Victoria halted the horse by Jarrod’s law office. She secured the reins around the front rail and both alighted the carriage.

“I will ask Jarrod if he intends to be home for supper.”

“Okay Mother. I will wait for you here, maybe do some window-shopping.”

Audra traipsed down the boardwalk from one shop to another. The loud snorting and constant neighing of a horse across the street momentarily distracted her away from the window displays. The stubborn mule was repeatedly rearing up on its hind legs, trying to unseat its rider.

As her eyes wandered over the scene, observing every movement made by horse and rider alike, she abstractedly took a few steps sideways, thus hindering the entrance of the general store just as a young man, a sack full of corn seed slung over his shoulder, was walking out. They collided with a force that thrust Audra to the ground.

The fair-haired gentleman quickly dropped his load and crouched down beside Audra.

“I’m so sorry. Did I hurt ya’?”

Audra was rabid and felt her combative mood rise. She planned to bite his head off, chew him out until their eyes met. He lips slightly parted as she froze in awe before this dashing young wrangler. She looked steadily at the handsome stranger who chivalrously offered her his arm. She draped her arm around his and he gently hoisted her up.

“I’m…I’m okay,” Audra exhaled stutteringly in a breath she’d held from the initial shock.

“Are ya’ sure?” he insisted as he brushed the dirt off her dress sleeves. “ It was a nasty bump.”

“I’m fine.”

“I apologize. I didn’t see ya’ standin’ there.”

“I’m the one who was in the way.”

“Well, as long as ya’re aw right.”

“More than you know,” she mumbled underneath her breath.

“What?”

“I’m fine, really.”

He bent down to pick up his hat and tapped off the light dust. He put it on his head, strategically dipping it below one eye and tipped it lightly. “Ma’am.” He returned to his bag and threw it over his shoulder in one single sweep. With adoring eyes, Audra watched him haul his charge in the back of a buckboard. His charming disposition, his deep-ocean blue eyes, his broad shoulders and his brawny arms entranced her. He was Heath Sawyer, one of the richest men in the valley looking to settle on the Anderson’s twenty-thousand-acre property up for sale. He was the sole heir of a bountiful goldmine in the nearby bustling town of Strawberry.

Although Audra had designs on Heath and had eyes only for him, a scruffy cowboy leaning against a beam had caught a glimpse of her. He gave her the once-over before he casually waltzed up to her.

“Hey good-looking lady,” he cajoled, striking a tough guy pose, his thumbs tucked inside his gun belt.

“Hi,” Audra snubbed.

“What’s a nice lady like ya’ doin’ in a town like this?”

“Very original,” she snorted.

“Yar’ right, I’m sorry,” he apologized, slacking off his fake bearing. “I’ll start over. Hi, I’m Andy.”

“Audra.”

“Hello Audra. I’m new in these necks of the woods and I’m lookin’ for a gal with the likes of ya’ to show me the sights.”

“Good luck,” she replied coldly.

Heath was signing a bill of sale that the store clerk had handed him when Audra’s quip made him flash a lopsided grin. She was obviously an unbridled spirit not to be trifled with.

“I thought ya’d be interested?” Andy continued.

“Sorry.”

“That ain’t nice, Missy. I ask ya’ politely and ya’ just snub me,” an irked Andy chastised as he twirled a lock of her hair around his finger.

“Let go off my hair!” she bawled, ferociously gouging her nails in his hand.

Andy quickly drew back his hand. “Ya’re a feisty broad aren’t ya’? I like ‘em that way.” He clawed at her arm.

Heath burst forth behind Andy. “Didn’t ya’ hear, fella? The lady said no.”

Andy twisted his hips to face Heath. “Buzz off, Charlie!” he snorted, turning his lecherous grin back on Audra.

“I will when ya’ leave her alone.”

“None of yar’ freakin’ business pal.”

“Get ya’ cotton-pickin’ hands off her…I mean it,” Heath warned with a glint of anger.

Andy eyed him up with a devil-may-care stance. “And who are ya’, her husband?”

“No I’m just a concerned citizen who loathes spineless barrel-bottom scums who harass young innocent women.”

“She don’t look so innocent to me,” Andy chuckled.

“Why you…” With a scornful curl of her lip, Audra poised ready to leap on Andy.

“Go ahead!” Andy invited with a contended grin.

