rated *

This story occurs nearly two years after the Bob-Whites were in Australia. It is the long holidays and the boys are arriving home ready for a long break from school. The girls are making preparations for college in the fall.

 

Yesterdays, Todays, and Tomorrows

By Treanna

 

Chapter One

Trixie woke up with a start, her body covered in sweat. She sat up and sighed. It had been a bad dream and she still felt the aftershocks of it through her body. But she knew what would calm her nerves. She got out of bed and crept down to the phone downstairs. It was only seven in the morning and she did not want to disturb her two brothers that had arrived home only hours earlier.

"Hello?" A voice sounded on the other end of the phone.

"Oh, Honey, is Jim okay?"

"Trixie. What's wrong?"

"I had a really bad dream and I just wanted to make sure that Jim was okay."

"I haven’t seen him. He got in early this morning. Didn’t Brian tell you that?"

"I haven’t seen him either. They are still asleep."

Honey sat up in bed. "Hang on a minute, Trix, and I will make sure he is here."

"Thanks, Honey."

Trixie waited for a couple of minutes and then she heard the phone being picked up again.

"Hi, sweetie."

"Jim. I didn’t mean for Honey to wake you up. I just wanted to make sure you got home okay."

"That's fine, Trix. Honey said you were worried about me?" Jim glared at his sister.  She had grabbed his leg and pulled him halfway out of bed to wake him up.

"Trixie is on my phone for you," was all she said.  He followed her and as he picked up the phone, Honey smiled and snuggled back into her comfortable bed.

"I had a dream, Jim," Trixie said now, "and I was worried about you."

"I'm fine, but tired."

"I'm sorry.  You should go back to bed for a while."

"How about I meet you in our special place around lunchtime?"

"I can bring a picnic basket."

"I was hoping you would say that."

"Sleep well Jim."

"See you soon, sweetie."

Jim put down the phone and his sister grinned at him. "She has really missed you, Jim."

"Kind of figured that. Just like you have missed her older brother."

She smiled. "I am going to get some more beauty sleep before I meet him later."

"I was enjoying a lovely dream when I was dragged out of bed."

"About anyone I know?"

"That is classified." He got up and headed back to his own room.

*     *     *

"Are you okay, Trixie?"

Trixie turned to her mother and smiled.

"I had a little bad dream is all and I just wanted to make sure that Jim was okay."

She stood up and followed her mother into the kitchen.

"You have missed him, haven’t you?"

Trixie nodded as she made them both a coffee. "And now I will be going after the holidays."

"You're only two hours away from each other, Trix. I'm sure that you will be able to find time to spend together."

"I am glad that Honey and Di are coming to the same college and they are my roomies. With Mart at the same college as us, and the boys together, I hope we can get together."

"Dan is only an hour away from both of you at the Police Academy."

"I'm glad. We have talked about getting together at least one weekend a month at one or the other campus."

"But there is more bothering you, isn’t there?"

"It is just this dream I had," Trixie sighed. "I saw Jim moving away from me and I tried to call him, but he wouldn’t come back. I thought that maybe something bad had happened to him."

"Well, now you know that he is all right," Moms assured her. "So when are you two seeing each other?"

"We are meeting at lunchtime and I am bringing a basket of food for us."

"We have plenty," Moms told her. "I knew Mart would be home today and I know how hungry that boy can get."

Trixie laughed. "Then I had better sort out what I want now and not wait until later. Or we might not have anything."

 

Trixie’s basket was full with good food when she walked into the clearing of Ten Acres. Jim was not there yet, so she spread the blanket on the ground and then looked around her. The old house had finally been cleared and the land had been pegged out for the new school. Even though it would not be up and running for a couple more years, Jim and his father had already had the plans drawn up for the school and the staff houses.

Trixie sighed. She had asked Jim on several occasions to show her the plans, but he had just laughed and told her that the finished product would be better to see than any drawings.

From the distance she heard a bobwhite whistle and a moment later the man of her dreams walked into the clearing. Trixie did not hesitate a second as she launched herself into his waiting arms. As his lips touched hers Trixie again felt like she was whole.

Jim moved back slightly and looked down at the dearest face he knew.

"What a welcome." He smiled. "It makes the going away more easy knowing what a reception I will get when I return."

"I am looking forward to the day when neither of us has to go away again." She smiled up at him and he nodded.

"I will agree to that." He kissed her again thoroughly and then led her to the blanket and they sat down.

"I am sorry about the early morning call, Jim," she told him.

"From what I could gather in my befuddled brain, you were worried because you had a bad dream."

She nodded. "But it doesn’t matter now you are home and you are safe. And we are together again and that is all that matters."

"My stomach is sitting somewhere against my spine. I haven’t eaten anything since last night, so I hope that picnic basket is full."

She smiled. "I thought as much so I brought a Mart-sized picnic."

He laughed as she opened the basket and began to pull out the food. Chunks of Moms' bread held chicken and ham slices. There was a green salad and a potato salad and a huge chunk of chocolate cake. And Trixie had picked fresh strawberries for afterwards. There were also four cans of soda. Jim took one and drank thirstily.

Most of the food was gone by the time Jim declared himself full. He lay back on the blanket and watched as Trixie put the remainder of the food back into the basket. Then she lay down beside him.

"I don’t think I can move for a while," she sighed.

"I have missed home made cooking," he told her. "The college food is not the same as Belden home cooking."

"You haven’t tasted the strawberries, yet," she told him. "I picked them just before I came."

"Actually, I prefer raspberries at the moment."

"You do?"

And within a flash of a second he had turned over, pushed up Trixie’s tee shirt and blew quite loudly on her stomach.

Trixie giggled as she tried to move away, but his hands pushed hers to her side as twice more he blew a huge raspberry on her stomach. He then looked up grinning.

"Do you like raspberries, too, Miss Belden?"

"No." She wriggled, but he again held firm.

