"Were they bad boys?" Megan asked, trying hard not to laugh.
The laugh that came from the bottom of Faith's stomach stopped the kids.
"What's happening back there?" Mike asked.
"Nothing," Megan said. "Keep going."
"Girl talk," Danny mumbled, but loud enough for everyone to hear. "It figures."
On the move again, Faith continued her story. "One night I was working late, cleaning the barn, when I heard screams. It reminded me of a bear attack. I ran outside and watched best friends fighting over a girl. Colby and Rachel had kissed."
"Did you do anything?" Megan asked, trying to picture the fight scene.
"No. Gray Cloud and Mr. MacCormack stood on the sidelines, their arms crossed in front of their chests," Faith said. "Mr. MacCormack pushed his Stetson off his forehead and said, 'Should we stop them?' Gray Cloud laughed as he said, 'Let them fight and clean out their systems.'
Where did I hear those words?Within seconds, Megan's eyes opened wide. Brett said that about Danny and Jason. The day he lost his best friend still haunts him. Perhaps he refused to forget so it doesn't happen again. "I'll never forget that night," Faith said, her voice trailing off. "While their bruises and cuts healed, their friendship remained broken."
"What happened with Rachel?" Megan asked.
"She called them boys, and then strutted away like a peacock with its feathers of display."
The scene played in Megan's mind like watching a television show. How a person looks consumes many. I did it last summer with Clay. Megan shook her head. He will not ruin my afternoon. "Did time heal the wounds? What changed?" Megan asked.
"Don't know, but I suspect it's because of you." Faith smiled then kicked her horse and galloped ahead. Megan lagged behind as she thought about Colby and Brett. "Now I remember that fall when Brett returned home. He said little, yet I saw anger in his eyes. He missed his best friend and wondered why he had let a girl come between them. It's never too late to rebuild a friendship."
Once at the lake, Faith asked about Colby. "You know what I think," Faith said, sitting on the plaid blanket. "He's your soul mate."
"We'll talk later," Megan said, and then jumped into the lake. As the cool water refreshed her, she swam fast and furious, trying to calm her overworked mind. "Perhaps she's right. What else explains this thing with Colby? Our conservations are deep and perspective, yet reserved. Does fear keep us silent, or are we similar enough we don't need to speak?"