Ford was home on Friday, by the time I got home from work. He hadn't been there long, though, I knew, because he was still in the kitchen

with Hannah, sitting at the table with her, talking, and eating a variety of sweets she'd served up to him. Hannah is always worrying about Ford not eating

enough while he's at college.

I burst into the kitchen to say hello to him, after dumping all my stuff on a couch in the living room. Ford got to his feet as I came in, setting down his

glass of milk, his other hand full of a chocolate chip cookie.

He used the arm and hand that was free of the cookie to wrap around my shoulders. "Hey, Har," he said in greeting.

I gave him a squeeze. "Hey! I didn't know you were coming! I saw Crane in town and he didn't even tell me you were here."

"I haven't seen him yet," Ford said, as Hannah told me that Crane had already been gone when Ford got home.

I squeezed him again. "It's forever since I've seen you," I told him.

"How's everything with you?" he asked, looking at me with fondness.

I shrugged. "Okay," I said. I thought maybe I could talk to Ford later on, when we were alone, about school stuff. Ford knows me well, because

he caught the reluctance in the lift of my shoulders. He rubbed the top of my head and said, "We'll hang out," as he sat back down at the table.

That was code for we can talk later on.

I nodded, feeling better than I had all week. It was Friday. I was free from school until Monday. Tomorrow I could hang out with Ford, and tomorrow

night was the dinner out and the dance.

By now, the back door was opening, and there were various McFaddens coming in, much like I had earlier, in a giant hurry to greet Ford.

Brian pulled Ford up out of the chair that he'd just sat back down in, and gave him a bear hug, lifting him off of his feet. Guthrie was practically jumping

on Ford's back, horsing around. Adam's greeting to Ford wasn't as rambunctious, but it was just as full of gladness. He hugged Ford and then patted his

cheek with one hand.

"You're lookin' good, buddy," Adam told Ford.

"He needs a haircut," Brian commented.

"I've been busy," Ford defended.

"Might have to use the sheep shears, Hannah," Brian joked.

"I'll hold him down for ya," Guthrie offered.

"Just try it," Ford warned.

Adam turned his attention to me. "Hey, sugar. How was your day?"

"It was a pretty good day," I said, in honesty. It had been.

"Good," Adam said, and gave my shoulder a pat. "Well-we better get back to work. We'll be in soon."

"I'll have supper ready," Hannah said.

"You gonna come along with us?" Brian asked Ford. "Or are you gonna sit in here all afternoon, just eatin'?"

"What all you have to do?" Ford asked.

"Going to ride up north, check some fences," Brian said.

"I'll come along," Ford said, and got to his feet, taking another cookie from the plate on the table.

"Can I come, too?" I asked, in a general way, to nobody in particular. Instead of waiting for an answer I looked at Hannah. "Can I, or do you

need me to help you with supper?"

"You can go with them," Hannah said, with a smile. "I know you're itching to get on your horse."

"Thanks," I said, and since I was already in old work clothes and old boots, I just went to grab my hat from the back porch. The four of

the guys were coming out now, and we all went towards the pastures. Ford and I saddled up horses. I chose Old Charlie instead of Petra. Petra is

for speed. Charlie is for enjoyment. Although he is able to hold his own if he needs to run.

The four of us set out for the upper north pastures. Guthrie stayed behind at the house to do other stuff, so it was Adam, Brian, Ford and I.

Ford and I were riding side by side for awhile. I asked him how Captain Jack was doing, and he told me that he'd brought the parrot

home, and put him upstairs in the boys bedroom.

"Oh, good," I said. "I can't wait to see him later."

We talked about general stuff. Whether Daniel had called him, how his classes were going, all of that. And then, he turned his

focus to my stuff.

"You feelin' okay?" he asked me. A reference, I knew, to my diabetes, although he didn't add all of that.

"Pretty okay," I said.

Adam, who was riding ahead of us a bit with Brian, called back to us, and pointed to the treetops. An eagle was perched there,

majestic in his natural beauty.

We both watched the eagle for a couple of moments, and then Ford said, "How's your stuff? Anatomy?"

I lifted my shoulders again. "I don't like it."

"It's a tough class."

"That's an understatement."

"Well, it's a senior class-and you're taking it your junior year, so-" Ford began.

"It wouldn't matter if I took it now or next year or when I was thirty-five," I interrupted him. "I'd still suck at it."

Ford regarded me intently. "I thought you were doing okay with it."

I shrugged again. "Early on, maybe."

"Well, what's happening?" he asked me. "Are you doing all the assigned work?"

"I'm doing most of the work," I said, glibly, and gave him a look, crossing my eyes in a joking way.

Ford didn't grin at me, or look amused. "Are you slacking?" he demanded.

Brian and Adam had slowed down a bit, and they were too close for my comfort.

"Shh," I said, low, and nodded towards their backs.

"Why, shhh?" Ford asked, though he lowered his voice. "Are you keeping quiet about something to do with the class?"

"I guess."

"What?" he demanded, his tone low so as not to be overheard, but yet also insistent.

