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Courting Miss Greene Ch. 01

By: JuneSummers



"Hey, twig!"

From the corner of her eye, little Ginny noticed the two boys by the fence down the forest trail. She preferred to avoid them, but this was the only path she could take without getting lost. Ginny kept her gaze down, pretending not to hear, and stepped a little faster.

The boy who had spoken before walked up to block her path. He folded his arms across his chest. "Where d'ya think yer going, twig?"

Ginny glanced up at him. "To my granny."

The boy frowned while he peered down at her. "What's that on yer face, twig?"

"The twig doesn't wash'r face!" the other boy said with a sneer.

Ginny pouted. "They're called 'freckles!'" she protested.

"Freckle-face! Freckle-face!" the boys taunted while they pushed Ginny from one to the other and back again.

When one of them failed to catch her, Ginny fell on her hands and knees. "Leave me alone!" she cried with tears in her eyes.

"Oh, we will!" one of the boys said. "After we wash those freckles from yer face... in the pond!"

The boys laughed while they grabbed Ginny by the arms and dragged her towards the water. The little girl screamed and struggled, but she was no match for them.

"Let's see if the twig'll float!" one of the boys suggested.

"No, I can't swim yet! Please, no!" pleaded Ginny while the other boy reached down to grab her feet. Ginny closed her eyes and screamed for dear life. She expected to be hoisted into the air, but instead she fell to the ground when all of a sudden her arms were released.

An older boy had arrived at the scene. With a lot of pulling and shoving he fought off the two boys who had been harassing Ginny. After the bullies had fled, the older boy extended his hand to Ginny. His dark brown hair was all ruffled up, but his smile was kind. Ginny's tender heart pounded when he helped her to her feet. "You alright?" he asked.

"Yes, thank you," she answered in a small voice. Ginny glanced up at him and he gazed down at her, still holding her hand. Ginny wished he could stay with her forever.

"Ethan! Come back here!" a man bellowed from a distance. "At once, I say!"

Ginny let out a wistful sigh while she watched the boy dash off. "Ethan..."



Courting Miss Greene Ch. 01



"Hoo-hooo! He's quite the gentleman!" said Ol' Granny. "Now dry your tears, child." The old woman patted Ginny on the shoulder. "Here, have some tea. It will help you calm down."





Courting Miss Greene Ch. 01



Ginny remained silent, fidgeting with her hands. Ethan thought Ginny was pretty, but he had assumed she would scoff at him if he would praise her on such superficial matters. Now he knew how insecure she felt about her looks, he needed to address the issue if he wanted to win her confidence. "Ginny," he said with a sigh, "what on Earth makes you think I don't find you attractive?"

Ginny could answer that question and she would. She pointed at her face. "Well, for instance, these cursed freckles."

"Pah! Nonsense!" said Ethan. "I love your freckles. They're so cute!"

Ginny blinked at him. He really meant it. She could believe he did. It was like a tiny spark lit up deep down in Ginny's heart. But she was not done yet. "Then what about this tawny, frizzy mess?" she asked, clawing at her head.

"I think it's charming. So wild, free and pure..." murmured Ethan while he ran his fingers through her hair.

His low voice sent a shiver down Ginny's spine and made her blush. The tiny spark dared to flicker a bit stronger.

"See? You'll have to do better than that," said Ethan.

Ginny averted her gaze. "Alright then, here it comes," she said with a sigh. "I don't have much of a bosom. I'm practically flat as a board!"

"I noticed," admitted Ethan, "and I don't care. Not that much anyway. What else?"

Ginny raised her eyebrows. How could Ethan shrug it off like that? "That was the big one I suppose," she said. "If you give me a moment, I'm sure I can come up with something else."

"No, don't do that," said Ethan. "I don't want you to fabricate more of those crazy ideas just for argument's sake. If only you could see yourself the way I see you..." Ethan cupped Ginny's face in his hands and waited for her to meet his eyes. "If you could see how beautiful I think you are, you would stop being so afraid."

The spark in Ginny's heart turned into a little flame that claimed it's space in the vast darkness. Ginny wanted to protect and nourish that flame. Perhaps one day it's light would grow strong enough to dispel her fears and insecurities. Ginny wanted to believe it. She wanted to believe in Ethan and in his love for her.

"Alright," she said, "I give up. You win."

"This is not about winning," said Ethan. "We have to be on the same side, Ginny. Without you I'd stumble through life like a blind man in the dark: hurting other people, myself and you. I don't want that anymore. I want to start a new life... with you, Ginny. Can't you see how much I need you?"

"Oh, Ethan," said Ginny with a sigh. "With your love in my life, I could take on the whole world."

Ethan kissed Ginny again. His hands roamed all over her small frame, squeezing her here and there, causing her to whimper every now and then. It did not take long for Ginny to turn hot. She wanted to feel Ethan again... down there. She pushed her body up against him for another attempt. Now Ethan had to hold Ginny back in spite of himself.

He broke the kiss and looked deep into her eyes. "Does this mean you'll marry me?" he asked.

Ginny blinked at him. "Why, Mr. Clark! Is that a proposal?"

"It is," he confirmed.

"Then, yes!" Ginny flung her arms around his neck.

"Hoo-hooooo, a wedding!" croaked Ol'Granny.





Courting Miss Greene Ch. 01



Ethan jolted upright and reached out to her. "No, honey! Forgive me, I spoke in jest. Come here, please. I'll be gentle, I swear."

Ginny accepted Ethan's hand and let him help her climb onto the bed. She lay down next to him and gave him a little smile, even though she still trembled.

"There's no need to be coy now, honey. You know that, right?" asked Ethan.

"I do," answered Ginny, "but I don't think Granny's potion is working yet."

"Trust me, honey," said Ethan. "I know what I'm doing."

"Alright," said Ginny with a little smile.

Ethan looked down at his bride. His heart went out to her while he caressed her face. Ginny's eyes were filled with curiosity and apprehension. She was so innocent! He almost suggested they might just kiss and cuddle like before, but then he recalled how she had cried out his name when she touched herself, or how she would press her body against his when they kissed. She was not a child, but a sensual young woman. She wanted him, she was ready for it and he should give her what she needed. He was honor-bound to do so, being her husband.

Ethan wanted Ginny to relax so he started out slow by planting his lips here and there across her face, before moving on to her neck and shoulders. His hands wandered all over her body while he whispered sweet things in her ear to soothe and comfort her. When he felt it was working, he dared to go a little further and tugged down her chemise to expose her breasts. They were small indeed, but Ethan knew her nipples would not be any less sensitive. At the end of the day, that was all that mattered.

Ginny savored the feel of Ethan's expert hands and lips on her bare skin, gasping at every new sensation, no longer feeling nervous or shy. Ethan was making love to her. Finally, Ethan... After all those years of loving him... waiting for him... longing for him... Ginny thought her heart would burst with joy! She shivered and squirmed in his arms, clutching on to him, wanting him to do more and more.

Encouraged by Ginny's response to his touch, Ethan worked a hand under the skirt of her chemise, alternating between caressing her thighs and squeezing her buttocks. He continued licking and sucking at her nipples while his hand moved on to stimulate her private area. He was gratified to learn she was already wet.

Ginny jolted when Ethan's hand reached her pleasure nub. She cried out his name and shivered at the intensity of the feeling. On and on, waves of pleasure coursed through her body while he continued stimulating her there. He coated his fingers with her wetness, increasing the pressure while he rubbed up and down between her nether lips.

Ginny whimpered when she felt Ethan probing her. She gasped and closed her eyes when one of his fingers entered her. Her eyebrows furrowed while it slid in deeper. Ginny spread her thighs a little further to give Ethan more room to work with. When he could go no further, she let out the breath she had been holding on to. She tried to relax and enjoy the feeling of Ethan's warm finger lodged snugly inside of her.

Ethan assured himself Ginny was not in any pain. He kissed her breasts while moving his finger in and out of her, making Ginny squirm under him when he increased his speed. After a while, Ethan felt she was ready for more. He pressed a second finger into her opening, causing Ginny to gasp and moan. He paused for a moment when her nails dug into his arm and did not continue before she loosened her grip.

Ginny bit her lip when Ethan's fingers delved down deep into her tight tunnel, almost out and then back in again. She knew it was necessary to prepare her body for the consummation of their marriage. While her body was stretched wider, she suppressed the urge to scream. Ginny was afraid Ethan would stop and she was desperate to feel him inside of her.

"Uuuhhh, Ethan...?" she whimpered.

He stopped what he was doing. "Yes, honey?"

"Please, now..." she begged.

"Are you sure, honey?"

"Yes!" cried Ginny. "Make me one with you, please."

Ethan raised his eyebrows, somewhat amused at her boldness. He did not think she was quite ready yet, but he could hardly refuse a request like that. "Your wish is my command," he said.

Ginny averted her eyes Ethan began tugging at his trousers. She preferred not to see what he was uncovering, suspecting she might grow nervous again. When Ethan was done, he opened her thighs by bringing up her knees. He positioned himself between her legs, leaning on his elbows to allow her to breathe.

Ginny shivered when Ethan's body moved on top of her. She enjoyed the warmth of his bare skin on her thighs and belly when his weight pressed her down into the mattress. She placed her hands on his shoulders and returned his passionate kiss. It was so much more intimate now. Ginny thought she could keep doing this forever.

Ethan had neglected himself while he was stimulating Ginny. He was excited, but not quite hard enough yet. He distracted Ginny by kissing her on the mouth while he reached down to stroke himself. He knew better than to ask her to touch him. They could always get into that later.

Ginny's heart pounded in anticipation. She tried very hard not to think about what Ethan was doing down there. Instead, she concentrated on the kiss, pulling up her body to feel his warm chest against her breasts. When Ethan hunched his back, Ginny noticed something warm and hard being pressed against her wet slit. It was not his hand.

