The next day, Frank and Hazel greeted each other like shy brides. They had both had a night to mull over Grover's words. "So this love thing," Frank said, "are you still feeling it?"

    For some reason, the idea of her not loving him hurt, so he was relieved when Hazel nodded. "It's stronger than ever."

     She leaned over and gave him a kiss on the cheek. His face flushed a brilliant red like vermillion. He scuffled his feet in the soil. "Should we take the flocks towards the river?" he suggested.

    Hazel smiled at his suggestion. "We can skip stones."

     Frank smiled back. "And you can draw in the dust."

     He whistled like a bird and his herd followed him. Hazel called her sheep by name, bringing up the rear. Whenever an animal fell behind or stumbled, she was there to help it. It was such that the goats liked Hazel as much as they liked Frank and the sheep adored Frank as much as they adored Hazel.

      The sheep were still noticeably lacking their wooly coats, but they would grow back by wintertime. The kids and lambs were also growing. They spent less time near their mothers and more frolicking around with their rambunctious playmates.

     The animals enjoyed the shaded riverbank after the blazing hot sun in the fields. A few even waded into the river to cool themselves off before returning to land. Frank and Hazel followed their charges, even soaking their clothes when necessary.

     After awhile, the animals settled down to munch the tender grass and low-growing foliage at the river's side. Frank and Hazel laid sprawled out on flat rocks that were warmed by the sun. They kept their eyes on the flocks while enjoying the sun's warmth against their skin. "It's a beautiful day," Hazel said with a sigh.

    Yet despite the day's beauty, they both felt restless. The kiss and Grover's words yesterday had awakened something in them. Yet neither said much to each other, both shy and longing at the same time.

   Eventually, they both ended up rolled over on their sides so their noses touched. Hazel could smell the herbs Frank's mother used in her breads. Frank could smell the flowery perfume Maria had given her step-daughter.

     Their faces tilted towards each other like flowers searching for the sun. Then, once again, their lips met. It was a tender kiss — longer then the first — and even softer for they had both taken care to spread beeswax over their lips the night before.

    Hazel was smiling when the kiss ended. Though they were laying down, she felt as exhilarated as if she had ridden a horse. She placed one hand gently against Frank's cheek. "If this is what love is, then why doesn't everyone feel it?"

    Frank shrugged. "Perhaps they do, but they're too scared to tell like we were."

    "Or perhaps they love someone who doesn't love them," Hazel said sadly.

    Frank touched her cheek. "I love you."

     They kissed again. It ended when they heard the desperate bleating of a kid. Frank stood up and took out his slingshot, his eyes searching for danger. Hazel stood up and circled around the gathered animals, counting each of her sheep in turn. Only when they were all accounted for did she look up. It was then that she saw the wolves.

The leader was a gray-coated beauty its muzzle narrow and teeth flashing in the sunshine. Flanking It were two lieutenants, both of them wiry with muscle underneath their brown pelts. They growled as they slowly advanced, slinking forward with the slow confidence of a predator.

Hazel stood still and firm like an oak tree lashed by the wind. These wolves were not going to hurt her sheep or Frank's goats. The animals had bunches together, bundling the kids and lambs in the center. They bleated in fear, but stood firm, love for their young outweighing fear of the wolves.

Frank stepped off the rock and advanced slowly towards the wolves. Hazel had to bite the scream rising in her throat. Then, he raised his slingshot and aimed at the trio of wolves. The rock bounced off of its forehead and the wolf lunged firward, snarling and growling.

Frank side-stepped and gave the wolf a big kick in the ribs, causing it to sprawl over on the ground. The wolf got up, snarling louder than ever. It lunged again and its teeth sunk into Frank's left leg.

He howled in fury and in his fear, he made the sound of an angry bear. The wolf, surprised, let go and Frank hobbled backwards. The goats and sheep, spooked by the sound, started stampeding. The wolves, thrown off guard, tried to attack the animals, but they ran too quickly. Hazel picked up pine cones and stray rocks, chucking them at the wolves. Frank made another bear noise and the wolves glanced at each other before turning tail.

Hazel turned to Frank. "You're injured. Go home and I'll take care of the animals."

Frank protested, but in the end, Hazel won and he left. It took until sunset to round up the sheep and goats, so scattered had they become in their fright. A few had minor injuries, but it was Frank who Hazel was most concerned about.

After returning his goats to their home, she walked to his nearby home. Frank's grandmother gave her a weary smile as she walked up to the house. "My grandson said you helped him fight off three wolves."

Hazel shrugged. "It was nothing. Is Frank okay?"

His grandmother snorted. "He has a nasty bite on his leg, but it will heal."

"I'm glad to hear that," Hazel said. "I can look after Frank's goats until he gets better."

His grandmother's expression softened. "If only my son could marry a maiden like you."

Hazel blushed, but she remembered what Grover has told her. He had married the woman he loved. When the time came for her, would she be lucky enough to marry Frank?