Thanks to my first reviewer, Guest, who signed with a B! Your review was a great encouragement to me. I hope you enjoy this next chapter. Also, can you think of a better title? "The Greatest Conspiracy Ever!" doesn't sound quite right to me. Thanks! :)

"Mandie!"

Mandie opened her arms just in time to receive Celia'a exuberant hug. It hadn't been long since they had parted at school for Christmas break, but Celia was bubbling over with excitement.

"Mandie, I have the most wonderful news!" she cried, seizing her friend's hands after giving Joe a warm greeting. She turned her head to beckon Robert forward. "We're engaged!"

A huge grin spread across Mandie's face. "I'm so happy for you!" she squealed and threw her arms around Celia's neck.

"Congratulations!" Joe grinned, pumping Robert's hand. "Have you set the date yet?"

"No, but it will be after Celia and I graduate in the spring."

The four young people gathered the bags and then sat down in the station a few moments to wait for the Guyers' arrival.

"What time are Jonathan and his father supposed to arrive?" Joe asked as he seated himself next to Mandie.

"They should be on the next train." Mandie pushed back her hat and smiled.

Joe frowned slightly. The old jealousy toward the New York boy still surfaced occasionally.

"How is college, Joe?" Celia asked him.

The young man nodded. "The studies are coming along well. I'm on schedule to graduate in the spring."

"Where do you intend to practice law?"

Mandie looked up at him, realizing that she didn't know what his answer would be. He heart beat a little faster. What if he ended up in some faraway city? Stop it, Amanda Shaw. He can't move much further away than he is now in New Orleans.

"I don't know yet." was Joe's reply. "I've considered setting up in a smaller city like Franklin or Bryson City, but I've been thinking that a place like Nashville or Charleston or New Orleans might be better."

"Have you prayed about it?" The words were out of Mandie's mouth before she even realized she was saying them. She blushed.

Celia and Robert stopped and looked at Mandie. Joe stared down at her, his eyes registering amazement and then admiration. "Thanks, Mandie! I will pray about it."

Mandie turned an ever brighter shade of red. The three others went on chatting about one thing or another, but Mandie was quietly watching for the train now. It came only a few minutes later, and she jumped up, letting go of Joe's hand.

"The train's arrived. Let's go see if Mr. Guyer and Jonathan were on it." Mandie suggested. The others agreed, and they reached the platform to find the Guyers just stepping off the train.

"Mandie!" Jonathan yelled when he saw them. Seconds later they were shaking hands all around, and then piling into the waiting carriage for the drive home. In the confusion, Joe managed to secure a seat beside Mandie again, with Celia on her other side.

"Hey." Jonathan said when the carriage started, fishing in his pocket. "I have someone I want you to meet." Everyone but his father, who chuckled, began to stare at him.

In your pocket? Mandie was thinking.

"I've lost my heart to a girl..." Jonathan continued, fishing out a small photograph and showing it to them. "This is not her, however."

Mandie almost opened her mouth to scold him.

"This is only a picture of her. And it doesn't do her justice—she's much more pretty in person." he grinned impishly.

"Jonathan Guyer!" Celia exclaimed, laughing. "Will you ever grow out of your pranks?"

"Perhaps, under Ellen's training hand, I may." he laughed, "We're engaged, but she couldn't come along this time."

"That's a pity." Mandie said, her eyes twinkling. "If she had, you might behave better."

Everyone chuckled at this, and Jonathan put on a fake injured expression.

"If you didn't want pranks, Miss Shaw, then may I ask why you invited me?" he sniffed, winking at her.

"Oh, perhaps I really wanted your father to come, and only invited you for politeness' sake." she teased.

Jonathan gave a injured sniff and then grinned.

"Celia and I am engaged as well." Robert put in, a little shyly.

"Wonderful!" the elder Mr. Guyer exclaimed. "My congratulations to you both."

Both blushing young people nodded their thanks, just as the carriage arrived at the Shaw home.

That night Celia and Mandie lay awake talking.

"It's so wonderful to have you here, Celia." Mandie said.

"I'm so glad you invited me, and that you didn't mind Robert coming along as well, seeing how full this house is going to be over Christmas." Celia replied.

Mandie laughed. "It will be overflowing! But Robert is just as welcome as any others of our friends. Y'all know that."

Celia giggled. "So who all is coming, and when are they all getting here?"

"Sallie and Dimar are coming tomorrow, but Morning Star is sick and Uncle Ned is staying with her." Mandie counted on her fingers. "Tommy declined the invitation. He's spending the holidays with some of his relatives. Mary Lou is coming in tomorrow. You and Robert and Jonathan and Joe are here, and I think that's everybody."

"What about George?"

"He couldn't make it."

"Mandie, how do you feel about George and Mary Lou?" Celia asked.

"You mean about their engagement?"

"Yes."

"George is a nice young man, but I had no intention of marrying him, Celia. He and Mary Lou make the perfect couple, I think it's wonderful!" Mandie exclaimed, with a wide smile. Celia studied her friend intently, trying to determine if she was sincere or not. Mandie laughed. "I really do mean it, Celia!"

Celia's face relaxed and she laughed. "I'm sorry, Mandie, I just have trouble deciding if you're serious or not."

Mandie decided it was time to change the subject. "Are you really excited about your wedding?"

Celia blushed. "I always thought I would be crazy with excitement if I ever got engaged."

"Well, aren't you?"

"A little, but not nearly as much as I expected to be."

"So, how do you feel, then?"

"Just calm, and very happy!" the red color mounted in Celia's cheeks.

Mandie smiled and yawned, "If I ever get engaged, I expect I'll have my head in the clouds all the time."

Celia giggled. "I could see that, Mandie," she teased. "Calm, happy, practical Joe, engaged to a dreamy M-"

Mandie turned red and hit Celia over the head with a pillow."Celia Hamilton!"

Her friend yawned innocently. "Shall we get some sleep now? There's a lot to do tomorrow. Lots of excitement!" Celia giggled.

Neither could have known just how much excitement—and danger!—there would be.