Free Web Hosting Provider - Web Hosting - E-commerce - High Speed Internet - Free Web Page
Search the Web

Part 7 -

It was another beautiful day at Plumbfield; the colors of the trees and the sky were enough to make one stop and catch their breath. Yet in the midst of all that, there was a general cloud over the inhabitants of Plumbfield; a marriage in question, a questionable friendship, and a mother facing one of life's greatest struggles. Nick was determined that morning to help ease at least one of those problems.
"Mornin' Asia," he said, coming into the kitchen.
"You're late," Asia said with a small grin, "Breakfast was a while ago."
"I know, I was workin' on somethin'...say, is Jo around?"
"She's upstairs, didn't even come down for breakfast. Rob's worried, poor boy thinks it's his fault for some reason," Asia said shaking her head.
"Where's he now?"
"Upstairs with her. She called for him 'bout 20 minutes ago," Asia replied. Nick gave a glance up the stairs, and reluctantly sat down at the table. For the next five minutes he was up and down, up and down. Finally, Asia said, "Sit!" And she placed some food in front of him, hoping to distract him. It worked for a little while.
"Asia," Nick began thoughtfully, "If Rob leaves, then Plumbfield won't be a school no more right?"
"I s'pose so. Don't think Mrs. Jo has the heart to enroll a bunch of new kids."
"And so if everyone's gone, then it'll just be you, Jo, and me, right?"
"Well, I'm goin' to go visit my family for a while...so it'll probably just be you and Jo."
"That's what I thought," groaned Nick, "Asia, it's one thing when people talk. But I been thinkin' and I can't live here alone with Jo. It'd be more than just people speculatin'...two unmarried adults livin' together?" Asia simply nodded her head..knowing what was coming. Yet she remained silent; she wanted Nick to do this all on his own.
"Now let's say there were..different circumstances," Nick said thoughtfully, getting up from the table.
"Nick--what do you mean?"
"What? I mean different circumstances..what I'm tryin' to say is.well.I mean, say I wanted to..well if I was interested in.." Nick floundered and Asia, with a grin finally decided to help him.
"Sure would be nice if Jo could get outta the house for a while," Asia said thoughtfully..to no one in particular.
"Know what Asia? You're absolutely right. I guess I could take her somewhere..uh...maybe.."
"What about a picnic?" Asia asked slyly.
"Yeah! Yeah, a picnic!" Nick exclaimed as if the idea were his own, "But what would I..."
"Nick!" Asia said, "You just sit down at that table and listen good!" Nick looked shocked but did as she asked. "Gotta act like yougin's," Asia muttered, "Always gotta lead them by the hand...Nick, I know exactly what you should do!" And as Nick listened silently as Asia relayed to him her "spur of the moment" idea..Asia finally set her plan in motion..

Laurie awoke in bed to find Amy sitting up straight next to him. "Sweetheart?" he mumbled in concern.
"Oh, I'm sorry I woke you," Amy sighed with a frown. Laurie's concerned look stayed in place as he sat up next to her. He knew she was thinking about Bess and Dan, and he also knew that what she needed was silence until she was ready to talk about things.
After a while, her voice broke the silence by saying, "They remind me of us."
Laurie knew of course, the "they" she was talking about and asked, "How so my dear?"
"They've known each other so long, and now that they've discovered these feelings...they want to act so fast," Amy replied. After more silence she said softly, "Sometimes I wonder if we acted in haste. I wouldn't ever go back and change anything Laurie, but sometimes I do wonder; my painting, your music. What might have been?"
Laurie thought about that for a while and finally said, "Then I think we should persuade Bess to use her scholarship..a few years apart will allow them to try out those other dreams..and I believe their love is strong enough." Amy nodded, and after a few moments, Laurie began to get up.
As he neared the door, Amy called out, "Or perhaps we should have them wait only one year." At Laurie's surprised look she went on, "The scholarship is good for a year..and I think that after that time, they'll both know what they want. Laurie, dreams are important yes.. but...life is short."
Laurie, looking at his wife in silent admiration, walked over to her and placed a kiss on her forehead. "Who knew my wife was not only charming and lovely, but a secret romantic at heart?" he smiled and chuckled softly. Amy looked down modestly, and Laurie actually laughed as her cheeks turned slightly pink. "Shall we ride out and tell her after breakfast?" Laurie asked.
Amy nodded and squeezed his hand. "Our little girl is finally..grown up," she said softly with a bittersweet smile.

