(This has been edited some; it is still not final

(This has been edited some; it is still not final. I cannot yet find any information regarding squashes in this region, but when I find anything I will edit accordingly.)

Chapter 1: The Fair

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The town of Anwen slept, nestled deep in the heart of the Glyderau Range in the Snowdonia Mountains. The town was completely surrounded by the mountains, almost like a child wrapped in a warm blanket in the arms of his mother. The mountains stood dark and mysterious, providing a picturesque frame for the pitch-black sky that glittered with billions of diamonds. Below, every house was completely still; every light was extinguished, every person asleep, every animal in its pen. A gentle breeze swayed the fields of corn and wheat, and crickets hid under the stalks, letting their songs echo through the silent town.

Far above it, faster than a blink, a shadow flew over the ground and disappeared into another dark crag of the mountainside. A pair of red eyes appeared out of the darkness, glowing with an intense, red-orange fire, and trained themselves on a small house far below in the town. It knew what was going to happen. But no matter. Whatever the girl did, it knew that they would have what they wanted soon enough.

The red eyes faded, and the mountainside was just as it was before, silent and without movement.

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“Jade? Jade!”

Horror, intense fear. A scream ripped from her mouth as she flew backwards, backwards-

“Jade!”

Her back struck something hard and she fell to the ground, senseless. She could hear screams-

“Jade!”

Hands clamped over her shoulders. Panic filled her and she instinctively struggled, but they held her tight…

“JADE!”

Her eyes jerked open and she looked around, disoriented. She was lying on her bed, not on the ground. She was still panting, trying to regain the air that had been knocked out of her. The hands that held her down belonged to Old Widow Nesta.

The woman looked down at her, her aged, wrinkled forehead furrowing in concern. “Not again, child! Are ye alright?”

Jade shook off Nesta’s hands angrily. “Leave me alone!”

The widow recoiled, and Jade could see the sadness in her eyes. It hurt her to see Jade in pain, and Jade knew it. But at the moment, Jade didn’t care. She only wanted to be left alone.

Nesta knew by now that it wasn’t much use to try to argue with Jade. She turned and left without another word.

Jade rolled over and gripped her blankets in a white-knuckled fist, squeezing her eyes shut. Why was this happening to her?

This was the third nightmare she’d had this week. Her dreams were steadily growing worse and becoming more frequent. At first, they were just vague, meaningless, flashing bits of images. Now they had evolved into scenes of terror, scenes that made no sense, scenes that she knew had answers hidden in the shadows.

She let out a deep breath and sat up, then shivered as the sweat all over her turned cold. She struck a match from the matchbox on her nightstand and lit the tall, white candle. It ignited and filled her room with a faint orange glow.

She turned her gaze out her window to the mountains. They were beautiful, towering against the night sky like a fortress blocking them from the outside world. She would probably never cross them in her lifetime, but she was perfectly content with staying in Anwen. It had all she needed.

She unfocused her eyes and looked at her reflection in the glass. Her heart ached. Her nightmare meant something, and she knew it. Something terrible. It was the same dream, yet each time it returned it came with more intensity than the last. She wished she knew what it meant.

Moisture gathered in her eyes. She had heard screams this time, blood-chilling screams. She recognized them, but she didn’t know how.

She didn’t want to risk going back to sleep tonight. She didn’t want to chance having the dream again.

If she knew Old Widow Nesta, she would be back in a few minutes with a cup of hot tea and crackers. And if she knew herself, she would see Old Widow Nesta and feel terrible at her harsh treatment and would want to apologize.

She sighed and relaxed against her pillow. Her gaze drifted to the window and fixed on the dark shadows of the mountains. Despair swelled inside her, and a part of her wanted to cry; but no tears came.

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“Come on dear, the rooster has crowed. Time to be gettin’ up, darlin’.”

Jade rolled over and moaned.

“Wake up, child. It’s mornin’.”

Jade pried her eyes open and squinted. Sunlight filtered through her window, splashing a pool of light across her bed and onto Old Widow Nesta.

“I’m up,” Jade mumbled. She rolled over again, feeling a pang of irritation at having to wake up after she had finally drifted asleep.

Old Widow Nesta smiled. “I’ve got some biscuits and gravy cookin’ up on the stove. They’ll be ready in a few minutes. Why don’t ye wash up?”

Jade nodded and sat up. She yawned and stretched as Nesta left for the kitchen.

Old Widow Nesta closed Jade’s door behind her and shook her head. Jade had always been a handful for the past eight years, ever since the first day she had taken Jade in. Strong-spirited, stubborn, and a wild side that tended to show on occasion, she was all her mother had been and more.

Nesta shook her head and chuckled to herself as she checked the gravy on the fire stove. Ah, yes, and much more.

The poor child. This was the third time this week she’d awoken Nesta in the night, screaming and thrashing in her sheets. Any time she asked the child what the dream was about, she got an icy silence and a glare that at first seemed cold, but as she meditated on it, in her mind’s eye she could also see in it fear, desperation, hurt…

Whatever the child was seeing in her dreams, it was obviously taking its toll. Today it was enough for her to sleep right through Evan’s rooster down the road, which usually woke her up at the first crow.

