Under the Open Sky (Montana Heritage Series) (22 page)

             
“We ready?” Jenny asked as she climbed into the Jeep.

             
“Ready,” Amanda circled the drive and headed for the lake where the summer houses lined its shores.

             
“So who is this guy anyway?” Amanda queried.

             
“Chloe said his family is here from California. Apparently he knows Charlie Finnegan’s grandparents and met Charlie while he was visiting. Anyway, one of the other cheerleaders was telling Chloe that Charlie said this guy is throwing a party and said to invite all his friends so…”

             
“Now we’re invited by a friend of a friend,” Amanda smiled.

             
“Right,” Jenny smiled in return. The lake house was gleaming in the afternoon sunlight as Amanda parked on a spot in the grass.

             
“So let’s go see if this party is any fun or if it gets out of hand and we need to abandon it,” Amanda suggested.

             
“Let’s,” Jenny grabbed her bag and hopped from the Jeep. The temperatures had been steadily climbing until it was finally warm enough for a swim. July was only a couple of days away. 

             
“Welcome ladies, welcome, I’m Morris, your host,” a young man smiled as they entered the large cabin style home. “If you need anything let me know,” he winked at them. He had blonde hair, blue eyes, and held no appeal for Amanda, though she noticed Jenny did a double take.

             
“He was kinda cute,” Jenny glanced over her shoulder.

             
“Not my type,” Amanda crinkled her nose. He was too pretty boy; she liked her men, well, manly and tall, dark, and handsome.

             
“Mandy; Jenny,” Dede, dragging Chloe behind her approached. “Did you see the host?”

             
“Not my type.”

             
“I thought he was pretty hot,” Jenny admitted.

             
“Want a drink?” Dede extended a red plastic cup to her.

             
“What is it?” Amanda peered inside.

             
“Beer silly,” Dede, looked rather pleased with herself.

             
“No!” Amanda held a hand up. “Not only would my dad and then my brother kill me, I have never had any desire to make a fool of myself and have no memory of it.”

             
“Jenny?”

             
“I’m with her,” Jenny declined.

             
“Suit yourself,” Dede shrugged.

             
“Isn’t this place amazing?” Chloe was looking around in amazement. It was impressive, all soaring timbers and balconies.

             
“I’m ready to swim,” Jenny announced and made her way through the crowd. Amanda waved at some friends from school and found herself wondering who the others were. Outside, the yard was littered with more guest and several people were already in the lake.

             
“Mandy,” Chris sidled up to her and dropped an arm around her waist.

             
“Where’s your girlfriend?” Amanda queried.

             
“She dumped me,” he admitted; then shrugged. “Can’t say I’m too disappointed.”

             
“Well, at least you aren’t heart broken,” Amanda offered with a heavy dose of sarcasm.

             
“Yeah, I know; right? I was kinda wondering what happened to us actually. We seemed to be off to a good start and then…” he shrugged.

             
“Hey are you coming or aren’t you?” Jenny grabbed her by the arm and pulled her toward the dock.

             
“Thanks,” Amanda muttered.

             
“Welcome,” Jenny grinned as she shed her dress. She wore an adorable light green and white polka dot two piece underneath.

             
“How cute!” Amanda admired her friend’s suite.

             
“Isn’t it?” Jenny turned and pivoted so Amanda could admire it further. “Now see, I could never wear white and I certainly couldn’t wear that style. I would look all sawed off and deathly pale; the curse of being petite and red headed,” Jenny surveyed Amanda’s suit.

             
“You are adorable, Jenny,” Amanda assured her friend.

             
“And you are all long legs and green eyes; it’s disgusting!” Jenny joked. Amanda knew she had filled out over the school year. She had finally taken on shape. According to Naomi, Amanda was built like her grandmother on her dad’s side. Amanda could vaguely remember an old woman from her early childhood who had resided at the retirement home. According to Naomi she had been a knock out in her youth. Amanda didn’t mind the comparison; she was just glad to have finally grown some boobs.

             
Amanda sprinted down the dock and launched herself into the water with a cry of exaltation; summer was finally here! She heard a splash behind her and knew that Jenny had done the same. The water was cool but Amanda didn’t mind. She and Jenny splashed and playfully flirted with a couple of guys from school for the next hour as the sun, bathing the lake in golden red light, dipped lower and lower. It was the first real fun Amanda had enjoyed all summer thanks to her grueling work schedule.

             
“Amanda; Mandy!” she heard someone call. She had swam a good distance out into the lake and turned to squint at the distant dock.

             
“Manny!” she spotted a tall figure waving and smiled.

             
“Trent! Cade!” she waved for a moment and then swam hard for the dock. They were early! How had they found her? Her brother wasn’t going to like her being here, she realized. Oh well.

