"Mom!"

Looking up from her paperwork, she saw Timmy waving at her from the porch. She got to her feet and crossed the drive. He handed her the phone and ran back into the house.

"Hello?"

"Katie?!"

"Mary, what is it?"

"I need you to have Ange stay with you. I'm in the middle of a crisis here."

Taking a deep breath, she asked, "Crisis?"

"Yes! I'll tell you later. Please just watch Ange."

"Oh, all right."

"Thank you!"

The line disconnected and she frowned as she looked over at her friend's home. Ange would be home soon and she could send the boys to get her. She took the phone into the house and put it on its charger. Walking back out side, she moved through the barn and stopped in front of the large doors to the pasture. Billy stepped up next to her and she nodded.

He dashed through the pasture, sending the cattle in first and then driving in the horses. Closing stalls behind each beast, she locked them and put down new feed and water. With her horse in last, she rubbed his nose and put his water bucket on its hook. Billy darted up the stairs and she followed him after securing the doors for the night. Turning off the light, she closed the door and locked it.

Leaving the barn, she closed the last door and headed to the house. Stepping onto the porch, she heard the noise coming from upstairs and let Billy in. He ran up the stairs and she walked into the kitchen. Opening the ground beef, she started making patties for hamburgers.

"What's for dinner?"

Looking to her left, she found Jared in the doorway with his hands in his pockets. More and more he grew to resemble his father and she smirked.

"Hamburgers and macaroni, if that's okay."

He nodded and asked, "Anything for us to do?"

She nodded to the table and he said, "Right. I'll get Timmy."

Hearing him leave, she lets out a deep breath and turns her attention back to the meat. The boys soon entered the room and began to set the table. Hearing their low voices, she turned out their conversation and focused on putting the patties onto the broiler.

The doorbell rang and Timmy said, "I'll get it."

She closed the broiler and washed her hands. Jared pulled out their glasses and walked back over to the table.

"Mom, when can I help with the livestock?"

She turned to him and asked, "Jared, how old are you?"

"Nine."

She smirked and said, "One more year."

"You were working with them when you were younger than that. Dad told me."

Shaking her head, she ruffled his hair and said, "I am the only child in my family. You and your brother have one more year before you are drafted to lend your help. Enjoy it while you can."

He sighed and Timmy walked back into the kitchen with Ange. Seeing her, Katie frowned and knew she had forgotten to get her.

"It's all right. Mom called. She figured you would have forgotten."

Shrugging, she started the boiling water for the macaroni and heard Ange corralling the boys into the living room. The quietness was relaxing and she poured the macaroni into the boiling pot. Stirring the pasta, she looked down at Billy and found him resting in his corner.

"Sometimes you have the right idea."

He whined and she chuckled as she flipped the burgers. Billy got to his feet and moved closer to her.

"Hey now. You'll have one when we're finished."

He sat at the table and watched the burgers disappear back into the broiler. Whining, he looked up at her and she shook her head. She watched him move through the hall and whine at the boys.

"I'll get him!"

Timmy ran down the hall and let Billy out. She poured the pasta into a strainer and shook the loose water off. Slipping the noodles back into the pot, she added the cheese and margarine. Stirring everything in, she put the macaroni on the table and opened the broiler. Putting the burgers on a plate, she placed them on the table and closed the broiler.

"Dinner!"

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Watching the horses graze, she rested on top of the fence and closed her eyes. School would be out in a month and her peaceful afternoons would soon disappear. Hearing Billy chasing the cattle, she opened her eyes and found him enjoying himself. Having him brought happiness back into the boys that had been lacking since David's death. They cherished Billy and she savored his companionship in the late evening out on the porch.

"Hey you!"

Looking over her shoulder, she spotted Mary crossing the drive and swung around on the fence. Billy stopped chasing the cattle and ran up to the fence. He sat next to the fence and watched Mary get closer.

"Is he going to attack or what?"

Shaking her head, she said, "Not if you don't provoke him."

Mary nodded with a smile and said, "Thanks for helping me out."

Katie shrugged and said, "Wasn't a problem. The boys love spending time with Ange."

Mary leaned against the fence and asked, "Wanna know what it was?"

Shaking her head, she said, "Not really. Contrary to you, I respect you having your own life at all costs."

Mary's jaw opened and she asked, "Is this about Nick? The guy that hasn't been around here for three months?"

Nodding, she said, "It is."

Mary's eyes dropped to her boots and she asked, "Did he tell you?"

"No. I just knew it had to involve him."

Mary let out a deep breath and said, "Well, apparently it didn't work so it doesn't matter."

