House Guest, er rather Barn Guest

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"Dan, really, that's okay. Just let me have it." Bess gritted her teeth and tugged firmly on her fishing pole, almost falling back from the effort. Dan pulled it back toward him.

Dan clenched his jaw and fought to keep his hold on it. "Bess, for once just let go of you're pride and let me help ya!" He gave a final tug, almost pulling Bess off her feet.

"DAN!" She said loudly, pulling it back towards her. "I can handle this on my own, thank you. Now if you will kindly hand over my fishing pole, I'd like to get on with fishing!" Her eyes flashed with fire.

"I'm actually tryin' to help ya for once. Can't you just let me?" He demanded, staring at her hard. With a huff, she rolled her eyes and pulled again. He pulled at the same time and a big SNAP rippled through the small clearing by the creek.

"Look what I've done? Look what I've done?! If you had just gotten of your high horse and let me help you, it wouldn't have happened!" He defended himself.

"If you would have just taken no for an answer and let me do it myself, like you never do, than all would be fine! But no, you couldn't do that. Just had to make things more difficult and now look where we are!" Bess pointed a finger into his chest accusingly.

"Now I have to walk all the way back to Plumfield just to get another one!" She raised her head, pulling up her shoulders.

Dan rolled his eyes, throwing the pole to ground now thoroughly annoyed. "Fine! Just do that. I won't even suggest sharin' ‘cause you're probably not capable of it!"

"Fine!" Bess ignored the affront and whipped around, with her back to him and arms tightly crossed.

"Stubborn mule," Dan muttered, stomping away towards his own pole. Bess clenched her jaw and stomped over to where Nan was standing.

"Thank you, but no thank you. I think I'm going to get my sweater so I might as well get another pole while I'm at." Bess looked over at Dan and stuck her tongue out. He made a monkey face at her and turned back to what he was doing.

"Okay, see ya in few minutes." Nan shrugged, holding her pole steady as she watched Bess walk away. Rolling her eyes, Bess balled her fists and stomped back to Plumfield.

"Bess, I thought you had all gone fishing." Jo commented as Bess came back down the stairs with her sweater. "I was or was at least trying until Dan broke my pole." She kept her eye on the floor, anger lacing her voice once again.

"Dan broke your pole." It was more of a statement than a question. Jo arched her brow in slight disbelief.

"Well, your welcome to use one of the extra in the barn. I'm sure Nick could and would be glad fix yours." She clasped her hands and watched as Bess just nodded and continued her way out to the barn.

Half way back to the creek, Bess was still fuming over what Dan had done. "If you had just let me alone, everything would have been fine!" She muttered with frustration.

Bess was so absorbed in thinking of the mishap earlier that she didn't see as the wiry person jumped out and grabbed her from behind, covering her mouth with their hand. Angrier than ever, Bess fought waving her arms and kicking her legs wildly - too mad to panic or think about the possibility of the person knocking her out and carrying her away. With great fury, she kicked back her foot meeting his shin with the heel of her shoe then knocked him on the back of the head.

"Ow!" He yelped out in pain, immediently dropping his hold to nurse the aching shin. Bess jerked away and spun around angrily to face whoever it was that grabbed her. At the sight of the unfamiliar face twisted in pain, she shrunk back, slight fear gripping her heart.

"I-I'm sorry." She impulsively reached forward and rested her hand on his upper arm so he wouldn't topple over.

"W-who are you and why did you grab me like that?" Bess demanded, her nervousness suddenly fading away.

"I-I'm sorry, Ma'am. Didn't mean to startle ya. Livin' out on the streets of Boston, ya gotta be ready for anythin' and always watchin' yer back. I heard ya and thought that maybe ya were an animal or somethin'. I jus' acted on instinct." He looked up, rubbing the back of his head. "But I can see I was wrong." A slight grin spread over his face as he looked at her.

Bess took a step back, her lips turning into a trembling frown. Who was this and what did he want? "Where are you from and what's your name?" She asked again.

"Ah, sorry, Ma'am. My name's Joshua. Joshua Lane is my born name. Don't know my last one though." He smiled proudly, then continued. "I'm on my way back to Boston. Know where I am by any chance?"

