Chapter Two

Josie nearly pounced on Fionn when he showed up late that afternoon to collect his wagon. He glanced down at his clothes, heavy with trail dust and sweat, and tried to protest that he couldn't possibly stay for supper, but Josie wouldn't hear of it. She reached forward and brushed the dirt from his shirt.

"You should just keep a spare outfit and a nightshirt here. You need them often enough."

Fionn smirked. "Maybe you should start spendin' more time at my place."

Josie giggled and kissed his nose. "Come on inside. I'll get you a glass of lemonade."

"Hello, Fionn!" Ben greeted him as the young couple came inside. "Have luck in Carson City?"

"Yes, sir! Hopin' to finish the job this evenin'."

Ben clapped Fionn on the back. "Good plan, son."

"What are you two talking about?" Josie asked.

"Just a little business proposition," Fionn replied quickly. "What have you been up to today?"

Josie babbled on for the next twenty minutes about a microscope she'd seen in a catalogue that she planned to save up for. She never noticed the amused look Ben and Fionn shared over the top of her head.

Pandemonium briefly erupted an hour later when Hoss and Patience and Adam and Molly all arrived at once. Patience's belly was swollen unmistakably, and Molly, Josie, and Hannah were all delighted to put their hands on her and feel the baby kick.

"Only about three more months!" Josie said.

"I can't hardly wait!" Hoss said, coming up behind Patience and wrapping his arms around her. "Got the nursery all ready. Even bought them frilly white-lace curtains Aunt Rachel suggested."

Hop Sing had grumbled about having to cook at the last minute for a huge crowd, but with Hannah's help, he laid out a veritable feast all the same. When the last morsels of roast chicken, potatoes, biscuits, gravy, and green beans were gone, Adam stood and asked for everyone's attention.

"I'm so glad we could all get together on short notice like this," he said. "Because Molly and I have an announcement. Sometime in March, we'll be adding to the Cartwright family!"

Cheers broke out around the table. Ben, Hoss, and Little Joe all shook Adam's hand, while Hannah and Patience embraced Molly. Fionn stayed planted in his seat, just staring at his sister. It was several moments before he ran a hand down his face and rose to hug her. He buried his face in her hair and muttered something in Irish. When he stepped back, he and Molly stood gazing at each other, Molly's hands cupping her brother's face. At long last, Fionn kissed her forehead and then turned to shake Adam's hand.

"Congratulations, Adam," he said with a smile. "Now you really have to take care of her." He paused. "Or I'll kill you."

Adam laughed, slapped Fionn's shoulder, and leaned in close. "Same goes for you," he murmured.

Fionn grinned. "Aye, supposin' it does."

The hairs on the back of Josie's neck prickled, and she turned from Molly to Fionn and Adam.

"What are you two conspiring about?"

"Nothing!" Adam and Fionn replied in unison. Josie narrowed her eyes and was about to press further when Ben diverted everyone's attention.

"This calls for a celebration!" he announced. "Hop Sing, get those two bottles of wine I brought back from San Francisco last year. And how about that chocolate cake I saw stashed in the pantry?"

"Mr. Cartlight should no snoop in Hop Sing pantry!" the cook protested. But he shuffled off into the kitchen anyway, quickly returning with the wine, cake plates, and extra forks. Ducking into the kitchen once more, he came back bearing an enormous chocolate cake. Ben uncorked the wine and poured glasses for everyone while Hannah cut and served the cake.

Ten minutes later, stupefied by cake and wine, everyone leaned back in their chairs, babbling happily to one another about babies and nurseries. Ben presided over the whole scene, his eyes half-closed, and a soft smile on his face.

After a few minutes of pleasant conversation, Fionn glanced out the dining-room window.

"Do you need to get going?" Josie asked.

Fionn smiled at her and played with the fingers of her left hand. "Yes, but I was wonderin' if you wanted to take a little walk first. That meteor shower we watched last summer is back again. Should be dark enough to see it."

Josie's face lit up. "Let's go!" She sprang from her seat, waved to everyone, and darted for the door. Fionn took a deep breath, shot Ben a brief glance, and followed her. As Fionn, Josie, Pip, and Conall disappeared through the front door, Adam elbowed his father gently in the ribs. The two men shared a chuckle.

"What's so funny?" Little Joe asked.

"Don't you worry about it," Adam replied. He and Ben chuckled again, while Joe scowled.

Outside, Fionn took Josie's hand as they crossed the yard.

"You feeling all right, Fionnie?" Josie asked. "Your hand is awfully clammy."

