hand to the side of her mouth. "Logan's hiding behind the tree and –" She said trying to muffle her giggle.
"WHAT?" I protested, cutting her off mid-sentence. Logan popped out from behind the tree, knowing his cover had been blown.
"Aw, Kaitlin, it's okay," he winked. "I heard this is the greatest rope swing in town. We just finished up for the day, and it's really hot… Do you ladies mind if I join you?"
"We don't mind…" Emma and Anna said with a pout. "It'll just be you and Kaitlin though, 'cause we have to go finish our chores…"
"What about you, Kaitlin?" Logan asked with an easy smile.
"I've already finished my chores."
He grinned. "That's good to know, but do you mind if I swim?"
"I don't mind… I guess," pausing I scanned the trail behind him. "Is Robert gonna come swimmin' too?"
"No, he's already headed back to Uncle Henry's farm."
"So why are you still here?" I probed.
He grinned. "I just felt like a swim."
With that Logan yanked his dirty white t-shirt over his head and tossed it to the ground.
"Are you swimmin in your trousers?"
He looked down. "I didn't plan on it."
In an instant, Logan stepped out of them. He was standin' in front of me in just his under garments grinning.
I'd seen Billy and some of the other farm boys strip down for a swim, but we were just kids and I wasn't head over heels in love with them.
"What's wrong, Kaitlin? Cat got your tongue?"
"Logan what are you doin?"
He looked up and pointed to the rope dangling from the old oak tree.
"I'm going up there… you wanna come with me?" He asked, wiggling his eye brows.
I shifted my eyes tryin to keep them from roaming over his bare chest.
"Well are you coming?" I snapped my eyes back to him.
"No, that was my last time goin' up that tree!"
"Suit yourself!" he shrugged.
Before I knew it he was up the tree, grabbing a hold of the rope and launching himself into the water. This was the first time since I'd met him that his smile reached his eyes. Surfacing, he cupped both hands over his face, slicked back his wild hair and looked over toward where I was sitting beside the water's edge.
"Kaitlin what is that you're wearing?" He asked making his way toward me.
I glanced down at my top and knickers that were usually hidden under my dress. I tugged at the clinging cotton trying to free it.
"There's no need to do that…" he said grinning and then knelt down in front of me. The way he was staring at me had my pulse picking up speed. "Are you sure you don't want to jump again, Kaitlin?"
I wasn't sure if anyone my age had ever died from their heart beating so fast, but if he didn't stop looking through me with those eyes, I just might be the first.
"Hello? Kaitlin? I asked you a question…"
Embarrassed, I met his humored eyes. "I'm sorry Logan… what did you say?"
"Are you sure you don't want to jump again?"
"No… No I'm never going back up there." I answered trying to hold back a giggle.
"What's so funny?"
"You have green stuff all in your hair."
"And you think that's funny, do you?"
Before I could respond he pulled me up and over his shoulder with lightning speed.
"Come on Miss Giggle-box. I think it's time you get what you deserve." He announced tightening his grip as I tried to wiggle free.
"You're not getting away that easy…" he laughed, taking off toward the deeper section of the water.
"No – no," I screamed.
I didn't have to ask; I knew what his intentions were. He ran to the edge of the dock Daddy built last summer and jumped in the water with me over his shoulder. I came up laughing and spitting water out of my mouth. "Why did you do that?"
"I just thought you needed a dunk." His voice held an unusual edge that had me questioning his actions. His eyes narrowed and the strong line of his jaw tightened. I looked away under his intense scrutiny. "Kaitlin," he said, cupping his hand under my chin until our eyes met. "You're beautiful." He reached up slowly, deliberately threading his fingers through my hair and guided me until our lips met and moved together.
Groaning low in his throat, he dragged his mouth away. "Kaitlin, I shouldn't have done that again…you are making it so hard for me to resist you"
Hurt by his words, the once warm water seemed to turn ice cold. "Let go of me, Logan." I yelled, pushing myself free. "I don't know what game you're playing with me, but I can't take it! One minute you make me think you actually like me and then the next you make me think this is just a game for you! Just leave me alone!"
"No, wait! I didn't mean it the way you think!" he tried to explain while swimming after me.
I marched out of the lake. "No, it's okay, Logan. You don't have'ta explain… and don't'cha worry, it won't happen again."
Logan grabbed me from behind and spun me around.
"At least let me explain," he demanded.
"I told ya… I don't need ya to!"
"Please…"
"No Logan! Just let me go!" I yelled, trembling.
"Kaitlin, please..." he glanced down and rubbed his free hand over a faint marking just above his heart. "I just need a little more time." He whispered.
"Time for what? To tell me more lies!"
My words seemed to cut right through him and his expression became downcast. The continued rubbing over his heart drew my attention to the scar-looking mark on his chest.
"What is that?" I asked trying to make out what it was.
He closed his eyes and pressed my hand flat against his chest. "There's so much you don't understand."
"Then why don't'cha help me understand?"
His mouth pressed into a hard line. "I can't."
"You can't or you won't, Logan?"
Dropping his head, he shifted his weight back and forth.
"Logan?"
In the short time I'd known him he'd never been at a loss for words. Silently, he looked at me with tenderness in his eyes that took my breath away.
"This wasn't supposed to happen, but I can't seem to stop it now." He whispered and twisted my hand in his, intertwining our fingers. Slowly he leaned in, his lips lightly brushing against mine. There was a sweet urgency in his kiss…
"Logan! What the heck are you doing?" Robert shouted.
