In NO way am I making a profit from these characters- they are owned by Random House. And any references made to other things are not making a profit for me. I am using the songs, characters, etc. without permission.

This is a follow up to the story Independence Day. You may want to read it first to understand what has happened.
 

Friendships and Brotherly Callings

By Country Girl

It was the usual Fourth of July Bob-White gathering that happened every year. Dan stood off in the distance and watched in amusement as Trixie and Jim played volleyball. He shook his head.

I hope I never fall so hard for a girl.

He watched as Jim got more and more caught up in the friendly game.

Frayne, better watch it or you are going to regret it.

Just then, he saw Jim spike the ball with all of his strength. When it slammed full force into Trixie, Dan was completely shocked for a few minutes.

 Jim, Mr. Honorable just hit Trixie, on purpose! Maybe I’m seeing things.

Dan rubbed his eyes, but sure enough, when he opened them again, Jim was holding Trixie.

Dan stared at the two of them, weighing his options.

I don’t know whether to go and see if she is okay, beat Jim up, or stay here and let those two work it out. No matter what I do I think I will still have to hurt Mr. Honorable.

As Dan began to consider exactly what he should do to Jim, he noticed that Mart had seen the entire thing from the picnic table where he was eating, and had gone into big brother mode. Mart began stalking up the hill towards Jim and Trixie. Dan ran to catch him in order to head off what was sure to be a fight among the Bob-Whites.  

“Mart, wait up! Where are you going, and where are the rest of Bob Whites?” Dan tried to stall his friend.

“I’m going to kill Jim, and make sure my sister is okay,” Mart ground his teeth, glaring at Dan as he spoke. “Honey is in the house with Di, and Brian is in the garage asking Tom a question.”

“You can’t kill Jim.” Dan stood in Mart’s path, blocking his way to Jim and Trixie.

“Why the heck not, Mangan?”

Dan hurriedly thought up an excuse. “It’s not the Bob White way.”

“I don’t care. Dan, he hurt my sister. Now I’m going to hurt him.”

“Mart, Jim is the last one in his family. If you kill him, then you will kill the Frayne name. So in a way he is an endangered species.” Dan hoped he was convincing with this excuse.

“He is an endangered species, now that he has hurt my sister!” Mart started back up the hill toward Trixie.

Dan grabbed Mart‘s shoulder, stopping Mart’s ascent. “Give the guy a break, Belden. I know you are worried about your sister, but eventually you and Brian aren’t going to be there to beat up any guy that hurts her. Jim is a great friend. He’s been nothing but honest and respectful towards all of us. You plan to beat him up because he hit your sister with a volleyball?” Dan felt deep down that Jim truly cared for Trixie and would not want to hurt her.

Jim, buddy, don’t let me down or you may not be the only dead one around here.

“I guess you might have a point, Dan,” Mart sighed and absentmindedly looked up the hill. “What the heck?!”

Dan jerked his head in the general direction of where Mart was staring. He saw Jim and Trixie kissing.

Interesting, the two biggest chickens in the world kissing. Wonder what is going to happen next? Especially with Mart here.

He stole a glance at Mart and found his friend walking down the hill to Crabapple Farm, shaking his head and muttering incoherently.

“Where are you going, Mart? I thought you wanted to kill Jim.” Dan was grinning like a madman.

This is definitely amusing, he decided.

“Home.” Mart’s answer was terse.

“What about Jim?”

“It is too late to kill him now. If I kill him now, then Trixie will kill me. He just captured my sister’s affection and now I feel the need to go home, away from all of this. Goodnight, Dan.”

Mart was not the only one to see the kiss. Once Brian recovered from shock, he decided that as much as he liked Jim, it was time to get Trixie home. Part of Brian realized that, with that kiss, his baby sister was gone. A young woman, finding her way among others, now took her place.

I think way too much … and Mart just skipped out of big brother duty.  

Brian sighed, and started walking towards Trixie and Jim.

“Trixie, ready to go home?” Brian asked quietly, his thoughts racing.

I do not want the to be the one who tells Dad. He will die when he finds out that his little girl kissed a boy. Maybe I should tell Moms and let her handle it.

“Sure, Brian.” Trixie looked at Jim with a question in her eyes.

“Goodnight, Shamus.” Jim smiled, even though he knew he faced a long discussion with certain male Beldens soon.

Too bad Cap and Knut aren’t around, he thought. They liked me and would not let Brian and Mart kill me. Wow, Trixie is so pretty, but she doesn’t even realize it. I can’t wait to see her for our morning ride.

As Trixie walked away she turned to look back at Jim and tell him goodnight. Before the words could leave her mouth she tripped over a large rock and fell face first to the ground.

