Chapter 8

The next gloriously sunny Kansas morning found Elizabeth accompanying her grandmother, sister and the Spencers to the fair grounds. Her grandmother was in quite a rage. She had just been informed that while most of the hogs that had been on the loose last night had been recaptured, Burt was not among them.

"I don't understand how those idiotic farmhands could be so irresponsible. But they'll be paying for that hog."

From his horse, Luke said, "You know Audrey, I'm sure it was just an accident. Those boys have never done anythin' like this before."

From beside Lucky, who was driving the wagon carrying Audrey, the Webber girls, Laura and his sister, Sarah said primly, "I heard from Miss Vining last night, those hands were imbibing in spirits!"

Audrey nodded, "Just as I suspected...that's what comes from having a place like that saloon. Spreads vice I tell you. We should've shut down that place years ago."

Luke laughed, "Audrey, you'd cause a riot from all the men folk if you did. 'Sides, you'd find drinking whether Corinthos's place were open or not. And folks need a place to have a little fun in this dreary town."

"Luke!" Laura scolded gently with a laugh.

Audrey glared at him. "I, for one, do not find vice amusing, Luke Spencer!"

Elizabeth could not help but think that her grandmother found little to be amusing, but kept this to herself. She still could not believe her good fortune from the previous evening. Perhaps her luck had changed. When she arrived back to the farm, she found her grandmother and sister had not even come back from town. Apparently the whole town had heard about the hogs running wild, and it had caused quite the stir. That meant Elizabeth was asleep in her bed by the time the two women came home.

The only difficulty she had was waking up early enough to wash her muddied clothing without the other two women knowing. She had been so exhausted from the evenings events, only the great fear of discovery forced her to wake.

With a hand over her mouth, she smothered a small yawn. But being tired was the least of her problems. Listening to the conversation around her, she felt an overwhelming sense of guilt. Those poor farmhands. She didn't know how she would remain silent, if they were punished for her mistakes...

"Well, Audrey, since some of those hands were mine, I'll compensate you for the hog. Will that settle everythin'?" Elizabeth wanted to kiss Luke for his kind offer.

Audrey muttered, "Those hands still need to be punished...but if you insist, Luke, I'll accept."

Luke gave her a devilishly charming smile. "Good. Now let's forget about all that business and enjoy the day." Turning to Sarah and then Elizabeth, he asked, "So girls, are you enterin' any of those baking contests?"

Lucky answered, "You know Sarah makes the best blueberry pie, Pa. She's sure to win again." He glanced over at his future bride with pride on his handsome face.

As her hand went up to check that her beautiful blue bonnet was still in its proper place perched on her golden locks, Sarah confidently nodded. "Yes, I'm entering my pie and Grams is entering her apple cider and some of her jams."

Smiling, Luke looked at Elizabeth and asked, "And how 'bout you, darlin'?"

"Oh Lizzie can't bake a thing, Mr. Spencer! She's a disaster in the kitchen." Sarah replied with a laugh. "Why, Lucky, remember that time she tried to bake a pie of her own, and ended up almost poisoning you?!"

Lucky glanced back at a mortified Elizabeth and said kindly, "It wasn't that bad, Sarah. Beth was only trying to be kind."

As the topic of conversation eventually changed from her disastrous experiences at cooking, Elizabeth brushed an errant chestnut curl away from her face and sighed. She recalled the pie disaster quite clearly. After all the times Lucky had complimented Sarah on her baking, Elizabeth thought she could impress him by baking her own pie. But unfortunately she had mistaken the salt for the sugar and nearly caused the poor boy to gag to death. He had been his usual kind self about the whole incident, but it had reaffirmed Elizabeth's belief that she would never be quite good enough for Lucky Spencer.

When they finally reached the fair grounds, the party saw that many of the town's folks had already arrived. As she was helped out from the wagon by the always gallant Luke, Elizabeth's eyes darted guiltily toward the fenced pigpens. Once again the area was filled with the best hogs of the county, but this time, she noticed that the gate was guarded by a number of rather weary farmhands.