Eying her friend, she let it go and said, "I suppose."

"What happened between you two anyways?"

Katie shrugged and said, "Got busy. The nearing summer always makes me appear anti-social."

Mary frowned and said, "I'm going to have to call him again, aren't I?"

Hopping off the fence, she said, "I wouldn't bother. He's a very important doctor to our community and I'm a single mom taking care of two young boys and running my family's farm. We're completely different and it shouldn't have never changed."

Mary groaned and said, "Don't do this, Katie. You deserve some happiness. You deserve a man. You need a man and you definetly need sex."

Looking back at her friend, she said, "I never said I haven't had sex."

"I'm not talking about Dav-oh! You mean? You and Nick?"

Walking into the pasture, she turned her back to Mary and sent Billy to herd the livestock in. She walked into the barn and stepped aside as the animals trotted into their stalls. Billy climbed the stairs into the main section and she closed up for the night. Turning out the light, she closed the barn up and stepped outside. Mary stood by the fence still and she forced herself to return to her friend.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

She hopped up onto the fence again and said, "It really doesn't matter."

Mary frowned and said, "You don't get it. You are lonely and don't see it. Nick is too. You two suit each other."

Shaking her head, she said, "We don't or there would have been contact between us these last three months."

Mary sighed and said, "That's it! You're coming to the summer festival next week."

"Oh no. I've got no time to get away. Next week marks the beginning of sales and purchases. Not to mention the constant watch on the horses as they are mating."

Mary shook her head and said, "Not this time. You are going to that festival and you are going to enjoy yourself for one night. The boys can come. They love the festival."

Katie sighed and shook her head. Mary smiled and patted her knee. She watched the woman walk back across her drive and disappear into her house. Hearing the bus coming down the highway, she hopped off the fence and walked over to the porch. Billy waited by the steps and she walked into the house to fix dinner.

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The doorbell rang through the house and she frowned. Looking at her reflection, she pulled her hair back from her face and pulled her good boots out. Slipping them on, she fixed her shirt and stepped into the hall. The boys ran past her and raced down the stairs. They opened the door and threw themselves around Mary.

Climbing down the stairs slowly, she watched the boys grab their jean jackets and disappear outside. Mary looked up at her and nodded.

"Glad to see I don't have to drag you kicking."

"You are really annoying sometimes."

Mary laughed and said, "Oh come on. You'll have fun tonight, I promise."

"If one thing goes wrong tonight while I'm gone I'll kill you."

Mary laughed again and said, "Grab your jacket and let's get going."

Slipping her old tan hide jacket, she pulled the leash out of the closet and clipped it onto Billy's collar. He jumped into the back of the jeep and the boys chattered about the rides they would go on.

______________________________________________

Putting her change away, she turned to the boys and found them anxious to get going. Taking Billy from them, she nodded and they darted off to the nearest ride. Mary laughed and walked alongside as they moved through the crowd.

"This is insane."

"Katie!"

Turning around, she spotted an old colleague, Tammy Skints, walking up to her with her brother, Jim.

Tammy wrapped her arms around her and said, "Thought you'd skip again this year. It's so good to see you."

Jim nodded and said, "It's been a while. Haven't heard anything about you and your flame for a while either."

"Flame?"

Turning to Mary, she found her friend blushing and asked, "You didn't?"

Tammy laughed and said, "She didn't have to. Saw him going out your way a couple times."

"Let me guess, asked Mary about it?"

Jim nodded and asked, "So, where is this fellow? Gotta see who the lucky man is."

Katie frowned and said, "There is no flame. Excuse me."

She led Billy away from the group and disappeared between the ferris wheel and tilt-a-whirl. Finding the tractor display away from the chaotic atmosphere, she moved along the machines and down to the horse track. Sitting on the first row, she let Billy off his lead and watched him look around.

"What am I doing here?"

Closing her eyes, she listened to the music from the rides and let her mind go back. Years ago David and her brought the boys to the festival annually. They were so happy back then and no threat of the possible war hung over them. The last time they had come, the boys had taken their first ride on the roller coaster with David and Timmy had gotten sick. She had to sit with him as his brother had all the fun with their father, promising him that they would come back the next night for him.

They hadn't though and Timmy had been crushed. Their father had received orders to head to the nearest base by four that evening. They thought it was just a drill but he never came back, only letters. They stopped over a few months he was at sea and then the military had arrived on her porch. Ever since their father's death, the boys had quit thinking about the festival and she frowned

She should've brought them. They want to help her on the farm and it's not their place. She should've never shut them up from their childhood pleasures like the festival.

"Katie?"