"I-you're on Plumfield, I mean my Aunt's property. Plumfield, it's a...She runs a school and this is her property. We're, it's...You're about five miles from Concord." She faltered over her words, not quite able to get the right ones out of her mouth. He sounded so much like Dan!

"Know of any place I could stay for the night? It's gettin' dark and the earlier I get down, the earlier I get up and on my way." He looked at her hopefully.

"Maybe a barn or somethin' I could stay in? I'd be quiet as a mouse and out before anyone would find me." His voice didn't hold any emotion or eagerness, but his eyes were pleading.

"Just like Dan! Yes, of course I know what a barn is!" She shot back angrily, her stumbling disappearing. Dan? Who's Dan? He wondered, but didn't ask.

"Please?" He asked again, kneeling down on his knees and looking up at her. Bess swallowed, wanting to pull her hand away. What would Aunt Jo say if I said yes? What if she found out? But she wouldn't find out. He said he'd been out before daylight. No one would ever find out. Before she really knew what was happening, yes tumbled out of her mouth. "I didn't mean..." She didn't say anymore, as he stopped and looked up at her with a questioning gaze. "I mean, of course. Of course you can."

A sick feeling rose in her stomach as the realization of what she had just said sunk in. What did I just do?

Bess watched as the boy, . . . Joshua, walked to the barn door. Then Bess remembered, that Nick was inside. "Wait!"

"Listen, . . . uh, . . . . I could possibly . . ." she hesitated. "I might get . . . in trouble for saying that its all right for you to stay, so if you don't mind, . . . uh, . . . could you please, . . . not make a sound?" She finished lamely, realizing how stupid that she probably sounded.

She barely heard him when he murmured, "after all, I wouldn't want to get someone as pretty as you in trouble."

She missed a step and he grabbed her arm to steady her. "You okay ma'am?" he asked.

"Ye - Yes. Thank-you." Bess mentally kicked herself for being so dumb, then led him up the loft. "You can sleep here. Just remember, not a sound."

"Bess, what are you doing here? I thought you were going fishing with the rest of the kids." Nick startled her when he came up behind her.

She turned around guiltily. "I, uh, well, . . . Dan broke my rod. I need to borrow another one."

"No, I mean, . . . yes! I mean, I thought that you might be in the loft, so I went up to look for you."

He nodded his head not really accepting her explanation. "Follow me, and I'll get you another rod."

She nodded, then after looking at the loft one last time, she followed Nick to the back of the barn where he gave her a pole, and sent her on her way.

All the way to the water, Bess thought about how much trouble she would be in if someone found Joshua. She knew that she wouldn't get any sleep that night, because of her worry.

"I have been calling your name for the last 5 minutes. What are you thinking about?"

"Uh, . . . Nothing. Nothing really." She muttered, then her thoughts went back to Joshua.

Nan nodded, unbelieving, but didn't comment further. "Did Nick give you the extra pole?"

Jo looked around the table, smiling at the kids. The only one who didn't smile back was Bess, and she seemed to have her mind on other things. "Bess, are you okay?"

"I'm fine! Would everyone stop asking me that?" Bess exclaimed, and quickly marched out of the room.

"Yeah, you heard the lady. She's fine." Dan grinned as Jo shook her head in exasperation.

Later that night, Bess stole quietly down the stairs into the kitchen. She found some of the leftovers from dinner, and put them in a cloth, that quickly went into her pocket. Now came the hard part. She managed to open the door with out a sound, and shut it behind her. All she had to do now, was get into the barn without waking Nick, give Joshua the food, and get back into the house. The only thing that could go wrong was if Nick woke up . . . or Nan.

Getting into the barn was easier that what she expected. She climbed the ladder, then walked behind the hay, looking for Joshua. All of a sudden, she felt a hand wrap around her ankle, and she fell to the ground. Thankfully the hay mad it a soft landing, but she still got the wind knocked out of her.

"It's Bess, Joshua. You think you might be able to let go of my ankle so I can get up?"