If I keep this up, Jim is not going to want to be around me. I’m a safety hazard, she thought.

Hot tears of embarrassment and pain filled her eyes as she got to her knees.

Oh woe! My knees are a mess. I had to scrape them, way to go, Klutzy!

“Trixie, are you all right?” Jim was at her side before Brian could blink.

“Yes, I’ll be fine. Just a little trip. Sorry, Jim.”

“I don’t know what you have to be sorry about.” He helped her to her feet.

“For your first kiss being to a klutz.” She looked down.

“No, my first kiss was to a wonderful girl who is Cinderella in my eyes. I actually like the slapstick comedy; it lightens the atmosphere, don’t you think?” He gave her an encouraging look.

Brian had decided to give them a moment of privacy, since Jim had beaten him to Trixie, but he arrived in time to hear the last comment.

“I hate to cut comedy hour short, but, Trixie, we need to be going home.”

With a wave, the two remaining Beldens left, as Dan came up the hill to join Jim.

“Jim you are lucky you aren’t a dead man right now,” Dan commented, once he was standing next to Jim.

Jim narrowed his eyes and asked defensively, “How so?”

“First of all, you made anyone mad who saw Trixie get hit. I was ready to come and clean your clock, but before I could do more than think about hurting you, Mart started up here ready to pummel you.  Since I wanted to save that pleasure for myself, I stopped Mart. Then Brian showed up to cart Trixie off. Now, it’s my turn. Get ready for a bloody nose.”

Dan drew his arm back for a right hook. As he brought it forward Jim grabbed his fist.

“Hold it! You are just going to waltz up here and clean my clock because I got too intense in a game? I felt so bad for hitting her that I wanted to tear my arm off. Trixie forgave me, but I still feel terrible, not just for hitting a girl, but for hitting MY girl.” Jim dropped Dan’s fist. “By the way, I don’t think it’s the Bob-White way to fight.”

“It might not be, but, Frayne, let’s get one thing straight. Trixie is like a sister to me. My mother raised me to respect girls and treat them properly. That’s what I do with each of the girls when I let them talk me into crazy things. But if you hurt Trixie again, you will have to deal with me. I won’t let you, or anyone else hurt her. Believe me, if you cause her pain, even after you two get married, you are going to answer to me. Before Brian and Mart even get a chance at you. Don’t you ever forget that.”

“Yes, Dan I get it. But you have nothing to worry about. I never want to hurt her, and don’t ever intend to. If I ever do, I want you to bloody my nose and beat me to a pulp.”

“Jim, you know she wouldn’t let me beat you to a pulp.” Dan shook his head, imaging that scene. “Though I still might try. Trixie cares about you too much to want to watch you suffer. Just remember, that won’t get you off the hook.”

“Thanks, Dan. Trust me when I say that I don’t want to hurt her. I mean it.”

“I know you do, Jim, but right now I think you’ve got bigger problems.”

“What?”

“Five words, Frayne; Brian, Mart, and Trixie’s dad. Not to mention Bobby, once he hears that you ‘hurted’ his ‘favoritest sister in the world’.” Dan ticked the names and reasons off his fingers as he stated them.

“Glad to know you can count, Mangan,” Jim dryly stated as he rubbed his neck.

Man … I hadn’t thought about that. I’m a dead man walking. He watched as Dan started up the path to Mr. Maypenny’s. I guess I better head to Manor House.

Dan had almost reached the path when he suddenly stopped and whirled around to face Jim.

“Hey Jim! You are weak and no longer any use to the male Bob-Whites. You are now property of the leading Bob-White Lady,” Dan turned as if he was finished taunting his friend. “You’ve turned on us, my friend, now you have a weakness for the female Bob-Whites. Trust me, they will use that against you.”

“Mangan, you’re dead,” Jim growled, although he knew Dan was only joking.

“Yes, but only if you can catch me,” Dan called back. He ran to Maypenny’s, even though he knew Jim would not do anything to him. It was just the way their friendship was - brotherly teasing.

Jim frowned as he walked toward his home.

What am I going to do? I’m as good as dead after what happened tonight. The Frayne name will cease to exist, thanks to me. I am supposed to be protecting and passing down the name. Not tarnishing it. Well that’s a bit dramatic. Of course everything is dramatic with Trixie.

His frown transformed into a grin.

I am the one who caught Trixie Belden and kissed her. Wait until the guys in Sleepyside hear.  Maybe now, Nick and Tad will quit drooling over her. And that one Steve guy. I kissed Trix! This is a great thing - as long as Mr. Belden doesn’t kill me.  

The End
 

Author's Notes - A very big thank you to Mary N and Rhonda for editing this. Ladies, you rock! Zap, thank you for posting this. I hope all that read my story enjoy it.

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