One day the following week, school had a conference day, and so Guthrie and I had a day off. Ivy told me I didn't need to come in that afternoon, so I could have

the whole day to do something that I wanted to do. Kenny had planned to come over in the afternoon and we were going to go fishing, maybe, or to a movie later.

Guthrie had a tentative date with Kristen, a sort of let's wait and see type of date. Kristin had been still acting extra quiet, but she kept repeating to Guthrie and to me

that she was alright, that she'd just been fussing a lot with her mom and with Buddy.

It was late morning, and I took Isaac out, with him riding in his wagon, and pulled it down to get the mail at the end of the driveway.

I was halfway down the drive, singing to Isaac as we walked, and his little face was happy as he babbled back at me. I think he was trying, in his

own way, to sing along with me. The old farm truck came slowly down the long lane, and I paused, pulling the wagon over to the side a bit.

It was Crane and he stopped, reaching across the seat to roll down the passenger window.

"Hey, peanut," he greeted me.

"Hey."

"Good day for a walk," he said.

"Yeah." I leaned in a little into the open window. "You're heading into school, huh?" Parent-teacher conferences.

Crane nodded. "That's where I'm going," he said, lightly.

"Oh, boy," I said, equally lightly.

Crane raised a questioning eyebrow. "I've seen the progress reports. Is there something else I should know about before I'm sitting in front of

your teachers?"

"Nope," I said, innocently. "Should be golden."

"Okay," he said. "See you later."

"See you," I said. He pulled ahead and went on down the driveway, on his way to talk to Guthrie and I's teachers. I was thinking of my supposed grades,

and thinking that I wasn't too worried about what Crane would hear, when I reached the mailbox, opening it up.

"Let's see, baby," I said to Isaac, as I pulled out the bundle of mail inside. Right away I found an advertisement. Something from a furniture store on shiny

paper, and I gave that to him to hold. He likes to have a piece of mail to hold. And to chew on, too. I figured we weren't going to be

getting any new furniture any time soon, so if he bent it up or whatever it wouldn't matter.

I sifted thru the rest of the mail. Bills, and more advertisements. A letter for Clare, with her sister's return address in the corner. And another envelope,

addressed to Jill. With no return address.

7

I pulled Isaac back up to the house, keeping the mail under my arm. Safe from his fingers and his mouth. He was happily still chattering baby talk and

bending the ad he had. Jill was coming down the front porch steps as I walked up, bundling her hair up into a ponytail as she walked.

"Hi!" she said, cheerfully.

"Hi." I held out the letter to her. "You got this in the mail."

"Oh." Jill took the envelope, and gave it a brief glance. "Okay, thanks."

By now, I was really curious. And, also I was concerned. Jill had never gotten any mail or letters before, here at our house, that I knew of. And, she hadn't

mentioned any friends or anybody knowing where she was staying. I felt a prickle of concern. It grew as I watched her fold the envelope and stuff

it into the pocket of the jacket she was wearing.

She went on then, towards the barn, and said she was going to get Peppy out of his cage for awhile. I plucked Isaac from his wagon, and toted him up the

stairs and inside the house. I set the remaining mail on Crane's desk, and sat down on the couch, to hold Isaac and pull his little jacket off.

"How was your walk?" Hannah said, coming from the kitchen.

"It was good. It's nice out," I said.

"Hello, precious," Hannah said, scooping Isaac up into her arms. She took the now-battered furniture ad from his chubby hands.

I sat there, watching her with the baby, and sort of sank back against the couch cushions.

"Will Kenny be here for supper?" she asked me, kissing Isaac's hand. "We're having hamburgers."

"I think so. We might go to a movie later on."

"Alright. That'll be fun," she said.

I nibbled at my bottom lip. "Jill got some mail," I said. "A letter."

"Oh. Did you give it to her?" Hannah asked, still cooing at Isaac, and not looking concerned.

"Yeah," I said, hesitantly.

Hannah gave me a quick look. "What's wrong?"

"She's never gotten any mail before," I said. That was all I said, but Hannah's smart. She knew right away what I was getting at.

