Standing in front of a small white brick house in the middle of a tiny town called Haverleigh was Lydia May Everson. Flat, gray clouds filled the darkening sky above her as the town prepared for yet another rainfall. Haverleigh wasn’t known for much except it’s excessive rainfall. It rained at least every other day there, if not more. And when it rained it didn’t just last an hour or two, it took up the entire day and night. The maidens needn’t water their gardens for Mother Nature already took care of it and it never flooded in Haverleigh because the town rose above the surrounding land and the water could roll right off into the nearby river.

Although she was only sixteen Lydie had just moved to Haverleigh to start a life on her own for that was the way things in her old town, Mount Lennon, worked. Her parents, Scott and Ellen Everson, bid their only child good-bye and she set out with a wagon full of her belongings and her closest friend, Adele Amelie Dupuis, who would be helping her move in.

The little white cottage which Lydie now stood before had been chosen by her father for he had found it suitable for a young girl. Also, it was situated a perfect distance from the Everson's Mount Lennon home; it was far enough away that Lydie would be able to distance herself from her parents and become more responsible and independent, but it was also close enough that if an emergency occurred she could reach her parents in just a day's worth carriage ride.

The first day in her new home Lydie spent cleaning, for she was a very tidy person, painting, moving in furniture and other various items, and making the house feel more like a home, all with the help of Adele. It really was a cute little cottage, and Lydie knew she would come to love it dearly in due time.

Made up of tan, white, and cream-colored bricks, it created quite a contrast with the fields of healthy green grass upon which it sat. Five steps led up to a porch that ran the the width of the house and upon this porch sat an old black rocking chair Lydie's grandpa had sent with her when she moved. A little bin serving as a mailbox sat next to the newly painted black door and on the opposite side was a terra cotta pot filled with red tulips and a crate containing firewood.

Walking in, one could see that the open space was being used for a parlor on the right and a dining room on the left. A scarlet couch and ivory-colored armchair faced the fireplace making up the small, but needed, parlor. The dining room contained an oak table surrounded by four chairs with scarlet fabric as padding. In the center of the table sat a vase filled with red tulips just as beautiful as the ones on Lydie’s front porch. From the dining room a black door led to the kitchen, which contained only the necessities for now.

Lydie's bedroom was in the back of the house, as was her bathroom. The basement would be used for laundry and storage purposes only and, at the moment, it was a bit of a mess.

"Doesn't it look wonderful, Lyd?" Adele asked with a huge smile spreading across her face; she'd been standing next to Lydie for some time, waiting for her friend to comment on the house and had grown rather impatient.

Lydie nodded, "It is. And it's mine. All mine."
"All yours!" Adele shouted, as she grabbed Lydie in a huge hug.

Lydie and Adele had been best friends since they were children, though they weren't very alike in personality or appearance and often got into disagreements. Lydie, a more calm and tidy girl by nature, had graduated at the top of her class back in Mount Lennon. Adele, on the other hand, despised school and knew it didn't really matter how well she did for she would always have her wealthy French family to back her up. Adele was very self-confident, spontaneous, and outgoing; when she knew what she wanted nothing could stop her from getting it.

Throughout their many years together Lydie had grown slightly jealous of Adele, not for her personality but for her looks. Adele Amelie Dupuis had an appearance any woman would be envious of. Her dark, chocolate brown hair fell in bouncy ringlets and looked perfect whether Adele let it hang naturally or pinned it up. Beneath delicately arched eyebrows were her clear blue eyes, as blue as a midsummer sky. Framing those enticing eyes were full, thick lashes that loved to wink at admiring men. Her cheeks were always rosy, her nose never freckled, and her dimples never disappeared when she flashed another brilliantly white smile. Full, plump lips never lost their pinkish-red hue and her hands never rid of their lady-like elegance. Her bust was full, her waist small, and her feet tiny. In her seventeen years of life, she'd had more beaux than she could count. Adele never tired of playing with the affections of men and dragging them along like lovesick puppy dogs. She'd moved into her own little cottage in Mount Lennon last year when she turned sixteen, so she wouldn't be able to visit Lydie very often in her new home in Haverleigh.

