*an expletive, mild violence, sexual reference
Disclaimer: Trixie Belden® is a registered trademark of Western Publishing (Golden Books) and I am in no way affiliated with Western Publishing. While I have borrowed the setting and some of the characters, the plot and the characters of Aimée and Vinnie are of my own creation.
A Presence in the Shadows
By Angela
Chapter 1: Aimée
"Moms, does she really have to stay here for a whole year?" Trixie Belden grumbled as she gave the pillow she was fluffing an extra hard punch and stuffed it into the embroidered pillowcase. She sat down on the bed to look out the picture window of the spare room at Crabapple Farm, the Belden family homestead. Trixie was so frustrated that she barely noticed the beauty of the scene as she looked upon her mother’s rose garden decked in its fall garb.
There had just been so many changes lately. First her brother Brian and their friend Jim Frayne had left for their first year at college. They managed to come home every second weekend but she still missed them, especially Jim. Then she and her friends Honey Wheeler and Diana Lynch had entered their sophomore year at Sleepyside Junior-Senior High. Trixie’s almost twin Mart, who was only eleven months older than she, and their friend Dan Mangan also attended Sleepyside High. The seven friends lived with their respective families in homes located along Glen Road just outside of the small town of Sleepyside-on-the- Hudson. Together, they had formed a semi-secret club known as the Bob-Whites of the Glen, or B.W.G.’s for short. With hard work and lots of imagination they had managed to turn the old gatehouse on the Wheeler estate into their clubhouse, where they met to plan all the charitable events their club became involved in, as well as to discuss the twists and turns of the mysteries that Trixie and Honey usually dragged them into.
And now the imminent arrival of Aimée Monet, the daughter of Dad’s old college friend André Monet, might change all of that.
Sitting beside her daughter on the bed, Helen Belden sighed. "Trixie, you know that your father and I explained that Aimée wanted to remain in the United States for her senior year rather than going to Paris with her parents," her mother commented patiently. "Aimée has been attending school in Washington while her parents have been posted with the Canadian Embassy there. With her father receiving this special posting, and Aimée not wanting to leave the country to attend a French school or live with her grandparents in Ottawa, Mr. Monet decided to contact your father to see if she could make her home with us. Besides, her parents feel that it will be good for Aimée to live in a stable home with young people of her own age after years of moving from one Embassy to another. As it is it will be difficult for her changing schools half-way through the first semester, and I expect you and Mart to make her feel welcome and pave the way to allow her to make friends of her own at Sleepyside High."
"Aw ... Moms ... I know all that. It's just going to be weird having a girl my own age living in the same house. I guess I’m just a little bit jealous. It feels like someone’s trying to take my place," Trixie sighed plucking at the tatted lace edging the pillowcase. "But you know that we’ll all try to make her feel at home."
Reaching over Moms gave her daughter’s unruly blonde curls an affectionate ruffle. "I know you will, and you know that no matter how old you get, what you do, or who else may come into our lives, you’ll always be our little girl, Trixie."
"Aw ... shucks, Moms, don’t get all mushy on me!" Trixie gave her mother a sheepish grin, and jumped up to take one last look around the room to make certain everything was ready for their guest. The guest room and accompanying bath had been built on the lower level of the old farmhouse just after Peter and Helen Belden had married and moved in with his parents. When the senior Mr. and Mrs. Belden had passed away, Trixie’s parents had moved into the master bedroom and turned their former room into guest quarters. It was such a pretty room with pale green walls glowing in the late afternoon sun that shone through the white lace curtains on the picture window. Pine furniture gleamed with years of polish, and the twin spool beds looked inviting and comfortable with their hand-appliqued quilts and big fluffy pillows. Bookcases stood on either side of the picture window waiting to be filled with Aimée’s treasures. Beneath the window sat a matching desk and chair. The view from the window was breathtaking: a riot of late-blooming asters, mums, and roses competing with the vivid scarlet and gold of the autumn leaves. A squat milk glass vase filled with bronze and yellow mums had been placed on the antique dresser, where its twin reflected back from the horizontal oval mirror. Straightening the hooked rug on the hardwood floor, Moms nodded her head in satisfaction then left the room with Trixie on her heels.
A honking horn alerted them to Peter Belden’s return with their guest as he pulled into the driveway in his old Chevrolet Lumina. Reddy came barreling around the corner of the house with Bobby close on his heels, and Mart and Brian came storming down the stairs almost colliding with their sister as they raced for the door. Reaching the drive they all stood in anticipation waiting for the car to slow to a stop.
As the car pulled to a stop in front of them, Mart stepped up to open the passenger door. Aimée stepped carefully from the car, stumbling slightly as she struggled to regain the use of her legs after the long drive from the Kennedy Airport. Mart caught her elbow and guided her around the door to his mother’s side. Then Aimée smiled her gratitude and it was as if the sun had come out from behind a cloud. Her long, curly, strawberry-blonde hair was pulled back from her face and caught with an enamel butterfly clasp. The skirt of a butterfly-printed black rayon dress flowed around her slender ankles, while the closely fitted bodice emphasized her feminine curves and three-quarter length sleeves set off her graceful hands and wrists. After that first stumble she moved like a dancer, drawing the eye with each sinuous step.
Moms stepped forward to embrace Aimée. "Welcome to Crabapple Farm, Aimée, it has been so long since I last saw you. My, how you’ve grown! What happened to that little girl with long braids, gangly legs and freckles?"
With a delighted smile, Aimée responded, "I’m so glad to be here, Mrs. Belden. Before you and Mr. Belden invited me to stay I was so afraid that I would have to return to Ottawa to live with Mamère and Papère, while Papa and Mama were in Paris. Since I wish to go to college here, it is better that I finish High School here. I want to thank you for agreeing to let me stay with you."
"You’re very welcome, Aimée."
She turned her enchanting smile on Trixie. "And you must be Trixie. I couldn’t wait to meet you and your brothers. Your father has been telling me all about you and your friends. It will be nice to finally have a chance to meet someone who is not connected to the Embassy or to the government in some way. I hope that we will grow to be good friends."
When Aimée had stepped from the car, Trixie’s first thought had been "Oh great! She’s a beautiful little rich girl who thinks she’s better than everyone else." But looking into Aimée’s green eyes and seeing her warmth and sincerity reflected there, Trixie relaxed, more willing to give the girl a chance. "Hi, Aimée! Glad to meet you. I hope you’ll like your room. Moms and I spent part of the afternoon getting it ready for you."
"I’m sure I’ll love it!"