"Oh, sorry Bess. I wasn't sure who would be out here so late. . . What are you doing here?"

"I couldn't get away earlier, and I thought that maybe you would be hungry." She held out the wrapper package, and he grabbed it eagerly.

He ate the food quickly, and for some reason, she couldn't get herself to stand and leave.

"I don't know." She answered, then she could almost sense his eyebrows shooting up to his forehead in surprise.

Nan woke for some strange reason, and looked over at Bess' bed. She saw that it was empty, and jolted to a sitting position. "Bess?"

She walked down the stairs, and saw that the front door was slightly open. She walked out to the barn, and looked up to the loft. "Bess?!" She called out urgently, but softly.

A head looked over the edge, and a guilty, and nervous voice whispered back, "what are you doing out here Nan?"

"What are you doin' out here, Bess?" Nan asked quizzically, looking up at her strangely, ignoring her question.

"I, er, um...Was just um...I-I couldn't sleep and I um...Decided to come up here and..."

"Think?" Nan repeated, with a furrowed brow. "Bess, you came out here to think at 2 o'clock in the morning?" She continued on in disbelief. "I think you're loosin' your marbles...Not that you had any in the first place, but..."

Bess stuck out her tongue, pretending to be offended. "Yes, I did come out here at 2 o'clock. It seemed like the perfect, quiet place to come and think by myself. Now would you please leave, and let me continue on?" She asked in a furious whisper.

"You're going to wake up Nick if you don't be quiet." She hissed, backing a little ways away from the edge of the loft.

"I'll come up and help ya think." Nan offered with a tired grin and started for the ladder.

"I-ah, n-no!" Bess shook her head quickly, trying to discourage her from coming all the way up.

"But why? I thought you might like company. We could get some milk and grab a few of Asia's chocolate cookies." She pulled her brows together, trying to make the idea of her coming up more enticing.

Bess bit her lip, mouth watering. Asia's chocolate chip cookies...She LOVED Asia's chocolate chip cookies...The idea that Nan had suggestion sounded like fun...But no, Joshua was up here and she couldn't let Nan find that out.

"N-no, really. I...uh, need to think by myself for a little while. Please..." She replied almost pleadingly, motioning with her hands for Joshua to scoot back and hide behind the hay so if Nan did come up. A nervous flutter was beginning to form in her stomach - the sooner the other girl left the better.

Nan rolled her eyes and stopped climbing up. "Whoa, Mrs. Jo and Dan were right. You are in a weird mood. " She giggled softly and gave a long sigh, quietly starting back down the rungs.

"Don't worry, Nan. I'll be back up in a little while. I just need a little time." Bess reasoned, leaning back over the edge. Her blond hair fell over her shoulders, framing her face.

"Whatever. Happy thinkin'," Nan shrugged and soon disappeared down the barn isle.

"Phew..." Bess breathed a sigh of relief and absently wiped a hand across her damp forehead. "That was a close one. A little too close." She swallowed.

"Is it safe for me to come out?" Joshua asked cautiously, peering from behind the hay.

"I think so." She whispered back, turning to face him. A smile spread across her lips, and she began to laugh.

"Whatcha laughin' at?" He furrowed his blond brows, trying to dust some of the hay off of his shirt.

"Yo-You've got hay all over you!" Bess hiccuped with laughter and fell backward.

"NO!" Joshua lunged forward, grabbing Bess's arm. "Ieh!" She let out a small scream before he covered her mouth with his hand. She heaved nervously, trembling as he pulled her a safe distance away from the edge of the loft.

She reached up and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "I-I um, I guess I-I better get back up to the house."

Quietly, Bess stood up and walked over to ladder. Without a word, she climbed down and disappeared into the dark night.

Nan was sleeping like a log when Bess made it back to room. Yawning, she quickly removed her house robe, pulled off her slippers and climbed into bed. She lay there, keeping her eyes closed tightly, trying to let sleep evade her. But it was no use and Bess knew it. As long as Joshua Lane was staying in the barn, she wouldn't sleep.

