It's in their summer together, the first, Barney later realizes, that he discovered Valancy never had seen a firefly before. It stood to reason; she had been in Deerwood her whole life and that dismal little town seemed to leech all the colour and wonder from the world.
(Well, that could have been the home she came from but it was mostly part and parcel to him.)
Valancy had been so busy tending to Cissy that she had missed chances to go out beyond the garden or the front porch. So, the wonder in her eyes and the stunned, soft opening of her mouth as she spotted the dancing globes of light in the air made Barney's heart thaw, just a tiny bit.
"Hold on, Moonlight." The endearment came softly from his mouth and he paused under the trees, drawing Valancy in close. She was in that smoke - blue chiffon that became her so well and she nestled against him in that trusting, content way that made him not want to let go.
Letting her rest against his chest and face away he cupped her hands around his. He forced the distracting sense of her heart beating against his chest and the scent of her hair.
"Hold still," he cajoled quietly. They both waited listening to the crickets, the faint hoot of an owl and the wind in the trees. Soon, faintly bobbling flickers of golden lights weaved in the heavy ferns nearby.
Valancy caught her breath as a few of the fireflies danced their way to their clasped hands, bobbing and weaving gently around her astonished eyes.
"Oh, Barney. They're beautiful." she whispered, trying not to scare the little things.
Barney tightened his grasp very carefully along her waist and chuckled, the sound warm and free from cynicism. It was worth something more than the view out of Mistawis to see the firefly light reflected in her eyes and the simple, sheer awe in her smile.
"They are Moonlight." I just never saw, until now.