"Hi, I’m Mart, and this is Brian. I guess we have to introduce ourselves since our vocal female sibling has once again overlooked our existence." Mart gave a parody of a bow, and with an exaggerated sweep of his hand introduced Bobby. "And this young gentleman who is in such a state of dishabille is the youngest member of the family, Bobby."
Aimée giggled and gave the three young men a mocking curtsey. "Enchantée, mes amis." At which point all of the young people burst into laughter.
Mr. Belden and the boys moved toward the car to begin transferring Aimée’s belongings to the house. In an attempt to help, Bobby reached into the back seat and lugged out a carrier. "What’s in here? I didn’t know you had a pet!"
"Ah, yes! I asked your mother and father not to say anything because I wasn’t certain she would be coming with me, even when your parents said it was okay to bring her," Aimée said as they walked into the house.
"Bobby, leave Reddy outside for now," warned Moms.
Opening the door to the carrier with a flourish, Aimée intoned with mock solemnity, "Introducing the one and the only, her worshipful majesty, Bastet." The first thing they saw was a black nose, then two brilliant blue eyes peering from an angular black face. Stepping cautiously from the box with all the grace of her breed was a beautiful seal point Siamese. Sniffing nervously at the air, obviously aware of the unusual scent of dog, she slunk to her mistress’ feet and loudly demanded to be picked up. From that vantage point she observed her new kingdom, measuring up its unsuspecting citizens and plotting their subjugation to her feline whims. A loud bark at the door sent Bastet flying for the highest point in the room atop the upper kitchen cabinets from where she hissed her displeasure at the foiling of her plans of human domination.
Chapter 2: A Hint of Romance
Trixie sat on the edge of one of the twin spool beds in Aimée’s room watching the young woman as she took a collection of ornately dressed dolls and books on design and costuming from a cardboard box, organizing them on the book shelves. Prints of John William Waterhouse’s paintings "The Lady of Shalott" and "A Naiade" now hung above the two beds, while a computer, scanner, and coloured printer sat on the desk. The boys had brought in an extra table on which Aimée had set up her sewing area. Beside it stood her dressmaker’s form, ready for the next design Aimée brought to life in human size. The dolls were sculpted from polymer clay, and many of them were clothed in elaborate costumes depicting characters from stage and screen. As Aimée worked, she told Trixie of her dream of designing costumes for Broadway and Stratford productions. Trixie leafed through a sketchbook filled with detailed designs including the butterfly dress Aimée now wore.
The cat, Bastet, now lay curled quietly in her basket dreaming dreams that only cats can dream, her fright forgotten now that she had eaten and had explored her new home.
"The Bob-Whites are coming for a barbecue tonight to welcome you to Sleepyside," Trixie explained. "I hope that you’re not too tired after your trip."
"I’m looking forward to meeting your friends, tell me more about them."
"First there is Honey Wheeler. She’s my best friend in all the world. Someday we’re going to have our own detective agency."
Aimée smiled. "What an exciting dream! It’s good to have a dream ... a dream brings excitement to your life. Who else will be coming?"
"Honey’s brother Jim Frayne. Actually he’s her adopted brother. When Honey first moved to the Manor House, she was an only child. Jim had run away from his step-father and was hiding at Ten Acres which belonged to his father’s uncle. Jonesy managed to track him down and, after we saved him from his stepfather, Jim ran away again. Honey and I had to go looking for him so that her parents could adopt him. Some day he wants to open his own school for orphaned boys."
"Jim sounds like a special guy."
"Then there’s Diana Lynch, we’ve known each other simply forever."
"Finally, there’s Dan Mangan, he’s the nephew of the Wheelers' groom Regan. Dan grew up in New York City. He got involved with a street gang and got in trouble with the police and almost ended up in reform school after his mother died. Regan went to New York City to get him, and now he lives with Mr. Maypenny the Wheelers' gamekeeper and has a job working on the game preserve."
"Wow! Your friends have some interesting stories, I wish my life would have been as exciting," Aimée stated quietly. "There, that’s the last of it, now it looks more like home." Aimée stacked up the cardboard boxes, and made her way to the adjoining bathroom to wash her hands. Poking her head around the door she said, "It's starting to cool off, I think I'll change into something warmer. Could you pass me the jeans and yellow twin-set that are lying on the other bed?"
By the time Aimée finished changing and emerged from the bathroom they could hear voices talking and laughing in the kitchen. The Bob-Whites had started to arrive. Honey Wheeler stood at the kitchen counter helping Mrs. Belden by slicing carrot sticks for the raw vegetable platter on the kitchen table. Bobby was talking excitedly to red-haired Jim Frayne who sat at the table snatching carrot sticks as fast as Honey placed them on the platter.
"What made the jelly roll?" Bobby asked Jim and Honey.
"I don’t know Bobby, you tell me," replied Jim.
"It saw the apple turnover," Bobby roared with laughter his excitement eliciting a giggle from Aimée as she and Trixie entered the kitchen.
Alerted by the sound, Honey and Jim turned to greet the newcomers. "Hi ya, Trix, long time n,o see" teased Jim who had been haunting the house that very afternoon getting underfoot as the women tried to prepare the spare room. He offered Aimée a welcoming smile as Trixie introduced them, asking her how her flight from Washington had been and what she thought of Sleepyside and Crabapple Farm so far.
Honey also greeted her with warmth, asking her about her life in Washington and her father’s transfer to the Embassy in Paris. The three Bob-Whites were listening attentively when Moms bustled into the kitchen shooing Jim and Bobby out into the yard with a platter of her famous hamburger patties for the barbecue that was currently being manned by Brian and Mr. Belden.
Diana rushed into the kitchen, her shoulder-length dark hair mussed, her cheeks flushed with exertion, and her violet eyes sparkling with excitement. "Hi, everyone! I hope I’m not late. Can I do anything to help?"
After introducing Diana to Aimée, Trixie and Honey stepped out the door to sit on the step. With concern in her hazel eyes, Honey turned to Trixie and asked, "So what do you really feel about Aimée moving in?"
"At first I was a little upset. When I first saw her I was almost prepared not to like her because she was so pretty and I thought she might be stuck up about it. But after I actually met her and we had a chance to talk, I felt better about it. It will take some getting used to, but so far I like her," Trixie replied.
"I’m glad you feel that way, it would really be hard if you had to live with someone you hated for a whole year. What’s she like?"
"She seems so quiet and studious, but when she talks about her designing and her plans for the future she just glows. At other times, when no one seems to be paying attention, she seems to get this sad look in her eyes." Trixie glanced at Honey the next question apparent in her eyes. "I wonder why?"
"I doubt if there is anything mysterious about it, Trixie. She’s probably missing her friends and her family. Knowing she won’t see them for a whole year has got to be hard," Honey remonstrated.