Nesta shook her head again, this time in sadness and worry. “Ah, Jade, ye place an ache in me heart somethin’ terrible,” she muttered to herself. She heaped some piping-hot, fresh-out-of-the-oven biscuits on two plates and drenched them in gravy. She set the plates down for a moment and sighed. “Somethin’s happenin’ to ye, Jade, but ye won’t even let me ask what.”

“That’s because I don’t want you to talk about it.”

Nesta whirled with a gasp, and her hand shot to her heart. “Heavens, child, can’t ye walk a little louder? Ye oughtn’t scare an old woman like that!”

A smile played with the corner of Jade’s mouth, and her eyes softened. Nesta sighed as she quickly surveyed the girl, then nodded approvingly. Jade had put on a plain dress with lace around the neck and short sleeves. Her straight mahogany brown hair had been pulled back and tied with a blue ribbon that matched her dress. Her angled jaw and high cheekbones made her undoubtedly one of the prettiest girls in Anwen.

Nesta smiled. For a moment, a girl of eight was standing before her, hair in pigtails and two front teeth gone. The nostalgia passed after a moment, and Nesta’s smile widened as she saw the beautiful, tall, slender girl who was double that age now.

“Come, child, eat quickly,” she said, setting the plates on the table. “We have a busy day ahead of us.” Jade sat in the chair across from her.

“Ah, so today’s the big day, it is,” Nesta said with a warm smile as she lifted a piece of biscuit to her mouth. Jade smiled back, but Nesta could tell it was insincere, a smile one gave out of courtesy.

“Yes, Miss Nesta.”

“It is sure goin’ to be excitin’. I always love the town fair.”

Jade gave that smile again. “Me too, Miss Nesta.”

Nesta allowed her smile to fade. “Might I ask what’s buggin’ you, child?”

Jade looked up from her plate, and her eyes flashed coldly. “No. I told you, I don’t want to talk about it.”

Jade looked down at her plate, suddenly not hungry. Now that she was awake, she didn’t remember anything from her dream. The only thing that lingered was the terror she’d felt, as well as the nagging feeling that she had dreamt something important and terrible.

She sighed, put her elbow on the table and her forehead in her hand, and pushed the plate away from her.

Nesta eyed the plate, then looked up at Jade. “Ye know, dear, if ye ever want to talk, I’m here for ye.”

Jade looked down at her lap and nodded. “I’m know.” She sighed. “I’m sorry, Miss Nesta. I just…” She shook her head. “It was so scary. I know it means something… but I don’t know what.”

“Do ye want to talk about it?”

The moment Jade thought about the dream, she heard an earsplitting scream, just as if she were in the dream again. She shuddered.

“I…I can’t.”

Nesta nodded understandingly. “That’s alright, dear. Sometimes these things take a while.”

Jade bowed her head. “I just wish I knew what it meant.”

Nesta paused thoughtfully. “Sometimes we don’t know the meanin’ of things right away. Sometimes it takes a while for meanin’ to become clear. Just wait, Jade; just wait. I’m sure that the meanin’ to this will come to ye soon.”

Jade nodded, but couldn’t think of anything to say. Too many thoughts were flying through her head for her to voice.

Nesta brought her from her thoughts. Jade looked up to see Nesta eyeing her plate. “It’ll be okay, Jade. Ye should eat up. Yer goin’ to need yer strength today.”

Jade nodded, then pulled her plate close. She absentmindedly poked a biscuit with her fork. It’ll be okay, Jade. It’ll be okay, Nesta’s words floated through her mind like a broom trying to hold back a whole tide of worrying thoughts. Jade desperately hoped Nesta was right. She lifted a bite to her mouth.

She shifted the bite to her cheek. “Paper’s here.”

As she spoke the paper thudded on the front porch, and a boy with a bag of newspapers slung across his back rode by on his bicycle.

Nesta looked at Jade and smiled. “Yer good.”

Jade swallowed and returned her smile. “Only because he comes the same time every day.”

“So what are ye lookin’ forward to seein’ most today?” Nesta asked before she scooped a large bite of biscuit into her mouth.

Jade chewed thoughtfully, swallowed and said, “I’m not sure. I’d sure like to do the relay races though. That and the horse race.”

“Ah, yes. The horse race.”

“How about you?” Jade shoveled a bite into her mouth.

“I’m eager for the squash contest, meself,” she said. “I think we’ve got ourselves a fightin’ chance with our squash this year.”

Jade nodded. “But word has it Mr. Evan grew some good squash this year too.”

“I wouldn’t mind one bit. I’d be fine and dandy with comin’ in second. Either way, we would have squash for dinner tonight.” Jade smiled. Nesta stood and took her empty plate to the sink. “Are ye done? We need to be off soon.”

Jade shoved three bites’ worth of biscuit into her mouth and chewed it as she jumped to her feet and handed her plate to Nesta.

After she had washed and dried the dishes, Jade straightened her bed sheets and swept the kitchen floor. After she put the broom back she met Old Widow Nesta at the door, who was wearing a shawl around her shoulders despite the warm June day. Together they set out on the dirt path that ran from their house to the main street of the town.

“So do ye think ye’ll be seein’ Luke today?”

Jade smiled. “I hope so.”

Old Widow Nesta grinned. “Will he be in any of the races?”

Jade nodded. “The horse race.”

“Ahhhhh.” Nesta smiled warmly. “Now I see why yer wantin’ to be seein’ that race.”