“Ya’ asked her politely and she declined. Now be a good man and step away,” Heath exhorted, keeping a composed stance.

“That’s ‘cause she don’t know what’s good for her.”

“Oh, and ya’ think ya’ are?”

“What’s yar’ problem, man?” Andy asked, aggravated by Heath’s annoying obstinacy.

“You are, my friend.”

Andy swiftly drew his colt revolver on Heath, but the fair-haired cowboy’s sharp reflexes were no match for the poor chap. Barely was his gun cocked that Heath winged him in the hand, forcing him to drop his weapon.

Audra jumped out of her skin, covering her ears.

A stunned Andy stood bolted to the ground, clasping his bleeding hand. Keeping Andy at gunpoint, Heath slowly reached for his six-shooter.

“Ya’ can claim it at the sheriff’s office.”

“This ain’t over yet, man!” Andy vituperated.

“Yeah, where have I heard that before?” Heath replied sardonically.

Andy sidled away, seething, eyes narrowed with contempt. As for her part, Audra was in raptures over her knight in shining armour.

“Ya’ okay?” Heath asked with a bewitching stare.

“Unh unh,” a bedazzled Audra managed to utter.

“See ya’ round.” Heath tipped his hat and ambled across the street to the livery stables.

Moonstruck, Audra hugged the beam and rested her head against it.

Victoria climbed down the wooden stairs to Jarrod’s office. She glanced both ways in search of her daughter. She spotted Audra and walked up to her. “Well, Jarrod said he has an important business transaction to discuss with a client and doubts he will be home in time for supper.”

“That’s nice,” she uttered, her gaze fastened on his Sir Gallahad.

Victoria frowned inquisitively. “Honey, something wrong?”

“On the contrary, everything is just perfect,” she mused, her head lost in the clouds.

“Oh?”

“I think I’m in love.”

“You think?”

“I know I am.”

“And who is the lucky young man?”

“Him,” she motioned to Heath with a slight tilt of the head.

Victoria followed Audra’s stare to Heath who entered the livery stables. “Who is he?”

“I have no idea,” Audra answered distractedly. She was busy woolgathering and building castles in the air.

“That’s a good start.” Victoria responded, nodding her head in astonishment.

“He’s the man I’m going to marry, Mother.”

“That’s the third one this month,” Victoria jested.

“HE’S THE ONE,” Audra insisted. “He’s so handsome.”

“Okay stargazer. Until the wedding, would you be so kind and help me with your father’s birthday present? That is why we’re here.”

“Unh unh,” Audra suspired while slowly unlacing herself from the beam.

Following dinner, the family adjourned to the living room to enjoy a glass of brandy. Father and son lit cigars while mother and daughter sat on the sofa to put the finishing touches on Audra’s embroidered quilt.

Jarrod cheerfully bounced into the room and planted a wonted kiss on his mother’s cheek. “Evenin’ all!”

“You’re certainly in a good mood, son,” Tom commented.

“Have good reasons, Father. I just clenched the biggest deal in my entire career. If I told you the exact figure you’d choke to death on that excellent brandy, which by the way I wouldn’t mind having some.”

“I’ll pour you one,” Nick offered to his galvanic brother.

“Thanks.”

“Care to let us in on your feat?”

“The Anderson place…I sold it!” Jarrod informed buoyantly.

“It cost a pretty penny. How did you wrangle that?” Nick asked as he handed Jarrod his glass.

“Heath Sawyer, one of the wealthiest men in the valley. You heard of the Thomson mines?”

“Over in Stawberry, sure,” replied Tom.

“He’s the owner. I didn’t need to lower the market price. He purchased the property lock, stock and barrel. Signed on the dotted line without blenching.”

“Congratulations, son!” Tom patted Jarrod on the back, clinging glasses with him.

“Thank you, Father.”

Although happy for his brother, Nick was filled with misgivings as to the new ranch owner. He had a misguided belief that he wouldn’t agree to the same terms as Anderson did regarding the cattle drive through a parcel of land.

“Nick, aren’t you happy for your brother? “ Victoria asked, sensing Nick’s qualms.

“Oh yeah, sure. It’s just that….”

“What?”

“The previous arrangement we had with Anderson about our cattle drive through his property, will this fella Sawyer agree to the same terms?”

“I don’t see why not, as long as we match the same figure,” Jarrod assured.

