"Ya wanna take a walk with me?" Nick asked, coming up behind Jo.  Supper was finished quickly that evening and after the children had scattered every which way, Jo took to assisting Asia in cleaning the mess. 

She smiled at him sighing.  "That sounds wonderful.  I need to get out of this house for awhile."  Jo wiped her hands on a towel and looked to Asia, hoping for permission.

            "Go on.  I can take care of the rest." Asia grinned at the couple.  Jo thanked her with a nod and followed Nick out onto the back porch.

            The sky was painted with brilliant pinks and yellows as the sun began to set below the horizon.  The sound of the crickets murmured just beneath the goodnight chirps of the birds.  There was a light breeze that tousled Jo's hair and she was quick to capture a few strands and pull them behind her ear.

            Nick smiled at her.  "Ya want my hat?"

            She giggled.  "Don't be silly," she replied as they crossed the yard.  "It looks far better on you."

            Nick took her hand and they started into the woods.  "So, what did ya do today?"

            Jo looked around the forest, slightly uncomfortable.  "Nothing too spectacular."  She glanced at him, hoping to sound convincing.  "How about you?"

            " 'Bout the same.  Went into town…"

            "Asia said that you had.  For anything in particular?"

            "Uh…" Nick hesitated.  "No, not really.  Just pickin' up a few things, checkin' for mail…"

            Jo squeezed his hand and silence embraced them.  They eventually came to an embankment that surrounded the river.  Nick started down the side, gently leading Jo behind him.  As they neared the waters, he sat down on the grass covering and pulled Jo around in front of him, seating her between his legs.  He began removing his boots, nudging her to do the same.  She chuckled, setting her shoes to the side as they scooted close enough to dangle their feet into the cool water.  Nick wrapped his arms around her shoulders and Jo eased back into him, sighing contently.  "This is much better than cleaning the kitchen."

            "Yeah, well, we don't get to spend much time alone anymore."

            Jo nodded.  "I'm sorry…"

            "You've got nothin' to be sorry about.  We've both been real busy lately."

            "But soon that won't be a problem anymore.  We'll have every night and each morning…" Jo grinned, imagining what it would be like to wake up every day, Nick sleeping beside her.

            "Yep."  Nick stared across the water, somewhat uncomfortable at the turn of conversation.

              Jo caught the uncertainty.  "Are you all right?"

            The question hung in the air for some time and Jo's stomach began to sink as thoughts swarmed her mind.  However, before those feelings could root, she felt Nick's arms tighten around her.  "Never better."

            "Are you sure? … You can tell me, Nick.  Whatever it is."

            She felt his chest stiffen as he took in a breath, holding it while he considered her offer.  "Nah, not just yet, Jo.  Okay?" he answered, exhaling deeply.

            Hurt consumed her, knowing that something had bothered him and obviously Nick's trust in her had not developed enough for him to confide in her.  Yet, his words had held hope in them.  She had to respect him and know in due time he would express his feelings, just not yet.  Jo nodded and grasped his arms.  "Okay."

XXXXX

            "Where is she?" Tommy asked, searching out the barn window.  The class had assembled for the day's lessons, and after waiting for a half an hour for their teacher the children were getting restless.

              "At breakfast, Asia said she was still sleeping," Nan reminded, sitting atop one of the desks.

            "Maybe I should start," Nat suggested.  He made his way up to the front of the room and opened one of the textbooks.

            "Ah, come on Nat, give her a few more minutes.  We don't mind waiting," Emil smirked as the rest of the room voiced their agreement.

            Hearing the resounding concurrence, Nat rolled his eyes and sighed.  "Fine.  We'll wait just a little while longer."  He slouched into Jo's chair, anxious to begin the day's work.

            Tommy tore himself away from the window and joined the rest of the group.  "Maybe she's not feeling well.  I know I don't like to come to class when I'm sick."

            "Oh, how awful," Bess jumped in.  "I can't imagine.  Becoming ill with the wedding so close.  What would Mother do?"

            Dan looked at Nat, raising his eyebrows in a deliberate glance.  "She ain't sick.  Probably just stayed up a little too late."

            "Let's hope so," Bess said.  "We would have to change all of our plans."

            "We've stalled long enough." Nat jumped up from the seat.  "Let's begin."  Turning to the board, he began writing down some Math problems.  "These are the questions Mrs. Jo gave us yesterday…"

            Suddenly the barn door flew open and from behind it appeared Jo, her hair hastily done and she struggled with her books as she made her way in.  "Oh good," she said, noticing the problems on the blackboard.  "You started without me.  I was hoping you would."

            "We haven't gotten far," Nat answered and handing her the chalk, went back to his desk.

            "That's fine."  Jo placed her books on the desk and sighed loudly, composing herself.  "I must apologize.  I completely lost track of the time.  Now, why don't you open your history books to page one forty three and please read the chapter."

            The children began to murmur and Jo looked at them questioningly while Dan's hand slowly extended into the air.  "Um… Mrs. Jo?  We read that yesterday."

            Jo's cheeks flushed with embarrassment.  "Oh, yes.  That's right.  We did, didn't we?"

            "We were going to start our Mathematics problems…" Nat suggested.

            "Okay…" Jo thought for a few moments.  "That would be a good place to begin.  We will finish those."  She smiled sheepishly.  "And perhaps afterwards we can find a history chapter we haven't done."

XXXXX

            "Hold still, Jo!" Meg scolded as she attempted to position the bustle correctly on the wedding gown.  Jo was of no assistance to her sister as she slumped forward and anxiously shifted from one foot to the other.

            "Maybe we should do this another time," she suggested.  "I've got a lot to do this afternoon."

            "Nonsense.  I didn't ride all the way out here to go home empty handed.  I was hoping to finish the dress tonight," Meg retorted through the pins she held in her mouth.

            Jo sighed, standing a little straighter and hoping the torture would be over soon.  She wasn't lying; she did have a lot to do that day.  After a few mishaps that morning during class, she had promised herself that the lessons for the next day would be finished in a timely manner.  She had spent the previous evening down in the root cellar, sanding the main pieces to Nick's chair, preparing them for the boys who were, at that very moment, trying to fashion together the main construction of the present.  It had taken her well into the night; her surfacing from the cellar was to the hallway clock reading a quarter past three.  She then rushed to complete the dinner list she had promised Asia nearly week earlier.  By the time she actually went to bed it was not quite four-thirty and time spent sleeping wasn't nearly enough.  Now she was exhausted with more sanding and carving waiting to be done as well as the laundry, the mending and the night's dinner.

            Jo yawned as Meg shifted the material.  "There!" Meg announced.  "Don't move!  I just have four more pins…"

            Jo gave a nod, not really hearing her sister.  "Four more pins…" she mumbled.  "Four?"  Jo's eyes flew open wide, remembrance filling her features.  "Oh no!"  She hiked up her skirts and began to dash away.

            "Jo!" Meg cried.  "You're ruining it!"

            The younger sister turned, apology replacing the tired look.  "I am so sorry, Meg.  I completely forgot.  I have to pick up the boys' suits at the store and I told Mr. Gerson I would be there before four o'clock.  They still need to be altered."

            Meg sighed as Jo struggled against the petticoats, trying to remove the gown.  "Here… here!  You'll tear it!" she said, assisting in lifting it over Jo's head.  "You really need to get yourself organized."

            Jo sighed, agreeing.  "What I need is an extra week," she said, running off to find her dress.  "If you want to come back tomorrow, we can finish it then.  I promise!"

            Watching her sister leave, Meg simply shook her head.  "I'll believe it when I see it."