“Come now, Miss Nesta. You know he’s like a brother to me.”

Nesta smiled warmly. “I know, child. I’m happy for ye. He’s a fine young man.”Jade nodded.

They walked in silence for the next fifteen minutes. They passed Mr. Evan’s house on the left, and some time later crossed over a bridge above a small creek that bustled and bubbled through the town. Some minutes later, the dirt road met the main road at the town square.

The road divided around a magnificent fountain, spewing crystal-clear water into its round stone basin. The town bell stood beyond it, bronze with special Welsh engravings around the rim. Jade had never been told what they meant, but she knew it was something sacred.

Jade tried to remember the last time anyone had rung the bell, and she couldn’t. No one ever rang it. It was reserved only for summoning the townspeople to gather for something important or tragic. The last time Jade remembered the bell being rung was last summer, when the previous pastor had died. They had all gathered and paid their last respects before burying Andrew Parson’s father.

Jade scanned the familiar streets, and Nesta thought for a moment that she had seen her eyes flicker a deep green. If she had, it was the first trace of green Nesta had seen in her eyes for a long, long time. Jade’s joy was written in her eyes: when she was truly happy, they would turn a beautiful green. But she could not remember the last time that she had not seen Jade’s eyes that sharp, piercing gray.

“Here, child,” she said, reaching into her coin purse and placing some silver coins in Jade’s hand. “Why don’t ye buy some treats for yerself?”

Jade grinned. “Thank you, Miss Nesta,” she said, and she was off.

The road around the fountain was lined with tables and stalls filled with items to buy. Jade scanned the rest of the road: all the buildings that lined Main Street were dark, closed for the festival. She let her gaze wander over the Square and giggled her herself that their Square was actually a Circle. Ah… yes, there were Mr. and Mrs. O’Connor, selling trinkets Mr. O’Connor had made in his blacksmith shop. Mrs. O’Connor filled the other half of the table with her cross-stitching.

Another table had John and Elizabeth Riley, half the table filled with silver trinkets, the other half filled with jewelry.

Another table was filled with the jerky and meat pies of the butcher, Kevin Gordon, and his wife, Christine.

Another table was stacked so high with delicious looking breads and sweets that Jade could barely see the heads of the Drakes over the tops.

Bobby Shorkins, the writer and editor of the town newspaper- a small, practically nonexistent paper that almost never had anything to say in such a quiet town- also had a table with paper folded into all kinds of shapes and designs spread out on it.

Jade decided to go to the Riley’s table first. Mrs. Riley saw her and welcomed her to the table with a warm smile. “Well, hello, Jade,” she said. “How’re ye doin’ on this fine day?”

“Just fine, ma’am, thank you,” Jade returned. “My, what beautiful necklaces you have!”

Mrs. Riley smiled. “Thank ye, dear.”

“Where’s Old Widow Nesta?” Mr. Riley asked.

“I think she’s headed over to the squash contest.”

“Ah! Has she got a good one this year?”

Jade grinned. “Good enough to give Mr. Evan a run for his money.” Mr. Riley smiled.

“Do you know what time the judge is announcing his decision for the squash contest, Mr. Riley?”

“Should be twelve sharp.”

“What time is it now?”

He pulled a pocket watch out of the breast pocket of his vest. “About eleven.”

“Thank you.”

She scanned the jewelry, and a small gasp escaped her lips as her eyes fell on a necklace.

The necklace was two pieces of twisted silver joined together to form a cross. A small, beautiful red rock that looked like a glassy rose was welded to the center of it. She picked it up and lifted it to her face, admiring its simplistic beauty.

The Riley’s eyes grew wide. “How did that get there?” Elizabeth whispered to her husband. He shrugged, eyes wide.

Mrs. Riley stared at it for a moment, then lunged to grab it out of Jade’s hands. Jade reflexively yanked it out of her reach at the perfect second, staring at Mrs. Riley in alarm.

Mrs. Riley looked at her, worry lighting her eyes. “Ye can’t have that, Jade. It’s not for sale.”

“Not for sale?” Jade repeated, coldness edging into her voice. “It was on the table. It has a price tag. How can it not be-”

“It got on this table by accident, she said!” Mr. Riley snapped. “It’s not for sale!”

Jade frowned and sighed out of her nose. She handed the necklace back, the charm hanging from the chain clenched in her fist, and Mrs. Riley snatched it out of her hand. “I’ve never seen you two act so strange!” Jade declared. “It’s only a necklace.”

“We’re sorry, Jade,” Mr. Riley said, “but ye can’t have it. Why don’t ye find another necklace ye like?”

“Will you let me buy it if I do find one?” Jade shot back.

Mr. Riley held up under her piercing, unwavering gaze, but it made Mrs. Riley squirm. “Of course we will, Jade,” Mr. Riley said in a softer, friendlier tone.

Jade said nothing, but fixed them both with an icy glare for a long moment. The second she broke her gaze and looked down at the table, they both visibly relaxed.

After a minute she selected a bracelet of alternating blue and clear stones. She gave the Rileys a few coins, then moved on to the Drake’s table for a sweet roll.

The Rileys watched her walk away. Mrs. Riley let out a deep breath. “That was close.”

“Indeed,” her husband agreed.

“What should we do with it? Now that she has seen it, and has been told she can’t have it, she’ll want it even more.”

