Caleb came back to town in the middle of the night, took Rabbit to the livery, and then walked home, vowing to work on the barn as soon as possible so his horse could be close.
He sighed when he finally saw his house. It wasn't the house itself but who was in it that caused his stomach to do flip flops. His children, the loves of his life, his beautiful Amy, his father and his brother, all in there waiting for him to return. He needed them after what had happened the week before.
He walked in, grateful the door didn't squeak. He took off his boots, unbuttoned his uniform jacket, hanging it by the door. He walked to the bathroom and washed up and then made his way to his and Amy's bedroom. He removed the rest of his uniform and slipped in behind his wife, wrapping his arms around her still flat tummy.
"Caleb?" She turned and tried to focus. "You're home?"
"Yeah. I missed you, Ames." She wrapped her arms around him and sunk into his embrace, their lips finding each other.
A few hours later, Amy heard their door open. "Mama?" Meri walked over, as she did every morning.
"Hi, big girl. Guess what? Daddy's home."
"Dada? Dada home?" Meri ran out of the room, presumably to tell everyone else.
Amy picked up her nightgown, slipping it over her head and then put Caleb's long johns next to him. "Caleb, put these on." He moaned and rolled over. "Caleb, wake up." He opened his eyes and smiled.
"Morning, babe."
"Caleb, put your clothes on. Everyone will be in here any second." He quickly slipped his pants on under the covers just as the kids ran in yelling.
"Dada!" Caleb smiled and helped them all onto the bed.
"Hi, guys! I missed you." Amy laughed as she watched him being smothered with kisses by all three of them.
LATER THAT MORNING
Jack noticed his son was struggling with something. He figured somewhere along the way something had happened to change him. "Caleb? You ok?"
"Yeah. I'm fine."
"Did something happen when you were away?"
Caleb looked down at Mason, sleeping against his chest. "I can't really talk about it."
"Still an open case?"
"Its just hard...the assignment is finished but…Dad, I had to shoot someone."
"One of the robbers?"
"Yeah. He had his gun against the banker's head and I was watching him close. He was getting more and more agitated and I told him twice to lower his weapon. He wouldn't listen."
"Is he alive?"
"No." Caleb kissed Mason's forehead and wrapped his arms tighter around him.
"You did what you needed to do to save the banker. Sometimes you can't avoid it. Unfortunately it's part of the job."
"I keep wondering if maybe I could have done something different."
"Did you speak with your partners? Did they have any ideas?"
"No, they said I didn't have a choice. I don't know. I feel like a monster."
"You are not a monster. You are a peace officer. You are supposed to protect people. You did that and saved the banker's life."
In Caleb's head he felt as if he failed. He was trained to not use his weapon in just any circumstance. At all costs, he was to try to avoid bloodshed. Maybe he could have tried harder.
"Caleb, you need to remember that you didn't have a choice. You saved the man you were hired to save. You did your job."
TWO DAYS LATER
Elizabeth waited at the depot for the train to arrive. She had a rough week and she just wanted him home. He always knew how to make her feel better.
As the train pulled up, she stood and tried to catch a glimpse. When she saw Will she gasped. "William Thomas! Your hair! Your curls."
"Hi, Ma." She looked over his head, which was getting harder to do as tall as he was. Jack raised his eyebrows giving her an unspoken hint to have a more positive reaction.
"You look so grown up. Where's my little Will?"
"It's still me." He stepped forward and hugged her, surprising both of his parents.
"You're right and I wouldn't want it any other way. I missed you, Will."
"You did?" He seemed genuinely surprised.
"Of course. I always want my kids with me. I'm lost without them."
He hugged her again and kissed her cheek. "Love you. Is Drew fishing?"
"Yes, with Carrie."
He ran off leaving Jack and Elizabeth alone. "Finally," he said as he wrapped her in his arms.
"Jack, I got my monthly last week."
"Oh, babe. I'm sorry." He kissed her gently. "You ok?"
"Yeah. I am."
"We'll just keep trying, but you know what you always told Bug?"
"Stop worrying. It will happen when you're not focused on it."
"It worked. She focused on bringing Rachel home and she got pregnant."
She agreed. "It's always hardest to take your own advice," she admitted.
As they walked, she led him down the lane to the stream but stopped before getting to it. "What are we doing, Mrs. Thornton?" he teased.
"Just wanted to kiss my husband without anyone else around."
