"That was an excellent meal," Malcolm said joining Sabella on the back porch.
"I'm glad you enjoyed it," Sabella replied.
"You were kidding about me learning to cook weren't you?" Malcolm asked sitting in one of the rocking chairs on the porch.
Sabella didn't answer him, she just smiled.
"Sabella," Malcolm said.
"It'll be simple," Sabella said smiling at him, "and it won't be tomorrow."
Malcolm relaxed a little.
"This place is so beautiful," Sabella said looking around. "It's hard to believe that in fifty-five years it's going to be divided up into acres with house on almost every acre. It almost makes me want to cry."
"I guess that means at some point I sold this place," Malcolm said.
"I guess so," Sabella agreed sadly. "Almost makes me wish I hadn't seen it as it is now."
The sun was setting creating a beautiful lighting effect off the trees as its rays seemed to dance around them like children at play.
Sabella pulled out her digital camera from off the floor next to the chair she was sitting in, stood up and began taking pictures from every angle of everything around her.
"Can I take your picture?" she asked Malcolm.
"Why would you want to take my picture?" Malcolm asked.
"In case I wake up, and I'm not here," Sabella said. "I'll have some tangible proof that I was here, you were real, and I won't forget you."
"You won't forget me," Malcolm said getting up and walking over to her. "Just like I won't forget you."
"Because of the way I just showed up in your life?" Sabella asked.
"And the way you look with the sun glowing behind you right now," Malcolm replied. "Its like a halo glowing around you, making you look like an angel prepared to bless me with anything I want."
There was something in Malcolm's eyes that sent a shiver through Sabella's body. Mabel's word filled her mind.
"Would you take my picture please?" Sabella asked feeling the need to change the mood between her and Malcolm.
"If you'll show me how," Malcolm replied.
"Sure," Sabella said handing her camera to Malcolm. "It's really easy. All you do is look at the screen in the back and when the image is as you like it, you click this button," Sabella said showing him the shutter button. Malcolm held up the camera and looked at the screen.
"Where do you want me to stand?" Sabella asked.
"You decide," Malcolm replied.
Sabella looked around the yard and decided that the traditional pose of sitting on the corral fence would be perfect.
As she was deciding where she would pose for her picture and walking toward the corral fence
Malcolm took her picture unbeknownst to Sabella.
"How is this?" she asked after she climbed up onto the fence, crossed her legs and smiled.
"That's great," Malcolm said looking at the screen, at Sabella's smiling face and pressing down the shutter button.
"How about you taking one with me?" Sabella said.
"How do we do that?" Malcolm asked.
"Come here," Sabella said crooking her finger at him.
Malcolm made his way over to her.
Sabella took the camera, held it out at arm's length and put one of her arms around Malcolm's shoulders, her head close to his, adjusted the shutter to where she felt their faces would appear in view finder, said say cheese and pressed the shutter button taking their picture.
"Let's see what we got," Sabella said turning the camera over and pressing the display button. An image of her and Malcolm appeared on the screen.
"That's amazing," Malcolm said looking at the image.
"Let's see the one you took of me," Sabella said. She pressed the display button and an image of her appeared on the screen.
"You take a very good picture," Sabella said looking at the image and clicking on the next one.
"Thank you," Malcolm said looking away from the image at Sabella. "It helps to have a very good subject."
"Thank you," Sabella still looking down at the other images.
Sensing his eyes on her, she looked up at him.
They stared into each other's eyes. That things was in his eyes again and Sabella recognized what it was this time.
He wanted to kiss her. Would he, would she let him?
The questions were answered when Malcolm eased his arms around Sabella's waist. He waited a few seconds to see if she would object to him touching her. He let out a breath when she didn't move away or tell him to stop.
Malcolm pulled her body close to his when Sabella's arms came up and went around his neck letting him know she knew where he was going, and she wanted to go with him.
They looked into each other's eyes and their lips slowly headed towards each other like two magnets being drawn together. When the sound of someone clearing their throat reached their ears ruining the moment.
They both turned to see Frank walking towards them.
"I knocked on the front door," Frank said slipping his hands into his back pocket as Malcolm and Sabella moved away from each other, adjusting their clothing and behaving like two teenagers who had just been caught necking. "When you didn't answer I opened the front door and came through the house."
"I'm going up to my room," Sabella said too, embarrass to be in Frank's presences.
"Maybe you should find her a place among her own people," Frank suggested, when he was sure was far away enough from them, she couldn't hear what he was saying. "It might not be a good idea for her to continue staying here."
"Maybe you should mind your own business and tell me why you're here," Malcolm replied, his frustration at being interrupted coming through in his voice.
"I came by to let you know that the men got everything you wanted done today," Frank said, "and to let you know the stalls are ready for the horses that'll be arriving tomorrow."
"Thank you," Malcolm said, "I expect you to be here when they arrive."