"I'm sure it's fine, Harlie," she said. "Maybe she wrote to a friend or something, and they're answering her."

I nodded. "I think I'll go for a ride. Okay?"

"Where to?" Following our family rule of someone always knowing what direction you'd ridden in, in case there was trouble of some sort.

"Just down to the creek," I said.

"Alright."

I stood up, and gave Isaac a kiss on the top of his head. "See you later."

"Have a good ride, sweetie."

I went down the front stairs, pondering my thoughts. I went to the barn to get Charlie's bridle. Jill was sitting out front of the barn, on a bale

of straw, holding the skunk, and reading over the letter. When she saw me coming, she didn't attempt to hide it, which at first made me feel better.

She looked up. "Hey."

"Hi."

I went inside the barn to get the bridle, and came out, looping it over my shoulder.

I put my hand down to pet Peppy, but he showed no interest, only burrowing further into Jill's middle.

"I'm going to miss this little guy, when Daniel and I leave," she said.

"He'll miss you, too," I said.

"I sure do like him," Jill said, stuffing the letter back in her pocket, and stroking Peppy with affection.

I paused, hesitating, hoping she would just volunteer the information I wanted. Read my mind, or whatever. Jill looked up, shading her

eyes from the sun.

"You okay?" she asked.

"Yeah," I said. When I still stood there, silent but looking at her, Jill said, "Did you want to talk to me?"

I gathered my nerve. "I was wondering about the letter you got."

Jill kept her hand where it was, shading her eyes. "What about it?" she asked.

"I was wondering who it's from," I admitted.

Jill wrinkled her forehead, and brought her hand down, scooting over a bit so the sun wasn't directly in her eyes.

"Why are you wondering that?" she asked. She didn't sound upset, but she didn't sound pleased, either.

"You know why," I said.

"Ah. I see," Jill said. She stood up, still holding Peppy carefully. She looked me dead in the eye. "Look, Harlie, I know we've gotten to be

friends, and all, and I know you're worried about Daniel-but it's none of your business who the letter is from."

Well, I was shocked. Right to my core. We'd made such progress, Jill and I. I'd begun to think of her as a potential sister in law, and a friend, even, like she'd

said. How could she turn so ugly so quick?

"It is my business," I insisted. "If it's from Leo-it's my business."

Jill didn't confirm or deny whether the letter was from Leo. She kept her gaze steadily on me. Never faltering.

"No, it's not," she said, simply. That was all. Just, no.

I felt my temper rising. Just like that.

"I can't believe you!" I accused, and stomped off towards the corral.

"You're not the first person to ever say that to me," Jill called after me.

I scrambled thru the fence, and went to put the bridle on the grazing Charlie, and decided to forgo the saddle. I hopped up, onto my stomach and settled myself

on Charlie's back. I put him into a canter, and headed into the grassy part of the pasture.

I did ride to the creek, but I didn't stop to get off. I kept riding. I ran into Daniel and Brian on horseback.

"Hey, squirt," Daniel said.

"Hey."

Brian set back in his saddle a bit, surveying me. "Why no saddle?"

I shrugged. "Just didn't feel like taking the time."

"See Jill this mornin'?" Daniel asked me.

That was the wrong thing to ask me. It was. To Daniel it was a harmless inquiry. But, I couldn't help the huff I felt.

"By the barn when I left," I said, shortly. "Holding the skunk."

"Oh." Daniel caught the curt to my tone. "Everything okay?"

"With Jill, who ever knows that?" I said, snarky.

Daniel's eyes darkened. "What happened? You have a set-to with Jill?"

"Nope," I said.

"What's eatin' you, then?" Daniel demanded.

"Nothing," I said, curtly.

"You sure act like it's something," Daniel said.

"Stop picking on me, Daniel," I said.

Daniel looked totally perplexed at that. And irritated, too.

"Who says I'm pickin' on you?" he asked. "I'm just asking you what's wrong."

"Nothing's wrong," I said. "I'm just out riding, and you're playing twenty questions or something."

Now Daniel's eyes narrowed. Meanwhile, Brian sat on his horse, quiet, just listening.

