When Nate and Lucy returned they were greeted with a welcome and of course another stereotypical "Will and Elizabeth story": An almost abduction, a long lost father returning, and a treasure entrusted in the Turner's care.

After Lucy's initial reaction with mouth agape, she sat back and shook her head in disbelief.

"Unbelievable…" she quietly stated. "How does all of this seem to happen to you?"

Elizabeth smiled and shrugged. Lucy turned to Nathan. "Well haven't you got something to say to all that?"

Nate paused. "Are you going to continue working?"

Lucy rolled her eyes.

Will looked to Elizabeth and nodded. "Yes I was planning on it. Of course money isnt an issue now. I would happily work without pay, maybe that way you can find another apprentice."

This reassurance relaxed the once tensed Nathan, who desperately needed Will's skill with a hammer.

"Oh Elizabeth! I must show you the dress I bought while in Bloomsburg. You should wear it sometime, the color would look stunning on you." She said while standing and taking the young woman's hand.

Elizabeth smiled and stood with her. "That would be lovely. But we'd better try it on quick before I get any bigger!" she exclaimed, gesturing towards her middle.

Will smiled and looked unknowingly loving upon her. He had noticed how she would imagine certain things such as her stomach growing, or the baby moving. Of course she wasn't far enough along for the baby to kick but he had noticed a slight difference in her lower abdomen. Normally her flat stomach is perfectly flush and even indented from her hipbones, now it had become considerably firm and raised ever so slightly. To someone who was oblivious to her pregnancy they would have found no difference, but to Will's perfectly trained eye to his only love, they both agreed the changes had begun. He was pulled from his thoughts by his wife's melodious voice.

"Will, Lucy and I are going next door. Why don't you ask Nate about the barn?"

He nodded and kissed her forehead, then took a seat across from Nathan.

"Whats this about a barn?" Nate asked leaning forward

"Well Liz and I thought that we'd like to aquire some land, you're aware of the pasture just south of here? I believe Bob Yates owns it. We'd like to own a few horses, take care of the land, something neither of us would have gotten a chance to do in England or in the Caribbean and now we've got the expenses to cover it… but we're sure we'll need a stable or a barn first."

"You're right. What a wonderful idea! Certainly you'll need some help."

Will smiled. "Yes that's where you come in, friend."

"Though two men wont be cut out of a job like that. Surely we'll find some strong backs in this town. Besides, you two haven't been here long enough to meet all the locals."

Will nodded, thinking it all through, then tilted his head in thought with a little hesitation: " No doubt I would have to go to Mr. Yates and enquire his asking price… and not to mention rally a few men together. But why would they want to help me?"

Nathan laughed. "C'mon Will! This is a community… I don't know how it was in your old neighborhood, but here everyone helps everybody else. Like the doctor! …What happened when you offered to pay him?"

Will sat back. "He refused, said it wasn't nessesary."

"Exactly. He knew Elizabeth was in need and saw your distress, just a man of God he is. You'll find that all around here. Don't worry, we'll find plenty of willing men." Nate stood up and started towards the door. "Look, if it makes you feel better I'll go with you tomarrow to ask Mr. Yates."

Will gave him a grin and slapped a hand on his shoulder. "That would be great. Thanks. "

"Alright. Off to unpack! I'll see you tomarrow."

The next day Will and Nate went a little down the road to Mr. Bob Yates' modest, yet wealthy county home. The butler greeted them and asked them to wait in the parlor. Will couldn't help but feel a little Déjà vu as he sat in the well furnished home – almost expecting Governor Swann to emerge from the doorway. Instead it was a man much taller, much thinner, and no wig. Nathan and Will stood to introduce themselves before sitting down again.

"So what can I help you boys with today?"

Will cleared his throat and began, "Well sir, I am aware that you own much of the land surrounding this area. Some of which is right behind my home on Hawkins St. I'm here to request about you selling it to me, if it pleases you."

Bob looked at the young man. Strong, handsome, he also noticed a wedding band, his hands were rough and callused, he could tell he was a man of ambition.

"Yes I suppose so. I wasn't planning on selling it anytime soon but you boys look like fine pair of souls. Though it is a nice plot of soil. I can't just let it go for free now." He paused in thought then spoke again, but quickly. " I'll ask 200 pounds. All 27 acres of it."

Will smiled and stood up, he wasn't expecting Mr. Yates to be so cordial about the notion of selling the land in the first place. Not that the price was below average, in fact Will thought he might be stretching it – but considering the situation he didn't mind at all.

"So do we have a bargain?" asked the older man

"Yes sir! Thank you very much sir." Will stuck out his hand for a shake and Mr. Yates slightly laughed at his enthusiasm.

"Well if you two don't have any other business today we could go down and mark it off, even get some of the deeds set up."

Will looked at Nate who seemed to agree. "Yes I think we can do that. Thank you very much for taking time out of your day sir."

Bob smiled again, "Listen Mr. Turner, you calling me Sir isn't helping me forget the fact I'm going to be a grandfather soon. You call me Bob or we don't have a deal." He joked.

"Yes si- I mean, sure. But call us Will and Nathan, the Mister is enough to drive me insane."

"Agreed"

Will, Nate, and Mr. Yates went down to the new land and marked it off with stakes to identify the established boarders, stakes were drove into the dirt and surveyed to make sure they were even. Elizabeth, who had just arrived home, stepped out on to the balcony that faced the back of the house. She immediately picked out Will from the three men in the distance. He was chasing down a ribbon that had blown from one of the wooden stakes, he tripped over a hidden pile of rocks, dusted himself off quickly and jumped back on the fluttering piece of cloth. She couldn't help but laugh, and once he had it in his hand he stood almost triumphantly. Elizabeth held her hands above her head and gave him a round of applause. When he heard the faint clapping he turned his head this way and that and found his wife watching from afar and immediately became slightly embarrassed of his antics, though he could almost see her amused smile from where he was.

"It's ours!" He yelled with his arms outstretched, indicating the land around him.

Nathan and Bob turned around to see Will jumping up and down, then off to the side, at the Turner home, the figure of Elizabeth.

"That's wonderful!" she replied just as loudly. "I love you!"

"I love you too Liz!"

Just as he turned around Bob and Nate stood there…watching. Will looked down instantly and cleared his throat. "Lets… uh… get back to work."

sorry for such a long long delay. my time is really being crunched and its getting harder to write. i have an idea how i want to end the story...its just the in between that is giving me trouble. if you think you can contribute, please email me. my email is in my profile )

thanks! dont forget to review.