A/N- Hey I am posting a large chapter due to the fact that I may not be able to update for a while, and we are not going anywhere seeing as there is ice covering all of our roads. Yippee....not. For those of you who asked, yes I am from the south, Tennessee actually. Thanks to everyone who reviewed, and gave me pointers. I really appreciate it. Hope you have a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS! On with the show.

- Mackenzie Plantation- 3:35-

Sarah walked across the property, and headed towards the stables. She stopped at the door and listened to the deep familiar voice. She smiled warmly as memories of that voice began to flash across her mind. She cautiously stepped inside, as not to make herself noticed. She looked across the stable and saw him standing in front of one of the stalls. He was talking to one of their horses, rubbing its nose trying to soothe it. Sarah stood and watched him with ease for what seemed like forever. He felt as if someone was watching him, so he turned around. When he saw her his eyes lit up with happiness.

"Excuse me miss, can I help you?" he said acting as if he had no idea who she was.

She laughed and decided to play along. "Yes I was looking for a Mr. Harmon Rabb Sr. Do you know where I could find him?"

"Yes I know him, but I regret to inform you that he is busy at the moment. Can I tell him who called?"

"Yes you may tell him that a Miss Sarah Mackenzie called, or he may be know me as 'little Mac'."

He could not hold back his laughter anymore, and it all came flowing out. "Oh come over here girly, and give your old Uncle Rabb a hug." She smiled and ran over to him. He gave her a fierce hug, then relented and looked at her. "My, my." he said as he shook his head. "You can't be that scrawny little girl that left here. I mean you look practically grown up."

She blushed "It was only four years."

His face turned from one of pure joy to soft pain. "It seemed like a lifetime to me." He sighed, then the sadness dissipated, and he was quickly filled with joy once again. "So are you still my 'little Mac'?"

She nodded "The very one." She looked around the stable; feeling as if something or someone was missing from the joyous reunion. She finaly realized who was missing. "Where is Harm?" she inquired.

"Oh Harm is away right now, but he will be back sometime this week." He looked at her eyes as they became shadowed by sadness. "Don't you worry any little Mac. He'll come back, and then the two of you will have all summer to get caught up." He gently laid his ruff hand on her face, and she took great comfort in his touch. "Now you come and help me take care of this new horse, and while we do that you can tell meall about Philadelphia."

She smiled and eagerly went with him. For some reason she felt more excited about telling him what she had been doing for the past four years, then she had about telling her father. She just assumed that it was because he had always been more fatherly towards her than her own father. True she loved her father, but when she was small he was more of an authoritative figure, and her uncle Rabb was the one who made her tears go away, he was the one who would always comfort her. She began to wonder where Harm could possibly be, but she quickly forgot all about that as she began to retell the highlights of the past four years.

Sarah had been home for a little over a week, and things were slowly slipping back into a somewhat normal pattern. She sat in their library on a beautiful Wednesday morning reading a delightful book, when there was a knock on the closed Oak door. She closed her book, laid it down on the couch, where she had previously been residing, and slowly went to open the door. "Martha." she said a little surprised. "What is it?"

Martha had a goofy smile plastered on her face, and she quickly shoved a small white envelope into Sarah's hands. "This just came for you."

Sarah looked it over carefully before opening it. "It's an invitation to Emily Grace Morganson's coming out party." She looked up at the happy face of Martha. Sarah sighed and walked back over to the couch. She lightly fell to the sofa and rested with her hands in her lap staring at the letter.

"Pardon me miss, but shouldn't you be excited?" Martha was confused by the young girl's reaction. Most girls would be ecstatic about the invitation.

"Martha I am seventeen, I have no beau , and not just that I would feel awkward with no one to escort me."

"No one to escort you. What did you think? I would let you go alone." She looked up to see her father standing where Martha had been.

"Daddy you should not have to escort me, but I ..."

She was stopped in mid sentence by her father's finger. "I understand, and once you see all the people you know, I'm sure you will not need me; although, you will need a new dress."

