--ANOTHER MONTH
LATER--
Aaron Jacobs was
caught by the police and taken to Boston where he was put on trial then put in
prison for attempted murder.
Becky had fully
recovered from the incident that had happened; unfortunately, she was unable to
attend the Sweetheart’s Dance because the doctor had told her to stay in
bed. While everybody else went to the
dance, though, Franz stayed at Plumfield to keep an eye on Becky.
Two months had passed
since Becky came to Concord for her visit, and one month had passed since her
near tragedy. As soon as she was able,
Becky got back home to Laurie and Amy, and began getting on with her life. She got back to teaching Rob and spending
time with Franz. A lot more time with
Franz. Although Becky and Franz were
sure that they knew how they felt about each other, they hadn’t yet said
anything about it. They just enjoyed
spending time in each other’s company.
--AT THE LAURENCE
HOUSE--
It was early
Wednesday afternoon. Amy and Becky were
at the house having an afternoon cup of tea, when Laurie came home early from
work.
“Becky! Look who I found wandering the streets like
a long-lost puppy.” Laurie said as he
walked into the parlor where the two women were sitting. A familiar figure stepped into the parlor
behind Laurie.
“Father!” Becky stood up and ran over to hug her
father.
“Becky! I missed you, sweetheart.”
“What are you doing
here? You’re a month early.”
“Laurie sent me a
telegram last month telling me that you’d been shot. I came back as soon as I could.” William explained, then
continued, “I was pretty much done with business anyway.”
“I’m OK, Father. Really, I am.” Becky hugged her father again.
“I’m so happy to hear
that. I was so worried about you.”
“Like I said. I’m fine now.” Then she added, “I can’t wait for you to meet and get to know
everyone here. They are all such wonderful people.” Becky looked over at Laurie and Amy and smiled at them.
“Unfortunately,
Becky, I won’t be able to get to know them.
I have to get back to Philadelphia to my job. I hope you don’t mind leaving tomorrow.” William said.
“Leaving? Tomorrow?”
Becky said quietly. “So soon.” She said to herself.
--AT PLUMFIELD--
About four o’clock
that afternoon; Laurie, Amy, Becky, and William went out to Plumfield to
introduce William around, and give Becky a chance to say goodbye. Franz, Jo, and Nick were standing on the
porch when they arrived.
“Jo, Nick, Franz,
this is my father, William Laurence.
Father, this is Jo Bhaer, Amy’s sister; Nick Riley, Plumfield’s
caretaker; and Franz Bhaer, Jo’s nephew and the schoolteacher here.” Becky introduced everyone.
“Mr. Laurence. We weren’t expecting you so soon. We figured you’d be back next month.” Jo said as she greeted him with a handshake.
“It’s a pleasure to
meet all of you.” Then he said to Jo,
“Well, Mrs. Bhaer, I was told that Becky had a unfortunate incident last month,
and I came back as soon as I could.”
“Yes, an unfortunate
incident,” Jo said sadly, “but Becky’s just fine now and everything is taken
care of.” She smiled.
“Well, I’m happy to
hear that. She sure does seem to be OK,”
he smiled over at his daughter. Becky
tried to smile back.
“So how long will you
be here?” Jo asked him.
“Well, unfortunately
we can’t stay. I do have to get back to
my job in Philadelphia. We’ll be
leaving tomorrow morning.” Becky turned
her head. She couldn’t look anyone in
the eyes for fear that she would start crying.
“Tomorrow, I
see. So soon,” said Jo, echoing Becky’s
though after she was told about this.
Jo and Nick looked
surprised. Franz looked worried. None of them were sure what to think. Jo and Nick both noticed the look on Franz’
face.
“Well, you must at
least stay for supper,” Jo offered. “It’s
going to be hard to let Becky go. She
been such a wonderful help here.”
