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"Everyone out of the building! Get out! Hurry! Fire! Everyone Out!"
Cade and his friends looked up in surprise. Nobody was allowed to yell in this school.
Cade ran for the door, followed by the other boys. Once in the hallway, the thick, black smoke blinded him. Cade dropped to his knees and began crawling for the nearest exit. He could sense people around him crawling quickly, trying to get out!
He made it to the side door and stumbled to his feet. He ran to the grassy area about 40 feet away and looked back at his school.
Townspeople rushed to the building as the roof collapsed in dazzling, orange flames. Cade sat down on the lawn and stared at the building in shock.
‘This can't be happening. This is my school. This can't be happening . . .'
"So you see Mrs. Bhaer, it would only be temporary. I feel that Cade should not delay his studies while Peter's Skill Academy is rebuilt."
"I agree with you Mr. Marooney." Jo smiled, "Cade is welcome to come to Plumfield until the school is rebuilt."
"Thank-you Mrs. Bhaer. I'll bring him out this afternoon, if that's all right."
"Father! Are you ready to go yet?" Cade called from the wagon where he sat impatiently for his father to stop talking to Mrs. Bhaer.
"I'm coming." He yelled back.
"Well, I'll see you and your son this afternoon then." Jo smiled politely.
Mr Marooney shook her hand, tipped his hat and stepped to the wagon.
Jo watched them leave, and sighed. As she started driving home, she thought, ‘the children at Plumfield and Cade don't get along very well. I'd better go tell them he's coming.'
"What was that all about?"
"Hmm?" Mr. Marooney looked at his son, then smiled. "You're going to go to Plumfield while your school is being rebuilt.
Cade's jaw dropped in surprise. "What?"
"Hey Dan, Emil, Nat! Mrs. Jo's back and she has something to tell us!" Tommy ran down the hall, "Bess, Nan! Hurry!"
"It must be really important if she just got back -" Nat said as he and Dan walked out of the room.
"We'd better go find out what it is." Dan headed for the stairs with Nat close behind.
"What is it Aunt Jo? What do you need to tell us?" Bess sat impatiently waiting for her to begin.
"You heard about that fire just outside of town right? The school was burned, and they have to rebuild."
"Yeah. It's Cade's school." Dan said icily, his mind on the ski race where Cade had pushed him down to keep him from winning.
"Right. Well, Mr. Marooney wants Cade to continue his education while the school is being rebuilt."
"So?" Nan asked.
"So . . . . Cade will be coming to Plumfield for the next few weeks."
"What?!"
Part 2 -
"He shouldn't be coming."
"I have nothing against him Dan." Bess said from where she sat by Nan on her bed. They were facing the two boys who sat on Nan's bed.
"Yeah and he didn't push you into a snowbank either."
"Or call you names," Nat broke in.
"Or . . ." Nan looked at Nat and fell silent.
Jo showed up at the doorway interrupting the conversation. "Cade and his father have arrived. I think we should all go downstairs and give them a proper welcome."
Then, ignoring the looks she was getting, she headed down the hall towards the old and worn stairs.
Cade stood, barely listening to his father talking to Mrs. Bhaer and kept his eyes on the floor. He didn't want to look at the other children in the room. Not that he would have to worry about it. None of the other children were looking at him either. The only reason they were there at all was for Mrs. Jo. They didn't want to make her, or the school look bad.
Mr Marooney finished talking and shook Jo's hand. Then each of the children stepped forward introducing themselves and politely welcoming Cade.
He murmured thank-you's, wondering what would happen after his father left and the formality disappeared.
"Boys, why don't you take Cade upstairs and help him get settled?"
"Where Mrs. Jo?" Dan asked.
"I think it would be all right if he slept in your room. After all, you do have an extra bed."
Dan opened his mouth to object, but one look from Jo silenced him.
She nodded her head towards the door and Dan faked a smile. "It sure was a pleasure meeting you Mr. Marooney."
"The pleasure's all mine."
Dan smiled again, and headed for the door motioning for Cade to follow. Cade walked out silently with the others close behind.
Mr. Marooney and Jo walked outside. "You have very well mannered children Mrs. Bhaer."
"Thank-you." She watched as he got into the carriage and called for his driver to take him home. The carriage jerked to a start, and headed down the path to the road.
Yes, she did have very well-mannered children, when they had to be. She wondered what was happening upstairs, and decided that she should go check and see just how well-mannered the children were being.
