Hi everyone...I just wanted to let those of you who are waiting for an update on "Waiting for the Sun to Shine," know that there will be one soon. I had a brainstorm last night about this one, so I thought I'd throw the intro out and see what everyone thought.

CodeRed05

Feels Like Home

Prelude...

Mid-September, 1879

Albuquerque, New Mexico

"Gabi!" Ten year old Chelsea Bolton called from her seat at the kitchen table of her family's cabin, "Would you help me with this?" Gabriella Montez smiled as she set the plate she had been drying on the counter. She hadn't been called by her given name since she had arrived.

"Chelsea," Mrs. Bolton scolded, coming into house "do not be bothering Gabi. She isn't to be your personal tutor." It was late on a Friday afternoon and she had just returned from town.

"Oh I don't mind, really Aunt Kay," Gabriella replied. Mrs. Bolton had once told her to call her 'Aunt Kay please...Mrs. Bolton makes me feel so old.' "It's nice to look at school books once in a while. It reminds me of when my mother used to help me..." She took a seat next to the young girl. "Which one?" She asked, looking at Chelsea's open math book. The little girl pointed to the problem. "You just forgot to carry this negative..." the eighteen year old Gabriella pointed out where Chelsea had gone wrong.

"Thank you," Chelsea bent her head over the book and continued to plow through her problems. Gabriella smiled; it was good to be needed. She was glad she had come to work for Mrs. Bolton.

In early spring of that year, Gabriella's mother had died, leaving her alone with her younger sister, Mariana, who was ten. Her father died years before that, in the midst of a range war. Gabriella had no one to turn to for help. The village they were living in was run down so she packed up their belongings onto the family's old, gray gelding. The two set out for Albuquerque. Once there, she read an advert for a household assistant. That's where she found Mrs. Bolton.

Kay Bolton was the epitome of "high society" in Albuquerque. If she weren't at the very top she was awfully close. Her husband was the most highly regarded doctor in town and Kay prided herself in assisting him in his practice whenever she could. This meant that caring for their seven children was most difficult. The task was lightened slightly because their eldest son was away, working, for the time being. Other than Troy, whom Gabriella had yet to meet, there was six year old Catherine, the fifteen year old twins Emily and Eddie, Chelsea, and a set of three year old twins named Addison and Adeline.

Yes, Kay Bolton needed some help around the house. Gabriella had been hired on the spot. Mr. Bolton, or Uncle John, as he told Gabriella to call him, had immediately fixed up the guest room so that she and Mariana could move in. Uncle John kept a few head of cattle and a small heard of horses so the family still lived a little ways out of town. That way there was plenty of room for everyone. Gabriella was glad for the extra space. Between the Bolton children and Mariana things were pretty crowded.

It had been almost three months, now, that Gabi had been with the Bolton's and she loved every minute of it. Each morning she helped Aunt Kay get the younger Bolton's and Mariana off to school. Then they would cook, and clean for the rest of the morning. In the afternoon, when Aunt Kay went to help Uncle John with his practice, Gabi worked in the garden. Sometimes Gabi would go into town to run errands or pick up the children from school.

"Hello in there!" Gabi heard Mr. Bolton call from outside, "Come on out everyone..." Mrs. Bolton and Gabriella exchanged silent looks. Something big must be happening.

"Will you go upstairs and get the other children, Gabi? I'll go on out with Chelsea." Gabriella nodded and darted for the stairs, calling for the kids as she climbed. Finally, after the entire family, plus Gabi and Mariana, was gathered around the wagon, Mr. Bolton spoke.

"I've got great news for everyone," his smile widened as he unfolded the letter he had been holding by his side. "Mom, Dad, and everyone else, I'm just leaving Tennessee. I learned so much from Mr. Tipton that I don't think I'll ever be able to tell you about it all...it would take far too much time. In any case, I'm writing to let you know that I should be home around September 15. I will see you all soon. Troy." The peaceful afternoon suddenly erupted in a chorus of shrieks and hoorays. The long awaited big brother was returning. After a few moments of celebration Mrs. Bolton called for silence.

"Hold on everyone!" She called. "Today is September fifteenth." Momentary silence followed. This had not been anticipated. "We need to get moving. Now!"

"Eddie, go start moving things around in your room," his father ordered, pointing to the house. Eddie was off like a flash.

"Emily, go get some clean sheets," Mrs. Bolton quickly added.

"What can we do Mother?" Chelsea asked, Catherine and Mariana by her side.

"Well," Mrs. Bolton stalled, "Why don't you girls take Adeline and Addison and go walking ...pick some flowers maybe?" She paused. "It would help me out a lot if you could keep them from being underfoot." The three girls nodded solemnly. Chelsea and Catherine each grabbed a twin hand and headed off toward the field, Mariana following closely behind.

"I'm going to go put the team away," Mr. Bolton called, "and then I'll help Eddie move Troy's bed down from the loft." He walked off towards the barn. Mrs. Bolton was beginning to look stressed.

"Gabi, I'll need some help in the kitchen." Gabi nodded, "After that will you help Emily with the linens?"

"Yes, I can do that," Gabi followed her into the house. It was going to be a long day...