On Saturday afternoon, Rebecca and Jason, and two other children from school, Millie and Timmy Wilkes, were brought out to the

ranch and dropped off by their parents. They joined the Lancer family, along with Mr. Beets, for Charlie's birthday celebration. A long table had been

set up outdoors, and they ate fried chicken, and deviled eggs. There were two pies, blackberry and apple, and a three layer

chocolate cake with candles.

Johnny lit the candles, and Charlie stood, and everyone sang Happy Birthday to her, before she blew out all

eleven candles, successfully.

Murdoch had suggested the gifts the family had for Charlie be given later, privately, when the guests had gone

home. That way, he explained to Charlie, if her friends weren't able to bring a gift, then they wouldn't feel embarrassed,

or awkward.

Millie and Timmy, though, had brought Charlie a game as a gift. The game of Knurr and Spell. Charlie had heard of the game,

but had never played it. The ball, made of canvas, which was termed the "Knurr", was hit by a stick that had a flat end. The object of

the game being to hit the ball further than any other player.

Rebecca gave Charlie some drawing pencils, and from Jason there was a hand-carved dog, that he had done himself.

After Charlie had opened her gifts, and everyone had enjoyed some of the desserts, the five children went to

the side yard, and played a noisy game of Knurr and Spell. After that, the boys continued to play, while Charlie, Rebecca

and Millie took turns on Charlie's swing.

When Rebecca and Jason's father came to collect them in his wagon, he also took Minnie and Timmy, to drop them

off at their home.

Charlie saw her guests off, with Murdoch and Scott standing with her.

"Quite a successful party, hmm?" Murdoch asked her.

"Yes. It was the best afternoon I've ever had!" Charlie said, with enthusiasm.

"The best? Well, that is something indeed," Murdoch said, looking amused.

"I wish it didn't have to end," Charlie said.

"Well, the day's not over quite yet," Scott reminded her. "You still have this evening with all of us. It just might be

that you get another present or two."

Charlie beamed at him, her dimples showing. She ran to find Johnny, who was sitting beside Mr. Beets outside, under

the shade of a tree, to coax him to push her on the swing.

"You know how to swing yourself, pequeno," Johnny chided.

"But you can push me higher than I can make myself go," Charlie reminded him. "Please?"

"Five minutes only," Johnny told her. "And then you're on your own."

Johnny went along with her, while Scott and Murdoch took empty chairs to join Beets. The three men watched as Johnny

pushed Charlie to what seemed perilous heights.

"She's certainly enamoured with that swing," Beets said.

"It's her current favorite thing to do," Scott said, watching Charlie and Johnny with a smile at the corner of his mouth.

As they continued to watch, and as Johnny's pronounced 'five minutes' turned into much longer than that, Mr.

Beets began to speak.

"Things appear to be going very well," Beets said, looking to Scott.

Scott gave a nod. "They are. A few bumps along the way, but, for the most part, very well."

"I cannot tell you how pleased I am to hear that," Beets said. He looked out at Charlie again, flying high in

her swing. "And, too, pleased to see it. It's obvious that she's happy."

Scott nodded again. "She seems to be."

"What are you thinking, Scott?" Beets asked now, his gaze direct. "Any second thoughts about taking Charlotte on?"

"No," Scott said, swiftly. "Not at all."

"I'm asking, son, that's all," Beets said. "I wouldn't judge you if you said you'd had a moment or more where you wondered

what you'd gotten into."

Scott met the older man's eye. "I have no regrets."

Beets nodded in acknowledgement. "How about you, Murdoch? Have you adjusted to having a child in the house

full time?"

Murdoch chuckled. "It's been eventful since Charlie arrived. But, I find that I enjoy having her running in and out of the house. Having

an opportunity to spend time with her." He smiled at Beets. "I'd say the adjustment for all of us is progressing well."

"Wonderful," Beets said, sounding satisfied, as Johnny came striding back over to join them.

At this point, Charlie was standing in the swing, her hands wrapped around the rope, and swinging herself in the

standing position.

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Supper was a simple meal. Maria had prepared it, and then gone home to her own family. Before she left, she

presented Charlie was an apron. Hand-stitched by Maria herself, it had blue birds around the edge, and was made to

fit Charlie's small frame. No longer would Charlie have to wear a sizes too large apron, wrapped doubly around her waist.

"Thank you," Charlie said, giving the older woman a hug. "Gracious."

"Es hora de que tengas tu propia," Maria said. It is time you have your own.

When the family had finished supper, and gathered in the library, they ate more birthday cake, and then

Charlie received her other gifts.

Teresa gave her a new quilt for her bed, one that was bright yellow, with blue flowers. Murdoch gave her drawing paper, and

some paints. From Beets, she received a Louisa May Alcott book, 'Eight Cousins'.

Johnny and Scott together presented her with a new saddle. It was the finest saddle that Charlie had

ever seen.

It was a bit smaller than the one she'd been using, and was more in fitting Charlie's smaller build. It had a nickel horn, and

brass conchos.

Charlie was so shocked at the beauty of it, at the opulence, that she found she had no words. A fact which Johnny made quick

note of.

"I think she's speechless," he said, with a grin. "That's gotta be a first, huh, Scott?"

"Definitely a first," Scott agreed.

Charlie reached her hand out, and ran her fingers over the nickel horn, and then the conchos.

"It's too pretty to use," she said, her eyes still wide with wonder.

"Well, we didn't get it so that it could sit and gather dust in the barn," Johnny said. "It's meant to be used."

