Liberty kids: Henri meets Jolene

Chapter twenty two

The next day Jolene said a tearful goodbye to her friends.
"It was nice to hang out with you, Jolene," James said.
"I think you're a pretty cool girl."
"Merci, James. I think you're pretty decent myself, although you may have to try and brag Less."
James slightly glared at Jolene, but agreed,
"Alright, I'll try."
"I hope Marquis will take very good care of you, Jolene," Moses said.
"I am sure you're in good hands."
"I know I am, Moses."
"You are a very strong girl, you know. One of the strongest I've ever seen. Hopefully that'll easily show with Marquis's troops."
"Thanks for the compliment. I think you are much of a very wise person, as I learned a thing or two from you. Oh, if only Sarah was here. She is such a good friend, despite being British. No offense."
"None taken," James said.

Jolene them turned to Henri, the one friend who understood her most. Tears filled her eyes as she said her farewell.

"I'll miss you, Henri. I'll miss you visiting almost everyday, as you are the one who knows me best."

"I'll miss you, too mon Ami. But this doesn't mean goodbye. We'll see each other, sooner, I hope. Just like you said, the ones you always love'll be with you, no matter where they are."
Henri leaned over and wiped a tear away from Jolene's face, then kissed her cheek.
"Send a message to me in the wind whenever you get the chance."
"Oui."  Jolene hugged Henri, before letting go after a few moments. Mignon jumped on Henri's leg, and Henri bent down to rub the wolf cub all over.
"I'll miss you too, boy," he said as he licked his face.
Lafayette smiled and laid a hand on Jolene's shoulder.
"Jolene, sorry to cut the fair wells short, we must be going now. General Washington expects to be back in service very soon."
"Yes, Gilbert." Jolene turned back to say goodbye to everyone.

"I'll hope to see you all very soon. Au revoir, my friends."
Jolene and Lafayette mounted the wagon, Mignon leaping onto Jolene's lap.
"Tell general Washington we said hi," James called out to them as they headed  down the road."
"Bien sur," Lafayette called out.
Henri said something to Jolene he couldn't hold in anymore, before Jolene left.
"Je t' aime, Jolene!," Henri called out to her.
Jolene paused and blushed hard hearing those words from him, but called back after a moment,
"J'et Amie aussi, Henri!", Jolene called back. As Henri watched Jolene ans Lafayette ride out into the distance, he held those very words to his heart, blushing hard. Finally, he got to say he loved her.
Jolene was blushing as he took in what Henri said to her. She never thought that a boy could love her, but luckily, it turned out she was wrong. Jolene loved Henri back very deeply, and thought about him all the while.