Seeing the hogs, her mind turned to her friend. How was Burt faring at the saloon? Were they feeding him? She thought of Sonny Corinthos's charming manners and kind smile, and she was slightly reassured. Surely he would take care of Burt until she could find him a home...but that brought to mind another problem. Who was she going to find to give Burt a home without wanting him for their table? Oh dear, she was really going to have to think about this...because how long could she leave him at the saloon?

"Lizzie!"

Elizabeth turned her eyes back toward her very exasperated sister. "Yes, Sarah?"

"I said we're heading toward the judging booths to drop off our baked goods. Are you coming?"

Elizabeth looked around again and answered softly, "No. I think I'll just have a look at the animals."

With a loud sigh, Audrey shook her head and said to Laura, "Do you see what the girl is like? If she had her way she'd be with the animals all the time."

Luke chuckled and said, "I can certainly sympathise. Believe you me, animals can be much better company than some people." He paused before continuing, "Well, you ladies go win your ribbons, and Lucky and I'll sign up for that steeplechase! This year a Spencer man is goin' to win, ain't that right, son?"

"Yep." Lucky nodded, and was about to head out with his father, when Sarah admonished, "Lucky, you promised we would spend the day together."

With a look of comic disbelief, Luke laughed, "Sarah darlin', the boy's just goin' to be gone a few minutes to sign up. 'Sides you have the rest of your whole lives for him to be tied to your apron strings."

Luke's statement caused everyone to stare at him in shock. After a blink of surprise, Elizabeth felt a smile curving her lips and tried to hide it. But Luke's keen eyes saw it, and he gave her a wink.

"Luke!" Laura scolded gently, "The things you say."

With another charming smile, and a quick kiss to his wife's lips, Luke grabbed his son and pulled him away toward the line up of men all eager to try their hand at the race.

"Really! I sometimes wonder about that husband of yours, Laura," huffed a shocked Audrey.

Laura laughed as she picked up Lulu, and she said, "We really should go and hand in our goods."

Audrey turned to Elizabeth and warned, "You stay out of trouble Lizzie, you here? I only let you come today because you promised to be on your best behaviour."

Elizabeth nodded. "Yes Grams. I will."

The three women were about to leave when Lulu who was struggling in her mother's arms, cried, "I wanna stay with Izzie, Momma."

Laura let out a sigh and said gently, "Now darlin' you can be a handful..."

"No, Mrs. Spencer, I'd be happy to have Lulu's company," Elizabeth volunteered shyly.

"Well, I don't know..." Laura began but as she saw Lulu's pleading face she gave in, "Alright, but you be good for Lizzie, you here? No running around."

As she was placed back down on the ground, the little girl nodded and ran over to Elizabeth. Elizabeth took the girl's small hand, and said reassuringly, "She'll be fine, Mrs. Spencer."

With a few last warnings, the three women finally headed off to earn their prizes. Elizabeth let out a sigh of relief, and bent down until she was eye level with the little girl. "Now, what did you want to see, Lulu?"

"The ponies, Izzie. Please." Without waiting for a reply, Lulu pulled on Elizabeth's arm, dragging her toward the area of the fair containing all kinds of working and riding horses, including a few ponies.

As she and Lulu reached the fencing next to one beautiful chestnut pony, Elizabeth could hear the auctioneer shouting out prices of cattle to a group of men gathered around just a short distance away. Her eyes wandered over the men and then widened as she saw Edward and AJ Quartermaine...

"Izzie!"

Turning her eyes back down to Lulu, Elizabeth asked, "What is it, Lulu?"

Pointing to the pony, she said, "I wanna ride him."

Laughing, Elizabeth said gently, "You're too young for that, Lulu, but I'm sure someday soon, your papa will teach you how to ride."

"I wanna ride him, Izzie!" the girl insisted stubbornly.

Shaking her head, Elizabeth said, "Sorry, Lulu, but why don't you touch his mane and tell him how much you like him. I'm sure he'd like that." At the girl's nod, Elizabeth picked her up until she could step on the fencing and reach the height to pet the animal.

As the girl tentatively touched the gentle animal's black mane, she asked, "What's his name Izzie?"

"I'm not sure...perhaps we can name him for a day? How 'bout Louie?"