"I'm just-struggling," I said.

"So it's hard and you're struggling," he repeated, as if to clarify.

"Yeah."

"So-you ask for help. You get ahead of it," Ford said.

"I will."

By now, his forehead was all scrunched up with frowny lines. "Why you will? Why haven't you already?"

"I get tired of it," I admitted honestly. "I'm regretting taking all these hard classes. I should have stayed with all the easy

classes meant for my year instead of thinking I was some sort of big genius or something."

"You don't sound like you," he accused. "You've always wanted to get a jump on things."

I shrugged, yet again. "Well-now I regret it," I said.

Ford regarded me seriously for a long few moments, and then said, "Oh."

He turned his attention forward, shifting in the saddle a little.

I waited for him to say something else, to ask another question, but he didn't right away.

I studied his profile.

"What are you thinking?" I asked him.

"I'm not thinking anything in particular."

"You're not thinking that I'm being lazy? That I made my choices and that I should stand by the classes I chose and not be a whiny baby

about it?" I asked, all in a rush.

Ford pulled Butterbean to a halt, and reached out to take Charlie's bridle in his grip, so we stopped, too.

"I didn't think any of that," he said, still quietly, even though we'd stopped.

To my surprise, and sort of irritation at myself, tears came to my eyes.

Ford stayed quiet, regarding me with compassion.

I swallowed hard. "I know. You wouldn't. You're nice."

I brushed at my cheek with my hand, sniffling a little.

"Try not to cry," he told me. "I don't have any kleenexs or a handkerchief or anything-and you don't wanna have to use your

sleeve, like when you were little."

I couldn't help smiling at that, not feeling so tearful.

"You were always so good to me and Guthrie," I said. "Especially to me. Even when I used to be a pain to you."

Ford sort of chuckled, and we started riding again. "Used to be?" he asked. "You're still a pain."

"Yeah. I know."

After a couple of minutes, Ford said, "You need to talk to somebody about all this, Har. It's really bothering you, I can tell."

"I don't want Crane to be disappointed in me. And he will be. And-he'll ground me and all that," I said.

"We've all been grounded over grades, goofy. It's not the end of the world," he reminded me.

Though I highly doubted that Ford himself had gotten grounded for poor grades very often, I didn't say that. Evan and Daniel, sure, but Ford?

Not likely. Still, I didn't contradict him.

"I'm talking to you about it," I reminded him, righteously.

"And, that's good. That's great. But-there's not a lot I can do to help you with it all. Besides listening, I mean. And, maybe giving

some advice, or whatever. You need to talk to Crane-or to Adam," Ford told me.

"Crane won't understand," I said.

At that Ford gave me a perplexed look. "Since when is Crane not able to understand, and sympathize?"

"He won't have any sympathy for me. Not at this point. I can tell you that right now," I said.

Now, Ford looked, not puzzled, but very concerned. "It's gotten that bad?" he asked, picking up on my choice of words and tone.

I fixed my eyes on Brian, just ahead of me. "Well, yeah. But, I don't wanna cry or anything, so let's stop talking about it, okay?"

"Okay. We'll drop it," he said, and I nodded.

"Thanks," I told him.

"We'll drop it for now," Ford added, as we drew up closer to Adam and Brian. "We'll talk again, and if I need to get tough with you,

then I will. Got it?"

I gave a sort of a humph sound, and Ford said, lower now, "I mean it, Har. I'm not gonna be mean about it, but I will tell you

what I think and stuff."

"Yeah. Fine," I said, crossing my eyes at him again.

7

We paused along the way to look over some spots in the fencing, and Brian said they'd come back the next morning, with some supplies to

patch a spot that needed attention. It wasn't that bad yet, but Brian and Adam both said they didn't want to wait until it did get worse.

"I'll come back up with you," Ford offered.

We rode back, sometimes the four of us abreast, and, riding between Ford and Brian, I listened to them all talk and I felt so

much better. Out in the sun, on horseback...well, it doesn't get any better than that. Especially when Ford was there, too. And nobody was

talking about diabetes or grades or anything that stressed me out.

They did talk about the next night, with the dance and all for me and Guthrie.

"The kids are gettin' all swanky," Brian teased. "Gonna eat at the country club with all the rich folks."

"No kidding?" Ford asked me, and I nodded.

"Trent's dad is fixing it so we can all go," I said.

Ford let out a whistle. "Wow."

Brian and Ford teased me a little more about it, and I felt so light and happy right then. When we got back to the house, Ford took care of Charlie

for me, so I could finish up the rest of my outside chores. After that, it was supper time, and Hannah's baked chicken and green bean casserole

really hit the spot. I took a shower and joined the family in the living room for the evening, while we all sat around, talking and eating popcorn.

7

The next day I helped Hannah do some stuff around the house, spent some time with D.C., not riding, but brushing him. I worked on the assigned

worksheet for Anatomy class, and took Isaac for a ride down the driveway in his wagon. After all that, Hannah told me I could take a bath in

her bathroom, and start getting ready to go out. I took a long soak in her tub, reveling in the hot water and feeling a sense of well-being.