Joshua carefully folded the plaid cloth napkin that Bess had wrapped the leftovers from dinner in. She was a nice girl, one of the nicest...And prettiest he'd ever met. With a long sigh, he stretched out and rested his hands behind his head like a pillow.

Yawning widely, he slowly closed his eyes...Sleep slowly crept over his features...Wait! He bolted straight up. He hadn't been able to say goodbye or thank you for what she had done. What can I do? I can't go traipsing up to house and try to find room. Someone might see me and think I was a robber or something... He furrowed his brows, deep in thought. There was no way...Unless she came back out to him...And that didn't seem very likely.

Bess rolled over, blinking her eyes. Something didn't seem right, like she had forgotten something. But what was it? She couldn't think of anything or remember anything that she might have forgotten. Wait! Joshua...I didn't say good-bye...Is he already gone? Sitting up, she groggily looked out the window.

The sun was coming up. Joshua would already be gone. With a bit of disappointment, Bess tiredly climbed back into bed, burying herself in their warmth. She was asleep in a few seconds.

"Here's you're pole, Bess." Nick said later that day after school. He handed her the long, now mended pole.

"Don't worry. I won't." Bess assured him, smiling as she walked out to join Dan, Nan and Nat.

"Got your pole fixed?" Nan asked, glancing at the pole in Bess's hands. "Or is that the one Nick's lettin' ya borrow?"

"Nick fixed mine." She replied, looking at Dan. He pretended to have not heard the comment and was busily discussing something with Nat. Bess rolled her eyes, and trooped on beside Nan, now anxious to start fishing.

But fishing didn't turn out as Bess had hoped. For an hour and a half she fished, but didn't catch one. Maybe it was because she kept getting sidetracked, thinking about Joshua...Joshua Lane.

"Ah, sorry, Ma'am. My name's Joshua...Joshua Lane is my born name. I don't know my last one though."

Bess smiled slowly, remembering how he first called her ‘ma'am'. He was very polite...Especially for living out on the streets of Boston...Unlike Dan. She mused rather ruefully. Well, most of the time...

"Bess? Bess? Bess?!" Dan shouted, waving a slimy wet fish in front of her face. She jumped back and screamed, dropping her pole. Dan hooted loudly, swinging the fish around.

"Daaan..." Bess growled through gritted teeth, locking her elbows, and balling her fists.

"Look! I caught another one!" Nan called happily from where she perched on a rock, not far away. All turned to watch as she struggled with the trout, finally winning.

"Not that it's surprisin' or anythin'," Dan tipped his head (with that usual smile on his face), knocking her with his shoulder as he walked past.

She narrowed her eyes and pursed her lips. "Ha, ha, aren't you just so funny, Dan." She said dryly.

Feeling rather frustrated at catching no fish, Bess decided to collect her things and head back to Plumfield. It was getting dark and the other three would be heading home soon anyway - so she started back.

The trail returning to Plumfield was darker than by the creek had been, making her rather apprehensive. She debated whether or not to go back and just wait until the others left, but not wanting to thinking of how Dan would tease her, she pushed on. He'd tease me, and then Nan would claim he was only doing it to hide his concern. She rolled her eyes. Typical Nan and Dan...

"Oomph!" Bess tripped and fell, catching herself on her palms. "Why have I been so clumsy lately?" She questioned a loud, spitting dirt out of her mouth. With frustration, she furiously set to dusting off her dress. Wait, something wasn't right. Tensing, Bess stopped and gazed around slowly. A snake, what if it was a snake?

"Bess?" A voice came rather hoarsely. Bess swallowed, startled that whoever it was knew her name.

"Joshua? What are you doing back here? I thought you were on your way to Boston." Bess questioned, dropping to her knees so she could help him up.

She noticed and quickly pulled away. "What happened?" A hand flew to her mouth as she asked, aghast. "Y-you're bleeding." Bess looked at her hand, fingers covered in his blood.

"I scratched myself, fallin' out of a tree. I climbed up to see if I could tell where I was, and slipped. When I tried to catch myself, I gashed my arm on a branch. Stopped by the river to wash it off, and thought it would be okay, but it's hurtin' like the devil."

