All day Sally seemed to be feeling a sort of restlessness, a need to do something, but she wasn't sure what it was.

Tonya walked out onto the porch as Sally sat, slowly swinging in the porch swing.

"Where are you going?" the blonde asked.

"To the refuge," the braided girl replied.  "It's time for the annual shots."

"Can I come?" she asked hopefully.  Tonya cocked an eyebrow.

"It'll take all day," she warned.

"Please, anything to get away from here today."  Tonya wondered for a moment if she wanted to leave because it was the day Daniel was coming to trim the hedges.

"Alright," Tonya shrugged.  "But don't say I didn't warn you."

When they arrived they first entered the medical building and Tonya collected some shots that she would need to administer to the petting zoo animals.  Sally shadowed her to the stables for some more equipment.

"Hey, ladies," called a voice as they entered.  They both turned to see a man looking at them from over the back of a horse.

"You remember Steve?" Tonya asked Sally.  "Steve, this is my roommate, Sally," she introduced them.

"Yeah," Steve said as he grinned and walked around the horse he'd been saddling. "We met at The Annual Picnic last year."  As he came into view Sally at once remembered him.  He was the only true cowboy Sally knew.  He was a strong good-looking man in his late twenties.  From hat, to belt buckle, to pointed calf high boots he was the epitome of the down to earth men of old, with mannerisms to match. 

"Where are you off to?" Tonya asked him, nodding her head at the saddled animal.

"Lilly and me, we're going out to see the herd.  Thought we'd check up on a couple of the heifers."

"Steve's the buffalo expert around here," she explained to Sally.  "We all just call him 'Bison Boy'."

"Yeah," Steve replied with a smirk.  "And I shan't repeat what we call you round here in the presence of a lady." He tipped the brim of his hat at Sally, who smiled.

Tonya gave him a threatening look.

"Hey," Steve playfully tapped Sally's arm.  "You wouldn't fancy a ride out to the herd with me, would ya?"  Either his tan face or the shadow from his hat made his hazel eyes stand out as he peered at her from beneath its brim.  "Ever seen bison up close?  They're magnificent creatures."

"Well..." Sally began, as she looked at Tonya who rolled her eyes then shrugged.

"Go ahead.  That'd be more fun than giving animals shots anyway."

- - - - - - - - - -

Their horses cantered across the wild prairie as they chatted together.  Sally found herself charmed by Steve's general nature.  He'd explain meanings of trail talk when he used them; and she couldn't help but smile every time he did.

"So, Tonya tells me you've gone separate ways from your beau," he said kind of suddenly.

"Yeah," she shrugged.  "Things just weren't working out."

"Bet he kicks himself every morning when he realizes what he's lost."

"It's not really like that..." she said, but then stopped.  She wasn't sure what to liken it to.

"We're almost to the herd.  They should be on yonder side of that hill.  Now, you can ride up the hill with me, but then you stay put.  They can be uppity sometimes and I don't want you gettin' hurt.  If somethin' happens and they charge your way, just let Ol Misty take ya with the flow."  He reached out and patted the neck of the gray mare she was riding.  "She'll know what to do, and she doesn't spook easily."  He looked at her for a moment.  "'Right then?"

"Ready."

As they reached the top of the hill the prairie seemed to open up below them, the tall green and yellow grasses mixed beautifully with the summer wild flowers and the unmistakable presence of the buffalo herd.  The large animals seemed as peaceful as deer, their large heads lowered as they chewed the wild grass.

"I'll return shortly,"  Steve said as Lily made their way slowly down the hill to join the herd.

- - - - - - - - - -

A few hours later they were sitting on a large jut of limestone next to the creek that supplied water to the buffalo pasture.  The herd had wandered down to this cool shady spot for the heat of the afternoon and Steve and Sally were thankful to follow them.

Steve pulled a long stalk of wild grass from between his lips and gestured toward the large animals all around them.  "Well, what do ya think, now that you've got a good look?"

Sally smiled slightly.  "They're marvelous.  And to think that herds of hundreds used to roam free over these same hills."

"We've got sixty one in this here herd.  By Christmas, I reckon a few more: at least two."