Part 3 -
"This is my bed and that's Nat's. Stay away from them!"
"Why would I want to touch your bed Dan?" Cade sarcastically reached out a finger as if he was going to touch the bed and smiled when Dan hit it away. "Relax Dan."
"Why should I? I didn't ask you to come, and I don't want you here."
"Dan be quiet. Mrs. Jo is coming." Emil said from the door way where the rest of the children stood watching.
"Is everything going all right?" Jo waltzed into the room smiling and carrying blankets and a pillow.
Cade turned around a smiled. "It's a real nice room Mrs. Bhaer, and thank-you for allowing me to come here while my school is being rebuilt."
"Of course. You are more than welcome here Cade."
Dan sighed and stomped out of the room pushing his way through the crows of kids at the doorway, and went noisily down the stairs.
Jo watched in disappointment as her hopes for friendship between the two faded before her eyes.
Dinner was especially quiet that evening. Jo noticed the occasional whispers, snickers, and even a few angry glances aimed at Cade. ‘What am I going to do? The children hate Cade. They'll be killing each other by the end of the week.' She sighed and tried to eat.
"So then what happened?" Emil leaned forward so that he could hear better.
"The man grabbed me and insisted that I give his money back. I didn't have it, so he got angry with me and threatened to call the police. Just them when I was sure that I would go to jail a little old lady walked up and pulled on the sleeve of his coat. She said, "I'm sorry to interrupt, but you dropped this." Then turning, she left. In his hand the man found his wallet, with nothing taken out of it."
"So then what happened?" Nan asked excitedly.
"Well, not a lot could happen Nan." Nick said with a smile. The man apologized, handed me five dollars, and left."
"Did you ever find out his name?" Dan asked.
"Nope I never did."
"Tell us another story Nick." Tommy jumped up from where he was sitting on the ground to grab his cup of milk, then quickly sat down again.
Nick looked at Jo with his eyebrows raised and she shook her head. "Ah, its getting late. You boys had better be getting to bed. Don't forget you have school in the morning."
The boys and Nan groaned but headed up the stairs. Cade followed silently hoping that his school would be finished soon, so he could go talk to his friends and tell them Nick's stories.
"Really Nan, I don't see why you hate him so much. He seems very polite."
"I don't really hate him Bess, it's just that Nat's my friend, and Cade hurt Nat, so I . . ."
"So you don't like how Cade hurt Nat, and you don't want him here."
"Exactly." Nan blew out the lamp by her bed and got under the covers.
Bess shook her head, and blew out her lamp, leaving the two girls in complete darkness.
Part 4 -
"Goodnight boys." Jo called as she passed the bedroom. "Put out the lamp."
"Yes Mrs. Jo." Nat replied.
"Goodnight Nat." Dan called from his bed.
"Goodnight Dan."
They both ignored Cade, and blew out the lamp.
Cade sighed and got into bed. He hadn't expected instant friendship, and he didn't get it either.
He couldn't sleep, no matter which way he turned, or what position he put himself in. Finally after putting his head at the foot of the bed and still not being able to sleep he got out of bed.
Cade sighed as he passed Dan and Nat's beds and paused for a minute watching them sleep, then he left the room. Se wasn't sure where exactly to go, but he couldn't sleep so there was no point in staying in bed.
As he passed the girl's room, the floorboard underneath him squeaked, but he didn't really pay attention to it, he just kept walking.
Nan rolled over onto her back and stared at the roof in frustration. She was tires, but she couldn't sleep. ‘Maybe some milk would help,' she thought and got out of bed groping around in the darkness for her robe.
Just as she was pulling it around her, she heard the floorboard outside the door squeak and she hurriedly tied the sash and went to investigate. ‘I wonder who else can't sleep tonight.'
She walked to the head of the stairs and looked down right as Cade looked up. Their eyes locked for a second, then Nan quickly looked away.
She casually walked down the stairs. As she passed by him to enter the kitchen, she mumbled, "can't sleep?"
"Nope," he said as he followed her.
She grabbed the pitcher of milk and a glass and set them on the table. Then looking up at Cade she asked, "you want some? They say it helps you get to sleep."
"Sure, . . . but isn't it supposed to be warm mile?" He sat down in a chair across from her as she grabbed another cup.
"I would," she smirked, "but Asia would kill me if I made a mess of her stove."
He smiled, "she's a little overprotective of her kitchen huh?"
"Yeah." She handed him a cup and sat down.