"..and as long as you'd be happy," Jo said with a smile, softly touching Rob.
"Are you sure?" Rob couldn't keep the excitement out of his voice.
"Of course I am!" Jo smiled. Hesitation suddenly filled his face and Jo asked, "Is there something else?"
"Well..what will you do?" he asked simply. At her confused look he went on, "After I've gone and Bess, Dan, Nan, Nat..after they all leave, who'll be here to take care of you?"
Jo gave her son a curious glance and smiled at his kind thinking. "Why I won't be alone! Don't worry, Asia will be here," she said.
"And Nick," Rob said grinning. Jo gave him an uncomfortable glance and fidgeted nervously. "Thanks mother," Rob said planting a kiss on her cheek. Jo hugged him as if he were leaving that very second..not wanting to waste any precious time. And then, just as suddenly as he'd appeared in her room, he left.
Jo sigh and walked downstairs into the...empty kitchen? 'What's going on?' she thought nervously. "Asia? Children?....Nick?" she called out. She made her way to the front of the house, and walked outside. She caught a glimpse of someone on horseback, riding very quickly.
"Jo!" a voice seemed to call out. Jo pulled her shawl tighter around her and looked in curiosity at the approaching stranger. Once he came nearer, she realized it was no stranger, but Nick!! "Something wrong?" she called out in alarm.
"Jo! Your sister!! Gotta come quick!!" he panted.
"Just let me get a horse-"
"No time!" Nick said quickly, lowering his hand, "Gonna have to ride with me." After a second's hesitation, Jo placed her hand in his and quickly swung up in front of him. Her being that close to him almost made her forget everything else for a moment, but then they were speeding off down the lane. The funny thing was that Jo, being that close to him, forgot to ask questions as she usually did.. Of course, maybe that was all part of the plan..

"Nat! Where did you say we were going again?" Nan asked in a tired voice.
"I didn't," Nat grinned and tugged on her hand, "Come on..it's only a little farther, I promise!"
"Oh, all right," Nan muttered several other things under her breath which Nat couldn't quite make out.
"What was that?" Nat inquired.
"Oh nothing, I was just reminding myself of why I agreed to come all the way out here this early in the morning for..why are we out here again?" Nan asked.
"Nice try Nan, but it's a surprise," Nat said again.
"Still, can't I even have a little hin-"
"SHHHH!!" Nat hissed, pulling Nan up next to him and pointing up ahead.
"Nat, I don't see what the-"
"Over there," Nat said softly, pointing to a small figure, which appeared to be lying on the ground. Nan said no more and slowly walked toward the creature. When she finally got near enough, she caught her breath. It was a baby deer...clearly hurt and sick.
"Nat! How did you-"
"Nan, can't you help it?" Nat prompted her. She gave him an uncertain look, and then turned to the deer.
"I don't have my-"
"Right here," Nat said, pulling her small kit out of his pocket. She gave him an incredulous look and then turned toward the animal. It was too young and weak to protest as she softly and gently began to clean it's wounds. Nat simply stood and watched her, and he thought about how beautiful she was, how skilled, and how happy he would be if this moment could go on forever.

Part 8 -

"Nick, tell me now just what exactly is going on!!" Jo demanded, wriggling around in the saddle in front of Nick. He just patiently rode on..in the opposite direction of town. "I thought you said one of my sisters was..umm..that something had happened to--"

"I don't remember sayin' that," Nick said scratching his head. She elbowed him and was glad that he couldn't see the small smile on her face.
"Still, if you think this is funny..if this is your idea of some kind of joke then I-"
"No joke Jo, honest! Look, we're almost there."
"Almost where!?!"
Nick slowed the horse and said, "Look, will you at least try not to be so difficult..otherwise, I'm gonna blind-fold ya."
Jo spun around and said, "You wouldn't!" Nick just grinned and started the horse again. Jo was again grateful that he couldn't see the expressions on her face...she wasn't sure she wanted to see them actually..