Her eyes lit up as he stood and went into the hall only to return with a large white box. He placed it on her lap, and she eagerly opened it. She gasped as she pulled out a beautiful lavender dress. It had off the shoulder sleeves, with a square neckline.

"Oh daddy I love it!" She laid the dress down, and gave him a hug. "Thank you." she said as she pulled back.

He smiled warmly at her. " Well I never got to spoil you while you were away, so I am making up for lost time." he chuckled. She stood on her tiptoes and gave him a feathery kiss on his well shaven cheek.

"I am going to show Martha." she giggled like a little school girl as she quickly left the room. Her father smiled as he picked up her book and relocated it to its proper place on the shelf.

Three days went by, and it was finally the evening of the party. Sarah had been preparing herself most of the day. Normally she would have cared little about what she looked like, but since she had lived in Philadelphia she found herself taking more interest into her appearance. Joe Mackenzie tapped his foot then looked at his pocket watch. He was sure they were going to be unfashionably late. Just when he was about to go say something to her she appeared at the top of the stairs. "Sarah you look magnificent."

She stepped off the last step and took his awaiting arm. "Thank you daddy. You look quite handsome yourself."

He fatherly kissed her forehead. "Why thank you my dear. Now shall we go before the party is over?" she playfully slapped his arm.

"Yes we shall." With that they went outside, climbed into the carriage, and were whisked away to the party.

-Morganson Household- 8:30-

Sarah was thoroughly enjoying the party; even though she did not know as many people as she had hoped. She felt better knowing that her father was there keeping an eye on her. Unbeknownst to her there was another pair of eyes that had been discretely watching her all evening. Just as she had gotten lost in conversation with Harriet, and some of her friends, who were admiring Harriet's engagement ring, there was a light tap on her shoulder. She politely turned around.

"Excuse me Miss Mackenzie, but I was wandering if I might have the pleasure of the next dance with you? That is if someone does not already have that space on your card filled."

She was captured by his beautiful blue-green eyes. He was tall, broad shouldered, and appeared to be very distinguished. They had never met before, not that she could recall, but in a way he seemed so familiar. She realized that he was still waiting for a reply, and she embarrassingly blushed then looked at her card.

"No one is filled in for this dance, so it looks like it belongs to you."

"Excellent." he said as he gently extended his arm. She took it with ease; feeling comfortable with him. "Excuse us ladies." he said to the group of young girls who stood there starry-eyed.

They began to slowly dance in time with the music, and she again found herself lost in his enchanting eyes. 'Those eyes, where have I seen them before?' Realizing that he knew her name, but had given no hint to his own, she decided to ask him.

"Excuse me, but I don't believe that I got your name."

"It could possibly be because I did not give it to you." he said in a smart tone.

Sarah had a quick temper, and he was not helping it. She wanted to know his name, and was in no mood to play games, so she got straight to the point. "Do I know you?" she asked trying to be somewhat polite.

He smiled down at her as if he had some juicy secret that she was not privy to. "No, but I know you." he shook his head and laughed a little. "Yes, I know you very well. I know that your favorite color is red, that you sleep with your window cracked, even though you are told not to. I know where you keep your diary hidden, I know why you left four years ago, I also know how irritating you can be when you are arguing your point and you realize you are wrong." The last comment came with a friendly tone. He sighed and looked into her eyes filled with anger, confusion, and so many other emotions. "I know just about everything about you Mac." She jumped slightly at her nickname coming from this stranger's mouth. There was no hesitation when he said it.It came out almost like it was second nature to him. The song ended and they slowly came to a stop. "Well thank you for the dance." He said as he slowly began to turn away.

"Wait! Will I ever see you again?"

He turned back to face her, and kindly took her hand. "We shall see." he said in a deep smooth voice. Their eyes locked, and he gently kissed the top of her gloved hand, his eyes never straying form hers. With that he bowed his head and left. She stood in utter confusion. One minute she wanted to get lost in his eyes, the next she wanted to smack him for being so rude. She sighed and turned to go find her father. It was late, she was exhausted, and ready to go home.

A/N- There you go. One giant chapter. Hope you enjoy!