"Sorry." Fionn let go of Josie and wiped his palm on his pants leg. "Wine glass was cold." He took her hand again and led her behind the barn where the light from the house wouldn't disrupt their view of the night sky. Fionn stretched out in grass and spread his arms wide. Smiling, Josie lay next to him and nuzzled her head onto his shoulder. They lay quietly for several minutes and watched for meteors.

"Not as many as last year," Josie observed.

"Think this is the first night for it," Fionn said. "Might be a bit early, too. Adam told me it's best in the middle of the night."

"That's so exciting about Adam and Molly. Can you believe it? You're going to be 'Uncle Fionn!'"

Fionn shook his head. "That poor child."

Josie giggled. "It's hard to believe all that's happened just in the last year. Two weddings, two babies on the way, my mother staying here…" She didn't have to say Simon's name. The weight of his loss hung over them both. It was like peering through a fog to see the sky.

Fionn felt his opportunity slipping away and thought fast. "You forgot to mention that night you and Joe spent in jail."

Josie giggled and poked Fionn in the ribs. "I am never going along with one of Joseph's crazy ideas again." She paused. "Who am I kidding? I probably will."

Fionn chuckled. "Want to go along with one of my crazy ideas?"

Josie turned her head and looked at him. "I can't ask Adam for bail money again."

"You won't need bail money. Just a nice dress. And I know a lady who can help you with that."

"A nice dress?"

"Aye." He propped himself up on one elbow and gazed down at her. "You know, Josie, I was goin' to wait at least until spring, but what you said the other night about life sneakin' up on you and not carin' about your plans got me thinkin'."

Josie's stomach fluttered, and she was suddenly short of breath.

"I love you," Fionn continued, "and I don't want to spend another minute without you. I know I'm no prize. I can't give you anythin' near as fancy as all this." He swung an arm around to indicate the Ponderosa and the huge house behind them. "But I can make you happy, Josie. I promise you that much." He caressed her cheek with the back of one hand and then kissed her softly. "Will you marry me?" he whispered.

Tears spilled down Josie's cheeks, and she wrapped her arms around his neck. "Yes," she whispered back. "A thousand times yes." She pulled his face to hers. Fionn cupped her face with his hands as he kissed her over and over again. When they finally paused to rest, Fionn reached into his pocket and pulled out a small box.

"I couldn't get you an engagement ring like Adam and Hoss bought." He fiddled with the clasp on the box. "But I wanted you to know I was serious about marryin' you, so I got this." He popped open the clasp to reveal a thin gold band. "I couldn't ask you without at least havin' a weddin' band for you."

Josie's eyes misted over again as she pulled the golden circlet from the box and studied it.

"I'm sorry it's not more," Fionn said. "You deserve more. You deserve everyth-"

Josie laid a finger on Fionn's lips. "Hush. It's beautiful. I can't wait to wear it." She slipped the ring back in its box, which she tucked into Fionn's pocket before kissing him again.

Several minutes later, they lay snuggled together in the grass, gazing up at the sky once more.

"Is this why you went to Carson City?" Josie asked.

"Aye."

"Uncle Ben knew, didn't he?"

"Had to ask him, didn't I? Adam, too. I'm sorry I couldn't ask your da, but I didn't know how to reach him."

Josie sighed and ran a hand up and down Fionn's arm. "It's been harder than ever to get word to him. He's in Virginia somewhere, but the telegraph lines are down, and getting a letter through can take months from this far away." A weight settled on her chest, and she nearly choked on yet another round of tears. "It's not fair," she whimpered. "He should be here to give me away."

Fionn chewed his lower lip while he formulated a response. "No, it isn't fair," he said at last. "Mine should have been here to give Molly away. I was a poor substitute." He swallowed hard. "So I'll understand if you'd rather wait until the war's over and he can be here."

Josie's mind raced. She'd always imagined her father walking her down the aisle on her wedding day, but if this damned war and Simon's untimely death had taught her anything it was that tomorrow was not guaranteed. If only she could talk to her father – just for a second – to ask what he'd want her to do. It had been three years since she'd last heard his voice, and it alarmed her how hard she had to concentrate to remember its sound. The deep baritone, much like Ben's, but lighter somehow, less weighted by the losses her uncle had experienced. She scrunched her eyes shut and focused on the memory of the last time she'd seen her father, standing on the dock in Philadelphia as she and Adam boarded their ship, and peace settled over her.

"No," she said. "The last thing my father would want would be for this war to delay my happiness. It's robbed too many people already."

Fionn's shoulders sagged. "I know how important your da is to you, but I was hopin' you'd say that," he said with a relieved laugh that made Josie smile. "I was thinkin' we could get married near the end of November once I've got the farm buttoned up for the winter."

"We could have the wedding right after Thanksgiving," Josie suggested. "Patience's baby will have arrived by then, so we don't have to worry about me getting called away from the altar."