"I guess, it just seems that there’s something more ..." Trixie let her comment trail off as Aimée and Di stepped out on the step, laughing. They were talking about the antics of Di’s younger twin brothers and sisters, and just for a second a wistful look flashed across Aimée’s face and Trixie gave Honey a significant glance.
Hoofbeats were heard on the trail as the Wheelers' groom, Bill Regan, rode into sight on Starlight, a chestnut gelding. Close on his heels was his nephew, Dan Mangan, on Jupiter. The black gelding shied at the noise of the gathering, but Dan brought him quickly under control. He slid from the horse’s back, and, handing the reins to his uncle, he then reached up to remove the saddle bags. "Better not forget these or Mart will murder me. We’re supposed to come up with ideas for our Science Fair project this weekend."
"Thanks for helping me exercise the horses, Dan," Regan said. "When the other kids don’t take the time to ride, the work gets a bit heavy."
"No problem, Uncle Bill, I really enjoy it."
Dan turned and started to walk toward the girls who were congregated around the steps, then stopped in confusion as he noticed Aimée standing beside Diana, her beautiful face animated with laughter as she listened to the girls describing the trouble Bobby and the Lynch boys had gotten into the last time they were together. The setting sun glinted off the red highlights in her long curly hair turning it to flame. A yellow sweater and slim-fitting jeans served to emphasize her feminine curves. As her musical laugh rang out, he felt a fire as warm as the flame of her hair ignite deep inside himself.
The spell passed suddenly as Mrs. Belden stepped out of the door and scolded, "Supper is ready if my helpers will come back in and help to carry it to the picnic tables." Noticing Regan and Dan she called out a greeting, "Hello, Regan, Dan, I don’t think you’ve met our new boarder, Aimée Monet. Aimée, this is Bill Regan, the Wheelers' groom, and his nephew Dan Mangan, the last of the Bob-Whites."
Aimée walked toward them, a warm smile on her lips as she greeted his uncle, "Hello, Mr. Regan, it's nice to meet you, the girls have been telling me what a wonderful job you do keeping both horses and Bob-Whites in line."
His Uncle Bill grinned in response to her humorous comment and, tipping his hat, said, "Nice to meet you, miss. Just call me Regan. I’m sure I’ll be seeing you up at the stables along with the others."
"I don’t know about that. I’ve never been on a horse before but I guess I could learn if someone would be willing to teach me," Aimée responded.
Glancing over at his slightly dazed nephew, Regan said, "I’m sure Dan or I can find the time to teach you how to ride."
Then she turned to him, and Dan found himself looking into eyes as green as a forest pool on a summer day. He reached out to take her small, warm hand as she offered it in greeting and thought he saw a flash of interest in the eyes that met his. "So you’re Dan," she said with a musical voice that tingled down his spine.
He didn’t know how but somehow he managed to say hello, then, as she pulled her hand away, he looked up to find the amused glances of the Bob-Whites fixed on them.
"Are you two going to eat or not?" Mart called out. "If not, I’m going to help myself to your burgers, old man."
Knowing Mart’s appetite and taking the threat seriously, Dan nodded toward the picnic tables and offered Aimée his arm. "Shall we." They joined the others in the feast.
Aimée did her best to hide a yawn. It really had been an eventful day. Jim and Honey had left offering to take Diana home with them, but Dan sat at the dining room table with Mart poring through the science books spread out on the table before them. She sat watching him surreptitiously through half-closed eyes. He really was an attractive young man, classic features, laughing brown eyes, and gorgeous dark hair that didn’t quite reach his broad shoulders. Tonight he had it tied back with a thin leather thong. His hands were long and thin, but callused by the hard work of manual labor. They looked so strong but so gentle, like his thin face and lean body.
Looking over at Trixie curled up in the seat beside her, she struggled to make the effort to get up and go to bed. Somehow she managed pulling herself up off the sofa, stretching her cramped muscles, and noticing how Dan’s eyes were drawn to her. It might be a great year after all.
"If you will excuse me, I’ve had a long day and I think I’ll go to bed."
"Goodnight," everyone murmured so as not to wake those who had already went upstairs.
Aimée made her way to her room, where she stripped herself of her clothes and donned one of the thin batiste nightgowns she had designed herself. The scooped neckline was trimmed with the hand-tatted lace that her grandmother had made especially for her design. After washing her face and cleaning her teeth in the bathroom she made her way back to the bedroom and started to brush her hair. Glancing toward the window something on the sill caught her eye. Moving closer to see what it was her eyes widened and she let out a piercing scream.
Chapter 3: A Threat of Things to Come
A blood-curdling scream rang through the house rousing the older Beldens from their sleep, and startling those still in the family room from their studies. Trixie was the first to reach the door of Aimée’s room with Dan and Mart close on her heels as she threw open the door. Aimée knelt in the middle of the floor, Bastet clutched in her arms, rocking back and forth and crooning "not again, not again," to the terrified cat. Bastet was no more terrified than her mistress who was staring fixedly at the sill of the picture window shivering with fear. In two strides Trixie reached Aimée and knelt beside her pulling the trembling girl into her arms. Aimée stopped crooning only to burst in body-wracking sobs, as she released Bastet to cower against the warmth and security of another human body.
Mrs. Belden joined her daughter at Aimée’s side, helping the terrified girl to rise then leading her from the room. Trixie looked up to see Mart and Dan examining something by the window, and she walked over to join them. The first thing she noticed was that the window had been left open to let the cool night air into the room. It then became apparent that the screen had been viciously slashed open. But the most horrifying thing of all was the battered yellow butterfly that had been pierced through the middle with a ruby headed pin and stuck to the sill. Small droplets of blood had splattered across the sill as if the perpetrator had pricked his finger before burying the point of the pin in the wood.
Trixie hadn’t realized that she had been holding her breath until she heard it whistle through her teeth. Startled by the sound, she looked up to meet Dan’s eyes, and then Mart’s. She read the same question in theirs that must be in her own. Why would someone do this to Aimée? The three turned from the window as one when they heard Brian enter the room.
"We called the doctor and the police, both are on their way," Brian said quietly.
Trixie nodded. Then suddenly the thought came into her head, Footprints! She raced out of the room to grab the flashlight from the drawer in the kitchen, with every intention of checking the ground outside the window for prints before the cops arrived and messed up all of the evidence. Just as she was about to race out the door Mart grabbed her arm, dragging her to an abrupt stop. "If you go out there and mess up the evidence, Molinson will have your head." He nodded toward the foot of the driveway where headlights could be seen turning off Glen Road. Sure enough it was Sergeant Molinson, and old Dr. Baker was close behind him. Trixie let out a groan of frustration.
