Things Aren't Always What They Seem

Written by Wendy

Disclaimer: This story is in no may meant to infringe on the rights of the creator of the series The Young Riders, Ed Spielman and Ogiens/Kane. All other characters belong to the author. Copyright 2000

In the bedroom she shared with her twin sister Mary Louise, fourteen-year-old Lucinda McCloud sat upon a cushioned seat beneath the room's solitary window. The young woman was still clad in a cotton nightgown, her shoulder-length auburn hair still tousled from the previous night. In her lap she held a large pad of paper in which she was currently drawing on. A small table stood beside her and placed upon it was several sharpened pencils, pieces of charcoal and a ball of rubber.

She had awakened a short time earlier, eager to try and draw the sun as it rose. She had been trying to draw it the last couple of mornings, but until today hadn't risen early enough to do so. She had pretty much finished the sketch and was beginning the meticulous process of removing any unwanted lines from it when she heard a voice say,

"What are you doing 'Cinda?"

She got up and went over to the large four-poster oak bed she shared with her Mary Louise. She climbed up onto the bed beside her twin and handed the pad to Mary Louise. Mary Louise pulled herself into a sitting position and wiped the sleep from her eyes. She gazed at the drawing in utter amazement. Sketched upon the paper before her was a perfect rendition of a sunrise.

"'Cinda, this is beautiful! Are you going to show it to mama and papa?" Mary Louise exclaimed.

"You really think it's good?" Lucinda asked shyly.

"It's as good as any picture I've ever seen in a book. Papa's going to love it. You know how he fancies watching sunrises and sunsets." Mary Louise told her honestly.

"Good. I'm not going to show it to them now. I'm going to give it to Mama and Papa for their anniversary next month. Of course, I still need to color it and make a frame for it." Lucinda told her.

"Why don't you ask J.J. to build you a frame? You know how handy he is with a hammer." Mary Louise suggested.

"That's a great idea! Then it could be from both of us! What are you going to give them Mary?" Lucinda asked suddenly.

"Oh, don't worry about me. I can always make them a pillow or something." Mary Louise said. Her brown eyes widened in excitement as an idea came to her. " 'Cinda, will you make me a copy of your drawing?"

"Of course, I can. Why?" Lucinda asked, noticing the gleam in her twin's eyes.

"It's a secret! I don't want to tell anyone what it is until I know I can do it. Okay, 'Cinda? Please don't be hurt." Mary Louise told her.

"I won't be hurt as long as you tell me what it is as soon as you can. Promise?" Lucinda told her, holding out her pinkie to Mary Louise. Mary Louise wrapped her pinkie around Lucinda's and said, "I promise."

Chapter 11

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