After a moment of silence, he cautiously asked, "why do you hate me?"
She had been about to swallow and it got stuck in her throat as she coughed in surprise. "What?"
He raised his eyebrows, but didn't repeat himself.
"I don't hat you Cade. I just, . . . last year, you . . . ." she stopped looking for the right words to say.
"I was being stupid. I wanted to win the race and be the best." He laughed, "instead I got beat by a girl."
At that remark she smiled. "It was funny to see your face after I beat you."
They laughed for a minute then fell silent.
"You said some mean things to Nat."
"Yeah, I did."
"And you pushed Dan over during the race."
"Uh-huh."
She looked at him in surprise. He wasn't denying it, or making excuses, or even apologizing. He was just agreeing with her.
She sat for a minute thinking until he broke the silence.
"So, . . . have you been working on that quilt?"
She smiled, then started to laugh. "Almost got it done."
"Is it big enough?"
"Big enough to bury someone in." She smirked. Then as the clock struck one, she said, "it's late, we should probably get to bed."
"We probably should."
Nan stood and put the milk away, and put her cup in the sink.
Cade got up from the table and walked around towards the sink.
She held out her hand and he gave her his cup. They walked up the stairs, and Nan quietly stepped over the squeaky floorboard.
"Goodnight Cade." She whispered.
"Goodnight Nan."
Part 5 -
"Time to get up boys." Jo called from door to door until she got to the end of the hall, then she opened the door, and called, "time to get up ladies."
Nan groaned and pilled the covers up over her head. "It's too early to get up," she muttered.
"Get up Nan, or you'll be late." Bess said with a smile. It wasn't unusual that Nan would try to go back to sleep.
Nan groaned again and tried to block out all sound. Suddenly she felt herself falling and hit the ground with a loud "thump."
She sat up quickly and glared at the laughing Bess, who threw a brush at her.
"You'd better hurry."
"We'd like to welcome Cade who will be joining us for a few weeks, as you all know." Franz watched his class who seemed to have other things on their minds. Dan, Nat, and Emil sat glaring at Cade, Bess was watching them glare, and strangely enough Nan and Cade looked like they were about to fall asleep. This was going to be a long day . . .
"How was your first day of school Cade?" Jo walked into the room where Cade stood looking out the window at the kids playing football.
He turned around and smiled at her. "Boring, but most school is for me."
"Did you learn anything?"
"I guess." He replied then glanced out the window again.
"Why don't you go play with them?"
"They don't want me too."
"Well, I want to play, and it won't be fair teams unless you do." Jo headed for the door then watched him expectantly.
Cade sighed, but followed her out the door.
"Got room for two more players?" Jo called during a pause in the game.
"Always room for more players Jo." Nick replied.
"Who's on what team?"
"It's me, Nat, and Nick, against Dan, Nan, and Tommy." Emil said. "I guess that means, Cade you're with us."
Jo smiled and pushed him towards the team and walked over to hers.
It turned out that Jo was facing Nick, Dan was facing Nat, Tommy was facing Emil, and Nan was facing Cade, with Bess cheering in the background.
"You'd better go iron that quilt Nan, I'm not going down without a fight." Cade muttered.
"Already done," she smirked thinking about the quilt that she had just finished.
The game started with Emil handing the ball to Nick. Everybody was running and Nat was left open as Dan ran to help Jo tackle Nick.
Right before he went down Nick tossed the ball to Nat, who caught it easily. Realizing that she was the only one close enough, Nan gave up holding on to Cade and ran for him.
Nat was running, and dodging, with Nan right behind him, when he realized he wouldn't make it all the way. He looked around, but the only person open was Cade.
With no other alternative, Nat threw the ball as Nan tackled him to the ground. She got up and ran for Cade but it was too late. He ran across the line, scoring the winning touch-down for his team.
"Yes! We won!" Emil shouted in triumph.
Nan fell to her knees to catch her breath. He was fast!
"You ran really fast today Cade. Where'd you learn to do that?" Emil smiled.
"School. We have to run around the whole school 6 times everyday. After a while you get used to running."
"I could run that fast." Dan muttered.
Not wanting to cause a fight, Cade smiled politely, and said, "you probably could."
"How about a race after dinner, to see who's better?"
"Dan, I . . ." Nan began to speak but Cade cut her off.
"Sure."
Part 6 -
All of Plumfield had come out for the race. Everyone was curious as to who would win.
"On your marks," Jo called, "get set, GO!"