"So, what do you like?"

"Jim!"

He leant down again and gently kissed her stomach. He ran his tongue around her navel and he felt her shiver. And he knew that she would not push him away.

He looked down into eyes that had become darker with passion and he smiled slightly as he leant down and kissed her gently on the lips.

Trixie's arms wound around his neck and he slid his arms around her back, drawing her closer into his embrace.

Tell me what I want to hear, Trixie thought as she gave back with as much passion as he gave. Tell me what I want to hear.

When Jim looked up she held her breath. He smiled down at her.

"Trixie, there is something I want to tell you."

"Then tell me, Jim."

"Trixie, I--"

Then his phone rang.

 

Chapter Two

Trixie watched Jim as he sat up and took the phone out of his back pocket.

"Hello? Oh, hello, Miss Trask." He listened for a minute. "Who is it?... Okay, I’ll be home in a few minutes."

He  put his phone back in his pocket.

"Is there anything wrong Jim?" she asked worriedly.

He shook his head. "There is someone at the house wanting to see me."

"Who?"

"Miss Trask wouldn’t say. She just said I should hurry back. So, I'm sorry, Trix, but this picnic is over."

She smiled. "We have plenty of time for more picnics."

They cleared up and then headed back towards the Manor House.

"I'll see you later." Trixie stopped.

He turned to her.  "Come with me, sweetie. Hopefully, whoever it is will only be here for a little while and then we can go for a swim."

"Sounds good." She smiled.

As they walked towards the house Trixie saw a blond-haired woman descend down the stairs. She felt Jim's hand tighten in hers as he gasped.

"Well, James Winthrop Frayne II, I presume?"

"I don’t believe it," he gasped again.

"So, how are you my redheaded hunk?"

Jim grinned. He pulled his hand from Trixie's  grasp and hurried over to grasp the other woman in his arms and swing her around happily.

"Re, I don't believe it. What are you doing here?"

Reanna smiled up at him. "I finally decided that if you weren’t coming to visit me, I would come and visit you instead."

"How long are you here for?"

"I have a couple of weeks up my sleeve, so I can stay until you have had enough of me."

"Never!" Jim laughed.

Trixie stood and watched them together, waiting to be introduced. She was surprised when Jim put his arm around Reanna and headed back to the house. He had walked a few feet before he stopped and turned around.

"Oh, sorry, Trixie, I was just caught up in the moment."

She forced a smile on her face. "That’s okay, Jim. I know that you are excited to see your old friend." She then walked towards them.

"Trixie, this is my friend Reanna Stanthorpe. Do you remember me mentioning her to you?"

Trixie nodded.

"And this is my friend Trixie Belden. She lives at that little farm down the hill."

Little? Trixie thought.

"Pleased to meet you." Reanna smiled. "I am so glad that Jimmy here hasn’t been alone."

"How did you find me?" Jim asked.

"Honey, your name was plastered all over the paper when you were adopted by the Wheelers. But I wanted to wait until you had really settled in before looking you up."

"Well, I am glad you did. Now, how about we go to the house and get you settled. Trixie and I were going for a swim, but we can do that later, can’t we, Trix?"

Trixie nodded. "Just call me later."

She stood and watched as Jim walked away without even saying goodbye. She waited until they had disappeared into the house and then she headed home.

Moms was surprised to see her home so early. Trixie explained about Reanna.

"It is nice that he has someone visit from his past," Moms told her.

"I guess so."

Moms sat down at the kitchen table and smiled at her daughter.

‘But?"

"Oh Moms, it was like he had forgotten me so quickly. He didn’t even say goodbye."

"I am sure he will realize soon and ring you."

Trixie nodded. But a deep ache inside her made her think otherwise.

"Where is everyone?" she asked.

"Brian is having lunch with Honey, while Bobby and Mart are at the Lynches'. So, it is just you and me."

Trixie sighed. "Is love always so hard?"

"What do you mean, honey?"

"Well, I am sure that Jim was going to tell me he loved me today just as his phone began to ring. I just wish that I really knew that he did."

"Don’t you?"

"He is so sweet with me and when we write he always finishes his letter with 'Love, Jim'."

"But he has never said it."

Trixie shook her head. "And now with Reanna here, I am not sure when we are going to have some time alone again before we go back to school."

"How long is she here?"

"Two weeks."

"Then you will have plenty of holidays left to be alone."

"Moms, can I ask you something?"

"You know you can."

"When I rang you from Australia, you said that Dad was not the first boy you had kissed."

"That is right."

"So, who was the first boy?"

Her mother smiled. "How about I make us a pot of tea and you cut us two large slices of that chocolate cake. The boys won’t be back for at least a couple of hours and we shouldn’t be disturbed."

"Sounds like a good story."

Moms smiled. "I guess it is."

Five minutes later, they were again sat at the table.

Moms took a drink of her tea and then smiled at Trixie.

"I guess I should start at the beginning so you can understand the whole story."

Trixie nodded.

"I met your father when we both started pre-school. I will call him Peter in the story to make it more real to you. His best friend Danny started the same time. Almost from the beginning the three of us became almost inseparable. My mother used to call us the Three Musketeers. We did everything together and, as we grew, we continued to be best friends. I was like you, Trixie, a real tomboy. So when the boys went fishing or camping, I went, too. I had girlfriends, too, but I spent a lot of time with Danny and Peter.

"As we grew I also noticed a change in the boys. Peter became more absorbed in his schoolwork and Danny more absorbed in his car and parties. At the time Danny seemed more exciting than Peter and so we began to date. Peter came along with us quite often, but sometimes we just wanted to be alone. I remember on my eighteenth birthday Danny was late. When I asked Peter where he was, he became evasive. I knew something was wrong, but wasn’t sure what. Danny came an hour late and was definitely drunk. He stayed on after the party and became a little heavy-handed with me and we argued. He left in anger and I remember crying myself to sleep. Peter came over the next morning and I remember crying quite heavily on his shoulder. I knew that there was something he wasn’t telling me, but I was afraid to ask him. That afternoon Danny arrived, sober and apologetic and I forgave him."

