After a while, Misha entered. "Am I interrupting anything?"

He crumpled a piece of paper. "Not really."

"I am sorry. Earlier, about surprising you. I did not know they had not told you."

"I'm sorry too."

"For what?"

"You are a guest in this house...and I wasn't very nice."

"I understand." Misha smiled. "I would not be so nice either, if I found a stranger in my house."

He held out his hand. "Chris Graham."

"Misha Stravnova," she said, taking his hand.

"Nice to meet you."

She nodded. "And you as well."

Marty ran into the room. "Robert is cryin'!"

"Already?" Chris asked, getting to his feet. "All right. I'm coming."

Almost as soon as he left Ann and Ginny ran in. "Misha?" Ann asked.

"Yes?"

"What's it like when you dance?"

She smiled a bit. "What do you mean?"

"Do you get scared getting up there in front of all those people?"

"Sometimes. But I pretend it is just another practice, so I am not so scared," she replied with a smile.

"Can you show us one of your dances?"

Misha smiled. "Of course. Let me get my shoes."

The three girls grinned at each other. A minute later, she returned with the satiny pale pink shoes. The girls stared at them, cooing in admiration.

She sat down to slip them on. "Push the furniture back...I'll need some room."

"Okay!" the three of them echoed and they set about to moving the furniture.

She smiled at them. "Stand clear..."

They squealed and huddled up on some chairs well out of her way. Humming, Misha began to dance around the room. The girls watched, enraptured.

"I wish I could learn to do that..." Annie said, clapping her hands.

When Misha finished, she bowed gracefully and then said, "You can, Ann."

"Really? How?"

"By taking classes, or lessons from a dance instructor."

"Can you talk to Momma and Daddy about it?"

She smiled. "Certainly."

"Thank you Misha!" Ann squealed, throwing her arms around the dancer.

She laughed. "You are welcome."

"I hear the wagon," Marty said.

Ann squealed and raced down the hall. Rae patted her on the head as she rushed past. Ann stopped and frowned a bit.

"What's wrong?" Andy asked, stopping next to her.

"I wanted to talk to Momma... but she's busy now with the babies."

"Why don't you go talk to Daddy."

"I guess I could."

He looked at her. "You aren't gonna try to run away again like you did after Kendra was born, are you?"

She put her hands on her hips. "You ran away with me, Andy Conlon!"

"Well, I'm not this time!"

"I'm not running away, dummy!"

"Don't call me dummy!"

"Are you two arguing again?" Spot asked with a sigh as he entered the house.

Ann squeaked and looked at the carpet.

"Now... what's going on?"

"She called me a dummy!" Andy said.

"Why did you call him a dummy, Ann?"

"Because he said I was gonna run away again!"

Spot sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. "Both of you go upstairs to your rooms while I figure out what to do with you."

"But I gotta ask you something..."

"Later Ann! Now march!" he said, pointing toward the stairs.

"But-!"

"No buts!"

Sighing she turned and huffed up the stairs.

Spot shook his head. "You too Andy."

"Yes sir," he said, following his sister.

Spot sighed and sat down at the table.

A few minutes later Rae walked in. "What's wrong?"

"Ann and Andy were arguing."

"About what?"

"I don't know... but it led to Ann calling Andy a dummy."

Rae sighed and sank into the chair next to him.

He looked at her. "Are you okay?"

"I just don't know what to do with them anymore..."

"Well.... they're kids... They're going to fight. We just have to try to discourage it the best we can."

She nodded. He hugged her and gave her a kiss. She gave him a smile.

"Come on, let's get some lunch made."

"If you make lunch I'll make sandwiches so we can work late," Rae said.

"Sounds good to me."

Giving him a quick kiss, Rae moved to the counter and started making sandwiches. And Spot began lunch. When it was finished, he called everyone down.

"How soon can we go into town, Mr. Spot?" Marty asked.

"After lunch."

"Nice of you to tell me we had a guest," Chris commented.

Rae gasped. "Chris, I'm so sorry."

He nodded. "It's okay... I just wish I was warned!"

"We'll warn you next time," Spot said.

"Good."

He handed some papers to Spot. "What do you think of my sketches for the cabin?"

Spot glanced them over, humming occasionally. Finally, he nodded. "They look good."

"I'd like to get started tomorrow."

He nodded. "All right..."

"I need to get as much done in two weeks as possible, because I promised Kendra I would come get her and let her stay with me for while...and I want to spend as much time with her as possible."

