Kenny did come over, and we were sitting on the front porch steps. I told him that I wasn't going to be allowed to

go on Saturday, and he sat, quiet, for a bit. I could tell he was disappointed.

"I ought to stay home," Kenny said. "We could go to a movie or somethin' on Saturday night."

"You can't do that," I protested. "Your dad's counting on your help, with all the landscaping at Gram Ida's, isn't he?"

When he nodded, with regret, I said, "You can't leave all that to him. There would be lots of heavy lifting, and it would

wear down his strength." Kenny's dad has recovered his health from his bout with cancer and the treatments, but he's still

not returned to what a man of his age should be yet.

"I know," Kenny said. And, I knew that he'd meant all along to go to Gram Ida's and help his father. He wouldn't have left it

all to the older man.

"I thought Adam trusted me," Kenny said, and I could tell he was somewhat hurt.

"It's not that-" I said. I hesitated, trying to think of the right words to say. "He does trust you. He just thinks

we should go slowly."

"Slowly?" Kenny repeated, surprised. "Harlie, we've known each other since before you went to kindergarten, nearly."

"I know," I said, and reached out to take his hand, trying to be soothing. "The dating part, though, it's happened sort of

quickly."

"The feelings have happened sort of fast," Kenny conceded.

"Right," I said, squeezing his hand.

With his other hand, he reached into his pocket and took out something, and then held it out so I could see it, hooked onto the

end of his pinky finger.

It was a ring. A really pretty ring. It had a small blue stone. Even though he'd already brought the subject up to me,

I was still surprised to have him just bring a ring out like that.

I looked at him, and he gave me a grin that made me have butterflies in my tummy.

"I know we only talked about it that one time," he said. "But, I saw this at the mall, and it seemed like the sort

of ring that you'd like. I know blue's your favorite color."

"It's a pretty ring," I said. I reached out to take it from the end of his finger. I couldn't resist slipping it onto

my ring finger.

"How'd you know my ring size?" I asked him. "It fits perfectly."

"Gram Ida mentioned that you were trying on some of her jewelry when you were hangin' out with her. She said there

was one you liked that had never fit her very well. She said it was a size seven."

"Wow," I said, slightly stunned at his ingenuity.

"You like it?" he asked, sounding really hopeful.

"I do. I really like it," I said. I twisted to face him. "But-"

"But, you can't wear it," he said, intuitively.

"Not right now," I said. "If Adam won't even let me go spend the night at Gram Ida's with you, he's not going to let

me take a promise ring from you."

"Yeah. I know," Kenny said, in resignation. "I don't suppose Brian would be real happy, either."

"No. He wouldn't be," I agreed. "It's nothing against you," I assured him, just in case he didn't know. "They

just think of me as being too young."

"I know," he said. "And, we are young. It's just a promise ring, though. It's just me makin' a promise to you."

"Yeah. But, I don't think Adam and Brian will look at it that way. They'll think it means we're too serious, too soon," I said.

Kenny nodded, in understanding, and we sat, quietly, holding hands for a few minutes. Until, that is, the wooden front door

was opened, and we broke apart, as the screen was pushed open.

"Hey," Brian said, stepping out onto the porch, and pushing up his sleeves.

"Hey, Brian," Kenny responded, and I said, "Hey."

I took my left hand and made sure it was under my hip. I wasn't quite sitting on it, but close to it, so Brian wouldn't see

the ring.

Brian leaned against the porch column for a few minutes, talking to Kenny about his folks, and how his dad's health

was improving. After a few minutes, Brian pushed himself off the post, and said, "See you later" and ambled

off towards the barn.

Once he was walking that way, I exchanged a look with Kenny, and brought my hand back out.

"I guess I've never really asked you," Kenny said, taking my hand in his and running his fingers over the ring. "Do you want

a ring from me? I mean-do you see an us, in the future?"

I admit, I'd had thoughts of Kenny and I in the future. Some of those thoughts had been when I'd been up at

Evan and Nancy's cabin, thinking how cozy and private it was there. And Kenny and I did have things in common.

So, I answered him as honestly as I could. "I've thought about it," I admitted.

"Yeah?" he asked, looking happy. "I mean-I know you've got a long road ahead with your college and vet school. I'd be in it

with you, helping you."

I studied his face, thinking how really sweet and good he was. There were times I saw a glimpse of the old carefree Kenny,

with his devil-may-care attitude. Ornery and sometimes not very thoughtful. But, those glimpses were rare now. His time

of being in trouble had made him more considerate, more serious. And, wow, did he ever have some beautiful blue eyes.

"I know you can't wear it right now," he said. "But-will you keep it?"

I nodded, and he gave me an ole-Kenny grin.

The evening ended with Kenny saying he needed to be heading home, and a couple of kisses shared by his truck before

he left. I slipped upstairs and put the ring in my jewelry box inside my dresser drawer.

7

On Saturday morning, in the very early hours, I was woken up by noises in the hallway, and then raised voices, which were quickly hushed.

I got up out of bed, going to the door and opening it a crack to look out.

The hallway was clear except for Ford, standing in the open doorway of Crane's bedroom. Ford had come home the night before,

and had claimed a roll-away bed set up in Crane's room. The second bed in there was where Daniel was crashing. Guthrie was still

sleeping in the basement, while Jill had residence in the boy's room. It was like musical beds around our house.