Molinson and the young officer who accompanied him made their way to the door, nodding at Mart and Dan, and scowling at Trixie, as Peter Belden met them and led them toward the bedroom. Dr. Baker entered and Brian led him upstairs to Trixie’s room where Mrs. Belden had taken Aimée in an attempt to calm her down by removing her from the scene of the fright. Trixie, Mart and Dan drifted toward the bedroom, were they watched the young officer photograph the impaled butterfly before trudging out to the garden to look for footprints. Trixie was thwarted in her attempt to follow him by Sergeant Molinson’s abrupt "Just a minute, young lady, I will not have you interfering in this investigation." He then proceeded to grill Trixie and the other Bob-Whites in an attempt to determine what may had happened.
It was well after midnight when Trixie and the boys finally made their way upstairs to collapse exhausted into bed. Trixie entered her room to find her mother sitting quietly in the old rocker beside the bed in which Aimée slept, sedated. It was the only way the doctor could calm her. Moms slowly left the room after wishing Trixie goodnight, leaving her to change into pajamas and climb into bed. Sitting on the edge of her bed, Trixie watched the sleeping girl. Long curling strands of reddish-gold hair spread across the pillow in stark contrast to the pallor of her skin. Tear-wet lashes hid the deep green of her eyes, guarding the secrets that Trixie wished she could probe. The storm of tears was quieted in sleep except for the occasional whimper or start, as if the girl were dreaming of the horrible event. What secret from Aimée’s past had followed her to Sleepyside?
Chapter 4: Emergency Meeting
When Trixie woke the next morning, Aimée was still sleeping. Sometime during the night she had quieted and now she lay peacefully like one of the princesses in the old fairy tales that Moms read when they were small. Quietly dressing, Trixie gave her blond curls a quick brush, and washed the sleep from her china blue eyes before heading downstairs. Sitting at the kitchen table were the three sober-faced boys, each looking up as Trixie walked into the room.
"How is she, Trix?" Dan asked softly.
"She’s still sleeping, but she doesn’t seem as restless as last night."
At that moment Moms entered the kitchen, she smiled at her three children including Dan in its warmth. "I just looked in on her and she’s starting to stir. She seems fairly relaxed but I don’t want any of you upsetting her again, especially when she’s going to have to talk to Sergeant Molinson in an hour. I already told her he was coming and she says she feels up to seeing him, not that she has much choice in the matter."
"Is there anything we can do, Moms?" Brian asked.
"Try to not be here when Molinson arrives," she said as she left the room again.
"I know what we should do, hold an emergency meeting of the B.W.G.’s," Trixie suggested.
"I agree," Mart added. "There must be something we can do to help Aimée. If we put our heads together, I’m sure we can figure out something."
"If only we could hear what she’ll be telling Molinson," Trixie sighed exasperated. "Well, let's call Jim, Honey, and Di and see if they can meet us at the clubhouse in half-an-hour."
"Whoever’s doing this must be one sick puppy. The guy must have followed her all the way from Washington yesterday. Waited outside the house watching until the way was clear, cut the screen, and stuck the butterfly into the sill," Mart spouted as if well informed.
"What about the blood on the window sill?" Di asked.
"I doubt it was actually blood," Brian contributed, "more likely paint or stage blood put there for the effect."
"Do you really think he followed her all of the way from Washington?" Honey asked.
"Well, how else would the guy know where she was going," Mart responded.
"Maybe she knows the guy, and told him that she was going, or perhaps he’s connected to someone at the Embassy who found out from her father," Jim contributed.
"So the guy knew she was flying to New York City, and being met at the airport to be driven to Sleepyside. Maybe he even knew that she was coming to Crabapple Farm. He could have come a couple of days ago, found out where we lived and waited for her to arrive," Trixie postulated.
"You may have something there, Trix," Jim said.
Dan had been unusually silent through the whole discussion. He had this concerned look on his thin, handsome face. Suddenly he burst out, "It's well and good to figure out how he managed to find her in Sleepyside, but the more important thing is who the hell is he, and why would he want to do this to a beautiful girl like Aimée?"
Dan’s outburst shocked the other Bob-Whites more for the emotion behind it than for the swear word he didn’t normally use.
A sheepish look came over Dan’s face. "Sorry about that, guys, I know you’re just trying to work things out. It’s just that I’m worried that while we’re trying to figure out how he got here, he’s coming up with new ideas to torture Aimée."
Honey, being sensible, said, "This isn’t getting us anywhere, so let's write down what we know and what we think we know about this person or persons."
"We know the guy’s got to be wacko!" contributed Mart.
"But do we know it's a guy?" questioned Brian.
"No, we don’t," responded Trixie.
"We know the perpetrator must be known to Aimée, or to someone close to her," stated Honey.
"An enemy of her father, or her boyfriend?" queried Di, missing the funny look on Dan’s face when she said it.
Honey didn’t miss it though. "Does Aimée even have a boyfriend? We really know so little about her."
Dan listened carefully for the response.
"She never mentioned one when we were talking yesterday," answered Trixie. "I guess we’re not going to get very far without Aimée’s help. Come to think about it, last night after we first found her she kept saying ‘not again, not again’ over and over. Do you think something like this happened in Washington before she left? Is she here in Sleepyside because she’s running away from someone?"
"That’s it, we have to talk to Aimée, even if she doesn’t know the guy, it's obvious that someone she does know has been feeding him information. How else would he have found her at Crabapple Farm?" concluded Jim.
"Molinson should be finished with her by now, maybe someone should go get her so we can see what she has to add," suggested Brian.
"I hope we find out who’s behind all of this, in the meantime I intend to keep a close eye on her," stated Dan.
"I don’t know if anyone wants to hear this, but do you think there is any chance that Aimée pulled this thing off by herself?" Jim asked.
Trixie replied, "You didn’t see her last night! She was a real basket case. Even under sedation she didn’t stop crying for a long time."
The Bob-Whites were waiting around the table in the clubhouse when Honey and Di returned with Aimée. She smiled, but some of the warmth and sparkle had gone out of her. She was dressed all in black, with her glorious hair confined in a single braid down her back emphasizing her pallor and the dark circles under her eyes. Dan pulled out a chair for her beside his own, and she sat down with a solemn nod of thanks.
"Aimée," Trixie began, "we know that last night was a real rough time for you and we’d like to help you find the guy who’s doing it to you and stop him. But we can’t do it without your help."
Aimée nodded her agreement. "I’d appreciate the help but I don’t know what you can do. What do you want to know?"