The little girl giggled, but it was an amused masculine voice which commented, "I've never heard a horse named that before."

Elizabeth turned her head in surprise. "Oh, its you Sheriff. How do you do?"

Mac Scorpio smiled as he took off his hat, "Fine thank you, Miss-" Mac let the sentence hang in the air despite the fact he already knew the girl's name. He had heard the youngest Webber girl was shy, and he wanted to get her to open up to him.

"Webber, sir. And this is Lulu Spencer."

Placing his hat back on, Mac nodded, "Yes, I've met Lulu before. She's Luke Spencer's daughter."

"Yes, sir, she is." As Elizabeth spoke softly to the man, she was a little unnerved by his apparent interest in her. He had never approached her before. "C-can I help you sheriff?"

Once again he nodded but with a serious expression on his face, "Yes, Miss Webber, you can. I want to discuss that incident from the other day..."

Elizabeth looked away as she helped Lulu safely back to the ground, and asked nervously, "What about it, Sheriff?"

"I want to know why Jason Quarter-Morgan, came to your rescue."

With startled eyes, Elizabeth turned to look at the sheriff. "Whatever do you mean, sir? He was simply doing a good deed."

The sheriff laughed, a hard, unpleasant laugh. "Let me give you a piece of advice, Miss Webber. Stay away from that man. Morgan doesn't do good deeds without a reason."

The bitterness in the man's tone, made Elizabeth flinch. What had happened to make him so angry? She replied softly, "I thank you for your concern, Sheriff, but I really have nothing to do with Mr. Mor-"

At that moment, a rumbling ran through crowd of men gathered for the auction, and both Mac and Elizabeth turned to watch the crowd part as a man in black stalked angrily toward one man...Edward Quartermaine. As soon as she caught a glimpse of fiery blue eyes, she immediately recognised the man simmering with anger. And so apparently had Mac, who growled, "Morgan." Without a word of farewell, the sheriff was making his way toward Jason and his grandfather.

With Lulu in hand, Elizabeth moved forward, and stood on her tiptoes trying to see above a group of men who had just gathered around, but to no avail. However, she could clearly make out Jason's enraged voice, "Where the hell is she, Edward?!"

An older man's voice calmly replied, "I have no idea what you are talking about, Jason."

"You bastard! Where's Rebecca?!" The next thing Elizabeth heard was a collective outcry from the crowd, and then the sheriff's booming voice, "That's enough, Morgan. Let him go, now!"

In the next instant, the crowd once again parted as Mac and a few other men pulled Jason away from Edward Quartermaine. Elizabeth stepped closer and saw to her horror, the sheriff had his gun aimed at Jason, whose whole attention was still on his grandfather.

Mac growled at Jason, "I told you Morgan, if you caused any more trouble I'd be putting you in jail." Turning to the crowd he said, "Everyone here saw this man attack Edward Quartermaine."

"No."

Elizabeth's eyes widened as Edward Quartermaine stepped forward and said, "Release him immediately, sheriff."

Mac Scorpio's eyes narrowed as he asked, "What do you mean? He attacked you."

"It's a family affair, sheriff. Not a matter for the authorities. I would appreciate it if you would get your hands off my grandson." Edward said in his most haughty tone.

After a moment while the sheriff seemed to struggle with his own anger, Mac let Jason go. "You damn Quartermaines. No matter what happens, you still think you're better than the rest of us. But you'll see one of these days someone is goin' take you down." With this last angry threat, Mac stalked away.

Without even having acknowledged the departing sheriff, Jason leaned into Edward and threatened, "Listen old man, I'm going to say this only once. Rebecca better be back in that house tomorrow or you're a dead man."

Edward shrugged his shoulders. "Jason...threats are not necessary. You know what you need to do to see her. Just take over again."

"Grandfather!" yelled AJ, who had been standing off to the side. He moved towards Edward. "You're going to hand over everything to Jason? I won't let you!"

Edward laughed, "You don't have a say, AJ."

The dark haired man turned to his brother, grabbed his arm and spat out, "So once again you get everything? Is that why you came back?"

Pushing his brother's hand off his arm, Jason said, "I don't want a thing from this family, except Rebecca."

