The next few weeks passed very slowly for the Pontipee family. The boys missed the sweet girls they had met very much. They were looking forward to seeing them at the town fair soon. But they still missed them and threw themselves into their work to distract themselves from the pain.

Milly worried about her brothers. She knew that they were sweet on the girls but they seemed depressed, Ephraim especially. He was talking even less than normal. It was a little scary.

But at long last, the day of the fair arrived. It was like someone had flipped a switch in the boys. They were running around happily, getting ready, and causing mischief. Best of all, Ephraim was being just as loud as his brothers.

Eventually, they were all dressed in their best clothes, with freshly shaven faces, and clean nails. Milly was very proud of how far they had come.

Soon the family wagon pulled into the town square where the fair was being held. The brothers got out happily. Adam helped Milly down as well.

Ephraim was looking around in awe, there were so many people. Suddenly a green blur ran past him and into Frank's arms. Ephraim turned to see Frank hugging Sarah tightly. He smiled and saw Benjamin and Caleb slip away to go find their girls. He waved goodbye to Milly and did the same.

He walked through the square looking for Liza or her parents. He eventually spotted Liza in a green and purple sundress standing between two young men chatting happily. Ephraim felt his heart sink a little, he knew Zeke, Henry, and John were also Liza's suitors but he didn't know these two. A happy voice broke him from his thoughts,

"Ephraim!" Liza called before rushing over to hug him. Ephraim grinned and hugged the girl, "I missed you." She whispered to him.

The two young men followed her over, both smiling. "So you're the guy my little sister won't shut up about." One of them said sticking his hand out.

Ephraim smiled, noticing Liza blush, "That would be me. Name's Ephraim Pontipee." He gave the man a strong handshake.

"William May, this is my little brother Charles." The young man said, he was very tall, with dirty blond hair and green eyes. He looked a lot like Liza. He was 25 and a doctor in town.

"Our sister really likes you," Charles said throwing an arm around Liza. He was the odd sibling out, at least looks wise. His hair was darker and he had blue eyes. He was 21 and he worked as a police officer for the next town over where he lived with his wife Jessica.

Ephraim smiled, "The feeling is definitely mutual." He said smiling at the beautiful girl in front of him. She looked so incredible and he had missed her so much.

The two brothers smiled. Liza was very important to them, they didn't like any of her other suitors but so far, they liked this guy.

Charles suddenly shoved Liza and yelled loudly, "LAST ONE TO THE POPCORN STAND HAS TO EAT A LIVE FISH!" He took off running.

Liza just glared and hiked up her skirts running after him, yelling as well, "No fair! Cheater!" She soon disappeared after her brother into the crowd leaving Ephraim and Will behind.

Ephraim just looked shocked, he couldn't move. This was a different side to the sweet girl, and it was a little intimidating.

Will just laughed, "Ignore that. Charlie and Liza have always been like that. She once had to jump into the lake outside of town in the middle of February."

Ephraim just chuckled, "Somehow, that isn't that shocking to me. She is very spunky and I bet too stubborn to turn a challenge down, "

Will just laughed, "That is very true. Come on, we should go save Char"

The two young men set off across the fair. They talked about Ephraim's family and their farm. Will told Ephraim about Liza and the May family. Will soon found himself laughing and having a blast with Ephraim. He would be totally fine with him courting his sister.

They soon found the younger May siblings. Charles was holding a live fish in his hands, looking disgusted, while Liza laughed loudly.

Will clapped his brother on the back while Ephraim slipped an arm around Liza. "So I'm guessing you won Liza?" Will said with a grin.

"Only cause she cheated," Charles mumbled.

"We never set any rules," Liza said shrugging

"You set a goose on me!" He exclaimed glaring at her

"Elizabeth Rose May!" A voice exclaimed

The four young people turned to find Mrs. May standing there looking horrified "Did you race your brother?"

Liza just shrugged. "It was his idea. I wasn't about to eat a live fish." She said defending herself.

