It was getting on for close to half eight, nine when Jennifer broke up the study session. "You should be heading home, as it's a school night. You're welcome to come back tomorrow afternoon if there's more you need to do, but I don't want your pa to be upset with me for keeping you out," she told the two girls. They both gave exaggerated sighs but started packing up Beth's books.
"Thanks for dinner, 'n for lettin' me stay," she responded as she got up.
"That's no problem," Jennifer smiled. "Molls, be safe on your way back," she added.
"Don't worry," her sister responded, with a wave of her hand.
"My pa can probably drive her home if needs be," Beth offered now.
"Yeah, we'll see," Molly shrugged. "Got everything?" she checked as she grabbed her poncho to keep her warm.
"Uh huh," the younger girl nodded and picked up her book and notebook. "See ya around," she said to the older Matthews as she headed out the door.
"Bye Beth. Don't be too long," Jennifer called back and added the last bit to her sister.
"Stop worrying. And if you want to go to bed early, you don't have to stay up on my account," Molly said back when she saw her yawn, demonstratively holding up her keys for her to see.
"We'll see," her sister responded, trying not to yawn again.
With a chuckle Molly pulled the door shut behind her and started walking towards next door with her new friend. "I actually had fun doing that today. I hope it was helpful for you," she said as she stuffed her hands in her pockets.
"Oh totally," Beth bounced alongside her. "Jake'll just have to get over may not doin' may homework with him this time," she commented.
"Why?"
"Oh, he likes goin' over it with me. First one in the family to get into College, but he came back during his first year coz ma left. Still, he's tryin' to finish it by doin' an online home course," she explained. Her companion contemplated this new piece of information in silence as they walked. It explained why Jake was so annoyed when he thought she was calling him stupid during that first fight, even though she definitely hadn't called him that. And why he didn't like Granger's song portraying country boys as redneck hicks. Because he really wasn't. He was studying alongside his chores on the ranch and now trying to teach her to ride as well. "Did I say summit wrong?" Beth pulled her out of her reverie.
"No, no, the opposite in fact," Molly quickly reassured her. "Sorry, I got lost in my own world for a second," she apologized. "Before I forget, at some point this week I'll need to ask you for advice on what to wear to a barn dance," she remembered her conversation with Jake a few days earlier.
"Oh, course! Ya goin' with Jake?" Beth asked, immediately excited.
"I'm not saying," she laughed, even if that did almost confirm it.
"Great! Then yes, we can go over what to wear," the younger girl said, enthusiastically hooking her arm through hers as they made their way onto her drive. The dogs came running out to greet them first, which their guest loved. Maybe she'd suggest to her sister that they should get one too. "Pa, I'm home," Beth called as she pulled open the front door.
"Good," they heard Duncan call back absentmindedly from where he was sat on the back porch. His daughter simply rolled her eyes and gestured for her new friend to follow her up.
"This is my room," she said as she opened the door and walked in. Her guest followed her in and looked around her as she went to sit down at her desk.
"Not bad," Molly said with a smile. "So, when you're not at school or doing your homework, what do you do?" she asked curiously.
"Ridin' with Jake, goin' into town with my friends… Sometimes we go bowlin' with pa, all sorts," Beth shrugged. "Hi Jake," she suddenly smiled, making her guest look up in surprise. She hadn't heard him come in.
"I thought I'd heard ye come back," Jake said to his sister before he acknowledged the girl from next door with a smile. "Thanks for helpin' her with her homework," he said to her.
"That's okay, I don't mind. It was nice to hang out with her," Molly answered, giving her new friend a smile now.
"How come ye didn't ask me?" he turned to his sister now. He sounded a little upset that she hadn't when she normally would've.
"It ain't a topic I wanted to go over with my brother," Beth told him, not wanting to actually have to say it.
"Ye can talk to me 'bout anythin'," he responded, sounding very big brotherly.
"Yeah okay, let's talk about the female reproductive organs," she said with fake enthusiasm, seeing him freeze for a moment as he realized that it was indeed a bit of an awkward topic for the two of them to go over.
"I could still have helped, I have no problems… talkin' 'bout that," he tried to say casually as he shrugged, making Molly choke back a laugh. "Anyway, did ye finish?" he said in an attempt to recover.
"Pretty much yeah," Beth nodded, also trying to hide a laugh.
"Right, well good," Jake said and turned on his heel to head to his room.
His sister nodded to her guest to follow him, which she did with an apologetic smile.
"Jake, you okay?" Molly didn't know what else to say as she caught up with him at his bedroom door.
"Uh huh, course," he said nonchalantly, leaning against the doorframe, left hand in his pocket. "Ye know ye didn't have to walk her home," he said.
She put her hands in her pockets as she came up closer. "Well, see I did coz my sister thinks she lives a couple of ranches over," she contradicted him with a small smile, getting one in response.
"So… What yer sayin' is yer in no hurry to get back?" he checked.
"Basically, yeah," she nodded.
"Good. Follow may," Jake said, pushing himself off the doorframe and led the way back downstairs. Bemused she quickly followed him, giving Beth a small wave as she passed her bedroom.