There wasn't a servant within miles of Willows' End who didn't know exactly who Sunny Gallagher was, and it was not as if their positions allowed them to report Sunny's actions to her brother. That, along with the confident way she carried herself, must have made everyone feel she was a law unto herself. Rand realized that they wouldn't have turned her away from the stables for any reason, even though there was some breeding going on in one of the outside corrals. This was exactly where he had been, while assuming his sister and daughter were visiting inside with the ladies of the house.
"Are you angry with me, Rand?" Sunny's soft voice cut into his thoughts.
"Not with you, Sunny, but I am a bit perturbed with myself." Sunny looked totally confused before Rand continued.
"You see, sweetheart, Holly is not the least bit interested in horses; it never once occurred to me that you would come to the stables."
Sunny looked utterly crestfallen, thinking back to Darhabar. "You don't want me in the stables?"
158
"Not when there is breeding going on," Rand told her bluntly. Sunny's features immediately cleared. "Oh, that. I've seen hoi bred many times."
"That is beside the point," Rand told her sternly, wondering non for the first time what manner of man had raised his sister. "It is] totally out of the question for you to be present at such times. It's an] embarrassment to the attendants, and I will not allow it.**I
Sunny's look turned to one of disgust. "Now you sound like-Ahmad Khan."
"I do?" Rand was thoroughly surprised. "Yes."
"So you were not allowed in the stables during breeding?" Rand was still coming to grips with being compared to the emir.
"I was not allowed in the stableat all."
"So how do you know-"
"I snuck in," Sunny interrupted, offering her reply with a shrug.
It was all so matter-of-fact on Sunny's part that Chelsea felt laughter bubbling inside of her. She was careful to keep this well hidden, but it was really fun to watch a younger version of herself. No wonder Rand had wanted Sunny to live with them. As much as he would have denied it, he loved women who were unconventional.
"Well, you're not going to sneak into stables while you're living with me," Rand began, but Chelsea cut in with a gentle word.
"I'm sure you wouldn't, would you, Sunny? Rand has no problem with your going to the stables when the horses aren't breeding. And from what I can see, you're only interested in riding the animals. Am I right?"
Sunny nodded with relief over Chelsea's understanding and looked up to see her brother coming toward her.
He came to Sunny and took her in his arms. "I'm sorry I flew off at you."
Sunny hugged him back, thinking as she had many times in the past weeks how nice it would be if he were her father and not her brother.
"Chelsea and I were going to surprise you," Rand said when he had released her, "and buy you a horse later this summer. But if you've got your heart set on this one, I'll ask if it's for sale."
Sunny gave no answer to this wonderful news, but simply threw her arms back around his neck and gave him a mighty squeeze.
157
iclsea was next, and Sunny stood for long moments next to ^_a's chair and let herself be held. Chelsea, smiling at Rand over ay's shoulder, wondered anew at this young sister, this enigma : had come to live with them. Sometimes such a child in need of a _ier*s touch, and other times a woman, levelheaded and sure. While Chelsea and Sunny were still embracing, the door to the lining room opened, and Miles stepped in. They hadn't seen him ._ Christmas, and the physical changes in him were marked. He i taller, more filled out, and if possible, even more handsome. Mother and father both rushed to greet him. Chelsea prayed as the went that he had also changed emotionally, at least enough to handle having Sunny as a permanent resident of the house.
159
(2/uwlu>~
.
sunnt stared out her bedroom window, wanting to go to the stales but knowing she would encounter Miles if she did. She let the lace curtain fell back into place and sat on the edge of her bed. He was almost as bad as Cecil, the way he stared at her without speaking and hung around outside the door when he knew she was planning. to head for the library or salon.
He wasn't going to be here all summer, but it looked to Sunny as though the weeks he was staying were going to be long. She wondered if maybe she should go back to London, but then Cecil's face popped into her mind, and Sunny despaired. Would she ever find a place to be happy?
