Several weeks went by and the only time we saw each other was at breakfast and then during supper. I would sit across from him and would talk about his day as we ate, but that wasn't enough. We had to find other ways to spend more time together, so we started playing games or working on a jigsaw puzzle, in the evenings. My family would always be around, especially my sisters. Leslie and Diana wanted to play too. They would giggle when the game became too personal between us.

Each week I would look at the schedule to see when Antonio would have a day off. He seemed to be working continuously without having time off, except for Sundays. So, I decided to go talk to Brendan. The door to Brendan's office was always open but I usually knocked before I went in. "Cassie what are you doing here?"

"Brendan, I need to know why Antonio hasn't had a day off in several weeks?"

"He asked me to keep him working."

"I know you will understand. Brendan I need to spend a day with him."

"Cassie, you spend every evening and Sundays with him."

"Yes I know…but I want to spend a day without the family around."

"I know how you feel about him and yes I will schedule him a day off."

"Thanks, Brendan."

***

The new schedule was posted and saw that Antonio finally had this coming Saturday off. So that night after supper when I went to see Antonio I took a bowl of strawberries and ice cream with me and we sat on the porch sharing it. "I understand you have Saturday off," I asked as I picked up a strawberry dipping it into the ice cream and fed it to him.

"Yes I do. Thanks to you," he said as he licked and sucked on my finger. "You know we really shouldn't be doing this."

"Doing what?"

"Feeding each other…it's making me crazy!" he moaned.

He then let go of my fingers as I tried to remember what we were talking about. "I just want to spend a day with you." I fed him another strawberry. "I have enjoyed our evenings and Sundays together, but I still need to be alone with you."

"We are alone," he said as he dipped a strawberry into the ice cream and fed it to me.

"You are right…we shouldn't be doing this," I sighed heavily as I closed my eyes for a moment trying to calm down this intense feeling inside of me. "I want to kiss you." My heart was pounding so hard as I made my request.

He brushed the hair from my eyes. "No Cassie. If I were to kiss you right now…I don't know if I would be able to stop."

I blushed at the thought. "Well…I guess I will go to bed and dream about you, like I do every night."

He grinned. "So, are you free on Saturday?"

"Yes!"

"Where do you want to go?"

"I do have a place in mind. It is a place called Turret Creek Falls, it's so beautiful there!"

"I am looking forward to it."

"Me too!"

***

Antonio had the horses ready to go when I walked out to the barn. He looked up as I came in. "Good morning."

"Good morning."

"Are you ready to go?"

"Yes, I am."

We rode until I could hear the roar of a waterfall up ahead. We tied the horses to a tree and went for a short hike. We finally came to a clearing where we could see the magnificent waterfall. His arm went around my waist as we watched the waterfall as it cascaded over the rocks, causing a rainbow to form in the mist. A chill ran through me as I felt his breath on my neck causing goose bumps to rise on my skin. I closed my eyes as he nuzzled the back of my neck. He then moved around to the side of my neck and then I felt his tongue inside my ear. He turned me around to face him. He groaned as his lips touched mine. I sighed as he pulled me closer, holding me tight against his body. My body was on fire from all those nights fantasizing about him wanting him. I could feel the bulge in his pants begin to grow and so I reached down caressing him when he suddenly stopped and pushed me away. "Shit! I didn't want this to happen."

"What did you say?"

"Oh, Cassie we can't do this! Not here not now!" He was breathing as hard as I was. "I'm sorry…I didn't mean to curse at you."

I smiled as he took my hand and we walked along another trail until we found a boulder to sit on. We were still close enough we could feel the spray from the water. The noise from the waterfall made it difficult to talk anyway, so I laid my head against his shoulder with his arm around me. He touched my face, lifting my head up as his lips gently touched mine.

I pulled back for a moment. "I thought we couldn't do this."

He groaned as his lips touched mine again. His kisses were softer than before, but grew longer and deeper each time.

Then the skies began to rumble. We stopped and looked up at the sky. There were dark gray clouds hanging over us. "We better get back to the ranch."

"No," I protested.

