The next day was Thursday, and I hurried through my work so I'd be able to join Cam on his walk, if he went for one, that is. The snow was falling steadily, but it showed no signs of turning into a blizzard, so I hoped he'd go and not just stay bundled up at home. Ever since his exchange of hostilities with Mikhail, he'd been... well, different. Less bashful and withdrawn, bolder and more confident, more open about his feelings for me. I had to admit, I liked this new Cam.

I thought about him as I hurried through my work, then I suddenly remembered the night before, and stopped dead in my tracks as I turned red with embarrassment. What had I been thinking? Two suitors were such handful as it was—why had I even considered accepting a third? Especially... especially since I was almost certain that I couldn't return his affection. Almost... and I shivered as a thrill ran down my spine, remembering his ardent kisses and feverish touch. Well, I'd think about it, like I said I would. But like I'd already told Mikhail, desire was no substitute for love. And I was sure I'd need to keep that well in mind, dealing with this lot....

My winter chores were light, once the initial planting was done, so I managed to reach Bluebell early enough that Cam would still be eating his breakfast, since he liked to sleep in a little on his days off. So rather than intrude on his meal, I stopped to say hi to Ash, as usual. Unlike most of the men in the two towns, Ash had remained friendly rather than pining for me. At least, he never seemed to get jealous, so I assumed he wasn't interested in me. It was a big relief—especially since he was Cam's best friend. I walked up to him with a warm smile and friendly greeting, only to have him give me a cool look and turn his back to me.

I groaned inwardly, recognizing the signs. "This... could get awkward," I thought to myself as I approached him apprehensively. "Ash? What's wrong?" Keeping his back to me, he simply shrugged one shoulder. "Hey, c'mon. What's up? Tell me."

He suddenly whirled around, and his eyes blazing with anger, he said, "I'm really pissed off, Alice. And you know why, don't you?"

I stared at him, dumbfounded by the intensity of his baleful glare, and stammered, "Ash? I-I'm sorry, I honestly don't know what's upset you so much. But I'm sorry if I... "

Before I could finish my sentence, Ash grabbed me by both arms and jerked me tightly against him, crushing his lips against mine in a ferocious kiss as he pinned my arms behind me, gripping my wrists painfully in just one of his big, powerful hands as he clutched my hair in the other.

I'd never been kissed like that before. It frightened me, the tempest of pent-up rage and animal need that fueled that kiss. I struggled to pull away, but Ash held me fast—and he was really strong. Too strong. I began to feel panic rising in me as I realized that I wasn't going to be able to get away—and I didn't know what he was going to do.

Suddenly he was jerked back, releasing me as he stumbled and nearly lost his balance. Standing behind him was Cam, glaring at him with a storm gathering in his eyes. He gripped Ash's shoulder tightly as he whirled him around face to face, glowering at his friend as his other hand curled tightly into a fist. "What the hell do you think you're doing?" he snarled through clenched teeth. Ash stared blankly at him for a moment, then shoved him away, glared first at him and then at me, and stalked off into the barn without a word.

I wobbled, feeling as though my legs were about to give way. Cam quickly put his arm around me to steady me. "Wh-what just happened?" I asked weakly as I clung to him for support, still confused and frightened by what had just taken place.

Cam didn't answer right away. Instead, he slowly walked me out of the pasture and over to the benches near the town gate—not as close by as those in the town square but far more private. He brushed the blanket of powdery snow off a bench, then gesturing for me to have a seat. I sat down, still feeling shaky and confused, and he sat down beside me. He let out a deep sigh, then turned to me, a mixture of anger, grief, and I thought maybe a little glimmer of amusement in his eyes. "You really don't know the effect you have on people, do you, Alice?"

I just stared at him for a minute, then looked away with a shiver. "I have no idea what you're talking about, Cam. What do you mean? I swear, I have no idea what's up with Ash. I've never, ever encouraged him in any way—let alone like to do anything like that!"

"No, of course not, that isn't what I meant. I mean...." Cam sighed again, then continued. "Well, you have this... I guess charisma would be the word for it. You draw people to you. They—we—find you irresistible. Mostly it seems to just make people adore you and want to be friends with you or maybe to take care of and protect you. But... well, I know that Mikhail and I are not the only ones who have developed these... feelings... for you."

I thought about this for a minute, trying to digest what Cam had just said. "So, hold on... are you saying... you're saying that Ash... Ash was in love with me? But he's never... I never... when? How?" I stammered incoherently.

