Kathryn was walking towards the stairs when she heard a horse coming toward the mission and the man riding was shouting out her grandmother's name in Scottish brogue. She looked towards the door as the man walked up the mission steps to the door. Could this be her father?

"Alice!" he shouted as he turned the knob on the door. Kathryn's heart was racing and she felt her stomach turning. "Alice I've just seen Ben Pentland. He said…" Neil turned and looked toward the stairs to see not a girl but a young woman. She was tall and slender, dressed much like Christy, with blonde hair and beautiful blue eyes. Neil was speechless he just stood there staring in wonder. He glanced between Kathryn and Alice. "What the blazes is going on Alice? Who is this girl?" He didn't know what to say. Kathryn stepped away from the stairs and looked at Neil smiling nervously.

"It's me, Katie. I've come home."

Neil looked at Alice who nodded her head.

"No, Katie's dead. She drowned."

"Papa it's me, Katie. Look I still have the ring you gave to me. You have to believe me. Its really me." Katie's words became faster and louder. She was becoming frantic. She ran to him holding out her hand.

He then looked down at Kathryn's hand. To his amazement it was the ring he had given to her. Tears were starting to form in his eyes. He stepped back and dropped her hands.

"Why are you here?" he said coldly with years of hurt behind it.

"I've come home papa. I want to be with you."

"Why did you leave if you had wanted to be with me so much? You're just like her. I wasn't good enough for either of you, was I?" His voice was taking on a harsher tone now.

She looked at him in horror. Why was he saying this to her? Hadn't her mother told him about her?

"I loved you with all my heart, papa. I didn't know why we were leaving. I was so upset. Mother told me that you didn't want us anymore. She said that you didn't love us and that we had to leave. I didn't want to go I wanted to stay here with you. We went to Atlanta where she left me at an orphanage. I was all alone in a strange place far away from you, home, and grandmother. I couldn't understand why you didn't love me anymore. I kept thinking that I must have done something wrong. Mother promised to come back for me but she never did and I never knew why. A doctor and his wife adopted me. They were very kind to me and I attended a fine school. He even trained me to be a nurse so I could help out at the office. Then mother came in to see Dr. Porter. That's when I found out that it was all a lie but she wouldn't give me any answers and she would let me help her. She was so sick, but I guess you saw that when she came. I never knew she came back here she never told me that."

Neil couldn't believe what he was hearing. How could Margaret have done this to their daughter? It was enough that she had left but to take their child and then abandon her. He was so angry with her.

"Papa, I still love you very much."

Neil was speechless. He had finally moved on and seeing his daughter for the first time was such a shock. This was more than Katie could take. She was already tired from train ride and seven mile hike and was emotionally drained. She couldn't take this much longer. She had to get some fresh air. She ran passed Neil and out the door and away from the mission as quickly as she could. This was a mistake. It was raining but she didn't care. It didn't matter to her if she was getting wet. Her world was being crushed again. This was not the homecoming she had expected.

Inside Neil just stood there as he was before. Alice quickly walked up to him.

"Neil, you're a fool. That child has been hurt the worst out of this whole situation. Margaret lied to the both of you. She abandoned her and made her feel unwanted, but she never stopped loving you. She's not Margaret, Neil. Don't blame Katie for Margaret's mistakes."

Neil knew she was right. This was his daughter, it had been the day he had dreamed of for so long and he had ruined it. He turned and walked outside. Neil looked around outside and couldn't see Katie. He began to worry, memories of the day she left came flooding back. He looked over and couldn't find her. He mounted Charlie and rode off to find her. I'm not letting her go this time.

She ran slipping in the mud every so often. She finally stopped and grabbed hold of a tree. She sank to the ground in sobs. Why did I come back? He really didn't want me.

Neil rode through the forest and it wasn't long before he heard crying. He looked to see her huddled up against a tree shivering. She was completely soaked with her hair undone and astray. He quickly dismounted. He ran to her, taking his coat off on the way. He put it around her, grabbed her, and held her tight. It was long and it felt so good for her to be in his strong arms again. She had missed him so much. She threw her arms around him.

"Papa, I'm so sorry. I've missed you so much." She said through tears.

"No Katie, I'm sorry. It wasn't your fault at all. I was a fool back there. Can you ever forgive me lass?"

She loved to her him call her that once again. "Of course Papa."

"I love you so much lass."

"I love you too Papa." still holding on to her father.

"Let's get you in and warm you up."

He picked her up in his strong arms and placed her in the saddle in front. She was still shivering.