APRIL 15, 1860
Samantha had read about the picnic in the paper, and Kathleen had asked her if she would be going. She had told her that she wasn�t sure. Kathleen tried to persuade her by telling her that there would be lots of unattached handsome young men there. But Samantha hadn�t made a commitment one way or the other.
Samantha found her brother grooming Visions, and she mentioned the picnic, but Justin told her that he hadn�t planned on going. "Justin let�s go. We can go and enjoy ourselves."
Justin saw the pleading eyes, and he could never resist his sister. "Alright we�ll go."
"Thanks, Justin." She hugged him. For if he had said no, then she wouldn�t go either because she didn�t want to go by herself. Samantha went to feed her horse.
Justin had given in because he didn�t want his sister to go alone, and he knew that she didn�t have any friends in town. He heard someone clear their throat, and he looked up from grooming Visions. There was Ted. Justin quickly searched the barn with his eyes looking for Jacy, but there was no Jacy. "May I rent a horse?" Ted asked to break the silence.
Justin saddled Reflections because he was the timid of the bunch. "Why or where are you going that you need to ride?" Like Jacy, Justin felt that he needed to look after Ted, too for he wasn�t a brave lad and not an experienced rider. And besides the last time he had went out, he had came back scuffed up from being thrown. But Justin didn�t want to discourage Ted from riding.
"I just need to practice riding because . . ." He almost wanted to tell Justin why, but changed his mind.
Samantha came out of the stall, and she had heard Ted. "Because why?" She inquired.
"Well, because I want to ask Jacy to the picnic . . . that is if I get up the nerve." Ted led Reflections out of the barn, mounted up, held the reins up high, and lightly kicked the mare. They started out of town nice and slow.
Samantha had an idea. She went over to talk to Jacy about the picnic and the food for the event. She also invited Jacy to join her and Justin at the picnic. Then she went back to the livery and informed Justin of her attentions. Justin was a little weary of the plan, but it was too late now. Samantha had already put the ball into motion.
When Ted brought Reflections back Justin asked him if he would like to join them at the picnic. He was surprised and a little hesitant until Justin told him that Samantha had already asked Jacy to go with them, and that Jacy had agreed. So Ted accepted the invitation.
After leaving the livery Ted stopped by to visit Jacy. They got to talking, and Ted told her that he wished he could think of something to do for the Easter picnic. Jacy told him that he was welcome to help her in the food department. If he wanted to help her purchase some of the supplies that she was going to use to make cakes and pies for the picnic, that he could. So he volunteered to buy the ingredients for Jacy.
"If you want to help bake, you can even do that." Jacy suggested.
"I�m not a very good cook, but I�m game. Just don�t say I didn�t warn you that I�m not a very good cook." Ted replied, and they both laughed.
With the supplies, baking and Easter arrangements finalized, Ted left so that Jacy could return to article.
After finishing her article Jacy went over to the livery. The exercise would do her good because she had been sitting most of the day. As she entered the livery, Justin was throwing horseshoes around. Without noticing Jacy, Justin tossed another horseshoe, and Jacy jumped up howling. Surprised Justin turned around, and Jacy started hopping on one foot, pretending to be hurt. She couldn�t resist the opportunity.
"OH no, Jacy, I didn�t mean to hit you. Does it hurt really bad?" Sympathetically Justin walked over to her.
"Iron, flesh . . . what do you think?" She moaned. She sat down on a box chest and took off her boot.
"I�ll take you over to the doc. I�m sorry."
"You should be more careful." Jacy said trying not to grin.
"Here let me carry you over to the doc�s office."
"No . . . um . . . here give me your hand."
It was a strange request, but he did it anyway. Jacy put his hand on her foot. Magically his hand healed her foot, so she stood up and said, "You�re a healer of people as you are animals." Then she smiled with a twinkle in her eye.
"I don�t think I hit you after all." Justin looked at her skeptically.
Jacy gave him a devilish grin. Justin shook his head, and then Jacy had a bright idea. "Can you make some iron poles. They don�t have to be too long, just long enough to stick in the ground but have part of it above ground."
"Why would you want something like that?" Justin inquired.
"I have an idea for a game." She replied without supplying any more details. "It won�t cost me too much will it?"
"Naw . . . just a foot." Justin paid her back with a devilish grin of his own.
Jacy smiled. "Alright, seriously now. How much will it cost me?"
"How about four bucks for two poles?" Justin replied.
Jacy wasn�t quite sure if he was being serious or not, but she took the chance. "That sounds great. Oh, and can I borrow eight pairs of horseshoes that you might just have lying around." She grinned again.
"Borrow them. You can have them. I don�t want them." Justin said.
"Gee thanks! Here�s the money." Jacy handed Justin the exact amount and then left. Justin began work on the iron posts.