Mr. Riley nodded. “Here, I’ll take it.” She handed it to him, and he slipped it into his coin purse. “There.”

“Why don’t ye tuck in that strand?” Elizabeth asked, eyes on the bit of chain that dangled out of the lip of the coin purse.

John shrugged. “It’s not goin’ anywhere.”

Elizabeth fell silent, and they let her gaze wander to the girl across the Square. Jade must have sensed their gazes, because she turned and looked at them from Mrs. O’Connor’s table. Both Rileys averted their gazes.

Jade frowned and turned back to Mrs. O’Connor’s cross-stitched creations. She was well acquainted with the look that both Rileys had worn, despite averting their gazes to hide it. It was the look that said she had caught them in the act of talking about her as an orphan girl.

She sighed and tried to push away the image of her charred, smoking house that threatened to crowd her mind. She knew she was an orphan; why did they need to keep reminding her of what happened eight years ago?

Her gaze fell on a dishtowel with a cardinal embroidered on the bottom. It would serve as an excellent gift for Miss Nesta. She had told Jade often that she had a love for birds, especially the cardinal, which she had not seen once since coming to live in Anwen…

Jade bought a roll from the Drakes and savored the delicious taste as she made her way down the road to the squash contest. Mmm… Mr. and Mrs. Drake were great bakers.

Drake. I wonder where Luke is?

She finally made it. Tables were set up with squashes of every shape and size on them. And there it was: towering above all the rest, solemn, serene and yellow, stood the Squash, with Old Widow Nesta standing proudly beside it.

At least, it was towering before most of all the rest, save one other squash. Evan Porschkey stood beside a large Hubbard squash with his hands clasped professionally behind his back. The judges, Reverend Andrew Parson and Deputy David Flanders, were going around and whispering to each other. Jade could tell without watching more than a half minute that they were torn between only two squashes: Old Woman Nesta’s and Evan Porschkey’s.

Jade quickly strode to Nesta’s side. “Miss Nesta, do you have any clue yet as to which way the judges are leaning?”

She shook her head. “Nay, child, not yet. They haven’t even given a shake of their heads in either direction.”

Jade sighed impatiently. If only the judges would-

“Oh, there he is!”

“Who?”

Nesta followed Jade’s gaze to see Luke Drake walking by. Jade smiled. He didn’t see her, but she saw him, leading a horse by its bridle, and his perfect red hair blowing in his caramel eyes.

“Ah.”

“I guess that’s his horse this year,” Jade said. “It looks beautiful.”

“Aye,” Nesta agreed, then sighed as she felt butterflies flock in her stomach. She looked at Jade. “Now, child, there’s still a bit of waitin’ to go. No need to wait with me.”

“But Miss Nesta, I want to wait with you,” Jade protested. “Besides,” she added with a smile, “you seem nervous.”

Old Widow Nesta smiled, then took Jade’s hand in her own and patted it lovingly. For the first time she noticed the purchased item in Jade’s hand. “What’s that?”

Jade grinned and presented the cross-stitching to her. Miss Nesta gasped. “Oh, Jade, it’s beautiful!” She gave Jade a warm hug. “Thank ye, child! That was mighty thoughtful of ye.” Jade grinned. “Might I ask what else ye bought?”

Jade told her about the delicious roll and showed her the bracelet. “I wanted a necklace,” she added bitterly, “but the Rileys wouldn’t let me buy it.”

“Now I wonder why they did that?” Nesta said quietly, partly to herself. “I wonder…” The sudden realization sent her eyes wide. “Necklace did ye say, child?” Jade nodded. “What did it look like?”

Jade described it to her.

Nesta’s heart started to pound. She placed a hand over her heart.

“Miss Nesta, what’s wrong? Are you alright?” Jade asked, peering into her face with an unwavering gaze.

Nesta shook her head and gave a feeble smile. “Ain’t nothin’ to be concerned with, child. ‘Tis only a little warm out today; it works on this old heart more than it used to.”

Jade just stared at her, her smile gone, her gaze piercing and unnerving.

“Did you get to do any shopping?” she finally asked, still fixing Nesta with a hard gaze.

Nesta shook her head. “Nay, child. I came straight here and have been here the whole time.”

“Would you like me to buy you something?”

Nesta smiled. “Ye already have.”

Jade finally allowed a small smile to soften her face. “Maybe I could buy you a roll, a meat pie?”

Nesta sighed. “A roll would be nice, thank ye. But be quick, ye may only have fifteen minutes or so. Here.” She handed Jade two coins.

Jade smiled, and she took off in the direction of the Drakes’ table.

“Back again?” Mr. Drake asked her with a chuckle.

“Yes,” Jade replied with a smile. “Old Widow Nesta would like a roll.”

“And a fine roll she shall get,” he replied, accepting the coins and putting them in the purse at his waist. He handed a roll to her. Jade thanked him and headed back to the contest.

“Oof!” Someone slammed their shoulder into hers as she passed, almost making her drop the roll.

“Why don’t ye watch where yer goin’?”

“Why don’t you, Harvey?” Jade fired back. “There’s plenty of room on this street for you to walk without bumping into people.”

“Speak for yerself,” he spat. “Ye’d do better to stay out of me way.”

“And same to you!”

