I got out of Guthrie's truck, carrying all my school stuff, and slammed the door, walking to the house ahead of him without saying anything.

At least I didn't say anything until we were almost to the bottom step, then I said, "I don't know why you're trying to boss me-and then not

give me a real reason-"

"You can just trust me, can't ya?" Guthrie said, from his few steps behind me.

I did trust Guthrie. He's never been the type to throw around the fact that he's a year older than me, or than he knows better about certain

things, or the fact that he could, (if he wanted), put me into a wrestling hold that I wouldn't be able to escape from...well, I could put up a good

fight, but I wouldn't win. I knew that. Like I said, Guthrie doesn't do that often, though. Only when he is super irritated with me, or I won't quit

bugging him.

So, I did trust him. I did. I stopped walking and turned to face him and he came to a stop, too.

"I do," I told him.

"Okay, then."

"But-I don't understand why you won't tell me what you're thinking-why you don't want me to hang out with Kristen. I mean-don't you

trust me?" I asked him.

That got him. I could tell. He gave me a long, long look. Still, he was close-mouthed.

"Course I do," he said.

"Then why won't you say what it is?" I persisted.

Somebody called out to us. It was Adam, waving to us from the barn in greeting.

Guthrie and I both waved back.

"I'll talk to you tonight," he said. "After supper and all that. We can talk in your room."

"Okay," I said. I would rather have known right then what he was holding back, but I could tell that he wouldn't give in even if I badgered

him.

We went into the house, and parted ways to change out clothes for chores, and say hello to Hannah. I was out feeding the goats when

Crane drove up in the Jeep, Evan beside him. I shut the gate and carried the bucket towards the barn, pausing beside Crane.

"Hi, kiddo," he said.

"Hi," I said.

"How was your day? Did you talk to your Anatomy teacher?" he asked.

I nodded. "I've got a mid C right now."

"Good," he said, and that was all he said. But he smiled at me and I could tell he was pleased. That made me want to

please him more.

"I'll get it up to a B," I promised. It might have been a rash promise, but I meant it right then.

"That'll be great," he said.

"If I get my homework all finished tonight, then on Sunday when I get home from Lori's house, can Kenny come over

for awhile?" I asked.

Evan, who was lifting a sack of feed from the back seat of the Jeep, and slinging it over one shoulder, said, "I wouldn't

let him, Crane. I think she oughta stay home all weekend, up in her room."

"Evan-" I began to get riled at him, and then Evan laughed, showing me he was just teasing.

"Mind your business, Evan," I told him, and gave him a sassy look, teasing him back.

Evan just laughed again and headed towards the barn.

I looked back to Crane again, waiting.

"If you get everything done tonight, then yeah, he can," Crane said. I gave him a full smile.

"Thanks," I said.

7

After I'd set the table, and Hannah said supper was going to be a little later than usual, I went on and started my homework.

The telephone was ringing, as the guys all began to come in, all washed up and ready for supper. Talking and laughing.

"I've got it," I said, and went to answer the telephone. Thinking it might be Kenny. Or Lori, maybe.

No. It was for Guthrie. It was Misty. She asked for Guthrie and I said I'd call him to the phone.

"Is Guthrie inside?" I asked Brian, as he went over to sink onto one of the couches.

"He followed us in," Brian said.

I laid the receiver down, and went to the kitchen entryway, seeing Guthrie talking to Hannah and munching on a piece of

celery.

"Telephone," I told him.

"'K'," Guthrie said, and ambled unhurriedly towards the living room.

I tagged after him, and went back to where my papers and books were spread out on one end of the couch Brian was sitting on.

"New girlfriend on the phone?" Brian asked me, and I nodded.

Adam was sitting across from us, in one of the recliners. "Macy?" he asked me in question.

"No. Misty," I corrected him.

"Right," Adam said, in recollection.

Guthrie didn't take long on the telephone. He finished, and walked past us, headed back towards the kitchen, probably for more

before-supper snacks.

"Good talk?" Brian asked him, in teasing, and Guthrie shrugged, avoiding Brian's eyes.

"Yep," he said, and Brian chuckled.

While it was just the three of us in the living room right then, I said, in reminder, "Tomorrow night's when I'm spending

the night at Lori's house."

Adam nodded. "Right. You checked on your grade?"

"It's a mid-C," I said.

"Good job," he said, lightly.

The telephone rang again, and, sure that it was for me this time, I got up and went to answer.

My 'hello' was answered by Daniel's quick voice.

"Hey, squirt."

"Hi!" I said.

"Anybody around inside yet?" he asked.

"Adam and Brian," I reported.

"Let me holler at one of 'em," he said.

"Ok. Are you on your way here?" I asked.

"Yeah, I'm on my way."

"How far out?" I asked.

"Still a ways to go. I hope to make it in around eleven."

"Good," I said. I was glad. Even if he was still gonna give me a talking to, or whatever, for hanging up on him, I was still glad that

I was going to be seeing him.

"I'm excited to see you," I said.

"Back at ya," Daniel said. "I hate to rush you off, squirt, but I need to talk to one of the guys."

I said okay, that I'd see him later, and I said, "Daniel says he wants to talk to one of you."

Both Adam and Brian looked up towards me.

"I've got it," Adam told Brian, and stood up, coming to take the receiver from me.

I went back to my seat, yet again, and Brian said, "Everything ok?" in question about Daniel.

"I think so. He just said he wanted to talk to one of you. He said he might make it by eleven tonight."

Hannah came into the living room from the kitchen. "Supper's on," she said.

"Smells good," Brian said, and he stood up, but we all stood there for a couple of minutes while Adam talked to Daniel.

When he was finished, and hung up the telephone, Hannah said, "Daniel's on his way?"

Adam nodded, laying a hand on Hannah's waist. "He's got a flat. It's going to tack on some time. He didn't want us to wait up and

worry."

"Is he alright?" Hannah asked, and Adam reminded her, teasing, that having a flat tire didn't necessarily equate danger or injury.

"Well, I'm glad to hear that," Hannah said, dryly, raising her eyebrows at him.

As we walked towards the kitchen, Hannah said, "It's a long evening for Jill, though. She has to be worn out by now."

"Jill didn't come with," Adam said, and Hannah looked disappointed.

"Was she not up to it?" she asked.

"He said she's been real tired of late and just couldn't face the drive," Adam said.

"I understand that. It would have been nice to see her but she needs to take care of herself," Hannah said.

As everybody took their places around the table, I was thinking that I would have liked to have seen Jill, too.

Remembering our initial relationship, who would ever have thought it could be?

7