Her mother sighed and Trixie knew that something bad was about to be said.

"Are you okay, Moms?"

Her mother nodded. "Two days later I went over to see Danny at home. I wanted to surprise him. No one answered the door, but because his car was in the driveway I went around the back. I walked to the back of the house and found him. He was--he was having sex with my best friend in his pool."

Trixie gasped. "Moms."

"I gasped and he saw me. I turned and ran. I headed home and he arrived about an hour later. I was sitting in my back garden trying to figure out what went wrong. He came storming over drunk and extremely angry. He grabbed me up and began to shake me, screaming abuse at me. Then suddenly he was wrenched from off me and the next time I opened my eyes it was to see him on the ground with Peter standing over him telling him to get out and if he ever touched me again he would--" she stopped again.

Trixie was shocked. "Daddy, er, I mean, Peter hit him?"

"Oh, yeah." Moms smiled. "Danny got up and staggered out."

"So, what happened next?"

Moms laughed. "Would you believe I fainted?"

"You didn’t?"

"I did. Fainted dead away. When I awoke, Peter was holding me in his arms telling me that he would never let anyone hurt me again. And boy did I cry then. Over the next couple of weeks he was with me as much as he could. I had a lot of hurt to release and he was always there to hold me and wipe away my tears. As it came closer to leaving for college, I began to dread being away from Peter. He had never kissed me or said anything that made me believe that he cared for me other than as a friend. So one night, when we were sitting outside, I turned to him and kissed him."

Trixie watched as her mother closed her eyes and sighed.

"So it was good?" Trixie grinned.

"Oh yeah.  I had never been kissed that way before. We kissed for a few minutes and then Peter pushed me away. He told me that he wouldn’t be just a rebound for me. I tried to tell him how I felt, but he kept shaking his head. He then told me that we needed to start again and get to know each other before making any commitment. So, we went away to college. We wrote to each other and spent countless dollars on phone calls. I missed him so much, but I knew that it would be a testing time for both of us to see if there could be anything between us. When I came home after my first year of college, my first thought was to go and see him. I hurried over as he was walking down his steps to see me. I ran into his arms and--" Her mother smiled. "We were married a year later."

Trixie sighed. "I never knew my dad could be so romantic."

"You have no idea." Moms smiled.

"Okay, Moms, enough information."

"Is there anything else you want to ask me?"

"Just one thing. Did you and Daddy--you know--before you got married?"

Moms smiled. "We came pretty close a few times, but both of us had decided to wait and believe me,  honey, it is definitely worth the wait. I know it is hard when you love someone, but believe me you will regret it if you get past any of those boundaries before marriage."

Trixie smiled. "Thanks, Moms. I love you."

"And I love you, too."

A loud bang and a bark made both women turn towards the kitchen door.

"Looks like the boys will be here in a few minutes," Moms said as she stood up and opened the kitchen door.

Arty came skidding in and looked up at both of them.

Moms got out the dog food. "I am sure this dog is more trouble than he is worth," she said as she patted the large dog on the head before putting his food down.

Arty barked happily as he put his head into his bowl, his tail wagging happily. Trixie looked at her mother and they both began to laugh.

Trixie still had not heard from Jim as she made ready for bed that night. A few times she had gone to the phone, but had walked away. And listening to Brian's praise of her did not make her feel any better at all.

Jim, you are still my man,  she thought as she drifted off to sleep.

 

Chapter Three

"Moms?"

"Yes, Trixie?"

"You never told me yesterday what happened to Danny."

Moms walked over and watched as Trixie mixed the bread dough. She added a little more flour before answering.

"After that night I only saw him once more. He told me that I would always be his and one day he would come back and find me. The last I heard of him, he was in prison for armed robberies of banks."

"Do you think he targeted banks because of dad?"

Moms shrugged. "I am not sure. But I wouldn’t put it past him. I know your father visited him once a long time ago, when he first went to prison, but Danny was not interested in talking to him for long."

Just then the phone rang.

Brian put his head into the kitchen. "Trixie, it’s Jim."

"Tell him I will ring him later. I am making bread."

Moms and Brian looked at each other in surprise. Moms nodded slightly and Brian left the room.

"Are you okay, Trixie? I could have finished the bread."

Trixie shook her head. "I started it, so I should finish it."

Moms had learnt not to push Trixie until she was ready to talk.

"Then I will go outside and put out some of the washing."

Trixie tipped out the bowl and put her hands into the soft squishy mixture. She loved the feel of the dough between her fingers as she began to knead the bread.

When arms stole around her a couple of minutes later, she was surprised.

"Jim, you scared me."

"Sorry, sweetie, but when Brian told me you couldn’t come to the phone because you were making bread, I had to come over and watch."

"Why?"

"Because you are so cute when you are domesticated."

"Thanks...I think."

He hugged her tighter. "I missed you last night."

"I waited for you to ring me."

"I'm sorry, Trix, but Reanna and I started talking about the farm and my mother and I guess the time got away with us. When I finally looked at the time, I was surprised that it was nearly midnight. I knew you would have been in bed long before that."

She nodded slightly.

"We are planning to go swimming this afternoon, if you are free," he told her.

"You and Reanna?"

She felt him nod. "And the rest of the Bob-Whites. She has met Honey and Brian and, of course, you, but she hasn’t met the others."

"If I can get all my work done, I will."

"You have to, Trix. It will be no fun without my special girl around."

Trixie cringed at the name she had grown to dislike.

She placed the dough back in the bowl and moved away to wash her hands. He leant against the table and watched her.

She turned and he smiled. "Come here, Trix. I haven’t had a kiss from you for a long time and I am starting to go into withdrawal."

