Seth just nodded and watched his mother exit the cabin.

  ***

  "Here you go, Tara." Billie handed the glass of juice to her daughter.

  "Thanks, Mom." Tara watched Billie sit next to her.

  Mother and daughter stared at the fire in silence as they sipped their juice.

  Long moments passed without a word between them until finally, Billie broke the impasse. "Tara, are you feeling okay?" she asked softly.

  Tara replied without looking at her mother. "I'm fine, Mom."

  "Are you sure? You seem a little preoccupied." Billie poked at the fire with her stick.

  "I'm sure." Tara fell silent once more.

  "Mama is worried about you, and to be truthful, I guess I am too, just not in the same way Mama is."

  Billie's comment caught the teenager's attention. "What do you mean?" Tara asked.

  Billie thought for a moment before she answered. She wanted to say the right thing to avoid alienating the girl. "Well, we've kind of noticed a change in you over the past few months. We'd like to chalk it up to puberty, but I think it's more than that," Billie began.

  Tara held up her hand to her mother. "Please don't tell me we're going to have another 'talk'!" she exclaimed. "That discussion about the birds and the bees when I first started my period was really embarrassing!"

  Billie chuckled. "No, I won't torture either of us with that again."

  "Thank God!" Tara said.

  "So, like I was saying, we've noticed a change in you, and we've got a pretty good idea what's causing it."

  Tara looked at her mother with unspoken anguish lurking just behind her eyes. She wanted desperately to talk to Billie about the tangle of emotions that were running amok within her chest, but she so didn't know how to start.

  Billie cupped Tara's chin in her hand. "Sweetie," she said. "You know you can talk to me about anything, right? You can talk to both of us."

  Tara nodded. Her eyes began to brim with unshed tears.

  "You know we love you unconditionally, and there is never anything you could do to change that, right?" Billie asked.

  Once again Tara nodded, only this time, a lone tear escaped and rolled down her cheek.

  Billie smiled. "Good," she said. "Now, why don't you talk to me about Kelly."

  Tara pulled her chin out of Billie's grasp and looked at the fire. She blinked rapidly as tears cascaded down her cheeks. Billie slid down the bench, closer to Tara and placed a comforting arm around the girl. Tara rested her head on Billie's shoulder and she released the emotion and confusion that she had pent up inside for several days.

  For several long moments, Billie waited patiently for Tara to speak. When it became obvious the child was unable to start the conversation, Billie decided to speak for her.

  "It's real tough to talk about, huh?" Billie squeezed Tara's shoulder gently.

  Tara nodded and wiped the tears from her cheeks with the back of her hand before she cast a pathetic look in her mother's direction. The pain and confusion on Tara's face mirrored what Billie felt in her own heart for the girl.

  "Let's see if I can help you out," Billie said. She paused for a moment to gather her thoughts before she began to speak. "Whenever Kelly is with you...whenever you speak to her on the phone...whenever you even think about her, this overwhelming anxious feeling fills your gut. You become light-headed. Your breathing becomes labored. Your heart feels like it's beating out of your chest. You find yourself thinking about her day and night. Every little thing reminds you of her. Sometimes you want to be her." Billie paused to look at her daughter. "Am I close?"

  Tara wiped her eyes again and nodded rapidly, all the while keeping her eyes glued to the fire.

  "You miss her, don't you, Tara?" Billie prompted.

  Once again, Tara nodded rapidly, only this time, she spared a glance at her mother. "How do you know all this?" she asked.

  "Because eleven years ago, your mother walked into my aerobics class and by the time the class was over, I was feeling the same way about her that you are feeling about Kelly right now," Billie explained.

  "Does it get any better?" Tara asked hopefully.

  Billie smiled and nodded. "Yes, it gets better. I have to admit that I still have moments like that sometimes, but for the most part, the out of control feelings are pretty much gone. Luckily though, your mom still has the power to turn my insides to mush!" Billie laughed.

  "I know what you mean." Tara sniffed loudly. "Kelly's turned my world upside down. I can't eat. I can't sleep. Heck, I didn't want to come on this vacation because of her. I wouldn't be here right now if she hadn't made me promise to go. I miss her like crazy," Tara admitted.