             
It didn’t take her long to reach the dock and scramble up the ladder. She was prepared to launch herself at her brother when he raised a hand.

             
“Woe! You are sopping wet and I am dry,” he offered her a cheek and she obliging kissed it, before he kissed her forehead. She turned to find Cade waiting for a hug and flung herself into his arms. He lifted her off her feet before setting her back down.

             
“How are you, Manny?” a wide smile split his face.

             
“I’m good,” she smiled in return as she leaned back in his arms. She felt her nerves jump and stomach flip. Crap!
It
was still there she realized.

             
“What are you guys doing here?” she finally stepped away from Cade.

             
“We could either stay and get our final results and grades or we could have them mailed; we chose to have them mailed,” her brother explained.

             
“I’m glad you did,” she smiled.

             
“So you two are back huh?” Jenny had joined them on the deck and was smiling widely at them.

             
“Hey, Jenny,” Cade offered her a hug.

             
“Hey, handsome,” she returned it.

             
“I know, I’m wet. I saw you turn your own sister away,” Jenny teased Trent as she turned to him and offered her hand.

             
“Hey, Jenny,” Trent, gaining a frown and sigh from Jenny, kissed her forehead as he had his sister’s.

             
“Does Dad know where you are?” Trent asked of his sister.

             
Amanda plopped her hands on her hips and glowered at her brother.

             
“I’m glad to see you too.”

             
“I am glad to see you, Mandy. Does Dad know where you are?”

             
“He knows I’m out with Jenny,” she dodged the question.

             
“Does he know you’re at a party with drinking and who knows what else?”

             
“No, but I am not drinking or who knows what else. I am swimming. Now, quit being uptight and come swim with us,” Amanda ordered.

             
“I don’t have my swim wear with me,” he returned.

             
“Neither do half the people in this lake,” Amanda offered on a smiled and watched her brother flush.

             
“Why not,” Cade responded as he pulled his shirt off.

             
“Woo hoo! Take it off!” Jenny teased.

             
Amanda snorted, embarrassed laughter over taking her.

             
“Alright, both of you in the water,” Trent ordered.

             
“What?” Amanda demanded.

             
“In the water!” he ordered. Amanda and Jenny jumped back in the water. “Now turn around,” Trent made a circle in the air with his finger. The girls did as ordered.

             
“Your brother is too funny,” Jenny leaned over to comment to Amanda.

             
“He’s something,” Amanda returned. Amanda heard a splash in the water behind them. “Can we turn around yet?” she queried.

             
“You can turn around now,” her brother agreed.

             
“I can’t believe you did it!” Amanda stared at her brother in disbelief.

             
“Somebody has to look out for you two,” he informed them.

             
“We have yet to get in any trouble,” Amanda informed her brother.

             
“Being here is a good way to start,” he countered.

             
“How did you find us?” Amanda finally asked.

             
“I started asking around and somebody said they thought you were coming to a party up here. Finding the house with the party was easy.”

             
“Oh. Well, the worst thing we have done since we’ve been here is flirt a little with a couple of guys from school so chill.”

             
“I thought you had a boyfriend or something,” her brother said it like an accusation.

             
“Nope,” she shook her head. “Kevin and I have gone out a few times but that’s it.”

             
“So are you going around kissing this one too?” her brother asked, his brows drawn.

             
“A few kisses here and there but our relationship isn’t like that really; we talk for like hours on end.”

             
“Good I like this guy, why’d you run him off?”

             
“She didn’t. He’s in Idaho for the summer and left without asking for any kind of promise,” Jenny rolled her eyes as she explained.

             
“Who started calling you two the Dynamic Duo?” Trent demanded. “When I asked where you two were that’s how Dede referred to you.”

             
“Not sure,” Amanda admitted with a shrug.

             
“I would ask why but I’m afraid of the answer,” her brother teased.

             
“How’s school going?” Amanda asked to change the subject as she laid back to float on the water.

             
“Fine.”

             
“How are you, Cade, as usual, you’re talking my ear off,” she shot in his direction.

             
“I’m good, Manny; how are you?”

             
“I am fine,” she responded.

             
“Hey!” Jenny yelped a moment before she found herself sitting on David’s shoulders. “Where did you come from?” she demanded of him.

             
“I just got here,” he answered her with a smile.

             
Amanda couldn’t quite decide if the pair was a couple or not. They dated some but neither seemed quite willing to define their relationship.

             
“Come on, Mandy, it’s war!” Jenny invited.

             
“I learned that one from your sister,” Amanda admitted.

             
“Me too,” Jenny grinned, her smile nostalgic.

             
“You game?” Cade extended his hand.

             
“Of course,” Amanda accepted.

             
Amanda and Jenny were fairly well matched and unseated each other in equal turns. They finally called it a draw.

             
“That was fun,” Amanda laughed.

             
“It was,” Jenny returned.