"Thank you," Amy smiled as Laurie helped her out of the carriage. She looked around Plumbfield first with a sigh, then with growing concern. "Rob!" she called, as she spotted the boy walking out of the house, "Where's your mother?"
"Nick kidnapped her," Rob simply said. Amy and Laurie looked at each other, then back to Rob in bewilderment.
"Well, is Nat..or Nan around?" asked Laurie.
"They went to go heal wild animals," Rob shrugged. All Amy could do was blink..and blink..and blink..
"What's Asia doing?" Amy finally managed to get out.
"She went on a picnic," Rob smiled. Amy raised a hand to her head and began to walk inside.
"How about Bess and Dan?" Laurie said, trying to act like these were normal, every day occurrences.
"I think they eloped," Rob said. Laurie's face turned several different colors all at once and Rob quickly said, "I'm just kidding. I think Bess is out back, and Dan's over by the barn."
"Thank you Rob," Laurie said, patting him on the back weakly. He followed Amy into the house and relayed the information to her. "I'll go get Dan, and you can call Bess in--"
"No," Amy interrupted, "I'll go get Dan." Laurie looked at his wife in surprise and she said, "It's alright." Laurie nodded and patted her hand reassuringly before he headed towards the back of the house. Amy walked rather slowly towards the barn, where she found Dan up in the hayloft. Still unnoticed, she actually climbed up the ladder and walked over to Dan.
"Mrs. Laurence!" he exclaimed, beginning to get up.
"No, that's alright," she said, holding up a hand to stop him. She instead sat down next to him, smoothing out her dress. Dan looked at her with a feeling of pure shock and Amy smiled and said, "When we were kids, my sisters and I used to climb up here when we'd come to visit Great Aunt March." Dan nodded, unsure of what else to do. "I'd hate getting dirty, but it was worth it. Even Beth would climb up here, and we'd tell stories or put on small shows. It was our place where we'd go when we couldn't retreat to the attic at home." Amy's smile showed how she seemed to be in another time, remembering so many things.
"Look, Mrs. Laurence, Bess and I were talkin', and we--"
"Dan," Amy interrupted, raising her hand, "I love my husband very much. There is no other person that I'd rather share my life with. But sometimes I wonder what would have happened if we had taken our time. We'd still be in love, we'd still be together, but would we have had those..problems we had some time ago?" Amy picked at her dress and looked anywhere but Dan's direction as she talked. Her last words were said slowly and hesitantly, "Time is a precious gift. It doesn't ebb away love, rather changes it, and allows it to grow."
"Mrs. Laurence, we're willin' to wait as long as you want," Dan said.
"It's not up to me," Amy sigh, "You two will know when you're ready...but you both know that the time isn't now." After a time of silence, Dan helped Amy up, and the two quietly climbed down from the loft, soft smiles on their faces.

"It's starting to get dark," Nat remarked.
"It's a shame we can't bring her back to Plumbfield with us," Nan said thoughtfully as she sat, swinging her legs.
"Why can't we?" Nat inquired, also sitting next to her.
"Well, look at her Nat! We can't really move her in the condition she's in," Nan sigh and ran a hand through her hair, "Although I hate to leave her alone.."
"Well.." Nat said with some hesitation, "I did bring some supplies in the wagon.." Nan looked up at him, her eyes full of excitement.
"We could stay here with her! That's a great idea Nat!!" she said with a grin. Nat simply nodded his head weakly; this was not his idea of a good time.
"Won't Mrs. Jo be upset or worried or something?" he asked, trying to mask the hope in his voice.
"I don't think we have to worry about that," Nan said with a grin. Nat gave her a look of confusion and was about to say something when she went on, "You don't know about Nick's "plan"?? Oh boy!! It's a real good one this time." Nat just listened, resigned once again to the plots and adventures of Nan. But this time, it was worth it..who knew how many adventures they'd have in the future? Who knew how long before the adventures would be over forever?

