~Midnight Moonlight~

I opened eyes and glanced out the window. It's probably really late into the night by now. All the stars were glittering and the moon illuminated a brilliant glow. 

"Come," His voice echoed in my head, "Meet me tonight." Our conversation repeated from this afternoon, "I'll wait for you."

I sat up in bed, struggling with myself. Should I go? The memory of his tempting smile and enticing body gestures was still vivid in my imagination. It was enough to convince me.

I grabbed my farm boots and slipped on my jacket. The stairs creaked in tiny moans as my feet ventured down into the kitchen.

"I'll wait for you all night if I have to." He had begged me.

The whole house was asleep. If I tried to sneak out, I would have to be careful not to disturb our farm animals, or else my father would come out with a gun, expecting to find a bear or thief running about.

"But where?" I had asked him.

I grabbed an oil lantern and lit it with a match. I watched as the tiny yellow flame caught and burned the vulnerable white wick to a charcoal black.

I blew out the match and turned for the door.

"Do you know where that abandoned barn is... across the field?"

I opened the door, and breathed in the cool night air that rushed over me. I stared out at the property I've explored every inch of growing up, but now it seemed so foreign and frightening.

"I'll be waiting for you there."

I closed the door behind me, and walked. One foot after the other. I was nervous, but I had to see him. I looked back, making sure no one was following.

His voice was perfectly re-created in my mind, "Come alone."

I ran across the field in search of the barn as the wind blew my hair wild. I knew where it was, it was a little less than a mile from my house. I've been there many times, but tonight, I felt like I was going for the first time.

In the light of the moon and my tiny lantern, I finally reached my destination. My heart was pounding so hard, I thought for sure a cougar would hear it and come after me for dinner. But I took a deep breath and continued onward.

At the entrance, I noticed the tall wooden doors had finally collapsed from their hinges. It was abandoned after all.

Second thoughts suddenly flooded through me. Maybe I shouldn't do this? Maybe I should just go back.

But then I saw him. Inside. Leaning against a post, underneath a ray of moonlight that squeezed through the splintering barn walls. Wearing his cowboy hat and boots, my heart beat faster. He was handsome. No, he was more than that. He was... perfect.

Leo looked up and noticed me, "Hi."

"Hi." I smiled back.

"I didn't think you were going to come." He took a few steps closer until he was standing right before me.

"Yeah," I turned away shyly, "I didn't think I was either." My skin burned with heat, and though it was pretty warm out, I'm positive it wasn't from the weather.

 "Com'mon, I want to show you something." His smile lit up his eyes as he took my hand and led me deeper into the collapsing structure.

I've never held his hand before, and though it wasn't much, I relished the feeling as if my life depended on it.

He took me around a corner and by the light of my lantern I spotted a blanket laid out on a large pile of straw.

Then Leo pointed up, "That's what I wanted to show you."

I followed his finger to the roof where it had almost completely been blown off. Probably from that storm we had a few weeks ago.

"The stars," He whispered, "This is the best place to admire them."

Gazing up, I realized he was right. They were brilliant. But it could've just seemed that way, because he was standing so close to me. He would be the most radiant star in the sky, ultimately the most beautiful.

He stopped eyeing the sky and looked down at me, "Can I tell you a secret?"

"Yeah." I smiled as he leaned in closer.

"Aright, don't tell anyone this, but... I know a man, who works on this farm everyday, who has a crush on you."

I nearly choked, holding back a gasp, "Really?" It was music to my ears, since he was the only ranch hand we had. I found myself bursting with feelings I couldn't control, and asked, "Can I tell you a secret?"

"Yeah."

"Well, don't tell anyone," I whispered, "but I know a girl who has a crush on the man who works on this farm."

There was a moment of silence, just the two of us, smiling at each other.

"Well," He said, "I think we have a problem." He took the lantern from my hands and extinguished the flame. Without it's golden glow, we were covered in the blanket of night, with only the sparkling sky above for light.

"A problem?" I wasn't sure I caught his meaning.

"Because," He explained, putting down the lantern with his hat, "After years of working on this particular farm, just so he could be around her and get to know her as much as possible... He never kissed her did he?" He stood before me again, everything about him screamed for my darkest desires.

"No, he never did," My face blushed hard and I was glad for the lack of light.

His hands reached up, seeking with his fingers to find my hair. Emotions continued to build up inside me, new and exciting, I didn't know what to think any more. I only wanted to feel him.

As if he could read my mind, Leo leaned on me more, so our bodies were touching. His hands moved down lowly to caress my cheeks and I wrapped my arms around his neck.

My heart wasn't the only one beating like a drum, I could feel his own heart pounding in rhythm with mine.

Excited by him, I took a deep trembling breath.

And then he kissed me, softly but desperately. My head was spinning so fast, I nearly tripped, knocking him off his balance as he pulled me closer. We stumble, stifling giggles as we found ourselves falling onto the soft blanket in the hay.

In the abandoned barn across the field, under the midnight moonlight, I kissed him back.

Written By~Ally Elaine, Edited By~Madge