PART 3

 

That evening; the families gathered at the Sully homestead for a supper specially made by Michaela for the visitors to Colorado Springs.

 

Before supper was ready, Dan went out to the barn to put some of the horses into their stalls for the night.

 

As Dan was closing the door of one of the stalls, he sensed that somebody had walked into the barn.  He turned around to find Bess standing there watching him.

 

“Bess.”

 

“Thought I saw you come in here.”

 

“Is supper ready?”

 

“No, not yet.”

 

“Oh,” there was an uncomfortable silence in the barn.  “So, did you want something?” he asked.

 

“I wanted to see how you were doing,” she walked up to him.  “I haven’t heard much from you.”

 

“I guess we kind of left on bad terms.”

 

“Dan, I had to go to college.  You know mother wanted me to.  I couldn’t go west with you.”

 

“Yeah, I know what your mother wanted.”

 

“But…”

 

“But what did you want?  Did you do what * you * wanted?”

 

“I wanted to go to college, yes.  To go to Paris, London…

 

“It’s not like you’d never been there before.”

 

“Well, no, but they’re beautiful places to go to.”

 

“Did you enjoy it?”

 

“For the most part,” she said hesitantly.  “Did you enjoy your trip west?”

 

“Yeah, it was great.”

 

“But you’re settled down here now.”

 

“I figured it was time to settle down.  Got me a good job.”

 

“Yeah, Aunt Jo said you were sheriff.  Isn’t that dangerous?”

 

“Hasn’t been too dangerous.  I just have to make sure nothing gets out of hand around here.”

 

“It’s dangerous,” Bess looked worried.

 

“I’ll be fine.”  He changed the subject.  “What are you doing here anyway?  Jo didn’t say you were coming in the telegram she sent.”

 

“It was a last minute idea.”

 

“It’s good to see you again, Bess,” Dan said sincerely.

 

“It’s good to see you too, Dan.”

 

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

 

Since school was still in session, Jo decided to send Rob to the Colorado Spring’s school.   So next morning Rob, Katie, and Mandy; Sully and Michaela’s youngest daughter; walked to school together.  Mandy, being the youngest of the three at age eight, ran on ahead.  Katie stayed back with Rob and told him what to expect.

 

“Mrs. Slicker, she’s our teacher, can be hard on us sometimes; but she’s usually pretty nice. Who teaches you?”

 

“My mother.  My mother has taught me ever since I was really little.”

 

“What about your Pa?”

 

“My Pa?  Oh, you mean, Nick?”

 

“He’s not your Pa?”

 

“No, not really.  My real Father died when I was four years old.  Nick married my mother.  I think of Nick as my father.”

 

“Oh, It’s nice that you have a Pa.  I wouldn’t want to not have one.”

 

“Neither would I.  Nick’s a great person.”

“There’s the school,” Katie pointed ahead of her.  “Race you there,” she smiled flirtatiously at Rob.

 

“Bet I win.”

 

“Bet you don’t.”

 

“OK, Ready…”

 

“Set…” Katie continued.

 

“Go!” They both said as they ran toward the school.

 

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

 

“I was wondering if you’d be by today,” Noelle told Brian as he stopped in front of her, armload of papers in his hands.

 

“Got to deliver the paper.”

 

“You know, Brian.  I never got a chance to tell you that I enjoyed yesterday.”

 

“So did I, Noelle.”  There was an awkward silence between the two of them.

 

“So, are you done delivering papers after this stop?” she asked him.

 

“Yes, I am,” he said, a little too excited for his own good.  Noelle noticed and smiled at Brian.  He blushed.

 

“Well, then, how about we go on a picnic by that creek we found?”

 

“I’d love too,” he answered again a little more excitedly than he had intended.

 

“Noelle giggled.  “Let me go get us something to eat and we’ll go.”