“They died there,” Lou said in dismay. “In that storm...” Her voice trailed off, and she felt an unshakable sadness over take her.

   “Two years ago,” Jimmy noted as he read the markers. He was consumed with the same emotion as Lou. How could something so terrible happen to two people so in love?

   “They were going to marry,” she recalled as tears began to surface. “They were going to start a life together.” Kneeling beside Jennifer’s grave, Lou placed the petal she had removed from Jimmy’s present the previous day. Gentle fingers traced lightly down her hair to give her comfort. Presuming it was Jimmy, Lou reached back to embrace his hand. When all she grasped was cool air, Lou maneuvered around in confusion. She spotted Jimmy standing a few feet from her looking at Dawson’s grave. “Jimmy?”

   “Yeah Lou?” he asked as he glanced away from the burial spot.

   “You didn’t just...never mind,” Lou stated nervously. “We should get going.” She started toward Lightning when a chilling breeze swept around her. The wind’s unexpected arrival symbolized the riders were not alone.

   Carried in the breeze were whispered words. ‘Stay’ the messenger’s wind beckoned. Both the riders heard the message, but Jimmy was the only one who obeyed. Lou continued on to Lightning, and Jimmy felt compelled to cry out to her. Before he could the wind intensified and grew colder. The drastic change in weather frightened Lightning, and he reared up at Lou’s touch. Startled by her mount's reaction, Lou stumbled back with unsure footing. Jimmy rushed to her side to help steady her.

   “Are you all right?” Jimmy asked with deep concern. She informed him she was so softly that Jimmy barely heard her. He was tempted to ask her again, but then something drew his attention away from Lou. The wind that had announced a message was now gone. Everything grew calm, including Lightning.

   “What do they want from us?” Lou questioned her companion. He just shook his head in response.

   Almost as if to answer her question, the silenced breeze was reborn. It gracefully swept around them, and carried with it the faint aroma of flowers. Soon the riders began to feel something soft and feathery shower over them like snowflakes. Only it wasn’t snow that floated from the sky it was petals. Beautiful red petals. The beauty of the sight erased all fear and uncertainties the riders had.

   “It’s a sign, isn’t it?” Jimmy remarked as he captured several petals in his hand. Somehow Jacob and Jennifer knew about their fascination with the flower game.

   “It’s pretty obvious,” Lou noted as she took a petal from Jimmy’s hand. The spirits were encouraging them to confess.

   “Lou,” Jimmy began only to have Lou silence his confession by placing a her soft finger on his lips.

   “I know,” she said softly. For some reason she no longer needed to hear the words. What was truly important was that they were acknowledging their feelings. She knew Jimmy loved her, but she wasn’t sure if Jimmy understood how she felt. “You have mine too.”

   “I know,” Jimmy answered as he gently brushed her auburn hair away from her face. “The petals promised me,” he noted to himself.

   Jennifer and Jacob smiled down at their new found friends. It pleased them to see the two young riders finally acknowledging the strong feelings they held for each other. Love was a precious gift and worth the sacrifices that came along with embracing it. As the riders slowly rode off, the spirits felt a soothing feeling come over them. Now they could finally rest in true peace knowing they had helped a love blossom from a bud into a beautiful flower.