Trixie explained, "Last night, after you found that thing pinned to the window sill, you kept saying ‘not again, not again.’ Has something like this happened before?"
"After Tony died a year ago, little things started to happen. Waking up in the night to find my window open and a dead bird beside my bed, its breast pierced with one of those pins. Notes in my locker at school, saying he was watching me and now that Tony was out of the way I’d be his little bird. The feeling that someone was watching me. Then about six months ago it stopped, no notes, no dead creatures, no presence in the shadows. I thought it was over with, that he’d given up and gone away, but last night ... last night it started all over again." Aimée’s face was sad. A single tear traced her way down her cheek. Dan reached over to clasp her small hand under the table.
"Tell us about Tony," Dan requested, knowing it might hurt him as well as her.
"I met Tony two years ago. He was a lot like Leonardo Di Caprio’s character in the movie Titanic. Full of fun and daring. I found him exciting, not like the guys I met through social functions at the Embassy or at the private school I attended. They were so stuffy, talking about politics and legal issues. But Tony loved art, just like me. He was a photographer. He was working on a photo-journalism assignment documenting the lives of street-kids. The assignment was really close to his heart, after all he’d been one of them himself. He seldom talked about those times except when Vinnie would come around. He’d met Vinnie on the streets and they’d grown up together, but where Tony was daring, Vinnie was wild. He had charm when it came to women, but it didn’t work when he tried it on me. Vinnie scared me. He wouldn’t back off. One morning some of the kids found Tony lying on a bench in the park. He’d died of a drug overdose, but Tony didn’t do drugs. I think Vinnie killed him, but the police called it an accidental overdose."
"When these things started happening to you, didn’t the police try to find out who was doing it?" Dan asked.
Aimée gave a brittle laugh. "Oh no, like your Sergeant Molinson they thought it was some childish prank, or that I was doing it myself to get attention. I thought when I came here he wouldn’t know. But somehow he found out. I know he’s here, Vinnie’s here somewhere and I’m scared, because this time he’s not going to stop unless someone stops him!"
Chapter 5: A Suspicious Fall
Sunday morning arrived bright and sunny, the perfect day for an autumn ride, and the Beldens and Aimée soon headed for the Manor House stables to take advantage of the glorious weather. Arriving at the paddock they encountered Bill Regan who, smiling a friendly greeting, asked, "Are you ready for your first riding lesson, miss?"
"I sure am, Regan. In fact, I’m looking forward to it?"
The sound of voices could be heard as Dan and Diana appeared on the trail riding Spartan and Sunny respectively. "If I’m not mistaken, your new teacher has just arrived," grinned Brian, cocking his head toward the newcomers.
Aimée blushed vividly as she looked up to meet Dan’s eyes just as he caught sight of her. The growing attraction between the pair was obvious to Regan as well as the Bob-Whites, and he turned his head to hide the huge grin that crossed his face and with great difficulty turned back to greet his nephew with a straight face. "Morning, Dan," he nodded, "I have a willing student here waiting for her first lesson. I think Lady would be the best horse for her today. Jim’s not riding, so Brian can take Jupe and that leaves Starlight for Honey."
The Bob-Whites moved toward the stables to gather up the tack and saddle the horses. Dan stood patiently with Aimée as he guided her through the process, before helping her into the saddle on the quiet gray mare. They waved as the others road off down the trail, then began the lesson. Warning Aimée to keep her feet in the stirrups and her heels down, Dan began to lead her around the paddock. She rode with the same grace with which she walked, and Dan soon decided to allow her to try it on her own. Mounting Spartan and riding close by her side he accompanied her twice more around the paddock then asked if she felt ready to take to the trail. With Aimée’s excited nod of agreement the pair set out to follow the same trail the Bob-Whites had taken earlier, only at a slower pace.
"I’m glad that you wanted to teach me, Dan. You probably wish you were out riding with the others though."
"Naw ... I’m happy to be right where I am, riding side by side with the prettiest girl in Sleepyside."
"I’m flattered," she blushed. "It’s been a long time since a guy actually told me he thought I was pretty."
"I can’t believe that. If it were up to me, I’d be telling you every day." He turned in the saddle to look over at her. "You’re doing really well, Aimée, are you ready to try a trot?"
"Ready, willing, and able, sir," she giggled, glad to change the subject and excited by the prospect. Lifting the reins they picked up the pace, continuing on down the path.
Glittering eyes watched the young couple riding up the path, and as the pair went around the bend a small dark figure stepped from the bushes his body tense with anger. How dare she flirt with another man. She’s mine ... if she won’t be mine she’ll never belong to anyone again. And he began to plan.
Dan and Aimée finally caught up with the others who had stopped in a forest clearing to wait. Blankets had been laid out on the ground, and cold drinks and sandwiches set out for a surprise picnic. Seeing the welcoming group that was waiting for her, she gasped in delight, "A picnic, its been years since I’ve been on a picnic!"
"We thought it might improve your impression of life in Sleepyside after all that’s happened," Dan confided as he helped her from her horse. Circling his hands around her waist he lifted her from the saddle then let her slender body slide along his until her feet touched the ground. He could feel the warmth of her flesh through her thin shirt, and the corresponding flame that suddenly heated his own. They stood there caught in each others eyes until the sound of a clearing throat brought them back to their surroundings.
"So, Aimée, is Dan a good teacher?" Mart teased, as he noticed Dan’s heightened color.
"Very good," she answered quickly. "Gee ... is that apple cider? I’m so thirsty!" She sat down on one of the blankets as Honey brought her a glass full of the sweet cold beverage. Dan joined her, sitting close, their knees touching and their hands occasionally brushing as they reached for food. Discussion revolved around the Bob-Whites past activities, Aimée’s travels, and the success of that day’s riding lessons.
No one mentioned Friday’s incident, not wanting to spoil the pleasure of the afternoon, but soon Brian got up and stretched. "Well, I hate to spoil the party but I should be getting back soon. Jim and I need to head back for the college. We’ve early morning classes tomorrow." Agreeing, the other young people rose and mounted their horses heading back along the path at a leisurely walk.
Feeling as if she was holding back the others, Aimée suddenly decided to pick up the pace. Lifting her reins, she coaxed Lady into a trot moving ahead of the group before anyone could realize what she was doing. Inexperienced, she gave Lady the wrong signal and the horse broke into a canter and then a gallop as Aimée lost control. Realizing the situation, the three young men gave chase with the girls not far behind.