Mrs. May then turned to her son, "You were gonna make her eat a live fish?" She said looking rather done

"Would you rather I made her jump off the roof again?" Charles said with a grin

Mrs. May just sighed and looked at Ephraim, "Hello Ephraim, sorry about these three"

"That's perfectly alright Mrs. May." Ephraim said above William's protests of "Hey! what did I do?" Ephraim actually loved Liza's family. Her brothers reminded him of his own idiot brothers.

After meeting Liza's brothers, Ephraim decided to introduce her to his brothers. They walked around a did something different with each of his brothers and occasionally their girls.

First, they found Daniel by one of the street performers. He was with Martha's father and they were laughing about something, probably one of Dan's dumb jokes. Ephraim happily introduced his twin to his lover.

"So you're the famous Liza? I'm Dan, the better-looking twin." Dan had said with a wink. Ephraim just smiled and rolled his eyes.

It only took Dan a few minutes to see how taken his brother was with this girl. He was talking so much and always grinning at her. Dan also saw how sweet and kind she was.

After talking to Dan, Ephraim and Liza found Sarah and Frank sitting under a tree together. Sarah was braiding flowers into his hair, but Frank didn't seem to mind. Liza and Sarah were best friends and had spent a lot of time talking about the Pontipee boys, Sarah immediately launched a million questions at Ephraim while Liza began to cheerful talk to Frank.

Liza was listening to Frank talk about Ephraim's dog back at the farm when she noticed how tense Ephraim was. She frowned, Sarah was usually super quiet and sweet but she was talking very loudly and quickly.

"Hey look! Ice cream." She cried suddenly grabbing Ephraim's hand and pulling him away. "Bye guys!" She called over her shoulder.

She quickly pulled him behind the church, "Are you alright?" She whispered gently cupping his cheek

Ephraim smiled at her, "I am now. " He pulled her close and buried his face in her hair. Liza hugged him tightly.

Suddenly she heard giggling and her dear friend Alice pulled a young red-haired boy behind the church.

Ephraim looked up and frowned. "Gideon?" He exclaimed. Liza looked at the young boy, this must be another brother.

"E-Ephraim! We were just- going to..." The young boy trailed off turning bright red.

Liza just chuckled and made herself visible to her friend, "Hi Alice." The young girl just squeaked and turned even redder.

Ephraim and Liza just exchanged amused looks. The younger two were so nervous they didn't even think about the fact that they had caught the older two holding each other.

Ephraim smiled, "Gid, this is Liza. And you must be Alice." He said smiling. The younger girl just smiled weakly as Gideon scratched his head nervously

"We'll let you two get back to it," Liza said with a wink as she pulled her lover away from the blushing teens.

As soon as they were in front of the church they burst out laughing. "Did you see how red they were?" Liza exclaimed giggling

"They were so scared!" Ephraim said holding his stomach.

They were so busy laughing together that they didn't notice Mr. May walk by with a smile, or Zeke glare at them, or even the two figures sneaking up on them.

Suddenly, Benjamin jumped onto Ephraim's back. "What's so funny?" Liza almost screamed before Dorcas hugged her.

"Ben! Get off!' Ephraim exclaimed struggling against his older brother. Ben jumped down and chuckled.

Dorcas smiled, "Which brother are you?" She asked sweetly,

"Ephraim. And you must be Dorcas?" He asked rubbing his shoulder in pain,

"In the flesh." She said with a grin, before that grin fell, "Gotta run." She slipped away quickly, Ben following her silently.

A blur ran after them, Liza suddenly gasped, "Crap." Ephraim frowned following her gaze.

"What's wrong?" He asked putting a hand on her shoulder

'That's Nathan. Dorcas's fiancee." Liza said watching him chase Ben and Dorcas.

"She's engaged?" Ephraim said raising his eyebrows.