He tilted his hat back on his head, revealing some of his brown hair. He then jumped off the rock and held a hand up to her for support. She took it, although she didn't need it, and when the Kansas clay was firmly under her feet once more she looked up at him to thank him for his chivalrous act but found him looking intently down at her.

Steve's hazel eyes traveled slowly to her lips as he leaned closer.  Their lips touched for a moment.  As he pulled away his head suddenly jerked to one side as the force of her open hand made solid contact with his cheek.  At once both her hands came to cover her gaping mouth: her own actions had completely caught her off guard.

"Are you okay, Steve?" she asked still shocked.  "I don't know why... I am so sorry."  She was reaching for him now to make sure she hadn't broken anything.

He slowly worked his jaw as he rubbed the area that was already turning red.

"You pack some wallop, girl," he said in a surprised tone.

"Are you sure you're okay?" He could tell by her concern that the slap had been a subconscious reaction.

"I'll be fine," he reassured her.  "No harm done."  He winked then helped her up onto Misty.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

"'Bout time," Tonya called out to them as they led their mounts back into the stable.  She eyed both of them.  Sally had a very guilty look on her face.  The side of Steve's face contained the red imprint of a hand.  "What happened to you?"

"Had a bit of an accident." He glanced over at Sally and smiled, then took Misty's reins from her.  "You run along.  I'll take care of the ladies."  He saw the look of concern in the blonde's blue eyes.

"It's all right," said Steve.  "Could've happened to anyone."

"I can't tell you how sorry I am," Sally said.

"Then maybe to make it up to me you'll have dinner with me tomorrow?" he smirked as he patted Lily's neck.

"Sure," she said.  The word had erupted from her mouth before she had even thought about the proposal thoroughly.

"See you tomorrow at six, then," he called as the two girls exited.

Tonya was now looking at Sally with a cocked eyebrow.  "What did you do?"

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -

After having a wonderful dinner at the best steakhouse in town, Sally found herself sitting on the tailgate of Steve's Dodge Ram, her feet swinging slowly as the radio played softly from the cab.  The 'Bison Boy' had driven them to the secluded hill that overlooked the sparkling city of Tequila Heights.  Sally had heard Sebastian, Alec and Zarbon speak of it before and it was just as romantic as she had thought it would be.  Although she herself had never been here before, she had an almost excited feeling of giddiness inside her that was accompanied by the uneasiness of doubt and guilt.

Sally glanced over at Steve.  In the moonlight the fading imprint of her hand was not visible at all.  She had constantly told him how truly sorry she was all evening.  She sighed.

"Sorry," he said.  "I'm boring you." He had been explaining something about buffalo, but it was true her mind had wandered.

"Sorry if I'm not too good of company tonight."

"Oh, no, you're fine company."  His hazel eyes twinkled at her like the stars.  "Mighty fine."

She felt his hand rest atop hers as he turned toward her.  And again a wane of giddiness and nervousness flowed over her.  He was leaning closer now, his caramel colored eyes so beautiful.  His lips were touching hers; she held her breath as he slowly kissed her.  He pulled slightly away then kissed her again, a bit deeper.  It was if her mind were blank, she only wanted to stay in that content moment forever.

But suddenly she pulled from him.  There were voices and footsteps coming up the small dirt road.  The sounds of a couple laughing reached her ears and then she hear a familiar voice call:

"Hello, we're having car trouble," he was calling out as they walked closer.  "We heard your radio.  Would you mind..." They had come into the clearing in which the truck sat and Daniel had paused when he recognized the young woman sitting on the tail gate.  Apparently it had caught him off gaurd. "Uh... Would you mind giving us a lift?"

Sally couldn't see the exact look on his face in the darkness, but she wasn't sure she wanted to.  Her eyes turned to the young woman he was with.

"Hey, Daniel," she said.  "This is Steve."

Steve grinned.  "Well, how 'bout that, running into a friend of yours way out here."

"This is Teri," Daniel introduced his companion. "Teri, this is Sally. She lives at the MacMickle Mansion where I work."

Teri was a very beautiful woman with short brown hair and a very flattering figure.  Some Greek letters were written across her tight spaghetti strapped halter-top.  Her slender fingers were wrapped around the handle of a guitar case.  Perhaps she had been up here serenading Daniel with her talents.

"Well, I don't think I'd call it work," Sally said.  "Playing in the dirt all day."

