air and glancing out at the flowers I'd planted at the first sign of spring was enough to help get my emotions back in check. I closed my eyes and inhaled the scent of freshly cut pine drifting through the air.
"Lenny!" Daddy shouted, startling me.
I spun around and spotted him across the pasture. "Yes sir?"
He cupped his hands around his mouth. "Come on out here." He yelled, motioning with his hand.
I stepped off the verandah and made my way across the damp grass to where he was bent over measuring and marking up some wood that still needed to be cut.
"Yes sir?" I said walking up and standing next to him.
He glanced up. "Would you be a dear and get those boys some of your Momma's fresh squeezed lemonade?" He asked, gesturing with his thumb over his shoulder toward the old oak where they were now leaning against it resting.
"Lenny did ya hear what I said?"
My eyes darted back to my father and away from the tree. "Yes sir, two glasses of lemonade. Do you want me to bring you one, too?"
"No, I'm fine. I'm used to this heat but them boys ain't and I don't want them to keel over on me. I don't think their uncle would take kindly to that," he scratched his chin.
"Daddy, I thought they worked on their family's farm down south," I glanced back over my shoulder. "So shouldn't they be used to this heat?"
"You'd think," he huffed. "Matter-of-fact, I haven't introduced ya yet, have I?"
"No sir." I chirped trying to keep my sudden nerves in check.
My father was finally going to introduce me to Henry's nephews.
I wasn't sure if the sudden ringing in my ears was caused from the fact that I was about to meet the brothers who'd just caught me hanging out of my bedroom window watching them earlier, or that Logan would somehow see through me with those beautiful emerald eyes. I stood there next to my father waiting for him to finish measuring a board and watched, mesmerized, as Logan pulled his t-shirt over his face and used it to wipe the tiny beads of sweat dripping from his brow. My cheeks heated at the sight of his shirtless chest. Logan glanced up and caught me staring at him. His full lips turned up at the corners, I spun around to face my father sure that my cheeks were on fire now and wanting nothing more than to put that fire out.
"Daddy, if they're having a hard time now, I don't know how they're going to handle the summer months, when the sun cooks you like an egg over an open flame."
He laughed, wrapped his arm around my shoulder and led me over to the young men resting under the oak tree. "Sweetheart, this is Robert," he looked toward the taller of the two, "and this one here is Logan." He said, slapping Logan's bare shoulder.
My eyes darted back and forth studying the two of them. This was the first time since they'd come to our tiny town that I'd been face to face with either of them. It was no surprise when I found myself having to look up to meet their eyes.
Robert was a dash taller than Logan, with short honey brown hair and steely gray eyes. They could have been twins, with the exception of Logan's eyes – they reminded me of the emerald pendant I'd found when I was a little girl. It was lying face up on a boulder out by the creek. It must have fallen off the girl I saw horsing around with her boyfriend the week before. I knew I shouldn't just take it but I'd never seen anything so pretty, or wanted something so badly, until now.
What is wrong with me? I thought. How could someone I'd only seen in passing make me feel things I'd never felt for anyone else… with no effort on his part.
Logan cleared his throat snapping me out of my internal babble.
I stepped forward on legs that felt like I'd been runnin' up and down the pastures all day.
"Nice to meet ya!" I managed, reaching out to shake both their hands.
"Nice to finally meet you too." Logan said, clasping both his hands over mine causing my heart to race. I yanked my hand out of his, fearful of what was happening to me. I'd held Billy's hand before but it felt nothing like this.
Daddy frowned. "Is everything okay, Lenny?"
I cringed at the nickname he'd given me as a child… one that he'd promised to quit using in front of company.
"Daddy, you said you wouldn't call me that anymore! I'm not a boy!" I whispered over my shoulder.
My father laughed and turned his attention to Robert. "Do you boys have any sisters back home?"
"No Sir." Robert answered as Logan leaned in toward me.
"No, you're clearly not a boy." he mouthed, grinning and sweeping his gaze across my face and resting on my lips.
I'm not sure if daddy and Robert heard what Logan said, or if my hammering heart beat could be heard outside my body, but I quickly felt all eyes resting back on me. I glanced around unsure of what to do or say next.
I couldn't think of a time I'd ever had anyone look at me or speak to me they Logan had.
"So, are you getting married today?" Robert asked eyeing me up and down with his brows knit together.
"No. No… I'm…" my eyes widened and I looked down, horrified at the sight of the dress I was wearing.
I can't believe I'm wearing this! How can I possibly explain it when it doesn't even make sense to me? I wish I could disappear right now!
"You're what?" Logan probed with one of his dark eye brows arched.
I looked away knowing my usually pale cheeks were now fire engine red.
"It's okay, Lenny. There's no reason to be embarrassed. I'm sure all the girls your age still play dress up." Logan said grinning from ear to ear.
"That wasn't a very kind thing for you to say to me…" I said, frowning and stepping closer to him. I had been dreaming of being this close to him for weeks, and now he was ruining it with his sharp tongue. My clashing feelings toward him made me wonder what was wrong with my brain and causing these sudden mood swings. Any other day I would have laughed his words off, but coming from him, they hurt and confused me.
