A.N. Sorry it took so long to upload this one. Things got away from me! Hope this one is okay...

Disclaimer: All characters belong to their respective owners. I claim only the characters, places, and plot of my own creation. I am not receiving any kind of payment for this work.

Chapter 3

A Long Road Home

For the last few days Darling Manor had an air of lifelessness. Roger Sr. was spending all his time at the office. On those rare occasions when he could be caught at home, he promptly locked himself away in the study.

Bella was also very busy planning for the coming weekend. She had went shopping for her dress, got her nails and hair redone, and now she was out searching for jewelry. She paid little attention to the house, after all the maids were more than capable, and she rarely made time for family matters either.

The boys were the only ones at home, though they were very quiet and did little. Joseph was often spotted roaming the large house and grounds, as he was unable to leave. He spent time playing games and watching television, and tried to bother Roger.

With the house intact, the family mostly gone, and few other problems, Roger found time to plot the upcoming date. He paced his bedroom tirelessly and spent hours staring at the ceiling, thinking hard about the issues at hand.

His escape, he knew, would be the hardest part to pull off. Well, that and sneaking back in without attracting his father's attention. Under normal circumstances, Roger Sr. could not be bother with his sons' personal lives, but this ball was very important. The company was hoping to get permission to make "Halie Dolls", baby dolls based off of the governor's young granddaughter.

With a angry sigh, Roger threw himself out of bed and resuming the endless race around his bedroom.

Saturday morning finally came. Anita clicked off the alarm at six o'clock, and jumped out of bed. Across the room, Stephanie rolled over in her sleep, breathing softly. In the hall, as Anita made her way to the bathroom, she heard her father's tremendous snores echoing off the walls.

Anita passed the sole window, searching the darkness for any kind of life, before slipping into the cramped room. This more she took extra time to wash, as she couldn't go out smelling badly. When she finally stepped out of the steamy bathroom, she scurried down the chilly hallway in only a towel. As she passed the window once more, Anita noticed the first rays of sunshine pouring over the houses.

Stephanie was still deeply asleep, curled tightly around her pillow. Anita sighed and smiled, if only it would last. She pulled on her tattered blue robe and wrapped her hair up. Then, she turned to the mess that was her closet.

Like everything else, she shared the cramped space with her sister. Anita's clothes were nice and neat, either hung and organized, or folded on the shelf above. On the other side, Stephanie's belongings dangled off the shelves, threatening to fall to the carpet below. Many pieces already lay there in the ever growing pile.

Anita quickly shifted hers eyes form the mess, and began pondering her choices. How exactly was she supposed to dress? Fancy, casual, or comfy? Nothing seemed to work at all. She pulled out everything, spreading out the different combinations.

Finally, as she was pulling up her hair, the door bell rang. Downstairs, the floorboards squeaked with every footstep, preceded only by the sharp knocking of a heel. Anita rushed down the stairs, staring at the odd sight before her. Roger stood in leather cowboy boots, a large hat, flannel shirt, and worn blue jeans.

He whispered to her father, smiling with pearly white teeth. James glanced up at her and asked, "Aren't you pretty, Nita?"

Roger looked up too, but his smile quickly faded. "Beautiful as always, but a little over dressed."

Anita blushed scarlet. "Why, what are we doing, Roger?"

"It's a surprise, darling. You don't want me to spoil it do you?" He laughed at his own remark, and smiling, said, "Put on some jeans and boots, if you have them. That way you won't get hurt."

Suspicious, she strolled back up the last few steps and nearly ran into her bedroom. "Stephie? Are you still in here?"

Stephanie bounded out of the closet, the last few dresses clinging to her arms. "Yes!"

"Do you have any idea what just happened?" Anita asked excitedly. "Oh, Roger called me darling! Darling… Can you imagine?"

Stephanie shook her head, "Next you'll be engaged! Or having a baby, at this rate!" She laughed and threw herself down on her own bed. "Why are you back?"

"I… have… to…change," she huffed pulling off her clothes and tugging on new ones.

"Are you going on a hike? That won't be any fun at all!" she laughed. "I'd want to go shopping, if it was me."

Anita scowled at the girl, thinking her sister should have been the blonde one.

Being casually dressed certainly didn't harm Anita's looks what so ever, or so Roger believed. He watched the smooth way she walked, with that gentle sway of her hips, trying not to be noticeable.

She, too, had put on a pair of blue jeans. A white tank top could be scene under the plaid shirt that was tied at her waist. "Much better," he remarked, slowly moving his eyes upward past her delicious figure, flaming cheeks, and into those swirl lakes of her eyes.

"I don't think I could manage another round of changing," she muttered with a shy smile. "Are we leaving now?"

James stepped up, shaking his head slightly, "I don't think I can handle any more a this. Give me a hug Nita, and ya'll hit the road." Anita swiftly moved in, hugging him around the neck and kissing his cheek.

Then, looking back up to Roger, "You heard Daddy, it's time for us to go."

"Bye, honey. Take care of my little girl, Roger."

Roger looked the girl up and down again, "I certainly will, James, I certainly will."