The name Sawyer struck a familiar note in Tom’s mind. He once knew a Charlie Sawyer who was a gambler and a thief, but Jarrod was quick to stress the fact that Heath was unlike his father. He found the affluent man to be charismatic and highly educated and moreover, he knew the letter of the law by heart and he couldn’t be swindled.

“When our neighbour hangs up his shingles, I ought to pay him a little visit, welcome him into the valley. See what kind of man he really is and if we can calmly deal with him without butting heads,” Nick suggested with a scheming grin.

“I’ll go with you,” Audra proposed jocundly.

“You? Why?”

“I want to see what he looks like.”

“He’s a good six feet tall, athletically built, blue eyes, blond hair, handsome, well-groomed and most importantly…he’s single,” Jarrod described with a hint of humor, conscious of Audra’s predilections for those physical and social attributes.

“I like him already,” Audra enthused, grinning mischievously.

“Figures!” Nick sighed, rolling his eyes in exasperation.

In the following days, an ad was sparingly plastered all over Stockton on which we could read: “ Workers needed. See owner Heath Sawyer, old Anderson place”. The name struck a chord with the town folks. As a result, a flock of men swarmed to Heath’s doorstep, scrambling to be the first ones arrived to land the job. Heath’s reputation as a high paying boss preceeded him. He was also known for rewarding his employees with generous bonuses for a job well done.

Heath indiscriminately hired all fifty-five of them. The new ranch hands earned their keep and worked up a good sweat by herding the cattle and horses from the old Sawyer place to their new.

Two weeks whizzed by. Heath was taking stock when two visitors showed up at the main gate. Both rode up to a sweltering shirtless hand hefting hay bales onto the back of a rig. Nick asked to speak to Heath Sawyer and the man motioned to the fair-haired fellow standing by the paddock. Heath had one leg up on a stack of hay, using it as support to doodle a few notes onto his pad. Nick and Audra jog-trotted over to him. “Heath Sawyer?”

Heath looked up at the two riders. “That’s me!”

Audra instantly caught his eyes. Their stares dwelled on each other’s as Heath fashioned a lopsided smile.

“We’re your neighbours. I’m Nick Barkley and this here is my sister...”

“Audra,” Heath finished. “It’s a small world, isn’t it?”

Puzzled, Nick’s eyes darted from one blushing face to the other. “You two know each other?”

“Ya’ might say,” Heath replied, his stare soldered to Audra’s glowing smile.

“He’s the man in town I was telling you about,” Audra said, slightly tipping her head towards Nick so not to avert from Heath’s gaze.

“Oh, then I guess I owe you a debt of gratitude for rescuing my sister.”

“No need. From what I’ve seen she had the claws to slice that roughneck into pieces.”

Nick arched an eyebrow. “Yes, the nails, “ he suspired while rasping his gloved hand against his left cheek, blunding the stinging sensation of the scratch marks left by Audra’s last temper tantrum. “Very lethal,”

“We came by to welcome you into the valley.”

“Very nice of ya’, Miss Barkley.”

The whining of a horse drew her attention to the paddock. “What a beautiful horse!” she exclaimed in admiration before the Pinto holding her rapt.

“Come and have a closer look, “Heath invited. He held out his arms and assisted Audra down her mount. He gallantly escorted her to the fence and whistled the animal over.

The Indian pony pricked up its ears and loped towards the fence. Both began patting the animal. Nick dismounted Coco and wandered around, heedful not to stray too far from the young couple.

“What’s his name?’ Audra asked as she combed the forelock with her fingers.

“Dancing Rainbow. Named him after the Indian who once saved my life.

“He seems gentle.”

“Meek as a lamb. Want to ride him sometime?”

“I’d love to,” Audra exulted, her sparkling eyes widening.

“How ’bout tomorrow? I’ll come up to your place and we can go ridin’.”

“Okay. Come early. I’ll pack up a lunch and we could have a picnic.”

“Sounds great.”

“Do you like to fish?” Audra added with an ebullient enthusiasm.

“Ya’ lookin’ at the Strawberry trout fishing champion.”

“I’ve been known to reel in a few myself,” Audra teased, playfully nudging him in the side.

With a wily grin, Heath extended his arm. “ May the best fisherman win.”

Audra reciprocated his smirk and shook his hand.