His eyes widened and he threw his hands up. "Wow! Lenny. I didn't mean to upset you–"
"Well you did. And I'll have you know I'm not a child, and my name is Kaitlin, K-A-I-T-L-I-N… you'd be wise to use it," I raised my eyebrows. "I don't know where you're from, but that's not how we treat each other around these parts – 'specially when I don't know you from Adam."
"Kaitlin," a stern voice scolded. "That's no way to talk to our company; it's not lady like."
I looked over at my father and saw something more than just disappointment run across his face. "No sir, it's not. I'm sorry." I said taking several steps back away from Logan.
A smug grin spread across Robert's face.
"Sweetheart, I'm sure the boy meant no harm so there's no sense gettin' yourself all worked up. I wouldn't want all your mother's hard work on that dress bein' ruined over a misunderstandin," he paused and snapped his thumb and middle finger together. "Oh, one last thing I think you boys need to know: she's already spoken for."
I was sure my jaw dropped to the ground. I was already spoken for?
Daddy tossed his arm around my shoulder. "Sweetheart, why don't we head back up to the house and get that lemonade your Momma made before the afternoon showers blow in?"
"Yes sir."
I felt the two brother's lingering gaze going straight through me as we started down the dirt path toward the house.
"It was nice to meet you, Kaitlin," Robert called out.
I waved without a backwards glance, too humiliated to make any eye contact with either of them.
Impressions
Logan
Robert slapped my back. "Oh man! When that little country girl locked those baby blues on you, I knew you were toast."
"Whatever, Robert," I grumbled. "I don't know why Uncle Henry has us over here with these country bumpkins anyway; I mean, who walks around in a dress like that… on a farm?" I shook my head and shoved another piece of wood in place for Robert.
He paused and wiped the sweat from his brow with his forearm. "Logan, I hear what you're saying, but I know you better than that bro. You know this isn't t
he time or place for you to try and hook up with that girl; we have more important things to do and, if you ask me, her dad just warned us to keep our hands off of her."
I yanked the hammer out of his hand and slammed the nail into the plank of wood "Robert, I know what's at stake and I'm not tryin' to hook up with her! Trust me. That's the last thing on my mind and this is the last place I want to stay any longer than we have to!"
"Glad to hear we're on the same page. I have a few choice words aimed toward Uncle Henry about this whole setup, too." Robert muttered.
Whistling drifted through the patch of trees that bordered our property and the Williamson's farm. Robert glanced over his shoulder and poked my side. "Speak of the devil; look who decided to join us," he whispered. "Hey, Uncle Henry! Why don't you come on over here and pick up a hammer – help us out for a little while?"
"Or you could just take my place." I said thrusting my hammer toward him.
"Now, why would I do that when you boys are having so much fun?" He twisted and scanned the pasture. "Where are Tom and his daughter?"
"They're in the house." I answered.
"Good. I need to update you before they make their way back out here. We –"
"What makes you think she'll come back out with him?" I asked. "I thought all the girls here stayed in the house learning how to cook, clean, sew, and whatever else, until they're married."
"What book did you read that in, Logan?" Robert scoffed.
"The oldest girl is different." Uncle Henry paused, seeming to be lost in thought.
I waved my hand in front of his face.
"How is she different?" I asked knowing there was more to his words than the obvious.
He shook off his dazed look. "Oh… I just mean she's always out here helping her father around the farm, Logan."
"What about the rest of her family?"
"Well, Robert" Uncle Henry said, stroking his freshly shaved chin. "The other two girls stay in with their mother and occasionally there's a lanky young blond boy," he paused then snapped his fingers. "Billy, that's his name. He hangs around here following Kaitlin around like a puppy. Word around town is he asked her to marry him."
I shook my head and groaned. "Yeah, we heard it through the grapevine, but thanks for the Williamson play log. How much of this information will help us find – what we're looking for?"
"All of it, Logan!" he said sternly. "It's essential we get to know these people on a personal level, and earn their trust. We need to be as close to the cavern as possible at all times, and this," he motioned to the lumber stacked a mile high on the ground. "Unfortunately for you boys, this is the best way to gain access. This is a family oriented community and we are outsiders. The best way to become part of a close-knit community is to help your neighbors - then you're as good as family. So stop grumbling… I'm sure it won't be such a hardship to get to know Tom and his family, especially Kaitlin…" he exhaled and looked back toward the house. "Pretty easy on the eyes isn't she? She reminds me of someone I used to know..." he said grinning.
Robert laughed. "That was kind of creepy, Uncle Henry. But those baby blues did about light Logan on fire earlier."
"Logan, I hope you're not trying your Casanova skills on Tom's daughter," he shook his head. "That girl will give you a run for your money! Not to mention this most definitely isn't the time or place. You boys can look, God knows that can't be helped, but don't touch," he shifted and rested his hands on our shoulders and squeezed. "You both understand that right?"
"It's not like that; I just made a bad first impression, that's all."
Uncle Henry squeezed my shoulder a little harder. "Then I suggest you work harder on your second impression, Logan."
I twisted out from underneath his grip. "Got it," I huffed. "Are you finished lecturing us now? We get enough of those from our professors."
He nodded. "Speaking of professors – I checked with your parents this morning. Tillman is still here, so we must be getting close." Uncle Henry