Next Saturday arrived faster than anyone could believe it would. Nathaniel had gotten up extra early so he could get a head start on the chores. He collected the eggs, cleaned the chicken coop, and the horse stalls. He cleaned up after the cows, milked the milk cow, and the goats who were less stubborn than they used to be for him. He slopped the pigs, pitied the rooster who was so old he could barely crow anymore and fed the ducks. He made sure all the sheep remained in their pasture so that no one could steal them, and to assure their safety from wildlife that might wish to eat them.

        Nathaniel took the extra time to repair the fence around the pigpen, to repaint the old outhouse in the back yard, and fixed the front porch to make it safer for the farmer and his wife. The thing had a few loose boards, so he made sure to replace those with new ones. He wiped the sweat off his brow. He went inside for a bit and checked the time. His stomach rumbled because it was one-thirty in the afternoon and he had not had a bit of lunch.

      He grabbed an apple out of a basket that was on the table and ate it as he read the paper. He had some socks of his that could use some mending to the farmer's wife.

     Then, Nathaniel went to prepare himself for his date with Lila. He figured he ought to look presentable since it was his third date with her but the first official one somewhere nice. He made sure to take the time to trim his mustache and beard a bit. He combed his hair, saddled up his horse along with Speedy and was on his way.

      Nathaniel rode silently to Lila's house. He often wondered what had become of her family and if they would approve of him. He stopped, picked a few wildflowers, got back on his horse and lead both horses toward Lila's place. He got off his horse and knocked at the door. He got no answer and begin to wonder if the young lady had changed her mind about him.

      He was about to set the flowers down in defeat when he heard the front door open in front of him.

" Well, are you going to come inside?" Lila asked.

"Yes, and these are for you," He answered as he handed her the fresh buttercups.

"Thank you, buttercups are my favorites," She said as she put them into a vase full of water.

"I had no idea, I guessed, and am I glad I got it right, Miss Lila," Nathaniel said.

"You are kidding, right?" She asked.

"I assure you I was not aware of this fact, Miss Rossi," He said.

"Mr. Kurtzberg since we are courting, you need not call me so formally, "Lila protested.

"Alright then, Lila you may call me Nathaniel," He said.

Nathaniel took her hand, led her outside and helped her onto Speedy's back. He smiled as Lila grinned at him.

    He climbed onto his horses back and took off at a low pace.

     Lila felt nervous as the windblown around her and the horse trotted blow her.  Nathaniel gave her a funny look, and asked,  "What is the matter?  I assure you she is a gentle animal."

   "I know it is just that I have never ridden a horse before today,"  Lila replied.

   "Oh, a pretty girl like you has never ridden a horse," Nathaniel teased her.

  A few minutes later, they arrived outside the local diner. Lila looked at him in surprise.  Nathaniel climbed off his horse and helped her off the other horse.

   "Th-Thank you," She said.

"You are welcome, Lila," He answered with a  big grin across his face.

      They enter the diner together, and all the locals laugh at them.  A cowboy named Luka, asked, "Who is this fine young filly you have with you?"

   www.dictionary.com defines filly as a noun,  a young female horse especially one less than four years old, a lovely young woman.

     Nathaniel felt his blood coil at the remark.  He did like anyone making fun of Lila this way. 

  "Do not talk about my woman, Lila like this ever again!" Nathaniel said furiously in Luka's direction.

   "Oh, what are you going to do about it ?"  Luka scoffs then snarls at him.