Disclaimer:  I don't own the characters, and I'm not making money.

Jonny Quest:  The Real Adventures

Desert Serenade (Part 3)


Benton panted a little as he rushed to keep up with Rachel.  Wearing
long brown pants and a long-sleeved white shirt, he was burning up.
He knew it was not the most appropriate hiking outfit, but he had
wanted to dress up a little.  Also, Benton would never have imagined
that their little hike into the Organ Mountains would be so rigorous.
Still, looking at Rachel, he had to admit that he was enjoying every
second of this.

Rachel wore jean shorts and a blue T-shirt.  Her blond hair was pulled
into a ponytail, and several long golden strands escaped to frame her
face.  Even slightly covered in dust and sweat, Benton thought she
looked stunning.  Her blue eyes glittered with excitement each time
she stopped to point out something.  He also enjoyed those moments
because it gave him a chance to catch his breath.

Pausing on the tiny trail, Rachel waited for Benton to join her.  He
expected her to show him some more cacti blossoms.  He had never
seen such vibrant shades of yellow, purple, and red before he saw
those flowers.  She had also called his attention to the various colorful
fluttering butterflies and quickly scampering lizards.  She was particularly
fond of the fringe-toed lizards.

However, this time, Rachel steeped very close to him and demanded,
"Close your eyes."  He hesitantly complied and felt Rachel turn him
around.  "Now, open them."

Benton's soft brown eyes blinked open, and he beheld the sight before
him in awe.  The small town of Las Cruces unfolded below the
mountain.  The buildings looked like tiny brown ants.  They were
contrasted by the verdant Mesilla Valley stretching into the distance.
The landscape was so beautiful that Benton felt it should be somehow
framed and reverently displayed in a museum.  He wondered how he
could have overlooked such beauty.

Rachel tucked her arm around his waist and whispered, "So, do
you still hate Las Cruces?"

Chuckling, Benton shook his head and simply replied, "No."

Rachel's eyes, that seemed as bright and clear as the blue sky above
them, sparkled as she watched Benton.  She was happy to see him
appreciating the view she had always loved.

He pulled her a little closer.  Looking from the view of the city to
her, he murmured, "Thank you for showing this to me."

"I should be the one thanking you for all the work you did this
morning.  I'm so glad the cattle will recover," Rachel responded.

"Their chances are good, but my associates really did most of the
work."  Benton thoughtfully scratched his beard.

"Still, you helped," she countered.  "I would love to do work like
that.  I've studied biology a little at the university, but the program
isn't very big.  I'd love to get a degree in it.  Maybe I'll even get
my doctorate someday."

Benton's smile grew brighter, "I think that's wonderful," he declared.
"I'm sure you could do it."

"Thanks," Rachel whispered, "but it's just a dream."

"But it's a good dream, Rachel.  Besides, dreams often have a way
of coming true."

Rachel flushed a little and began hiking up the path again.  "Come
on," she urged Benton, "We still have quite a hike before we reach
Dripping Springs."

Taking a deep breath, Benton began following her.  They continued
for a few minutes.  The dust blew across the beautiful desert
landscape that surrounded them.  Benton made mental notes of the
different plants and animals that he knew.  Still, he was surprised
by how many unfamiliar things he was encountering.

As they neared the springs, Rachel hurried on.  Finally, she looked
over her shoulder and found that Benton was not close by.  She
back tracked a little and found him standing perfectly still.  His
head was tilted upwards, and his eyes gazed into the horizon.  When
Rachel stood still, she heard it, too.

Noticing her presence, Benton remarked, "It's a lovely sound.  I've
never heard the wind sound so melodic."

Rachel giggled while she dragged Benton back to the trail.  "A lot
of people think that sound is just the wind blowing through the trees,
but it's really The Fluteplayer."

"The Fluteplayer?" Benton repeated.

They continued hiking as Rachel clarified, "The Fluteplayer is an
Apache folk tale.  According to the story, a young boy and girl
fell in love.  The boy was very shy and afraid to tell her how he
felt.  So, he began playing his flute for her everyday while she
worked in the fields.  The girl would put a leaf in the river to
show the boy she liked the song.  Soon, they both knew that they
loved each other."

"That's beautiful," Benton whispered.

"It is," Rachel agreed, "but one day the boy had to go away on
a hunting trip.  He forgot to tell the girl.  When she went to the
fields and didn't hear his song, she thought he no longer loved
her.  The girl became heartbroken and died."

"That's horrible," Benton gasped.

Rachel nodded and continued, "The boy returned to the village
and longed to see his love.  He ran to the fields and played his flute.
When he did not see a leaf in the river, he thought the girl no longer
loved him.  However, he soon learned that she had died.  He went
to her grave and played for her.  Then, the boy disappeared.  They
say he continues to play his song for the girl he loved to this day."

Benton sighed at the tragic story.  He told himself he must have
some dust in his eyes when he felt them growing damp.

Rachel suddenly stopped and pointed. "There it is!" she cried.

Looking at the rocks before them, Benton squinted, "This is Dripping
Springs?" he incredulously asked.

"It lives up to its name!"

"I suppose," he muttered.  A rather large cliff loomed in front of them.
Near the bottom, an incredibly tiny stream of water trickled.  The
sparse amount of liquid glistened a little in the sunlight.  Still, there was
barely enough water to even be seen.  "Rachel, I would hardly consider
that a spring."

Folding her arms across her chest, Rachel exclaimed, "In Las Cruces,
New Mexico, that is considered a glorious waterfall."  They both
laughed until tears rolled down their cheeks.

As they regained a little composure, they surveyed the scenery
around them.  Under the bright sun, the minuscule drops of water
flashed and sparkled.

"I suppose it is rather pretty," Benton conceded.

"So would you like to see more of New Mexico?"

Benton wrapped his arms around Rachel's waist.  He tucked
a strand of her hair behind her ear as he replied, "I'd love to,
but only if you're my tour guide."

Laughing, Rachel twined her arms around his neck and whispered
in his ear, "I think that can be arranged."

Benton's beard tickled Rachel's cheek as they hugged each other.
He pulled back just enough to look into her bright blue eyes.  In
the secluded mountains, all he could hear was the pounding of their
hearts and the soft musical breeze.

Running her fingers through his short reddish-brown hair, Rachel
drew Benton closer.  They closed their eyes and focused all their
concentration on each other.  Tenderly, their lips met in a slow and
gentle kiss.


The End of Part 3