It was then that his phone rang again.

"Hello? Oh, hi, Reanna."

Trixie grasped her hands by her side.

Jim laughed. "You didn’t," then, "Okay, I will come and rescue you. It is easier than giving you directions. I will be there in a few minutes."

He put back his phone and smiled at Trixie.

"Sorry, sweetie, but Reanna went for a walk and has gotten herself lost. She is at that old abandoned barn where Reddy ate the Wimpy's burgers. I have to go. But I will see you this afternoon."

He kissed her quickly and Trixie almost felt the steam rise out of the top of her head.

"Frayne, STOP."

He turned. "I have to go, Trix."

She walked over to him and pushed him against the wall of the kitchen.

"Don’t you dare walk out of this room without kissing me properly. Or else."

He slipped his arms around her waist and smiled. "Or else what?"

But she didn’t have time to give him an answer as his lips met with hers. She slid her arms around his neck and he pulled her closer to him. His hands ran gently up and down her spine and she groaned in pleasure.

He moved away slightly. "Trixie Belden, what you do to me."

"Good." She smiled. "Don’t you forget that."

"Why would I?"

She smiled. "Just making sure you don’t."

"Never," he told her before they shared another satisfying kiss. "I will see you at one or I will come looking for you."

She smiled. "I will be there."

She stood and watched as he hurried away. Then she turned and walked back to the bread. Her mother joined her a few minutes later.

She saw her daughter’s thoroughly-kissed face and smiled.

"Feeling better?"

Trixie nodded, but then frowned. "But I still feel that something really bad is going to happen."

Her mother gave her a hug. "Brian was just telling me that you are all going to meet for a swim later."

Trixie nodded. "I had better get the rest of the work done before lunch."

Moms watched her walk away and then she, too, frowned. She knew her daughter's intuition and was worried that this time she would be right again.

Trixie walked into the living room and unconsciously touched her lips.

Don’t hurt me, Jim. I don’t know if I could lose you now.

She  picked up the duster, determined to keep busy until lunchtime.

 

Chapter Four 

Trixie walked down towards the lake. She felt nice in her new swimsuit and matching wrap. She carried her towel over her shoulders. Her brothers had left earlier, but she had spent a little extra time talking to her mother.

As she approached the water, she saw Reanna and the boys already swimming. Di and Honey were huddled together, whispering amongst themselves.

“What is the secret?” Trixie asked, and they both jumped before giggling.

“Trix, you scared us.” Honey smiled.

“So what was so important that you didn’t hear me coming?”

“Oh, we were talking about Reanna.”

Trixie looked over to where she was standing in the water up to her waist talking to Jim. “What about her?”

“Do you see her costume?” Di smiled.

“I see that if I sewed the two pieces of her bikini top together, I could make a very small handkerchief.”

Honey began to giggle. “And for someone as ‘well endowed’ as she is that makes for a pretty skimpy top.”

“But that is not the half of it,” Di told her. “She is also wearing a thong.”

“You don’t need footwear in the water. It is completely safe.”

Honey began to laugh so hard that she had to sit down. “She means a thong bikini.”

Trixie’s eyes opened to their fullest. “You’re joking.”

“Hey, your eyes look like the guys' when she appeared in it,” laughed Di.

“I couldn’t,” Trixie said. “It seems almost...”

Honey nodded. “I second that.”

“And I third it,” Di told them.

“How did the boys really react?” Trixie asked.

“I actually expected them to gawk a little more, but all three of them seemed to turn around quickly when they realised. I don’t think she was too impressed by their reaction. I think she was aiming for admiration.”

“Our boys aren’t like that,” Di said.

“Well, if you wore one, I am sure that my brother would do more than look,” Trixie laughed.

Di smiled. “Hmmm, that bears thinking about.”

“Di.”

Di laughed. “I said thinking, not acting.”

“Well, are we here to swim or to be wallflowers?” Honey demanded.

“Swim.” Trixie grinned.

She removed her wrap and looked down at her new costume.

“Mother made a good choice didn’t she.” Honey smiled.

“It was so sweet of your mother to buy me a costume while she was in Paris.”

“Mother got me this one and she told me that when she saw that one, she knew it had your name written all over it. She couldn’t resist buying it for you.”

Trixie looked down at her costume. It was blue, but whenever she moved the material seemed to change colour. She then looked at the golden one that Honey was wearing.

“You almost need sunglasses to be near you, Honey. You look dazzling.”

Honey smiled. “Well, I may, but I can see that my brother has just noticed yours.”

Trixie looked over at Jim and saw his smiling face. He said something to Reanna and then headed for shore. The other two girls moved away as he walked towards her.

“Well, Shamus, you are looking extra lovely today,” Jim greeted her.

She smiled. “Your mother brought it back for me from Paris.”

“Then I must thank my mother for such excellent taste. Though I must admit, it is only the wrapping. What is underneath is much more desirable.”

“Jim Frayne!”

He smiled as he slid his arms around her.

She squealed. “You are freezing.”

“And you are very, very hot, sweetie.”

She slipped her arms around his neck. “Be careful, I’m wearing my strawberry lip gloss.”

“Then I had better taste.” And he did.

He then moved away and smiled again down at her. “How about a swim? I can feel the steam rising between us and I need to cool down.”

“Me too.”                                

A few hours later, Trixie walked up to the Manor House. Honey had invited her to sleep the night, and she was looking forward to spending time with Jim.

“He is in the lounge, Trixie,” Miss Trask told her. “Honey has just gone for a shower, but told me to tell you she will be down in a few minutes.”

“Thank you, Miss Trask.”

Trixie walked towards the lounge. She heard voices and recognised Reanna’s laugh. She placed a smile on her face and walked in. Inside the door she stopped dead.

Jim and Reanna were leaning over the desk. Reanna had her hand on Jim's shoulder and they were looking at something. She was shocked to realise that they were looking at the blueprints of Jim's school.