There was a knock on the door. Sunny, wanting to be left alone, remained quiet. The ploy didn't work. The door opened, and Holly's head came in.
"Sunny?" she said softly. "May I come in?"
"I don't feel very well, Holly," the younger girl told her niece, but Holly came in anyway and carefully shut the door.
Sunny watched her quietly as she retrieved the desk chair and brought it close to the bed. Holly sat, and this time it was her turn to stare. Sunny had begun to look thin and pale in the last few days, and today there was something more; today there was profound regret in her eyes. Holly knew that her mother had tried to talk with Sunny and gotten nowhere.
"You don't feel well?" Holly asked now, her voice tentative.
*Tm not sick," Sunny said.
"But there is something wrong, Sunny, isn't there? Arc you have-; your monthly flux?"
"No," Sunny responded as she wrapped her arms around her
:, turning her head to look out the window.
'Have I done something?" Holly sounded near to tears.
*No," Sunny said with surprise. "It's not you, Holly. I'm just
ig like I might need to go back to London."
*But why?" Holly nearly wailed. "Why would you want to leave icn we're having such a good time?"
(Sunny didn't say anything for some moments. Miles was her I brother, and Sunny knew Holly loved him unreservedly. She also jf'knew that no one else in the house was aware of the problem. It had taken her contact with Cecil for Sunny to understand why Miles had ' stared at her at Christmastime. Now as she looked back, she strongly suspected that his parents had been aware of what was going on because he had made an effort to keep his distance.
This time was different. Miles was very careful about when he stole his glances. Sunny was sure if she explained things to Holly, Holly would tell her it was all in her imagination.
"I'm not leaving this room, Sunny," Holly said abruptly, in a rare show of sternness. "Not until you tell me what's going on."
Sunny sighed, thinking she was probably leaving Willows* End anyway, so what would it matter if Holly knew the truth?
"Did I ever tell you about Cecil?"
"Cecil? You mean Foster's brother Cecil?"
"Yes, he's the one. He moved to London not long after Christmas. I had never met him before, but well, he liked me quite a bit."
"Oh," Holly said in understanding. "You miss him. Well, Sunny, why didn't you say so? Mummy and Papa would love for him to visit. He could-"
Holly stopped chattering when she saw the look of absolute despair on Sunny's face.
"You don't miss him?"
"No."
Holly was silent for a moment. "I'm sorry I interrupted you,
Sunny. Please go on."
She did so in a quiet voice. "I didn't like him the way he liked me. I mean, he was very kind, but Heather thought he might have
160
marriage in mind, and,** Sunny gave a small shudder, "I didn't for him in that way at all.
"I think I could have stood it, but he was always looking at n writing poems for me, and trying to talk to me when I wantedtob< alone. I could take just about everything but the staring. I just hate i| when people stare at me like I've got an extra eye or something." a
Sunny's voice had become quite heated, and Holly, who never] minded suitable male attention, knew that now was not the time tell Sunny she was stared at because she was beautiful.i
"Well, anyway,** Sunny went on, her v
oice now sounding reconciled, "it is happening all over again, only it's worse this time. At! least Cecil didn't live with us.**
"Sunny," Holly began, "I really want to understand, but I'm afraid I don't."
Sunny saw no hope for it. "I know you love your brother, Holly, but I can't take his constant staring at me."
Holly looked uncomprehending, and Sunny felt quite suddenly incensed.
"It's Miles!" she nearly spat at her niece. "Miles gawks at me, and I can't stand it!"
As quickly as the anger had kindled, it cooled, and Sunny felt defeated and as tired as a well-used rag. Holly's brow furrowed, and Sunny waited for the wrath that was sure to be directed toward her.
"He does stare at you, doesn't he?" Holly said the words almost to herself. "I've never given any thought to it, but he does; I've seen him." Holly's own anger began to mount, but Sunny finally recognized that it was not directed at herself. "And if he continues to stare at you, you're going to want to leave." Holly paused before saying, "Let's go!"