"Ready?" he asked.

"Yes," answered Ginny with a little nod.

Ethan directed himself and pushed forward with his hips. Ginny cried at the painful sting when he tore past her maidenhead. "I'm so sorry, honey," he whispered.

Ginny shook her head and tried to smile. "No, I'm alright," she said. "Go on." She threw her head back into the pillow, overwhelmed with the sensation of Ethan's flesh filling her up. She rotated her pelvis in order to give him a better angle. Ethan took advantage of that. Ginny sobbed and kicked her legs a few times when Ethan slid in all the way. 

"Aahhh... You're so tight...!" he murmured. Ethan gave Ginny a few moments to adjust to the feeling of having him deep inside of her. He could feel her shudder and clamp down on him a few times. He groaned while he enjoyed the sensations he received from her body. Eventually he withdrew himself until he was almost out of her and then he began to thrust his hips back and forth. Ethan was on familiar territory now, but since Ginny had not been here before he could not let himself get carried away.

Ginny shivered when Ethan started moving inside of her. He did not hide his lust for her body, and it aroused her to be aware of it. When Ethan continued going faster and faster, Ginny could feel a new kind of pleasure building up. It was different from the feeling she received from her little nub. Ginny dug her fingers into Ethan's back. "Oh, Ethan! Don't stop! Please, don't stop!" she pleaded.

Now Ethan knew Ginny was enjoying their lovemaking, he increased the amount of force to his thrusts. He turned hot and sweaty while he continued pounding her harder and harder. Ethan glanced down at Ginny to make sure he was bringing her along to the peak of their pleasure. He noted the intensity of her moaning and the way she squirmed under him.

He had to estimate how far she was. After a while, he was sure she was almost there. Ethan himself was getting close as well. He would usually pull out at this point, but he was with Ginny this time and he would give her all he had. With one last forceful thrust, Ethan buried himself deep inside of his wife. "Ah, Ginny...!" he groaned, just before going over the edge.

Ginny was on the brink herself when Ethan called out her name. "Oh, Ethan!" she cried as if for help. Her mouth fell open when the entrance of her slick tunnel clenched tight around the throbbing flesh lodged deep inside her body. She gasped in desperation at the pain when her muscle would not release its grasp. An intense pulse throughout her body seemed to pressurize her blood inside her center. She could feel hot spurts of liquid being shot deep into her belly. A moment later the pressure was finally released from her muscle, only to concentrate again while one wave of ecstasy followed after another, after another.

Ginny moaned and shook her head while the intense sensation racked her body. Just when the pulse seemed to slow down, Ethan started to move inside of her again with a light thrust. It made the fire of her pleasure flare up once more. It did not take long before Ginny reached another climax. It seemed to be even more intense this time. Ginny cried out with every breath she took, almost sobbing. She squirmed in Ethan's arms and clawed at his back.

When she was finally spent, Ethan stopped moving and looked down at Ginny's face. Her expression was one of contentment: her eyes were closed and she almost seemed to smile. Her hair was a big mess though. Ethan smiled to himself. Ginny truly belonged to him now and he belonged to her. Concluding she was satisfied, he slowly withdrew himself.

Ginny let out a soft moan when Ethan pulled out. In a strange way she felt empty inside, as if her body had been hollowed out. She reached between her legs to inspect herself. She imagined she must have been stretched wide open, but she only encountered a mushy wetness instead. Before she knew it, Ginny looked down at Ethan to see what had been inside of her. She gasped while her eyes widened in shock. "Good grief...!"





Courting Miss Greene Ch. 02



"Doesn't this look familiar to you, honey?" asked Ethan, surveying the meadow.

Ginny plowed through the tall grass behind him. "Mr. Clark, I warned you not to bring that up!" she said with a stern look. Ethan had a mischievous glint in his eyes. Ginny could tell what he was thinking. "Stop it!" she commanded and glanced over her shoulder. "Mind the family!" A wide grin appeared on Ethan's face. "I said 'stop it!'" insisted Ginny while her face turned red. Ethan winked at her instead.

"Oooh! Now you're asking for it!"

Ginny rushed towards Ethan and gave him a push. It did not have much effect, aside from making him laugh. Ginny took a few steps back to gain momentum for her next attempt, but Ethan evaded her. He dashed off, prompting Ginny to chase him.

From a distance, Lizzy called out with excitement, "Get him, Ginny!"

"Hush, silly!" commanded Abby, standing next to her younger sister.

Further down the field, Ethan stopped and turned around. Ginny caught up with him and slapped him. "Ow, ow, it tickles!" cried Ethan. He fell down, laughing with tears. Ginny swooped down on Ethan and banged his chest with her fists. "There's a... little mouse... jumping on me!" he exclaimed, almost out of breath.

The older Mrs. Clark observed the scene from the picnic blanket. "Who would have thought our Ethan and your Virginia would make such a nice, young couple?" she asked.

"You know what they say: 'Life is full of surprises.'" answered Mrs. Greene, before taking a sip of her tea. "I suppose you are also looking forward to the fruits of this marriage?"

"Indeed, I am." replied Mrs. Clark. "As you know, Ethan is my only child. For years I feared I had been too lenient with him in his upbringing, considering his previous behavior... I'm sure you know what I'm referring to. I must say married life becomes him rather well. Virginia keeps a tight leash on him."

"Well, I'm sure it's not just the marriage," said the older Mr. Clark.

"Oh, you know so much!" his wife scoffed at him.

"It's the lot of us men, that leash is," said Mr. Greene.

"As well it should be," agreed Mrs. Greene.

"Oh, where have they gone off to now?" asked Lizzy. "I don't hear them anymore. It's all gone dead quiet!"

"Sit down, Elizabeth. You too, Abigale," commanded Mr. Greene. "Give your sister some privacy."

Abby gasped. "Father! You don't mean...?"

Mr. Greene confirmed his daughter's suspicions by giving her a stern look, causing the girl to cover her mouth and blush.

"What? How would you know such a thing if you can't see them?" asked Lizzy.

"Don't ask silly questions now, Lizzy. They're married. That's all we need to know," said Mrs. Greene. "Besides, it's only been a month."

"Ah, yes," said Mr. Clark. "I remember when Isabell and I first got married, we used to --" He was cut off when his wife elbowed him in the ribs.

Mrs. Clark ignored the questioning glances from the Greene sisters and resumed sipping her tea, although she could not help herself from blushing. Mr. Clark was amused to see that. Mr. and Mrs. Greene shared a knowing glance, but thought it wise to hold their tongue.

Lizzy broke the silence. "I noticed there's a game they play. Ethan will stand in the doorway and won't let Ginny pass unless she pays the highwayman. And then she kisses him! Can you imagine living like that, Abby? Not being able to go from one room to another without kissing a man?"

"No. I cannot imagine such a thing since I've never kissed a man. And neither have you, so don't be so dramatic. Ginny doesn't seem to mind anyway," said Abby.

"I wonder what it's like to kiss a man," said Lizzy. "I mean a nice, young man. Not an old one like Ethan, even if he is good-looking."

"Ethan's not old, you silly goose!" said Abby.

"He is to me!" argued Lizzy.

"Oh, hush! Young men your age can't kiss all that well," said Abby. "They lack experience... or so I've heard."

"Ginny had no experience, but Ethan seems to like the way she kisses!" replied Lizzy.

"That's because it's the man who leads the woman," said Abby. "That goes for dancing as well as kissing and..." Abby blushed, unable to finish the sentence.

"Oh, what word to use?" asked Lizzy, rolling her eyes.

"You see what I have to deal with every day?" Mr. Greene asked the Clarks. "I do miss having Virginia in the house, but with these two... there's never a dull moment!"

"I had hoped they'd calm down once they got older, but it seems they've only changed the subject," added Mrs. Greene, giving her daughters a stern look.

"Ha, I suppose Windfarn is too small for such excitable young ladies," said Mr. Clark. "Too little happens here to keep their busy minds occupied with much else."

"What a sensible thing to say, Jonathan," said Mrs. Clark. "Now you simply must invite them over to your cousin in Northfair."

"Northfair?" both girls asked at once.

"Why, certainly," said Mr. Clark. "Albert, my cousin in Northfair, is rather keen on birthday parties. He celebrates his own by throwing a dance for all his family and friends as well as everybody they know. We don't go every year since it's a week's travel, but it's a nice way to get to know people. I'm sure Ethan will want everybody to meet his new wife, and it would be a nice change of scenery for Abigale and Elizabeth. With Mr. Greene's permission, of course."

"Oh, father! Please, can we go?" asked Lizzy.

"Yes, father! You'll finally have some peace and quiet in the house with us gone!" said Abby.

"Oh, I don't know," said Mr. Greene. "It sounds very fancy and all. I trust Virginia to make a good impression. However, Abigale and Elizabeth... still have some growing up to do."

"Father! Certainly you only meant Lizzy!" cried Abby.

"No, we're both of age! You simply must let us go, father!" pleaded Lizzy.

Mr. Greene sighed. "Prove to me you can behave like perfect young ladies and I will consider it."

Abby and Lizzy jumped up and down, screaming and giggling with excitement.

"Starting now!" bellowed Mr. Greene.

The girls were quiet at once and sat down on their knees.

"Would you like some sugar in your tea, Elizabeth?" asked Abby.

"Yes, please, and thank you, Abigale." answered Lizzy.

Mrs. Greene was amused at how her husband handled the situation. She knew he was only toying with the girls. In reality he would be only too eager to have them out of the house for a while. It would be nice to spend some time alone together again. Mrs. Greene smiled to herself. When her gaze met her husband's, she recognized the twinkle in his eyes.

