A Dangerous Love

"Oh, come on now. I'm only joking."

"Oh sure, and if I started taking my clothes off, you'd tell me to stop, right?"

"Not on you're life. You never pay any attention to anything I tell you to do, so what would be the point?" His eyes were dancing with amusement as he used one hand to jerk the towel free and expose cut-off blue jeans.

"Good night, Yancey." She pulled her arm free and hurried to the house. He was still chuckling as she closed the door behind her. It was hard to believe this jovial man was the same angry man she had faced earlier that night. What was even harder to accept was the fact she actually enjoyed his extreme mood changes. It reminded her of an Arkansas weather joke she once heard. If you don't like the weather, hang around until this afternoon. He might be irritating at times, but he was never boring.

That their feelings for each other were mutual, she had no doubt. His stunt tonight was nothing short of jealousy. In fact, he had displayed that emotion several times. She had given him every reason to believe she was interested in him, so it wasn't too surprising. And yet, if he was involved in something illegal, they could have nothing together. Maybe he didn't want a permanent relationship.

College would start soon and she would be leaving anyway. He'd forget her, but she wouldn't forget him. Not in a hundred years. No matter what happened, he would always be more than a fond memory - maybe a first love.

Sleep came without definition, as did the dream. She was searching through her house for some unidentified object when a shadow emerged from the dark. At first she thought it was Yancey, and then she realized it was Allen. She tried to scream, but no sound came out. Leaping on the bed, which was now in her room at the Giddon home, she bounced up to the window. Escape was hampered by the fact that the window wouldn't open. All the while, the shadow was getting closer. A hand touched her arm and she turned to find Nick standing there.

"Why are you trying to get away from me, Litha?"

She woke with a sob, and then cried until the dark mood retreated. Finally she slept.

When she woke again, the sun was shining on her face. Jumping from the bed, she dressed quickly and went to the kitchen. Finding no one there, she relaxed and began fixing breakfast. Yancey was the first one to the kitchen. He stood watching her uncomfortably as she rolled biscuits.