Seeing her wide-eyed, he corrected himself. "I mean, really bad. I came back to see if ya could help me." He tried to not let the pain lace his voice, but it hurt so much that his tone was no more than whisper when he finished speaking.

"I mean, just to get it cleaned out and then I'll be back on way." He assured her.

"There, that should do." Bess secured the bandage tightly around his wound and leaned back on her heels, checking her work. She'd had a hard enough time getting the bandage and ointment she needed, but after looking at the wound, she could tell he was in need of it.

"T-thanks, Bess, for doin' that." Joshua offered a wobbly smiled, gently lifting his arm a little.

"You're welcome." Bess replied, returning his smile. "I'm just glad I could help." She shrugged, suddenly looking down at the piece of hay she was fiddling with.

"I ah, well, I..." She couldn't think of anything to say. "I-I guess this is good-Oh no!" Bess jumped up, panic racing through her veins.

"Dinner; Mrs. Jo and everyone will be furious!" Her eyes were wide with distraught. "G-good-bye, Joshua. You're welcome to stay and rest before continuing on." She whispered, starting towards the ladder.

"Thank ya, Bess. G'bye." He tried to smile, but had to force one instead. He'd only known her a short time...But...But....He was going to miss her, because she had been so kind so kind to him.

Bess's startled shriek broke him from his pondering. She stumbled backward, landing on Joshua.

Pulling herself off of Joshua, she flushed in embarrassment, and nervousness. "Nick, . . I . . ."

"You didn't tell anyone that you had a guest that was visiting for the day." Nick said with eyebrows raised.

Bess and Joshua both started to explain, then stopped at the same time. Nick's eyes narrowed to slits, and he watched Bess with an inquiring and suspecting gaze.

"Uh, . . . what we mean is, . . . umm. . ." Bess glanced at Nick's expression, then at the ground.

"No, . . . not really. I met him yesterday, and he slept in the barn, and . . ."

"He was just going to spend the night then go to Boston, but he got hurt, so I had to . . ."

"I can't believe that you would do this Bess. Do you know how dangerous it is for a complete stranger to spend the night in a barn?"

"What if he had hurt somebody? What if he had hurt Jo? You know nothing about him Bess. AND on top of all that, you didn't even BOTHER to tell one of the adults? . . ."

"What's going on?" Jo asked walking into the barn. "I could hear your yelling from the house Nick."

"Ask her." Nick waved his hand to where Bess and Joshua stood, and Jo turned to face them.

"It was getting late, I didn't have time," Bess lied trying to get out of more trouble than what she was all ready in, and praying that Joshua would go along with it.

Jo nodded, "well, what's done is done. Why don't we all go in and eat, and we'll discuss this after dinner."

"She isn't in trouble? Come on Jo! Anybody else would have been punished on the spot, but no, not the sweet, and precious Bess. Not the daughter of your sister . . ."

"That's enough Nick!" Jo cut in angrily, "I'm the one who decides whether or not to punish the children, not YOU!"

"NO! She's is my niece, and I will not let her be punished for something as . . . well, as trivial as this."

She stomped off for the house not listening to him. Frustrated, he turned and hit the wall with his fist. Not noticing the searing pain, he went down to his room, deciding that he really wasn't hungry.

They entered the house, and went into the dining room. Bess looked around at all of them, not saying anything. She saw the surprise on everyone's faces, but it was especially evident on Dan and Nan's.

"Everybody, this is Joshua Lane." She finally spoke, "Joshua, this is Dan, Nat, Nan, Emil, Tommy, Stuffy, Meyers, and Asia our cook and our second or third mother to some of us kids."

"I don't think he'll be joining us tonight." Jo replied, then bent her head to say the prayer.

"Nonsense." Jo said from the end of the table where she always sat. "You'll spend the night, we can't have you running off in the middle of the night."

Bess smiled at Joshua from the other side of the table, and her smile was noticed by both Dan, who flinched uneasily, and Nan, who looked in wonder.

"What is really going on between you and Josh-u-a?" Nan asked later that night as she and Bess were getting ready for bed.

