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laughing all the while .  Jon was right, they didn’t move slowly; Penny ran as fast as a bullet across the land just as the sun was beginning to set .  Although Ellie ’s hat was tied on with a ribbon that ran beneath her chin, she was still afraid it might fall off, so she held onto it with one hand and onto Jon with the other .  Every so often Jon would turn his head around as they were riding and point out some various landmark or building.
     
    They passed by Ol’ Smith’s shop, a few old abandoned farms, Jon ’s house, and the Rhodes orchard and mansion .  They could see the children playing in the backyard .  Gracie sat on a red gingham blanket, braiding her doll’s hair, while Leah and Demi climbed up one of the smaller trees, and Wesley swung back and forth on a little wooden swing hanging from one of the tree’s branches by two strands of ro p e .  Juliet, the maid, sat next to Gracie and read a book quietly.
     
    “Shall we say hello?” asked Jon as he turned his head around quickly .  His hair flew into his grayish brown eyes, making Ellie smile . 
     
    “Well?” he laughed.
     
    Ellie nodded, “Yes , a quick hello.”
                 
    As they neared the Rhodes ’, Jon pulled back the reins a little to slow Penny down.
     
    “Who is it?” Gracie asked, setting down her doll and standing up to get a better view .  She looked up to Leah and Demi in the tree for her answer.
     
    “It’s Ellie !” Demi exclaimed, preparing to hop down from her seat on the branch.
     
    “It’s Ellie !  It’s Ellie !” Leah repeated.
     
    “Be careful,” Juliet reminded, as they jumped down onto the grass.
     
    Wesley stood up on the swing and called out, “It’s a horsie !  It’s a horsie!”
     
    Gracie laughed, “Good call, Wes!”
     
    “Good evening Gracie, Leah, Demi, Wesley,” Ellie paused, “And Juliet, of course .  You’re doing well I hope?”
     
    Juliet nodded and said shyly, “Quite well.”
     
    “Who’s your friend?” Demi asked, coming forward.
     
    “My name’s Jon .  Jonathan Robert Smithton .  What’s yours?” Jon called down.
     
    “I’m Demi Louise Irene Rhodes , but everybody calls me Demi.”
     
    “It’s nice to meet you, Demi.”
     
    “ Johnny ,” said Ellie , “I’d also like you to meet Gracie, Leah, and Wesley.”
     
    Jon smiled, “It’s nice to meet you all.”
     
    “Can we come on a ride too?” asked Wesley.
     
    “I’m sorry, son, but I don’t think there’s room,” Jon answered.
     
    “That’s alright,” Juliet added, “For I don’t think mistress would want the children going out right now.”
     
    “Yes, that’s probably true,” Ellie agreed.
     
    “Are you Ellie ’s sweetheart?” Gracie asked of Jon .
     
    Ellie and Jon laughed and Jon replied, “Well, that was rather straightforward, wasn’t it ?  The
    answer is no, miss , but we are very good friends .  Isn’t that right, Mae?”
     
    “Oh, yes .  Quite right,” Ellie said with a smile.
     
    “Why do you call Ellie , Mae?” asked Leah as she cocked her head to the side confusedly.
     
    Jon grinned, “I don’t know .  It’s just a little nickname I use for her , but I’m not the only one using a nickname .  You should ask her why she always calls me Johnny instead of Jon .”
     
    Leah turned to Ellie , “Why do you?”
     
    Ellie wrapped her arms around Jon ’s waist tighter, giving him a hug, and said, “Because he looks like a Johnny to me.”
     
    Leah giggled, “That’s silly.”
     
    Looking up to the darkening sky, Jon said, “We’d best be off now, Mae , but it was nice meeting all of you,” he tipped his hat at the children.
     
    “It was nice meeting you too,” Gracie replied politely like the perfect little lady her mother had taught her to be.
     
    “ Goodbye !” Ellie called, waving behind her as Penny began to canter off around the orchard and back into the hills . 
     
    Because Ellie hadn’t lived in Donners Bend