Startled, she looked up and found Nick standing nearby. He looked hardened by his job and she bit back the urge to kiss his tempting lips.

"You okay?"

His eyes had grown dark blue and she nodded slowly. Billy trotted over to him and she watched the two exchange greetings.

She got to her feet and said, "I better go check on the boys."

He looked at her and asked, "They okay?"

Nodding, she leaded Billy again and said, "This is the first time in three years they had been to the festival."

He took Billy from her and said, "Let me. You look worn."

She smirked and said, "The season is just now starting."

He started walking with her and said, "I was thinking about asking you to dinner the other day."

She glanced at him and asked, "You were?"

"Chickened out."

Laughing, she asked, "Why?"

He met her gaze and said, "I was afraid after two months of silence that you hated me."

She shook her head and said, "That wasn't it."

He stopped walking and asked, "What was it then? Second thoughts?"

She nodded once and said, "We're completely different. You are an important person to our community and have a life at your hospital. I am a mother raising two boys on my own and running my family's farm. We come from two different worlds."

He brushed black hair from her face and said, "We're not different."

She looked at the rides and said, "Nick, I think it'd be best if we kept it this way."

His hand stilled on her jaw and she heard, "If we did, you would be happy?"

Forcing herself to nod, she lied, "Yes."

His eyes narrowed and he pulled her to him quickly. Crushing his mouth to hers, she let herself die in his kiss. He pulled away and she took a deep breath.

"Tell me you'll still be happy."

She took Billy's lead and said, "It'd just be another lie."

Turning from him, she walked back to the festival and bought a bottle of water. Drinking the water to calm her nerves, she looked around and found the boys sitting on a bench. They smiled when they saw her and got to their feet.

Jared sighed and asked, "Can we go home?"

She turned to Timmy and asked, "Not having fun?"

Timmy yawned and said, "Not really. We're not kids anymore."

Smirking, she nodded and said, "I suppose not. Since you don't have fun at the festival, I guess it's time to let you help me out on the farm."

Jared's eyes light up and he asked, "You mean it?"

Nodding, she watched him laugh and Timmy asked, "Both of us?"

Hearing the hesitation, she knelt in front of him and said, "You don't if you don't want to."

He slowly smiled for her and she kissed his forehead before getting to her feet.

"There you are!"

Hearing Mary, she looked over her shoulder and found her friend pushing her way to them.

"I thought you boys were having fun."

They shook their heads and she sighed, "Apparently you're too much like your mother."

They laughed and asked, "Can we go?"

Mary threw her hands up and said, "Oh all right. Let's go."

Katie watched the boys walk ahead with their aunt and she let Billy follow. Walking towards the parking lot, she paused and looked over her shoulder. She caught his gaze settling on her cold and she turned back around.

"Go to him."

Seeing the three stopped in front of her, she shook her head and said, "It's best we just go home."

Mary sighed and took Billy. The boys smiled up to her and she sighed in defeat. They ran past her and over to Nick. She watched them tell him something and then return to her. They caught her hands and quickly led her to the jeep.

______________________________________________

"Night Mom!"

The two ran into the house for the night and she shook her head. Sitting on the porch, she stroked Billy's head and looked up at the stars. He whined gently and she smirked.

"You too?"

He whined again and she sighed, "Why must everyone worry about my happiness? Just having our boys safe and happy is good enough for me."

Billy sat up and nudged her face. Laughing, she wrapped her arm around him and hugged him. He rested his paw on her shoulder and she rubbed his ear. Headlights came into view and Billy got to his feet, wagging his tail. She remained sitting and watched the truck pull into the drive.

He climbed out of the truck and Billy trotted over to him. She waited until he approached the steps and then she got to her feet.

"What are you doing here?"

He pulled her up to her feet and said, "Hush."

He led her to his truck and opened the door. She looked back at him and he waited. Slowly she climbed into the truck and he got in behind her. He pulled out of the drive and turned onto the highway.

"Where are we going?"

He remained quiet and they drove into town. She saw the local diner up ahead and found them pulling it into its parking lot. He turned the engine off and got out silently. Following him, she climbed out of the truck and walked around the front. He opened the door and followed her inside.

______________________________________________

Stepping into his apartment, she found the place calmning. He walked over to the fridge and pulled out two beers. She took the second one gratefully and took a drink. It calmed her nerves as they walked through the place to his bedroom. She knew why she had come with him and found it completely not her.

He closed the door behind her and locked it. She put her beer down next to his and turned back to him. He pulled her into him and captured her mouth. Her arms wrapped around his neck and she surrendered to him.

PGS