Learn By Day , Love By Night

Copyrighted by Caity 2000 SqueezyStan@aol.com

Years passed, Joshua and Amanda strengthening in their love for each other. They lived each day to the fullest, even watching their young daughter grow. Amanda spent countless days watching Kim trip through life's lessons. She was so proud of her daughter. Kim was now 17 soon to be 18-years-old.

"Two little boys had two little toys?" Kim sang out. It was the old Civil War tune her mother and father had taught her not too many years before. She sighed; 'the world is too good to be true,' she thought. She closed her eyes; sitting beside a cow was not the greatest chore, but to her it was fun. Her world would soon interrupt by a stranger. "H?hello?" a stranger called into the dimly lit barn. Kim's eyes fluttered open in surprise. 'Should I let him know I'm in here,' she asked herself, 'or should I sit still till whoever it is goes?' Her curiosity got the better of her.

"Um?hiya," she called to him.

"Oh!" he said, startled.

"Can I help ya?" she asked in her thick accent. She looked up at him. His over-alls were dirty, and his curly hair looked like it hadn't been washed in days. She looked into his worn eyes, and saw the fear, the curiosity, and the pain. 'He's beautiful,' she thought. 'Well, in his own sorta kinda rugged way.' She realized that moments had passed, as she found herself entranced in his eyes.

"I?I'm Justin Timberlake. Is your pa here?" he asked. To her, his voice was like maple sugar. She looked at him curiously.

"I'm Kim Chasez." She held out her hand; the touch made her fingers tingle. "No, he and my ma are in town. Mrs. Chelmsford is having herself another baby, and pa is getting the months' groceries. Can I help you?" Kim wondered what would bring this boy to her pa's farm. She had heard that the Timberlakes were filthy, dishonest people, but this boy was genuine; he seemed the exact opposite of deceit.

"My daddy was just lookin' to see if your pa would be kind enough to make a cabinet for my mama." He looked away, somewhat embarrassed of his appearance. "I can come back later."

"No, stay!" Kim blurted out. "I mean, come inside and wait. I'm sure they'll be back soon. I'll make you some tea." He looked at her bewildered. He had never met anyone so captivating as this girl, Kim. He finally smiled at her and she felt like melting.

Part Two

"So, when do you expect your pa to be home?" Justin asked. He didn't really want to impose on her time much longer.

"Oh, soon I think," replied Kim. "You know what? I can't stand being inside. Let's go up to the knoll." She went to the screen door, opened it, and waited for him to follow. He looked at her a moment then stood up, hesitantly.

"Come on," she said. "I won't bite." She smiled at him as he found his way out the door. He was completely charmed by her easiness around strangers. She walked to the barn, to finish with the milk quickly, and then went back outside.

"I'll race ya to the top of the hill!" Justin said, his eyes sparkling with mischief. 'This girl is magic,' he thought.

"Okay, but I'm gonna beat ya!" she said with a smile on her face.

"On the count of three. One?Two?" Kim took off running before 'three.'

"Hey! No fair! You cheater." They both were laughing, out of breath, at the top of the knoll. They looked at each other, and all that could be heard, was the gusting winds.

Kim was dressed in a work dress that came just below her knees. It was a brown color that brought out her hazel eyes. Her hair was tied back with string; a bandanna was wrapped around her head. She sat cross-legged on the knoll. Justin took in everything about Kim that he could.

Justin had the poor boy look about him. His tousled, curly hair was a sandy color. His eyes; they were an eerie sort of blue, a piercing sapphire color. He sported worn over-alls and no shirt; obviously he had been out working in the field. Kim leaned towards Justin; she was going to kiss him. That was when she saw the road cart coming up the driveway. "Pa's home," she stated.

Part Three

Justin shot Kim an anxious look, but she didn't see it. He felt something weird, being around Kim, but he brushed it off as nothing. He hesitated, watching Kim run down the hill towards the house to greet her father. He followed soon after her.

"Pa!" she ran to the wagon.

"Kim! How was everything?"

"Well, I got all the chores done, and it's all quiet now. It was good," she replied. "Oh, and you have a visitor." Joshua looked up to see Justin, looking on shyly. The smile left his face immediately.

"What can I help you with, Justin?" Joshua said, coldly.

"Mr. Chasez, my daddy asked me to see if you would be so kind as to make my mama a cabinet. Her birthday is comin' up." Joshua pondered the request a moment. He looked at Kim.

"Kim, get in the house."

"But pa?" she protested.

"No 'buts' about it! Get in the house." He watched her as she looked to Justin, a longing in her eyes, then as she turned for the house.

"See ya later, Justin," she whispered. She walked away. 'I will not have my daughter associate with trouble-makers,' Joshua thought. Joshua looked to the boy in front of him.

"Justin," he began. "You will tell your daddy, that I will do this for him, but I need a down payment."

"Yes, sir," Justin said, nodding.

"One more thing. I will not have you hanging around with my daughter." Justin looked at him, debating whether to plead with him or leave it at that.

"Why, sir?" he asked boldly.

"I don't let my daughter hang around the county riff-raff." He stared at Justin, to see his reaction.