Cam put his arm around me and pulled my head to his shoulder, realizing that I was still in shock. "Yes. Mikhail isn't my only rival. My own best friend is, too. And seeing the two of us together, while being treated as nothing more than a friend by you... I guess it was too much for him. I've never seen him so..."

"Angry?" I supplied as he hesitated.

"No, not just angry. He was... he was almost like a wild animal. Something just snapped, I guess. I think that after he's cooled off, he'll realize what he did... and I think he'll be horrified by his behavior. He's not really a bad guy, you know. But... he really fell hard for you. I honestly don't think he even knew what he was doing. His desire and frustration just became more than he could handle, I think."

I shivered, remembering the fury of his kiss, and Cam held me tightly. "I'm sorry, Alice. I should have warned you. I just didn't realize how bad it had gotten...."

"No," I interrupted, "it's not your fault, Cam. And if you hadn't shown up right then...." I shivered again, wondering just how far Ash would have taken things if no one had been there to stop him.

"Like I said, he's not really a bad guy, not deep down. I know that doesn't excuse the way he behaved, of course. I honestly don't think you'll have any more problems with him, but you don't have to see or talk to him again if you don't want to. I'll have a talk with him, once he's had time to cool off—and so have I. He won't do it again, I'm certain of that. I've known him all our lives, remember?" I nodded, and just sat with my head on his shoulder and his arms around me, feeling safe and secure for the moment.

After a little while, it dawned on me that I hadn't yet mentioned Kana... and that I needed to tell Cam because I'd promised to be honest with him. I sat up and looked at him, feeling worried again. "Cam, I-I have something I need to tell you."

He looked at me, and raised an eyebrow inquiringly, waiting for me to continue. "Remember, I promised you that I'd be honest—that I would never intentionally lie to you or deceive you. So... well, you know how you mentioned that Mikhail wasn't your only rival? It... it looks like you've got yet another. I... I don't think I love him, not like he loves me anyway. But he's dear to me as a friend, and I said... I said I'd think about it...."

"Think about what, exactly?" Cam asked guardedly, his brow furrowed.

I took a deep breath, and said, "Kana... Kana asked me to marry him." Cam pulled back, staring at me in shock. "Like I said, I don't think I could love him... not like that. So I said no. But... he begged for the same chance to win me over as you and Mikhail. I just couldn't refuse him the chance to try...." I trailed off as I looked into his eyes, pleading silently for understanding.

Cam gave me a hard look, which suddenly softened a moment later. He put his arm back around me and pulled me close to him. With his other hand, he began to gently stroke my hair. "You... you're quite a woman, you know that?" He chuckled, then went on, "How is it that you've gotten most—if not all—of the bachelors in two towns to fall in love with you? I should be upset... and I'm definitely jealous... but... I just can't be anything but in love with you, Alice," he said, then he put his other arm around me and held me close as he leaned down and kissed me, a gentle but passionate caress, tender enough to erase the last vestiges of panic caused by Ash's brutish embrace, yet intense enough to draw me in, wishing it would never end.

The next morning as I was tending to my livestock in the field, Dirk came by carrying a tall cardboard box, a huge grin on his face. "Hey, Alice! How's it going?" he called as he walked up my drive.

"Fine, and you? What've you got there?" I called back, strolling up to the fence.

"Well, why don't you come and see!" he laughed, stopping and waiting for me to join him. I hurried over and took the box from his hands and peered inside. Cradled in a nest of tissue paper was a cut glass vase containing a large bouquet of rare blue roses—I knew they must have cost a small fortune, as I'd seen them for sale at Cam's shop once or twice so far that winter—along with a bottle of perfume and a box of chocolates.

I let out a gasp of surprise, then I looked at Dirk with a mischievous grin, saying, "Why, Dirk! I didn't know you cared!" He turned bright red, but he laughed and said there was a note in there somewhere, too, probably from the sender, but he didn't know who the sender was himself. He dug out the rest of my mail from his bag, then with a wave, he was off to begin his rounds.

I carried the box into my house, curious to know who was sending me such extravagant gifts, and why. I pulled out the flowers and placed them on a table near the front door, where I could see them from nearly anywhere in my house. Their heady fragrance had already begun to permeate the room, and I breathed of it deeply before returning to the box.

I pulled out the perfume and chocolates, and then I spotted a small envelope that had fallen underneath the candy. I pulled it out and looked at it—the only writing on the outside was simply "For Alice" in a hand I didn't recognize. I opened it and pulled out a folded sheet of smooth, creamy stationary. I opened it and read the note. It simply said, "Dear Alice, I'm so, so very sorry for what I did. I know no apologies could ever make up for yesterday, but I still apologize from the bottom of my heart for my despicable behavior. I hope you will forgive me and continue to be my friend, but I will understand if you cannot or will not. Either way, I promise you that it will never happen again. It was inexcusable in me and wholly unworthy of you." And it was signed "Most sincerely, Ash."