Aimée grabbed hold of Lady’s mane as the horse thundered down the path. Crouching low to avoid low hanging trees, she could feel the fear taking over as the horse picked up speed. Peering around the horse’s head, she tried to see where she was going. Then suddenly there was a flash in the bushes ahead. Lady reared as something flew out in front of them. Aimée was flung out of the saddle, and her voice rose in a cry of terror that was cut short as she hit the ground. Fortunately she landed in a thick pile of leaves, but she blacked out as she felt her breath forced from her body and her head thud back against the ground.
Honey and Di screamed as they saw Aimée flung from Lady’s back. Dan, Brian, and Mart pulled their horses to an abrupt stop racing for the fallen girl’s side with Trixie close beside them. As Dan reached for Aimée’s hand, Brian snapped out, "Don’t move her! Her back or her neck may be broken." As the Bob-Whites crouched at Aimée’s side, Brian ran educated eyes over her supine body. Nothing appeared to be out of position but that didn’t mean serious damage hadn’t been done. "Honey, Di, go for help!" he ordered. "Mart, go after Lady and make sure she isn’t hurt."
Dan on Aimée’s right side stroking her reddish hair away from her pale forehead. "Aimée, can you hear me? Aimée, it's Dan. Open your eyes. Come on, sweetheart, open your eyes and look at me." A soft groan issued from her lips, and her dark lashes fluttered against her pale cheeks. Her green eyes slowly opened meeting Dan’s with a dazed expression.
"What ... happened ....? Where ... am I? Dan? Brian? Oh God! Where’s Lady, is she hurt?" struggling to sit up as she suddenly remembered what had happened.
"Lady’s fine," Dan comforted as he saw Mart lead the horse back onto the path. "Lie still, Brian thinks you shouldn’t move. You might be hurt bad."
"I’m fine," she sighed trying to push away their restraining hands. "I just banged my head and had the wind knocked out of me. Now let me up," she demanded.
"Stay put, young lady, doctor’s orders," Brian ordered firmly.
"Trixie?" Aimée looked around for her new friend.
Stepping forward Trixie answered, "I’m right here, Aimée. What happened?"
"I saw a light flash in the bushes then something flew out in front of us landing on the path. It scared Lady. Can you see anything?"
Trixie and Mart began to search the area around the site where Lady had reared up. There buried deep in the leaves beside the path Trixie found a small paper-wrapped bundle. Unwrapping the paper, she dropped the package in disgust. "Uck!" Enclosed in its folds was a dead robin, a ruby-headed pin buried deep in its breast. "I think there’s something written on the paper, Mart. Do you have something to put the bird on so that we can read the paper?"
Reaching into his pocket Mart pulled out one of the paper napkins they had used for the picnic. Trixie gingerly lifted the paper then dumped the bird onto the napkin. Lifting the bloodstained paper so that she could she it better, she read the childish scrawl:
Who killed Cock Robin?
I, said the sparrow
With my bow and arrow
I killed Cock Robin.All the birds of the air fell
A sighing and a sobbing
When they heard of
The death of poor Cock Robin.The four Bob-Whites looked at each other, and then at Aimée whose face tightened with fear. "Vinnie ...," she whispered, "Vinnie’s the Sparrow."
"What do you mean Vinnie’s the Sparrow?" Dan asked. "It’s just an old nursery rhyme."
"On the streets Vinnie was known as the Sparrow because he was small and brown. Tony was known as Robin. Oh, my God, my God! Vinnie did kill Tony. He’s telling me he killed Tony." Aimée began to sob, her body racked with tears of grief and fear. "What’s Vinnie going to do next?"
Chapter 6: A New School
Nothing further was said for just at that moment Regan and Mr. Belden arrived with the paramedics, and Aimée was quickly taken to Sleepyside General Hospital where she was examined, pronounced fit, and released into the care of Peter and Helen Belden. That night she slept restlessly in her new room for the first time, and arose early to prepare for her first day at Sleepyside Junior-Senior High.
Walking along Glen Road toward the bus stop with Trixie and Mart, Aimée pondered the brief time she had been in Sleepyside. The Belden family and their friends were great, her room was cozy, riding was fun, and then there was Dan. He was such a wonderful guy, and he looked at her like she was the most beautiful girl in the world. When he touched her, or even smiled at her, the blood in her veins seemed to sing and her heart beat in time to a primitive rhythm. She’d never felt this way with a guy before, not even with Tony though at the time she’d thought she was in love with him. I could really be happy here. Then her thoughts sobered. If it wasn’t for Vinnie. Why does Vinnie have to come back into my life now and spoil everything? A tingle went down her spine. Was he out there watching her even now? She looked around her peering into the bushes on either side of the road, but the only thing she could see was a quirky chipmunk filling his face with seeds. Trixie must have noticed her new friend’s nervousness because she reached over and squeezed Aimée’s hand in reassurance. I’m not alone in this anymore. I finally have people who believe me. Friends who want to help me. But can they? Can they stop Vinnie, or will one of them get hurt because of me?
They arrived at the bus stop just as the bus came into sight. Dan and Honey were already there and as they climbed into the waiting bus Dan asked quietly, "Are you okay?" His dark eyes looked at her in concern as he reached for her hand and pulled her into a seat beside him. She nodded her reply, suddenly at a loss for words. He didn’t release her hand, and she didn’t pull away as they sat listening quietly to the hustle and bustle around them. They looked up and smiled when Diana climbed into the bus and took a seat beside Mart, but otherwise they stayed wrapped up in each other. When they arrived at the school it was only natural that it was Dan who showed her to the office where she registered for class, then helped her find her locker, and then showed her their homeroom.
By lunchtime that day Aimée was feeling much more confident. She had met many new people, her teachers were nice, and she was a little ahead in her studies so she would not have any trouble catching up with the other students. She’d heard about a production of Godspell that the School Drama Club was going to be putting on and she intended to approach the teacher in charge about designing the costumes for the musical. Bustling into the cafeteria she almost collided with Trixie who grinned then handed her a tray asking how her morning had went. Helping herself to a chef salad and a carton of milk, Aimée began to describe the experience with enthusiasm.
Joining the other Bob-Whites at their favourite table, Aimée confided, "I do hope that this Miss Darcy will let me design the costumes for Godspell."
"I’m sure she will once she sees some of your wonderful designs," Honey said looking admiringly at the simple green dress Aimée now wore. "It’s obvious that you have talent, and I know I’ll enjoy sewing anything you design."
"I can’t wait to wear one of your creations in the play, Aimée," Diana chimed in. "Your clothes are so beautiful, and I know you designed them yourself."
"Any sign of strangers around the school today, guys?" Trixie asked, tired of the fashion talk even though she was happy that Aimée had found something to interest her.
The young people sobered as they were reminded that all wasn’t right in their world. Mart stated quietly, "Some of the guys were talking about a short dark guy they saw smoking under one of the old trees across the street. They said it looked like he was watching the school."