"Bess, my darling," Laurie said quietly, interrupting her peaceful silence as she sat on the back porch.
"Father," Bess said, a mixture of surprise and disappointment in her voice.
"Sweetie, your mother and I came over here to tell you that--"
"You were right," Bess said simply, "We shouldn't get married. We should wait, and explore our dreams..and..well..Father, I understand all that. It makes perfect sense! But I can't help wondering..being afraid...Father, you know as well as I do that Dan has always been adventuresome. And I think that over the years, I've gotten used to it, and even adapted some of his ways." As Bess paused to grin, Dan and Amy reached the back door, where they stopped once they heard her go on.
"For all he says Father, all of it, I can't help thinking that there are a million girls out west who are as adventuresome as he is. Girls who wouldn't mind rooms full of spiders..girls who wouldn't spend the entire day painting away.."Bess trailed off for a moment, "And I'm afraid that he'll find one of those girls..and he'll realize.."
"That ain't gonna happen Bess," Dan said, walking out onto the porch with Amy. Bess stood up in surprise, her eyes betraying the fear she had just spoken of. Amy and Laurie, sensing that this was now leaving their hands, stepped back and quietly listened.
"Do you promise?" Bess said, a small smile playing across her face. Dan nodded and moved closer to her.
"I mean, some girls may actually like spiders..but no one makes me as mad as you," Dan grinned. Bess gave him a look, yet held out her hand to him. He took it gently, and then squeezed it for reassurance.
Well, look on the bright side! This gives us more time to plan the wedding!" Amy said suddenly. The others just rolled their eyes and grinned.

"Nick! When can I look?" Jo asked again.
"Just a little while longer," Nick said, leading the blindfolded Jo by foot.
"If I trip.."
"You won't."
"Still I don't see why I have to--" Jo muttered as she tried to remove the blindfold. She only succeeded in tripping..right into Nick's arms.
"Alright, you're gonna hurt yourself.." Nick said, finally removing the blindfold. As he helped Jo up, his arms still around her, she suddenly took a sharp breath. They were in a small meadow that had been transformed into a brilliant dream. There were candles set up around a picnic blanket --filled with food.
"Nick," Jo breathed, "Did you do this yourself?"
"Aww, no," Nick said, running a hand through his hair, "It was actually Asia's idea-I didn't think she'd do this much.."
"No," Jo said, stepping away from Nick and towards the blanket, "It's amazing." She sank down, and after looking all around again, she peered inside the basket. "Chocolate cake!?" she said with a grin, "Asia really shouldn't have." She was about to begin unpacking the rest of the food when Nick's hand stopped her.
"Wait a minute, there's somethin' I wanna do first," he said. Jo swallowed hard as Nick inched closer to her's. Closer..closer..and he reached behind her for something. Giving a small sigh of relief, Jo smiled.
"What's that?" she inquired after the book in Nick's hand.
"This is what I want to show ya," Nick said with a grin, holding it out to her. She gave him a funny look but opened up the book anyway.
"I have met with but one or two persons in the course of my life who understood the art of Walking, that is, of taking walks, who had a genius, so to speak, for sauntering; which word is beautifully derived "from idle people who roved about the country, in the middle ages.." Jo stopped and looked up at Nick, "Thoreau?" Nick nodded with a grin.
Jo returned the grin and then began to flip through the book, looking for a certain part. "Here we are," she exclaimed pushing the unused book open a bit more, "Would you mind?" Nick gave her an uneasy look; reading still wasn't his favorite activity.
"Well.." Nick, about to decline, took one glance at Jo and..well.. "Alright." Jo gave a look of delight and handed the book over to him.
"The sun sets on some retired meadow, where no house is visible, with the glory and splendor that it lavishes on cities, and perchance, as it has never set before,-where there is but a solitary marsh hawk to have his wings guilded by it, or only a musquash looks out from his cabin, and there is some little black-veined brook in the midst of the marsh, just beginning to meander, winding slowly round a decaying stump. We walked in so pure and bright a light, gilding the withered grass and leaves, so softly and serenely bright-I thought I had never bathed in such a golden flood, without a ripple or a murmur to it. The west side of every wood and rising ground gleamed like the boundary of elysium, and the sun on our backs seemed like a gentle herdsman, driving us home at evening," Nick finished, his gaze flickering up at Jo. He was staring at her now, deeply lost in thought.
"What else have you got there Nick?" Jo asked after a time, pointing to another book.
"Hmm?" Nick mumbled, coming out of his "trance."
"The other book.." Jo smiled self-consciously.
"Oh, this is umm..well, the Thoreau book is from me, I thought you might like it--"
"I do," Jo said, holding the book tighter.
Nick smiled in satisfaction and, handing Jo the book said, "Asia told me to bring this. Said you liked some of these."
"Sonnets?" Jo breathed in surprise. Then, giving Nick a playfully skeptical look, she added, "Shakespeare?" Nick gave her a sheepish look, but she smiled reassuringly. "Asia was right..actually, one of my favorites is right..here," Jo smiled as she found what she was looking for.
"Let me not to the marriage of true minds
Admit impediments. Love is not love
Which alters when it alteration finds,
Or bends with the remover to remove:
O no! it is an ever-fixed mark
That looks on tempests and is never shaken;
It is the star to every wandering bark,
Whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken.
Love's not Time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks
Within his bending sickle's compass come:
Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,
But bears it out even to the edge of doom.
If this be error and upon me proved,
I never writ, nor no man ever loved," Jo finished with a far off look in her eyes.
"Beautiful," Nick simply said.
"What is?" Jo questioned, her eyes betraying her hope.
"The..poem," Nick said, to accustomed to hiding to change his ways this once.
"Yes, it is," Jo said, shrugging off her "ridiculous" notion that Nick had actually been talking about her.
"Well," Nick said, filling in the sudden silence, "You wanna eat?" Jo smiled and pulled the basket closer.
"I thought you'd never ask," she smiled. It took all of two seconds for her to playfully slap Nick's hand and say, "Hey, dessert is last!" And so their "bantering," which over the years they had successfully made into an art, continued.

