Chapter 4

"Oh no," Trixie thought, "I didn't feel a thing when Jim kissed me. I can't tell him that though. It would hurt him so bad. I wonder what happened. Maybe it's because he's so tired from school." Both Trixie and Jim were up until the early hours of the morning, trying to figure out what was going on. By the time they went to bed, they had come to the conclusion that they weren't trying hard enough in their relationship. The next morning, despite being up late, Jim called over to Crabapple Farm early to request Trixie's presents at the Manor. When she got there, Jim waved. "Good morning beautiful," he called. "Goodness Jim, you better stop before someone hears you and thinks you're crazy," Trixie replied. He just grinned. As she got closer, Trixie could see he had both Jupiter and Susie saddled up. Jim held the reigns in one hand and a picnic basket in another. "Trixie Belden, would you do me the honor of going out on a picnic with me?" Teasing him a little, Trixie said, "Well I suppose I ought to, since you went to all the trouble of making this basket, although it was probably Cook it fixed it up." His face went slightly red and Trixie burst out laughing. "Of course I'd love to go with you. This was really sweet of you Jim." With that, she leaned up and kissed him on the cheek. Jim just stood there with his mouth open. Trixie had never initiated intimacy before, especially out where everyone could see them. "Are you coming or are you just going to stand there all day catching flies," she called laughing. Startled, he looked around to find Trixie already sitting on Susie. "Thanks Reagan," she said, as the red haired groom came into sight. Looking at Jim, he grinned, despite the pain at having seen the kiss. "He's going to have his hands full," Reagan thought. With that, he went back to work.

Meanwhile, Trixie and Jim were just enjoying the winter's day ride. A thought suddenly occurred to Trixie. "Uh Jim, where and how are we going to picnic? It's the middle of December!" He just smiled and said, "you'll see." Trixie's mind immediately started to wonder, the detective in her intrigued. "Relax and enjoy the ride Shamus. Take a break from mysteries. Besides, this is one mystery you'll have to wait for." Startled, Trixie gave a little start, but then shrugged guiltily. He knew her so well. It was one of the things she loved about him, the fact that Jim could read her so well. Of course, it got irritating at times too. While Trixie was busy thinking, Jim was busy watching Trixie. "Man she was beautiful," he thought. She always had been, but only in recent years had that beauty matured into something much more. "We need to try the kissing thing again. I think last night was a fluke."

Soon they came to a clearing, where Jim declared that they had arrived. Trixie gasped in surprise. Jim had obviously planned this out, or had some help somehow with this. There was already a fire going, a couple blankets, hot chocolate, and some chairs waiting for them. "That's how he managed to get a picnic," she thought. He never ceased to amaze her with his ability to adapt, regardless of the situation. Which reminded her: "we need to try kissing again, so we can prove last night was just a false start." So lost in her thoughts was she, that Trixie failed to notice Jim coming up behind her and so squeaked when she felt his hands on her waist. She jumped and turned around, trying to control her breathing. "What are you trying to do," she demanded, "give me a heart attack?" He just grinned and before she knew it, he was tickling her until she couldn't stand anymore for the laughing. "Stop stop," she gasped in between trying to catch her breath. "Truce?" "Truce," Jim replied, reaching out to help her up, but all her got for his troubles was a loss of balance and he landed on the ground beside her. Winded, he just lay there for a few seconds. Beside him, Trixie was giggling as though she had accomplished a huge feat. Sobering, he just looked at her, and he reached up to remove a leaf from her hair. Tugging on her curl, he got her attention, until she too sobered. "Oh Trixie," he sighed, before leaning down and kissing her. The kiss was gentle and Trixie felt her toes curl up. "Very nice," she thought. It didn't last long, but it seemed to prove their theory that the night before had been a fluke indeed. Jim sat up and helped Trixie to stand. After that, they ate their picnic and just sat around the fire talking and catching up.

That's how the next 3 weeks went. They were almost always together, sometimes alone, and sometimes with the rest of the Bob-Whites. All too soon though, winter break ended and it was time to head back to college, this time with Mart joining them, even though it was mid-season. Trixie, Di, and Honey hugged all the boys and sent them off with waving and smiles, until they couldn't see them anymore. Then they all trooped back to Honey's room and had a sleepover just to get over the loneliness of the boys leaving. Meanwhile, Reagan had never been so glad to see them go. For that, he felt a twinge of regret. He liked all the male Bob Whites, but he had watched about as much gooeyness between Trixie and Jim as he could take. It was getting harder to be patient as he watched the girl, no make that the woman he loved pine after someone else.

Throughout the winter, then the spring Trixie started to notice that Jim wrote and called less and less. And whenever she called him, there was always an excuse or reason why he couldn't talk long or come visit. It was starting to disturb her, quite a deal more than she liked. When it was time for Spring Break, she was so excited because now she might actually get to spend more time with her boyfriend. However, Jim had some disappointing news. "I'm sorry Trix, but I won't be able to come home for the break. I'm going over to Iowa for the week." Immediately Trixie's mind flew to the reason why he was going to Iowa. As if reading her thoughts, he said, "I'm going to visit Ben. He's graduated now, and while he still lives over at the Gorman's, he's been coming up with a lot of good ideas for farming. I'd like to run over a few things with him about farming at the boy's camp I'm setting up for." Trixie could think of another reason: Dot Murray. Beautiful, blonde, smart, and had made no secret of the fact she had been interested in Jim the last time they were in Iowa. Now, she was worried that she might actually lose Jim, but kept this all to herself. "Have fun," she stammered. Making some silly excuse, she got off the phone quickly. Jim, being so distracted himself by his plans, didn't notice the change in her behavior. If things went right, Ben would really help him a lot with the camp.

Trixie, had no such charitable thoughts. All she could think of over the next few days was Dot Murray. Blonde, leggy Dot. "Well I won't let him see me cry or worry about such silly things. Jim loves me. At least I think he does. Well he's on a plane right now, so it's too late to ask him." As she got ready for bed, she sent out a quick prayer that Jim arrive safely at her Uncle Andrew's farm. Unknowingly, a single tear slipped down her cheek. When she finally noticed the tear, she reached out in sudden anger, and flicked it off. "This is silly getting upset over nothing. He'll call me and tell me I'm just being an overly suspicious schoolgirl Shamus." Laying down, Trixie realized she was overwhelmingly tired. All these emotions had worn her out. Without another thought, she fell into a sleep from which she did not awaken until next morning.