Alright kids, thanks for the reviews and good advice. Also thank you for catching my mistakes! Those are the things that spell check doesn't catch and I will probably continue to not use the correct Your and You're, so just pretend it is right and it'll make you feel better! Ha! I know you all are waiting for the dance but you are going to have to wait because I need to put these thoughts in here from El and Liv and Ethan or it just wouldn't be right. Still no title, but I have been given some really good ideas. I may have to let you all vote. Again thanks to all my loyal fans you know who you are!

The fourth of July dawned bright and hot. Elliot awoke and went to the barn to do chores. When he returned, Ethan was in the kitchen unloading the eggs he had collected from his shirt. "Morning Pa." he greeted.

"Morning Ethan. Are you excited about this evening?" Elliot asked.

"Yes sir!" Ethan said excitedly. "Boy, I can't wait to see the fireworks. Mr. John even said that he might get a few for Oliver and I to set off as long as we are careful."

"Well, that sounds exciting. You remember that John and Casey invited you to stay the night with them, right?"

"Yes sir." Ethan said. He was now setting in his chair, waiting for his father to finish cooking his breakfast and Elliot was afraid if he bounced and wiggled around much more in his excitement he would topple over.

"Son, why don't you try to set still before you hurt yourself." Elliot said, turning away from his cooking.

"Yes Pa." Ethan said, doing his best to set still. "So Pa, are you excited about going to the dance with Ms. Benson?"

"Ethan." Elliot said, in his most warning tone.

"Well, Pa, I mean it is just a question. How is it any different than you asking me if I'm excited about getting to spend time with Emily and Oliver tonight?"

"Ok, I will give you that one son. Yes, I am looking forward to having a nice evening with Ms. Benson." Elliot replied.

"Yipee! Boy, Pa, I hope Ms. Benson just falls head over heels in love with you so that you can get married."

It takes a little more than falling head over heals in love, son. Elliot thought to himself. He didn't say anything to Ethan though.

After they had breakfast they saddled their horses and rode out to check the cattle. They had branded a few weeks before and Elliot wanted to make sure that none of the calves had infection or needed doctoring. While the rode Ethan regaled him with tales of things that had happened the last time he had spent time with his school friends in town. Elliot listened with half intrest as his mind was firmly set on his upcoming evening with Olivia. He was glad that she had decided that they needed to be on a first name basis.

"Pa? Pa are you listenin to me?"

"Huh?" Elliot said, pulling out of his thoughts.

"I said, do you think that Billy Hayes has a better lookin' dog than Rusty?" Ethan said. Sometimes his father drove him crazy, he didn't listen and got lost in his own thoughts. He really hoped and he and Emily and Oliver had talked about it often how nice it would be for his dad to get married again. He wanted brothers to play with and would probably even play with a sister if he was given one. He was just tired of being alone, just him and his Pa. He wanted a mother to bake cookies and pie and cake and to kiss him and hug him. He knew that his Pa loved him but a hug from Pa and a hug from a Ma would just be so much better.

"No Ethan, I don't think Billy Hayes has a nicer dog." Elliot said. He was sure his son hadn't heard him. He could tell that his boy was lost in his own thoughts or his lack of attention had made him mad.

Then Ethan took Elliot by surprise. "Pa, I miss Ma."

"I know son, I miss your Ma too." Elliot said. He knew losing his mother had been hard on Ethan, it had been hard on Elliot. It was also in that moment that Elliot decided that he needed to make a more serious effort to find a suitable wife for himself and mother for Ethan.

"Pa, what do you miss the most about Ma?" Ethan asked.

"Everything. I miss her smile and how she always knew the right thing to say when my day wasn't going the way it should." Elliot replied honestly. "What do you miss, son?"

"Her cooking, sorry Pa, you can't cook like Ma or any other gal around." Ethan said, with a slight grin that matched Elliots. "I also miss her hugs and how she would kiss my head at night at tuck me in."

"You miss the softer things in life don't you son?" Elliot asked. Ethans answers were just confirming for Elliot that he had waited long enough to take the next step and find himself a new wife.

"I don't know what that means for sure Pa. But yeah, I miss the all the stuff that Oliver and Emily get from their Ma."

"That's what I mean, son. That's what I mean." Elliot said.

Sorry, I know you all wanted me to sent El and Liv to the dance and do something smutty but I felt that Elliot and Ethan needed to talk about Kathy and address that whole issue. Next chapter is going to be all Liv and her feelings before El comes to get her and take her the dance. I don't know when I will get that written, prolly not for a few days as I was being an overachiever yeasterday and I have no life! HAHA! Again thanks for the reviews, I love em!