"We have to go." He stood up and helped me up. We walked back where the horses were tied. He helped me mount my horse as he mounted his. It was pouring rain when we arrived back home. Antonio took the horses back to the barn as I headed to the house. My father was waiting for me as I walked in.

"Where have you been?"

"Antonio and I went for a ride."

"I thought I told you to stay away from him," he yelled.

"Daddy, I'm cold and wet and I am going to bed. So goodnight, daddy."

***

A few days later, Brett came to see me. I was out on the porch when he came riding in on his horse. I stood up to greet him. "What are you doing here?"

"I have something to show you," he said as he approached the steps and came up to me.

He handed me a piece of paper with the words "Wanted" written on the top of it, with a $10,000 reward under it. Then I looked down at the face…I was in shock it was my Antonio. "Where did you get this?"

"It was in the front window of the sheriff's office."

"This can't be… I can't believe he would be wanted for something."

"I took it down before anyone else saw it."

"How long was it there?"

"I don't know."

"Why did you bring it to me?"

"I thought you should know who you were getting involved with. See, I knew he wasn't right for you. What are you going to do?"

"I'm not sure."

"Now, you can come back to me," he smiled.

"Brett…you only did this to get me back? Well…it will never happen!" I yelled as I went back into the house slamming the door behind me. Mom came out of the kitchen to see what was wrong.

"Cassandra, what's wrong?"

"I'm just angry with Brett. He thinks he can control my life."

"I thought you were going to get married, you have talked about it for a long time."

"Mom, things have changed. I'm not interested in Brett anymore." I then went up to my bedroom to think about what I was going to do about this.

***

It was after supper when I went to see Antonio…I knocked on the door and it opened a few seconds later.

"Cassie."

"Can I come in?"

"Yes." He held open the door as I went in. "This isn't a good idea."

"I need to talk to you." I looked around and noticed the only place to sit was on the bed.

"You seem sad…are you okay?" he asked as he stood against the door.

"No." I held out the piece of paper so he could see it.

He took it from me. "Where did you get this?" He seemed confused as he looked up at me.

"Brett gave it to me. He said it was posted in the front window of the sheriff's office. He only gave it to me thinking I would go back to him."

He then came over to me and sat down on the bed. "That bitch!" he cursed.

"So, this is true? Are you running from the law?"

He didn't answer me as he got up and paced around the room. "The man must have died."

"Who?"

He stopped and looked at me. "Sweetheart, I want you to understand, this was an accident."

"Okay, what happened?"

"I was living in St. Louis and I worked for a construction company. I had a contract to build a small room onto a home of a young couple. They had two small children and they wanted another bedroom so they wouldn't have to share. So I started the project and then one afternoon while I was painting the man came up to me pointing a gun at me. He had been drinking and he accused me of looking at his wife. I told him I wasn't interested in his wife, I was only there to do a job. He came closer to me and wasn't watching where he was going and tripped over the paint cans. He fell and the gun fired. She came running in and saw her husband lying on the floor. I turned him over and he had hit his head against the doorframe knocking him unconscious. He was taken to the hospital where he spent several days and then came home to recover. I finished the job and then I left town."

"Do you think you are accused of murder?"

"I really don't know for sure."

"Is there a way to find out?"

"I will probably have to go into town."

"No…you could be arrested!" I stood up to face him.

"Yes I know…I will have to take my chances."

"Me too," I said as I reached out to unbutton his shirt and then removed it.

"Cassie, what are you doing?"

I didn't answer him as I touched his stomach then moving my hands up through the hair on his chest and then playing with his nipples. I then kissed his lips and then down his neck to his chest. I unbuttoned his pants and they fell off his body. I then wrapped my hand around his cock and began stroking him. "Cassie…no!" he moaned as I got down on my knees licking the tip of his cock with my tongue and then slid it slowly into my mouth. "Cassie, where did you learn this? Good girls aren't supposed to know these things!"

I looked up at him, "Who said I was a good girl?" I started to suck on him harder.

"Cassie, please stop!"

So I did stop and backed away from him as I removed my dress. He started to speak as I claimed his mouth with mine. I didn't want to hear any excuses why we can't do this. He then picked me up off the floor and carried me to the bed as our passion grew. He then explored my body with his hands and his tongue. My body was on fire and I needed him inside me. "Fuck me," I whispered.