Lydie, though saddened by this fact, also thought it might be a good idea for her to be separated from Adele for a while. She thought it might be time for her to make some new friends.

Lydia May Everson, though not as fair as Adele, could most certainly not be considered unattractive. Her light, feathery hair had an almost indescribable color that sat just in between blond and light brown. She wore it the same way every day: parted on the left side and pulled back into a small ponytail with a ribbon that matched whatever dress she wore that day. Her ears were a little too small and a patch of freckles ran across the bridge of her nose and onto both cheeks. Long, dark lashes surrounded her sparkling hazel eyes and all though her smile wasn't as perfect as Adele's, it was shown often for she loved to laugh. Her bust was a little small, her waist thin, and she stood a full five inches beneath 5'7 Adele at the height of 5'2.

Unlike Adele, Lydie loved to read, she absolutely adored children, and she'd never had a beau- not that she was in desperate want of one.

"It's perfect!" Adele exclaimed as she looked upon Lydie's new cottage.
"Well, almost," Lydie agreed, "But it's still missing a few things. Perhaps we should head over to the market to pick up some groceries and such and see if we can find someone to fix the plumping and that window in the kitchen."

They boarded the little carriage Mr. Everson had loaned his daughter for a few days and set off for Haverleigh's marketplace. About fifteen or twenties stores formed a u-shaped shopping center at which the two girls purchased all the items on their list. Where they were to find a man to help them fix up the house they didn't know.

Finally, they came upon a small shop called Ol' Johnson's that looked as if it might have someone who could help.

"Excuse me?" Lydie called as they explored the store, which was completely void of customers, "Excuse me? Is there anybody here?"

Adele walked behind, looking around at all the random objects for sale around her: bookshelves, lemonade pitchers, lampshades, picture frames, birdhouses, candles, dog bowls, and a few packets of petunia seeds were littered all about the messy shop.

Finally, they heard a man calling, "Yes? Can I help you?" from a hole in the ceiling. A ladder led up to it.

"Should we go up?" Adele asked, confused.
"I don't think so," Lydie answered.

She was right, for but a few seconds later the man climbed down the ladder and hopped down in front of them.

"Hello, ladies," said he, "I don't believe we've met. Are you two new in town?"

Adele smiled coquettishly at him; she hadn’t known that such handsome men could reside in a tiny town like Haverleigh. He was very tall, around six feet, and very muscular because of the hard work he did around town for work. He had very, very light blond hair and grayish brown eyes that seemed to smile just as his soft pink lips did. Wearing old brown shoes, a pair of dusty jeans with holes, and a red flannel shirt with sleeves rolled up to the elbows, one could tell he was definitely not a city boy.

"Are you new in Haverleigh?" he repeated, "Or are you just stopping in?"
"I've just moved here a day or so ago,” Lydie replied, “but Ade-"
Adele cut her off, "I live in Mount Lennon and I'm just helping Lydie here move in," she paused and winked, "But maybe I'll have to rethink that. I didn't know there were such dashing men in Haverleigh."
The man obviously wasn't aware of her constant flirting, or simply chose to ignore it, and introduced himself modestly, "My name's Linden Jay Myrick, but most people just call me Lin. What might your names be?"
"Lydia May Everson, but I’m called Lydie," said Lydie as they shook hands.
Adele then introduced herself, "Adele Dupuis. It's French."
"Oh, French," Lin nodded uncomfortably, "Very sophisticated."
"You know they say French is the language of lovers," Adele added in her most seductive tone.
"Is it? Well, that's nice," Lin replied, ignoring her dalliance. Sticking his hands in his pockets, he asked with a smile, “Now what can I do for you ladies?”

“Well, I was wondering if you had anyone that could come help me with a few difficulties I’m having with the plumbing and one of the windows in my new house,” Lydie explained, “I’d do it myself, but I don’t really know how.”

“I’d love to help. I’m sort of the unofficial handy-man here in Haverleigh, so if you ever need any assistance just stop on by. I need to watch the store right now while my boss, Ol’ Johnson, is out but I should be able to come over later this evening if that’s convenient for you.”

“Sounds great to me,” Lydie replied with a smile.

“Where do you live?”

