"Hillary!" The name echoed down the valley, startling the two young twins making their way home.
"Holy cow!" Heidi said to Hillary as they both walked toward the house. "What's eating at him?"
Their father was standing at the front porch with an envelop in his hand. He was so angry that he was actually shaking. Her mother was standing behind him trying to calm her husband, but to no avail.
"I don't know," Hillary said fearfully. "But I think I'm about to find out!"
"What's wrong pa?" she asked nervously as she walked up.
"What's wrong?" he bellowed, turning an even darker shade of red. "What's wrong?"
"Calm down, you're scaring her!" their mother interjected.
"Look at these!" he snapped and thrust the envelop into Hillary's hands. She looked at it a moment, wondering what could possible be inside that would make her father so mad. The envelope was post marked from the local post office.
Hillary's hands were shaking so badly that she had problems opening it. Her sister Heidi reached over and helped. Three pictures fell out.
"Oh boy," Heidi sighed. Hillary lost all her color as her twin held the pictures so that they both could see them one at a time.
The first picture was of Hillary kissing Herb Johnson. In the background you could make out the town fair that just ended a couple of days ago. They were in Herb's car. Hillary remembered the night well. She swallowed hard.
The next picture was also of Herb and her kissing, but in this one it was pretty obvious that one of Herb's hands was under Hillary's blouse. Heidi glanced at her sister before switching to the third picture. Hillary didn't want to see it, but found herself unable to turn away.
The picture was of Herb resting his head back against the headrest. Only the top of Hillary's head could be seen as she bent over him. The expression on Herb's face left nothing to the imagination. Hillary turned to her twin for help, but Heidi was just as stunned as her.
"What do you have to say for yourself?" her father growled. Hillary looked at him and was at a loss. There was no way to deny what was obvious in the pictures. No way at all. Suddenly her fear disappeared and was replaced with sadness.
"Pa, what do you want me to say?" she finally replied. Hillary met his gaze and saw the pain there. It hurt her. She would miss being his little angel.
"How could you!" he cried.
"Oh father," Hillary sighed. "What did you expect? I'm eighteen, not twelve." She watched her father swallow hard and suddenly droop. He was fighting to keep control of his expression. He looked close to tears. She almost preferred the anger.
"This is not something a father wants to think about his daughter doing!" he half growled and half whispered.
"I know," Hillary said. She then added hopefully, "So don't. Just go inside and pretend you never saw these pictures."
"I'm not sure I can," the big man said sadly. Hillary thought he looked old for the first time in her life.
"Who sent them?" Heidi asked into the silence that followed.
"We don't know," he replied. "There was nothing but the pictures."
"It would have to be someone who hates Hillary or pa," their mother put in. "No one else would do something so cruel!"
The sisters exchanged a look. There was only one person who hated Hillary enough to do something like this. Heidi saw her sister's glare and swallowed. Hillary took after their father when she got mad. She literally shook. Heidi never saw her twin so angry before.
"I'm going for a walk," Hillary said suddenly. She turned and walked away. Heidi made to go with her, but Hillary stopped her. "I want to do this alone." Heidi looked at her sister and nodded.
"Where is she going?" pa asked Heidi.
"She just needs some time by herself," the young woman replied. Her father shrugged and walked back into the house numbly. Her mother looked after Hillary nervously.
"You don't think..." she began, but Heidi interrupted.
"You don't want to know," she said.
Hillary walked to the cabin with the pictures in her hand. She knocked on the door and waited for Michael to answer. He did, saw the envelop in her hand and smiled. It was all the conformation Hillary needed. She threw the pictures at his head and kicked him hard between the legs. Michael hit the ground a moment later gasping.
Hillary turned and walked back to the house without a word. She entered to see only her mother and sister present.
"Where is pa?" she asked.
"Went to town," her mother replied.
"He's not going to go after Herb?" Hillary asked nervously.
"No, but it took some convincing."
"I just called Herb and warned him to stay away from pa anyway," Heidi put in.
"Thanks," Hillary said and sighed.
"Is everything okay?" Heidi asked. Hillary shrugged.
"Was it Michael? Did your cousin really do this?" her mother asked.
"Yes," Hillary said coldly.
"I'll send him back to his mother in the morning."
"I doubt he'll be able to travel that soon."
"What did you do to him?" Heidi asked. Hillary told them and Heidi snapped, "Serves him right!"
"Yes," Hillary agreed, but then sighed and added, "But ma, you'd better go check on him. I kicked him pretty square."
"I'll do it and tell him he has to go," her mother promised.
"No, don't kick him out," Hillary sighed. "That just what he wants. Make him finish out the summer." Her mother looked at her for a moment in surprise, but then slowly nodded.
"If that's what you want," her mother sighed and the three fell silent. "I guess I'll go check on him."
"You know," Heidi said, once their mother left. "I've stayed out of your little war up until now, but I think it's time I helped."
"What do you mean?" Hillary asked.
"I have an idea."
Hillary listened to her sister's plan and slowly started to smile. It wasn't a pleasant smile, but it was heartfelt.
* * *