"Oh come on, I saw the looks that you two were giving each other." Then later almost as an afterthought, "Dan noticed it too. I think he was a little upset, after all you did go to the dance with him again this year."

Bess sighed. "I'm so sick of hearing about what Dan did or didn't do. I finally did something without permission, and I didn't even get in trouble for it. That was half of the thrill, but the other half was because Joshua is soooo cute Nan. His smile is to die for, and his personality, . . ." Bess sighed again and dropped onto her bed. "I think I'm in love."

"He's nothing like Grayson Whittaker. For one thing, Joshua is polite, and a gentleman, and . . ."

"Isn't that what you said about Grayson when you first met him? Bess, it's only been two years, you're still only 15."

"I know, but Joshua is so handsome, I can't think about anything else, . . ." Bess was about to continue when she saw Dan in the door way.

Dan clenched his jaw angrily, balling his fists. Despite the anger that welled inside, he tried not to let it show.

"Dan..." Bess swallowed nervously, bringing her hands to her mouth as she said his name again.

He took a step forward and slowly looked in at both girls something flickering in his eyes...Was it hurt? Then without a word, he turned and left walking heavily down the hall.

"Looks like ya better start hopin' Josh-u-a's around fer next year's dance cause it doesn't look like you're gonna have a taker." Nan mumbled, loud enough for Bess to hear. "Ya kind of blew it this time." She continued, raising her brows.

"This is your fault, Nan! If you hadn't been so nosy, prying into my business and demanding to know everything then he wouldn't have heard because I wouldn't have been talking about it!" Bess snapped, now frustrated that Nan was being annoyingly persistent and that Dan had overheard their conversation.

Nan rolled her eyes and got up to close the door so she could change into her nightgown. Bess turned toward the window, crossing her arms tightly. "He shouldn't have been eavesdropping, and just because I went to the dance with him, it doesn't mean that I belong to him or anything!" She fumed angrily, stomping her foot. Feeling a little better after coming to that conclusion, Bess turned and finished dressing for bed.

"Are ya really from Boston like Dan and Nat? Did you live on the streets like they did?" Tommy questioned curiously, anxious to learn more about Bess' ‘stranger'.

"Yep, I am. Lived there ever since I was born. My folks died when I was five, and I've been alone, takin' care of myself ever since." Joshua smiled proudly, carefully sitting on the soft, comfortable bed that Mrs. Jo had offered him.

"Ever been on a ship before?" Emil inquired, pulling off his shirt and replacing it with his nightshirt.

"Nope, ‘fraid I never have. Hung around the docks a lot thought when I was younger. The cooks would give me some food now and then."

"Couldn't fend for yerself and earn some money? Had to depend on someone else for it?" Dan accused - rather than asked - rudely, narrowing his angry brown eyes. Joshua shook his head, taking off his boots.

"My dad and I used take walks along the docks before he died. We became friends with a few of them and when it was found out that my folks died, they always insisted on givin' me food. I didn't ask for it - I didn't really feel right about takin' it either, but I did anyway. They wanted to help me and that was pretty much the only way they could. Couldn't exactly take a five-year-old on the ship with ‘em - although they tried to." He explained, primarily to Dan, as he placed his boots by the side of the bed.

Dan glowered, jerking the flannel nightshirt over his head. Gritting his teeth angrily, he rolled over on his side, blocking out everything else that was going on in the room.

Nick's stomach growled hungrily as he finished up the feeding. With the livestock munching contentedly, he closed up the barn.

No matter how hard he tried, his mind kept wondering back to the run-in with Jo earlier that evening. As he'd told Ben before, he respected Jo Bhear more than any other woman he'd met, and she had more pride than any man he'd met. But she could be so blind! She was treating Bess just like she had Isaac when he nearly burned the barn to ashes three years ago. The she accused Nick and the other kids of being prejudice when she had really been one. No matter what Jo said, Nick still believed that this problem should not go past without recognition.

Jo finished her daily entry in the conscience book and carefully closed it up, giving a long sigh.She should go speak to Nick and apologize for getting so angry with him. But it wasn't his place to tell her what to do and how to do it.