The way they had set up the race was, the boys would run around the barn and the house, down to the gate and back again.
Cade fell back at the start so he could watch Dan. Dan was running hard, determined to prove that he was better. Then Dan slipped on a pile of loose rocks and Cade had to jump over him.
He looked back once, to make sure that Dan was okay, but after seeing that he was, continued running.
Dan jumped up off the ground and increased his speed. Cade could hear how determined he was by the way he was running.
Then he got to thinking, "if I lose, maybe Dan won't hate me so much.'
So he started to slow down and let Dan pass him. He pretended that he was getting tired so that nobody would question him after the race.
They ran around the last corner and everyone began cheering. Dan crossed the finish line first, and collapsed from exhaustion.
"I . . did . . it!" He said happily.
Cade smiled graciously, "good job Dan."
Dan looked up at him. "Thanks Cade."
Later that night, Cade was alone in the kitchen putting a bandage on a small cut he had recieved on his leg.
"Let me help you with that." Nan said walking into the room.
"The doctor is here." Cade joked.
Nan smiled, and grabbed the bandage from him. "Why'd you let him win?"
He looked up in surprise. "What?"
"You heard me. You let Dan win, and I want to know why."
"Who said I let him win? He could have beaten me." Cade retorted.
"Right. That's why Dan collapsed at the end and you were just fine."
He avoided looking at her until she accidentally hit the cut while reaching for the bandage she had set beside her.
"Ow!"
"Oh, sorry." She put the bandage on it tightly. "Is that too tight?"
"It's fine."
She finished and just sat watching him.
"What?"
"You know what I want."
He sighed, "you saw how happy he was after he had won. I guess it was my way of apologizing for what happened during the race."
"That won't work for Nat." She observed quietly.
"I know that Nan. But, I don't know what to do."
She didn't have a reply, so they just sat, thinking.
Part 7 -
The next two weeks went by almost in a daze. Slowly, Cade was beginning to fell accepted by everyone except Nat.
Nat was still as bitter as he was when Cade had arrived, now perhaps even a little more since all of his friends were accepting Cade. "It isn't fair," he muttered.
"What isn't fair?" Nan asked from behind him.
"Everything."
She sat next to him dangling her legs over the edge of the loft. "I assume you're talking about Cade."
He sighed. "What else would I be talking about? I can't believe you two are friends now."
"Why is that so hard to believe?" Nan felt herself becoming upset.
"You know what he did last winter!"
"Yes, I do Nat. But I also know that it happened almost a year ago, and that Cade is sorry."
"Sure he is. At least until he goes back to his school." Nat muttered.
"Nat!"
"Or when one of his buddies comes along and they . . ."
"Forget it! I'm leaving!" Nan got up and climbed down the ladder.
"Nan wait!" Nat called down to her.
She looked up. "What?"
He smiled. "Let's go swimming."
Smiling back she motioned for him to come down. "Well, hurry up!"
"Mrs Jo. Can Nat and I go swimming?"
"Are your chores done?"
"Yeah."
"Be back in time for dinner." Jo smiled at Nan.
"Thanks Mrs. Jo." She ran from the room.
"Have fun!" She called.
"So you gonna jump today?" Nan asked as they stood on the bridge looking at the water.
"Sure. But you first."
"Okay." She turned and ducked under the post of the bridge. "Here I go."
Nat watched as she jumped into the water and resurfaced right below him. "It's cold." She called up to him.
He ducked under the same post, and after she moved away from under him, he jumped.
"It was just a fight Nat." Nan said as they sat talking with their feet in the water.
"I was humiliated!"
"It's not like the story went around town. Even Mr. McBride hadn't heard about it, and you know how he makes Plumfield top priority."
"But I lost Nan. I started it, and I lost!"
"It was your first fist fight. What did you expect instant strength? A knowledge of fighting like Nick has? It took him years to get that knowledge Nat, and I'll bet that he lost his first fight too."
"I hate it Nan! I hate not knowing what to say and I hate how people have to stand up for me!"
‘The only reason we do, is because . . ."
Nat cut her off." Because I can't do it myself."
"No! Because we care about you Nat! Mrs. Jo, Nick, Dan, Bess, Emil, Everyone cares about you. We're a family now, and like it or not, you're a part of our family; and by being a family that means we stick up for each other. We don't do it because you can't do it yourself. We do it because we care."
"The Plumfield family," Nat murmured.
