A little while later Hunter was at the beach swimming with Colleen. They were laughing, splashing each other with the cool, clear water, and having swimming races. Hunter was having such a wonderful time he almost forgot the tragic news that he knew he had to give to her in a little while. He would have liked to postphone it for as long as possible, but he knew with every day he didn't tell her it would just make it tougher when he finally would. Better to do it that day and get it over with. He was immediately brought back to earth when Colleen jumped him from behind with a small battle cry as she pushed him down into the water. While she was laughing at this, Hunter swam up and came up, lifting her into the air and throwing her into the water. She came up laughing and before she could retaliate Hunter took her into his arms. "This was a good idea, Huntie," she said happily.

Hunter smiled tenderly at her. "How long has it been since we did this?"

"Far too long, Huntie," Colleen agreed.

Hunter pulled her closer to him and looked at the full moon shining on them, highlighting Colleen's lovely reddish-brown tresses. "Have you ever had a moonbeam kiss?"

"What's that?"

"See the full moon up there?" Hunter said, glancing at it. "See how it's shining down right on us? When you kiss by the light of a full moon, it's called a moonbeam kiss. It's a real country boy's specialty."

"Is that true, or did you make that up?"

"I'll never tell," Hunter said, bringing his lips to hers. They kissed tenderly, lovingly in the moonlight. Her arms slid around his neck as he wrapped his arms around her waist and lifted her up. Colleen's heart beat loudly and she felt as if she were floating on air, even though in the back of her mind she knew it was just the water. She wished that time could just sop and they could be there in that water forever and nothing and no one would even bother them again.

"Huntie-Wuntie.." she whispered in his ear.

"Colleen," he said. "Sweet Colleen," as he kissed her again and again. Finally he pulled away from her and looked into her eyes seriously. "Colleen…I love you so much."

"I love you, too, Huntie. Please believe me, I do." Hunter took her in his arms.

"Colleen, let's get out for a while and change. I need to talk to you, really talk. "

"What is it, Huntie?"

Hunter took a deep breath. "I have some news, Colleen..and I don't think you're going to like it. Can you meet me in my room in a few minutes? We need to talk." Colleen nodded as Hunter got out of the lake and held open a towel. "Come here," he whispered. Colleen walked into the towel, and into his arms. She let him hold her there for a few minutes listening to the water lap against the shore. She reached over and kissed his chest and he kissed the top of her head.

A few minutes later Colleen came into Hunter's room and knocked on the door. A fully clothed Hunter opened it. "Hi, Colleen" he sad solemnly. "Come on in." Colleen entered and closed the door. She knew it was alright for her to be here and sit on the bed. Hunter, in addition to being one of the most noble of the Rovers, was also the most honest. She know that when Hunter said he wanted her to come into his room to talk, he meant that he wanted to talk. JUST talk. He wasn't one of those men who would trick her into coming in for…other reasons. She knew Hunter well enough to trust him. He never lied at all. So when Hunter said he just needed to talk to her, she believed him. She could see it in his eyes. They were sad and troubled, as if what he was going to say was literally tearing him apart.

"What's wrong, Huntie?" she asked.

Huntr sighed. "Well, this afternoon the Clintons were talking. It's happened, Colleen. They've finally made up their minds where they're going to take me."

Colleen leaned forward. "Where, Huntie?"

"Arkansas."

'ARKANSAS?! They're taking you all the way there?"

"Yeah..and how can Master build a tube all the way in Arkansas in addition to the work he has to do here?"

Colleen's eyes filled with tears. "When do you leave?"

"In January. Exactly one month and two weeks from now."

"You're leaving in a MONTH?! I just can't…I don't know…" Hunter pulled the picture out of his pocket to show to Colleen.

"See? Here's the place where I'll be living. The doghouse is gonna be right here, right to the left of the front door. "

Colleen's eyes grew wide. "Wow! That's an abso-bloomin-lutely awesome place!"

"Isn't it? See, there are hills right here, and lots of trees.."

"Is that a pond?"

"Yeah, a pond to swim in….and I don't wanna go there."

'I don't want you too," Colleen said as sobs overtook her and she started crying into her lap.

"Colleen..I'M leaving..and you look worse than I feel." He sat down next to her and put his arm around her. "Is anything ELSE wrong? Besides the fact that I'm leaving?"

