Follow Your Heart by Butterscotch

Follow Your Heart: Part One-In the Vineyard by Butterscotch
The late Autumn sunshine was cool and the air was heavy with the perfume of fires lit to guard against the chill. Even so, Cliff had worked up a sweat harvesting grapes. He pause long enough to shrug off his shirt, then resumed his work.

"Yoo-hoo! Cliff!" Manna called from the doorway. Though nearing middle-age Manna was still a beautiful woman. She had only a few laugh-lines near her eyes and there was no gray in her hair."Lunch is ready!"

Cliff put the grapes he was holding in the basket and walked over, pulling his shirt on as he did.

"You didn't have to go to all this trouble," he protested.

"What trouble?" Manna smiled,"I enjoy cooking!" Just then Duke staggered out from the cellar. Though he was only a few years older than his wife, Duke had not aged nearly so well. He had put on weight, making his once-handsome face rather jowly.

"Hey, there priddy lady," he slurred, looking at Cliff. "Wanna haf lunch wid me?"

"I'm a man, Duke."

"No. you're a gurl, cuz you got long priddy hair," Duke took hold of Cliff's ponytail and ran it through his fingers."Isn't he a priddy gurl, Manna?"

"You're drunk!" Manna snapped. Her face was flushed, but whether from anger or embarrassment, Cliff did not know. Perhaps both.

"I'm not drink," Duke protested. Manna shoved him into the house. She looked over her shoulder and smiled weakly at Cliff. Why does she stay with him? he thought.

 to be continued

Follow Your Heart: part two-By the Seashore...
Cliff did not go in and eat Manna's lunch. Rather he walked down to the beach and sat on the sand. The air by the shore was even cooler than at the vineyard and Cliff shivered a little as he watched the waves break. He did not realize how long he had sat there until he heard Zack leave. Cliff remained there, and so Zack found him there when he returned.

"Um, you okay?" Zack called.

"Hey, Zack,' Cliff said."May I ask you a question?"

"Sure."

"You...you've been waiting for someone for a long time, haven't you?" Cliff did not look at Zack, but, instead, he looked out at the ocean.

"Yeah, I have" Zack admitted.

He sat down next to Cliff, who asked,"Why haven't you ever said anything to her?" Zack thought a moment.

"I owe a debt to someone. I can't act on my feelings without betraying that person." he finally said.

"Yes," Cliff murmured."But the person you owe is causing the person you want pain, right?"

"...yes."

"So,"Cliff went on,"either way you're hurting someone you care about."

"Yeah."

Cliff stood up and brushed the sand off his legs. "Thank you, Zack, you've been a real help." to be continued

Part Three: In the Kitchen
...It was dark now and the smell of the wood smoke tumbling from the chimneys was even stronger. Cliff ran to the Vineyard, and, without knocking, threw open the door. Manna was seated at the kitchen table, reading a book.She looked up at the sound of Cliff's heavy footsteps.

"Oh, Cliff," she said.'Are you hear to see Duke? He's at the Inn."

"Actually, Manna, I'm here to see you." He walked, nearly ran, across the room and grabbed Manna by the shoulders. Her eyes widened and she opened her mouth to protest, but before she could speak Cliff kissed her. She was still for a moment, then she pulled Cliff closer and kissed him back. Suddenly, she pushed him away.

"Wha-?" Cliff gasped.

"Oh dear!" Manna cried softly. "What am I doing?What was I thinking?" She shoved Cliff towards the door. "You have to leave!" she said.

"But, Manna-!" Cliff protested, but she shut the door in his face. She leaned against it, crying a little. Cliff knocked on the door and called her name. Eventually, he gave up and returned to his room at the Inn. To be continued

I'm glad you like my stories. This is my favorite chapter in "Follow Your Heart".

Part Four: At the Church
...Duke had no idea what had happened between Manna and Cliff, and in fact, never even seemed to notice that the normally easy-going friendship between the pair was strained. At noon Cliff asked to leave early.

"Sure, but why?" Duke asked.

"I, um, need to go to church."

Duke burst out laughing. "You sure are a religious fellow! Go ahead and go!"

Cliff walked slowly so that by the time he reached the church it was one o'clock. The church was still and silent as Cliff made his way to the confession booth.

"Hello," said Carter. "Do you need a cursed tool removed? Do you need to confess? Or are you just saying "hi"?"

Cliff took a deep breath. "I need to confess," he whispered. "I'm in love with a married woman."

Carter was silent for a long time."As I priest, I cannot condone adultery, but as your friend I will tell you to follow your heart and do what will make both of you truly happy. The Harvest Goddess has now forgiven you." to be continued

Follow Your Heart: Part Five-In the Kitchen, Again
...Manna paced around her kitchen reading and re-reading the note Cliff had sent in care of Hoggy the Harvest Sprite. The note read simply "Meet me at Mother's Hill ~ Cliff". Hoggy was still in the room watching Manna pace.

"Shall I tell Cliff you'll meet him Budum?"he asked.

"I don't know!" Manna gasped.

Hoggy watched her pace a little longer, then said,"You should go, budum."

"Why's that?" Manna asked.

"Cliff is nice, budum," Hoggy replied."Nicer than Duke."

Manna sighed.

"Budum?"

"Yes?"

"You should do what will make your heart happy," said Hoggy.

Manna wrung her hands. "I'm not sure what my heart wants," she murmured. To be Concluded! --

Follow Your Heart: The Conclusion ~ On Mother's Hill ~ by Butterscotch
....She wasn't coming. Cliff's heart sank even as the moon rose higher in the night sky. She wasn't coming, and he was a fool to wait for her. And yet...and yet...Cliff remembered their shared kiss. So, he waited.

"Cliff?"

He whirled about.

"You came!" he cried. Cliff ran forward and grabbed Manna by the waist and spun her around. Manna threw her arms around his neck.

"I finally figured out what makes my heart happiest," she whispered and kissed Cliff happily. The End

That's it for follow your heart. I really liked this one. I hope you guys did too!