Part Two

Dan, Bess, Nat, Franz, and Jack were having no success in finding Nan and had stopped and lit a fire.  Dan, who had made a spear, had caught a deer and they were now cooking it over the fire.
      "I think we should stop for the night," Franz said thoughtfully, looking up at the now starry sky.
      "Yeah, me too," Dan said, realizing the chances of them finding anything in the dark, much less Nan.  So they decided to spend the night where they were, much to Bess’s objection, who thought about how dirty sleeping on the GROUND would make her dress.  So they settled down to sleep on full stomachs, after, of course, they had gathered pine branches and covered them with leaves and grass.  Bess got her own bed but Nat bunked with Jack (much to his objection) and Dan shared with Franz (also to HIS objection).

Asia was getting the kitchen clean before bed and was finishing the dishes.  She looked out the window.  To her surprise, when she looked up she saw Nick with Jo cradled in his arms.  Jo had one arm around Nick’s neck—the other was tightly gripped by Nan.  Asia ran to greet them, knowing something was wrong, as she couldn’t see any other children.
      "Emil and Rob got in a few minutes ago.  They’re in bed already.  They said Nan was lost, but I guess it’s the others we have to worry about."
      Soon Jo was in bed; the doctor had tended to her and left.  Nan was in bed, as well as Emil and Rob.
      "Knock, knock," Nick said, coming to the door and waiting to be invited in.  He had not yet changed out of his torn clothes.
      "Come in, Nick," Jo said, sitting up a little more.  "Are Dan and the others back yet?" Jo asked.
      "No, but they’ll be fine.  I’ll go get them in the morning," he said, coming and sitting on the corner of the bed. He gave her a concerned look.
      "Warm enough?" he asked.
      "Yes, thank you," Jo said.  "Do you really think the children will be all right?" Jo asked.
      "Yeah, sure," he said as he went and put another log on the fire and returned to Jo’s side.  "Dan’s smart with the outdoors, Franz is just plain smart—they’ll be fine," he reassured her.  "Well, good night.  Get some rest, you hear?" he said, giving her a small kiss on the cheek and getting up to walk to the door.
      "Nick," Jo said.
      "Yes," he said, turning around.
      "Thank you," Jo said, not being able to say any more.
      "You’re welcome, Jo," he said, turned around, and walked out, closing the door behind him.
      Jo smiled and lied down and went to sleep.  She knew the children would be fine, and she knew, thanks to Nick, she would too—he had saved her twice that day.

Meanwhile, in the forest, all was not peaceful.
      "Move over, you bed hog," Dan said cruelly as he gave Franz the biggest shove he could muster.
      "You’re the one hogging the bed, dummy," Franz replied, trying his hardest to stay where he was, but failing and falling off the little bed, taking part of it with him.
      "Stop fighting," Nat said from the other bed.  "Let’s get some sleep."
      "Oh shut your trap and let them fight," Jack hissed in Nat’s ear as he gave Nat a rude shove and mocked his voice with a whiny nature added.
      "Hey!" Dan yelled, "lay off him, Jack" as he jumped to his feet and stormed over in a huff.  Just as Dan was about to pound Jack, Franz jumped on him from behind. Surprised, Dan was knocked flat.  The commotion woke Bess, who jumped to her feet just in time because Dan threw Franz off, and Franz landed right on Bess’s bed.  Dan was now pulling Jack to his feet.  He planted a punch right in the middle of Jack’s face.
      "MY NOSE!" Jack shouted.  "He broke my nose!" And he fell to the ground.  Franz got up and charged Dan but Nat jumped in front and was knocked flat.  Angered by this, Dan hoisted Franz to his feet and socked him in the jaw.  Franz fell over.  His hand grazed the hot coals and he let out a terrifying yelp.  This ceased the fighting.  Bess ran over to Franz and looked at his hand.  She turned away at the site of it, wishing Nan were there.  Jack and Dan didn’t know what to do, but Nat, having watched Nan many times, made Franz stick his hand in a cool nearby brook.  Then he bound it with a wet piece of Bess’s dress he had begged off of her.  After that they managed to get back to sleep, though Franz constantly got up to wet the bandage.
      Morning came, but none of them woke early because of the tussle they’d had.  They didn’t hear the crunching branches as something approached.  Dan woke suddenly and jumped to his feet, ready to fight whatever was upon them.
      "Hey, Dan, rough night," Nick said, smiling from atop his horse.  The others awoke at the sound of Nick’s voice.
      "Nick, you’ve got to help us—Nan is lost," Dan said, letting down his guard now that Nick had arrived.
      "No, you’re lost.  Nan’s at home with Ms. Jo, who happens to have a broken leg." Nick said, dismounting.
      "Nan’s okay!" Nat shouted happily.  "And so are we—sort of, anyways," he said, tenderly touching his bruised knee.
      "Looks like you had quite a spat out here.  Ms. Jo ain’t gonna be pleased," Nick said.  "Well, lets go," he said, mounting his horse and beginning to ride away.
      "What about us?" called Franz after Nick.  "We don’t have anything to ride."
      "Walk," called Nick.  "Consider it punishment," he finished.  Everyone groaned.

