Destiny pulled back the red brocade curtains to let in some of the bright Nebraska afternoon sunlight. It was another hot day. She hoped this heatwave would come to an end soon. Through the window she could see a man approaching, his arms so full of wrapped boxes, she could not even see his face. Cody, she chuckled to herself as she caught a glimpse of a fringed buckskin jacket underneath the packages. He teetered to the side, almost running straight into the railing that led from the street to the covered walkway outside of the large house.

"My goodness!" She exclaimed. "Here let me help you with that." She offered, opening the front door for him. She took a few of the top packages off the pile just as Cody hit the wall, missing the door by inches. A few of the smaller boxes fell, but he fumbled to catch most of them. Collecting himself, he made it to the entry table and began to set the packages down. "What is all this stuff?" Destiny asked, quite bewildered.

"It�s all for you." A flushed Cody panted.

"For me?" Destiny grabbed one of the smaller boxes, looking it over she could find no mailing addresses or handling instructions. The packages all seemed crisp and not weathered, like mailing would do. "Where did all this come from?" Her curiosity was beginning to get the better of her, although she still tried to keep her guard up. Spotting a glimpse of color from the pile of brown boxes, she pushed a package aside. "Flowers." She said distantly, lifting up the newspaper wrapped bouquet.

"Oh yeah, those are for you, too." Cody added as an afterthought.

"Did you do this?" Destiny asked skeptically.

"Me?" Cody seemed surprised. "No ma�am." After saying that he began to wish it had been him as he saw her blue eyes light up as she pulled the flowers from their wrappings and sank her nose deep into them.

"Momma, what�s going on?" The little nine-year old girl asked from the top of the stairs. Before her mother had a chance to respond, Jemima, spotting the packages, came running down. "Presents!"

"Now just wait Honey," Destiny instructed. "Before we get too excited we have to find out who this is all from and what it all is.

"Can I open some?" The little girl�s eyes lit up.

Cody smiled. He relished in the enthusiasm of youth. "Here you go you take this one." Cody handed her a small box. Destiny scowled. She was still suspicious of such mysterious gifts.

"Are these from you to my Momma, Cody?" The girl implored.

"No, I don�t really rightly know who they�re from Jemmy. See, Blythe found �em when she came back from lunch." Almost aside he added, "The three of us were together for lunch. Me, Kid and her that is."

"What do you mean found them?" Destiny queried.

"Well that�s just it. They weren�t mailed or nothing, they were just there when she got back. Javier found them first, said someone musta slipped in while he was in the back. All that was with them was a note saying they were to be brought to you." Cody explained. "That�s it, no return name or nothing. So since I had errands to run right around here anyways I told her I�d be glad to take �em by." He paused, "hafta admit though, I�m pretty curious too." Cody grinned, a cock-eyed grin.

"Momma!" Jemima exclaimed. "Look!" In the girl�s delicate hands she held a tiny porcelain music box.

Cautiously, Destiny opened one of the wrapped boxes. She pulled out a pair of silk gloves. She found her guard dropping as she anxiously reached for another package.

"Can I keep this?" Jemima asked as she wound the delicate music box up.

"Yes, you can." Destiny smiled, seeing how it lit up her young daughter�s face.

Cody, not wanting to intrude on something which was obviously someone�s personal gesture, excused himself. Destiny, oblivious to Cody�s departure, opened gift after gift. In all she received a broach, gloves, a trinket box, books for both Jemima and herself, and a sterling silver jewelry box with a plush green velvet insides, and of course Jemima�s music box. No where in any of the packages was there any indication of who had sent these things. She found herself with mixed feelings of flattery, curiosity, fear, and anxiety. Someone had spent a lot of money on them.

As the day went on she found she was looking at everyone a bit differently. She was hoping the mysterious gift giver would give her some indication of who they were. By supper hour she decided to pay a quick visit to Blythe. Maybe somehow she could offer more information about these mysterious gifts.

Blythe was just closing up as Destiny came up the walkway. "Good day Destiny." Blythe smiled pleasantly.

"Yes, it is, I just sure wish this heat would quit." Destiny admitted.

"Oh goodness yes." Blythe agreed with a chuckle. As though she was reading her mind, Blythe got right to the point. "So I assume Cody dropped those bundles off this afternoon?"

"Yes, he did. That was very kind of him. I never got a chance to thank him. If you could?" Destiny realized that she had been so enthralled in her gifts she had not had a chance to express her gratitude. With a toss of her long blonde hair she decided to just blurt out what was eating at her. "It�s really bothering me. I can�t figure out who would send me such elaborate gifts, and leave no name? Are you sure there was no name on the note?"

"Sorry Des." Blythe started, "They musta come in while I was at lunch. Javier said he came in from storage, and there they were." A devilish glint flickered in her eyes. "But, if you ask me, I could fancy a guess."

"Who?" Destiny blurted out.

"I�m not saying for sure. But my notion tells me it might be right under your nose." She smiled brightly.

"Under my nose?" Destiny was truly confused.

"Beauregard, silly!"

"Why would Beau do all that just for me?" Destiny�s brow furrowed with thought. "And why would he not leave a card so I could thank him?"

"Maybe he just wants to see you happy. Might be afraid of scaring you away." Blythe explained. "Men are like that."

"Well, I am happy." Destiny smiled. She could not believe in all her considerations that Beauregard had not crossed her mind. The more she thought about it the more she found she was hoping it would be him to come forward.

"I really have to be going." Blythe explained. "Sorry Des. Stop by tomorrow if you�d fancy another chat. I told Kid that I�d meet him at five."

"Hurry then. You�ll be late for sure!" Destiny worried.

"It doesn�t hurt to have a man wait a few minutes for a woman." Blythe winked slyly.

"Much obliged." Destiny called as Blythe turned away.

"You know," Blythe turned in afterthought, "I was actually a bit jealous when I saw the flowers and packages on my counter. It was a sweet gesture. You�ll really have to report to me when you find your prince."

"Oh I will." Destiny smiled. With Blythe now out of earshot she added to herself. "I will find him indeed."