His eyes smoldered. Jade held her ground. He was four years older than her and had a temper and strength worth fearing, yet she could not succeed in avoiding him. Funny how he hated her with a passion she would never understand. No matter, she thought coldly. It’s mutual.

“It’s about time someone taught ye a lesson,” he said, taking a menacing step toward her. “Ye’ll forget ye ever- ouch!”

His head whipped right, and a bright red scratch adorned his cheekbone. He whirled around. “Who did that?” he bellowed.

No one on the street paid him any mind, but kept walking and talking to each other, occasionally sending a furtive glance in his direction.

He turned to Jade and stuck a finger in her face. “I’ll get ye later, missy,” he growled. Blood began to trickle from the cut. “I’m gonna find that other pig face first. Ye got lucky today. But maybe not so lucky.” He turned on his heels and strode away.

Only when he was out of view did Jade let herself chuckle. Luke always had a knack for perfect timing, not to mention good aim. And disappearing. She wondered how he was able to get from the horse track to here so quickly. She shrugged it off; Luke was simply gifted like that. She clung to the roll tightly and ran back to the squash contest.

The Reverend and the Deputy were calling for the crowd’s attention just as she ran up. “Please, quiet down, everyone,” Reverend Parson motioned for the crowd to be silent. “Silence, please.” Deputy Flanders did the same.

Whether the crowd was silent or not, they were ready. “Before we announce the winners, I would like to applaud all the people who put forth the effort to grow some fine squashes this year.” He waited for the applause to subdue before continuing. “It was a very difficult choice for us this year. But after much agony and deliberation-” a chuckle ran through the crowd- “we have selected our winner. Deputy Flanders, would ye like to do the honors?”

“Of course,” he replied in a husky voice. If he was not someone Jade had known all her life, she would probably be terrified of him. He was three times her size and all muscle, with broad shoulders, a short neck and thick arms. However, Jade knew him well. Nice but tough as nails, he was perfectly suited to be the Deputy of the town of Anwen.

“The third place ribbon goes to Mrs. Mary Parson!” Applause. Reverend Andrew grinned as he handed a silver ribbon to his wife. She grinned back.

“The second and first place winners were difficult to decide. However, the second place ribbon goes to…”

Jade held her breath. She felt Nesta tense beside her arm.

“Mr. Evan Porschkey!”

The large farmer smiled and tipped his hat. To Jade, it almost seemed a little like he deflated, as if he were a balloon and the deputy’s words had let some air out of him. As he accepted his gold ribbon, he glanced over at Old Widow Nesta and gave her a friendly smile and nod.

Nesta barely saw it. She gasped and placed a hand over her heart, barely believing her ears.

“And the first place ribbon goes to… Old Widow Nesta, for her magnificent summer squash!”

Loud applause surrounded them. Nesta smiled and bowed her head to the crowd before she gracefully accepted the blue ribbon. She grinned and put an arm around Jade’s shoulders and hugged her tight.

“Thank ye for comin’ to this year’s squash contest!” Reverend Parson shouted. “Now, on to the horse race!”

A cheer rose from the crowd, and everyone began to drift away towards the track.

“Oh, I’m so proud of you, Miss Nesta!” Jade exclaimed, hugging Nesta around the neck.

“Thank ye, child!”

“This is the first time Mr. Evan hasn’t won in… boy, it must be at least six years.”

Miss Nesta grinned. “Seven.”

“Well, congratulations!”

“Thank ye, child! Shall we go see the horse race?”

Jade grinned, and together they joined the rest of the crowd to the track.

The racetrack was behind Stephen O’Connor’s blacksmith shop and livery stable. It was a long dirt oval fenced off by painted white wood posts, and about ten racers were making their way toward the start line when Nesta and Jade arrived.

Jade could hear the announcer, Mr. Strong, introduce each of the ten challengers, but none of it registered. She only was aware of the boy with red hair and caramel eyes who sat on the beautiful brown mare with a strip of white on its nose.

“Are you ready?” The announcer shouted. “On your mark… get set…” He fired a shot into the air.

Cheering rose from the crowd as the horses took off and veered around the first turn. Jade was sure that as he and his horse streaked past, Luke glanced her way, and in that eternal moment flashed her a smile before returning his focus to the race. Jade and Nesta cheered for Luke loudly as the horses headed around the first turn.

Five laps: that’s how long the race would last. Soon they were already through three, and Luke was in sixth. Not good. Come on, Luke, you can do it, Jade mentally coached, subconsciously wringing her hands. You can do it.

The horses left the next turn and headed into lap four. Jade held her breath as Luke’s horse slowly passed the fifth place runner… then the fourth…

By lap five, he was running neck at neck with the first place runner, Jacob Porschkey, Evan’s oldest son, who had moved out at eighteen and started his own horse farm a mile from his father’s house. That was six years ago. Today, he had come as the winner of the annual horse race for four years running.

The horses ran neck at neck, panting, sweat glistening on their glossy necks. A gap was stretching between them and the other eight. The small crowd was growing to a roar, hurting Jade’s ears.

One more turn to go. Luke’s horse was edging ahead, first by a few inches, then a whole nose-

Jade’s hand shot to her mouth as she gasped, and the entire crowd gasped with her. The mare suddenly lost its footing and fell, sending its rider to tumble and roll until he finally came to a stop.