Yes, Abby and Lizzy would definitely be going to Northfair.





Courting Miss Greene Ch. 02



Lizzy stared at Robert. For a few moments, Robert thought she was convinced, but all of a sudden Lizzy frowned at him. "My heart is not that fickle!" she cried and ran off, sobbing.

"That didn't help much, did it?" asked Robert.

"No, it's my fault both of my sisters have run off." said Ginny. "I'm sure they just want to be alone for a while, but someone might get lost. Especially Lizzy. She never looks where she's going when she's upset like that."

"We'll go look for them if they're not back in time before tea," said Robert. "We can always get out the horses if necessary. They can't get too far on foot."





Courting Miss Greene Ch. 02



The idea amused Abby.

"You're on," she said.





Courting Miss Greene Ch. 02



The weight was lifted from her body. Abby was afraid it would stop when her hands were released as well, but then her breasts were being touched instead. If Abby had know this would happen, she would have taking off her chemise to feel those hands on her naked skin.

After a while, the hands withdrew from her breasts and the weight was removed from the bed entirely. Was this the end? Surely he could not leave her like this! Abby wanted him to take her, even if he were some random thief. She was so ready for it, but he left her wanting more.

Abby wanted to cry, but she fell asleep instead.





Courting Miss Greene Ch. 03



Upon returning to her room, Abby was disappointed to see the dresser still as empty as she had left it that morning. She knew the drink had something to do with the man who had appeared in her dream. When she undressed, she decided to take off her chemise as well, just in case he would return after all.

Abby was stark naked when she got into bed. She had never slept nude before. The sheets were cool against her skin. She yawned and stretched her arms above her head. While she arched her back and writhed under the blanket, the friction from the fabric made her feel sensual in a new way.

She recalled how frustrated she had been the previous night when the stranger could only touch her through her clothes. Abby made it up to herself by caressing her body while she thought about him. She remembered how much she had wanted to feel something inside of her. She spread her thighs and touched herself at the center, looking for the little opening. She frowned while she probed the soft, moist flesh with her fingers.

Where exactly was it?

She had found it once before, but felt no pleasure when she entered a finger in there so she always used to tease her little nub instead. Certainly the entrance could not have shrunk away! Abby pouted. Thomas was right then. She was uptight, literally. Abby sighed in disappointment and removed her hand. Perhaps she should consult the medical section of the library tomorrow. Her gaze wandered around the room while she let herself drift off. All of a sudden her heart missed a beat.

A man was standing on her balcony outside!

Abby's eyes widened. She could see him well enough since she had not drunk anything and the curtains were still open. It must be the stranger from last night! She was sure of it! She could not make out his face, but he seemed to be looking at her. For a moment she was afraid he would come in. The next moment she was afraid he would leave. Abby lay frozen under the sheets and stared at the dark figure, trying not to blink her eyes in case he was a dream after all. Abby no longer trusted herself to tell whether something was real or not.

She liked the look of him: those broad shoulders, the narrow hips, the nonchalant way he leaned against the wall. She wondered what he wanted. She did not have any precious possessions, except for her maidenhood. If he wanted it, she would give it to him. She wanted to give it to him.

Abby was not sure how much he was able to see. It was probably too dark to read her face, but he should be able to make out her body in the moonlight. In a series of slow movements she pushed herself upright to sit on her knees, letting the sheets slide down her back before stretching her legs while she turned around to face him. She leaned back on one hand to caress her body with the other, bending a knee to show the curve of her thigh and calf. Her head fell back when she arched her back to expose her slender torso. She lowered herself onto her elbow, emphasizing the curve of her hips in contrast to her waist.

From the balcony outside, Thomas was enjoying Abby's little show. He licked his lips while his eyes roamed all over the naked form she displayed without constraint. He grinned when he recalled Abby's failed attempt at pleasuring herself. She was probably trying to enlist some help in that department and he was more than willing to give it to her. Thomas had not intended to do anything tonight as a way of teasing her and making her more desperate for their next session, but the way things were going he found himself tempted to enter the room after all. Leaving was not an option, neither was standing there all night.

He reached for the door handle.

Abby was startled by the sound of footsteps down the hall. In a reflex, she turned to look at the door and covered herself. When she looked back at the balcony again, the man was gone. Abby blinked. He was either incredibly fast or she had been dreaming after all. Her heart pounded. She had to know. Abby wrapped herself in a sheet and got out of bed. She shivered in the cool night air when she walked onto the balcony. There was nobody there. Perhaps he could make himself invisible, but why would he disappear like that?

Abby cleared her throat. "I won't tell anybody if you come in... and I won't resist... I promise!" She felt silly talking into the night air like that. Even if he could hear her, the mystery man would not reappear out of thin air just because she said he could have his way with her. Abby decided to go back into the room before she would catch a cold. He probably was just a dream after all.

Thomas was clinging onto the rope under the balcony. He had a pretty good hunch Abby would come outside and he did not want to get caught climbing up the wall. He felt encouraged by Abby's words. This would change things. She was willing to have a rendezvous with a real man, not just some figment of her imagination.

This could get interesting...





Courting Miss Greene Ch. 03



"Erm, no, sir," answered Lizzy, casting a glance at her fiancé. "It was all very sudden."

"We could get one down town tomorrow," suggested Robert.

"No, no, hold on just a moment," said Uncle Albert. He pulled a chain from his neck and removed the ring that was dangling on it. "Let's see if this will fit." He handed the ring to his eldest son.

Robert's heart pounded. It had been his mother's wedding ring. "Father, I --" Robert choked up, unable to finish the sentence.

"Oh, come on now, boy," the old man said in a soothing voice. "I'm sure she would've been pleased to see you with this little darling. Go on. Try it on."

Robert took Lizzy's left hand. They all gasped. The ring fit perfectly.

"Now, a little kiss would be appropriate," suggested Uncle Albert.

Robert bent down to kiss his fiancée. He was so happy, he forgot about all the other people in the room. Lizzy squirmed in his arms when he deepened the kiss.

"And I do mean a little one!" his father added, cocking an eyebrow.

Robert pulled away from Lizzy and looked around the parlor. Everyone was staring at either the carpet or the chandelier. Lizzy's face was flushed red from embarrassment. "Forgive me, I --" he stammered.

"Oooh, nothing to worry about. It's all official now," his father interrupted. "At least I'm glad you've lost your head over a sweet, little lady instead of a wolf-thing like what-was-her-name-again. I never liked that one very much."

Lizzy blinked when the old man drew a face. She cast a questioning glance at Robert. "That was years ago," he explained, "when I was young and foolish..." Lizzy tried not to laugh when she saw Robert frown at his own words. "I mean younger and more foolish," he corrected himself with an apologetic smile.

"Ah, I see," said Lizzy, smiling back at him.

"Yes, yes, let's not look further into the past. Let's look ahead to the future," urged Uncle Albert. "I can already see one thing coming up immediately," he continued.

"Dinner!"





Courting Miss Greene Ch. 03



"Oh, don't look at it!" she exclaimed and sat down on her buttocks at once.

"Why not?" Robert sat down beside her. "I liked what I saw."

Lizzy blushed a furious red. "No man has ever seen me naked. At least not since I was toddler."

Robert bit his tongue. He did not want to tell Lizzy he had already seen her before in the bath. It would make a funny tale in a few years, but not right now. He brushed away her hair with the back of his hand and continued to play with it. He looked into her eyes. "Come on," he smiled. "I'll make it worth your while."

"How?" she asked.

"Well, there's only one way to find out, isn't there?" he teased.

Lizzy blinked at him. She was no longer entirely clueless after reading some of those naughty stories, but she had no hope of catching up with Robert in terms of experience. She allowed him to turn her around and push her head down onto the pillows, leaving her bottom in the air. She turned her head to look at him while she spread her knees and arched her back to give him a better view.

"Oh, baby..." he muttered in a low, breathless voice. "That's right. Yeah, just like that." He used both of his hands to massage her thighs and buttocks.

Lizzy closed her eyes and clenched the pillows in anticipation when he leaned in towards her. She could feel his hot breath on her skin before he started to plant gentle kisses all over her. The feeling tickled her, but she no longer felt like giggling. All of a sudden she felt his warm tongue licking at her slit in small, rapid strokes. Lizzy shivered. It was so embarrassing, but she could not deny how good it felt. Her breath became shallow when he probed deeper into her. She was about to start moaning when Robert stopped.

"Hold on, baby," he said. He lay down on his back and moved up until his head was beneath her. He pushed her down onto his face, licking at her little nub while he pressed a finger into her wet tunnel.

"Oh, Robert! Yes!" cried Lizzy, bucking her hips while he increased the pace. It was so much better than anything she could have done to herself. Running out of breath, she grabbed the headboard to push herself up. "Oh, Robert! I can't take it anymore! Uuuuhh!" she cried.

Robert did not stop when Lizzy shuddered in silence and pushed herself down on him. After a few seconds he could feel her spasm around his finger. She let out a high-pitched squeal and continued to whimper while she rotated her hips. Robert smiled. The little sounds she made were music to his ears. He waited until she was done and helped her lie down beside him underneath the sheets. She snuggled against him, but she looked a bit embarrassed when she gazed up into his eyes.

"That wasn't so bad now, was it?" he asked.

Lizzy blushed. "No," she said in a small voice, "but I didn't do anything for you."

Robert laughed. "You came on my face!" he said.

Lizzy shrank away into the sheets. "S-Sorry!" she stammered. 

"Don't apologize, baby," he replied with a smile. "It kinda boosts my ego to make you come that hard. You seem a little flustered though. Perhaps we should call it a night. Do you wish to sleep over? You could see how you like my snoring now you can still change your mind."