"Alright, pardon me, you little crab apple," Daniel said. He turned to Brian. "You coming?"

"I'll be along," Brian said.

!"Alright. I'll talk to you after a bit, alright, squirt?" he said to me.

"Yep," I said, avoiding his gaze.

Daniel rode on, and Brian and I sat there for a couple of long moments. Neither one of us saying anything. I finally met his eyes, and he

was looking at me, questioningly. As if he was trying to figure me out.

"What?" I asked. Not exactly snippy, but not very nice, either.

"Don't come at me like that, peach," Brian said, mildly.

I sighed. "Sorry," I said.

He was still quiet, and for some reason that loosened my tongue more than if he'd started lecturing me, or asked questions.

"I'm worried Jill's not being honest," I admitted, in a rush.

"How so?"

I hesitated. "Well, she got a letter today."

He waited, and I said, "There was no return address on it."

"Uh huh," Brian said, still not showing any reaction.

"And-well, I think it might be from Leo!" I said, in a burst of words.

"Hmm," he said. "What makes you think that?"

"She's never gotten mail here before."

"That's it?" he asked, sounding skeptical of my scanty evidence.

"Well, she hasn't," I maintained.

Brian shook his head slightly, looking disapproving.

"I'm just looking out for Daniel," I said.

Brian sighed. "Harlie."

"What?" I asked.

"Your're butting into something that's not your business."

I stared at him. It was what Jill had said.

"Aren't you worried about Daniel, though?" I persisted. "What if she's still in contact with Leo?"

"I'm always worried," he said. "About Daniel, and Evan. And Ford, and Guthrie. And you."

"Brian-" I said.

"Whether she is or she isn't, that's between her and Daniel from now on," he said.

I just refrained from rolling my eyes upward. I sighed heavily instead.

"It just seems like with what she's been thru with him, and what she's put all of us through, that she wouldn't have any contact with him at all," I said.

Brian raised a brow. "Are you finished?" he asked me, and he sounded stern now.

"I guess," I said, grudgingly.

"Harlie," he said, warning in his tone.

"Yes," I sighed.

"You're actin' like a little kid who thinks she needs to know everybody's business," Brian said.

I felt my face get hot with embarrassment. "Bri-" I said, in protest.

Brian said nothing, just sat there on his horse, giving me a steady look. Waiting.

"It just worried me," I said, in feeble defense.

"Stay out of it," he said, in his 'not another word' sort of voice.

I caught myself from swallowing hard. "Okay," I said, subdued.

"You need some extra chores this afternoon and tonight to keep yourself from bein' so curious?" he asked.

"I'm supposed to go out with Kenny tonight!" I said, in panic that he was going to carry out his threat, and make me stay home. "To the movies!"

'Hmm," he said.

Words of protest, of pleading, shot to my brain. All I said, though, was, "Please, Bri?"

"You mind your business, then," Brian said. "Yours. Not Jill's. Not Daniel's."

"I promise," I said.

Brian said alright, and we rode back towards the house together. I shut my mouth, resolving not to talk to anybody. I did stay quiet during lunch,

and the family and ranch talk went on around me. I was buttering my roll, when I looked across to find Daniel looking at me. I mean looking. Bat shit, I thought

to myself. Jill had probably told him that I'd basically accused her of getting a letter from Leo, of being in touch with him. If the letter was from Leo, then

that was one thing. Daniel might still think I should have shut my mouth, but if the letter by chance was not from Leo, but from someone else-well, then, he was likely to

give me a talking-to that rivaled the one Brian had given me. Jill, meanwhile, was eating her lunch quietly, and I tried to avoid looking her way.

I sighed. Damned if I do, damned if I don't.

Hannah heard my sigh. "Alright?" she asked me.

I bobbed my head. "Kenny's going to be here in a couple of hours. Can I go up and take a bath in your room? And, after that, I'll fold all the laundry," I said

softly.

"Sure. You can," she said.

"Thanks," I said, taking the roll I'd just buttered, and took my opportunity to make my escape, up the back stairs.

7