“Oh, Jim,” Reanna purred. “It all looks so lovely. Trixie must love these plans, too.”

“Actually, I haven’t shown them to her yet.”

“Why not?”

“I just...” He then looked up and a shocked look came onto his face.

Trixie turned and stormed out of the front door.

“Great,” Jim sighed.

“Jim, you must go after her," said Reanna. "When I was that young, my emotions were very immature, too. She is upset with you and you need to fix it.”

Jim nodded. “Thanks, Re.”

She reached over and kissed him gently on the lips. “Go and find her.”

Jim nodded as he hurried out the front door. If he had turned around, he would have seen the gleam in Reanna’s eyes.

 

Chapter Five

Trixie was fuming as she stormed back towards Crabapple Farm.

How could he? she thought. I have been asking him, for forever, to show me the plans and Miss Thong gets to see them first. I will never forgive him for that.

“Trixie, honey, slow down.” She heard Jim's voice and she quickened her pace.

But his long legs soon caught up with her. He grabbed her hand and she tried to pull away.

“Honey, please listen to me.”

“What? How are you going to explain that you gladly let Reanna look at your blueprints and you never once let me look?”

Jim sighed. He let go of her hand but she did not move.

“I just didn’t think you would be that interested.”

“But how many times have I asked you?”

“I thought that you said that to make me feel good.”

It was Trixie’s turn to sigh. “Oh Jim, don’t you realize that I am interested in everything about you. I want to be a part of all your life and I want to be a part of this school. But that is if you want me to.”

He drew her towards him. “What a silly question. Of course I do. But I thought that you were only interested in becoming a police woman?”

“I am, but I am sure that your new school will need help with security and I am sure that the Sleepyside police station will be pleased to have a new recruit in a few years.”

“They would be mad if they didn’t,” Jim told her. “I am sorry, Trixie. I promise that we will spend some time together before the week is out and I will personally show you all the plans for the school and I will even take you up there and show you the markings as well.”

“So that means another picnic?”

He grinned. “Oh yeah.”

He kissed her then, long and lovingly. Then, arm in arm, they walked back to the house.

*     *     *

“Are those hamburgers ready yet?”

Mart looked over at his sister. “My dear sibling, unless you want to partake of these tasty morsels before they stop walking you must, like I, wait a little longer.”

Honey laughed. “I will wait until they stop walking too.” She picked up a piece of carrot and munched happily. “I love these cookouts.”

Trixie smiled back. “So do I. Even if Miss Thong has to come along.”

Honey again laughed. “Celia and Tom came back last night, but I haven’t yet seen little Christopher.”

“It seems like ages since we saw him and it has only been two weeks.”

“Celia told me that she will bring Tom and Chris down with her when she brings down the dessert later.”

“I wish we had dessert now,” Di sighed. “I am starving.”

Brian smiled at her from next to Honey. “I think we all are. We have had a busy couple of days and it is nice that we can relax now.”

“Relax.” Dan grinned. “You call this relaxing. Cooking for all of you is not what I would call relaxing.”

Trixie laughed and her brother snorted. “You might laugh, Miss, but cooking hamburgers is an exact science and it takes brains like Dan's and mine to get them just right.”

“Well, we have the drinks,” Jim called and Trixie looked up to see Jim and Reanna appear with a cooler between them.

Jim put down the cooler and walked over to Trixie and gave her a kiss. “Hi sweetie, thirsty?”

“More hungry.”

“Well, dinner is served.,” Mart said as he deposited a platter of burgers in front of her.

“Eat well, princess.”

“I must say, Mart, you and Dan certainly made a bunch of mean hamburgers.”

Mart gasped. “A compliment from my female sibling. Anyone taking notes?”

“You will keep, Mart Belden,” She warned.

He grinned. “Not until after dessert. I can hear a child's gabble, which means sweets are on the way.”

Trixie, Honey and Di jumped up to hug the little man that laughed at all the attention.

“We are glad you are home.” Trixie told them as Christopher played with her curls.

Tom smiled. “So am I. I love holidays, but being home is definitely more comfortable.”

“How is your mum?”

Celia smiled. “Glad we are home. too.”

Celia’s father died just before Christopher was born. At that time Mr. Wheeler had built three cottages on the outskirts of the preserve to house staff. When Celia’s father died, Mr. Wheeler invited her mother to have one of the cottages so she could be near her only daughter. Now she looked after Christopher while Celia and Tom worked.

Celia then looked up and saw Reanna.

“Well, hello, miss. I am glad you finally found Jim.”

“What?” Trixie asked.

“She came a long time ago looking for Jim. But, at that time, he was still at school. I wanted her to leave her name, but she said she would call again.”

“I was going to, but I had just started a new job and these are my first holidays.”

“So how long ago was it?” Jim asked.

“Over a year. I was going to come back a few days later and to leave my number, but my car got damaged and by the time it was repaired I had to go back to work.”

“Did you have an accident?” Di asked her.

“No,” laughed Reanna. “When I was leaving a stupid red dog ran right in front of me and damaged the front of my car. I hope I killed him, the stupid animal.”

A gasp ran around the table. Trixie looked up at her in shock.

“That stupid dog you so ruthlessly left dying on the roadside was our beautiful dog Reddy. You killed one of my family.”

Trixie got up and hurried away. Brian and Mart stood up and without a word followed.

 

Chapter Six

Everyone at the table looked at Reanna in shocked silence.

“What did I do?” She began to cry. “I didn’t know that he was a pet. Who would leave a dog running around like that anyway?”

“Reddy was a free soul,” Honey told her. “He was more loved and cared for than any other dog I ever knew. He always felt that way, too.”

Honey and Di both looked at Jim and saw the indecision in his eyes about whether to stay or go after Trixie.

But for Honey and Di there was no indecision. They hurried off after the boys.

