"You know I don't like that," Sally said. "Come on, Sally," Bill said, "loosen up a bit."

"Loosen up," Sally repeated his expression. "I bet you'd like that. You'd like for me to loosen up a bit. Well, I'm not that kind of girl."

Sally slipped over to her side of the car and gave Bill a look of anger. Her looks of anger were calculated to bring even the strongest boy to his knees. Bill was no exception.

"Awww, Sally," he said. "You know I didn't mean anything."

"You know I'm not like those other girls you date," Sally said.

"I know," he said.

"Then why are you always trying to paw me?"

"Gee, Sally," he said. "All I wanted was a few kisses."

"Liar," Sally said. "I know what you want. I know what all you boys want. Well you're not going to get it from me."

She stormed out of the car and walked down to the river, still pretending anger. She was not angry enough to step into any mud or anything that might stain her pretty white shoes. She was still thinking about her entrance to the dance.

She knew, with a smug satisfaction, that it would only be a minute before Bill would come after her. He would beg and plead with her to get back into the car and finally Sally would be persuaded. Sally might have been young, but she already knew how to wrap a man around her finger.

She heard footsteps behind her and she prepared herself for the look she was going to give Bill. She turned around and her look changed into one of surprise.

"Hello," a man said.

It wasn't Bill but a tall, dark man. He was a man who looked in his forties with dark curling hair and bulging muscles. He wore a pair of tight faded jeans and a cotton shirt that was open halfway down the front. She could see more black curly hairs on his chest. He also wore a big cowboy hat and scuffed cowboy boots.

She saw immediately that he was a man used to hard work. There was nothing soft about him. His huge hands were scarred and rough-looking. He had the stubble of two days growth of beard on his face.