Lizzy giggled. "I snore too! Well, says Abby!" She bit her lip, remembering she wasn't supposed to mention her sister.

"Really?" laughed Robert. He wrapped his arms around her. "I'd love to hear that, baby. Your voice has a way of turning me on." He paused for a moment. "So I can't promise you I won't ravish you in the morning."

Lizzy gasped in shock.

"Robert Clark!"





Courting Miss Greene Ch. 03



After a while, she inevitably drifted off to sleep. Abby willed herself awake when the man released her and moved away. "Will you come back tomorrow?" she asked, knowing she needed to phrase the question more specifically than she had done before.

The man paused for a moment. "Yes, my love," he answered, this time without conditions.

Abby's mystery man kept his word. He returned the following night, and the nights that followed after. Each night, Abby would ask him that same question before he left and he would give her the same answer. It made her dread the upcoming dance. She did not want this little affair to end, but she could not stop time.





Courting Miss Greene Ch. 03



Ginny and Lizzy already suspected something like that, but they still stood aghast at his confession.

"Why?" asked Ethan with a frown.

"I don't know. I didn't mean to take it that far," answered Thomas, "but at least I kept my pants on."

His brother cocked an eyebrow. "Then what exactly did you do to her?"

"Everything else."

Robert palmed his face and, deciding ignorance was bliss, he changed the subject. "So you've been at Alder Hill the entire time?"

"Yes."

"But I waved you goodbye!"

Thomas shrugged. "I stalled my horse down town and came back home. You know there's plenty of places to hide and eavesdrop."

Robert gaped at Thomas. "Then you've fooled us all! That would also explain the missing provisions. I was almost about to question the servants. What a mighty trick to pull off!" Robert could not help but be impressed. He frowned when a little grin appeared on Thomas' face. "But why would you continue to torment poor Abby? I mean, there wasn't anything genteel about that. Not even by your standards."

"That's true," admitted Thomas with a look of guilt on his face. "I suppose I just wanted to be close to her."

"You really love her then?" asked Lizzy.

Thomas looked her straight in the eyes. "Yes, I do," he answered.

"That's not love!" said Ginny. "That's an obsession! And an unhealthy one at that!"

Ethan sighed. "Honey..." He put his hands on his wife's shoulders. She did not know Thomas the way he and Robert did.

Ginny would not let her husband calm her down, not when it concerned her sister. "You didn't respect Abby," she continued. "How can you say you love her when you can't even respect her?"

Thomas' heart sank. He knew Ginny must be right. He stared down at the stone tiles, not knowing what to say.

Robert came to his brother's defense. "Thomas has an odd way of approaching things. It's easy to misunderstand him."

"You're siding with him?" asked Ginny in disbelief. "After all Abby did to help you with Lizzy?"

Ethan remembered Abby had helped him win his wife as well. "Yeah, Robert," he said. "I thought you were supposed to be Abby's friend."

"I am Abby's friend, but Thomas is my brother," replied Robert, feeling helplessly torn between the two.

Lizzy came to the aid of her fiancé. "We don't know how Abby feels about Thomas."

Ginny frowned at her youngest sister. "She wanted to kill him."

"Well, yeah..." Lizzy bit her lip. She could not believe she had only made things worse! Her mind raced while she thought back on the past few days. "But I'm pretty sure Abby was in love with Thomas when she didn't know it was him," she said, remembering Abby had not been acting like herself lately.

Ginny raised her eyebrows. "How can you be in love with somebody without knowing who they are?" she asked. Since Lizzy only shrank away with a sheepish smile, Ginny turned to Thomas for an answer.

"Stranger sex?" he suggested.

Ginny cringed. "I'm sorry I asked," she said with a sigh. "I should have known I wouldn't be getting any real answers from you. This is all a waste of time. I'm going back inside."

"Ginny, please!" pleaded Lizzy.

"You don't have to help him just because he's Robert's brother," she answered.

"But I want to help Abby as well!"

"You can help Abby by keeping Thomas away from her," said Ginny. "I don't think she can take any more of his mischief."

"But --"

"No, I've had enough! I'll see you all back inside. Now, if you'll excuse me!"

Ethan could not remember his wife getting this upset since they had gotten married. When she left the patio, he turned to his younger cousin. "You did cross the line with Abby," he said. "Or more like a hundred lines. I can't forgive you until she does." He moved in closer to stand in front of Thomas's face, towering over the younger man. "And I want you to know if you ever upset Abby again, I won't hold back my fist!" he threatened.

Thomas breathed a sigh of relief when Ethan followed his wife, but he felt utterly defeated nonetheless. He glanced at Robert and Lizzy. "Go ahead. Walk out on me. I don't deserve your friendship," he said.

"Friendship? You're my brother! Nothing could change that," answered Robert.

Lizzy touched his arm. "I believe in you, Thomas," she said.

Thomas' heart jumped. He managed a little smile. "Thank you, Lizzy. I won't disappoint you, I promise."

Robert bit his tongue. Another promise, another challenge. He wished Thomas would stop being so rash. He would have to keep a close eye on the young rascal.

He owed it to Abby.





Courting Miss Greene Ch. 04



Over the next few days preparations were made for the journey to Windfarn. Uncle Albert provided the travelers with two of his own carriages: one for Ethan with his wife and parents; and one for Robert with the other two Greene sisters.

Abby thought it was a good arrangement when she seated herself opposite Lizzy and Robert, but her heart missed a beat when Thomas climbed in to take the empty seat next to her. "What's the meaning of this?" she demanded.

"Oh? Didn't you know?" replied Robert before his brother could answer. "Thomas is coming along with us."

Abby's heart pounded. "What in heaven's name for?" she asked. Certainly Thomas was not thinking of speaking with her father! No, he would not dare!

"Well, for moral support. He's my brother after all," answered Robert, "and he's never been to Windfarn before."

Abby frowned at Robert's smile, but she could not argue with him about those reasons. She knew he had not told her the truth. He was a bad liar, but a clever one nonetheless. Even though Robert was supposed to be her friend, he was obviously up to something. Lizzy looked suspicious as well. Abby thought it best not to ask her younger sister any questions, suspecting she was better off not knowing the answer openly. She cast a angry glance at Thomas, who did not seem to be wholly at ease. Abby had specifically told him she did not want to see him and yet there he was, sitting right next to her. "Hmpf!" she scoffed at him and turned her head away to look out the window.

Lizzy felt sorry for Thomas. He looked like a dog who had been kicked too hard, too often. At least Ethan and Ginny were acting normal toward him again, but they still refused to support his effort in winning Abby when Lizzy had asked them. It was an odd situation for Lizzy to find herself siding with a different camp from both of her sisters. However, she believed Abby must have some feelings for Thomas. If she did not care at all, she would not be this angry with him. Robert had agreed with that analysis. He valued his friendship with Abby and he would never plot against her wishes simply for the sake of his little brother.

While they traveled down the road from Northfair, Robert and Lizzy tried to keep up a conversation with the other two travelers. Sometimes Thomas would pitch in and at other times Abby would, but she was careful not to speak to Thomas directly unless she could make some snappish remark. Abby's icy attitude toward Thomas disheartened her travel companions. She did not mean to be unpleasant, but it was their own fault for conspiring against her. They should know better than to expect her to like what they were doing, and they would be foolish to think she did not know.

Thomas remained pleasant and polite toward Abby in spite of everything she threw at him. Her pride was big enough for two, or even three, so Thomas was forced to swallow all of his own. He figured being insulted was better than being ignored altogether. He took it as some strange, twisted way for Abby to show her affection toward him so he decided he might as well learn to like it.

Every time they made a rest stop, Thomas offered Abby his hand to assist her in getting out of the carriage. Abby always refused, but when they stopped at an inn for the evening she tripped on her skirt and tumbled down into his arms. It made Thomas' heart soar to be able to hold Abby close again, but for her it was a complete disaster to find herself all of a sudden back in the embrace of the man she was trying so hard to avoid. However, he had caught her fair and square. Abby could not be ungrateful so she was forced to act pleasant toward Thomas from that moment on.

When the older Mrs. Clark observed Abigale and Thomas interacting with each other, she remarked the girl had the right type of personality to tame the boy's reckless nature since he seemed to be quite docile in her presence. She did not think anyone had ever had that effect on him before. Her husband noted Thomas could not take his eyes off of Abigale, although she kept him at a distance for some reason. Ethan and Ginny knew the reason, but did not think it would be appropriate to share it. They only told Ethan's parents not to try any matchmaking between the two because Abby would certainly not appreciate that. The older couple was disappointed to hear that, but had no choice but to follow the younger couple's advice.

Robert and Lizzy were excited to see any kind of improvement in the relationship between Abby and Thomas. Lizzy asked Robert how he would feel about a double wedding, but Robert warned his fiancée not to get too far ahead of things. This was just the first day of the journey and he knew, underneath the surface, Abby's wounded pride had still not healed.





Courting Miss Greene Ch. 04



"No!" Abby cried out in horror. She threw herself on top of her sister, covering the other girl's body with her own to prevent her from receiving further injury. For a moment Abby expected to get kicked as well, but instead she only heard a whoosh followed by a thud. When she glanced over her shoulder, she saw the man staggering backwards with an arrow protruding from his chest. For a moment she could only gape at him in shock, but then all the bandits started yelling and she heard other voices as well, familiar voices. Abby's heart jumped when she turned her head. "Thomas!" she cried. She never thought she would be this happy to see the scoundrel.

"Stay down, Abby!" Thomas charged forward, swinging his longsword to drive apart the bandits who were reaching for their knives. "Get away from those girls!" he shouted at them.