“I’ll be darned! Is that a Brama bull?” Nick asked of the white humped cow grazing in the field.

Heath and Audra ambled over to him.

“Yes, it is.”

“Where did you dig up that specimen?”

“A friend owed me a favour. Instead of cash I took the bull”

“Wise decision, my friend. I’ve heard of Bramas. They’re sturdier, immune to Anthrax and there’s more beef to the hoof. You can get twice as much as with a regular brand.”

“I know. Right now I don’t quite know what to do with him.”

“Breed him!”

“I intend to.”

“I’d be willing to haggle over a price.”

“Sorry. He’s not for sale.”

“I meant lending him to us to have him breed with our longhorns.”

“Okay. Ya’ table a proposition and we’ll discuss.”

Nick and Heath exchanged an amiable handclasp.

“Welcome to the valley, Heath.”

The next day, Audra was bustling about in her room, trying on several riding outfits she had spread out on her bed. She fussed over which one highlighted her features without excessively enhancing them. She strutted in front of her mirror, hands on hips, twisting them from left to right.

“Audra, honey.” Victoria called from behind the closed door.

“Come on in, Mother.”

“Audra, it’s almost eleven.”

“I know, I know, “ Audra yammered, her mind whirling. Her shoulders slumped and he face dropped at the end results. She despaired and let her hands clap against her thighs. “Look at me! I look like an old maid,” she complained peevishly, brushing back her hair with her fingers in a last ditch attempt to salvage her appearance.

“Audra you are going riding. You are not attending a ball.”

“I want to make a good impression.”

“Seems to me you already crossed that bridge.”

Audra caught one last look in the mirror. She puffed out a sigh thick with annoyance, “I’m going to change.”

Exasperated by Audra’s tempest in a teapot, Victoria jogged her out of her whining by grasping her arm and pulling her out of the room. “You are fine. Come on.”

Halfway down the stairs, Audra fumbled at her head. “I forgot my hat. Be right back.” She ran up the steps to her room.

Silas was waiting at the bottom of the staircase with Audra’s picnic basket.

“I hope that patience is among that young man’s virtues,” Victoria sighed. A knock at the front door prompted her to look upstairs at Audra’s bedroom door. “Let me, Silas.” Victoria went over to the door.

“Hello, I’m here to pick up Audra?” a sheepish blond gentleman said, politely removing his hat out of deference for the lady present.

“You’re Heath Sawyer?”

“Yes ma’am.”

“I’m Victoria Barkley, Audra’s mother. Please, do come in,” she beckoned.

Clenching his hat close to his chest, Heath stepped inside just as Audra descended the staircase. As their eyes met, Audra felt weak to her knees, her heartbeat increasing with each step taken towards her dashing suitor.

“Hi,”

“Hi yourself. Ready to go?”

“I sure am.” She turned to Silas but before she could ask him about the basket, he was handing it out to her. “Thank you, Silas.” She turned to Heath. “Do you like fried chicken?”

“My favourite after fish.”

“Oh good, “ she smiled with a sigh of relief.

“Brought the fishin’ gears. Ready for some heavy competition?” Heath winked elfishly.

“You might be surprised.”

Victoria felt a warm glow spread over her at her daughter’s rapturous smile. That young man was obviously sending her senses reeling. “Have a nice time you two.”

“Thank you, Mother.” Audra pecked Victoria on the cheek and took Heath by the arm.

“Don’t worry Mrs. Barkley. I’ll have your daughter home by mid afternoon.

“Thank you, Heath.”

Outside, Heath gallantly assisted Audra up her Indian pony before walking over to Charger where he fastened the picnic hamper with a rope around his saddle horn. Both ambled away, waving Victoria goodbye.

Lounging on the lush riparian blue grass, a fishing pole in hand waiting for a tug, Heath and Audra luxuriated in the sun, a gentle breeze caressing their cheeks and whipping Audra’s hair about. They abandoned themselves to nature, no life’s restraint, wallowing in reminiscence.

“I was ten when I started workin’ in the mines. We’d just learned that my father’d been killed, not that it came as a shock to me and my mother. With his dealin’s, it was just a matter of time before he ended up with a slug in his back.”

“I heard my father talk about him. That he was a....”

“Swindler,” Heath finished what Audra was too embarrassed to word. “Not that he needed the money desperately. The mines earned us a comfortable livin’. But I suspect he was bothered by the fact that the concession was in mama’s name.”