"Hmm. I like that idea." She smiled and then wrapped her arms around his neck.
"I missed you, love."
TWO WEEKS LATER
Em stood in her room, making sure she had everything she needed for her trip. She wished that she could pack her family up with her and take them too.
Carlie watched from the bed. "Car, you're the oldest in this room now. You get to sleep here," Em said pointing to her bed.
"I'd rather you stayed." Carlie may have been eleven but she knew she was pouting like her five year old sister Abbie.
"You need to act your age and be an example to Abbie and Kiki. They need you now."
"I need you!"
Em knelt down in front of her and hugged her. "I love you, Carlie. Don't forget."
"Love you too."
Everyone met at the train depot a bit later to say goodbye to Em.
Jack pulled her in for a hug, careful not to mess up her carefully done hair. "Bye Dad."
"Bye, Emmy. I love you."
"Love you too." He kissed her forehead and let her go. "See you at Christmas."
Maddie stepped forward after handing Rachel to Elizabeth. "Well, are you ready?"
"No, but I'll get there."
"I'm going to miss you," Maddie told her as she pulled her in for a hug.
"I love you," she said, her voice cracking. Gratefully, the train whistle blew and they heard the conductor say "All aboard!"
She kissed everyone again and then climbed on board, trying to be ready to start her new path in life, but not quite there.
She bit her lip as she watched her family slipping further away from her as the train left town. "I am strong. I can do this!" she told herself.
THE STREAM
Carrie sighed as she waited patiently for a fish to bite. Drew sat next to her on the log, looking every bit the adorable boy she had come to admire. His green eyes, like his father's, his dimples, like his father's, his curly hair, like his mother's. He was polite and quiet, but honest.
"I hope you don't cut your hair," she blurted.
He gave her a grin. "Why's that?"
"I like your curls." She more than liked them. She had been dreaming of the day when she could run her fingers through them and it wouldn't be considered inappropriate.
"You do?"
"Yeah. I do." She nudged him with her shoulder and blushed.
Gosh, she was pretty when she blushed. "Carrie?"
"Yes, Drew."
"We are having a barn dance in a few weeks at our place. Would you like to go? With me?"
"I would, very much."
"Good, I'm glad. My mom swears it's not for Will and my birthday but it's the same day, so I'm guessing it is." He didn't like to be the center of attention, so he prayed he was wrong.
"You know how to dance?" She stood up and offered her hand.
"Well, I've watched people dance. I've never actually done it."
"Let's try," she grinned and grabbed his fingers. He stood up and nervously watched as she grabbed his hand, placing it on her waist. "Now hold my hand here," she instructed.
"How can we dance if there is no music?" he wondered.
"Pretend." She smiled and then pulled him along. "See, not too hard."
"How did you learn?"
"My dad taught me." As they waltzed along the stream, he found himself loving the feel of her soft hand in his and her eyes were more blue than he remembered. When their pretend music ended, she smiled and then kissed his cheek, surprising both of them. "Thank you for the dance."
All of the sudden, the thought of kissing her soft pink lips occurred to him. He had no idea where it came from but it was there. "Drew?"
He shook his head and focused. "Yeah?"
"We should head back. It's almost time for lunch."
"Ok." They packed up their poles and started walking.
ON THE TRAIN
Em tried to read but she couldn't. Across the aisle from her were three loud children. They bickered constantly and their parents didn't seem to care.
"Who wants to play a game?" she asked loudly.
"Me! Me! I do!" they shouted.
"Ok, come over here." She began playing the geography game she had learned growing up with a teacher as a mother.
"This isn't a game!" the red haired boy yelled.
"Yes it is. I played it all the time when I was your age." She continued. "Ok, who knows where Colorado is?"
As they continued, not only was it less chaotic in their part of the train, but the children were learning something and she was teaching. It was a great experience.
When they got tired, two of the three children went back to their benches but the brown haired little girl about Abbie's age stayed. "What's your name?"
"Em. What's yours?"
"Caroline. Your name is M? Like the letter?"
"No, not exactly. My full name is Emma Claire Thornton. My mom used to call me Emmy when I was a baby and then once I grew up more, everyone called me Em."
"Oh. Where do you live?"
"In Harris Town."
"How come you're on a train?"
"I'm going to college to become a teacher like my mom and my grandma."
"Oh! That's why you played that game. That was very sneaky, Em."
