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I gave my four-footed namesake another chance to lope and then we slowed down, making our way back toward the stables where Jake waited. Sitting on a chair, reading a paper, he watched us approaching and then he stood up.

"Well?"

"It was wonderful. Jake. Thank you."

"She looks like she got a good workout. Princess. You did good."

After we walked her and cooled her down. I brushed her for about a half hour. At Dogwood, they always made us brush our horses. It was the best way for them to get used to you. By the time Jake and I left it was late in the afternoon.

"I'll see you soon. Rain," I told her. She twisted her neck and then nodded as if she understood.

"That you will." Jake said. "When you return to England, maybe you should do some riding," he suggested after we got into his car.

"Maybe." I said. I looked back at the horse ranch as we drove off. "It's really beautiful here. Jake. I made a decision up there. I'm not going to sell," I said. "For as long as I can. I'm going to keep the house."

He laughed. "Good." he said.

"When I return to England, you should move in and take care of it," I added.

"I don't know about that. Princess.'

"I do. Think about it. Jake. Someday. I'd like to come back here and think of it as my home. too. I know you'll see that it's well maintained. Okay?"

"I don't know. Princess," he repeated. "It has a lot of memories for me. We'll see." he promised.

I sat back in deep thought. Was I just dreaming, creating my own world of fantasy to ignore the hard reality? How could I ever return here? What would I be returning to?

"Now who's this?" he asked when we drove up the driveway of my grandmother's estate. A silver Corvette convertible was parked in front of the house.

Could Corbette have another sports car? I wondered,

I got out and approached the car. Then I heard his voice, calling from the dock. My half brother Brody waved.

Jake had waited to see if I needed him.

"Who is it?" he asked. squinting.

"It's Brody." I said.

"Megan must have finally told him the truth about me," I said. Jake nodded.

"I guess you two should have some privacy. I'll be by tomorrow. You know where I am if you need me. Thanks for giving Rain her exercise," he added and drove off as Brody hurriedly approached.

I stood there. anticipating.

"I've been waiting here for nearly an hour. I almost gave up. I thought you might have gone away, maybe back to England or something. My mother didn't seem to know anything about your plans when I asked," he continued.

"Oh?"

"I knew she and my father had been out here, but she didn't want to talk about it.

"So," he said shrugging and looking about. "I decided I'd give my new car its first big ride. Do you like it? Dad bought it for me a week ago for my good grades in class and my achievements on the football field-- I made a record number of touchdown passes this year, you know," he said proudly.

He spoke quickly, obviously nervous, which was uncharacteristic of Brody from the few times I had been with him. He always seemed so self-assured, so confident, almost arrogant. He had some reason to be. He was a very good- looking young man, tall-- six feet two or more-- and his shoulders were so wide they almost filled most doorways. Today, just like the first time I had met him, he wore his blue and gold varsity jacket and a pair of black slacks with soft looking black leather loafers. His hair was as ebony as mine but his eyes were more Green than brown. although I saw hazel specks in them. He had a mouth like mine but a firm, tight jawbone. His complexion was athletic with a rosy tint in his cheeks and full, dark crimson lips.

"You mean your parents don't know you've come here?" I asked.

"By now they probably do. I left a note in the kitchen. Last time I did that, though, my bitchy brat sister got to it first and threw it in the garbage can to get me into trouble. I figured out she did something like that when I got home to an angry father. On a hunch. I went into the kitchen's garbage disposal and found the note. When I showed it to Dad, he grounded Alison for a month. Still, as usual, she got her sentence commuted and was out in a week."