Before I post this, I'd like to say this is our 30th entry, yay! YAY! WE DID IT! *just had a Mr. Smith Goes to Washington moment* And I think I'd like to explain why I don't have much description so far. Stonewater Ranch is sort of therapy for me. I am recovering from all the dreadful books I had to read and stories I wrote that had NO dialogue. Dialogue is my favorite... and best thing... to write, so I'm doing it to help me get better from DDD (Dialogue deprivation disease).

    Scott needed to know what was going on. He ran over to the door, swung it open, and darted outside. Here he saw Alex walking in the direction of Silver Waters, Jim Astor’s ranch. Alex didn’t seem very confident, because he was walking so slowly and hestitantly.

    “Hey, Alex, didn’t you say you were going into town?”

    He turned around and looked at his brother. He said casually, “Yes, but first I needed to work something out with Jim. Is there something wrong?”

    “No, just wondered why you seemed sort of upset.”

    “If you really want to know, there was just a bit of an argument. You know how Jim’s got a temper.”

    “Yeah, I do. See you.”

    Scott went back to the house, and Alex went to Silver Waters Ranch. Scott began thinking about how strange it was that their ranch was called Stonewater and Jim Astor’s was called Silver Waters. They both had an “S” and a “W” in the name. The ranches were named on account of the long, winding creek that ran throughout the area. It was quite an odd coincidence, though.

    It had been late afternoon when Alex left. It was growing dark now, and he still hadn’t returned. At first, the brothers had planned to wait on him to come back until they ate supper, but as the evening wore on and Alex still wasn’t there, they forgot about that plan. The evening seemed to roll by very slowly. In time, Scott decided to go upstairs, because he didn’t think it very likely for him to come back any time soon. Jack, however remained downstairs.

    Finally, at around 10:00 in the evening, Alex stepped through the front door. Jack had almost dozed off leaning against the table. The sound of the door closing woke him up. He looked at Alex and the first thing he noticed about him was that he had a bruise on his cheek.

    “How’d you get that, Alex?”

    “Got hit on the corner of a door. Jack, would you mind stepping outside? I need to talk with you for a bit.”

    They did as he asked, stepping out into the hot, starry night. Alex crossed his arms and looked at Jack in the eye.

    “Now, Jack, you wrote a letter earlier today.”

    “I did.”

    Alex paused, as if he was trying to put his thoughts together. He gazed up into the sky. Then he looked back down at Jack, matching his own blue eyes to Jack’s soft brown eyes. “Who was it to?”

    “Why does it matter?” Jack shrugged his shoulders.

    “Jack, who was the letter for?” Alex’s voice suddenly shifted to a severe tone.

    Jack looked ashamed of himself. “The— the letter was for—”

    “Was it for Darcie Astor?”

    Darcie was Jim Astor’s much younger sister, who was only seventeen, two years younger than Jack. She lived in Kentucky with her parents, but had come out west to stay with her brother Jim for a few weeks.

    When Alex mentioned the name, Jack acted more embarrassed. He hung his head and sighed.

    “Don’t feel bad about it, please. I just need to know.”

    “Yes,” Jack said nervously, “it was for Darcie.”

    “And have you already given it to her?”

    No one said anything for a few minutes. Jack kicked a rock around with his boot.

    “Jack, have you already given the letter to her?”

    Hesitating, he answered, “Yes, I have.”

    Alex took a deep breath and was quiet for a moment. “Had you sent her any letter or note or anything before today?”

    Jack was so self-conscious that he felt sick. “What, Alex, did you hear something around town?”

    “I did. Now Jack, had you sent her anything before the letter you gave today?”

    Jack ran his hand through his shaggy brown hair in an agitated way. “Yes,” he mumbled. “What was it you heard about it?”

    There was a silence. Alex’s face was expressionless. “In the note, did you say anything about marriage?”

    “What? Marriage? Me?” He looked shocked and insulted. “Is that— that what you heard?”

    “Yes, it is. I didn’t think that sounded right. Is it?”

    “No. I swear I never said anything like that!”

    “I figured as much,” Alex muttered. “Thank you, Jack.” He stared off into the distance for a while. Then he focused back on his brother. “Look, I’m sorry I had to confront you like this. I really am.”

    Jack did a half-smile, because he didn’t know what to say now.

    “Well, I guess we should be heading inside. Come on.”

    The two brothers stepped inside the house and closed the door.

    ~Finscoth E. Martin~