each others throats constantly. The only times I seen him practically himself was after chatting with you or getting an email from you. Part of him left with you. He understood why you left though. He never held it against you. If it was possible he loved you more for what you did."

Reina was crying before he was halfway through. She smiled a little as he pulled her into his arms. She always knew Gorman had a heart of gold he hardly ever let show.

I know I'm not following the movie line or how it went there, but when my mind flows I just write. I hope you enjoyed this chapter with a look into the past. Please tell me what you think. I appreciate all the reviews I've received already.