"Gosh, I wonder how that whole Bess and Dan thing worked out," Nan said with a yawn.
"I know what you mean. Those two just belong together," Nat said with a tired grin, "And he's always been sweet on her."
"Oh," Nan said uncomfortably, "well I didn't mean that. I was just thinking of how if they do plan on gettin' married, Bess' mother is gonna..explode." Nat smiled-he always had to-considering the way Nan talked!! Yet he couldn't help feeling disappointed. Over the years, had Nan really become so involved in her work and studies that she forgot about..well..about love? Or, was it as Nat had feared all along..Nan truly cared for him only as a friend.
"Alright, well we should at least try to get some sleep," Nat said, giving Nan a "you're going to listen to me this time because it's for your own good" look.
"Oh alright," Nan said, noticing the look and giving in before she had to "bear" another "lecture" from Nat on how to keep herself safe and healthy. She got down on the ground, and found that there was no comfortable way to position her head. There was nothing she could put under it, because they needed the coats and blankets to keep warm. She tried to put her arm under it, but after a minute or two, it really began to hurt.
"You okay Nan?" Nat asked in concern.
"Fine," was her snappish reply. Nat gave a sigh in return, and did something rather bold. Looking back the following day, he wasn't at all sure why he chose that particular evening, when they had shared so many together..
Nat moved over next to Nan and, in the midst of her "what are you doing's?" he gently scooped up her head. That, of course, caused her to cease all verbal communication. She just sort of looked at him in uncertain awe, as if the moment were playing out in slow motion. He placed it gently in his lap, and spread another blanket over her.
Her gaze darted around nervously as he said, "That better?"
She nodded and, almost as if putting up a front said, "What would I do without you Nat? You're my best friend.." And with a yawn, she quickly dozed off. Nat waited until her breathing became perfectly even before he moved. He pushed her hair back from her face and leaned in close.
Planting the smallest and most delicate kiss on her cheek, he whispered, "I love you." A few minutes later, after he himself was half asleep, Nan's eyes flew open. Had Nat been looking, he'd have seen a rare sight that he could barely remember seeing ever; had he been looking, he'd have seen straight into her mind, her heart..and her soul.