"Look out, Thomas!" warned Robert. He slashed his rapier at a man who was about to attack his brother from behind. Although Robert did not have much combat experience, the mere choice of weapon proved to be a great advantage: all he had to do was to prevent his opponent from getting close enough to launch a counter attack.

Ethan found his two sisters. "Abby! Lizzy! Are you alright?" he asked.

"I am," answered Abby, "but I think Lizzy passed out just now."

Ethan crouched down to check on the other girl when one of the bandits came running up to them, flashing a knife. "Oh, yeah?" He shot an angry glance at his opponent. "Well, I've got two!" Ethan stood up to show the daggers on either side of his belt. When the bandit glanced down to check them out, Ethan landed his fist on the man's nose. The bandit fell to his knees while blood streamed down his face. "You want to bleed some more"?" asked Ethan. He took out his daggers and readied himself for a double-handed attack. The man with the bloody nose heeded Ethan's warning and quickly scrambled away.

All of a sudden Ginny's voice cried out for Thomas.

Abby's eyes flashed across the scene. Her older sister stood some distance away, aiming an arrow at something among the trees. When Abby peered more closely, she saw one of the bandits getting ready to throw a knife. His intent gaze focused on Thomas, who was fighting two other bandits on his own.

"Thomas! Behind you!" warned Ethan when he made the same observation as Abby.

Thomas glanced over his shoulder, but saw no threat and returned his attention to his opponents. Ethan took off to stop the knife thrower, but Abby realized he might be too late. Before she knew it, she found herself rushing towards Thomas.

"You cowards!" shouted Thomas when his opponents fled the scene, clutching their bleeding wounds. Thomas noted his brother had fought off the remaining bandit. He smiled when Abby ran up to him. "Reinforcements won't be needed," he joked.

Abby heard Ethan and Ginny shouting behind her, but she ignored them and reached out to Thomas. Something hit her shoulder and she tumbled over.

Thomas dropped his sword and caught her in his arms. "Abby?" he asked. She gave him a little smile, but her face had gone pale. "Abby!" Thomas shook her gently when her eyes closed. He felt something warm trickling down his arm. When he took out his hand to see what it was, he stared at it in disbelief.

Blood.





Courting Miss Greene Ch. 04



While she pondered the issue, her husband returned to the room. "Hi, honey!" He kissed her forehead. "A letter to your parents?" he guessed, glancing at the table.

Ginny nodded. "I have to let them know we've been delayed, but I keep getting stuck. I really don't want to write anything that will cause them to worry or fret." She sighed again. "But anyway, what did the constable say?"

Ethan sat down on the bed. "Well, he would've preferred to hear the account directly from the victims, but I told him I was a witness at the scene and my testimony should suffice. I really didn't want him to subject Abby and Lizzy to any kind of rigorous questioning. Besides, there wasn't much to tell. From what I heard, our little adventure was like a picnic compared to some previous incidents. Of course, those brigands had been ill-prepared since they're used to roadside ambushes at night. I'll spare you the details, but I guess I never fully appreciated why mother has always been loathe to travel after sundown."

Ginny almost asked Ethan to share the details anyway, but she decided against it, guessing she was probably better off not knowing. "Isn't the constable doing anything to catch these men?" she asked instead.

"Well, he tries," answered Ethan, "but apparently he lacks the manpower to comb the forest without leaving the town defenseless." He gave her a sheepish, little smile.

Ginny's eyes widened. "Did he ask for volunteers?"

"Just to play watchman," he answered, "but I told him I'd have to discuss it with my wife first."

"Oh, you can go if you want to," replied Ginny. "Just as long as you realize I'll be coming too in that case, make no mistake about that!" She pointed her quill at him to emphasize her point.

Ethan wiped the grin off his face. "I'm sure the constable will rest much assured with you on the team," he said in a solemn tone.

Ginny blinked at her husband, wondering whether or not he was speaking in jest. Surely he knew better than to joke about a woman doing a man's job. Besides, everybody had been quite impressed with her part in the skirmish and they had agreed things might not have ended as well if it had not been for her.

Ethan chuckled to himself. His wife was so easy to tease! He continued before she could reply. "The constable's main objective is to get the aid of the King's Regiment in Northfair," he said, "but apparently they're reluctant to aid a town that openly supports the Liberals, which is exactly the sort of thing why people are lacking Royalist sentiments in the first place."

Ginny raised her eyebrows. "So it's like vicious cycle?" she asked.

"Indeed," he answered. "Father says Uncle Albert became a Royalist when he married Aunt Charlotte because her family is somehow allied with the Crown. We're hoping he could use some of his connections to finally get things done around here."

"It would be great if he could," replied Ginny, "although I wish it wouldn't be necessary. The King's men have a duty to protect the people. We shouldn't have to beg them for it!"

Ethan smiled. "I just love your sense of justice, honey." He pulled his wife onto his lap and gave her a slow kiss.

All of a sudden Ginny pulled away. "Wait a minute, is Robert also a Royalist?" she asked, looking alarmed.

"I'd assume so, for his family's sake," answered Ethan, "but I don't think he really cares much about politics."

"Still, it would be best if my father doesn't find out," she warned. "I'm sure he could get over the age difference and the fact that Lizzy will be living in Northfair, but he flew into a terrible rage the last time someone mentioned Royalists to him, and then mother had to cool him down with a bucket of water."

Ethan almost chuckled when he pictured the scene in his head, but he did not want to laugh at anything that could threaten his cousin's happiness. "That sounds bad," he said. "I'll warn everybody to avoid the subject, but you know we can't keep it a secret forever."

"Well, at least until the wedding," replied Ginny. "I don't think Lizzy would dare to marry Robert without father's blessing. And if she did, it would certainly spoil her big day. She's been through so much already!"

"I'm sure it'll turn out alright," said Ethan. He held Ginny in a tight embrace, thinking back on what they had gone through before they got together.

Ginny returned her husband's kiss while he lowered her onto the bed. She was a little surprised when the kiss became more passionate and Ethan started tugging at her clothes. His mother was expecting them for dinner in an hour. Ginny knew her husband could be fast if he needed to be, but she still felt a bit embarrassed to realize she would be showing up with a flushed face for the second time that day.





Courting Miss Greene Ch. 04



"No, Thomas!" cried Abby while she leaned back, "I assure you, my memories are quite fresh!"

"Oh, come on," he said, pulling her close. "Just one kiss and then you can tell me whether it's good or not."

Abby tried to ward him off even though it felt nice to feel those strong arms around her again. "Not in front of Robert and Lizzy!" she protested.

"They won't mind," said Thomas, unconvinced of Abby's unwillingness.

The girl's heart pounded. "Thomas Clark!" she cried. "Do I need to remind you of our little arrangement?"

He released her at once. "No, ma'am," he answered.

Robert raised his eyebrows at the sudden change in his brother's behavior. "What arrangement was that?" he asked.

"I'm Abby's slave," answered Thomas.

"Her what?" demanded Robert.

"Her slave," repeated Thomas, "because she saved my life."

Robert frowned. "I think I saved your life too, once or twice," he said. "Why don't I get any favors for that?"

Thomas was taken aback. "You're a man," he answered, "and my brother besides. I'm into a lot of things, but not that."

Abby was aghast at the implication in Thomas' words. Lizzy covered her mouth, but could not stop herself from giggling.

Robert massaged his forehead, trying to keep his frown from getting any deeper. "I see," he said. "You want Abby to tie you down and spank you or something like that."

"Something like that," admitted Thomas.

Abby folded her arms across her chest. "Careful now, or I might just give you what you wish for!"

Thomas beamed at her. "You would?"

"Yes, I'll definitely spank you if you don't behave in front of my parents!" Abby realized her mistake when Thomas' grin widened. "No, I'll spank you if you behave like a perfect gentleman!" she corrected herself.

Robert and Lizzy shared a confused glance.

Thomas was amused. "Perfect gentleman it is."





Courting Miss Greene Ch. 04



Mrs. Greene calmed down while she studied the ring. "That's a fine heirloom, dear," she observed. "I suppose they've already accepted you into the family."

Lizzy smiled. "They have."

"Then you have every reason to be perfectly happy," continued Mrs. Greene.

"I am!"

Mrs. Greene looked into Lizzy's eyes. "Then why were you crying when you came home yesterday?" she asked.

Lizzy looked away. "Oh, I was just being sentimental... as usual," she answered.

"You've always been a bad liar," her mother replied. "Your father and I reckoned somebody must have mistreated you in some way. I'm willing to believe it wasn't Robert, but then... who?"

Lizzy's breath deepened while she gathered her courage. "I cried yesterday because... because... when I saw dad, I remembered I almost didn't make it home!" she blurted out and broke down in tears.

"What do you mean, dear?" asked Mrs. Greene.

"We weren't delayed because Abby had gotten sick," answered Lizzy. Between sobs, the girl went on to explain how she and her sister were carried off by bandits toward a fate worse than death, and how the others heroically came to their rescue.

Mrs. Greene's blood curdled while she listened to the tale, but she managed to regain her composure when Lizzy reassured her the King's men had finally restored safety to the area. "I can understand why Ginny didn't want to tell us in a letter," she said, "but when you came home... surely, you know you can tell your father and me anything."

"I know, mom," said Lizzy, "but dad might have asked questions and we didn't want to hurt Robert's chances."

"How so?" asked Mrs. Greene. "Your father would be grateful to learn Robert helped to save you and Abby."

"Well, it was something about politics," answered Lizzy.

Mrs. Greene's heart missed a beat. "Robert's not a Royalist, is he?"

"I'm afraid so," confirmed Lizzy.

"I should have guessed," said Mrs. Greene with a sigh. "Wealth and power always seem to go hand in hand. You know your father sees that as a recipe for disaster."