“He wanted to go out and prove himself worthy to you and your mother.”

“He failed at that miserably.”

“He never came back, not even for a short visit?”

“No. Perhaps it was for the best that he kept makin’ tracks. Might have led trouble to our door if he’d been back.”

They allowed a convenient beat in the conversation to tug at their lines.

“What about your mother? Is she still in Strawberry?”

A gust of emotions swept over Heath. A trap door opened in the pit of his stomach as his breath rasped silently in his constricted throat and his eyes glistened with tears. He bit his twitching upper lip in an endeavour to prevent his teeth from chattering. “She...she died...died three months ago,” he quavered.

Audra looked at Heath with a compassionate smile. “I’m sorry. You were very close to her I can tell by your voice.”

Heath couldn’t help wearing his heart on his sleeve. “She was my mama. “

Audra released her right hand from her fishing pole to reach out to Heath. With tender compassion, she gave his arm a light squeeze. “ I know how you feel.”

Her loving gaze wrung a lopsided smile out of the bereaved man. His heart started pounding out of chest as he felt an instant attraction, but a tug at Audra’s line broke him out of his trance. They both excitedly bounced to their feet.

“I’ve got one!” Audra cheered.

“And a feisty one at that! Want me to help ya’?”

“No, no...that’s okay. I got it, “ Audra insisted pertinaciously.

At some point, she lost her footing on the wet grass and fell into the water. Heath was struck with a case of the giggle, putting his hand over his mouth to avoid guffawing. Audra was fuming. “Instead of standing there laughing, you could give me a hand?” she chastised.

“With pleasure.” Heath stretched out his hand to Audra but as she was inches away from grabbing it, he retreated it. “Oh no ya’ don’t! I know that trick. I like my clothes soft and dry, thank ya’.”

“Fine then. I’ll just ask Nick behind you.”

Heath averted his attention away from Audra for a mere second to look behind him. The little rascal seized that golden opportunity to yank Heath into the water with her. Heath emerged from underwater, squirting water out of his mouth. “Why you....” he started chasing Audra who tried to slow his course by splashing him. Her efforts came to a naught as he grabbed her by the waist, lifted her up and threw her back into the water. They both ended up in each other’s arms, laughing and coughing. As their stares welded, the laughter faded into a longing urge to kiss. Heath blinked out of his daze and drew in a deep breath.

“You’re going to catch your death of cold. I’d better get ya’ home so ya’ can get out of those wet clothes. Ohhhhh your mother is going to kill me!”

As days cascaded down, Audra and Heath became bosom friends. The glint that sparkled as their eyes met was evidence that their friendship was turning into a budding romance. The ranch work consumed most of Heath’s time, denying him the pleasure to court Audra. The young maiden understood the circumstances but nonetheless hated it. To palliate the situation, she would ride over to Heath’s spread to offer to run errands and do chores, anything that could be construed as a pretence to remain in close company of her winsome prince.

Sensing that her love for Heath was requited, she thought of inviting him to dinner at the house. She coated the true purpose for the invitation with a special attraction. It was the meteor shower season and Audra boast about the magnificent view out on the ranch. Heath was instantly sold on the conception of a night out with his favourite girl, shooting stars or not and he readily accepted.

Audra was privy to Heath’s favourite dish being roast duck and therefore dragged her mother into town to buy the necessary ingredients. Victoria stood amazed, watching her daughter bustling about in the kitchen, slaving over a hot stove, measuring, stirring, basting. Never had she seen Audra so engrossed and determined to make the evening a staggering success, swayed by her love for the young man. It inclined her to believe this was much more than an innocent girlish infatuation.

That evening, Heath relished the meal prepared in his honor, much to Audra’s delight. After dinner, they all adjourned to the living room for the traditional brandy. Audra felt drawn to her handsome swain, wanting to nestle up to him on the couch, but deemed the gesture improper in front of her family. Instead, she settled for holding his hand and lacing her fingers with his. Stars flickered about in her eyes.

After assailing Heath with queries about his ranch and how things were running, Nick jumped in and broached the subject of the agreement terms that needed to be ironed out before the next cattle drive. “Heath, I’m sure Jarrod mentioned you that we had an arrangement with the previous owner…”

“’Bout drivin’ your herd through the property, yeah he mentioned it,” Heath continued.