Bess was just watching out for another's needs, offering for him to stay in the barn. He needed a place to sleep and she provided one for him. Jo would have done the same thing in an identical situation. Lifting her head with tired determination, Jo stood up from her small writing desk. She would talk to Nick...Yes, she needed to speak to Nick right away. She would talk to him...T-Tomorrow.

Dan woke with a start, blinking tiredly. His dream...It was... Joshua had left without telling anybody, an - Joshua! He frantically scanned the room, his gaze resting on Joshua's bed - Joshua's empty bed.

"That was half of the thrill, but the other half was because Joshua is soooo cute Nan. His smile is to die for, and his personality . . . He's nothing like Grayson Whittaker. For one thing, Joshua is polite, and a gentleman, and..."

Dan threw the covers back as the words ran through his mind. The same thing you said about Grayson Whittaker... Quickening his pace, he reached to pull his trousers on. If he does anything...Dan muttered angrily. He knew something had been wrong with that guy since the second Mrs. Jo had introduced him at dinner and now he was about to prove it.

"Asia!" Dan thundered down the stairs, calling her name loudly. "It, it's Bess...She's, he'-" He stopped short, almost tripping over the bottom step. Asia looked up with an amused expression, not quite sure what to make of Dan storming down the stairs at such an early hour.

"Is somethin' wrong, Dan? Ya sounded like a herd of elephants poundin' down those stairs like that." She chuckled, sprinkling the risen rolls with cinnamon. Dan shifted on his feet, swallowing.

"N-nothin's wrong. I was just, ah, nothing." He assured her quickly spotting Joshua's tall, lean frame sitting in the chair at the table. "Sorry for disturbin' ya." He apologized before turning around quickly retreating up the stairs.

The girls' door was ajar when he walked passed, and the one thing that caught his eye was Bess - Bess, sleeping peacefully in her bed. Angrily, Dan stomped back down the hall, not caring if he woke anybody up.

"Are you busy?" Jo asked, stepping into the barn. Nick's head popped out of the stall as he dropped Penny's hoof.

"Y-yes, it's me. Listen Nick, I wanted to speak to you about las- " She wrung her hands nervously. Nick stepped out of the stall, holding his hands up.

"Jo, I know what you're gonna say." He interrupted her. She looked at him surprised.

Jo blinked, and then smiled. "Well then, I guess it's all settled. I'll see you later, Nick."

"I know what you're gonna say and I understand, but I'm not just gonna drop this and go against my better judgement." He kept his gaze steady on Jo as she reeled around.

"I know very well that ya think Bess did nothin' wrong in offerin' Joshua a place to sleep. Now I ain't got nothin' against her offerin' him a place to sleep, but it's not that part that bothers me. It's the fact that she offered him a place without checkin' with one of us first." He explained, as calmly and coolly as he could manage at the moment.

"I understand what you're saying, Nick. But it's still not your place to question my authority or to tell me what I should do and how I should do it. I said once that I felt no need to punish Bess, and that is my final decision. I will not say it again." She said firmly, looking Nick in the eye.

Nick rolled his eyes, cocking his head. "You just always have to be different from what other people think, don't ya? Jo, Bess broke the rules. There's no excuse fer that. If ya let her get off this time, then she might do it somethin' like this again."

"If you'd stop talkin', I'd tell ya! But no, because ya have to be different and have to be so pig-headed and independent, you're not going to listen to what's right and reasonable. For once Jo, just get off your high horse and listen to some sense." He argued loudly at the end of the rope with this obstinent woman.

"Mr. Riley," She snapped."I don't care to discuss this subject anymore! If you have anymore thoughts or suggestions, I suggest you keep them to yourself!" Jo shouted angrily and stormed out of the barn. Nick pulled his head back in surprise.

"Mr. Riley?" Nick looked over at Penny with brows nodded in confused disbelief. Jo Bhear was more of a handful than he'd bargained for.

Bess looked out the window, seeing Joshua in the barn helping the other boys with their chores. Depositing the duster on the wooden chair, she hurried out to the barn.