"You're right, it was. It was fun though, wasn't it?"
"Yeah, I guess."
"Caroline, stop bothering her and come eat your lunch," a man Em assumed was the kid's father said.
"Oh, no bother, sir."
"Dad, can I eat lunch with Em? Please?"
"If she's sure its no bother."
"No sir. I'm lonely. I would really like to eat with Caroline."
"Ok, miss." He handed a sandwich to his daughter and nodded at Em.
THE BOYS ROOM
Kylie walked into the boys room and stared at Will. Will looked up from his book. "Hi, Kiki."
"Will, book?"
"You want me to read to you?"
"Ya, pease?"
He lifted her off the floor and she snuggled up to him and laid down. He smiled. Something that he normally would not have done, brought happiness to him now.
"Will, book?"
"Sorry." He opened the book she brought him, The Secret Garden. As he read, she fell asleep against him. He kept reading for awhile and then he switched and read his book instead.
About thirty minutes later, Elizabeth walked in looking for Kiki. She stopped and watched. "Want me to take her?"
"No, she's fine."
"Ok." Elizabeth smiled and walked out of the room.
"Did you find her?" Jack asked.
"Yeah, she's sleeping in the boys room on Will's bed."
"Really? Ok. It shouldn't surprise me. Logan loved him when we were there."
"Will has changed a lot." They walked downstairs to the porch and sat down.
"We finally talked about why he was acting out. He mostly felt left out and lost. He figured the only way to get our attention was to get in trouble."
"Are you serious?"
"Yeah. We need to make sure we spend time with him and make sure he knows we need him."
Elizabeth nodded and leaned her head on Jack's shoulder. "Honey, what's wrong?"
"I'm thinking that I failed him."
"That's a bit dramatic. He could have told us how he felt instead of picking fights. He has his own brain."
"I feel bad though. To know our son felt neglected, hurts."
"We can't go back in time. We can only make sure we pay attention to everyone."
Drew walked up and Elizabeth wiped her cheeks. "What's going on?"
"Drew! I love you!" She wrapped her arms around him and hugged.
"Ma! I can't…breathe…"
"Sorry, sweetie. You know that, right? That we love you?"
"Of course." Jack chuckled as he watched her.
"Jack, stop laughing. This is important. I don't want any of my kids to feel neglected."
"Sorry, babe, but you're overreacting."
"Ma, nobody would feel neglected with you two as parents. Love is what you're all about."
"It's true, Drew. I'm glad you feel that way."
He smiled and walked upstairs to his room.
THE BOYS ROOM
Drew sat down and stared into space. "What's up with you?" Will asked him quietly.
"Have you ever kissed a girl?"
"Only if you include Mom or Grandma," Will said with a chuckle. "Why?"
"Just curious." At times like this, Drew wished Caleb was around.
"Did you kiss Carrie?"
"No." Drew kicked off his shoes and laid down, staring at the ceiling.
"But you want to."
"Yeah." He really wanted to. She smelled so good.
"Just do it."
"It's not that easy, Will."
"It looks easy and it must be fun or Mom and Dad and Maddie and Nate and everyone else wouldn't do it so much."
Drew laughed and shook his head. "You're a dork."
"You could ask Dad."
"No, I couldn't. It's too embarrassing."
"How about Uncle Travis?"
THAT EVENING, MADDIE AND NATE'S HOUSE
Nate walked in the door and saw Maddie stirring something on the stove and sniffling. "Hey, babe. Bad day?"
"No, I'm fine." She smiled and stirred the soup again.
"You're crying."
"Hormones."
"And missing Em?"
"Maybe." He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her cheek.
"You'll see her in four months."
"That's a long time."
"You will write letters and it will be here before you know it." Rachel cried from her room. "I'll get her."
He walked in her room and picked her up. "Hi, sweet pea. I missed you today." He put her down to change her diaper and she smiled at him. "There's your pretty smile." She kicked her legs and cooed as if telling him about her day. "Is that right? Did Mama make this dress for you?"
"Yes, she did," Maddie said from the doorway.
"You did a nice job."
"Thanks. I made it a few months back before we knew she was a girl. I had a feeling."
He laid her in her crib and walked over to Maddie, placing his hand on her ever growing tummy. "Do you have a feeling about this one?"
"No but it's amazing that I could love someone so much that I've never met."
"I know what you mean."