Colleen raised her head. "Isn't tat enough?" She stood up and walked over to his dressor, leaning against it. "Huntie..I don't know if I ever told you this..but..you've been the only best friend I've ever had. What am I gonna do without you?"

"I"VE been your ONLY best friend? But you just met me two years ago!" Colleen nodded. Huntr stood up and moved closer to her. "How come you've never had another best friend?"

Colleen shrugged. "I just felt so different from everyone else I ever met. I mean, growing up in the street ya have to learn to depend on yourself. Ya can't trust anyone, ya know what I mean?"

"Yeah, I do."

"I was also really different from any of the other girl dogs I ever et. They always relied on begging for food from humans by flashing their eyes and pretting themselves up and being all feminine. But I gave that up a long time ago. I mean sure I do spend a long time on me hair, but we're talkin all their spare time trying to make themselves gorgeous. I knew I could do much better than that! I could get me own food, I could rely on meself. Ut a lot of the girl dogs thought I was weird, I was unfeminine…I never fit it with them or with anyone. A lot of the girl dogs couldn't believe me when I didn't want to rely on sympathy, begging and charm. But I knew I didn't want to, that was just not me."

"Then the Master called you?"

"And we met. And you were just like me! You knew exactly what I'm talking about, I guess it's because we were both strays and we both had to rely on ourselves. You listen to me when I talk, and you understand me better than anyone. I can talk to you and feel more comfortable than I've ever felt with anyone! We have so much in common, sometimes I think I can read your mind."

Hunter smiled "What am I thinking right now?"

Colleen frowned. "You're thinking that you don't want to leave and you're angry at the Clintons.." she said slowly.

"That's right!"

"I knew it!" Colleen looked at him sadly. Her yes filled with tears again. "Oh, Huntie..you're not just my best friend, you're the one I love…."

"So are you," Hunter said, coming over to her and taking her in his arms. Sobs overtook her again. Hunter held Colleen close, closer than he had ever held her before. He stroked her hair tenderly. "Please, please don't cry, Colleen," he whispered into her hair. "If you do, I will...and I won't know how to stop!'
"It's just not fair," she whispered, wiping her eyes and holding him close. "Huntie, I love you so much! How could this happen? Only one more month and a few more weeks..and I'll never see you again!"
Hunter kissed her through her hair. "I know...Colleen..I.."he said gentily tilting her face up. He gazed into her bright blue eyes for a moment until he brought his face down and kissed her. The kiss grew and grew. Their arms tightened around each other as the passion grew with each kiss and every caress. Hunter lowered his arms and slipped them around her back, tracing her backbone and pulling her closer, escalating the passion of their kisses. "Oh, Colleen," he whispered tightly as they fell back against the dresser. Colleen felt the edge of the dresser pressing against her back, but she could almost enjoy this sensation as she fiercely ran her fingers through his hair. All she wanted was for Hunter to hold her, to touch her, to never ever let her go again! She felt him kiss her on the top of her head, her ear, through her hair, on her forehead, her cheek, her chin, and found her mouth again almost as if he was trying to memorize her face. She returned every kiss and caress until both of them were breathless with desire.
"Huntie, I love you," she whispered fiercely.
"I love you, too, so much," Hunter said, gazing into her eyes. Colleen gazed back into eyes that were the warmest, kindest, most loving eyes she had ever gazed into. But they were serious, like they were when they had to lead missions. Hunter stroked Colleen's cheek gentlily and carefully.
"Colleen," he whispered softly. "Please marry me."

"No.." Collen said, pulling away from him. 'Oh, Huntie,. I wish you would stop asking me that. I love you with all me heart..but I can't marry you! I belong in London. That's where I was born and that's where me master is."

"I know.." Hunter said. "I wasn't thinking. I'm sorry. I don't know why I did that. I love you, Colleen, but I do understand." Slowly he let go of her and took her hand. He reached over on the dresser and got his tennis ball. He opened her hand and put the ball into it.

"What's this, Huntie?"

"Take it, Colleen. This is a goodbye present."

"But..Huntie, you love this tennis ball! This is your most favorite thing you have."

"I know, Colleen. But I want you to have it now. So..when I have to leave you won't forget us."

Colleen looked up with tears in her eyes. "Huntie, how can I possibly forget you?"

"Go on, Colleen. Please take it." Colleen knew what he was really saying in giving her the ball. He was leaving a part of him behind for her. She walked into his arms and hugged him as hard as she could.