“I’m sorry he didn’t sleep well,” she muttered.
“I think Pa would be proud if you caught a really big fish for him.” Ma gave her a hug, then nudged up Summer’s chin with a finger. “Then again, he’s always been proud of you no matter what you do.”
“I’ll try my best.” Solemnly, she moved toward the door. “I’ll be back later.”
“You have fun, dear.”
On the way to get her horse, she snatched her special fishing pole. It still looked in good condition even after five years. She hurried into the barn and saddled her horse, then rode to her favorite fishing spot—the grassy knoll a step or two away from the creek-bed next to a large elm tree. She smiled as she thought of the hours she’d spent there.
She had just arrived and was dismounting when another horse galloped toward her. When she recognized Jesse, twitters danced wildly in her stomach. He wore a pair of dark blue denims and a chambray shirt. Instantly, she grumbled and shook her head. Why was he here? His presence would ruin her fishing trip.
She set her fishing gear near a tree and folded her arms across her chest as she watched Jesse ride closer. He slowed his horse, and his gaze darted around the area.
“Where is Rosie?” he asked.
“She’s not here.”
He dismounted and tied his horse to a tree’s branch. “But she invited me to come fishing with you two this morning.”
Summer gasped in a mixture of anger and shock. “What? Rosie invited you?”
“Yes, last night.”
When Summer returned home, she’d have to ask her foolish sister why they couldn’t spend timealonetogether. Did Jesse have to come everywhere?
“Well, Rosie couldn’t pull herself out of bed this morning, claiming a terrific headache. Thinking I would be fishing by myself, I came to my favorite spot.” She cocked her head. “But what I don’t understand is why Rosie asked you to come. This trip was supposed to be just the two of us.”
Jesse shrugged. “I suppose that’s my fault. When she told me she was going fishing with you, I begged her to come.” He paused and frowned. “But I’m asking you now... will you let me fish with you?”
Without meeting his gaze, she shook her head as she collected her fishing gear. “It’s a free world. You can fish wherever you like.”
She stepped to the edge of the water, noticing how it still mirrored the sky, its borders filled with moss. Reeds grew near the waterline, tall and green, waving in the gentle breeze and sweeping across the land. Wild honeysuckle rode on the wind, reminding her of days in her youth, glorious times she would always remember.
Here and there, a frog darted from one lily pad to another as if playing a child’s game of tag.
Moving past him, she slugged to the bank and plopped down by a big elm tree, the same tree she’d carved her name in as a child. She took in a deep breath. Even though she loved fishing, today alone with Jesse just wouldn’t seem proper. Things had changed between them. No longer could she think of him as just one of her fishing pals...not that she ever had.
Her pole dropped from her hands and rested on the grass beside her. Why had the world changed all around her? Why couldn’t the carefree days of yesteryear be the same today? And why do loved ones need to get sick and die?
Jesse sat beside her and gently poked her ribs. “Hey.” She raised her gaze to his smiling face. “Do you want to talk about what’s troublin’ you?”
“Nothing is troubling me,” she lied, then tried to stand, but he kept his hold on her arm.
“Summer, I can always tell when somethin’s botherin’ you.”
She tried to tug her arm free. “Just leave me alone, Jesse,” she snapped.
“You don’t want to be left alone. If you did, you would have left the moment you saw me ridin’ toward you.”
It upset her that Jesse could read her so well. She didn’t want to appear weak in his eyes. Admitting she needed somebody, especially Jesse, wasn’t something she wanted to do.
“I’m fine,” she said softly.
He chuckled. “You’re not a very good liar.”
His comment made her smile. “No, I’ve never been a good liar, just an excellent teaser.”
“Oh, is that what you call it?”
