PART 2

"Race you to the river, Nat," Nan yelled out behind her as she started running.

"There’s no point, Nan, you always beat me anyway." Nat yelled up to her.

Nan stopped and walked back to Nat, "Spoilsport." Nat only smiled at her. "So, what do you think about Becky’s father getting married again?" she asked.

"I’m happy for them. Maybe it’ll give Nick and Mrs. Jo some ideas," Nat commented.

"Hey, yeah, that sound’s great," Nan got excited. "After all, they’ve been courting for like forever now."

"We’ll just have to see if Nick gets the idea, though." They continued on toward the river.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

"Hey, I got one. I got a fish," Bess called out to Dan. "Oh, no, Dan. He’s a big one. Help!"

Dan went rushing over to her, and he grabbed onto the fishing pole. "Come on, let’s tire him out."

They worked together for a few minutes till the fish got tired. "OK. Let’s pull him up, Bess."

They pulled and up came the biggest fish she’d ever seen. "Wow! That’s quite a fish you caught, Bess." Dan praised her.

"Why, thank you," Bess got shy. She continued, "I couldn’t have got it without you, though."

"You did most of it yourself," Dan smiled at her. He looked straight into her eyes and started to lean toward her a little bit.

"Dan, Bess, Hey, can we join you two," They heard Nan yell out from the road.

"Looks like we’re going to be interrupted." Bess said.

"Yep, it does." Dan looked somewhat sad.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

"Rebecca!" A familiar voice called down from the stagecoach.

"Michaela!" Rebecca ran over to greet her sister with a big hug. "I’m so glad you could make it."

"I wouldn’t miss your wedding for anything. Mother said she’d be down in about ten days. She’ll come down right before the wedding."

"Good," Rebecca looked behind Michaela to see the rest of her family.

"Matthew!" She grabbed his hands. "You’re so handsome. Got a girlfriend?" She winked at him, right before she gave him a big hug.

"Hi, Aunt Rebecca, and maybe," Matthew winked back.

"Maybe?"

"Her name is Elizabeth," Brian announced for his older brother. Everyone laughed.

"Thanks, Brian," Matthew said sarcastically.

"You’re welcome," Brian said innocently.

"Elizabeth? She’s got your grandmother’s name. That’s a good sign. You’ll have to tell me all about her later, Matthew."

"I will."

"Brian," she turned to him. "You’re getting so big. How old are you now?"

"I’m sixteen, Aunt Rebecca."

"Courtin’ age now, huh?" Rebecca said.

"What? I don’t think so," Michaela broke into the conversation.

"I was just kidding, little sister," she smiled at her.

"Dr. Cook," she smiled at Andrew and gave him a hug, and then looked over at Colleen. "Are you Dr. Cook number two?" she hugged Colleen.

"Yes, I am. It does get a bit confusing."

"I would imagine." Rebecca continued. "And who is this you’re holding, Colleen?" She had spotted the little one-year-old in Colleen’s arms.

"Unfortunately, she’s not mine," Colleen said.

"Nope, she mine," Michaela again interrupted.

"Ahh, is this little Amanda?" Rebecca took the baby in her arms.

"Sure is," Michaela introduced her youngest daughter.

"Don’t forget me," said the little four-year-old girl holding onto her daddy’s hand.

"Katie," she looked up at Sully, "Hello, Sully."

"Hello, Rebecca," he said.

"Well, now that we’ve all said our hello’s, where are we staying?" Michaela asked.

"At Plumfield. Most of the children went home for the summer, so there’s plenty of room for everyone there."

"Wonderful! It’s been two years. I can’t wait to see everyone again. Especially you’re Mr. Perfect."

"You’ll see him later."

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Six-year-old Rob came running up the road toward the house, "Hey everyone!" He yelled, "Wagon’s coming, wagon’s coming." He ran up onto the porch where everyone was sitting.

"Whoa, little boy, who’s coming?" Nick grabbed him to stop him.

"Rebecca," he answered. "And her family, I think."

"Hey, it is her family," Nat told them as he spotted them coming up the road. "All of them. They’re here."

"Really? They’re a little early," Jo stood up and walked down off the porch followed by the others.

The wagon stopped in front of Jo. "Jo!" Michaela called out.

"Michaela," Jo hugged her as she stepped off the wagon. "It’s good to see you. I see you brought the whole family."

"Yes, I did. I hope you don’t mind."

"No, of course not. We have plenty of room. We’re glad you could come." Jo finished as everyone else climbed down off of the wagon.

"Brian!" Nat called, "Over here!"

"Hey, Nat." Brian went over to join Nat and Dan.

Nan ran up to Colleen, "Colleen? Did you become a doctor?" She asked excitedly.

Colleen hugged her friend, "Yes, I sure did. You’re looking at Dr. Colleen Cook."

"Cook?" Nan asked.

"Yeah, remember Andrew," she reintroduced Andrew Cook to Nan.

"Oh, you got married."

"Sure did," Colleen smiled.

"Congratulations, Colleen," Franz spoke up. He shook Andrew’s hand.

"Didn’t you and Becky get married?" Colleen asked.

"We sure did," Becky spoke up from behind Franz, arms full with Kaytlin. "Colleen, everyone, meet our little Kaytlin. She’s two months old."

"Awww, may I hold her," Colleen asked.

"Of course." Becky handed her daughter over to Colleen, who started cooing over her. "Looks like Colleen needs one of her own," she said to Andrew.

"Yeah, she does." Andrew responded. "The sooner the better. Colleen keeps fussing over everyone else’s babies." He laughed, and looked over at his wife. Soon, he thought. Sooner than anyone expected. He wasn’t sure yet if Colleen knew about her pregnancy, but he was certainly able to tell.

"So, Matthew," Becky continued. "How are you?"

Matthew hugged Becky, "Great, actually. I’ll tell you about her later."

"Her?"

"Her name is Elizabeth." Brian yelled over from where he was standing.

Matthew and the others laughed, "Brian, would you be quiet and let me be the one to announce my girlfriend."

"Sorry," Brian smiled.

"Can’t wait to hear about her, Matthew." Becky said to him.

"Well, why don’t we all go inside. Asia can fix up something to drink for everyone." Jo said.

Everyone headed inside the house to rest up from the trip.