"Vinnie?" Aimée paled.
"Maybe," Dan agreed.
"I wonder what he’s up to now?" Trixie asked.
"I wish he would just go away and leave me alone. Why can’t he see I don’t want him? If I’d wanted him, I would have broken up with Tony, then started seeing him." Aimée’s hand trembled as she reached for her books. Rising from the table, she said in a shaky voice, "If I want to be part of that production, I’d better go find Miss Darcy."
"I’m coming with you," Dan said as he, too, rose to leave. "I don’t want you to be alone if this Vinnie guy is hanging around outside the school. He’s probably looking for a way to sneak in without being seen so that he can pull some other stunt."
"And his stunts are getting more and more deadly," Trixie muttered so Aimée couldn’t hear her.
Mart nodded in agreement then jumped up calling to Dan, "Hey, you two, I’m coming with you. We’re all in the next class together."
Aimée ran a tired hand through her strawberry-blonde hair as once again she tried to remember the combination to the lock on her new locker. Dan chuckled, as leaning against a neighboring locker he watched the frustrated girl.
"Am I ever going to get this stupid thing open?" she ground out as Trixie and the others joined them. "Well, finally," she mumbled as the locked pulled away and she opened the locker. "One good thing about today is that Miss Darcy agreed to look at some preliminary sketches for costume designs if I can have them ready by Friday." Noticing the strange looks on the other’s faces as they stared at her locker, she asked, "What is it?" Turning toward her locker, she gasped in horror. Hanging by bound hands from the coat hook in her locker was a red-headed Barbie doll dressed in a crudely made green dress, with a ruby headed pin stuck straight into its left breast.
Chapter 7: A Shadow in the Night
"I’ve had enough." Dan swore colourfully. "I’m calling Sergeant Molinson right now. Someone has to do something about this guy before it's too late!" Trixie started to stutter a protest, but Dan’s glaring look quickly silenced her. "This guy is too dangerous, Trix, I don’t want you and Honey involved in this. We can’t protect Aimée while at the same time trying to keep the two of you out of harm’s way."
"I agree with Dan, Trixie," Honey said, knowing her best friend would be disappointed. "This guy’s obsession with Aimée is scary and I don’t want to go anywhere near him. Promise us you’ll leave it alone." Honey looked at the others for support.
Realizing the truth in what the others were saying, Trixie grudgingly agreed to stay out of it.
The intense moment was broken by a commotion at the end of the hallway. Walking toward them up the corridor was none other than Sergeant Molinson. Someone else had noticed the scene in the locker and called the cops. Leading the young people into the empty classroom, Molinson listened to their story. "Has anybody actually seen this Vinnie around Sleepyside?"
"Some of the guys saw a short dark stranger hanging around outside the school, Sir," Mart revealed.
"Have you seen him, Miss Monet?" he asked, giving her a level look.
"No, Sergeant, but this is something Vinnie would do. Tony always said the guy was crazy, I just thought the statement was figurative not literal."
"Well, I can’t arrest the guy if I can’t find him, but I will have a patrol car drive past Crabapple Farm on a regular basis. I want you to take great care, young lady, and all of you stay alert, but don’t get involved with this guy. Especially you, Trixie Belden, you stay out of it." Molinson’s face was deadly serious. "This guy isn’t predictable. There’s no telling what he’ll do next."
As Molinson left the school, Honey went to phone home to see if someone could pick them up. She arrived back to say that Regan would meet them out front in about fifteen minutes.
Aimée and the Bob-Whites headed for the door, but suddenly Dan pulled Trixie and Mart aside. "Do you think your parents would mind if I stayed over for a couple of nights? I’m really worried about this guy Vinnie, and I’d like to be on hand if anything happens."
"I don’t think they’d mind, Dan, especially since Dad is leaving town on a business trip and will be gone for a couple of days. It will be good to have another man in the house what with both Dad and Brian gone," Mart replied.
"It would be the perfect time for Vinnie to try something wouldn’t it?" Trixie asked, following the guys out the front door of the school.
The house was quiet now. Aimée tossed and turned in bed trying to find a comfortable place to lay. Actually it wasn’t really the bed that was bothering her, it was the thought that Vinnie was out there watching and waiting. Trixie had wanted her to sleep upstairs in the extra bed in her room, but Aimée had told her that she couldn’t always let fear rule her life and with Dan sleeping on the sofa in the living room, she would be fine.
Was that a shadow at the window? No, just a tree branch blowing in the wind. Aimée relaxed. She could feel Bastet’s warmth as the cat stretched out with her body pressed against Aimée’s leg. Her purr was so soothing, lulling the exhausted girl toward sleep.
Aimée’s last thought was of Dan, his long lean body stretched out on the couch. She smiled in contentment and drifted into unconsciousness. She never saw the shadow that crept up to her window and, cutting the screen from its frame, raised the window.
Chapter 8: Nightmare in the Summerhouse
Something woke Aimée. Maybe it was a footstep, or maybe a heavy breath, but she started from her sleep only to have a strong hand clasp itself over her mouth. She could feel someone’s hot breath against the back of her neck. Something pricked against the underside of her left breast. She could hear her heart pounding so loudly she was sure the man in her room could hear it too.
"You’ve been a bad girl, Aimée," a harsh excited voice hissed in her ear. "Now Sparrow’s going to punish his little bird. You know you’re mine, don’t you, Aimée? You’ve always been mine. Tony was never good enough for you, and neither is that Mangan kid."
Aimée mumbled against his hand.
"Be quiet, Aimée! If you’re quiet, I won’t have to hurt him or anyone else. I’ve a gun, Aimée, and I’ll use it to keep what’s mine. You understand."
Aimée nodded.
"Now, get out of bed and head for the door. Remember, not a word, or your pretty boy gets it."
Trembling, Aimée climbed from the bed accidentally kicking Bastet who hissed then ran for shelter.
"Stupid cat! Should have took care of it a long time ago! No time now!"
They made their way quietly through the silent house, and out through the kitchen door. When Aimée thought to let it slam shut behind them, Vinnie grabbed it and eased it quietly shut. "Don’t do that again, Aimée." The knife pricked against her ribcage.
The ground was so cold beneath her bare feet, and the icy wind cut through her thin batiste gown making her teeth chatter. Vinnie was dragging her uphill in the dark. Was it to the old Frayne property that the Belden’s friend Jim had inherited? Why would he be going there? All there was was an old burned out house. Dan had pointed it out the day of their ride. She stepped on a stone cutting her foot, whimpering in pain against Vinnie’s callused hand. Then Vinnie was pushing her down on her knees before a bunch of overgrown vegetation.