The crowd fell silent. A few bold ones cheered as Jacob crossed the finish line and stood up in his stirrups as he saluted the crowd. Most had their gaze on the fallen rider. His horse had gotten up, but he didn’t move even as the other eight horses thundered past.

Jade’s heart nearly stopped. There he was, lying in the trampled dirt, hurt, and she couldn’t help him.

Four men ran to him and checked him out. She heard the call for a stretcher. Two men came with a white stretcher, and they lifted Luke onto it. They carried him away, no doubt to Dr. Wilkes’ clinic.

Old Widow Nesta wrapped an arm around Jade’s shoulders. “Don’t worry, child,” she whispered into her ear. “He’ll be alright. Wilkes is a fine doctor.” Jade said nothing, but gazed in the direction the stretcher had gone.

A cheer rose from the crowd. Jade turned to see Mr. Strong presenting a small silver trophy to Jacob Porschkey. A cheer rose from the crowd, and hats were thrown into the air.

Jade fixed Jacob with her unwavering gaze. For a split instant his eyes met hers, and he quickly averted his.

I saw that, she thought coldly, as if he could hear her thoughts. I know what you did. No one saw it but me. Jacob Porschkey, you will pay. No one can dissuade me of what I saw.

A crowd surrounded Jacob, shouting and waving and slapping him on the back. Jade pushed her way through everyone toward the winner of the race.

“Jacob Porschkey!” she shouted. A few men in the crowd turned and stared at her. “Jacob Porschkey!” she shouted again, this time from ten feet away.

More and more men fell silent as they turned, saw Jade, and moved to get out of her way as she strode toward Jacob.

When she stopped a few feet away from him, the crowd fell silent. “Mr. Strong,” she addressed the announcer for all to hear, “Jacob Porschkey cheated.”

A murmur ran through the crowd.

“How could I cheat? It’s a horse race!” Jacob protested. Other men agreed.

“You knew that hole was there, didn’t you? That soft spot you forced Luke’s horse into?”

Another murmur rippled through the men. Jacob didn’t answer, but fixed her with a hard, steely gaze.

His silence was her fuel. “Yes, you knew that soft spot was there! I saw your eyes scanning the track for the soft spot. You found it, and you began to nudge your horse right, edging Luke’s horse right into the hole! You made him fall on purpose!”

Exclamations of disbelief rose from the crowd. “Outrageous!” “Absurd!” “She’s crazy!” The entire time, Jacob glared at Jade icily.

“Well, Jacob? What do ye say to this?” Mr. Strong said.

“Of course I didn’t know it was there!” he spat, never taking his eyes off Jade. “It was an accident. Everyone has to check the track every now and then. I didn’t know the hole was there.”

“So he says,” Jade hotly replied for the whole crowd to hear. “You’ve won the past five years now. Did you cheat every time?”

“I didn’t cheat!” Jacob roared. “It was an accident!”

“I know what I saw.”

“Then how come nobody else saw it?”

Jade fell silent, but fixed him with her piercing eyes.

“I’ll tell ye what I saw,” a voice said. All the men and Jade turned to face Owen Jakes, the owner of the North Star Tavern. “After closin’ late last night, while I was headin’ home, I happened to glance back here, and who else did I see but Jacob Porschkey out here with a spade.”

“Yeah, I saw someone out here too, now that you mention it,” another man Jade didn’t know added. “Although I didn’t know it was him. But I saw him out here with a spade digging.” A large murmur ran through the crowd.

Mr. Strong glared at Jacob. “What do ye say to that?” he growled.

Jacob shook his head, robbed of words, and hung his head.

“Well then,” Mr. Strong said, slightly flustered, “By obligation to the rules, Jacob Porschkey is hereby disqualified from this year’s horse race. Which means… young Luke Drake is this year’s winner.”

“But he didn’t finish the race!” someone in the crowd objected.

“He would have if Jacob hadn’t cheated!” the announcer shot back.

At that moment Deputy Flanders pushed through the crowd and stopped next to Jacob, handcuffs in hand. He gave Jacob a long, hard look, as if wondering if he should really arrest him.

“He broke the rules, Deputy,” Mr. Strong said, “but he didn’t break the law. I don’t think ye should arrest him. Losin’ his first match in five years to a sixteen-year-old boy- not to mention bein’ humiliated by another sixteen-year-old girl in front of nearly the whole town- is enough punishment for now.”

Deputy Flanders snorted and fixed Jacob with a hard glare as he placed the handcuffs back on his belt. Jacob never looked up from the ground.

Jade turned, and the crowd parted for her. Her work here was done.

She stopped cold as her gaze locked with another man’s in the crowd, a man she had never seen before. He looked young, perhaps in his thirties. He had no beard, and wore a black leather hat that hung low over his face as well as traveler’s clothes. A swift wave of déjà vu swept through her and was gone. It left Jade confused. She’d never seen him before, she was sure of it. She broke their gaze and made her way back to Main Street.

She found Dr. Wilkes’ clinic and went inside. Dr. William Wilkes was bending over a small cot with a boy on it- Luke! Her heart nearly stopped. Dr. Wilkes glanced up as she entered.

“How is he?” she asked quietly.

“He is fine,” the doctor replied simply. “No broken bones, nothin’ serious, just a bunch of bruises.”

Jade let out a sigh of relief. “Great.” She paused. “May I wait here for a short while?”

For the first time a small smile lit his face. “That’ll be just fine.”

