Prologue

The dry air stung McKenna Jones’s tear stained face, as small tears fell slowly from her blue eyes.

“I don’t understand Lake, why do you have to leave?” Lake McDaniels smiled at the young girl of only thirteen.

“One day you'll understand sweet pea.” She wrapped her arms around his waist and sobbed into his chest.

“Please don’t leave me Lake. I know you have to leave, but, take me with you.” she begged.

Lake was a hand at her father's small ranch. His mother had just died and his father needed some help taking care of his siblings for a couple of years. He didn't want to, but he had to, his father couldn't take care of those four rambunctious babies alone, and he needed to let Kenna grow up. She was thirteen, he was ninteen. She wasn't even close to courin' age, she needed to grow up some. The whole town looked down on the two of them. Their unapproved young love had been no secret, the family had gone to many barn rasings and things like that, taking the hands along, which wasn't unusual at all. What was unusual was the many waltzes Kenna and Lake had shared.

“Now listen ‘Kenna, I’ll be back in three years, when Julie is old enough to help daddy ‘round the house. Then I’ll come back and sweep ya off your feet and marry ya.”

McKenna’s heart beat wildly in her chest.

“Promise?” she asked desperately

“’Course darlin’” He said with a smile. McKenna blushed as a thought entered her mind.

“Lake, do you promise you love me?" She asked. Lake, who was only 19 smiled and took McKenna’s face in his calloused hands.

“Of course I do darlin’.” He said in a whisper.

“Then prove it to me. Kiss me.” McKenna had just started scolding herself for saying something like that in the first place when his warm, moist lips touched hers. His strong arms surrounded her as she wrapped her arms around his neck. The kiss was sweet and caring.

Lake pulled away gently, looking in to McKenna’s deep blue eyes; he tucked a strand of her auburn hair behind her ear, walked over to his horse, climbed up into the saddle, and rode off.

As she watched him leave she cried a new wave of tears. Her twin sister Sara and their best friend Lela came up wrapping their arms around McKenna in a comforting hug.

“It’s ok ‘Kenna” Lela started “three years will fly by, you’ll see.” she said comfortingly.

McKenna touched her lips softly, she could still feel Lake's lips on hers.