Disclaimer: I am making no money from this story (or "The depth of the River" because I forgot a disclaimer with that one), and in any case, all anyone could get from me if they wanted to sue would be a whopping student loan. In any case, Trixie Belden and characters are the property of Golden/Random House or whoever owns them now. I have had fun with them and now I will put them away for a little while.

This story takes place in The Mystery Off Glen Road just after Brian tells Jim that he is "all choked up, as though I were coming down with a cold". (P.218 Oval). Just another look at what might have been.

The title comes from the Rod Stewart song (at least the version I have in my head) that I am sure most of you know. J

Have I Told You Lately?

By Heather (Trix15)

 

Trixie tossed in bed. She was restless with the events that had gone on in the last few weeks. Thoughts of the damage to the club house, the "poacher", pretending to be in love with a clown, and last, but certainly not least, the ring that she had given Mr. Lytell to hold Brian’s jalopy for him were whirling around in her mind. All things considered, it had been an eventful Thanksgiving week, and she was finally feeling it. Paradoxically, her body was so wound up it had little urge to rest. Deciding there was no use in trying to sleep just now, she pushed the covers off and made her way to the hamper to find the jeans she had worn the last time she had patrolled the preserve. After pulling them on, she added a thick winter ski jacket and hat.

Attempting to make as little noise as possible, she crept down the stairs and through the living room to open the front door. She glanced behind her as if someone might have been following. Seeing no one there, she stepped out and silently closed the door. Trixie, initially, had no idea where she was going but soon recognized the path her feet were taking. Walking steadily, she reached the bluffs high above the river. With her hands in her pockets, she merely stood, looking down to the water. Water was an amazing thing it seemed. It could bring peace in the best of circumstances and danger in the worst. But right now, Trixie believed, it was simply peaceful, this river that was lazily taking it’s time flowing through the state of New York. She sat down on the ground, far enough away from the edge as to be safe, though close enough to feel like there was little between her and the water but time and space. Laying her head on the arms that were folded across her drawn up knees, she closed her eyes and breathed in the scents, listened to the sounds, and felt her body begin to relax with the sensation of being in the nature that she loved.

*     *     *

Brian had known instinctively that Trixie had yet to convince her mind to catch up with her body’s weariness. He knew that everyone thought Mart and Trixie shared somewhat of a sixth  sense with each other, and even he had to acknowledge it was true. But for some reason tonight, it was he that had honed in on Trixie’s state. The age separation between he and his sister was not great but still substantial enough to build a minor wall. Coupled with the fact that Trixie was his sister, and not a brother like Mart only made that wall a little easier to build. He knew that he did this at times, and mostly regretted it. He wondered if right now they weren’t as close as they probably should be, what would brother and sister be like ten years from now, grown up and living on their own.

Hearing her bedroom door close softly, followed by footsteps down the stairs and a soft close of the front door, he made a decision, and got out of bed himself. Looking at the clock, Brian gave a wry grin. 3:00am.  Man, would Dad kill her if he knew.

Though Trixie was walking at her normal fairly fast pace, Brian was easily able to keep up with her and as soon as he realized her destination, he fell back to let her reach it without suspicion of being followed. Arriving at the tree line of the forest that bordered the bluffs, he leaned against a tree as he watched her sit down on the ground and almost gave away his position as he instinctively reached out a hand intending to make her scoot farther back from the edge. Dropping his head to his chest, he grinned to himself, marveling at the notion that though he didn’t consider himself as mentally close to Trixie as Mart probably was, he still knew without a doubt what her response would be had he played the protective big brother game just then.

As Trixie gained her inner strength and peace from watching the river, Brian drew his from watching his little sister. Yes, he thought. Regardless of how much less protective she’d prefer I was, she’ll always be my little sister. I just wonder if… well, I wonder if she knows…. He stopped in mid thought. Come on, Brian. How many times have you told Trixie to never assume anything? She did an incredibly unselfish thing with that ring Jim gave her, even though she pretends that it doesn’t mean anything to her. He gave another smile at this last thought. Oh my, I wonder where that’ll end up. And I think *I’m* protective of her. He shook his head as if to bring himself back to his original plan of action. After Brian unwrapped his arms from their folded position on his chest, he pushed himself off the tree and pursed his lips.

Bob, bob-white, he whistled softly. He saw Trixie’s head lift from her knees and turn towards each side before she finally turned far enough around to spot him.

"Brian?"

Brian stepped out into the waning moonlight from the shadows.

"It’s me, Trix."