Anita made it outside first, and stood, floored, beside his massive blue Chevy. "Do you like it? I got it for my sixteenth birthday."

She nodded and reached for the handle above her. The truck was lifted so high off the ground, that she could not climb up into it properly. Roger, laughing happily, showed her wear to grab to pull herself up, and climbed in on his own side.

At first she seemed reluctant to release the door and her seat belt. "Are you okay, Anita? I'm not scaring you, am I?" He asked occasionally, checking his speed every few minutes, as they drove down the highway. She would look away from the road, and nod slightly, but not once did she relax at all.

Just as he was starting to grow annoyed by her petrified behavior, he decided to pry her grip from the seatbelt. Her fingers almost immediately relaxed at his touch, and then wrapped themselves around his hand. It seemed that she was just overly nervous about the whole affair.

They drove for nearly two hours before Roger pulled the monstrous vehicle onto an exit ramp. Then another twenty minutes were spent driving down an empty, double lane road. Over all the plain route held little amazement. It was too plain, and much too flat.

Shortly, though, Anita spotted the change, as the endless wild terrain, shaped into neat little pastures. Here bushes and shrubs marked the edges of fences, breaking up the area. And not to far from this, a small dip in the road marked an old gravel driveway.

It was obvious that the little road, squeezed between two fields, had not been taken care of. Potholes and bare dirt dotted the drive. A few trees were scattered, blocking anything prominent from view.

Bouncing along, they moved down the ragged road. The truck stopped abruptly at the gate. The old white house sat surrounded by a jungle of plants, and weeds choked the empty flower beds. In the distance the screen door swayed slightly with the breeze.

"Where are we, Roger?" Anita asked cautiously.

"This is the Darling home place, Riverside Ranch. My aunt lives here."

"Oh my, I never thought your family would own something like this," she said in amazement.

"It's a fixer-upper, that's for sure, but it used to be grand," he sighed. "Let's go inside, okay?"

The locks clicked as they released, and Roger opened his door. On her side, Anita struggled to reach the ground. At last she jumped, landing lightly on her feet, and met Roger at the gate.

They quickly moved along the wild yard and onto the sagging porch. Roger opened the door and shouted, "Aunt Sarah? Hello?" A scrape of wood on wood could be heard somewhere deep inside the gloom. Suddenly, through the far doorway, a rather large old lady walked in. She was in her upper sixties, with steel colored hair and eyes.

At a glance, Aunt Sarah looked a bit mean, but her face easily broke into a soft smile. "Roger! I've been expecting you all day!" She hobbled her way over and hugged him with one are. "Who's this, boy?"

"Aunt Sarah, this is a friend of mine. Her name's Anita Greene."

"Nice to meet you ma'am," Anita said, holding out her hand.

"Ma'am? Now, listen here girly, none of that in my house. You'll make me feel old. Call me Sarah." Then, quick as she came, Aunt Sarah disappeared again.

Roger stared after his great aunt for a moment, debating whether she'd come back. "She become a bit senile, I'm afraid," he whispered to Anita. "Aunt Sarah?" he called again.

"Come into the kitchen you two; I made lemonade this morning."

The kitchen, done in a deep red and white pattern, was much brighter than the gloomy entrance. "Where's Abigail, Aunt Sarah? Isn't she normally here during the day?"

"Oh, she's out with Tommy today. It's their anniversary, you know."

"They won't mind if we go riding will they?"

"Of course not. Go on then."

Roger stared anxiously at the old woman, and slowly turned to Anita, "Are you ready?" They walked across the room, hand in hand, and slipped out the back door. The pasture out back was much neater than the yard. "My cousin, Tommy, takes care of the farm. These are all his horses," he said, motioning out into the field.

Five horses, all in different colors and patterns, galloped up to the fence as they approached it. "Which one do you want?"

Anita stroked the horse closest to her. "This one's fine. She's gorgeous."

Roger laughed at her and shook his head, "He is rather pretty. That's Narcissus."

"After Greek mythology?"

"Yes," he said, petting the horse. "Go get two of those harnesses, and I'll show you something wonderful."

Interested, Anita grabbed the halters, and quickly learned how to properly fasten the buckles. Along with Narcissus, Roger grabbed a palomino mare named Aphrodite. Together they led the horses to the barn and tied them outside the stalls.

"Come here, Anita. Come look at this foal."

Quietly she approached the stall door. Inside, a solid white mare stood chewing on a view strands of hay. At her feet, in a curled pile, lay a dark reddish brown foal. As she neared the door, the tiny horse lifted his head. Staggering, he pulled himself up onto his long legs.

Anita reached over the door and stroked his out stretched nose. The brave little colt braced himself on the door and tried to reach her better. "Oh how I love babies," she whispered to herself. Out loud she asked, "Does he have a name, Roger?"

"Adonis, I believe. Right little one?" He laughed as the colt bounded off the door and ran circles around the stall. "He's adorable, isn't he?" Roger said with a smile. "I'd love a feisty horse like this one."

Anita smiled, "He's lovely, but, I the others must be bored to tears."

He turned quickly. "Alright then. Let's saddled them up."