Title: More than Meets the Eye
Author: nikole
Section: chapter one
Rating: Pg
http: www.geocities.com/sailorpluto23/MoonLightRoses
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Upper New York - Manhattan 1944
The Cromwell Estate (House)


"Serenity you can't go up there! Serenity come down right now!" shouted Andrew.

"Oh Andy you know I wouldn't get in trouble all I wanted to do was look for that album. I mean I always looked at it and grandpa put it up there in the attic last year. Why," questioned Serenity pointedly?

"Let it go Sere. Let's go ride!"

"Alright Helen let me go change. I will be down in a minuet."

Serenity turned on the stairs and looked back at her two cousins, "Hey when is Sam coming back from the docks with Nicole?"

"Not for a couple of hours yet Sere but hurry up girl so we can get back before it rains!"

"Ok Helen I'll hurry." Serenity turned and ran back up the stairs of her grandfather's house as Helen turned to her brother with a serious look on her face. "Andrew she doesn't know yet does she?"

"No Helen. Grandfather did not want her to know and Sam thought it best not to tell her either. I mean what would be the point of making her worry more than she has to. You know she would have. Plus she would have blamed herself some how because she couldn't go visit her last year. Maybe try to find a way to tell her while you're riding this afternoon so that it's not a complete shock."

"Alright Andy, but I think it was a mistake not telling her before. There is more to Sere than you or Sam think. But I will find a way to tell her." Responded Helen. She looked back up at the stairs waiting for her cousin, Serenity.
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Same Day - Out in the Stables

"Sere aren't you going to take Rose out today?" questioned Helen. She knew that Rose was her cousin's favorite. In fact if memory served her right their grandfather had bought Rose for Serenity two years ago when she graduated finishing school.

"Not today Helen. And don't say aren't. You know grandfather would have a fit."

(Oh no. Sere has that look in her eye that can only mean one thing, trouble. Well maybe this time I can keep here from trying to kill herself.(

" I am taking Harmony our today. I want to fly!" laughed Serenity with a glint in her eye.

(Or maybe not...( sighed Helen mentally. "Serenity I don't know about that. You remember what happened last time you 'wanted to fly' don't you?" asked Helen with a note of sarcasm in her voice.

"Helen I didn't realize that Harmony would be spooked by the river on the other side of the jump. Besides, grandfather was not that mad was he?"

"No, Serenity not at you," laughed Helen, "at me for letting you do it. Like I could have stopped you anyway."

"Oh come one please...," whined Serenity looking at her cousin with her best puppy dog eyes.

"Oy vey, Serenity, stop it. You know I can't say no to you when you do that. All right, fine. You can ride Harmony but you have to promise that when we get to the stream you will stop and give that horse a break."

"Deal!"
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Half an Hour Later

"Serenity!" yelled Helen over the sound of the horses' hooves hitting the ground, "I'll race you from here to the stream, loser has to water the horses."

"All right Helen, you are on!"

Five minuets later two laughing girls and two very tired horses pulled to a halt at the streambed. "Helen you cheated at that corner."

"No Sere, I am just a better rider. Face it I still have you beat on the run. You may be the better jumper but you still lack the survival instinct on the run. Now be a good loser and go water the horses. I'll get the blanket out so we can read for awhile."

"You brought it," the younger girl asked? There was nothing better Serenity loved then listening to her cousin read. Normally it was plays, like it was today, but Helen would also read her own work occasionally and that was what Sere loved the best. Some day Serenity knew her cousin would be famous. She had a gift for expression.

"Of course I did. I figured I had better get some practice reading, since Nicole is coming home because you know I can never say no to the both of you. Now hurry up and water the horses so that we are back by the time we Sam and Nicole get to the house." (I just can't break her heart. I will tell her after I read for her. Or maybe on the way back. I could kill Sam for not telling her last night.(

"Alright, I'm back!"

"Ok, so I guess we'll start at the beginning again right?" With out waiting for an answer Helen began.

"Act One, Scene One. Taming of the Shrew."

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Out West - California 1944
The Stehiel Ranch (Stables)

"Derrick are you sure about this?"

"Yea Matt I am. I think if we are getting in this thing then the Stehiel family is going to lead the way. I am going to join and not only join but volunteer to jump."

"Derrick I hope you know what you're getting into. I mean man you're my best friend and your father would be proud I know that, the way you have built up the ranch and the railroad and the mines to boot. You don't have to do this too." Jason looked at his dark haired friend.

Jason, Matt, Nathan, and Zach all look at their friend's dark blue eyes flash with emotion. "Guys I am doing this. I know this place is safe but I need something else. I know there is more out there than this ranch. This is just something I need to do."

"Alight Derrick, but I am going with you," responded Matt.

"Me too," replied Nathan, always the quieter of them all, including his brother Derrick. If Derrick was night then he was day and the day was sure a heck of a lot more calm than the nights in California.

"Well you know I have to go. I mean some one has to take care of all of you. I can't let you get shot. I mean we all know I am the best shot," joked Jason as his green eyes blinked with mischief.

Zach rolled his eyes at Jason's antics and sighed. Some how he knew he would not be able to keep his cousin from going. "Well you know me, all for one and..."

"One for all," they all laughed together.

"Alright guys. We'll show them. We know the U.S. can't stay out of this forever. When we do join we'll show em' there are more to Americans' than meets the eye," laughed Derrick. He just knew they would follow if he went. They were partners as well as friends and family. Nothing would tear them apart.

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Until next time...
nikole