"Yeah! I could hardly believe it when she took off that hat," Nick chuckled.
"I was so proud of her..shocked as well! And to think that Franz went along with it. Franz! He always did have a special bond with Nan. Yet I'd never had imagined that he'd do something so..so..exciting," Jo said. Nick gave her a look that said, 'you think a girl entering a boy's skiing race is exciting?' "Well it was for them at the time," Jo said giving Nick a look, "Besides, things are different now. I do think Franz is going to go back out west and find Isabel."
"He should," Nick said, switching the picnic basket to the other arm as they reached the front of the house.
"Mmm," Jo nodded and turned to face Nick. She smiled up at him and could feel her cheeks turning pink. "You know, every time this happens I always feel.."
"Awkward," Nick finished for her. She bowed down her head a little, smirking. "It don't gotta be Jo," he went on, "We've known each other how long?"
Jo looked up at him in silence and Nick took that moment..he took it and ran with it. "Jo, I remember when I first came here. How you'd be tellin' me stories about the kids, parts of their lives I didn't even know about. But now look at us! It's years later, and we have stories of our own. I have a family. And there's no one I'd rather be sharin' this with than you," he stepped closer to her as she inched closer to him.
"I feel the same way," Jo said, a little tentively, "At the end of the day, after all the kids were it bed, I'd love how we'd just sit and talk. When you first came, it was as though I needed that conversation to get me through all the days without Fritz. But then-I wanted the conversation because I couldn't imagine life with out it." She leaned in and touched her forehead against Nick's.
"Maybe it's time we.."
"Aunt Jo!"
"Nick!! Are they with you??"
Nick and Jo casually broke apart, giving each other reluctant glances at first. But then, really hearing why they were being called, Nick replied, "Is who with us?"
"Nat," Dan said.
"And Nan," Bess finished.
"Why would they be with us?" Jo said, her brow creased, "Shouldn't they be here?"
"Yeah, well they're not," Dan said, his mouth forming a grim line.
"Rob said Nat took Nan out into the woods this morning, and they haven't been back since," Bess added.
"Well we have to find them," Jo said, pulling the horse from Nick.
"Jo," he resisted, "You can't go out now, it's freezin'!"
"Well I've got to find them!"
"No ya don't," Nick said, much to the shock of Jo. "They're just 'bout grown up now, and Nat and Nan can certainly fend for themselves. If they ain't back by mornin', then we can go out lookin' for them." Jo gave him a rather hostile look, but nodded her head. Letting Nick assume control over the reigns again, she stalked off to the house, nearly slamming the door.
As the three stared after her, Dan said, "Things go good?"
"They were," Nick said with a bit of a groan.

The next morning Nat and Nan returned, much to the relief of everyone. Nan and Nat never spoke of the events of that night, much like Nick and Jo. Yet unlike Nat and Nan, there was a definite change in the relationship between Nick and Jo. All the children noticed it. That indescribable bond between them was as strong as ever, yet Jo's few weeks of perfect peace were soon shattered by the departure of Rob.
"You're sure you have everything?" Jo said, holding both of Rob's hands in her own at the train station. Nick stood off to the side, giving mother and son a private moment.
"I do, everything, mother," he said with a small grin.
"And you know that if you need anything, anything at all--"
"I know," he said again, squeezing her hand.
Feeling that precious few minutes were left, Jo said, "Remember home Rob. Everything we've taught you. Your father, your aunts..everyone."
And Rob, sending her a message through his eyes that no words could ever possibly tell, simply said, "Thank you." As Jo held back tears, Rob walked over to Nick.
"You take care of yourself huh?" Nick said with a grin.
"I'm gonna miss you Nick."
"I'm...gonna miss ya too..," Nick said slowly, thinking again about how much he hoped that he had been a good father figure.
"You'll take care of mother," Rob said. It was more of a statement than a question, but Nick nodded anyway. "Nick," Rob said pausing, "I don't really remember my father that well anymore. I try to, for mother's sake, but I can't. I will always love him, and I know that the reason I find it hard to remember him is that he died so long ago. But part of that reason is also that the role has been filled, by someone whom he would have considered worthy." Nick, the "sturdy sea man" found that he could feel traces of tears in his eyes.
Rob then shook Nat and Dan's hands, telling each of the boys - men - how they were his personal heroes. He hugged Bess and Nan, and then turned to Jo for the big finale, the final goodbye. She held him tighter than she ever had before, or at least it seemed like it. And then, he was gone. Nick stood next to Jo, yet he didn't reach out to her, or hold her; he knew she was saying goodbye to her only child, and that she was strong enough to do it on her own - what's more, she needed to do it on her own.
It wasn't until the train began to pull away from the station that Jo reached her hand back slowly, knowing Nick would be there to take it. And Nick, knowing she'd eventually reach out, was there for her.

Keep Going . .

Back To Stories
Back To K.D.A.