  "Does she know?" Billie asked.

  "Yeah, and funny thing is, she feels the same way," Tara replied and then quickly added, "We've decided to take things slow. We're both kinda freaked out about it."

  Billie smiled and nodded her approval at the girls' approach to their new relationship.

  Several moments passed as mother and daughter stared at the fire. Finally, Tara broke the silence.

  "Are you mad?" she asked.

  Billie looked at her daughter and smiled in reassurance. "No, I'm not mad. I am hoping like crazy that you don't end up hurt, but I'm not mad. I can't make a decision like this for you, Tara. Only you can do that. I can only support you and give you the love and guidance you need," she explained.

  "Seth said Mama is pretty upset about it."

  Billie once again took Tara's chin in hand. "Mama is worried about you, Tara. She's not upset, she's just worried."

  "Why?" Tara was clearly confused.

  "She's afraid you'll become the next Matthew Shepard. She's scared to death that you'll be ridiculed or worse because of your preferences."

  "Doesn't she want me to be happy? I would think she of all people, would understand!" Tara exclaimed.

  "Oh, she understands, Tara. She understands much more than you know," Billie replied. "She wants you to be happy, Honey. She would give her life for your happiness, but she also knows how nasty the world can be sometimes. She's lived it, and she is terrified that someday you might find out for yourself how bad it can be."

  "I don't want to become another Matthew Shepard either, but I can't live my entire life being afraid. I can take care of myself, Mom," Tara said defensively.

  "I know you can, sweetheart, but that won't stop Mama—or me for that matter—from worrying about you. You are very special to both of us. We love you dearly and neither of us wants to see you hurt, emotionally or physically. Do you understand?"

  Tara held eye contact with her mother for several long moments as she read the truth of Billie's words in her eyes. Finally, Tara laid her head once more on Billie's shoulder as they both watched the fire in silence.

  Unknown to mother and daughter, Cat had quietly made her way onto the porch and stood silently in the shadows as she listened to their conversation. As the discussion ended and the fire reduced to embers, Cat closed her eyes and allowed tears of relief to flood her own cheeks. Somehow, hearing the truth had lifted the anxiety that had plagued her soul while the truth had been mere speculation. Knowing the truth and seeing Tara deal with it in a mature manner gave her peace of mind and a resolve to be loving and supportive of her daughter, no matter what.

  ***

  After the conversation by the campfire ended, Cat quietly made her way back inside before Billie or Tara realized she was there. Seth, who sat at the table playing Solitaire by lantern light, looked up in anticipation as he searched for a positive sign on his mother's face. "Everything all right?" he asked.

  Cat approached her son and took his face between her hands. "Everything is fine, just like you said it would be," she replied. She kissed him on the forehead.

  Seth nodded and smiled as his attention was drawn once more to Tara's entrance.

  "Mom, do we have any writing paper?" Tara asked the moment she was inside. "I told Kelly I would keep a journal for her."

  "Sure, Honey. That's a great idea. Let me get it for you." Cat rummaged through her backpack and retrieved the writing pad and a pen. She placed it on the table in front of her daughter. "Say hi to Kelly for us, okay?"

  Tara sat next to Seth and smiled at her mother. "Sure!" she replied brightly and then began to write.

  Cat noticed that Billie had not come into the cabin behind Tara. "Where's Mom?"

  "She's putting the fire out. She said she'll be in soon," Tara replied without looking up.

  Cat didn't wait for her to come inside. Instead, she slipped out of the cabin into the darkness of the night. She quickly located Billie crouched by the fire where she was stirring the embers into cold ashes. Billie stood as she heard Cat's approach, and turned to take her into her arms.

  "Everything will be all right, Cat," she said. "Our daughter will be fine."

  "I know she will, Billie. I was there, on the porch. I heard the entire conversation. Thank you for loving her, Billie. She is so lucky to have you in her life," Cat replied sincerely.

  "I am the lucky one, Cat," Billie replied. "I am humbled by her wisdom at such an early age. You've done a good job raising her."