"Go where?"
"Come on," Holly strode to Sunny's wardrobe. "Get changed into your oldest dress. Then we'll go to my room, and I'll change."
"But why?" Sunny asked as Holly unbuttoned the back of her dress.
"Why? I'll tell you why. We're going to have a little talk with my brother."
161
Miles walked from the stables, his steps dragging just a bit. He'd lined over an hour for Sunny to make an appearance, but she had : come. It seemed he couldn't see enough of her. He had thought beautiful at Christmas, but with the changes in her figure, she downright distracting. His disappointment over her failure to ppear was keen.
The stables at Willows' End were to the rear of the property, and ie closest way to enter the house was through the kitchen in the ick, but Miles liked to go in the front door. He took the path Dwly, enjoying the walk around the house. Everything was beautiful |jn June.
His mother loved evergreen bushes, and they grew in huge clus-! tcrs at all corners of the mansion. Miles was passing the bush that satat the corner of the library when he suddenly found himself set upon by bandits, their weight hurling him face first to the ground. Miles was so surprised by this charge against his person that at first he didn't react. He shook his head over the incongruity of an attack during daylight, but when he tried to rise up, a hand pushed the side of his face to the ground.
There had been a flurry of bodies and clothing with much scuffling and grunting, and now someone was calmly sitting on his back. This someone had his arm twisted high up behind him, so high he felt as if he could touch his own neck. Even at that he felt sure he could overtake whoever it was. He was on the verge of putting up a fight when his sister's cologne wafted through the air and hit his nostrils. "Can you hear me, Miles?" she said.
"I can hear you," he said in sudden anger over this ridiculous assault, thinking Holly was too old for such nonsense. "What are you playing at, Holly?"
"I want you to listen to what Sunny has to say." She twisted his arm up higher, and Miles grunted in real pain. "Are you listening?"
"Yes!" he barked at her, hurt and embarrassed to his soul over the tact that Sunny was not only witnessing this, but was a part of it. Not until Holly had said Sunny's name did he realize that the weight on his back felt so heavy because it was both his sister and his aunt.
His anger, now as full-blown as the girls', caused him to move without thinking. He rose and twisted violently at the same time, sending the girls flying. He spun on the balls of his feet, crouched low, and readied himself for another of their attacks. No attack came.
164
Holly had Men free and unharmed. Sunny, on the other ha had gone back against the base of a tall stone statue. She was in i process of righting herself, but her hand had gone to the back of I head. Miles saw immediately that she had hurt herself.
His anger instantly drained from him, and as he watched he remorse over how violent he had been ran deep within him. It deeper still when he saw tears standing in her eyes.
"I shouldn't have jumped on you. This is your home, Miles, promise I'll be gone before the week is out, even if I have to w back to London." This said, Sunny stumbled to her feet and ran the house.
Miles dropped to his seat and then heard his sister crying. Nod quite so tolerant of her tears, he turned, ready to hush her, but evenf Holly's eyes were too much for him.f
"Please," she pleaded softly, her gaze holding his own. "Shej hates it when you stare at her, Miles. Please stop. I don't want her to: leave. She's like a sister, and I've never had a sister. I want her to stay; more than I've ever wanted anything."
Holly did not wait for him to answer, but pushed slowly to her feet and followed Sunny to the house.
The ground was damp, but Miles stayed seated. He was furious with Holly and Sunny both, but mostly with himself. He had determined not to make a fool of himself, but that's exactly what he had done. He didn't know how long he sat there, probably no more than a few minutes, before he heard steps behind him. Not caring if his sister was still bent on destruction, he stayed his ground. Surprisingly, his father stepped off the path and around him to sit on the pedestal of the statue where Sunny had fallen.
"The girls attacked me," Miles began, hoping for some sympathy. "So I saw."
Miles stared at his father before hanging his head in pure humiliation. He found he was no longer angry with anyone. He had acted like a child, and now his aunt had been hurt both emotionally and physically and his father had witnessed the whole affair.
