Something Unforgettable

The next morning at Pine Hollow, Daniel came down for breakfast to find Max and Deborah preparing a hearty country style breakfast.

Deborah turned to the kitchen doorway, "Good morning, Daniel." she greeted.

"Good morning, Deborah." Daniel signed in greeting.

"Eat your breakfast, Daniel," Max said. "you've got a long day of riding lessons."

"Yes, Max." Daniel signed.

Daniel started eating his grits.

Later on that day, EJ was back at the Moondance camp having a picnic with Carmen, she had fixed them turkey cheddar wraps, homemade pita chips and homemade hummus.

For dessert, EJ had brought some homemade black raspberry tarts.

"So that's what happened," Carmen was saying, "I finally saw the face of the boy from my dreams he had jet black hair and green eyes."

EJ's eyes widened slightly, Carmen was looking down at the hummus bowl as she dipped a pita chip in it so she didn't notice EJ's reaction.

She just described Daniel perfectly, EJ thought. but should I tell her, would it be right for me to get involved?

"Hey, EJ," Carmen said excitedly bringing him out of his thoughts. "look!"

EJ turned and looked in the direction she was pointing.

There, he saw Lavinia being put on the Wentwood bus, Lavinia glanced over her should and saw Carmen watching her, she glared and Carmen smirked and gave her a little wave.

EJ snickered when the driver took Lavinia's fancy suitcase and literally threw it into the baggage compartment.

"Did you see that?" EJ asked.

"I sure did, and I sure hope her makeup case got broken," Carmen laughed. "and it smears all over her clothes."

"Carmen." EJ said in fake shock and snickering.

As soon as the Wentwood bus pulled out, a military bus pulled up and Carlos was rushed into it by a man in a uniform with sargent's stripes on his sleeve.

"It couldn't happen to a better pair of trouble makers." Carmen said with a smirk as the bus disappeared around the corner, EJ and Carmen could still hear the new recruits being lectured at full volume by the sargent.

EJ and Carmen finished their wraps and moved on to the desert.

Carmen pulled the whipped cream out of the cooler and sprayed some on both tarts, EJ picked up his fork and was about to cut into the small pie when somebody grabbed it.

"Ooh what have we here," a voice sneered. "somebody trying to date my girl!"

"Kasanoda! I thought I broke up with you!" Carmen thundered angrily.

"Is this the clown who has been stalking you?" EJ asked Carmen.

"Unfortunately." Carmen sighed.

"I'm Ryo Kasanoda," the boy snapped. "and as I said Carmen is my girl!"

"Not even in your dreams," Carmen snapped, her temper flaring, "it's over between us! period, end of story!"

"You heard the lady," EJ said standing up. "now there's no need for any trouble, so why don't you just walk away?"

Just then, two of Ryo's buddies came around the trailer and grabbed EJ from behind before Carmen could warn him.

"How about instead of walking away, I mess you up?" Ryo growled, clenching his fists.

Ryo advanced on EJ, only to be hit across the nerve in his shin with a stout piece of tree branch that Carmen had grabbed while the others were distracted.

Ryo hit the ground holding his shin and howling in pain.

While Ryo's friends were caught off guard, EJ managed to overpower their grip twist their arms around and forced them to their knees.

Carmen saw this and nodded in approval at EJ.

EJ smiled at Carmen before turning a glare at Ryo's flunkies.

"Party's over," EJ snapped. "now I strongly suggest that you two take your buddy Ryo and get out of here... now!"

"Yeah," Carmen growled warningly. "unless you want me to tell my father about this!"

This seemed to take the fight out of them, they grabbed Ryo, whose shin was already turning purple and helped him hobble away.

"I hope they won't bother us ever again!" EJ said.

"That was impressive," Carmen smiled after they were gone. "you're stronger than you look!"

"Thanks," EJ blushed. "I try to keep healthy, are you sure those guys are roustabouts? I thought they'd be stronger."

Carmen nodded.

"That gives me an idea," Carmen said. "I'm going to ask my father to have Ivon, our head roustabout put them on double shifts for a while, maybe a little extra work will keep them away from Ryo and out of our hair."

"Genius!" EJ said.