  "We have done a good job, Billie. Both of us, and if truth be known, she is much more like you than she is like me," Cat pointed out.

  Billie smiled and lowered her head for a kiss. "I love you," she said softly.

  "I love you too, Big Guy," Cat answered. "Now douse this fire so we can hit the sheets. I'm beat!"

  CHAPTER 9

  Billie rolled over and opened her eyes. There before her, a few inches away, was the woman of her dreams. But something was different. Something was out of sorts. Something was unfamiliar. The faint aroma of campfire registered on her consciousness and her logical mind sought to justify its existence. Campfire? she wondered to herself. Billie closed her eyes again and allowed memories of the previous day to replace the cobwebs sleep had left behind.

  Horses. Campfire. Blazing sunset. Such were the thoughts that crossed Billie's mind as she smiled broadly and then opened her eyes once more; only this time to look into the depths of pastel green looking back at her.

  "Good morning," Cat whispered softly.

  Billie kissed her wife. "Good morning to you, my love," she replied.

  "You smell like a campfire." Cat sniffed Billie's hair. "I love that smell."

  Billie grinned. "I was just thinking the same. I guess I should take a bath, huh?"

  A mischievous grin crossed Cat's face. "A bath sounds good," she replied. "A bath in the pond. No kids. All alone. Just you and I. And nature. And a bar of soap," she said enticingly.

  Billie's eyes opened wide and she thought of just what they could do with that bar of soap.

  Billie threw off the covers and swung her legs over the side of the bed. "I'll grab the towels."

  Soon, the ladies made their way hand in hand, down the well-worn path to the pond. Billie carried the towels, while Cat carried a bag with toiletries and a change of clothing for each of them.

  When they reached the side of the pond, Billie draped the towels over a sturdy bush and then unceremoniously stripped off her clothes. She threw them on the ground next to where Cat placed their bag. Cat was a little more cautious. She looked around carefully before she removed her clothing and added them to the growing pile started by Billie. While Cat undressed, Billie reached into the bag and retrieved their bottle of shampoo and the bar of soap. She offered her hand to Cat and led her into the water.

  "Damn, this is cold!" Cat exclaimed. The cool water immediate caused a wave of goose-bumps to parade across Cat's skin, not to mention, the temperature change immediately commanded two very enticing peaks to stand at attention.

  "Oh, yeah!" Billie's sight was immediately drawn to a certain part of Cat's anatomy and her eyebrows danced wickedly on her forehead.

  Cat noticed where Billie's eyes were directed and she splashed the cold water across Billie's stomach. "Take that!" she said.

  Billie gasped for breath. "Why you...I'll tell you what I'll take, you little imp!" Billie replied haltingly and struggled to regain the breath the cold water had taken away. Billie lunged forward, caught Cat around the waist and immediately submerged both of them beneath the surface of the pond. The shampoo bottle and bar of soap flew in separate directions as the two bodies impacted the water.

  Cat resurfaced immediately. "Oh! My! God! Billie Jean Charland, that was mean!" She furiously rubbed her hands up and down her arms in an attempt to regain some of the warmth the sudden immersion had chased away.

  "C'mere," Billie said. "I'll warm you up."

  Cat waded toward Billie. A pout was planted firmly on her face. She walked into the circle of Billie's arms.

  Billie tried to hide a smile as she wrapped long arms around Cat and rubbed her hands across her back.

  "It's nnooot wwworking." Shivers caused Cat's words to exit her mouth in staccato.

  Billie noticed the shampoo and soap floating lazily nearby. She reached for the soap and rubbed the bar between her hands until a rich lather formed. She dropped the bar back into the water and ran her soapy hands up and down Cat's back as Cat moaned out her pleasure.

  "God, Billie. That feels good."

  Billie turned Cat around so she was facing away from her and then pulled her body close to hers. The layer of soapy lather that now covered Cat's back created a very slippery and stimulating surface between them. Billie ground herself into Cat's back and reached for the floating soap once more. Within moments, she dropped the soap back into the water for a second time and snaked soapy hands around the front of Cat, only to begin a very thorough exploration of her breasts.