Jim looked at Reanna and she cried more.

“Jim Frayne,” Dan told him, “you need to fix this.”

“I know,” he sighed. He looked over at Reanna. “I am sorry, Re, but I need to go to Trixie.”

“Of course you do, Jim. But can we talk later?”

He nodded. “As soon as we get back we can have a long talk. I promise.”

And with that he hurried away.

Celia sighed. “I guess I will help you clean up, Dan.”

Dan nodded. “With the four of us it should only take a few minutes.”

Reanna looked at them. “If you think that I am going to help you all clean up, you are mistaken. It wasn’t my fault they all ran away and left all this mess.” And with that she flounced off, her tears magically disappeared.

Celia watched her go and then laughed. “A fine piece of work that one. Miss Trask told me that she has been at the house for only a few days and already the staff are counting the days until she goes.”

“Why?” Dan asked as he began to pack up the food.

“She demands breakfast in bed every morning and picks on everything that is given to her. But only when Jim is not around.”

“Why doesn’t Miss Trask say anything to Jim?”

“Reanna is only here for two weeks and Miss Trask doesn’t want to upset anyone so she has told the staff to just cater to her.”

“Jim is an idiot,” Dan told Celia and Tom.

Tom laughed. “You call a spade a spade, don’t you, Dan?”

Dan picked up the picnic basket as they began to walk up the hill. “All I know is that girl is trouble with a capital T and Jim needs to realize that.”

*     *     *

Trixie could hardly see for the tears. All she wanted was to run from the pain. But it followed her as she headed towards her home. She didn’t even hear her brothers following behind her.

Her parents and Bobby were sat on the verandah eating ice cream when Trixie ran into their view with the boys behind her. Moms instantly stood up, knowing that there was something wrong. She met Trixie at the bottom of the steps as Trixie launched herself into her arms crying uncontrollably. She looked over at her sons who looked as if they were ready to join Trixie at any moment. Then, when Honey and Di appeared, she knew something terrible had happened.

“Can someone tell me what happened?” she asked quietly.

Honey and Di walked over to their boyfriends and put their arms around them.

“Mrs. Belden we just found out the Jim's friend Reanna was the one that--”

“That what?”

“Hit Reddy!” Trixie cried.

Bobby gasped behind her. “She hit Reddy, and didn’t stop.”

“And she even said she hoped she had killed the stupid dog because he had damaged her car,” Mart added.

Peter Belden put his arm around his youngest son's shoulders. “I am so sorry children that you had to find out such terrible news in such a bad way. But I am sure that Reanna is sorry about what she did.”

“No, she isn’t, Dad.” Trixie’s eyes, though full of tears, were stormy. “You should have heard what she said. It was so mean.”

Moms looked up and saw Jim hurrying down the path.

“I think that you young people need to talk about this on your own.”

Arty came running up behind Jim and Peter Belden turned to his son. “I think that we should go inside and feed Arty. Okay, Bobby?”

Bobby nodded, but as he turned to go turned back to Jim. “Your friend is mean, Jim, and I hope that she leaves soon because she might hurt Arty, too.”

“I promise you, she won’t hurt Arty, Bobby.”

Bobby nodded. “And you never break promises do you, Jim?”

Jim shook his head. “Never Bobby.”

Bobby followed his parents inside.

There was a moment of silence and then Jim spoke.

“Believe me, I never knew.”

Brian looked at him for a moment. “We are not disputing that Jim, but she has to go. None of us will be happy until she leaves Sleepyside.”

“I know, Brian.”

“And if you hurt my sister.” Brian then turned and with Honey walked away into the darkness.

Mart was about to say something, but then walked away too.

Jim stood for a moment watching the play of emotions that ran across Trixie’s face.

“Trix, what can I do to make it better?”

“Get her away from here as fast as you can.”

Jim sighed. “I know that you all think she is some kind of monster, but she is really upset now about what happened.”

“And you expect us all to just carry on, as if nothing has happened.”

“Maybe if you talk to her.”

Trixie searched Jim's face, as if she was looking for something that wasn’t there.

“Why is she important to you, Jim?”

“She is a link with my past. She knew my mother.”

“But when we were in Australia, you told me that you had no interest in looking for her.”

“But she found me and that is different.”

“Jim, she is only after your money.”

“How can you say that? You hardly even know her. She was an important part of my past.”

“I am in your past, Jim, and I am in your present. But do you want me or Reanna in your future?”

“That isn’t fair, Trix. You are asking me to choose.”

“Then if you are even thinking about making a choice then you need to find out what you want. Because, we both can’t be in your future Jim.”

“You think she is after my money, but she is the one that told me to come after you the other night when you were upset over the blueprints.”

Trixie shot up her head and Jim realized that both his feet and most of his legs were now in his mouth.

“I would have anyway, Trix, you know how I feel about you.”

“Do I, Jim?  Do I really?”

She then turned and walked up the steps to her house. She stopped at the top and turned around.

“You know where to find me when you have worked all this out in your head.”

Before he could say another word she walked inside.

Jim stood for a few minutes trying to work out what happened. He then slowly walked home.

*     *     *

When Trixie awoke the next morning the events of the previous night came crashing around her again. She got dressed and headed for the phone.

“Oh, Trixie. Are you okay?”  Honey asked.

“As well as can be I suppose. But I need to talk to Jim.”

“He headed down the stables a little while ago. He is still upset about what happened too.”

“Has he spoken to Reanna yet?”

“I know they were in the study last night when I came home. Jim had breakfast before me and Reanna always had hers in her room. So I don’t know. Go and ask Jim. I am sure he will be glad to see you.”

Trixie headed down towards the stables, not even sure what to say to Jim. But she knew that things could not be left the way they were the night before.

When she got there she heard voices. The stable door was partly open so she looked inside. It was Jim and Reanna.

“Jim, you can’t make me go. I love you. I always have.”