“We’re most willing to negociate a price for the same rights.”

“No need,” Heath answered curtly.

A ripple of disconcerting stares swept over the room. Fearing the discussion might grow acrimonious, Victoria sneaked out to the balcony.

“What do you mean by that?” Nick ventured to sever the tension.

“I was told ya’ usually go through the far east end, right?”

“Right.”

“I don’t plan to use that swathe of land just yet so ya’ can do whatever ya’ want on it, won’t charge ya’ a penny.”

“That’s very generous of you, son, but it is your property. You’re entitled to claim a compensation,” Tom stated.

“If ya’d come to me sayin’ ya’ wanted to build a ranch or sumpthin’, maybe. But since it was goin’ to lay there, growin’ weeds, I figure better to have cattle graze on it. Be good for fertilizin’, don’t ya’ agree?”

“Right,” Nick shrugged in total puzzlement.

“So it’s settled.” Heath turned to the lawyer. “Jarrod, I’m sure you’ll be wanting this in writin’?”

“If you don’t mind.”

“Mind? I insist on it.”

“Anything we can do to return the favour, Heath.” Nick held his glass at Heath’s level.

“I’ll remember that, Nick.” Heath clung glasses with Nick.

Victoria was standing out on the balcony, contemplating the starlight night when suddenly, a shooting star whizzed through the sky in a bright trail of moon dust.

“Oh people, you are missing a spectacular show. Come and have a look,“ she beckoned.

They all joined Victoria out on the balcony. As their eyes dwelled skywards at nature’s fireworks display, Heath placed a hand on Audra’s lower back and began rubbing it in a gentle motion.

“Let’s go out back and get a better view,” Audra suggested to Heath.

“Gladly!” Heath answered with a lopsided grin, reading more into Audra’s doe-eyed gaze than mere stars.

The proud parents watched at the lovebirds slipped away.

“Oh Victoria, I believe we’re going to lose a daughter.”

“Looks that way, Tom, “ Victoria sighed, draping her arm over her husband’s.

“Oh come on you two!” Nick bellowed. “Let’s not count our chickens before they hatch here! They’ve only been out four times.”

“That’s how long it took me to fall in love with your mother.” Tom gazed into her wife’s gleaming eyes. “A month later we were married.”

“Still, Audra’s not serious about that guy,” Nick paused and furrowed his brow inquisitively, “ is she?”

“Oh Brother Nick,“ Jarrod gave a brotherly dab on Nick’s shoulder, “how blind can you be?”

Arms entwined and holding hands, Audra and Heath strolled the grounds.

“That was a nice gesture you did for my family, letting the cattle go through for free.”

“Hey, we’re neighbours. I certainly don’t want to start off on a bad foot. “

“I’m happy you came tonight,” she said dreamily, tightening her grip around Heath’s arm.

“So am I. Your folks are pretty friendly, despite what they know ‘bout my ol’ man.”

“My father always told us never judge a man by his father’s actions.”

“Wise man your father.”

“I can tell he likes you.”

“Is that right?”

“Uh-huh,” she nodded with a wistful smile.

“That’s good.” They stopped. Heath clasped both of her hands and stared longingly into her dreamy blue eyes. “’Cause I believe I’m fallin’ hard in love with his daughter.”

“Really?” she gulped with butterflies in her stomach and melting butter coursing through her veins.

Heath caressed Audra’s cheeks and gently cupped her head in his hands. Slowly, he leaned forward and kissed her tenderly on the lips. Seconds later, he pulled back and with an endearing smile, he whispered, “Definitely.” They resumed kissing.

Victoria and Tom peeked at the darling couple in the kitchen doorway.

“Start planning the invitations, Victoria. We’re going to have ourselves a wedding soon.”

“It was bound to happen.”

After the long kiss, Audra nuzzled against Heath and buried her head in his chest.

“I think we’d better head back to the house or we’ll arouse suspicion.”

“Hummmm, I want to stay here with you all night,” she mused, floating on cloud nine.

“There’ll be other nights.”

She looked at her handsome prince, searching the mirror of his soul. “Promise?”

“Can’t get rid of me that easily, kiddo.”

They puckered up and exchanged a quick kiss. With arms folded around each other’s waists, they ambled back to the house.