"Exactly." It was then that Nan noticed that the sun was setting. "We'd better get back or Mrs. Jo will be mad."
He looked at the sky and his eyes got big. "We've been out here all afternoon?"
"It's about time we did that." Nan grinned.
They got back to Plumfield right as Mrs. Jo was calling everyone to dinner.
"Give him a chance Nat." Nan whispered before she ran to wash her hands and quickly brush her hair.
Nat watched her run off, and sighed. ‘One chance. That's all he's getting.'
Part 8 -
"Hey Nat, you want to play football with us?" Dan called to his friend.
"Sure. Who's on what teams?" Nat ran over to join them.,p>
"So far it's Nick, Rob, and I, against Emil, Nan, and Cade."
Nat opened his mouth to say he wanted to be on Nick's team as soon as Dan had said that Cade was on the other team, but a look from Nan made him hesitate. "Uh, . . . I'll be on Nan's team."
Nan smiled and motioned for him to join them as Tommy ran up to be on Nick's team.
Dan looked at Nat in disbelief. He was going to be on Cade's team?
"We have one play left. What are we going to do?" Nan asked no one in particular, as she was trying to catch her breath after tackling Dan and getting the ball back.
Nat thought for a minute then looked around the group. "Okay, Emil you pass the ball to me. Nan you and Cade take off running towards the goal. I'm going to suppose that Dan will be after me, and Nick will be with whoever has the ball. That means that for the most part you two will be open. When they see that I'm about to pass the ball, they'll think that I'm going to pass it to Nan, and they'll run for her. But I won't. I'll pass the ball to Cade, who will score the touch-down."
"Me?" Cade looked at him in surprise.
Nat grinned and stuck out his hand. "Friends?"
"Friends." Cade smiled back and shook Nat's hand.
The other team, Jo, and Bess smiled as they watched the exchange between Nat and Cade.
"Finally." Jo whispered.
"Hut, Hike!" Nat grabbed the ball from Emil and watched as Nan, Cade, and Emil took off running.
"Cade!" Nat yelled as he threw the ball then he started to run.
Cade ran for the goal, but he soon realized he wouldn't make it because Nick was right behind him and getting ready to tackle him. "Nan," he called and threw it back to her.
Nan ran as hard as she could, but Dan caught up to her and tackled her to the ground.
"I won!" Rob smiled and ran to Jo. "Did you see me? I won mommy!"
She smiled and gave him a hug. "Good job Rob."
Nan picked herself up off the ground and walked over to where the rest of her team was standing. "Well, . . . it was a good try."
"We almost did it." Nat said smiling. "Nice try holding Nick back Emil."
Cade took a deep breath. "We'll get them next time."
The next day Jo received a letter saying that Cade was going to be picked up that afternoon. "Your school opens tomorrow Cade."
Cade looked a little sad, but he nodded and went upstairs to pack.
"You really have to leave?"
"I was only here until my school was rebuilt Dan. It's done, so I'm going back." Cade shut the last bag with a snap and put it by his other one.
"We'll miss you." Nat tried to smile.
Cade nodded.
"Cade? Your carriage is here." Jo called from the bottom of the stairs.
Grabbing his two suitcases, Cade headed for the stairs with Dan and Nat following.
Jo waited for him on the porch and smiled when he came out the door. "If your school ever burns down again, you be sure to come back."
"I will." He gave her a quick hug and stepped towards the carriage. He looked around, but Nan was nowhere in sight.
"Boys, where is Nan?" Jo turned to Dan and Nat who shrugged.
The driver too the bags from Cade then opened the door. Cade stepped up to get inside.
"Wait!" Nan came running around the house carrying a large box.
Cade watched as she ran up to him.
"Here," she gasped as she handed him the box.
"What is it?" He asked inspecting it.
"Don't open in until you've left."
He smiled, "okay."
She gave him a quick hug then watched as he got in and they started down the path.
Jo, Dan, and Nat came over to where she was standing and they all waved goodbye.
"What did you give him Nan?" Nat asked.
She smiled, "just something that Mrs. Jo and I made."
Cade waited impatiently until the carriage had left the grounds then he pulled the note off the box and quickly opened it.
Inside was a large quilt folded tightly so that it would fit.
He took it out and with a grin, pulled it over his head.
*****
*****
*****
*****
* * * * *
*****
*****
*****
*****
*****
Cade,
I told you I was going to do this,
but I'll need a little help.
Nan
He stared at the note in confusion, then slowly opened the box.
The End!!!
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