After that Clare did my hair, doing it up in a bun, with loose tendrils hanging loose around my face, and then the hair piece that she'd

gotten me at the mall. I wore more makeup that usual, and then put on my blue dress. I wore a pair of shoes that Clare loaned me. They weren't

high heels or anything like that. She did have a pair of those that would fit me, but I'd said no thanks. There was no way that I would be

comfortable in those.

Clare was telling me that she hadn't worn high heels since she'd been out on a date with Brian, before they got married.

"Did you used to wear them a lot?" I asked.

"Fairly often." She laughed. "I can't imagine it now. I don't know why I put myself thru that."

The pair I did borrow were black flats, and I knew I'd be able to spend the evening in them without my feet starting to hurt.

When I was finished dressing, Clare gave me an approving nod.

"You look fantastic," she said.

I reached up to touch my hair gingerly. "Thanks for the headband. It matches the dress just right."

"It really does," Clare agreed.

Hannah tapped on the door and came in, her eyes sparkling as she took me in.

"Oh, sweetie, you look beautiful," she said.

"Thanks," I told her.

Hannah held out her hand, showing me what was in her palm. "I got this when I was about your age-I've always loved it. If you want to,

you can wear it tonight."

I reached out and took the bracelet she was holding. It was gold, and sort of delicate looking, with little tiny squares of gold all around it.

"It's beautiful," I said, and hugged her. "Thank you, I'll be really careful with it."

There was another tap on the door, and Hannah went to open it. Guthrie was standing there at the doorway, wearing a pair of church

pants and a blue shirt with a tie, and his better pair of boots. His usual ball cap was absent.

Hannah patted his face like a proud mom would do. "You look so handsome." She touched his cheek.

"Thanks," Guthrie said, tugging at his collar. "I'd rather not be wearing this thing, I'll tell you that."

"Well, you look fine."

"Is it straight?" he asked. "I don't do it often enough to tell-"

"Let me fix it," Hannah said, and reached up to rework his tie. "Are you two riding together, or how are you all getting there?"

"I'm going to pick Kristen up," Guthrie told her, and I added, "Kenny's coming here for me." I turned towards Guthrie. "We're meeting you

out there, right?"

Guthrie gave a nod, and tugged at his collar again.

"I want to take a picture of the two of you before you head out," Hannah said. "I'll go get the camera ready."

She went past Guthrie, who was moaning at the idea of having his picture taken. "Aw, Hannah, no pictures-"

"Yes. No arguments," Hannah told him.

Guthrie groaned again and the four of us headed down the stairs together.

Hannah had Guthrie and I lined up and was taking pictures of us, standing together, near the front door, when Adam and Brian came thru

from the kitchen into the living room. They both slowed their steps as they came in, standing there, watching with Clare while Hannah

took pictures.

"Look at the two of you," Brian said, and he sounded sort of funny. He and Adam were looking sort of funny, too. They looked-almost

stunned a bit. Or emotional.

"You clean up real nice," Brian said, stepping closer. "Both of you."

"Thanks a whole lot," Guthrie said, dryly.

"No kidding, Guth. You look sharp," Brian said. Ford was rambling down the stairs now, pausing to watch the goings-on, munching on an

apple. He gave a low whistle.

"Those fancy folks won't have a thing on you two," Ford said.

We could hear somebody pulling up to the house. "It's probably Kenny," I said.

Brian went to lift the door curtain. "Yeah, it is."

"I better head out, to get Kristen," Guthrie said. "I'll see you out at the country club, Har," he said to me.

I said okay, and Brian opened the door to Kenny's knock.

Greetings were exchanged with Kenny, and his eyes lit up when he saw me.

"Wow, Harlie," he said, immediately, and then, seeming to realize how awed he was sounding in front of the family, he said, "You look

real pretty."

"Thanks," I told him.

"Okay. See you guys out there," Guthrie said, and headed out the door.

"No drinkin'," Brian told him.

"I know, I got it," Guthrie said.

Hannah and Clare and Adam all told him goodbye, which left Kenny and I standing there, by the front door, with the brigade of

McFaddens observing.

"I guess we better head out, too," Kenny said.

Adam followed us onto the porch. "Drive safe, alright," he told Kenny.

"I will," Kenny promised.

"No drinking for either of you, either," Brian called from the doorway.

"We won't," I said.

"Have a wonderful time," Clare said.

I told her thank you again, and Kenny stepped down a few steps, and turned to wait for me. Adam leaned forward, and put his hand on

my elbow. "You look beautiful, sugar," he told me, really quietly.

When I met his eyes, I was startled at the level of emotion in them. I couldn't tell everything he was thinking, or anything, but I knew he

was feeling one of those 'dad moments.'

In an impulsive move, I reached up and put my arm around his neck, standing on my tiptoes, almost, and pressed my cheek against

his. We stood like that, just for a moment or two, and then Adam gave me a half-smile, and a nod, saying nothing, but yet saying

much.

7