She turned her head around back to face the river. He hesitated only a moment before he walked slowly towards her and sat down gingerly beside her. She noticed.

"You’re not afraid of these old bluffs are you?"

"Well, let’s just say I’d be more comfortable if we were sitting *behind* the warning signs."

There was silence between the two. Finally Trixie spoke. "I should have known in a house of six people it would be impossible for me to leave without someone noticing, even at 3 in the morning."

He glanced at her, wondering about her emotional state. She looked sideways at him and his heart calmed when he realized that she was teasing him.

For some reason, this simple gesture made him feel all the more on shaky ground. His throat tightened and he forced himself to regulate his breathing so as not to let the threatening tears to fall. None of this escaped Trixie’s notice however.

It seemed like years before she spoke. "Brian – I won’t think less of you."

This time it was her brother who pulled his knees to his chest and let his head fall on them. Brian was not entirely sure why he felt emotionally wrought. He knew the events of the week had been difficult. Even Mart had been choked up upon finding the clubhouse in it’s sad state after the hurricane. He himself had had a difficult time listening to Trixie’s "see-crud" to Bobby but had thought he was over the emotions from that. For some reason however, he still felt he needed this cleansing. Though his tears weren’t as full-blown as they could have been, it did not seem to Trixie that they were going to stop. She stretched her legs in front of her and reached over. Taking Brian’s shoulders, she pulled his upper body across her legs and placed her hand on his head, gently stroking his hair all the while. Her eyes never left the river.

Time passed, and gradually Trixie noticed that the sky was beginning to lighten. Brian had long since fallen asleep, as had her legs.

She placed her thumb and forefinger across his nose and squeezed gently.

Brian shook his head and sat up. He looked around for a moment until his memory caught up with him. "You might not think less of me, but you’d like to suffocate me, is that it?"

Trixie sighed. "Even in our more tender moments Brian, we just can’t stop teasing each other."

"You know that’s all it is." There was a pause. "Don’t you?"

"Of course, silly. What kind of brother would you be if you didn’t tease your little siblings."

"Ooh, big Mart word usage. But you have a point." He stopped while he stretched out his legs. "But, I suppose I should make my point as well."

She raised her eyebrows at him in question.

He motioned his hand around to include them as well as their surroundings. "Why I followed you up here and all."

Trixie nodded for him to continue but he stopped, once again feeling that familiar tightening in his throat that would just not leave him alone. Brian shook his head as if this motion might make it go away and looked off towards the south, away from her until he felt ready to go on.

"The truth is Trixie, what you did tonight…" he looked up and sniffed. "What you did this past week I should say, was an incredible act of unselfishness. No wait!" he stopped her as she rolled her eyes and looked ready to make light of the situation. "I need to tell you this Trix. It was incredibly unselfish. I know you said that you didn’t care anything about that "silly old ring". Don’t sell short what that ring really means to you." He gave a short laugh. "It takes little imagination to realize what it could mean to Jim." Trixie blushed much the way she did when anyone mentioned Jim’s name in conjunction with hers, especially in the way it was being mentioned now. "Those half million dollars are pieces of paper, and although they’ll come in handy one day, they can’t have nearly the value that he saw in that ring that belonged to someone in his family, none of whom he has anymore. Beyond that," he continued, "even if the ring held no sentimental value for either of you, the act itself was unselfish and that alone is priceless to me baby sister. No one forced you to do it. No one even thought of it but you. I never in a million years suspected such a thing."

He sighed and there was an interminable silence between the two.

"But then again, knowing you, maybe I should have."

The sun had by this time made it’s way over the horizon behind them and the trees were now beginning to take individual shape again. Trixie knew that her family, if not already awake, would begin to stir soon. It was time for them to make their way back to the farmhouse. Trixie had to patrol the preserve with Honey in just a short while.

"I’m glad I could save your car for you, Bri," Trixie said, putting a hand on his arm as she stood up, dusting off her jeans, preparing to go. "You deserve it."

But Brian jumped up from the ground, catching her arm as she turned away. She looked back at him, a question in her eyes and finally turned to face him.

"Trix, there is one more thing I need to say." He looked at the ground, and then out at the river. "Have I… Trix, have I told you lately that I love you?"

Trixie sighed, smiling gently at him. She took his hand and turned around to face the direction they had to head in. Turning only her head in his direction, she said, "You do everyday, Brian. You just don’t know you do. Did I have to shout ‘I love you’ from the rooftops for you to know that’s what I was saying with the ring?"

"No."

"Then neither do you."

It was hand in hand that they arrived back at Crabapple Farm.