"I don't know what to say," Charlie said, looking up at both of them.

"Well, do you like it?" Johnny asked, teasingly. "Start by saying that."

"I love it," Charlie said, and then, overcome with the emotion of the day, and the wondrousness of the saddle, she

turned, and pressed her face into Scott's side, tears flowing.

The family exchanged looks over her bent head, and Scott ran his hand over her hair.

"I never had a birthday like this," she said, her voice muffled.

Instead of telling her to stop her tears, or otherwise calling a halt to her emotion, Scott wrapped both arms around

her, and said, quietly, "It's alright, Charlie."

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Later, still looking over her saddle, and touching it reverently, Johnny explained to her, "These are ox bow stirrups."

"What are they?" Charlie asked, puzzled.

"Instead of the ball of your foot sitting here, across the base of the stirrup," he showed her, "It's the arch of your foot that does."

"How come?" she asked.

"It helps you to maintain your ridin' position," Johnny explained. "The better the ridin' position, the less likely you are to

lose your balance and come off your horse."

"Oh," Charlie said, a little breathily, and looking properly impressed. "Can I try it tomorrow?"

"After church, in the afternoon, you can," Scott told her.

When it was time for bed, Charlie gave a hug to everyone in the room, including Mr. Beets. The banker looked

surprised, but very definitely not displeased at Charlie's display of affection.

"I've been wanting that very book that you gave me," she said.

"I'm very glad," he told her.

"Thank you for being here, for my birthday," Charlie told him.

"I'm glad to have been included." Beets said.

Charlie gathered up her new quilt, the book from Beets, and the drawing supplies from Murdoch, and then paused at

the doorway of the library to look back.

"Can you bring my saddle up to my room?" she asked, in a general way, looking at Johnny and Scott both.

"What for?" Scott asked, looking surprised.

"Yeah, pequeno, it's not like you can take your horse up there and try the saddle out," Johnny told her, with a grin.

"I just want to look at it some more, before I go to sleep," Charlie said.

Scott hesitated, only for a moment, and saw his father give just the barest nod of his head.

"Alright," Scott said. "I'll be up with it in just a bit."

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Scott carried the saddle up, and sat it on the window seat. Charlie had been sitting on her bed, looking over her

drawing supplies from Murdoch, and leafing thru the pages of her new book. When Scott had set the saddle down, she

pushed the other things aside, and got up, going over to the window seat.

"I still can't believe it," she said, sitting down beside the saddle, and running her hands over it. "It's the best present

anybody ever got. Ever."

Scott gave her a smile. "I'm glad you're so happy."

Charlie stood up again, and came to stand just in front of Scott. "It's not just the saddle," she said, looking up

at him, her expression earnest. "It's everything-that made it such a special day. Nobody ever did anything like this

before for me. Gave me a special day just because it was my birthday."

Scott cupped a hand around the back of her neck. "You deserve it," he said.

"Nobody ever thought so," she said. It was said in a matter-of-fact way, not as though she was asking for pity. "Not before

I came here."

"I'll bet your parents made your birthday special," he said, as a reminder.

"Maybe so," Charlie agreed. "I don't remember, though. That's why today is so spectacular."

Scott smiled a little. "Spectacular, huh?" he asked.

"That's the best word I can think of," Charlie said.

"Well, if it fits the way you feel, then it's the right word," Scott said.

He looked toward the bed, which was already covered with the new yellow quilt from Teresa.

"That looks nice," he said.

At Charlie's nod, he added, "Time for you to be getting to sleep."

"Okay," Charlie said, sounding reluctant. She gave the saddle one last touch and went to climb up onto her bed, and under

the quilt. Scott picked up the book, and the drawing supplies, and laid them on the night table.

"We don't have to read tonight," Charlie said, sitting up, her legs folded under the quilt.

"You don't want to?" Scott asked.

"I just thought we could talk, for a little while, instead," Charlie said.

"Alright," Scott said, and sat down on the edge of the bed, facing her.

Charlie studied his face, her eyes full of emotion. She seemed to be searching for words, and Scott

studied her, just as contemplatively.

"What is it, Charlie?" he asked her, quietly.

"I'm glad I'm here. At Lancer." Charlie sat up very straight, her hands folded in her lap.

"Everybody in this house is glad you're here," Scott said.

Charlie gave a small smile. "Thanks," she said. She bit at her bottom lip. "I want to say something," she said.

Scott waited, his eyes kind.

"I know you're still real young, and all," Charlie began. "Too young to be really my father. But, that's how I think of

you, you know. Like you're my father."

Scott was silent for a long, long few moments. He could feel his heart pumping harder thru his chest.

"Oh, Charlie," he said, finally, with a sigh.

"It's okay if you don't feel the same-" Charlie said, in a rush. "I mean, if you don't feel like that about me-"

"Charlie-"

"I would understand-" Charlie kept on.

"Charlie," Scott said again, louder, and she subsided, looking at him out of wide eyes. Eyes full of worry, and

hope.

"I feel the same," he said.

"You do?" Charlie asked.

"Come here," he said, and pulled her over, her legs coming out from beneath the quilt. He held her tightly,

his chin resting on the top of her head.

"I got some medals, you know, in the army," he said. "But, you telling me that you think of me as your father, that's

the highest honor I've ever gotten."

Charlie raised her head to look up at him.

"So, it's alright? That I think of you that way?" she asked.

Scott rested his chin on her head again. "It's very definitely alright."

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