  Cat rested the back of her head on Billie's shoulder and closed her eyes. "Do you have any idea what you're doing to me?" Shudders wracked Cat's body.

  "I know exactly what I'm doing to you," Billie whispered into Cat's ear. She continued to grind herself into Cat's back and gently nipped at her neck. She then slid one soapy hand between Cat's legs, while the other held one ripe nipple between soapy fingers. She periodically pinched the tender nub and sent bolts of desire into Cat's core.

  "Ah. Billie. Umm," Cat began a rocking motion against Billie's hand.

  Billie matched Cat's motion and the two bodies swayed in one rhythm. Within moments, the rhythm increased as Cat neared climax. Billie's ardor rose nearly out of control with every bump and grind. When she felt Cat was nearly at her peak, she slipped her free hand between her own legs and assisted herself to climax as she and Cat plunged into the waves of fulfillment together.

  Barely able to stand, Billie turned Cat around and lowered both of them up to their necks into the water. The ladies clung to each other and traded tender kisses and words of love.

  By the time they regained their strength, their bodies had acclimated to the cool water and they were able to bathe and then return to the cabin to rouse the children from sleep and start their day with a hearty breakfast.

  ***

  "All right everyone. Rise and shine. No sleepyheads on this vacation!" Cat threw open the drapes and allowed sunlight to flood the rustic cabin.

  "Aw, Ma! We're on vacation. Let us sleep!" Seth pulled the covers over his head.

  "Nope! It's beautiful outside! Mom and I have already taken our baths in the pond, so if you want to clean up before breakfast, you'd better get moving!"

  Tara sat up in bed and rubbed her eyes. "Is the water cold?" she asked.

  "A little, but you'll get used to it quickly." Cat avoided the sly grin on Billie's face.

  Skylar looked over the side of the bunk at her older sister. "Can I go with you, Tare?" she asked.

  "Yeah, I guess. Come on." Tara grabbed her backpack and shoved a change of clothes into it.

  A few minutes later, toiletries and towels in hand, the girls headed out the door.

  "Stay close to shore, girls!" Billie called after them from the porch as they sprinted down the path. She reentered the cabin and noticed Seth was still in bed. "Roll it on out there, Scout. If you hurry, you can bathe in the rain barrel before your sisters come back."

  "Nah. I think I'll wait for the girls to come back then I'll go take a swim too." Seth burrowed deeper into his covers to catch a few more minutes of sleep.

  "Well, it will have to be a quick swim or you'll miss breakfast," Cat pointed out. "It will be ready at about the same time the girls return."

  Always eager to eat, Seth threw off his covers. "On second thought, that rain barrel sounds pretty good to me."

  ***

  "Eggs are up," Cat called from her position at the campfire. She picked up the plate of bacon that was warming on the stone fire ring and carried it, and the pan of scrambled eggs to the picnic table where everyone anxiously awaited breakfast. Within moments, the food was dished out and everyone dove in.

  "I propose we explore the park's geysers today," Billie suggested. "What do you all think?"

  "Will that include Old Faithful?" Seth asked. "The pamphlet says it erupts almost two dozen times a day."

  "What is a geezer?" Skylar asked.

  "Geyser, Einstein…not geezer," Tara teased.

  "Tara, be nice," Cat said. "Sky, a geyser is caused by ground water being heated up by volcanic activity under the ground. When it becomes hot enough, it kind of boils to the surface, and sometimes it comes up pretty violently and shoots water a hundred feet into the air."

  "That sounds cool," Skylar said.

  "Actually, it's hot. Ha! I crack me up!" Seth joked.

  Billie shook her head and tried hard to hide her grin. "Very funny, Seth. So, it sounds like geysers today then." Billie opened the park map and spread it out on the table in front of her. "Let's see, it looks like the closest geyser to us is in Upper Geyser Basin. That's the one with Old Faithful in it."

  "Yes!" Seth pumped his fist in the air.

  Billie high-five'd her son. "Eat up, crew. The sooner we finish breakfast, the sooner we can explore."

 

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