She grabbed a chair and pulled it up beside Luke’s bed. She gazed at his still features, frozen like stone. His chiseled cheeks, his strong, angled jaw, the way his hair fell across his forehead at the most perfect angle…

His eyes fluttered open.

He shot up into sitting position, but Dr. Wilkes was there in an instant, placing his hands on Luke’s shoulders and easing him back onto the bed. “Lie still, now,” he instructed. “Ye’ve had a nasty fall. I’m goin’ to fetch something for yer headache.”

Luke relaxed and fixed his gaze on Jade as Dr. Wilkes went to a table and pulled out a small tube with powder. He went to the sink, poured himself a cup of water, and mixed a small bit of powder into it. He brought it back and gave it to Luke to drink. Luke chugged it in seconds and handed the empty glass back to the doctor, wincing at the bitter taste.

“So why are ye here?” Luke asked Jade as the doctor went to clean the glass.

A small smile played at the edge of her mouth. “Doing you a favor.”

He frowned. “What are ye talkin’ about?”

“I just confronted him in front of everyone, and he admitted it. Jacob Porschkey cheated. You’re the winner of the race by default.”

Luke’s jaw dropped. “Are ye jokin’? Yer pullin’ my leg.”

“No, really! It’s true! You won!”

“How could he possibly cheat?”

She told him.

Luke’s smile broke loose, lighting up the whole room. “That’s wonderful! Thank ye!”

“I’m just glad it all worked out. Thrilled, really.”

He paused, and his eyes twinkled. “Yer eyes are green. Very green.”

Jade blushed and looked down at her lap.

“So, um… how long do you have to be in here?” she asked.

“At least a few hours,” Dr. Wilkes interjected. “I’ve got to be sure he doesn’t have a concussion.”

“Oh.” She paused. After a moment, she sighed. “Well, I suppose I ought to be going. Miss Nesta doesn’t know where I’ve gone.”

“Well, ye’d better get on out there,” Luke said playfully. “Ye know how Miss Nesta gets.”

“Oh yes, very vicious, the woman who couldn’t hurt a flea,” Jade bantered with a grin. She stood. “I hope I’ll see you later.”

“I hope so too. Thanks for comin’ by.”

“I’ll be seein’ ye later, Miss Jade,” Dr. Wilkes replied as Jade went out the door.

“Alright! Goodbye!”

Both called out goodbye as she closed the door behind her.

She turned right into another body. “Oh! I’m sorry-”

It was him, the same stranger she’d seen earlier. His hat was slightly askew this time, set off by her bump, revealing a bit of shockingly white hair. Yet he was so young! Surely he wasn’t old enough for his hair to have lost its color. Neither said a word as he glared at her, fixed his hat and straightened his jacket, and strode past.

Jade stared after him for a moment, then set off to find Old Widow Nesta. She found her resting on the edge of the fountain in the center of Town Square.

“I’m sorry, dear, but ye’ve missed most of the relays already,” Nesta said.

“Oh.” Jade sighed. “Oh well, I suppose there’s always next year.”

Nesta smiled. “That’s the spirit. How’s Luke?”

“He’s-” she stopped. “How…?” Nesta gave her a knowing smile. “You’re good.”

“Thank ye,” she said, and laughed heartily. “Well?”

“He’s fine. A few bruises, a little headache, but he’s fine.”

“Ah. I’m glad to hear it.”

“Are we going to be heading back for dinner?”

Nesta looked away and sighed. “Well, we may as well stay here now. We can buy dinner here, and we can stay for the dance.”

“Oh, wonderful! I’d love to stay for the dance.” They grinned at each other. “What about the squash?”

“Well, I see no harm in savin’ it for tomorrow,” Nesta replied. “Let’s eat now! There’s no use in waitin’ and crampin’ up when dancin’ time comes."

Within the next three minutes they had each purchased a meat pie from the Gordons. They seated themselves on the edge of the fountain in the center of the square and ate their dinner in silence, watching the tables being cleared and closed as night fell. After finishing their pies, Nesta and Jade talked with their friends as more and more people came and filled the Town Square.

“Can I have your attention, please,” a voice finally called. The crowd slowly quieted and looked toward Reverend Parson standing on the edge of the fountain, a natural pedestal. “It’s time to pick yer partner, folks; let the dancin’ begin!”

The second he finished his words the band started to play- a band of a few fiddles, a flute, a harmonica, and a guitar. Instantly people began to select their partners and danced to the upbeat tune.

Nesta and Jade weaved their way through dancing pairs to the outside of the circle and watched, smiling. “Ah, it’s been a long time since I’ve been to a dance,” Nesta said with a sigh.

Jade felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned to see Luke standing there. “Luke! I had no idea you were out.”

“Yep! Doctor Wilkes let me go just a few minutes ago.”

“That’s great! How’s your head?”

“Fine, fine, thanks for asking,” he replied with a smile. He offered his arm. “May I have this dance?”

Jade’s smile could’ve been seen a mile away. She linked her arm in his, and they walked toward the gathering.

The first song was over too quickly. It ended, and another upbeat song started seconds later.

Luke and Jade stopped and stood looking at each other. “Luke, are you alright?”

He hesitated. “I don’t suppose I could beg a rest?” He asked, grimacing. “I’d love to keep dancin’, but me head isn’t lovin’ it very much.”