"Crawl, come on keep going." It was some kind of path. There was bare earth beneath her hands. It was like crawling through some kind of tunnel. Suddenly they were there and Vinnie shoved her through the doorway. Stopping by a table in the dark, he lit a single candle. In its faint light she could see the inside of what must have once been a summerhouse. One corner of the room held an inflated mattress covered with a pair of sleeping bags. As Vinnie pushed her toward it, she cringed from him in terror.
Dan nearly jumped out of his skin when Bastet landed on his chest with a thump. He pushed her off in an attempt to role over and go back to sleep. She jumped up again yowling in his face then jumped down running for the door. Aimée! Something was wrong. He went running for the bedroom only to find the empty bed and the cut screen. Oh God! Where was Aimée? He turned to leave the room only to collide with Trixie and Mart.
"What’s going on, Dan?" Mart questioned groggily. "We heard the cat yowling."
"Aimée’s gone! I think Vinnie’s got her."
"Where could he have taken her?" Trixie cried.
"Follow Bastet! I think she’s trying to show us." The cat was trying to get their attention, and kept running toward the kitchen.
"She probably heard a mouse," Mart grumbled.
"No way, Mart, Bastet purposely woke me up, and led me to the room. She knows Aimée’s gone, and maybe where."
They grabbed shoes, jackets, and flashlights before letting the cat out the door. The fact that she was a house cat didn’t faze Bastet. She headed around the house and straight up the hill toward Ten Acres, stopping every now and then to make certain they were still following. They followed her as far as the overgrown hedge and she disappeared.
"Where’d she go?" Dan hissed.
"There’s no way Vinnie’d bring her here. No shelter, and it's too cold to sleep out in the open," Mart argued.
"The summerhouse," Trixie remembered excitedly, "the path was somewhere around here."
Vinnie pushed her down on the sleeping bags. She got up and tried to scurry away, but he hit her knocking her back down. "It's time I taught you who’s boss, Aimée," he taunted reaching to undo his belt as she cringed into the corner trying to get away from him. He dropped his pants, and, as he stepped out of them, he reached for her. She screamed.
Suddenly there was a commotion in the tunnel through the brush, and Dan launched his way through the door downing Vinnie as he plowed into his back. Both men landed on the mattress beside her. Close on Dan’s heels followed Trixie and Mart who quickly made their way to Aimée’s side. Trixie took the shaken girl into her arms pulling her away from the mattress to the opposite side of the room.
Throwing Dan from his back, Vinnie jumped to his feet. He was like a snake weaving back and forth, the knife he had held to Aimée’s breast clutched in his right hand. Dan had doffed his coat and stood bare-chested in the cold of the summerhouse. He watched Vinnie’s movements with deadly earnest trying to anticipate each lunge before it happened. Quick and wily, Dan managed to avoid Vinnie’s knife getting in an occasional jab or kick. Aimée cried out as Dan took a slash to his left arm, and the blood started to drip to the floor.
Suddenly, out of nowhere, Bastet catapulted into the fray landing on Vinnie’s back, tearing with claws and teeth. As Vinnie tried to shake off the enraged cat, Dan managed to get in a sharp uppercut that sent him flying headfirst into one of the support posts of the summerhouse.
As Vinnie sprawled unconscious on the floor, Dan walked toward the observers and opened his arms to Aimée. Sobbing, she curled into his body, seeking the warmth and protection it offered. Stroking her hair, and holding her close, he whispered terms of endearment interspersed with kisses trying to soothe her.
Trixie left to call the police but met them outside the tunnel. Driving past the farm on their hourly patrol, they had seen the three Bob-Whites making their way up the hill to Ten Acres and followed to investigate. They soon apprehended Vinnie who was stumbling to his feet. He made one attempt to break away and go after Aimée, but was deterred by the sight of the spitting ball of fur that appeared at her mistress’ side. Aimée bent to pick up the brave little cat, cradling her in her arms as they made their way down the hill to Crabapple Farm.
Chapter 9: Love Blossoms
Aimée walked nervously into the Bob-White’s clubhouse. Dan looked up from his spot at the council table and smiled encouragingly. The light in his eyes reflected his feelings for her. She crossed to face Jim and Trixie, the co-chairpersons of the club, and they stood calmly to greet her.
Jim cleared his throat, his face solemn. "Aimée, the reason we’ve invited you here today is to ask you if you would be willing to join us as the newest member of the Bob-Whites of the Glen. Brian and I haven’t had much time to get to know you but the other Bob-Whites assure us that you would fit into our little group quite well. I know that Trixie has explained how each of us contributes money that we earn through our own labors to the club, and that one of our primary goals is to be of help to those in trouble or in need. In addition, we always try to be there for each other."
Aimée stood open-mouthed. She had never expected this. To actually be asked to join the Bob-Whites, the people who had not only become her friends but had saved her life. In a voice hoarse with tears of joy, Aimée said, "I’d be honored to become one of the Bob-Whites, and I’ll do my best to help others as you all helped me."
Laughing and talking, the Bob-Whites stood around her welcoming her into their midst with hugs and slaps on the back. Dan came up to her holding her very own red jacket with the club initials B.W.G. cross-stitched across the back by Honey’s sure hand. As he helped her to slip it on his lips found hers in a tender kiss that brought knowing smiles from the rest of the little group. "If you’ll excuse us, we need to talk," he told the others as he led Aimée toward the door.
They walked out, hand in hand, into the crisp, cold afternoon. Aimée took a deep breath. "Smells like snow," she observed.
Dan smiled. "That’s not what I brought you out here to talk about," he teased, tugging on one of the strawberry-blonde curls that flowed wildly around her shoulders.
"It's not?" she purred, as she snuggled up against his lean body stirring the heat inside him.
"No." He bent down to kiss her smiling lips. He never could get enough of her. She was like a warm autumn day, full of life and vibrant with color. He reached into the pocket of his red jacket and pulled out a small, gaily wrapped box.
Her eyes bright with interest she took it from his outstretched hand. Carefully peeling back the colourful foil paper she opened the box to find a tiny gold ring. The beauty of the entwined hearts decorating its surface took her breath away, and she looked up at him with tears in her eyes.
"Aimée, will you be my girl?" he asked gently.
In answer she reached up and cradled his lean handsome face in her hands, bringing it closer so that she could meet his lips with her own. Just before she kissed him, she whispered softly, "Yes, oh yes, I love you, Dan." Her lips met his with the tender caress of newfound passion.
Later as they walked beneath a canopy of autumn leaves, he reached for her hand drawing her back into his arms. "I love you, too, Aimée."
The End