--AFTER SUPPER--
“The food was delicious. Mrs. Bhaer, thank you for letting us stay
for supper,” William said as they were getting ready to get in the carriage. Everyone had said their good-byes to Becky
inside, and Jo was helping them into the carriage.
“My pleasure, Mr.
Laurence.” Jo turned to Becky. “Thank you for helping with Rob. We’re all going to miss you here.” Jo gave Becky a hug.
“I’m going to miss
you all too.” Becky brushed away tears.
“Tell Robby bye for me. I’m not much
for good-byes.”
“I will, Becky.”
Becky couldn’t speak,
so she just got into the carriage. As
she looked out the window, she saw Franz standing in the doorway to the
house. She couldn’t tell, because it
was getting dark out, but it looked like he was crying too. Her brown eyes locked with his blue eyes in
a final goodbye.
As William stepped up
into the carriage, Laurie said to Jo, “They’ll be leaving on the 9:30 stage
tomorrow morning.” Laurie looked up at
Franz, as if he hoped that Franz had heard that, and that it would come in
handy. Franz heard it.
Laurie got up in the
carriage, and it left Plumfield grounds.
--THE NEXT MORNING--
Becky woke up at
eight o’clock, and realized she only had two more hours left at Concord. She threw all of her things into her bags,
and then took them downstairs and went into the kitchen.
“Morning, Becky.” Amy greeted her, “What do you want for breakfast?”
“I’m not hungry, Amy.”
“Nervous about going
back home, sweetheart?” Her father asked.
“I guess so,” was the
only thing she could say.
“Well, you’ll feel
better once we get on our way.”
“Sure, Father.”
--AT PLUMFIELD--
It was nine o’clock
that morning. The student had just
assembled for school, but their teacher was nowhere to be found.
Inside the house,
Franz had just come out of his room with some papers in his hands. “Aunt Jo, I need you to take class for me
this morning. I have some business to
attend to.” Franz handed Jo the papers,
which explained the curriculum to follow, and headed out the door.
Jo stood there for a
moment, with a huge grin on her face, secretly knowing what Franz was about to
do.
--IN TOWN--
At 9:15 a.m., Laurie
and Amy were standing watching Becky and William as they stepped up into the
stagecoach. The stage had come a little
early today. Becky sat down on one side
of the stage looking out the window at Laurie and Amy, and William sat down
facing Becky looking out the other window.
The stage was just
about ready to leave when riding up the street as fast as he could, Franz
yelled at the driver not to leave yet. Franz rode up to the coach, got down off of his horse, and ran
over to Becky.
“Becky, don’t
go. Don’t leave me. I can’t lose you,” he begged Becky, as he
took her hands in his. Franz knew he
was making a big scene, but he didn’t care one bit. He needed for Becky to know what he was trying to say.
“Franz?”
“Becky, I love
you. I need you. Will you marry me?” Franz looked up at her in desperation.
Becky looked over at
Laurie and Amy, who were smiling, and then over to her father, who looked
somewhat confused. She said to her
father, “I can’t, Father. I can’t go.” Then she turned back to Franz and simply
said, “yes.” Her father
understood. His little girl had grown
up and found love.
As Franz and Becky
kissed through the window of the stage, Laurie figured it was his time to step
in. “Uncle William, maybe now is the
time that I should mention to you that the lawyer position that has been
available now for a month is still open.
Seeing as how I’m the one that is supposed to hire the new lawyer, I’m
offering you the job.”
Becky overheard this,
“Father, take it. Stay here with
me. Please, Father!”
Laurie continued, “It
probably won’t pay as much as your job in Philadelphia, but at least you’ll be
here with Becky.”
“I lost Becky’s
mother, and ever since, I’ve still had Becky.
I can’t lose Becky too. I’ll
take the job, Laurie.”
“Oh, Father.” She hugged her father, then stepped down off
the stage and went over and hugged Franz.
“I love you too, Franz,” she said before she kissed him again.
THE END