"But Robert says it helps to get things done when you have a network like that," said Lizzy, "otherwise those brigands would still be roaming the forest!"

"Oh, sure there are benefits," her mother replied, "but for a girl like you, to live in such an environment--"

"I know, mom," interrupted Lizzy. "It's going to be hard, but I'm sure I'll manage somehow. I'd do anything to be with Robert!"

Mrs. Greene blinked at her youngest daughter, impressed with the girl's determination. "I see," she said. "I'll keep your little secret for now, because your father's going to throw a fit when he finds out."

"Oh, mom! You would?" asked Lizzy in surprise.

Mrs. Greene let out a deep sigh. "Oh, well. Remember what I've always said about honesty in marriage. I'll wait until you and Robert have gone back to Northfair. Then your father can rave all he wants and by the time he sees you again, it won't be an issue... At least I won't allow him to make a fuss about it."

"Really?" Lizzy flung her arms around her mother's neck. "Thanks so much, mom! That really means a lot to me!"

Mrs. Greene returned her daughter's embrace. "There's nothing I wouldn't do for my little girls!" she said, wondering to herself whether she was allowing the girl to walk straight into a lion's den.





Courting Miss Greene Ch. 05



Robert and Thomas followed their cousin and the three sisters through the streets of Windfarn. Now that they had been introduced to the girls' parents, Ginny insisted they should meet Ol' Granny as well.

"We could take the shortcut through the forest," she suggested, "and I'll show you where Ethan and I first met."

"It's really nothing special though," said Ethan.

Lizzy clutched Robert's arm and sighed with a far-off gaze. "But it was so romantic."

"Except that he forgot all about it," remarked Abby in a cool voice, "and Ginny kept pining over him for years and years while Ethan went from one girl to the next until he became Celia Wilson's favorite fashion accessory."

Ethan coughed in his fist. "Well, we're trying not to keep regretting the past," he said, prompting his wife to nod in affirmation.

"I regret not having grown up with Abby though," remarked Thomas. "It's such a shame, considering we're practically the same age."

"I beg to differ," said Abby.

"Why?" asked Thomas. "You could have been my first girl."

"Your first girl?"

"My only girl," corrected Thomas.

Abby suppressed a smile. "Well, thanks, but no thanks."

"You don't consider that romantic?" asked Thomas.

"I most certainly do not," answered Abby. "I'd never give myself to a boy without any experience."

"Why not?"

Abby glared at him. "Because I wouldn't want to loose my maidenhead to a bumbling idiot, that's why!" she cried, drawing curious glances from passers-by.

"I didn't bumble," protested Thomas with a pout. Then he shrugged. "Luckily I have plenty of experience now." He gave Abby a wide grin, but she lifted her chin and looked away to hide her blush.

Lizzy tugged on her fiancé's arm. "I would've liked being your first, bumbling or not," she whispered to him.

Robert's face reddened. "I appreciate the thought, baby," he answered, "but considering the fact that I've been a grown man for most of your life, that would have been highly inappropriate."

The girl gasped, cringing at the thought. "Oh, yes. That would have been awful." She fell silent and tried to think of something else while they made their way down the forest trail.

"Here it is!" announced Ginny when they reached the pond. "We come here every now and then to freshen up Ethan's memory."

"Well, I'm not exactly sure which parts are real and which ones are imagined," said Ethan, "but I think I've managed to reconstruct most of it."

"How does that work?" asked Thomas.

"I suppose you start with what you have by studying the surroundings and the rest is based on suggestion," answered his cousin.

"Really? That should be interesting." Thomas walked towards the edge of the pond. "How deep is it here anyway?"

Abby came up behind him. "Careful, Thomas," she warned. "The water is treacherous."

"It is?" asked Thomas. He peered into the pond, but it seemed quite shallow to him.

Abby could not resist the opportunity when she saw him bend over like that. "It most certainly is," she assured him. The others gasped in shock when she swung back her hand and landed it on Thomas' behind with a loud smack, causing the young man to topple over.

"Ow!" he cried, flailing his arms in a futile attempt to regain his balance.

Abby could not suppress her laughter while her sisters closed their eyes, bracing themselves for the inevitable splash that promptly followed. Robert and Ethan rushed to Thomas' aid, but he resurfaced almost at once, standing up to his chest in the water. 

"Treacherous, indeed!" he cried, sweeping back the wet hair that clung to his brow.

Robert reached out his arm towards his younger brother. "Take my hand, Thomas," he said. 

"No, I'll do it," said Abby. "I'm half-soaked already." She took Thomas' hand and before she knew it, she heard a high-pitched shriek, followed by another splash. Shocked by the freezing, cold water, Abby realized the shriek had been her own. She gasped for breath, barely able to keep her head above the surface.

Thomas wrapped her arms around his neck and scrambled out of the water, carrying the girl on his back. "That was invigorating!" he exclaimed.

"Good," said Abby. "Then you won't mind carrying me around, because I'm not walking in this wet dress."

"Perhaps you should take it off before you catch a cold," suggested Ginny.

"I'm not undressing in front of Thomas!" cried Abby.

"Why not?" asked Thomas. "As if I haven't seen you naked already."

Abby spurred him on with her heels as if he were a horse. "Just move," she ordered. "Granny's house isn't far from here."

Thomas sighed. "Yes, ma'am."





Courting Miss Greene Ch. 05



"Well, if you insist." Thomas took off his pants and climbed into bed with her.

Abby turned to face the wall, warming her back against Thomas' chest and placing her feet along his legs. Her heart pounded when he wrapped his arm around her, resting his hand on her belly.

"Is this alright?" he asked her. "I thought anything higher or lower would be even more inappropriate."

"It's alright," answered Abby, pleased to find him so considerate. She put her hand on his to emphasize her point, but she could not help wondering what he would do once she was asleep. "Thomas?" she asked in a small voice. "I can trust you, right?"

To his own surprise, Thomas felt hurt by the question. "You can," he assured her. Abby did not speak again, but from the way she nestled in his arms Thomas deduced she felt comforted. He lay curled around her like a protective barrier and vowed to himself he would keep her safe from anything that might harm her. After spending a while listening to the girl's labored breathing, sleep overtook him as well.





Courting Miss Greene Ch. 05



Thomas was nowhere in sight.

Abby's flight had taken them deeper into the woods instead of the intended shortcut into town. She supposed Thomas had to be hiding behind a tree somewhere, but he did not know the forest. At least not as well as she did. Abby kept surveying her surroundings while she crept into the shrubbery as silently as she could. There was a smaller path on the other side, leading up the slope. She should be able to spot Thomas from that vantage point.

It seemed like a good idea at first, but the shrubbery only grew denser the further Abby crawled through it. The girl scolded herself. The forest had changed in the many years since she last played there, and so had she. Abby stopped for a moment to untangle her hair and decided to follow whatever path seemed best accessible to her. When she got out, Abby found herself in a place she did not recognize.

"Oh, great!" she said with a sigh. Now she had gotten herself lost, just because she wanted to beat Thomas in their little game of hide 'n seek. Abby turned around to retrace her steps when she heard something rustling in the shrubbery.

Thomas must have followed her!

The girl slipped away, looking for a place to hide. She had no intention of getting caught now. Abby tiptoed from tree to tree until she reached a clearing. She gasped in surprise when she realized she had seen this place before. Quite recently, in fact.

Her heart pounded while she moved forward. She was sure of it now. This was the place she had dreamed about in Alder Hill! Just when Abby sensed a presence behind her, she was pulled back by her arms.

"Don't be afraid," a low yet familiar voice whispered in her ear.

The girl leaned back against her captor. "I'm not afraid," she whispered in return while her heart pounded in anticipation. She smiled and closed her eyes, waiting for him to continue.

His hands moved up and down her arms while he kissed her neck. After a while he started tugging at the ribbons of her bodice. He kept fumbling with the knot. At last he sighed. "Forgive me, my love," he apologized. "My nails are too short."

"Aw, too bad!" exclaimed Abby. She tried to untie the knot herself, but her hands were shaking and she remained unsuccessful. "Oh, I can't! I'm too nervous!" she cried in frustration.

"Why should you be nervous?" asked Thomas. "It's not like we haven't done this before."

"No, we haven't," argued Abby. "That was me and some random stranger."

Thomas cringed. "I see."

Abby turned away again. "It's a pity really," she said, fidgeting with her hands. "I thought we might start over, now that we're here."

"Here?"

"I dreamed about this place," she explained.

"And that guy was in it too?" guessed Thomas.

Abby blushed. "He was," she confirmed.

Thomas pulled her back into his arms. "How far did he get with you?" he asked with a grin.

"Not far," she answered, "by the time things got really hot, I woke up in bed with you."

Thomas frowned. "You just said it wasn't me!"

"Well, I didn't know it was you!" cried Abby.

Thomas took a deep breath. "Let me get this straight," he said. "So one guy shows up in your dream, and the other one in your bed. And both are--"

"You," clarified Abby, "in hindsight. But, emotionally, I feel like we were never lovers before. I mean, I never made love to you, Thomas Clark, the actual person. I didn't even particularly like you before we left Northfair. We had to start all over from scratch, and now... here we are. Am I making sense to you at all?"

The young man blinked at her. "Ow, my poor brain!" he cried and dropped his head on her shoulder.

Abby thought she heard him stifling a sob. "Oh, well..." She sighed. "I shouldn't expect a guy to understand."

Thomas shook his head. "Nooo...!" All of a sudden he looked up. "Hey, can't you try that thing Ethan does?" he asked. "You know, tweak your memories or something?"

Abby stared at him. "What in the world...?"

"Pretend you're back in Alder Hill and picture me there," he explained. "The real me, the one who's here with you right now."