Apparently Ford had heard the ruckus, as well. I looked at him, and he lifted his shoulders in a shrug, to signify that he

didn't know what was happening.

He walked down the hall towards me.

"What is it?" I whispered.

"I dunno. It's like-real early-" he whispered back.

"You didn't see anything?"

"Nah," he said, low.

We could hear noises downstairs then, voices, and doors opening and closing. We went to the head of the stairs,

looking over the railing down into the living room.

It was Daniel. He was sitting on one of the couches, pulling on one of the couches, pulling on his boots. And, standing there

beside the couch, was Jill. She had her nightgown on, obviously, because her legs were bare, and she had a pink bathrobe wrapped

around herself. She was clearly upset. Agitated.

"You promised, Daniel," she was saying. "Promised."

"I know I did," Daniel said, softly.

"So, that's the sort of person that you are?" she hissed. "The sort that doesn't keep the promises that he makes?"

"Shhhhh," Daniel shushed her.

"I'm tired of keeping still, tiptoeing around here-" Jill said, raising her voice.

Daniel stood up, and put his hands on her arms. "I don't wanna wake anybody up-can we talk about this

later? I've gotta get going, or I'll be late for my shift."

"Always later, Daniel," she snapped.

"Jill," Daniel said, sounding tired.

Ford and I exchanged a look, and Ford gave a worried shake of his head. And, then, Daniel went to pull on a jacket, and

Jill trailed after him to the door. He tried to hug her, but she was stiff in his arms.

He opened the door, going out onto the porch, and she followed him. Their voices got a lot louder now, even though we

could still see them, and I could tell Daniel was trying to quiet her down.

Ford and I were so involved in watching and listening that neither one of us heard Adam until he was

right behind us. Barefoot, and in sweat pants and a t-shirt.

"What's goin' on?" he asked, looking over the staircase.

"It's Jill and Daniel," I offered in a hushed tone.

Adam looked on his own at the couple on the front porch. The voices were steadily rising, and now Daniel was making

no attempt to be quiet, either. We could hear him saying, "I can't snap my fingers and make it happen. You need to

be patient-"

"I learned patience in all those foster homes I was in, Daniel!" she said.

Adam went to walk down the stairs, and it was clear he was heading for the front door. To do what, I wasn't sure. To intervene? To

put a stop to whatever was happening? To try to referee? Who knew? But, I gave Ford a look, and followed on Adam's heels. There was

no way I was going to stay at the top of the stairs. And Ford came after me. And, I saw now, Crane was coming, too.

Down the stairs, bringing up the rear of our barefoot group of McFaddens.

Adam went to the door, pushing the screen door open and holding it open with the tips of his fingers.

Jill showed no reaction to seeing us all there, but Daniel looked chagrined. Embarrassed.

"What's going on?" Adam asked, again, only this time to Daniel, and not Ford and I. I could hear the worry and concern

in Adam's tone, and I knew everybody else could, too.

Instead of answering that, as to just what was going on, Daniel said, instead, sounding regretful, "Sorry for wakin' you all up."

"Doesn't matter," Adam said, and I knew he was trying to ease Daniel's mind. He pushed the door open a bit further. "Everything

alright?"

Of course, everything was not alright, but in a situation like this, I guess that's just one of the things that first comes to

mind to say.

"No," Jill said, in reply, crossing her arms. It might have been because it was sort of chilly out there on the porch at this time

of the morning, but it made it look as though she was fixing to have a temper tantrum.

"Jill," Daniel said, as if he was pleading with her to stop. To not carry the argument on further, in front of the family.

"I'm sure your family would like to know, Daniel," Jill carried on. "After all-everybody's so involved with everybody else

around here-"

Suddenly Daniel seemed to find his resolve from within. He quit looking so beat down, at least for the moment, and

said, "It's between us, Jill. Leave it there," in a really stern way.

For a moment, I thought Jill looked sort of surprised. Then she gave Daniel another blast with her eyes, and

said, "Alright," in a tight voice. She gave our little foursome a look, too, and said, "Excuse me," to Adam.

He stepped aside, and on out onto the porch, and the other three of us moved out of her way so she could pass by.

She went up the stairs, and a hush fell over the rest of us.

Crane went on out to stand on the porch, too, and laid a hand on Daniel's shoulder. Only for a moment of comfort, and then he moved

it.

"I'm sorry for the noise," Daniel apologized again.

"I told you-it doesn't matter," Adam said, in reassurance. "What matters is you, Daniel."

Daniel sighed. "Thanks," he said, giving Adam a half-smile which wasn't all that convincing. He gestured towards his

truck.

"I gotta get goin', or I'll be late," Daniel said. He looked at Adam and then at Crane. "I'll talk to you guys later."

"You alright to drive?" Adam asked, going down the stairs after Daniel.

"I'm alright," Daniel said, pausing in the yard.

"I can get you a cup of coffee in a travel mug," I offered, and turned to go do that.

"Naw, squirt, thanks anyway. I'll grab some when I get gas," Daniel told me.

Crane walked Daniel all the way to his truck, and they stood talking for a few more minutes. Adam, meanwhile,

came back up the stairs, and asked Ford and I if we wanted scrambled eggs for breakfast.

Walking to the kitchen with him and Ford, Adam said, "Too cold out there to be barefooted this early of a morning."

7