Another story for those of you that like to read them! This is the Last part!

   Charlie broke the kiss abruptly. I looked into his eyes and I could see hurt and shame. “Mary, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean. It just happened. I’m so sorry.” he repeated.
   “Charlie. I’m so sorry. It’s not that, I just.” I couldn’t continue. Johns hurt and distrustful face once again appeared in my head.
   “It’s ok. I understand. You have a boyfriend back at home right? It’s happened before. I’m so sorry.” Charlie assumed.
   “No, I don’t have a boyfriend at home Charlie. I have friends, but no, not a boyfriend.”I corrected him.
   His face seemed to light up a bit, but the shame never left his eyes. “Can we still be friends? I’m so sorry.” Charlie hoped.
   “Yeah, we can still be friends.” I assured him. He smiled and gave me a hug. I hugged him back. Charlie was really nice and all, but I couldn’t get John to leave my head. The hurt in his eyes. The hate. I couldn’t bear it.
   We parted and slowly walked back to the farmhouse.
   The rest of the day, nothing happened. No one seemed to have cared that Charlie wasn’t his usually cheery self or that he couldn’t look me in the eyes. Charlie showed me how much feed each horse needed when it was time for them all to get settled back into their stalls and everything was calm. The kiss was never mentioned.
   After a hard days work, I walked back into the farmhouse, everyone had another great dinner, and I went up to my new bedroom. It was just as beautiful as the night before. I got on a nightgown and went to bed on the waterbed once more.
   The next morning started the same. I took out the mares and put them in the paddock. Then the stallions, and then the yearlings. Everyone was giving me a break since it was only my first 2 days here, but after one week I would get into the real swing of things.
   It was again noon by the time I was done putting the yearlings up and I began my way toward the wonderful farmhouse. I was just sitting down for lunch, talking to Charlie about the yearlings when Anna called me over. “Mary, there’s someone here to see you. They said that they’ve come a long way.” her voice was wary, but still the same calm and caring one I had first experienced when I came here.
   I started to get back up from the dining room chair when Charlie took a hold of my hand and pulled me down once more. “Charlie what are you doing?” I wondered as I looked into his eyes.
   He took my chin in his hand and pulled it closer to his face. I started to get scared. His eyes traveled to something behind me and he stopped me from asking anymore questions by once again, closing his mouth over mine. This time the kiss was light, but wonderful all the same. I felt as if I were flying. Then I heard someone’s pained voice sound out behind me. “Mary, how could you?”
   I broke the kiss abruptly and looked around behind me and my face drained of all color. Behind me stood John, heartbroken. “John, no. I didn’t. But. I’ sorry.” I finished off.
   “No, don’t worry about explaining yourself. I understand. You left me to go to him. How could you do that to me? I thought that we were close friends. I thought that you loved me.” John said dully. There was pain behind his voice and I knew that I had caused that pain.
   “But John, you have to understand. Please, John.” I sobbed as John turned to leave.
   “Hey, buddy. Come back here and apologize! You’ve hurt her feelings and I want you to pay for it.” Charlie’s angry voice rang out.
   “You idiot. You never did care about a girls feelings, did you? All you ever cared about was that you had the prettiest girl around.” I stopped crying to look at Charlie. Was this true? Was Charlie actually playing with my heart? I wondered.
   Something seemed to go off in Charlie’s mind because he raised a fist and punched John. I screamed. “Charlie! What are you doing? Leave him alone!” I begged as I put myself between a raging John and a very content Charlie.
   “Get out of the way Mary.” John’s angry voice said.
   “No, I can’t let you do this.” I cried as I saw John’s hands ball up in fists. Charlie wanted to get this done with. He pushed me to the side so roughly that I fell. Then punches flew. John dodged most of the first few and Charlie dodged John’s, but Charlie threw one that John didn’t see and John fell backward, knocking over a vase. “Stop it! Please!” I begged. John had gotten back up and hit Charlie hard in the face. Charlie fell backward, but still stood up. Anger flared in both their eyes. There was a cut across John’s cheek and Charlie had a cut on the upper part of his arm.