"Hi, Bess. Whatcha come out here for?" Tommy asked, scooping up the soiled hay and carrying it to the muckheap in the back of the barn.

"Hello, Tommy. I just...Um, came out to collect the eggs for Aunt Jo." She put on her best, most convincing smile, stealing a glance at Joshua who had paused from his work.

"Do you know where the basket is? I can't find where Aunt Jo put it." Bess asked, trying to act confused.

"Yes, thank you." She walked over and reached to take if from him hand. After a minute of talking, she hesitantly left to gather the eggs.

"Come on, little chickens." Bess gritted her teeth, reaching forward to try and take the egg from the hen. But it pecked at her hand, making her pull back.

"Why don't you just let me take it?" She muttered with frustration. The chicken just looked away.

"Fine, you want to play hard to get, I'll just play right along." Bess informed the hen indignantly. Reaching forward, she grabbed for the egg. The chicken flew up in a mass of feathered wings, squabbling wildly as she pecked Bess's hand harshly.

Bess screamed jumping back and tripping over another chicken that had been walking behind her. Soon, they were all squealing loudly, surrounding her. She fought to keep her balance until she reached the fence but was about ready to fall when somebody grabbed her arm.

"Joshua..." She muttered thankfully, as he pulled her out of the coop. Tommy took the basket as Emil latched the gate. A second later, Dan came racing around the corner, hearing her scream.

"What are ya doin'?" He demanded angrily, mistaking the scene before him. Without hesitation, he stomped forward to Joshua...

Without listening to Bess, Dan continued to stomp over to where Bess and Joshua stood, and Joshua quickly released his hold on Bess.

"Dan, its not what it looks like." Joshua quickly said, and stepped away from Bess.

"Oh, its not? Listen buddy, I didn't like you from the beginning, and I really don't like you now." Dan closed the gap, and quickly punched Joshua.

Bess shrieked, and ran to Joshua. He groaned, but didn't try to sit up in fear that Dan would hit him again. Seeing that Joshua would be all right for the most part, Bess stood and glared at Dan.

"I was trying to collect eggs when the chicken's attacked. I almost fell, when Joshua grabbed my arm and helped me out. You had no right to punch him Dan!"

"What more do you want from me? You might as well tell me now so that I don't get mixed signals." Dan said his voice very close to cracking.

"What do you mean, what do I want from you?" Bess asked getting a little confused herself.

Emil, and Tommy finally just decided to drift away and let Bess and Dan fight it out, while Joshua sat looking at them in surprise.

"Do you just want me to be here to take you to the dances? Or do you want more?" Dan's voice finally did crack, and he watched her in suspense, and when she couldn't answer, he muttered, "let me know when you figure it out," and he turned away in anger, hurt, and betrayal.

Bess stood in a daze watching him leave. She couldn't believe what she had just heard. ‘What was he saying? Does he want to court me?'

‘How dare he?' Jo thought angrily to herself. ‘How many times do I have to tell him? He's not the one to make the decisions in this household! What does he think he is? Their father?!'

"You seem to have your mind on something else today." Asia looked at her in concern. "Is everything all right?"

"What's wrong?" Asia asked walking over to the couch, sitting down, and patting to the seat next to her.

"He thinks that I should punish Bess for hiding Joshua in the barn for the one night. I don't think so. Besides that, who does he think that he is to tell me what to do?"

"I think you should decide what to do. I don't want you to be as mad at me as you are with Nick."

"Besides that, didn't you tell Nick that he was supposed to be the father figure to the children? Part of being a father, is the discipline." Asia mentioned, then walked out of the room to make the stew.

‘What am I going to do? Jo is really upset with me, Joshua is still here, and . . . . Jo just called me "Mr. Riley."'

Nick walked over to his bed and laid down on it. ‘How am I going to mend the relationship now?'

"Is there a girl that you want to start courting Dan?" Nick asked with his first smile since the fight with Jo.

"Well, . . . yeah. But I don't know how you are supposed to ask someone to court, and . . . I don't know how to court someone that lives in the same house that I do."