Jo had managed to pull herself out of bed and into a chair by the window.  She saw Nick and the boys and Bess come over a hill, headed home.  As they drew near she saw their condition.
      "What in the world!" she exclaimed to herself.  Before she knew it, Nick was at the door knocking.
      "Come in," Jo said, pulling a blanket over her lap.  Nick entered rather shyly, considering his personality.
      "The boys are washin’ up" he said.  "Jo, I got ta get somethin’ off my chest.  Yesterday, what happened, I felt something I can’t really explain, you know?"  He seemed to change his mind.  "I don’t know, never mind—maybe I should just forget it."
      "Nick, wait—I felt something too and that scared me, then," Jo began.  "I don’t know if that’s good or bad right now, but I have a good feeling and I don’t think you should be shy about it.  If we’re going to find out what we felt or feel we have to talk."  She paused, not sure whether to go on or not.
      "I know, Jo—I just never felt like this.  I guess it’s just new for me," Nick said, pausing to think.  "I mean, a refined lady like you and a rough old sailor.  I don’t know, Jo—can that work?" he said, running both his hands through his hair.
      "Nick, I loved my husband because he was him, and I think that’s why I might love you . . . because . . . you’ve always just been Nick Riley and never anyone else."  Jo struggled to say it but finally got out what she wanted to say.
      Just then there was a knock at the door.
      "Come in," Jo said.  The door opened and Jack, Dan, Nat, and Franz entered.  They were all ashamed—you could tell by the look on their faces.
      "Ms. Jo, Nick said you might want to talk to us," Franz said, gesturing to himself and the rest of the boys.
      "Yes, you might say that," Jo said.  "I’m especially ashamed with you, Franz.  You usually show better judgment," Jo said.  Franz hung his head in shame and was easily dismayed from acting like that again.
      "And the rest of you—I thought I made it clear that no fighting would be tolerated."  She looked up at them.  "I thought you would show better judgment."
      "Ms. Jo is right.  You boys acted rashly and without considering Ms. Jo," Nick said, speaking up.
      "We’re sorry, Ms. Jo."  Dan said, "We’ll never do it again," thinking this would be the easy way out.
      "You are forgiven," Jo said.  The children started to file out of the room.  "Wait. . . . I still think you should be punished.  For the next week you four will do all the Plumfield chores—do you understand?" Jo asked, placing her hands on her hips.
      "Yes, Ms. Jo," they all said and walked from the room.  Jo looked at Nick, surprised to see him looking back at her.  They knew everything would be okay.  It had to be.  Jo reached her hand out and Nick took it.
      Jo sat there later that night and thought.
      Everything between her and Nick would work out in time.  It had to—she knew it did—and with all her heart she only hoped it could happen soon.

THE END