With that, he turned and started to walk away from his now arguing brother and grandfather. He could hear the whispers through the crowd, but he couldn't care less what they thought. The anger still burned in him and all his thoughts were consumed by his missing daughter. Where was she?

He was so lost in his rage and worry, it took a moment before his eyes fell on the wide-eyed woman standing a few feet away from him. She looked a lot less dishevelled this morning in a neat checkered blue and white smock, and her unruly curls tied away from her face. But he'd recognise her anywhere...Damn this was all he needed! It hadn't even been one whole day, and he was running into her again. But as her eyes met his...he saw something in her pansy eyes that caught his attention...worry...and sympathy?

As she searched his troubled eyes, Elizabeth felt her breath catch in her throat. Her thoughts were on the man's last words to Edward Quartermaine. Rebecca...that was the name of his daughter...Oh dear. Was his family still trying to prevent him from seeing his own daughter? Did he not even know where his daughter was? How horrible! As she felt a tug at her skirt, Elizabeth tore her gaze away from the man toward an agitated Lulu.

"Izzie!" The girls large eyes were shimmering with tears.

Kneeling down and giving the girl's hand a comforting squeeze, Elizabeth asked, "Yes, love? What's the matter?"

"Why were the men shouting?"

Over the Lulu's shoulder Elizabeth saw Jason stop a little distance away from them as his gaze rested on the little girl. She replied softly, "They had a little disagreement, Lulu. Like most adults do. It's nothing to worry about."

"I don't like it, Izzie. It's scary." Lulu leant forward and put her arms around Elizabeth's neck.

Hugging the girl back, Elizabeth said gently, "I know, love, but it's nothing to be scared of."

As he watched and listened to the scene, for the first time in a long while, Jason felt shame. Damn it...he should have thought there would be children about when he went after Edward. But the problem was he hadn't been thinking since the moment he had arrived at the ranch to find out, from a tearful Lila, that Rebecca and Eve had left the night before. After he had forced some of Edward's men to tell him where his grandfather was, he had come to the fair with the sole purpose of beating the location of his daughter out of Edward, if need be. However, the sheriff's grating presence had returned a little of his natural deadly calmness...but it hadn't stopped him from frightening this little girl.

Elizabeth was continuing, "Even such a nice man as your pa once and awhile loses his temper, right?"

The girl nodded.

Elizabeth took a deep breath and said, "Well, that man who was shouting...he's a nice man as well." Nice? Well...perhaps she was exaggerating a little. He was more on the frightening side. But from what little she knew of him thus far, she felt he was at least a good man. She pointed over Lulu's shoulder to Jason and said, "See, he's right there, and he isn't yelling any longer."

Lulu turned around and as she looked up at Jason, she stepped closer to Elizabeth, reaching for her hand.

Elizabeth stood up. She took a quick glance at the man before her, and nibbled on her lower lip in worry. His face was now unreadable. What was he thinking? Was he still angry about the previous evening? It felt awkward to just stand there, so she said in an unsteady voice, "G-good morning, Mr. Morgan. This is...this is Miss Lulu Spencer. Lulu this is Mr. Morgan."

Jason's eyes widened at the unexpected greeting and introduction. Then as he realised the two females were waiting for his reply, he said awkwardly, "Uh...good morning...Miss Webber." Then looking down at the little girl, he smiled slightly, and said, "Good morning, Miss Spencer."

Elizabeth blinked in surprise. Was that a smile on the man's face? It seemed to soften his harsh features...Why he looked rather human, almost handsome even...Elizabeth's face turned a bright red. Oh heavens, what was she thinking?!

After a moment as she looked up in fascination at the tall man with the strange blue eyes, Lulu smiled in return. "Hello."

Elizabeth watched in further astonishment as the man's blue eyes softened...

"Lizzie, Lulu?!"

Elizabeth turned around guiltily to find Lucky and Luke approaching them. At least her sister and grandmother were nowhere to be seen! She noticed the men's eyes widened as they looked past her to see Jason. Lucky's eyes went to her face as if to ask if she was alright. She smiled slightly in reassurance but then brought her eyes down to stare at the top of Lulu's dark head. It still hurt every time she looked at him...

