Chapter Three

     Kendal was riding Sugar down the creek path over the bridge and down the slope. She dismounted and pulled the bridle off so she could drink some water. She leaned up against a tree and slid down to sit on the ground. Resting her head on her knees she wondered how things had gotten so out of hand. Sugar nipped at her head and neighed a bit to get her attention. When she raised her head she saw Sandy trotting over the bridge. Lance was in the saddle. She stood up and wiped her eyes. She crossed her arms over her chest and waited for them to get there. She dug her boots into the dirt and kicked some stones around.

     Lance saw them and slowed Sandy over the slope. He walked her up and jumped down. “Don’t say anything until I’m done.” He barked when he was in front of her. She resented the words and turned her back to him. “No…” He spun her around with one hand. “You are going to hear what I have to say. Why didn’t you tell me about the jacket?” He had her by her shoulders and she was pushing him back with no success. “Why didn’t you tell me about the letter? How was I suppose to know?” She stopped fighting and heard him for the first time since he started talking. “Why are you acting like you just found it, I told Tricia to give it to you the night I left for school. Didn’t she give it to you?” Lance let her go when his hands seemed to be gripping her to hard. “No, I found it in my closet this morning.

      She never said anything about it.” She rubbed her arms and rolled her eyes. “Big surprise there.” Lance backed her up against the same tree before he spoke again. “Kendal, I didn’t know you felt that way. All I knew was that if I acted on my feelings about you I might lose you. So I left. I have always known that there was something between us, but until I came home I didn’t know what it was. I’ve never met anyone like you, you’re so real… I can talk to you, do you know what that means to me?” He put his hand under her chin so she could see him. “Do you?” Her eyes were spilling over and she gasped to speak. “What about Tricia?” He wiped her eyes with his thumbs.

      You don’t have to worry about her, she’s history.” She put her head on his chest and let it all sink in. “Hey, you know what.” He held her up for a minute. “I never gave you you’re present. “What?” she whispered and stood on her own when he walked over to Sandy. He pulled the army jacket out of the side bag and brought I over to her. He presented a blue necklace box. “Open it.” He commanded as she examined the box. She pulled out a platinum chain with a horseshoe charm. “It’s engraved…see” he spoke showing her the words. “For Sugar, Love Jimmy” She smiled and fell into a hug with him.

     This is beautiful, thank you so much. You didn‘t have to do that.” He put the clasp around her neck and kissed her shoulder. “I wanted to.”

     “Jimmy I love it.” He wrapped his arms around her and leaned her back as far as they could go with out hitting the ground. “And Ken Doll McRae, I love you.”

The End