Jade gave a sad smile. “Oh, that’s fine. You need to take it easy.”

He returned her smile. “Thank ye. I’m sorry.”

“No, it’s fine,” she reassured him as they made their way outside the circle. “I’m just thankful that we did one song. One is enough for me.”

They seated themselves on the grass outside the circle and watched the people dance. “Aw, look at little Sara and George,” Jade said, pointing. “They’re so cute!”

Luke laughed. “They’re quite a pair!” Jade joined his laughter. Sara was five years old, and George was nine, the O’Connor’s children.

“Hey!” Jade exclaimed. She turned to Luke. “You know who I haven’t seen all day?” He looked at her, wondering if the question was rhetorical. “Laura! Where’s she been?”

“Oh, she’s here,” Luke replied. “I saw her before the race. She was headed to the pig contest.”

“Ah.”

“Haven’t seen her since, though. I wonder-”

“Oh, there she is!”

“Where? I don’t see her.”

Jade pointed. After a moment Luke spotted their good friend Laura Olson dancing with Kevin, Kevin Gordon’s eldest son.

“I’ve never seen her smile so much,” Jade said.

“And I’ve never seen yer eyes this green,” Luke said, turning to her. Jade blushed and look away. He laughed. “Ah… it’s been a good day.”

She gawked at him incredulously. “A ‘good day’? You’re the one who got knocked off his horse and unconscious for twenty minutes! And you’re saying it was a ‘good day’?”

He smiled. “Those twenty minutes didn’t ruin the rest of the twenty-four hour day. The rest of my day was great. So why let that little thing spoil it?”

Jade laughed. “You’re such an optimist!”

“Thank ye! And what would ye call yerself? A pessimist?”

She gave him a look that said, Come on, you know better than that. “Hardly.”

“Really? Little miss If-I-trip-over-my-own-skirt-in-front-Luke-Drake-I’m-ruined-for-life?”

They both burst into laughter. “Oh, when are you ever going to let me live that down?”

“Probably never,” Luke admitted with a mischievous grin. “Honestly, ye’ve got to admit it, ye were pretty silly. Tripping over yer skirt in front of me was not the end of the world.”

“Well, it seemed like it at the time!” Jade parried. “There are certain things a girl does not want to do in front of a friend.”

Luke chuckled. “Oh, I forgot to ask. How did the relay races go?”

“I don’t know,” Jade replied. “I missed them.”

“Because ye were with me?” Jade nodded. “I’m sorry. I know ye were lookin’ forward to those.”

“Don’t worry about it.”

“That was very nice of ye, missin’ the races for me. I’ll make it up to you.”

“You don’t have to do that.”

“But I want to!”

Jade smiled. “Well, I know there’ll be no changing your mind when it’s made.”

“And same for you,” he replied with a chuckle.

The song came to an end, and they joined everyone in the applause and cheering. Moments later, another lively tune picked up. Jade smiled and waved as Laura and Kevin Jr. walked toward them.

“Hi, Jade, Luke,” Laura said with a wide smile.

“Have you enjoyed the dancin’?” Luke asked Kevin.

He nodded. “Aye! The band’s really got it tonight.”

“Yes, and so do you,” Laura grinned, her curly gold hair bouncing as she energetically turned to Kevin. “I’ve never seen you dance so good!”

“Me?” He pointed his chest and looked at her skeptically. “Mr. Twinkletoes?”

The others laughed. “You looked fine to me, Kevin,” Jade said. “I didn’t notice you stompin’ on Laura’s feet or anythin’.”

“And a good thing, too,” Laura interjected. “If you had, I bet these two would’ve come over and beat you up!”

The group burst out in laughter. “No, maybe not,” Luke said over them, looking at Kevin, “but I would’ve pulled you aside and had a word with you. I would’ve asked how you could keep on dancin’ with Laura limpin’ like a three-legged cow with the flu!”

They burst into laughter again. “Come on, guys, I’m not that bad!” Kevin laughed, running a hand through his sandy brown hair. “Ye heard so yerself- Laura said I danced my best tonight.”

“Yes, and how would ye like to dance some more?” Laura asked with a twinkle in her eye.

Kevin grinned and held out his hand. Laura gently placed hers in his, and he raised it to his lips. “Shall we dance?”

“Awwwwwwwwwwwwww,” Jade and Luke cooed mockingly. They laughed. Kevin and Laura both tried to stifle a giggle as they stepped back into the mix of dancing couples in the square.

Jade and Luke watched them silently for a moment. Jade smiled to herself. She thought back to when she, Luke, Kevin, and Laura had been little kids. How much they had grown! She and Laura had been closest, then she and Luke. Kevin had never quite been in the same circle as they, but as time went on, he began to have more and more interest in Laura, and she in him. So, he slowly assimilated into their circle, and they came to love him like he’d always been in it. And now, as she watched Laura and Kevin’s faces glow as they danced, she was sure that despite her initial disdain, Laura’s choice turned out to be a good one.

Luke and Jade talked throughout the rest of the dance until the time finally came for the dancing to end. Jade said goodbye to Luke and found Nesta, and together they headed back to the house, discussing the events of the day. By the time they reached the house it was very late, and both were exhausted. Jade fell into her bed ready for a night of sound sleep, and wished desperately that the dream would not haunt her that night.