Grabbing both my shoulders, he yanked me out of Logan's arms. Confused, I stumbled and tripped over a boulder by the edge of the lake and fell backwards. I screeched as pain seared through my right wrist.
I looked up and met Logan's irate eyes. "Kaitlin, are you okay?" he demanded.
Before I could answer, Logan rammed his shoulder into Robert's stomach, causing a whoosh of air that had Robert doubled over.
Robert sucked in a deep breath, and stood up. "What the heck–" he began, just as Logan's fist clipped the side of his jaw.
Robert pivoted and lunged forward, tackling Logan to the ground. He pinned Logan's arms. "Stop it, little brother, before you make me beat the crap out of you."
"Get off me!" Logan snarled.
I stumbled to my feet, still holding my wrist. "Stop! Get off of him, Robert! Get off of him now!" I yelled.
When he didn't stop I jumped on Robert's back, wrapping my arms around his neck.
"Kaitlin, I'll let him go. I just want him to cool down first. Now let go of me… I'll get off him, okay?"
I released him and took a step back. Robert stuck out his hand and helped Logan to his feet.
"Logan, are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm okay."
I threw my arms around Logan and clung to him. He ran his hands up and down my back.
"I'm sorry you had to see that, Kaitlin." He said sternly, not breaking eye contact with his brother.
I spun to face Robert. "Why would you attack your own brother like that?"
He blew out a deep breath. "Kaitlin, I n
eed to talk to him alone, please."
"No, you'll just start fightin' again!"
"I promise I won't lay a hand on him."
"No you won't; I won't let you lay another hand on him!"
"I can take care of myself Kaitlin." Logan grumbled.
"Fine, you two can beat each other to a pulp then." I grabbed my dress off the bolder and slipped it on I spun on my heels, and ran toward the barn.
I burst through the doors, stirring up the sawdust covered floor.
"Who's there?" Daddy called out.
"It's just me." He poked his head out of the doorway of the new tack room. "Is everything okay?"
"Yes sir," his brows creased as he eyes skimmed over me. I flashed a smile. "I was hoping that I could ride Scout…"
Daddy continued to study me and frown. "I'm not sure if that's a good idea, Kaitlin."
"I promise I won't work him too hard…"
He pushed his hat up.
"I guess you can for a bit. I'll get him saddled for you, but you only got about an hour left of daylight, so you'd better hurry."
"Yes sir," I hugged him. "Thank you, Daddy."
♦~♦~♦~♦
"Whoa, boy." I patted Scout's brown neck, jumped down and tied him to a tree a few feet away, afraid to let him anywhere near the stream that flowed down the creek from the Lost Sea. I hadn't told Daddy I'd been up here with Scout the day before he stopped eating; much less about the two men I'd seen arguing.
Daylight was fading; the sky turned from blue to a vivid shade of orange, like fiery lava flowing across the sky. The wind blew gently, rustling tree leaves and the smell of jasmine wafted through the air, wrapping around me in a warm, calming blanket.
The cicadas shrill buzzing and clicking drowned out the steady gurgle from the creek. I sat down on the bank and watched the water glide over smooth stones. I picked up a stone and turned it over and over, examining it before tossing it in the flowing water. I couldn't understand what was going on between Logan and Robert. What was Logan hiding from me? Maybe he has a girl back home he wasn't telling me about. The thought of that set my blood to an instant boil. I shook the image away just as fast as it reared its ugly head.
There was definitely something going on and I need to know what that something was.
Cracking twigs caught my attention. Something was running toward me… I knew I shouldn't have come this close to the caverns again! Daddy is going to kill me; he said it wasn't safe - especially at night when the moon shiners are runnin.
I jumped up and ran to Scout. The footsteps were faster and closer now. I looked over my shoulder and gasped.
A slender man with wavy black hair, cobalt eyes and a full black beard jumped over a log at full speed and stopped short when he saw me. He was out of breath and had a deep gash just above his right eyebrow; his clothes were dingy and torn. I'd never seen him before…
He walked toward me and put his finger over his mouth.
"Shh," he whispered.
My heart began to race.
I shouldn't be here! I scolded myself.
He made the motion for me to keep quiet again…
Shocked, I didn't move. Something about him - though cut and dirty - prompted me to listen instead of scream. Turning his head, he listened as more running footsteps approached. I looked away from the strange man into the direction of rugged breathing...
"Mr. Henry?" I called out.
When I turned back around the mysterious man was gone.
"Kaitlin is that you?" Mr. Henry yelled and stopped running.
"Yes, sir. It's me."
When Mr. Henry got closer I saw he had a rifle slung over his shoulder. "What are you doing out here this late?"
"I took Scout out for a ride."
"You know your father wouldn't want you this close to the caverns. There's –" he paused. "Some unsavory business that goes on out here. So you young lady need to get on home."
"Yes, Sir. I'm leaving now." I answered in a shaky voice.
Feeling Henry watching me as I mounted Scout, I grabbed the reins and pushed my legs in just behind his girth. Scout took off in a full gallop and I felt like I still wasn't going fast enough.
Responsibilities
Logan
Robert was always good at lecturing. I guess it was because he was the oldest and felt like he was charged with the duty of monitoring my behavior.
"Logan, are you serious? What the heck were you thinking?"
"I think it's none of