"Hm..." Abby closed her eyes and bit her lip to stop herself from giggling.

Thomas watched her cheeks flush red. "Is it working?" he asked, squeezing her here and there to jog her memory.

Abby opened her eyes. "I think so," she answered, smiling up at him. "Even though it's strange to think my dream lover now has a face and a name." Without another word Abby threw her arms around Thomas' neck and planted her lips on his.

The sudden display of affection took the young man by surprise, but he was quick to return the girl's kiss. Thomas realized it was the first time Abby actually kissed him, knowing who he was.

Abby ran out of breath and withdrew herself. She gazed into Thomas' eyes and traced her lips with her fingertips. "It really was you," she said. "I mean, of course I knew it before, but I couldn't actually feel it. I think I'm starting to see what Granny meant to say."

"That sounds... good," said Thomas, not entirely sure what she was talking about. "You know, you really should pay more attention to that old lady."

Abby tried to look offended. "Don't push your luck, Thomas Clark," she warned, hardly able to keep herself from grinning.

"Ow! But I thought you were going to have a second go at... that," he said, eying the knot in which her ribbons were tied.

Abby blushed. "That's true," she admitted and reached for the knot.

Thomas stopped her hands. "Well, don't feel obligated," he said. "I mean, don't do it unless you want to. Ho, wait! What am I saying?"

Abby laughed. "You're sweeter than you think you are! But you're right. This isn't the time to be fooling around. We're supposed to be in the town square at noon."

"I'm sure everybody will understand if we don't make it," argued Thomas. "I mean, do you really think Ethan and Ginny will?"

"Ethan and Ginny are married," said Abby. "We're not even engaged."

"But I am officially your suitor," argued Thomas.

"Ha! Since yesterday!" cried Abby.

Thomas pouted. "Then how long should we wait?" he asked. "A week? A month?" He cringed. "A year?"

Abby suppressed a giggle. "Don't worry," she said. "I've got an idea."





Courting Miss Greene Ch. 05



Thomas grinned. "That's true," he agreed.

Abby kissed him again. "And do take care of yourself," she warned. "I'd hate for anything to happen to you now."

"I'd hate for anything to happen to you too," said Thomas. "Stay like this, my love. Keep this feeling while you wait for me. Dream of me even!"

Abby gave him one last kiss and smiled. "I might just do that."





Courting Miss Greene Ch. 05



"Calm down, Katie," said Lizzy, fighting the urge to turn around. "What makes you think he'd mean any harm?"

"Why, what could a big city gent like him possibly want from a poor village girl like you? He'll rob you of your youth and then he'll cast you aside in favor of his next victim, that's what! Oh, what a horrible fate!" the girl cried. "Though he might pay you for the privilege of taking your virtue," she continued as an afterthought, "in which case you could do worse."

Lizzy gaped at her friend, too shocked for words. When she finally turned around to see who it was, she giggled with relief. "You silly! That's Robert, Ethan's eldest cousin," she said. "Paternal, in the second degree," she added, anticipating Katie's next question.

"Oh?" The other girl fell silent while she processed the information.

Lizzy motioned for Robert to join them. "You weren't shy to meet my friend, were you?" she asked him in a teasing way.

"Surely not," answered Robert, amused by the idea. "I merely wanted to offer you girls an opportunity to catch up." He turned to give the other girl a little bow. "How do you do, Miss...?"

"Just call me 'Katie'," she said, almost losing her balance when she tried to courtesy.

"Pleased to meet you, Katie," replied Robert.

"Are you the one who's engaged?" the girl asked.

"Erm, indeed, I am," confirmed Robert.

"How long has it been?" she continued, always eager for details.

"Oh, a little over a month now," answered Robert, "although things weren't really final until two days ago." He smiled and winked at Lizzy.

Katie's eyes shot from Lizzy to Robert and back to Lizzy again. "Wait a minute," she said, suspicious of the way they looked at each other. "This is not what I think it is, is it?"

Lizzy gave her friend a little smile and lifted her hand so the other girl could see the ring.

Katie covered her mouth, but could not prevent a high-pitched squeal from leaving her throat. "He is engaged to you?" She gasped for breath when Lizzy nodded in confirmation. The thought of her friend being intimate with a much older gentleman made her cringe. "Oh, help! I think I'm about to pee myself!" she cried, pressing her knees together.

Lizzy's eyes widened. "Katie, for heaven's sake!" she cried in shock.

"Please excuse me!" The girl scurried off without another word, leaving the young couple to stare after her with raised eyebrows.

"Surely I'm not that intimidating, am I?" asked Robert when she was out of sight.

"Oh, that's just Katie being Katie," explained Lizzy. "Though sometimes I'm not sure which of us is the sillier one." She gave him an apologetic smile and blushed from embarrassment.

Robert blinked at his fiancée. "Then you must be trying really hard," he said.

"Yeah," she admitted, "but it's all for you, so I don't mind."

"Lizzy..." Robert sighed, remembering the conversation he had with Thomas the night before. "I want you to be comfortable in our relationship," he said. "You don't have to try to be any different from what you are. All I ask for is your love. You know that, don't you?"

"Oh, Robert!" exclaimed Lizzy. "I do know that, but... it's just so hard not to think about what other people might say, and I really wouldn't want my reputation to tarnish yours."

Robert put his hands on her shoulders. "Really, Lizzy! If anyone thinks less of me because they don't appreciate you, they're not the sort of person I wish to associate with. And those I don't associate with... Well, you can't let some faceless crowd terrorize you."

"I hear what you're saying," the girl replied with a pout, "but I don't know how to put it in action."

Robert gave her a warm smile. "Hold your head high and take courage from knowing how much I love you," he suggested.

Lizzy gazed into his eyes and returned his smile. "Hm, I'll try that," she said. "Oh, I almost forgot! Abby says she's sorry she won't be able to join us today after all."

"I know," said Robert.

"I suppose Thomas told you," guessed Lizzy.

"He did."

"Hm, you seem a bit tight-lipped on the subject," the girl observed.

"I'm sorry, baby," apologized Robert. "You know I think the world of Abby. She's your sister after all, and she's been such a good friend to me..."

"But?"

"I don't know if she's really being smart about this," he finished.

Lizzy cringed, sharing his concern. "I'm afraid Abby's in some sort of emotional crisis right now," she said.

"How so?"

"Well, one minute she's all hush-hush about her feelings for Thomas," the girl explained, "and the next she's shouting it from the roof tops."

Robert blinked at her. "The roof tops?" he echoed in astonishment.

"Out the window to be precise," she clarified.

"That doesn't sound like Abby," said Robert.

"Exactly!" agreed Lizzy. "But what really worries me is that she may be doing it to please Thomas."

Robert gaped at her in disbelief. "What? Couldn't you talk her out of it?"

"I tried," said Lizzy with despair in her eyes, "but she was so determined! I think she feels bad about herself because she's been mean to him for so long."

"Well, Thomas would definitely want to know about this," said Robert. "Perhaps if we're lucky, he's still around here somewhere."

Lizzy raised her eyebrows. "Here?"

Robert gave her a sheepish smile. "I suggested he should bring Abby some chocolates."

Lizzy grabbed Robert's hand and promptly dragged him along with her. "The chocolate stand is this way!"





Courting Miss Greene Ch. 06



Thomas glanced over his shoulder, a bit surprised to find Abby holding the box of chocolates still unopened in her lap. "I didn't spike them, if that's what you're worried about," he assured her while he kicked off his pants.

"Oh, I wasn't worried," said Abby, suppressing a grin. "I just didn't want to miss watching you undress."

"Ah!" Thomas climbed onto the bed. "And are you going to return the favor?" he asked in a low voice, leaning so close it made the girl shrink back and blush.

For a moment Abby wondered whether he could actually see anything, staring down her nightgown like that. She quickly opened the box to distract him. "Here, you should have one too," she said.

Thomas peered down. "Which one has any liquor, do you suppose?" he asked.

"The oval one, I think," she answered.

Just when Thomas reached out his hand, Abby pulled away the box. "Wait!" she cried, remembering he had just scaled the wall again. "Wash your hands first." She nodded at the washing table next to the door.

For a moment the young man was stunned, but he chuckled when he moved away. "Yes, ma'am."

Abby was amused to see Thomas cross the room in his bare buttocks. She thought he looked innocent enough, standing at the washing table she had grown up sharing with her sisters. "You're the first boy to visit this room," she explained when he cast her a curious glance, "and you'll probably remain the only one, judging from the way things are going."

"I'm honored," replied Thomas, "although I really am a man by anyone's definition." He flexed his muscles to illustrate his point.

Abby suppressed a giggle. "Perhaps," she teased in a skeptical tone.

"Perhaps?" echoed Thomas with mock indignation. "Oh, but surely Abby Greene would never allow an immature boy into her room." He climbed back onto the bed with a mischievous grin on his face. "A mere boy would never be allowed to kiss her... and touch her... all over her beautiful body."

Abby closed her eyes to enjoy the sensations while Thomas followed his words with actions. "You've got that right," she said with a smile.

All of a sudden Thomas paused. "We'll share one," he said, taking one of the chocolates from the box. "You bite the other half." He straightened his back and placed the candy between his teeth.

Abby sat upright to follow his suggestion, but the liquor spilled out when she did so and it subsequently traveled down her throat to disappear under her collar.

"Interesting," said Thomas with a grin. His kisses followed the liquid trail across her skin.

Abby pulled down her nightgown to accommodate him. "You knew perfectly well this would happen," she accused him, feeling like a proper hussy.

"My love, you overestimate me," protested Thomas. "Calculating the trajectory of any possible spillage is quite beyond me."