“Umm . . . it doesn’t really have an address, but I can tell you that it’s the little cream-colored house over on Sampson Hill if that helps.”

“Oh yeah, of course. I know where that is. What time do you want me? I get out at around five.”

“When ever is best for you is fine. I’ll be home all day.”

Adele gave Lydie a little kick before fluttering her eyelashes at Lin and saying, “If you want, you could stop by for dinner. We’d love to have you.”

“Nah, I wouldn’t want to put you out of your way and make you prepare for another person and everything. But thanks for the offer.”

“It’s not out of our way at all though,” Adele declared, “Honestly.”

“Maybe some other time,” Lin suggested with a friendly smile.

“Alright,” Adele sighed, “But I’m putting you down for that promise.”

“Fine by me,” Lin then turned to Lydie and asked, “How about seven?”

Lydie nodded, “Alright. I’ll see you tonight. Thanks for the help! Good-bye Lin!”

Adele followed her friend back out of the shop and called out, “We’ll be expecting you, Mr. Myrick! Seven o’clock!”

When they’d reached the street and begun walking back towards their carriage, their arms laden with Lydie’s new possessions, Adele said casually, “Well, that Lin Myrick seems nice.”

“Your next victim, I suppose?” Lydie asked, glancing over at Adele suspiciously.

“Victim?” Adele smiled knowingly, and added in a sarcastic tone “Why whatever do you mean? Are you proposing that I, Miss Adele Amelie Dupuis, am a predator of men? How preposterous! Surely you jest!”

Lydie returned the grin and answered, “I’m only saying, Miss Dupuis, that you seem to have a strong interest in the area of the male species. Would you care to explain this strange infatuation of yours?”

Adele laughed, “Well, I am a female. I don’t believe further explanation is needed.”

Lydie giggled, but returned to reality as she said, “In all honesty though, I know you have a habit of flirting with just about every man you meet, but it seemed different with Lin. You seemed fonder of him than the others you’ve met. Has your heart chosen its next suspect?”

Adele frowned, but in a friendly way, and answered, “I don’t know why you make it seem like I’m just a little coquette, because I’m really not.”

Lydie knew it was a lie, but she chose not to interrupt or press the issue further.

Adele continued, “Lin has become, using your terms, my next victim and my heart’s next suspect. But I prefer to call him my next little project. It will be hard though, I’m sure. He completely ignored all of my advances, didn’t he?” Without allowing time for Lydie to answer, Adele proceeded, “He doesn’t seem very open to a relationship with me, but I guess that’ll just have to change, won’t it?”

“I suppose.”

Adele added to her own defense, “But I mean you can’t blame me, can you? He really is a fine specimen of the male species. With those heavenly eyes and soft blond hair and, my God, did you see his arms? My heart just melted at the site of him. And from that very moment I intended to make him mine in some way or another. Hopefully, it shan’t be too troublesome a task. What do you think of him, Lydie?”

“He seemed very nice, though also very different from any of your previous beaux,” Lydie replied, “He looks as though he hasn’t much money, something you usually seem to look for, and I think he may be just a little too sweet for you, Del.”

“Too sweet for me? How can he be too sweet for me?”

“I don’t know, it’s just . . .” Lydie paused, looking for the words to express her thoughts, “It’s just that I think you’re only looking for a fling, while it seems he would rather have a courtship than a fling. Do you know what I mean?”

Adele shrugged, “I suppose, though I think you’ve got it all wrong. How do you know all I want is a fling? Maybe I want more than that.”

Lydie laughed, “I know you, and I know all you want is a little fun from a man. Go for Lin Myrick if that’s what you want, but I just hope you don’t hurt the man. I feel sorry for him already, for I’m sure it’s not easy to be a victim of the alluring Adele Dupuis.”

Adele giggled, “Surely not!”

(A/N) Please, please review! I'd really appreciate it! Any comments, constructive criticism, compliments, whatever, I'd love to hear from you. I'm not sure about the title or the summary yet, so I'd love to hear what you have to say about them. I'm not very good at either, but I can't think of anything else at the moment. They may change, they may not. I'm not sure yet. I'm very open to change, so any comments you have about the chapter would, again, be really appreciated. Please tell me what you think! Thanks!

-S. Renee