The Thornton dinner was definitely loud, as Abbie had said, but it was also wonderful and, at the same time, it made Harrison homesick for his own family.
"You're quiet," she told him as they walked back to the boarding house, her hand tucked in his elbow.
"Sorry."
"Did one of my brothers say something? Ma said she told them to be nice."
"They were fine."
"My dad?"
"Abbie, it's fine."
"Did you change your mind? I knew this dinner would be too much."
"Abbie, has anyone ever told you that you worry too much?"
"No."
"I find that hard to believe."
"Honestly. I don't normally worry. I just let things happen or I make plans and follow through."
"What changed then?"
"I met you."
"I make you worry? Why?" She didn't answer right away, so he stopped and turned. "Abbie, I don't want to be the cause for you to worry."
"Then you are going to have to stop being so wonderful."
"What?" he asked with a chuckle.
"I don't want to lose you when I just found you," she said quietly.
"There you go worrying again." He touched her cheek with his fingertip. "Abbie, five of my six brothers are married. Three of those already have children. I've wanted what they all have for so long." He kissed her forehead, leaving his lips there for a moment. "I see you in my future, Abbie. I want you there and I don't want to lose you either." He noticed her eyes flick from his eyes to his mouth and then back again. Instead of indulging her, he took her hand and started walking again. "As far as being quiet, being with your family, made me miss mine a lot. Its not a bad thing. It just means we need to try harder to get together more often."
"Who lives closest?"
"My brother, Hugo and his wife, Georgia. They live in Alberta."
"So, will you go visit them?"
"Not right away. I just started my job. Maybe at Christmas. Maybe I could talk my mom and Holly into going too."
"I would love to meet them."
"My mom will love you."
"I hope so." He led her up the porch steps to the front door.
"Thank you for inviting me, Abbie."
"You're welcome."
He bent down and kissed her cheek. "See you in the morning?"
"I'll be the one with the coffee."
….
BACK AT THE RANCH
Cam looked at Kiki, sitting next to him on the swing. She looked beautiful, her blond hair hanging gently over one shoulder. They'd been courting now for six months and he'd forced himself not to kiss her. They needed to wait, or at least that's what he told himself. Now that they were both fifteen, they each had one year of school before he left for college and medical school. The only problem was, when he thought of leaving her for so long, his heart physically hurt him.
"Cam?"
"Yeah."
"I don't want you to go but it's getting late."
"Ok. Are you working with Abbie tomorrow?"
"No, I'm here. I'm watching the kids while Dad and Mom go riding."
"Do you want some company?"
"You're not working at the clinic with your Dad?"
"Not tomorrow."
"Sure, you can come over."
"Great." He stood, pulling her with him. He wrapped his arms around her for a brief moment and then kissed her forehead. "See you in the morning then."
"Ok. Goodnight."
…..
Kiki opened the door and headed into the kitchen.
"Hey, babe."
"Hey, Mom."
"Cam left?"
"Yes. Am I just ugly?"
"What? Of course not!"
"Do I stink?"
"Kiki."
"Seriously, Mom. Are my teeth crooked or do I have a wart I'm not aware of?"
Elizabeth laughed at her daughter. She wasn't ugly at all. She was beautiful, even if rather blunt. "Kiki, what is this about?"
"He won't kiss me. I don't understand why, but after almost seven months of courting, a kiss on the forehead feels like I'm courting my brother."
"Oh."
"Oh?"
"Well, maybe he's just going slow. I'm sure he realizes that you can't get married for awhile so he doesn't want to rush things." In her mind, a little rushing wouldn't be horrible.
Kiki nodded and kissed Elizabeth's cheek. "Love you, Ma. I'll see you in the morning."
"Kiki. Your father would probably hate what I'm about to ask you but have you thought about kissing him first?"
"Of course I've thought about it. I just wonder if he would want me to do that."
"I think it's a safe bet. Honestly, back when your father and I were first courting, the man was the one to start things. Now, times are different. Even here in Harris Town."
"Um, Cam is going to help me watch the boys and Lydie tomorrow, just to let you know."
"That's fine, but I don't want both of you upstairs together at any time. Got it?"
"Got it. Don't worry, Mom. It will probably be years before he kisses me."
…..
Kiki tried to make herself more presentable the next morning. Taking extra time with her hair, putting a touch of makeup on. "Whatcha doin?" Lydie asked from her bed.
"Getting ready for the day, something you need to be doing too, little sister."
"How come I don't look like you or Mama or Daddy?"
Kiki figured the question would come up in the near future. "Did you ask Mama or Daddy that question?"
"No. I want you to tell me."
Kiki sat down on the bed next to her and pulled her onto her lap. "Well, Mama told you and Charlie that you're adopted, right?"
"Yep. I don't know what that means."
"It means that you had another Mama and Daddy before the ones you have now."
"Why don't I have them anymore?"
"I think Mama or Daddy should tell you that answer. You and Charlie. But I want you to listen to me first, ok?"
"Yep."
"What you look like on the outside doesn't matter. It's what's in your heart. And in you're heart, you are Lydie Thornton and you belong with us. You and Charlie."