He stopped for a moment, "What did you say?"

"You heard me."

"I don't want you talking like that."

"Why? I am just telling you what I want!"

"I know." He then rolled over onto his side. "We can't do this."

"Please…I may never see you again."

"Why?"

"Well, if you are arrested…you will be thrown in jail."

"I could be thrown in jail for rape too."

"Why?"

"Because you are a minor."

Then there was a pounding on the door. "Mr. Cardenas, are you in there?"

"It's my dad!"

Antonio got up off the bed and picked up my clothes. "Get into the closet," he said as he handed me my clothes. Antonio quickly put on his pants and then answered the door. "Mr. Anderson."

"Where is my daughter?"

"I don't know, sir, I haven't seen her since supper."

There was a crack in the door of the closet that was big enough so I could see my father and Antonio. I watched as my father bent down to pick up something off the floor…hoping it wasn't any of my clothing. Then I saw my father holding the piece of paper with Antonio's picture on it.

"What the hell is this?" My father asked.

"Mr. Anderson…I can explain."

"No, there is no need to explain…this is one way to get you out of my daughters' life."

My father finally left as I saw Antonio closing the door. I came out of hiding and went over to him, wanting to be in his arms. I then backed away and pulled him over to the bed.

"We can't do this."

"I know…I just want to lie here with you, until my father goes to bed."

I laid my head on his chest listening to the rhythm of his heartbeat and then drifted off to sleep.

***

The next morning I went down to breakfast and it was the first time I didn't see Antonio there with my brothers. "Where is Antonio this morning?" I asked.

"Dad is letting him go," Brendan said.

"What?" I ran to the door and saw Antonio standing in front of the barn with my father. I ran over to them.

My father tuned to me, "Cassandra, go back into the house!" he said firmly.

"No, daddy, I don't want to be treated like a child." I stood there with my hands on my hips. "I want to know what is going on?"

"I found out what you two did on Saturday."

"What? You were spying on us?"

"No…someone told me."

"Who?" I asked.

"It doesn't matter. He is teaching you things you don't need to know."

"We were just kissing!"

My father came over to me and slapped me across the face. "That's what you get for being smart with me," he yelled then shoved me away. I stumbled on some rocks and fell to the ground. Antonio quickly came over to help me up and then stood between my father and me. "What the hell do you think you are doing?"

"Protecting Cassandra from you," Antonio said.

"She doesn't need your protection. What she needs is a whipping for all those nights she has come home late."

He tried to reach around Antonio, but Antonio stopped him. "Don't!" Antonio warned.

"Don't what?"

"Don't ever touch her like that again!" Antonio advised.

"Who the hell are you telling me what to do?"

"Mr. Anderson, sir. I am in love with your daughter and I will protect her from you or anyone else who tries to hurt her."

"Mr. Cardenas. I want you to leave, before I have you arrested."

"Daddy, he hasn't done anything."

"What about that wanted poster? I know I should turn you in for that."

"That's a mistake…I haven't done anything wrong," Antonio explained.

My father looked at me. "Cassandra, go back into the house," he ordered.

"No, daddy. I want to talk to him…alone."

"All right!" he yelled as he stormed off finally leaving us alone.

"He has no right hitting you like that," Antonio fumed as he turned away from me and went inside the barn. I followed him.

"So where are you going?"

He went over to his horse. "I need to go to St. Louis so I can clear my name and then…I really don't know."

I touched his arm. "I want to go with you."

He turned around to face me. "No Cassie."

"How do I know I will see you again?"

"You will. I promise." We held each other in a tight embrace. He softly kissed my lips backed away and then mounted his horse. "I love you Cassie. I will be back for you." I watched him until I couldn't see him anymore. I sat down on the steps of the porch and cried.

I finally went back into the house. My mom was there, waiting for me. "Are you okay?"

"No."

"This is for your own good," she said.

"I love him." Tears were running down my cheeks. "I thought you would understand that."

"I do understand."

"He will be back."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, he promised and I believe him." I turned away from her.

"Cassandra, where are you going?"

"I need some time alone." So I went up to my bedroom and stayed there the rest of the day.