"It means a lot for me to have my baby sister here, but you're my son and I love you.**
Miles raised his head.
"Unlike Christmas, I had no idea you were struggling with your feelings for Sunny this summer. I wish you had come to me. I love
163
Miles," he repeated, "and if Sunny's presence here is that much burden, I'll return her to London in the morning. I must admit >u, I want it all. I want you both here. However, if you're going [make me choose, I choose you." Miles' agony increased. There was no reason for Sunny to leave,
he could get a hold of himself.
*i feel like I love her," the younger man admitted painfully. *Tm sure you do" was his father's understanding reply. "And I miss my guess, you've decided you'll be miserable without I would also guess that you've not gone to your heavenly Father help. He can see you through this. He will give you strength to itrol your feelings for a girl you can never have. "Sunny is a lovely person, and I think you would enjoy having as a friend. If you continue as you are, however, she won't know >w to deal with you, and to protect herself you'll know only ani-losity from her."
Miles stood then, and Rand put his arm around his son's shoul-;; ders. Both men headed for the house and into Rand's study. Rand 'had been correct in his guess, Miles had not prayed about his feelings. The men did so now. There were no miracles as they turned to God with this need, but Miles rose from his knees many minutes later knowing that he could fight this feeling, and would. With a new resolve he went to his room to freshen up and then to find Sunny. It was time to apologize for the way he had acted.
165
G^mt^oAm
As june gave way TO july, Rand struck a bargain on Sunny's ocnattj with James Townsend for die sale of the roan filly. The moment he! had seen the young horse, he had agreed with her estimation of the animal. London Lady was a beauty. It was agreed that Lady, as Sunny called her, would be sold to her that summer and would come to live at Willows* End within six months* time, the proper time for weaning. In the meantime, Sunny rode Miles* horse, Windsor. He was Miles* favorite mount, but Miles had gladly given the fine gelding over to her as a type of peace offering after they had talked. And it had worked. Miles and Sunny had grown very dose in the days to follow, and Miles learned how prophetic his father's words had been. Sunny was a wonderful friend. He also began to understand why Holly had so desperately wanted her to stay.
There weren't many people who were as ent
ertaining as Sunny. She was bright and cheerful, and even though they tried to talk her out of some things, she always had a wild scheme cooking in her head that meant fun or excitement for all. Today was just such a day. Weeks ago, Sunny had spotted what looked to be a small pond while she was standing in the south tower. Now she had two blankets and a picnic lunch all packed and sitting in Holly's buggy. Miles was on Jolly, and with Sunny astride Windsor, they were off.
"Are you sure you know the way, Miles?** Holly worried as the horse pulled her single-seater trap across the meadow. "I'm sure. What are you worried about?**
"I'm worried about what happened the last time. I refuse to ride Jthe back of your horse again. If this buggy can't get through, I'm jning back.**
Sunny laughed and called back to her. "You were white as the
>n while on the back of that horse."
"It's all well and good for you to be laughing, Sunny Gallagher,
: taking us into the swamp was all your fault."
"I know," the younger girl said, an unrepentant grin on her face.
Holly shook her head much like her mother would. Sunny's grin
; infectious, and even though Holly had been livid at the time, she
i very much over it now and found herself grinning in return.
"There it is," Sunny cried as they topped a small rise and saw a
:ctly round pond sitting off to the west. The sun glistened off ic surface, causing Sunny to heel Windsor into an easy lope and him in the direction of the water. Miles, on the other hand, ayed by Holly's horse and buggy.
Many changes had taken place in Miles since his talk with his ather. He was now 17, and without conscious thought, had become ivery protective of both Sunny and his sister. Not completely certain of the terrain, he was hesitant to leave Holly on her own. Sunny oftentimes seemed more rugged and sure of herself. For the first time in his life, Miles did not feel impatience with Holly's fear of horses, only compassion for her.