“What happened cannot be helped, but you won’t be welcome here any more. I know when my parents come home they would insist that you leave anyway. They have a lot of respect for the Beldens.”

“You are pampering that simpering little girl, who is so immature that she would never be able to satisfy you like I could. Come with me.  Jim, we could have the world as our oyster. Leave these narrow-minded people and come away with me.”

“Re, I--”

Trixie was shocked and devastated a moment later when Reanna threw herself in Jim's arms and began to kiss him passionately. But what devastated her more was that Jim seemed to return the kiss. Trixie turned and walked back home, to numb to cry.

Jim had finally broken his promise. He had hurt her.

 

Chapter 7

Jim pushed Reanna away.

“Re, I can’t do this. I don’t love you. I love Trixie.”

“How can you love that little brat?” she spat at him.

“Re, I am sorry, but I do. And it would be better if you leave as soon as you can.”

“I won’t let you go, Jim.”

“Re, I am sorry.”

“Not sorry enough,” she told him as she flounced out of the room.

Jim sighed. What a tangled mess he had got himself into.

He saddled Jupiter and went for a long ride, hoping his mind would clear. When he returned to the stables, he was surprised to see Honey waiting for him.

“Hi, Honey, what are you doing here?”

“Jim, we need to talk.”

“What about?”

“Look after Jupe first and then it will be easier.”

As Jim unsaddled Jupe, he saw his sister nervously looking towards the stable door many times. He knew that something was wrong, but couldn’t pinpoint what.

He had just walked out of the stable when Brian and Mart came running in. Before Jim could open his mouth, Brian punched him square in the middle of his jaw. He went down as Honey screamed.

“Get up, Jim. I want the next crack!” Mart yelled.

Jim slowly stood to his feet.

Honey ran between them. “Stop, all of you.”

“You know what he did.” Brian glared at her.

She nodded. “But I don’t think he knows.”

“I don’t understand?” Jim told the boys as they moved closer.

“So kissing Reanna is a natural thing to do, is it?” Brian demanded.

“WHAT!”

“You heard me, Frayne.”

“How did you--?”

“Find out?” Brian supplied and Jim nodded. “Maybe you should have been the one who, over the last hour, has tried to comfort his little sister, who is heart broken because the man she trusted most in the world broke his promise. You promised you would never hurt her, but she comes this morning to try and talk to you and sees you kissing another woman.”

“Brian, you are joking,” Jim sighed.

“I will show you joking,” Brian growled as he moved closer still.

“Stop it!” Honey said sternly. “Let Jim explain--if he can.”

Brian looked at her for a moment and then nodded, his fists still clenched.

Jim ran his fingers through his hair. His jaw hurt, but it seemed to focus his mind more.

“I came out this morning to go for a ride and Reanna followed me. I told her last night that she had to leave and she confronted me again with it this morning. She told me she loved me and wanted me to go away with her. I told her no. She threw her arms around me and kissed me.”

“And you kissed her back.”

“For a moment. But then I pushed her away and told her that I didn’t love her. I love Trixie.”

Brian shook his head. “Jim, have you been taking STUPID with your coffee instead of sugar since she came? What were you thinking? Trixie saw you kiss her back and now she is devastated.”

“I need to see her. To explain. I need to fix this.”

Brian and Mart looked at each other. Mart gave a slight nod.

Brian turned to Jim. “You can try, Jim, but I am not sure if you can fix this.”

Jim hurried out the door.

Honey sighed. “I don’t know how this will end up, but I hope that Trixie can find it in her heart to forgive him.”

“She has already forgiven him, but I am not sure if she can forget it, or trust him again for a long time.”

Mart, Honey and Brian walked slowly back to Crabapple Farm.

*     *     *

Jim ran down towards the farm as quickly as he could. He walked up to the kitchen door and, for the first time in ages, knocked.

Moms opened the door. “Hello, Jim.”

“Mrs. Belden, I need to see Trixie.”

She nodded. “I know, Jim. She told me to tell you that if you came over, to go and see her. She is in her room.”

“Thank you.”

As he walked towards the stairs, Bobby intercepted him. “You made my sister cry.”

Jim nodded. “I know, Bobby.”

“You told me that you never break promises and you broke the most important one. How can we ever trust you again?”

Jim looked at the boy that at one stage had seemed so little and now seemed to have grown up before his eyes. “All I can say, Bobby, is that I will try to prove every day from now on that you can trust me until you can.”

Bobby looked at him and nodded. “Trixie, is in her room. You hurt her again and I will hurt you.”

“That won’t ever happen again, Bobby.”

“It had better not," Bobby said as he walked away.

Jim took a deep breath and walked up the stairs to her room. Her door was open and he walked over. The room was in semi-darkness, but he could see her sitting on her bed.

“Come in, Jim,” came her monotone voice.

He walked in and sat on the edge of the bed.

He looked at her, her face void of any emotion, and he knew then what he had given up. He wished that she would cry, scream, or even hit him, but her silence was more agony than anything else.

“Trixie, I am so sorry.”

“I told you to make a choice, Jim, and you did.”

“No, baby. I know what you saw, and I am so sorry, but you missed seeing me pushing her away and telling her to leave.”

“You kissed her, Jim, and that was enough for me.”

“Trixie, what can I do to fix this?”

She was silent for a moment and he just wanted to take her in his arms and make it all better.

“Jim, I don’t think you can.”

“Please don’t say that. I love you, Trixie.”

“I so wanted to hear you say that before Reanna showed up, but now it doesn’t really mean anything.”

“I just wish we could start again, baby,” Jim sighed as he stood up.

“So do I, Jim,” she sighed with him. “But sometimes it is just too hard.”

Jim stood for a moment and then slowly left the room.  

 

A couple of hours later, Trixie appeared in the kitchen.

“Moms, I’m going for a walk.”

Moms walked over to her. “Are you sure you are okay?”

