"The girls 'r' straigh' ou' silly." Johnny reminded her as they walked. "Bu' ye country girls 'r' mo' then fascinatin' fo' a boyo like me." Johnny teased as he lightly bumped his hip. "And I only know so many friends 'cause we all see each othe' alll th' time." He explained.

"Aye, bu' it mus' be nice bein' 'round people all th' time. I don' 'ave tha' opportunity," Lori said with a laugh as she gave his hand a gentle squeeze. "'n' th' girls may be silly, bu' they get the boyos' attention, don' they," Lori added with a small smile.

"Aye bu' ye don't want any o' those boyos anyways. They don't know anythin' bout anythin' important like th' woods or foxes. They're quite useless really." Johnny said with a laugh.

Lori laughed teased, "How do I know yer no' jus' sayin' tha' t' keep me all t' yerself?"

"Yer jus' gonna have t' trust me." Johnny smiled down at Lori. "Think ye can do tha'?" He asked curiously as he lightly squeezed her hand.

Lori smiled as she placed a light kiss upon his cheek, an impulsive move that even surprised Lori. However, there was no turning back now. Blushing, Lori nodded, "I think I can do tha' jus' fine."

Johnny's eyes widened as he felt Lori's kiss on his cheek. His face turned several shades of red though he couldn't keep the grin off his face at her actions. "I'm glad." Johnny said shyly as he smiled down at Lori.

"Do you trus' me?" Lori inquired with a devilish grin as she gently pulled him to a halt. What Johnny didn't know was that there was a small clearing just over the hill they had come to. Not only did it house many wildlife creatures that she thought he would enjoy, but there was also a small stream running through it. Beside the stream, grew beautiful wildflowers. Lori came here quite often, evidence of that shown in the small patches of flowers that she herself had planted.

"O' course." Johnny said with a raised eyebrow, curious about the devilish gleam in Lori's eyes.

"Follow me," Lori said with a grin as she lead him quickly up the hill. When they reached the top, Lori smiled as she awaited his response to the beautiful, undeveloped scenery before them. "Wha' d' ye think?"

"Lori..." Was the first thing that came out of Johnny's mouth and was followed by a long silence as he took in the scene in front of him. The grass was the greenest he'd ever seen and he watched dazzled as little animals scurried over the empty meadow.

"Its beautiful." Johnny said when his mouth was finally able to speak again before looking over at the girl next to him. As gorgeous as the scenery was Lori still took his breath away when he saw her, not that he had the courage to say it out loud. "Thank ye fo' showin' this t' me." He said with a shy smile.

Lori grinned as she led him down the hill, "I though' ye migh' like it. Come on, I'll show ye 'round." Soon, Lori was showing him the different types of trees that grew in the meadow, the different animals that lived there, the flowers she planted, the flowers she loved most. In time, they had made their way to the river. Sitting by it's edge, Lori looked into the water with a smile, explaining the sorts of fish and animals that made their mating grounds in and by this part of the river.

Johnny followed Lori diligently as he soaked up the information she ws feeding him in silence. He often felt his mind drift away from what she was saying as he looked over at Lori's face and wondered how she had become so smart and how he could've been so lucky to have such a tour guide to his beautiful place.

"It's nice tha' humans have yet t' desecrate this area, tha' nature has been able t' remain free. Th' only changes I've made t' it is the addin' of me fav'rite flow'rs," commented Lori as her fingertips lightly drew swirls in the clear water. "D' ye like it? Th' area, I mean," Lori said with a warm smile as she looked at his reflection in the flowing river.

"Ye I like it." Johnny said though he wasn't referring to just the area around them. Johnny smiled contently as he leaned back on the grass next to Lori with his eyes gazing into the crystal blue water in front of them. "I'm surprised ye managed t' ge' here without gettin' lost. Heaven knows I'd be wanderin' around lost if I was here by myself." He laughed.

Lori laughed as she looked back over her shoulder at him, "Me Da' showed it t' me when I was lit'le 'n' took me down here 'til 'e died. I could find me way 'ere with me eyes closed."

"I'm glad ye like it," Lori said with a warm smile, "Yer welcome t' come 'ere, if ye can find it, whene'er ye like. Jus'.. Promise me ye won' tell anyone abou' it."

"Ye have me promise." Johnny said with a smile as he reached a hand over to link it with Lori's. "So this is where th' infamous Lori hides away." He teased lightly.

Lori laughed as she gave his hand a gentle squeeze, "Am I th' girl ye though' I was?"

"No." Johnny said with a frown and a sigh before looking away. Unable to keep his facade up for much long however, Johnny turned back to Lori with a wicked grin. "Yer much better." He assured her with a wink.

Lori laughed as she took her hand from his in mock disbelief, "Yer absolutely terrible! I'm no' sure I can fergive ye fer sayin' such a mean thing before coverin' i' up with somethin' nice."

"I think ye can fergive me." Johnny smiled as he playfully batted his eyelashes in her direction. "How can ye say no t' this face?" He asked as he added a pout for effect.

Leaning in, being very impulsive, Lori hesitantly, chastely, softly kissed Johnny's pouting list. "I'm findin' it really difficul' to."

Johnny's eyes popped open from Lori's kiss though his lips soon formed into a large grin. "I'm glad ye can find it in yer heart to fergive me." He said softly as he ran his fingers over a few strands of Lori's hair before giving her lips another soft kiss. "Thank ye fo' bringin' me here." He said before leaning backwards and facing the stream, a full blush gracing his cheeks.

An equal blush upon her own cheeks, Lori gave his hand a gentle squeeze as she leaned into is side, resting her cheek upon his shoulder. "Thank ye fer comin' with me."

After awhile, happy just sitting in the quiet, the traveling brook the only noise, Lori looked up at Johnny with a warm smile, "D' ye 'ave t' be gettin' back?"

"Yeah, its gettin' pretty late." Johnny sighed as the sun began to fall back towards the earth. "I 'ave t' help me mum with supper." He explained as he stood up. "I'll walk ye back t' yer house?" He offered, his hand still firmly around Lori's.