As the two men came to a stop by the girls, Luke tousled Lulu's hair affectionately and holding out his other hand, he said, "Jason, I heard you were back! It's good to see you."

Accepting the firm handshake, Jason responded with a curt, "Luke, Lucky." He had always respected Luke Spencer. The man told the truth...which he had found to be a very rare thing.

Luke looked at Elizabeth and his daughter. "So I see you've met my Lulu and Lizzie. Ah...but you've already met Lizzie. Heard 'bout what you did for our Lizzie, here. That was a mighty fine thing to do, Jason. But I would expect nothin' else from you."

Jason didn't say anything as he glanced at Elizabeth. She was staring at the ground, and the hand that was not holding onto the little girl's was twisting a piece of her skirt.

Jason's tore his eyes away from her strange behaviour as he heard Lucky's voice. "Yep. It was a good thing you were there, sir. Beth's almost family and you have our gratitude for your helping her."

"Almost family? She is family, son. And why are you being so formal with Jason? You used to spend a lot of time with him when you were a lad."

"Pa you know what I mean...of course Beth's family but I mean once Sarah and I marry she'll be even more of a sister to me."

As the words came easily out of Lucky's mouth, Elizabeth felt the tears come to her eyes. Blinking furiously, she couldn't help but wish someone would just shoot her and put her out of her misery!

Jason took note of the girl's distress and mistook it as having something to do with his presence. "It was good seeing you Luke, Lucky." He smiled slightly at the little girl who reminded him of his own, and said gently, "Good day Miss Spencer."

Lulu still glued to Elizabeth's side, smiled and said shyly, "Bye."

Finally Jason looked down at Elizabeth's curls, and said, "Good day Miss Webber." He waited a moment wondering if she would ever lift her head again, when she finally met his gaze. He was surprised at the sadness he saw there. "Good bye, Mr. Morgan."

As he walked away from the four, Jason was more than a little surprised that this meeting with Miss Elizabeth Webber had gone by without incident. But it had been as unexpected as usual. Seeing her with that little girl had caught him off guard...she had been good with her. And he still couldn't believe she had called him "nice". That wasn't usually the first word that came to people's mind when they thought of Jason Morgan. She had said it to make the girl feel less frightened...the little girl, whose dark hair and blue eyes reminded him of his daughter. God where the hell was Rebecca? It was driving him crazy not knowing...He had to find her.

As Elizabeth quietly watched the man make his way through the crowd of folks on the fair grounds, she heard the distinct sound of her grandmother's voice. "And who was that young man?!"

As they turned around to find Audrey, Sarah and Laura standing there with a number of blue ribbons in their hands, Luke replied easily, "Why it was none other than Jason Morgan."

"Jason who?"

As she shaded her eyes to stare after the man, Sarah exclaimed in horror, "Oh heavens! It was him Grams. The one who knocked out Moreno's man."

Audrey's eyes widened, "Jason Quartermaine you mean. But he looked nothing like the boy."

Luke laughed, "As I said Audrey, he's not a boy."

"What was he doing here?"

Luke glanced at Elizabeth before answering, "Checking out the fair like the rest of us. Speaking of which, I do believe the steeplechase will be occurring soon. Let us find you ladies a place where you can have a good view of me crossing that finishing line first." Luke chuckled good-naturedly.

As she followed the group toward the outskirts of the fair grounds, once again Elizabeth found herself grateful to Luke. If he had told her that she and Jason had been speaking when Luke and Lucky had approached them...her grandmother would never give her a moments peace for the rest of the day.

While everyone around her was cheering on the men as the shot rang out to signal the beginning of the race, Elizabeth's mind was preoccupied with the argument she had witness between Jason had with Edward Quartermaine. It was horrible that a man was being kept away from his daughter, and the way his face had softened as he looked at Lulu, made her think he must be a good father. It was strange that she would think so, considering how terrifying she still found him...but she somehow knew he was. That poor little girl, Rebecca. Her mother was gone and now she was being kept away from her father. The whole situation was so very sad. Letting out a soft sigh, Elizabeth resigned herself to the fact that life could be very cruel, and there was very little she could do about it.

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