Again, Spot nodded.

"Can I help you Chris?" Andy asked.

"Me too?" Sam piped up.

He smiled. "Sure."

"I'm not sure how much help they'll be," Rae said.

"Well, it will keep them busy."

"If they get in the way, just let us know."

"Promise."

"Where's Annie?" Ginny asked.

"... I called her down," Spot said.

"I'll go find her," Rae said.

"Yes, let her know she's missing her lunch!"

Rae made her way upstairs and knocked on the door to the girls' room. When she didn't hear an answer she opened the door. Annie was sitting on the window seat staring out the window. "Annie?" she said curiously.

Annie sniffled. "Yes ma'am."

"What's the matter?"

"I wanted to talk to you...but you were too busy...and Daddy fussed at me..."

"Well, you and Andy were arguing, I heard."

Ann sighed and looked out the window.

She sat down next to Ann. "What did you want to talk to me about?:

"Can I be a ballerina...like Misha..."

She smiled a bit. "Is that what you really want?"

Ann was silent for a moment and then nodded.

"Then yes, yes you can."

She grinned and threw her arms around Rae's neck. "Thank you so much, Momma!"

She gave a little laugh. "You're welcome sweetheart."

"Misha said she'd tell you and Daddy about it..."

"All right. Perhaps by then we'll know how to get you started."

"She said I need a dance...instructor...do we have those here?"

"I'm not sure. I'd never thought to look."

"Daddy may know...or Chris..."

"Would you like to ask them?"

"Can I?"

"Of course you can!"

Squealing, she jumped up and ran down the stairs.

Rae smiled to herself and followed the girl down. She walked into the kitchen where all three little girls were talking excitedly.

"Did you ask Daddy yet?" she asked Ann.

"Yes ma'am. He said he didn't know...but Misha said that she knew someone in Brooklyn..."

"All the way in Brooklyn?"

Ann nodded.

"Well... if it's what you want, your father and I will see if we can make it happen."

Ann squealed again.

"Maybe you can stay with Beau...and if you go I'll go back home too..." Ginny said.

"Beau?" Misha asked, a faint blush lighting her face.

And Ginny nodded. "Beau is my brother."

"What about me?" Marty asked.

Rae sighed and looked at Spot. "Well have to ask Sippi if it's safe for you to go back, Marty..."

After a moment, she nodded, though she didn't look quite so certain.

Misha put her hand on the little girl's shoulder. "He told me he would come soon..."

"I know... but... I... I kinda don't wanna leave. I mean... I don't want to be left behind... but still..."

"Tell you what..." Chris said. "Kendra is coming in a few weeks...and I'll need someone to watch her from time to time...think you can help me with that?"

After another pause, she nodded. "Okay I guess."

He held out his hand. "Shake on it?" he asked.

She hesitated before spitting in her hand and shaking his hand, just like she had seen some of the newsies doing in Manhattan.

"All right. I have high expectations of you, little girl," he said with a grin.

"I'm not so little!"

He laughed and ruffled her hair.

She wrinkled her nose a bit.

"Hurry up everyone...time's wasting..." Spot said, picking up Sam's empty plate.

"Come on! Let's get our coats!" Ann exclaimed, absolutely jubilant now.

"Would you like to come with us Misha?" Rae asked.

"Thank you, no. I think I will write a letter to my brother."

He nodded. "All right. We'll be back later this evening."

"Have fun," she said as they all left the house.

Rae, Spot, and the three girls waved as they clattered down the drive in the wagon. Sam bounced happily in the bed of the wagon next to the empty crates where James and Robert lay bundled.

"Town town town town!" he sang

"Chris?" Spot asked.

"Yes?"

"What are you going to do about wood for the addition to the cabin?"

"Well, I'm saving up. And there is a scrap lumber yard down by the river. I think I can get them to let me have some of it cheaply, or maybe free, if I offer some labor."

"If not...let me know...and we'll loan you some money until you can find a job."

He smiled and nodded. "Thank you."

Rae turned in the seat. "How long do you think it will take you to finish the cabin?"

"A couple weeks at least."

"What are the plans for the wedding?"

"Nothing yet... Just that I would get her when I finished the cabin. Then we could relax some and work out our plans."

Sam tugged on his sleeve.

He looked down at him. "Yeah?"

"When Ken'a comin' back?"

"In a little while. A few weeks yet, I think."

"How long is that?"

"A little long, but not very long."

"Ok," Sam chirped.