The doctor cleared Maddie to go back to her own home, but no working at the boarding house and she had to promise to rest a lot. If she didn't and she ended up with more contractions, she'd be stuck in bed until giving birth. That was enough incentive to follow doctor's orders.

Nate wrapped his arm around her waist, helping her into the house. "Nate, you look so worried. I'm ok."

"I guess being a husband and father gives me a bit of cause to worry, don't you?"

"Of course." She set Rachel on the rug and hugged him. "I love you, honey."

"I love you too. Now, I need to head back to work. Mom and the kids will be over soon."

"I know. Please try not to be too distracted. No more smashed thumbs or broken toes."

"I've never broken a toe."

"Yes, well, close. See you for supper?"

"I'll be here."

FOSSIL CANYON

"Come in!" Amy called from the bedroom.

"Morning, Amy. It's just me."

"Hi, Walt."

"Papa!" Mason raced out to see him.

"Well, hello lad."

"Papa, we move!"

"I know. I heard. You're going to live in a big city."

"What that?"

"There's lots of horses and cars and big tall buildings and everyone goes fast."

"Wow."

"Wow is right, my boy."

"Miss Papa."

"I'll miss you too. More than you know, Mase."

Mason hugged him tight around the neck.

"Hi, Walt." Amy walked out with Meri and Logan and kissed his cheek. "I guess you heard?"

"Yes, sweetie. I am the telegraph operator."

"Oh, right. I'm going to miss you, you know."

"You'll be so busy, you won't even have time to miss me."

"Not possible." She rubbed her tummy and smiled. "Hungry?"

"I am but I can't stay. Duty calls."

"Let me make you a sandwich. Roast beef and cheese?"

"I can't say no to that."

HARRIS TOWN, THE STREAM

"What's on your mind, Drew?" Carrie asked.

Drew recast his line and looked out over the water. "I wanted to talk with you about something."

"Ok." He felt her fingers slipping inside his hand, giving him courage.

"You know I want to be a farmer one day."

"Yes, pigs and chickens."

"Yeah. I talked to Uncle Lee and he's going to let me work for him next summer to earn my lumber to build a house."

"A house?"

"For me and hopefully a family one day."

"A family?" She smiled, wondering if he was just going to spit it out.

"Yeah. I have a place on the ranch that I picked out for….the house." He was so cute when he was nervous.

"Drew, is it for us?" He looked directly at her now. "For our family?"

"I hope so."

She kissed him softly. "Me too." She smiled the smile that he loved so much. The one that said she was happy and that she was going to support him. "Will you take me to see it?"

"Yeah."

An hour later, they dropped the fishing poles off in the barn and walked out past the pond. He grabbed her hand and led her. "This is part of T and T?"

"Yes." They walked a bit further and then he pointed. "Dad said he would sell me five acres which is plenty to start. Over here is where I was thinking the house could go and the barn behind it. What do you think?"

"Its beautiful."

"I know we're young but I think it's good to have a plan."

"Yeah, it is." She looked deep in thought for a moment.

"Carrie, I'm sorry if this is too soon. I thought we should talk about it."

"It's fine Drew. I want to work with my Mom at the restaurant after I graduate. Is that ok with you?"

He chuckled and pulled her into a hug. "Of course it is."

"Some men…"

"I'm me. I'm not some men." She leaned back and smiled.

"I'm glad you're you. That's who I want."

THAT EVENING, THE HOGAN HOUSE

Carrie sat on the couch reading her book, or attempting to. Really, she was thinking about Drew and everything that they had talked about that afternoon.

"Carrie, can you start dinner? Your mom should be home soon."

"Sorry, Dad. I meant to."

"You seem distracted, sweetie."

"Yeah."

"So, you'll be fifteen next week."

"Mmhmm."

"Do you want anything in particular for a gift?"

"I don't need anything."

"Do you want anything?"

"I want Drew here for dinner."

"Ok, I'm sure that can be arranged."

She looked at her dad. "I think I am going to marry him, Dad."

"Good. He's a good boy and he comes from a good family."

"And he loves me."

"And you love him?"

"Yes."

He kissed her temple. "I'm proud of you. You'll be a good wife."

"You think so?"

"I know so."

A MONTH LATER, FOSSIL CANYON

Amy looked around the house they called home for the past year. She would miss it, believe it or not.

"Ready, Ames? Walt has the wagon out there ready and the kids are too."

"Yeah. Let's go." She closed the door and locked it, handing him the key to give to Walt.

The ride on the stage was only an hour, but three small children on a stage was difficult. Mason had fun, bouncing around on the seats but Logan wasn't impressed. Meri sat on Caleb's lap, not letting him put her down.

Amy, herself, was hurting being six and a half months pregnant. By the time they reached the train station, her hips were crying out for something soft to sit on.

"Babe, I got us a compartment for the rest of the ride."

"Bless you, husband." She carried Logan and held onto Meri's hand while Caleb carried Mason.

Once they were settled, Amy snuggled up to Caleb on the couch in the compartment. "So tell me about our home, Caleb."

"Ok, but first, I want to do something else." He cradled her face in his hands and kissed her as if he hadn't seen her in a year.