Steve chuckled slightly.  "So you need a lift back into town?"

- - - - - - - - - - - -

"So," Daniel tried to make polite conversation the next day.  "On a date last night, huh?"

There were so many things Sally wanted to shout back at him, evil and sarcastic things, but she recognized his politeness and volleyed it right back.

"Yeah," she added a shrug of indifference.  "And you?"

"Not really," he kind of smirked to himself.  "More like a field trip." Sally gave him a sceptical look.

"What, you're teaching Tammy all about nature so you decided to take her up to that place to get some first hand knowledge about mating habits?"

Daniel looked at her sternly.

"Teri," he corrected her. "And that was uncalled for."

Sally scoffed aloud. 

"If we're going to remain friends you're going to have to accept that I may seek the company of nice young women other than yourself."  He looked at her for a moment then added,  "I'm not making accusations about you and Steve."  He smiled slightly.  "Although I did find you in a very intimate position."

"That sounds like an accusation to me," Sally blurted loudly at him.

"I was just teasing you," Daniel retorted in a hurt tone.  Then he sighed.  "Sally, I know you're a responsible adult, and as your friend I know you'll make the right decisions with any relationship you create."

Suddenly something inside her wanted to be anything but what he thought she was: to contradict his perception of her, to prove him wrong.

"Are you going home for Father's Day?" Daniel asked after a small silence, painfully trying to be polite again.

"Just for Sunday", she said haughtily.  "How are you going to get home if your car's broken down?"

"Teri was driving."

"Oh, how convenient."

Daniel sighed.

"Can I tell you the truth?" he asked shakily.  "I was un...nerved by the fact that you were kissing another man.  And I can tell by your demeanor that you didn't take well to the prospect of Teri and my circumstances."

Sally scoffed again.  "Yeah, your circumstances... I saw that shirt she was wearing, Daniel.  I know about your taste in... in women.  And she was showing you everything you wanted to see with her little speghetti straps and..."

They glared at each other for a minute:  blue and gray eyes locking defiantly, then averting at the same moment. 

"Sometimes I swear I dont know you at all..." he accidentally said aloud.

"I could say the same of you," Sally shot back.

He turned towards her and boldly looked into her eyes. 

"There's so much I want to tell you," Daniel started.  "But I don't know how." He ran his fingers through his hair. "Or if..."

"I know how you feel," Sally interrupted.

"I want our relationship to work, but it just can't happen with this..." he looked at her face, hoping she could comprehend his meaning, "between us."

She nodded slowly.  It wasn't that long ago when she had decided to tell him everything, but her logical sense had somehow smashed the idea of bearing her secret.  "Daniel, I..."

"Wait," he stopped her.  "This isn't something to take lightly.  If... When we're going to be honest with each other, it's the truth... the whole truth; and I know what closed, guarded people you and I can be."  He swallowed.  "It won't be easy.

"That's what you can give me as a late birthday present," he continued.  "Friend to friend... the truth."

Although it was a serious moment, Sally couldn't resist.  "But I had already bought you a shirt."

He smirked slightly at her joke.  "I'm going to KC this weekend, Jeff's throwing my dad a surprise birthday party on Father's Day."

"Tell Simon Happy Birthday for me."

"We'll have a long talk when I get back."  He turned to leave.

- - - - - - - - - - -

"You're home late," Simon Lairdlot said as his son came through the door.  "I expected you home around dinner."

"Sorry, I got caught up with something." Daniel set his small suitcase down and shook his father's hand.  "Happy Father's Day, dad," he said with a weak smile.

"Well, it's not very happy if something is troubling my son."  He put a hand on the young man's shoulder.  "Want to talk about it?"

"Maybe tomorrow.  I've had a long drive."

Simon nodded and watched his son ascend the staircase.

- - - - - - - - - - - -

Daniel pulled on a white muscle-shirt as he sat down on his folded back sheets.  He reached into the suitcase next to his bed and pulled out the framed picture of his family.  His eyes tenderly caressing the faces of his loved ones.  Slowly he turned it over and pried open the back.  Lifting the back and removing the slender piece of cardboard he revealed a second picture: the one of him with his best childhood friend.  He sighed as his hand moved from his forehead through his hair.

"But will she understand?" he whispered to himself.

- - - - - - - - - -