"Can Vally do it again, Chrissy?"

"'Course she can….can't she Chrissy?"

Jaime watched from the kitchen window as her daughter laughed and told her horse, "Okay Vally, what's the date?"

The chestnut mare pawed the ground 14 times, eliciting cheers from Lala and Andy Simon, as their cousins Katey and Davie clapped.

"That's so much fun, Chrissy, thanks…I made some popcorn and Grandma has cookies, can you stay and have snacks with us…please?" Andy asked.

"Yes, I'd love to, Andy…and you can tell me the story that Chief Joseph told you!" she replied, as the children gathered around her. "First, let's take Vally back for her lunch."

As they headed into the barn, Jaime turned and helped Laurie pull lemon bars out of the refrigerator and put plates of cookies, cups and a pitcher of pink lemonade next to the birthday cake.

"There, I think that'll hold them. Oh, Jaime, thank you so much for having Chrissy come for Katey and David's birthday…with school being closed for vacation, and the mumps going around… I didn't want them to miss out." Laurie said gratefully.

"No, thank you, Sis. Chrissy needed this….she's doing better, but Rudy was worried that she's blaming herself for Oscar being hurt. I'll be glad when he's home from the hospital." Jaime sighed, then welcomed her friend's hug.

"I'd worry if she wasn't upset by what happened….I mean, we knew what we were up against when we were on assignment. But how was she to know that jerk was using her?" Laurie said, reassuringly.

Just then the group of children piled into the kitchen, all talking away and vying for who would sit next to Chrystal.

"Is there anything I can help with, Auntie?" Chrystal came in, then was touched when Andy pulled out her chair and seated her. "Thank you, sir." She beamed.

"No, you just enjoy yourself…it's such a treat for us to have you on a weekday, I'm just glad you're on holiday still." Laurie smiled, then lit the candles on her grandchildren's cake.

"Close your eyes and make a wish….then blow out all the candles." Chrystal told Katie and Davie. Obediently the cousins did so, then together took a deep breath and blew out every candle.

"Way to go, guys!" Robin and Robbie came in behind their children, and squeals of "Daddy! Mommy!" echoed through the house.

"Fooled you, Mom!" Robin giggled, then hugged Jaime and Chrystal before taking a seat at the table.

"Yes you did, you two…thank you for surprising us!" Laurie enveloped her son in an embrace, then made room for two more plates.

As the impromptu gathering polished off the last of the birthday cake and lemonade, Rick and Steve finished loading the playhouses they had built for both Katie and Davie into their parents' cars.

"Did you leave us anything to eat?" Rick demanded, heading into the kitchen.

"Course, Grandpa…I saved you the corner. and Grandma the flower." Katie said importantly. Not to be outdone, Davie held up a crumbling section of cake with a smeared "H". "For you, Uncle Steve!"

"Well, thanks, partner!" he exclaimed, getting a low five from the little boy.

"Let me get you something to drink, Dad." Chrystal said, getting up and opening the refrigerator. As she picked up a full pitcher of punch, she caught sight of a bottle of sparkling cider, and nightmarish memories flooded her mind.

"No…" she gasped. At once Jaime was at her side, gently taking the pitcher from her.

"What is it, honey?"

"Mom, ..I think I'm going to …excuse me." She managed, then rushed out of the room to the guest bathroom.

Moments later she was very sick, crying and shaking as she bent over the toilet. Suddenly Jaime was there, holding her hair away from her face then comforting her with a wet cloth.

"It's okay, baby….let it out. I'm here."

Helping her to the spare bedroom, she sat Chrystal down, then held her as she sobbed.

"Mom…I'm so sorry…I saw the bottle of sparkling cider in Auntie's fridge…I loved sparkling cider.. and now it only frightens me …I can still taste it being poured down my throat!"

"Oh, Chrissy, it's all right….what that bastard did to my baby girl….you did nothing to deserve this." Jaime told her, stroking her face, then meeting her eyes.

"You were so brave, saving Vally, letting your Uncle Oscar know you were in danger, then. never forget, you saved your father." At that Chrystal stopped crying, and she looked at her mother. "I was so afraid that monster would kill him, Mom. How could I have been so stupid?"

"Honey, all you did was fall for a very believable jerk…who didn't deserve you. You will be loved by the right person, and you'll know it, I promise you." Jaime assured her.

There was a moment of silence as Chrystal thought about her mother's words, then a quiet voice was at the bedroom door.

"It's Oscar…is Chrissy all right?"

Jaime saw her daughter's face brighten, then replied, "Come in, Oscar."

As the door opened, the older man's worried expression changed to one of relief, as Chrystal got off the bed and rushed into his arms. "Uncle Oscar…oh, I'm so glad to see you!"

"Oh Chrissy…" Oscar choked up and embraced the young woman, then guided her to a seat. "Thank God you're all right…I was so worried…"

"I'm okay now…except for losing my lunch." She replied, trying to smile. "If you hadn't listened to your instincts…"

"As long as our shiny girl is safe…they're worth listening to." Oscar comforted her, then pulled out his handkerchief and wiped her face.

"Now, everyone in our family has seen this magic horse of yours, how about letting me in on the fun?"

"Of course…Vally loves showing off and you're her best audience." Chrystal giggled, as her godfather helped her up. "Do you want to see her new trick, Mom?"

Jaime nodded, too full of relief to speak.

"Good, because nothing cures an old man faster then two beautiful women at his side." Oscar said, making both of them laugh. As they left the bedroom and passed through the kitchen, Steve looked over at his wife, then gave a grateful sigh.

"Penny for your thoughts, Pal." Rick said, picking up his glass of punch. Steve reached for his, then clinked against his friend's, with a grin.

"All the money in the world couldn't buy them, Rick… they're priceless, and so are my brave girls."

"Here, here." Rick toasted him back.

Fin