"Good point. I hadn't thought about that. Think me heart would stop if you didn't show up!"

Josie laughed and kissed his nose. "I'll be there. You don't have to worry about that."

Fionn grinned and helped Josie to her feet. "Come on. Let's go tell everyone."

Deliriously happy, Josie took Fionn's hand, and together they scurried back to the house.

"How was the meteor shower?" Adam asked when they came back inside.

Josie broke out in hysterical giggles, and Adam and Ben flashed each other huge grins. Hoss just wrinkled his brow.

"What's so funny?" he asked.

"You tell them," Fionn whispered to Josie.

Josie caught Hannah's eye. "Mama, I'm getting married!" she shrieked and flew into her mother's arms. Hannah squealed and flung her arms around her daughter as tears streamed down her cheeks.

Hoss and Little Joe jumped and hollered, colliding as they both attempted to be the first to shake Fionn's hand. As usual, Joe bounced off his much larger brother and landed on his rump on the floor. Adam hauled him up by his shirt collar and dusted him off. They were too late to congratulate Fionn, though, because Hannah had released Josie and pulled the young Irishman into a suffocating hug.

"Oh, Fionn, I'm so happy!" she said and planted a big kiss in the middle of his forehead. "I trust you spoke with Ben about this?"

"Yes, ma'am," Fionn replied. "I'm sorry I couldn't ask your husband, but-"

"No 'buts' about it," Hannah interrupted. "There's no way you could have asked him, and he trusts Ben's judgment implicitly." She kissed him a second time and then grabbed Adam. "I can't believe this!" she cheered. "First your announcement and now theirs!" She hugged Adam so tightly around the neck she nearly choked him. Just when Adam thought his aunt would squeeze the life from him, she dropped her arms and nearly shoved him away. "Oh my goodness!" she gasped, suddenly turning quite pale. "I have so much sewing to do! I have to make something for the baby, and I'll need a new dress for the wedding, and of course, Josie, you'll want a new quilt for your bed. Fionn, do you have curtains? Oh, you probably do, having lived with Molly for so long…"

"Hannah!" Ben laughed, holding up a hand. "There will be plenty of time for all that. Sit down and have more wine."

She did, and the family joined her in one more round before everyone really had to get home and get to bed. Fionn had neglected his crops far too long, and the Cartwrights still had much to do to prepare for their cattle drive the following week. Josie and Fionn lingered over their goodbye kiss so long that Ben tapped the young man on the shoulder and reminded him that he hadn't given his niece away just yet.

"Sorry, sir," Fionn mumbled. He turned to Josie. "I have a lot of work to catch up on, but I'll come by to see you just as soon as I can. Got lots of plannin' to do, haven't we?"

"We sure do!" Josie kissed his nose. "Go on, get out of here."

Fionn turned to Molly, who hadn't been able to stop leaning over and kissing his cheek all through the last round of wine. The siblings beamed at each other as they said their goodbyes for the night.

"I'll be by to see you soon, too," Fionn told her. "Make sure this fella's takin' care of you properly." He jerked a good-natured thumb in Adam's direction.

Molly laughed and hugged her brother. "I told you things would be better once we got out of San Francisco. Da would be proud of you," she whispered. "Is tú mo ghrá, Deartháir."

"I love you, too, a chuisle mo chroí." Fionn kissed Molly's forehead and climbed aboard his wagon, giving everyone a final wave before he drove out of the yard.

Adam turned to Josie and wrapped his arms around her. "Congratulations, Josie." He kissed her forehead. "I'm so happy for you."

Josie hugged him back. "Thanks, Cousin-Cousin." Then she took a step back and scrutinized him. "You knew he was going to propose."

Adam held both hands up like he was surrendering. "You caught me red-handed. Fionn asked Pa and me together for your hand." Josie had to fight hard to keep her scowl from turning into a grin. Adam chucked her under the chin. "You were privy to a secret, too, you know."

Josie lost her battle and smiled. "Touché."

Adam kissed her forehead again. "I'll see you next week. Ride Scout gently on your way over."

Josie's mare was undoubtedly in foal, and while Josie was excited about the baby, she missed galloping around the ranch – especially since it had taken her more than a year to get comfortable with galloping around the ranch.

"I will. Drive that wagon gently on the way home. Don't bump Molly around too much."

"I won't. Goodnight, Josie."

"'Night, Adam."

When all the visitors had driven off, Josie, Ben, Little Joe, Hannah and Pip stood for a moment in the yard enjoying the cool night air. At last, Ben put his arms around Josie's and Hannah's shoulders.

"I'd say that was a pretty exciting evening, wouldn't you?" he said.

Everyone laughed, and together, the family headed inside.