"Ok."
"I love you, Lydie."
"I love you too, Kiki."
"Good, now let's go make breakfast."
….
Cam walked into the Thornton house and immediately smelled bacon and eggs. His stomach rumbled and he smiled when he heard all the loud familial noises that he associated with the family. Lydie giggled. Charlie and Bradley talked loudly. Kiki cooking at the stove in her apron.
"Good morning, everyone."
"Cam! Let's go fishing!" Charlie told him.
"I'm sure that can be arranged as long as Kiki is ok with it."
"Sure. We can take a picnic."
"Yay!" Charlie and Bradley said together.
Jack and Elizabeth walked into the room then. "Ok, everyone. We will be back around dinner time. Be good for Kiki and Cam." She went and stood over Bradley and Charlie. "Got it boys? They are in charge."
"Yes, Ma."
"Thank you." She kissed their heads and then Kiki and Lydie's cheek. "Have a good day," she told Kiki with a wink.
…..
Jack took Elizabeth's hand as they walked out to saddle their horses. "Did you know Cam was coming over today?"
"Kiki told me last night. I told her it was ok, but they couldn't both go upstairs at the same time."
"I don't know if they should be there without us."
"Honey, they are fifteen and they have three little chaperones. We have to trust them sometime."
When they walked in the barn, she realized he was going to be distracted all day if she didn't get his mind on something else. She pulled his fingers and led him over to the empty stall.
"Babe, what are we doing?"
"Shhh." She smiled and pushed him gently against the wall, kissing him just enough to distract him. "I think that we need to concentrate on us today."
"I'm sorry. I just worry about…"
"Jack, you worry way too much. They are going to be fine. I have it on good authority he hasn't even kissed her yet."
"That's good."
"I, personally, would like to think about us right now. After all that's what today is about, right?"
"Yes. You're right. Let's get saddled up."
"Well, I was thinking maybe we could do a little kissing of our own first. What do you think?"
…..
LATER, AT THE POND
Kiki sat against the tree by the pond, enjoying the breezy summer warmth. Lydie sat next to her because she didn't like fishing.
"Kiki?"
"Yes?"
"Are you gonna marry Cam?"
"Someday maybe."
"Do you like him?"
"Yes, very much."
"I don't think I want to get married."
"Why not?"
"Cause I don't ever want to kiss a boy. It looks squishy."
Kiki giggled at her sister. "It does."
"Is it? Squishy?"
"I wouldn't know, Lyd."
"You don't kiss Cam?"
"No. We've never kissed."
The girls didn't know the boys could hear them, or at least Cam. He didn't think the younger boys were paying attention.
Cam's ears perked up when he heard Lydie say the words "kiss" and "Cam" in the same sentence. If he wasn't mistaken, he heard a bit of sadness in her voice when she told Lydie they hadn't kissed.
After fishing for awhile, he walked over and sat under the tree where Lydie and Kiki now dozed. He slipped his arm around Kiki. She moved so she was leaning on his shoulder. He could smell her strawberry scented shampoo and it filled him so he took a few deep breaths.
"Are you smelling my hair, Cam Beckley?" she said with a giggle.
"I thought you were asleep."
"I was but I woke up." She tilted her head slightly and looked up at him. "Done fishing?"
"I am. The boys are still going."
She slipped her hand into his and sighed. "I like having you sitting with me."
"I like it too." He looked down at her and kissed her hair.
She sighed. Such a brotherly gesture. She wanted a boyfriend gesture, more around the vicinity of her mouth.
"Cam?" She looked up at him again. His lips were mere inches away. All she had to do was sit up a bit and…
"Kiki! Look at this fish!" Charlie yelled. He held up a good size catfish.
"Good job, Charlie. You boys want lunch?"
So once again, Kiki didn't get kissed. It was close but with little brothers around…
…..
That evening, Harrison walked into the boarding house kitchen without a smile on his face. He actually had tears in his eyes.
"Hey," Abbie greeted walking up to him. "What's wrong?" He sat down and cried.
"Harrison?" She knelt down and hugged him, not knowing what else to do. He wrapped her in his arms, taking her comfort willingly.
After a few moments, he took a telegram out of his pocket and handed it to her, unable to form the words. She took it from his hands, her hand covering her mouth as she read the words.
TO: HARRISON YATES
FROM: HOLLY YATES, BOSTON MASSACHUSETTS
HARRY, MOM PASSED TWO DAYS AGO. PLEASE COME. I'M ALL ALONE
HOLLY
"Harrison, I'm so sorry."
"I can't go, Abbie. I can't close the bank. What am I supposed to do?"
"Do any of your brothers live close to her? That can bring her here?"
"Henry is the closest to her but he lives in Toronto." He shook his head and sighed. "I can't believe she's gone. I didn't even know she was sick."
"I'm so sorry." She stood on her knees and hugged him again, realizing at that moment that she loved him. She didn't know it was possible to know that soon, but she did, and she needed to help him. "I wish Caleb was still here. I am going to ask my Dad. He might know a Mountie that can somehow get to your sister. Let's go see him."