"Yeah. Did Ben not say?" Liza asked looking back at him

"Ben isn't really a talker," Ephraim explained

Liza then giggled, "You are one to talk Mr. Pontipee. According to Frank, you never talk unless you are around me."

Ephraim just smiled and hugged her. "I still have two more brothers for you to meet." He said changing the subject

They quickly went and found Caleb and Ruth by the ice cream stand. Ephraim bought himself and Liza each a cone before they stood around and talked. Caleb and Liza got along very well. They were both pretty sassy and had a great argument about chocolate ice cream before Ruth dragged Caleb off to go find her sister.

Finally, Ephraim led her over to the Sander's Resturant where Adam and Milly were sitting in the shade talking.

"Hey Adam, Milly," Ephraim called. They both looked and smiled at the couple.

"Hey, Eph. Who is this?" Adam asked standing up,

Liza subconsciously leaned into Ephraim, this man was a little scary. She knew that he was Milly's husband and Ephraim's brother but there was something off about him. She also didn't like how he was looking at her like she was a piece of meat.

Ephraim smiled, not noticing her distress, "This is the women I am courting, Liza May. Liza this is my eldest brother Adam."

'Pleased to meet you." Liza forced herself to say.

Milly then got up and gave Liza a hug. Liza smiled and hugged her back, she had missed Milly so much.

Ephraim smiled at them, he then was struck by a thought, how much he wanted Liza in his family. He knew he wanted to marry this girl.

A little while later, Ephraim and Liza were talking with Martha and her suitor Jeb when Ephraim made an excuse of having to talk to Ben and slipped away.

He began walking down past the vendors selling all sorts of things. He suddenly saw what he was looking for, a jeweler. He looked through what they had and then he saw it.

A gold ring with a green gem on it. It was perfect. He looked at the price and smiled, he had just enough money saved up to buy. He quickly purchased it and hurried back to his lover.

The rest of the fair passed without incident, Liza and Ephraim shared their first kiss as fireworks went off over the hilltops. Ben avoided getting killed by Nathan. Caleb and Ruth got to eat, so they were happy. Frank and Sarah officially started courting with the permission of Mr. Kine. Gideon and Alice did get caught kissing behind the church but it was only by Adam so they were fine. Martha and Daniel still weren't getting along, even though her suitors even liked him.

As the evening winded down, Ephraim pulled Sarah aside and asked her for a favor. She happily agreed and soon the Pontipee's said goodbye and left.

A few weeks later, Ephraim founded himself knocking on the front door of the May's house in the middle of town. He had ridden in to see, not Liza, but her father, mother, and brothers. He had actually made sure Liza wouldn't be there, thanks to Sarah.

He was soon sat in front of four members of the May family, he had even sent a letter to Charles to get him there that day.

He took a deep breath and began the speech that he had prepared, "Look. I know I haven't known Liza long and she hasn't known me very long either. But I love her. She is so special, she is smart, kind, funny, and just all around amazing. I honestly can't imagine not being with her. I do want to marry her, but I can not and will not do so without each and every one of your's permission, including Liza."

William just grinned, "Man I knew it. How could I not give you my permission? You make my sister so happy."

Charles chuckled, "Dude even if I said know she would still do it. Even so, I say yes. "

"Of course you can!" Mrs. May said hugging him.

Ephraim hugged her back and then turned to the one he saw most nervous about, Mr. May.

Mr. May was studying him closely, "I got to say. I don't want Liza to get married. Never the less if she doesn't marry you it will just be someone else, and I like you. You treat her well, continue to do so alright?"

"Yes, sir! Thank you all." Ephraim said grinning and shaking each of their hands. They stayed and talked for a few minutes, before saying goodbye, "I was never here!" He called over his shoulder as he mounted his horse. Will nodded and waved goodbye for shutting the door.

Ephraim rode out of town with a grin on his face, unaware of Zeke Johnson's hateful eyes watching him and vowing to kill him before he got a chance to marry Liza May.