"Yes, sir," he said softly turning to leave. He looked back at Joshua trying not to let the burning tears spill over his cheeks. He'd be back; wouldn't let go of his only friend.

Part Four

Kim went inside, only to find the tedious employment of making supper. She silently watched her father turn Justin away, his mission probably unfulfilled. She liked Justin, but her father had something against him. She didn't want her life so protected, she wanted to live a little, be acquainted with new people.

Her mother had taught her to read and write, her father had told her how to mend fences. Her mother had taught her how to make bread, her father told her how to ride a horse. Her mother taught her how to sew, her father told her how to use the plow. This was how her life went and she tired of it. She waited for Joshua to enter the house. He was livid, Kim could tell. She sat down, awaiting the diatribe she would receive. "Pa?"

"Kim, I don't want you near that boy. He's trouble." He looked at her and his eyes softened. "Oh, I can't stay mad at you long. You're too much like your mother." Kim couldn't smile. She felt she had lost her only friend. "Pa, what is wrong with Justin?" she asked. "Why can't I be friendly with him? He seemed so nice, so genuine. Yet you called him the 'county riff-raff.' What don't I know?" Kim was thoroughly confused. "Kim, darlin', you'll know later in life," he said softly. She looked away, contemplating what he had just said to her. She had already planned to meet him that night.

Part Five

The evening meal between Joshua and Kim was a long, tedious silence. 'I won't find out later,' Kim thought as she consumed her milk. 'I'll find out tonight.' She excused herself, complaining of a headache.

Kim baffled Joshua at times. And when things happened, such as Justin appearing suddenly on their farm, he found himself in front of the piano he'd brought to the farm. His fingers lightly caressed the ivory keys. He composed melodies that mirrored his emotions.

Kim heard her father's music. She felt every note and knew what it echoed. She went down the stairs in her nightclothes. Her eyes danced around the shadows, soon landing them on her father's profile. She forced herself into the parlor.

"Hey."

"Oh, Kim, dear."

"Pa, I'm goin' on to bed now."

"Alright, sweet pea. Sleep tight." Kim noticed his weary expressions; the creases at the corners of his eyes bore into her heart. Joshua was not an old man, but a farmer's life was intense yet uneventful.

Kim hated herself immensely for defying her beloved father, but she felt this was something she had to do. She went to her room, stripping from her nightgown. She inched down the tree that lingered outside her bedroom window. Her feet touched the world and swiftly she flew into the darkness. Justin was to meet her just north of the train tracks. They were going to talk some, and figure out ways to see each other.

Kim ran; clothed in her father's trousers. She pulled the jacket closer around her as it was a breezy darkness. She felt that she couldn't run anymore, but her legs were powered by a yearning to be close to Justin. Justin sat under a tree on the north end of the tracks. He had been early, which, of course, gave him time to think. Kim was unbelievable. He felt he could finally fit in with someone and not be considered riff-raff. He had new feelings; they were things that one could only define as falling in love.

Part Six

Justin turned around swiftly at the sound of twigs snapping under feet. "Whose there?" his voice rasped into the night. He strained his eyes until he saw her small figure. His muscles relaxed as a smile appeared on his face. "Hiya," she whispered. "Let's talk."

~*~

"Justin, I want to know why my father despises you."

"Well?"

"Please." Justin's heart jumped to his throat. He could not understand why he felt so capricious around her.

"My father," he began. "My daddy and your pa used to be best friends. I remember when I was five, they had entered into business together."

"I remember that, too, though I was almost four."

"Right. I'm surprised we never met?" he contemplated. "Anyways, my daddy, I'm ashamed to admit, was stealin' money from your pa." Kim gasped; it shocked her.

"When your pa found this out, he immediately broke off any acquaintance with my family." Kim's cheeks turned a shade of crimson. She was ashamed that her father had prejudices towards Justin, when he did nothing.

"My daddy," Justin went on. "Forced me to do his dirty biddings. When I turned ten, I was forced to steal from hen houses, and such. He turned me into a common thief. I began to run with the rough crowd. The riff-raff your pa calls it."

Kim looked him in the eyes. She nodded for him to go on. "Your pa agreed today that he would make a cabinet for my ma. That's why I was at your farm today."

"Oh." Kim was speechless. "Are?are you still a?a thief?" She was nervous being around a "criminal."

Justin looked at his feet. Then he looked her in the eyes. "No." A simple answer?

"You lie!" Kim stood and ran. She would have nothing to do with liars. She didn't realize Justin would run after her.

"Kim!" She grabbed her arm, spinning her around to look at him. "How could you look me in the face and lie?" she questioned. He looked away, regretful of his lies. She pulled herself from his grip. "I thought you were better than that."

"Kim, I can change. I swear," he stated. "I'll change for you." She looked at him, the softness and sincerity of his voice stunning. Kim searched his face with her hazel eyes. He wasn't lying.

She scanned his ice-blue eyes, searching for any kind of emotion. She did the only thing she wanted to.

Justin was caught unawares when Kim stood tiptoe and kissed him. She kept her eyes closed, as, slowly, a smile appeared on her lips.

"Let's learn our lessons by day," she stated, wrapping her arms around his waist.

"And love by night," he added with a smile, returning her embrace.

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