"Wow, Caleb," she whispered, leaning into his shoulder. "I'm not complaining, but what was that for?"

"I know I've expected a lot of you in the last year and I know it hasn't been easy, but I am so grateful that you stuck by me and didn't give up. I would literally be lost without you and the children."

"I won't lie, when I first moved to Fossil Canyon, it was very hard, but we belong with you, wherever that is."

"Yes, you do."

"Ok, now tell me about where we will be staying, please."

He told her but she didn't know what they were really in for until they finally entered the apartment that night.

It was on the second floor of a building, above a barber shop. It had two bedrooms, a bathroom with room for a bathtub, and a small kitchen. It had electricity which was wonderful. It wasn't a bad apartment, just small for a family with soon to be four children.

When Caleb had secured the place, he had purchased a second crib and a bed for the nursery and a bed for their room as well.

"Mama? We home?" Mason asked.

"Yes, baby. We're home. Why don't you and Meri go find your room?"

"Ya, we go." Meri followed her twin into the other room.

"I know it's not much, but…" Caleb started.

"It's just fine, sweetie. We will make it home."

The hired man that Caleb acquired, carried their things in with his help. Amy got the kids ready for bed and told them a story.

"Mama? Where Papa?" Mason asked.

"Papa Walt lives in Fossil Canyon, remember?"

"Love him."

"I do too, love. Maybe he'll come visit us."

"Yay!"

"Maybe, Mason. He lives far away."

"Mama, hold me?" Meri begged. Amy pulled her into her arms, carefully allowing Meri to straddle her belly.

"What's wrong, Meri?"

"Want home."

"We are home."

"No, home there. With Papa."

Amy sighed and rubbed her back. "Mama, up?" Logan asked.

"I can't hold both of you, sweetheart. Here, put your head on my lap." She patted her almost nonexistent lap and he laid his head down, his thumb in his mouth, a habit he picked up from Meri. She ran her fingers through his soft blonde hair to relax him. Mason laid down on the pillow next to her and soon, they were all asleep.

Caleb walked in and smiled. He quietly and carefully lifted Logan up and then into the crib.

Amy sat forward and handed Meri to Caleb and then watched as he laid her down next to Mason. Finally he helped Amy up off the mattress and led her into the other room.

"Do you need to work tomorrow?"

"Yeah. I need to leave at six." She nodded and went to their trunk. She searched and then finally found her nightgown. It was November but being pregnant she got hot easily so this nightgown was baby blue and short. She tried to unbutton the back of her dress but Caleb walked up behind her.

"Allow me," he whispered.

"Thank you, babe."

As she felt him unbuttoning each button, he bent down and took advantage of the soft skin that he was uncovering, kissing the area on her neck and shoulders and giving her goosebumps. "Good grief, you are beautiful." She blushed as she turned, slipping the dress off and slipping her nightgown on.

She smiled and started unbuttoning his shirt. "My turn."

HARRIS TOWN, NATE AND MADDIES HOUSE

Maddie laughed as Rachel sat in her high chair, banging a spoon on the table. She apparently thought it was great fun because whenever it connected with the table, she let out a giggle that made Maddie laugh even more.

"What's so funny in here?" Nate asked as he walked in.

"Dadada."

"Hi, sweet pea." He kissed her head and then moved to Maddie. "Did you have a good day?"

"Yeah. Mom stopped by with Kiki and we all ended up taking a nap."

"Sounds good to me. I must have groomed all five of the horses dad owns and then cleaned all the stalls. I'm so happy tomorrow is Sunday and I don't have to work."

"Nate, let's come up with names tonight."

"I still think we should wait to see what the baby looks like first."

"Please? Once Rachel is asleep, we can take a bath and make a list."

"Ok, fine. I'm probably not going to win this one, am I?"

"Nope."

TWO HOURS LATER

"Anna," Maddie offered.

"Anna Elizabeth?"

"Sounds nice. Or Leah."

"Leah Carlin. I like that. My mom's middle name is Rose."

"Leah Rose Carlin is a great name. What about a boy, Nate?"

"I like Joshua or Jacob."

"I like Daniel. Daniel Nathan?"

"Or Jacob Brandon."

After many names were thrown into the mix, Leah Rose and Jacob Brandon were what they wanted.

THE THORNTON RANCH

Elizabeth walked downstairs to the living room to talk to Drew. "Hey, sweetheart. Can I talk to you?"

Drew looked up from his history book. "Sure, Ma."

"You and Carrie seem to be getting pretty close."

"Yes but we are trying to take things slow."

"That's good. No need to rush things."

"Yeah."

"I wanted to give you this." She handed him a little black bag.

He opened it and looked at her. "A ring?"

"Yeah. It was Grandma Grace's promise ring that Grandpa William gave her when they were courting. It's a sapphire with a little diamond on either side."

"You're giving this to me? Don't you want to keep it?"

"No, I want you to have it, for whomever you decide you're going to marry. If it's Carrie or someone else."

"It's Carrie."

"I thought it might be."

"Thanks Ma."

"You're welcome, love." Elizabeth stood up to leave but Drew stopped her.

"I love you, Ma." She smiled, noticing she wasn't looking down anymore. She was looking him right in the eye.

"To the moon and back, Drew."