“I just need to clear my head and the silence inside is almost deafening.”

“Do you want some company?”

Trixie shook her head. “No, thanks, Moms. This is something I have to do on my own.”

Moms hugged her. “I will be here for you when you return.”

Trixie hugged her back. “I know, Moms.”

Trixie didn’t know where she was heading, but wasn’t surprised when she turned up at the stables. She went inside, glad no one was around. She walked over to Susie’s stall she buried her head in her neck.

“Oh Susie, what am I going to do?”

When the stable door opened, Trixie looked up hoping it wasn’t Jim.

Reanna stood there glaring at her. “So, little Miss Brat, you won.”

“I don’t understand?”

She walked over to her. “I tried everything to get good old Jimmy boy to fall in love with me again, but you were always in the way, cuddling up to him and keeping his eyes on you and not on me.”

“I didn’t do anything to you.”

“You took away my meal ticket. Jim is a millionaire and I would have been the girl to spend it with him. All this talk about a dumb school for even dumber boys is just ridiculous. We could have left this stinking little town and spent the rest of our lives in luxury all over the world. But I come here to find my money bags and all I find is a simpering little man who is so enamored by you that he sees no one else. I wish it had of been you and not your dumb dog that I hit that day. Then we would have been out of here by now with all that lovely money.”

“Jim is not stupid. He would have figured you out even if we didn’t tell him.”

Trixie was knocked almost off her feet as Reanna slapped her hard across the face.

“You little...”

“You touch her again; Re, and I will knock you down where you stand!” Jim came into the stables with fire in his eyes.

“Jim, she started it.”

“Even if I didn’t hear all the conversation, I would not believe you. I want you off this property within the hour or I will call the police and have you arrested for assault.”

Reanna looked at him with fire in her eyes. “You will pay for this, JAMES WINTHROP FRAYNE. No one rejects me and gets away with it.”

“Get out, Reanna.”

She walked out of the stables.

Jim sighed as he turned to Trixie. Before he could say a word, she had put up her hand.

“I am okay, Jim. I am just glad you saw her for what she was.”

“If only I had seen sooner, Trix.”

She walked past him and stood at the door for a moment. “So do I, Jim. So do I.”

It was a long time before Jim left the stable that day.

 *     *     *

Even before breakfast the next day, Jim left the house. He was not hungry anyway. Honey had tried to persuade him to eat something the night before, but all he could manage was a few mouthfuls. And sleep came so hard to him too. He sat up most of the night and, even though he was tired, he could not go back to bed.

He found himself up at Ten Acres a little while later. He sat down on the usual tree trunk he sat on and looked around him. He remembered the last time he had been at this place and who he had been with. He also remembered the last time he had hurt so much.  That was the day his mother had died.  Later that night he had snuck away from the farm and headed for his favorite spot. Recalling that made his heart ache. It had been the last time he had cried until now. Jim’s head fell into his hands as great gulping sobs wracked his body. He realized what he had lost and all his unshed tears were released.

 *     *     *

Trixie sat up in bed with a start.

“Jim!” she called and then realized where she was.

Moms walked into the room with a glass of juice. “I heard you call Jim’s name, honey. Is everything all right?”

“I felt like something was wrong.”

“Jim is pretty devastated by what has happened,” Moms told her as she sat down beside her and handed her the juice.

“I know, but I don’t know what to do.” She sighed. “Moms, do you know what Jim said to me yesterday?”

“What, Trixie?”

“That he wishes that we could start from the beginning again.”

Moms smiled. “And what do you want to do?”

“Moms, I love Jim with all my heart, and I am not sure if I could let him go. But he hurt me so much and broke the trust I had in him.”

“Then you need to follow your heart, baby. I know that Jim loves you too, and would be totally lost without you. You are both like two parts of a whole.”

Trixie nodded.

Moms stood up. “Whatever you decide, I know it will be the right decision for both of you.” She left Trixie to her thoughts.

 *     *     *

Jim woke up with a crick in his neck and a full bladder. He stood up, realizing that he had fallen asleep.

He walked over to a tree some distance away, feeling a little giddy as he did.

As he sat down again, he realised that he had hardly eaten for the last twenty-four hours. A gnawing in his stomach attested to that. And his throat felt like it had been cut. But he wasn’t ready yet to go back. He felt he had to sit a little longer.

A few minutes later, he felt rather than saw her coming. He turned to see her appear out of the trees, carrying a picnic basket on her arm. He stood up and watched as she walked nearer.

“Hi,” was all he could say.

She smiled slightly. “Hi, my name is Trixie Belden and you must be Honey’s brother Jim.”

Jim thought he had hit his head or something, but it suddenly occurred to him what she was trying to do.

“Hello, Trixie. How are you?”

“I am okay,” she told him. “I like to come up here and have a picnic when I can. I have plenty, if you would like to join me.”

He nodded and then watched as she laid the blanket on the ground and invited him to sit beside her. She opened the basket and handed him a soda.

He took it and drank it thirstily. “Thanks, Trixie.”

“It is lovely here,” she told him as she handed him a chicken sandwich.

His stomach growled noisily as he smelt the intoxicating aroma. “I like it here, too,” he told her after taking a mouthful of the sandwich.

“Honey told me that you were planning to start a home for boys here.”

Jim nodded. “After lunch, how about I show you around?  And maybe later you would like to come to the house and I can show you the blueprints.”

The smile on her face was almost his undoing. “I would like that. Honey also told me that you lost both your parents a while ago.”

“They were wonderful people and I would love to talk to someone about them. If you have the time."

“I have all the time in the world,” she told him.

She smiled at him and suddenly the day did not seem so hard for Jim. He knew that had a long way to get back to where they were, but it all started with the first step.

“My mother's name was Katje,” he began, "but most people called her Katie.”

The End

Chapters 2-7 edited by Niki

TBH Main