"True enough," reckoned Abby. She noticed the molten chocolate on Thomas' fingers and decided to get back at him. She took his hand and brought it to her mouth.

"My love!" exclaimed Thomas when she started licking his finger tips. "How you tease me!"

"How so?" asked Abby, feigning ignorance. A mischievous glint appeared in her eyes. "I thought this was teasing." She wrapped her lips around his fingers and sucked on them.

Thomas swallowed hard. "That's teasing me more," he said. He could not stop himself from wondering how far she would go. "I don't suppose if I'd melt any chocolate on my..." He broke off the sentence when Abby frowned at him. "Or on you," he suggested instead. "Somewhere? Anywhere?"

Abby's frown deepened. "No, Thomas," she said, "I was taught not to play with my food."

The young man shrugged. "So was I," he replied, "but all's fair in love and war."

His words amused the girl. "So what's this?" she asked him. "Love or war?"

"Hm, the battle of the sexes," mused Thomas. Then he grinned. "I do carry something of a weapon, a rather versatile one. It can stab or shoot according to the situation."

Abby stood aghast at the analogy. She folded her arms across her chest and tried to look stern. "And is there any way I might defend myself against such an onslaught?" she asked.

"Nature did not design a defense for women," answered Thomas in a solemn voice.

"That's hardly fair," said Abby, "considering a woman has no weapons of her own."

"I beg to differ," said Thomas. "A woman's weapon is her charm, and I daresay yours is quite effective."

Abby's mouth curled into a grin. "Do you speak from experience?"

"I do," confirmed Thomas. "I must admit I am entirely under your spell. You have bewitched me quite completely."

"And quite by accident, I assure you," added Abby.

Thomas blinked at her. "Do you regret it?" he asked her, unable to hide his disappointment.

Abby almost wished she could take back her words. She had meant it as a jest even though it was the truth. "No, I don't regret it," she assured him. "I regret nothing we did in Northfair." She paused for a moment. "But I do regret being so mean to you after the dance. Please forget the things I said."

"No," said Thomas, "I deserved all of that." He gave her a pout. "Don't you regret hitting me with that bucket though?"

"That was warranted!" cried Abby. Before she knew it, she grabbed her pillow and used it to hit him on the head.

"Ow! Pillow fight!" cried Thomas. "Mercy, milady!"

"What need have you for mercy when your skull is made of concrete?" asked Abby, but she put down her pillow anyway.

"Well, yes, but the hair!" cried Thomas. He tried to rearrange it, but only seemed to worsen the static.

Abby suppressed her laughter. "Don't worry about your hair," she said. "Your father still has all of his, and so does Robert."

Thomas chuckled at the idea. "That's no guarantee though," he argued, but he did not stop her from ruffling it up some more. "Would you still love me if I grew bald?" he asked instead.

Abby pursed her lips. Thomas was not supposed to have overheard her confession. She needed to punish him for this. "What if I said 'no'?" she asked him in turn.

The young man could not stop himself from pouting. "I suppose if you said 'no' then you wouldn't really love me," he answered, "in which case it would be best to leave things at this and simply be friends."

"Oh?" Abby cocked an eyebrow at him. "But I'm willing to go all the way with you," she reminded him. "I thought you'd be eager for that."

Thomas cringed. "Well, yes," he admitted, "I'm quite desperate actually, but that's no reason for you to do it. You need a reason of your own or you'll end up feeling used."

"I could do it out of curiosity," suggested Abby, "because I'm tired of being a virgin."

Thomas frowned. "Surely you didn't wait this long only to lose it because of that," he replied.

"That's true," the girl confirmed. "Perhaps I'm just feeling all hot because my period is coming up."

"Hormones can be quite bothersome," the young man agreed, "but it's nothing I can't help you with the usual way." He moved his hand up her thigh.

Abby leaned back to allow Thomas to play with her, but he did not continue. She realized he was still waiting for her to give him a reason. Her mind raced to think of one. It did not dawn on her until she looked into his eyes. Then a smile crept across the girl's face. "I do love you, Thomas," she said, "because you're you," she explained, "wonderfully, uniquely you. I love everything I know about you and I want to get to know you more."

Thomas could hardly believe his ears. "A-Abby...!" he stammered. "My love...!" He wanted to say something equally heartfelt in turn, but instead he only found himself falling down into her welcoming arms.





Courting Miss Greene Ch. 06



"I hope so," said Lizzy, "or else our efforts would have been all for naught."

Standing outside her front door, Mrs. Clark peered down the road. She shook her head and frowned, wondering where that foolish boy could be hanging out.

"Have you got all your things?" her husband asked the Greenes. "You didn't leave anything in the parlor?"

"No, nothing," answered Mr. Greene. "Well, aside from Elizabeth that is," he corrected himself with a chuckle.

"I suppose she wants some time alone with Robert," guessed Mrs. Greene. "I'm sure she'll catch up with us once she's done."

"Oh, just give them five more minutes," said Mrs. Clark.

"Knowing Lizzy... Well, I really want to check on Abby," replied Mrs. Greene.

"Two more minutes," pleaded Mrs. Clark.

Mrs. Greene cast her a suspicious glance. "Isabell? What's going on?" she asked.

Mrs. Clark answered with a nervous giggle. "Oh, nothing," she said.

"Well, I'm sorry to have missed that boy Thomas," Mr. Greene told the Clarks.

"Please give him our regards when he gets back," his wife added.

"Of course. Will do," replied Mr. Clark, keeping a straight face.

The Clarks waited until the Greenes were out of hearing range.

"Do you think they suspect anything?" Mrs. Clark asked her husband.

"Surely not," he answered. "I should think we played our part well enough. Either way, it's out of our hands now."

His wife sighed and nodded in agreement.

Walking down the road, Mrs. Greene glanced at her husband. "Don't you think they're hiding something?" she asked.

"Sure as hell," he answered. "The question is what exactly they're hiding."

"I have some suspicions," said Mrs. Greene.

"So have I," her husband replied, "but let's not jump to conclusions. We always do and then we get all worked up over nothing."

"You're probably right," his wife agreed.

"Wait!" Lizzy's voice cried in the distance. "Wait for me!" The girl ran towards her parents and stopped to catch her breath when she caught up with them.

"I suppose you've made plans to meet with Robert again tomorrow?" her mother guessed.

Lizzy gave her a little smile. "Yes," she confirmed. "I couldn't be without him for a day."

"So what exactly did he buy you?" her father asked.

"George!" his wife reprimanded him. "She already said it was personal!"

Mr. Greene shrugged. "I thought that was because of the Clarks."

"Mr. Clark, yes," his wife replied, "and you."

"I see," said Mr. Greene, trying not to feel left out, "it's one of those 'girl things.' Perhaps I should go on ahead and leave you two girls to it." He strode forward with large steps.

"Oh, father! No!" cried Lizzy.

Mr. Greene halted and cast a questioning glance at his daughter.

"You stay with mom and I'll go on ahead," said Lizzy.

"Whatever for?" her father asked.

"Erm..." the girl turned to her mother with a pleading pout.

"Lizzy?" Mrs. Greene was puzzled by the desperation on her daughter's face. Then all of a sudden her eyes widened and she drew in a sharp breath. "Yes, yes. You should run along," she agreed. "Go on now."

Lizzy nodded with a grateful smile and made herself scarce in no time.

"What was that all about?" asked Mr. Greene when his wife caught up with him.

"Now, George," she answered. "Don't get all upset, but I do believe Abby will have become a woman when we see her again."

Mr. Greene's jaw dropped and he stopped in his tracks. "What?" he demanded in shock, feeling the heat rise in his neck.

"And I expect you to show her the proper respect as such," his wife continued.

Mr. Greene frowned, shaking his head in disbelief. "What?"

Mrs. Greene lifted her chin. "You know what I mean," she said.

"Eleanor!" her husband protested. "No...!"

"Yes."

"Nooooo."

"Yes."

"But surely... not Abigale!"

"Yes. Abigale."

Mr. Greene fell silent while he struggled to come to terms with the situation.

Mrs. Greene's mouth curled into a smile when she saw his bottom lip protruding, but she managed not to laugh out loud. "Come now, George," she said, pulling him along by his arm. "I thought you approved of Thomas."

"I do," her husband confirmed. "I just didn't expect him to move this fast. And certainly not with this much success. I mean, this is Abigale we're talking about."

"Oh, but he's so young," said Mrs. Greene with a smile of endearment. "They both are. Just like we were. Remember?"

Her husband let out a long sigh. "How could I ever forget?" he asked. "Especially since you keep reminding me... over and over."

"Just making sure," his wife explained.

"Well, of course," said Mr. Greene. "I won't breathe a word to Abigale. I'll act as if nothing has happened. I won't know anything I haven't witnessed in person. Until Abigale elects to inform me of such herself."

"Thank you, George," his wife said. "You're such an understanding father... and I love you all the more for it."

Mrs. Greene's words had taken her husband by surprise. He halted again and cast her a curious glance. She had that look in her eyes as if she was waiting for something. He pulled her close and gave her a kiss. "Looking on the bright side," he said with a twinkle in his eye, "we'll soon have the house to ourselves again."

For a moment his wife returned his smile, but then her face contorted. "Oh, our nest will be empty!" she cried. "Our little birds... all flown away!" She burst into tears. "Off to build their own nests! Ohh!"

"Eleanor...!" Mr. Greene gave her his handkerchief. "You knew they'd have to leave someday."

"There's a difference between 'knowing' and 'realizing,'" she explained, "and I didn't expect to lose all of them in such a short timespan."

"They're not out of the house yet," her husband said. "Let's enjoy the time we have left together."

Mrs. Greene managed a little smile. "Yes," she agreed, "let's make the most of it."





Courting Miss Greene Ch. 06