"Cam must have had his talk with him," I thought to myself, as I contemplated the letter. I was certain that Cam had made up the arrangement for Ash, and probably the perfume as well, even though his shop was closed both yesterday and today—it was just the sort of thing he would do to help a friend.

Then I noticed a tiny envelope still in the box, and pulled it out. Inside was a dried pressed pansy blossom—meaning "thoughts"—and a slip of paper with the lines "If I had a single flower for every time I think of you, I could walk forever in my garden.—Claudia A. Grandi" in beautiful handwriting that I recognized as Cam's. I blushed and smiled, and set the tiny blossom and note on my nightstand. I was trying to decide whether to write a reply, or to go and talk with Ash in person, when there was a knock on the door.

"Come on in," I called, and Kana opened the door, grinning at me as he did so.

"Hey, beautiful! Good morning!" he said as he shut the door behind him. Then he spotted the roses. "Whoa! Nice! Where'd those come from?" he said, opening his eyes wide.

"Oh, umm... from Ash," I replied with some hesitation. Kana looked startled, so I quickly added, "We, uhh, kind of had a falling out yesterday... so he sent those as an apology."

He raised an eyebrow, saying, "That's some apology. Must've been quite a falling out."

"Yeah... it was," I said hesitantly. "I really don't want to talk about it, though, okay?"

"Sure, if you say so," Kana replied, looking at the flowers with a worried expression. "Hey, I have the day off—wanna go for a ride with me?" he asked, brightening up as he turned to me.

I thought for a minute. It was really cold, and I had a lot to do that day for once, but a ride did sound nice—and Nimbus could use the exercise. "Okay, but just a short one. Today's a busy day for me."

"Awesome!" Kana exclaimed.

I smiled at him and said, "Let me finish my chores here and saddle up, and I'll meet you at your place in, say, an hour?"

"Sounds great!" he replied. "It'll seriously be a lot of fun!" And he took off back to his house. I smiled again at his enthusiasm—whether I fell in love with him or not, it was nice to have someone be so... excited to spend time with me.

I finished up my chores, saddled Nimbus, and headed over to Kana's. He was just leading a young, flea-bitten grey gelding out of the barn. He was tall, rangy fellow— homely, but he looked like he had the potential to be a good, sound trail horse under Kana's care and training. I honestly admired Kana's skill with horses. He could take any horse, no matter how wild, and turn it into a gentle, well-mannered saddle horse you wouldn't hesitate to let your granny ride.

Kana leaped into the saddle and trotted through the gate, pausing to kick it closed and bar it with his foot once they were through. "Hiya! This is Freckles. I'm training him for a client. He's a good boy, just a bit skittish. But we're working on that, aren't we, fella?" he said, patting the gelding's neck.

"Freckles?" I said with a grin, and Kana winced.

"Yeah, well... I didn't pick the name. C'mon, let's go!" And with that, we were off, not racing up the path as we might have done other times of the year, because the snowy paths were too slippery to ride at high speeds. But nevertheless, our horses trotted quickly, each trying to outdo the other in friendly competition.

We rode up to the waterfall and dismounted just past the bridge. We tied our horses to some trees near the path, and as we strolled down the hill to the stream, he reached for my hand. "We should come back one of these days soon and do some ice fishing. Maybe tomorrow? Oh wait, that's Hiro's birthday, isn't it? Wasn't Dr. Ayame planning some kind of party for him?"

"Yeah," I replied, "but that's not till evening. Maybe we could fish for a couple of hours? It depends on whether the first of my winter crops are ready to harvest or not. I'll let you know in the morning, okay?"

"Sure," he said, giving my hand a squeeze. "That'd be fun—you know I love to fish!" I smiled at him, thinking how much I enjoyed his cheerful, uncomplicated nature. It was a welcome change.

"Well," I said a few minutes later with a sigh, "I'd better get going. Sorry, Kana—I've really got to finish my errands, and then I need to make something for Hiro's party. I promised Dr. Ayame I would."

"Okay, thanks for spending some time with me. And let me know about the fishing!" he replied as we returned to our horses. He untied Freckles, then turned and gave me a kiss before mounting his horse. We parted ways then, with him returning to Konohana while I continued on to Bluebell.