   I couldn’t take it anymore. I threw myself in between them. They didn’t see me. It was just as they were both throwing their hardest hits yet. John’s hit me in the back and Charlie’s hit me in the stomach. I groaned. Horror spread across both of their faces. “Mary!” John shouted as he grabbed me before I reached the floor. He slowly laid me down upon the cool cherry hardwood.
   “Charlie backed away, looking at his hands, but stopped at the dining table. Excruciating pain filled my body. I could hear John and Charlie mutter “what have I done” over and over as they watched me.
   “Call 911!” I heard Janet yell, but I knew that by the time they got here it would be to late for me.
   “Jan-Jan-Janet. Pl-pl-please don’t w-w-worry about m-m-me. It’s t-t-to la-late.” I sputtered. I was losing strength fast.
   “Don’t talk Mary. Save your strength.” Janet’s calm and caring voice washed over me. “The ambulance will be here soon, I promise.” Janet assured me.
   “N-n-no. it’s t-t-to la-late. T-t-tell my m-m-mo and d-dad that-that I st-still love them.” I muttered. I could hardly talk.
   Tears filled John’s eyes, something I had never seen before. I had known him for years and he had never cried once. “D-d-don’t c-c-cry J-J-John. I’ll b-b-be out of y-y-your hair o-once and for all.” I laughed quietly.
   “Mary, don’t go. I’m sorry. I’ll never fight again, I promise. Just don’t leave.” John whimpered.
   Through this whole time, Charlie was quiet, letting silent tears glide down his face.
   “Do s-s-s-something for m-me John and Charlie.” it was a huge effort to get out even those few words.
   “Anything.” the replied together at once.
   “D-d-don’t f-fight anymore a-and bury me next-next to Misty.” I begged of them.
   “No, you wont leave. You wont.” John demanded as more tears fell.
   “John.....” I tried to continue, but I couldn’t. My strength to talk had drawn a line.
   “Mary, don’t leave.” John sobbed as he closed his mouth over mine, giving me a deep kiss. I couldn’t return it though. My life was slowly ebbing away.
   John broke the kiss and looked over to Charlie, as if asking for help. Charlie came over and knelt on my other side. I took one last look around me at the home before me and at all the people that had cared for me these last few days. Many of them were crying and others looked away. I had made many friends in the few days that I had lived her and they would always be my friends, whether I was dead or alive.
   “D-d-d-don’t c-c-cry f-f-for m-m-m-me.” I asked of everyone in the weakest voice I had yet.
   More people cried harder, letting the tears steam down their scared and sad faces. “Mary, please don’t leave. You’ve made our stay here more fun. Your never down, even though you’ve left your family to come here.” Janet pleaded. There was a sign of the faintest smile as she said those last few words.
   “Th-th-thank you Ja-Janet.” I whispered. “E-e-e-everyone, I have t-t-to s-say t-t-that y-you are all m-m-m-my f-f-family no-no matter where I am. I th-th-thank you f-f-for all the h-h-help that y-y-you’ve given m-m-me. I-I-I-I hope th-th-that you all w-will re-remember me even if I’m n-not here.” it was a huge effort to say all this, but I got it all out.
   “Mary no, please no.” John whispered.
   “Mary, just please stay.” Charlie begged.
   “I-I-I-I c-c-can’t guys. I’m s-s-so s-sorry. P-p-please f-forgive me. I want to say bye -right before I leave th-though.” I stammered.
   “No, you wont leave this earth. Please, you have to stay.” John begged.
   “John,” I smiled. It took a lot of strength to do just that. “I....” I never got to finish my sentence, for everything around me turned pitch black and I drifted off into a sleep that I would never awaken from again. My life was done, but I knew that somehow, I would watch over my friends and they would meet me soon. My heart will always be with them, whether it was in life or in death, I had a purpose.