I post this now because if I didn't I would most likely forget that I have edited it, so here you go. Enjoy. For the disclaimers look at chapter one please.

Bipin walked away from the Taggart home, doing his best not to think. He knew it was cowardice, but right now he didn't think he could handle his own thoughts. How in the world did a man praise God after he'd been broken and laid down? Bipin could not even imagine, but that was exactly what he'd witnessed. Determined to apologize for not coming sooner, Bipin had gone to see Rusl to cheer up the bedridden man, but it hadn't gone anything like the way he planned.

"There was no warning," Rusl had told him. "One moment I was in the saddle and the next instant we were falling. It must have been a deep hole. I'm surprised my horse didn't break a leg, but I was in to much pain to really analyze what was happening." At that point a peaceful smile had come over Rusl's face.

"Not that it really matters," he went on softly. "I'm alive, and we're praying ever day for my recovery."

Such talk always made Bipin uncomfortable. Praying was the pastor's job. But Rusl wasn't through.

"But I'll tell you, Bipin," he said, the smile still in place, "if I never get out of this bed I'll still praise God because that would be His plan for me."

Bipin had sat thunderstruck, rescued only when Aryll had offered him coffee. It tasted bitter water in his mouth, but it gave him something to do with his hands and eyes. He drank ever drop, and not long after he'd finished the cup, he'd taken his leave.

On his walk home, he moved very slowly. He hadn't thought about what he and Blossom had talked about for weeks, but now it came to mind. He had listened to ever word Pastor Sahasrahla's sermons, just as she'd urged him to do, but he still didn't like what he heard. Blossom had told him not to harden his heart, and the words had been good. Bipin could see that hardening his heart was exactly what he was doing. He was doing it now. Walking away from Rusl Taggart, Bipin pushed all thoughts of God from his mind. He arrived home in a frightful mood, but no one in his family made comment.

(&)

Zelda held in the huge sigh that threatened to escape her and walked up the steps of the schoolhouse for the start of the new year. It was difficult to have shared a room with Malon for all those years because it caused her to think of herself as older, when in fact she had two years of school to go. Malon was the lucky one. Her birthday had fallen right before the school year began, so when she turned 18 she was finished. Zelda wouldn't be 17 until January, which meant that even though she turned 18 in the middle of the following year, she would still need to attend. It was almost more than the 16-year-old could take.

At least the teacher was still Miss Impa Bradley. Rumor in town had been that she was moving to Labrynna and would not be back, but she was there at the front of the room, looking much the same. Zelda had not enjoyed the punishment she'd received late in the last school year, but she had to admit that the woman was fair. Her praise was as noteworthy as her discipline.

Being in school also reminded her of Link and the loss of his dream. Zelda had cried buckets over this. Link had not. He had told her very calmly that this was the way it needed to be right now, and someday God would provide another way. Zelda had felt devastated for him nonetheless. She couldn't understand her own heart. First she was crushed that he was leaving at all, now she was upset that he couldn't go. She finally gone to her mother and been surprised speechless by what she said.

"That's what true love is all about, Zelda. We put aside our feelings and wants to see to another's needs or happiness."

Zelda could not get the words out of her mind. True love. Is that what she felt for Link? Is that why she was so tongue-tied when he was near, and she was never hungry afterward. Was it love? Zelda could see that she had much to think about.

"I want you to be thinking about what you will write," Miss Bradley's voice cut across her thoughts. "And I will expect you to do your best. It can be any subject, but it must be thorough. The paper is due at the end of the month, September 30, three-and-a half weeks from today. Yes, Kafei?

"Can we work with a partner?"

"Not this time. I want you to do this on your own. Now, go get your math books and let's begin on page 6."

Zelda did sigh this time, but also reminded herself she had better start listening. She had a paper due on the last day of the month, and she wasn't even sure what was expected. She opened her math book to page 6 and told herself to get in line.

(&)

"A grizzly?" The little girl's eyes widened.

"Yep."

"How bid was it?" Romani asked.

"Big," Link told her and shook his head. "Ugly too, with a turned-up nose and a bunch of fur missing off his back."

"Maybe it was a she."

"Maybe," Link agreed and tweaked the end of her nose.

Zelda looked on. She wanted to be so light and carefree around Link, just like Romani, but she had decided that she was in love with him and now had even less to say than before

Romani and Link talked on about the bear some more, and than Link moved away. They were at a birthday party for old Mrs. Laruto Greeley She was a regular customer at the store, and the whole Fontaine family had been invited. Uli, Link, and Aryll were there because Aryll had taken piano lesions from Mrs. Laruto Greeley.

Zelda began to wander some herself. The party was being held in the elderly lady's house and backyard, but Zelda moved to the front. She had decided to do her school report on wildflowers, and Mrs. Laruto Greeley's fenced-in front yard was full of them. Zelda moved among the different blooms, touching one here and smelling one there.

She wished she had paper along to take a few notes, but maybe she could come back and do that later. She was kneeling on the grass to look at an interesting species when she heard footsteps. Zelda looked up to see Kafei approaching, a grin on his face.

"Now, don't be telling me you're working on your report on a Sunday."

Zelda smiled in return; he was always so fun. "Well, Mrs. Greenley does have some perfect blooms, and since I was here..." The young woman shrugged.

Kafei sank down onto the grass. "I'll put mine off until the night before it's due and then write like mad 'til I'm done."

"Why, Kafei: Why not work a little at a time?"

"Because I've no interest in horses."

"Then why did you choose that subject?"

Kafei shrugged. "My mother has a book on horses, and it just seemed convenient."

Zelda shook her head. "You should have chosen something you're interested in."

"My mother doesn't have any books on mines."

Zelda's mouth swung wide open. "Kafei! You don't need books. Your father's a surveyor, and you could get him to take you to a mine. Who needs books when you have all of that?"

Kafei stared at her as if he'd just seen a ghost. "Zelda, darling' you're an angel." he breathed the words and stood. He felt so good that he even bent low and dropped her a kiss onto her cheek. Zelda only laughed as he then shouted with glee sand ran to fid his father in the back. It would have been a wonderful scene if Zelda hadn't looked up and spotted Link coming her way. Had he seen the kiss? Would he think that she was interested in Kafei?

"What are you up to?" Link was beside her now, dropping onto the grass much the way Kafei had done.

"Oh, just looking as the wildflowers."

"Aryll told me about your report."

"She did?"

"Sure. She said Miss Bardley looked quite impressed. Most of the class is doing an animal of some sort, and she thought the teacher must think wildflowers would be a nice change."

Zelda nodded but couldn't speak. Why was she so talkative with Kafei and but utterly mute with Link?

"So tell me what all of these are." Link indicated the flowers around them.

"I'm certain you must know them all, Link."

"Well, tell me anyhow. It'll give you good practice."

"You're such a pest," she told him to cover her feelings, but she did as he asked.

"This is Indian paintbrush, and this pink one is mountain hollyhock. Behind you is western coneflower and then blazing star."

"What about this one?" Link pointed to a flower colored in deep pink with numerous yellow stamens in the center. It was lovely to the eyes and had a small, delicate, with a green leaf. Zelda reached for it and smiled.

"This is a wild rose. It's my favorite." She held it to his nose. "I love the fragrance." She let Link smell it, and he smiled as well.

With his eyes on her face, he said, "Kafei's coming back. Would you like to be alone with him?"

Zelda's eyes flew to his. She blushed to a colder that rivaled the Indian paintbrush. Link took that as a yes and rose. He smiled at Kafei on his way by but said nothing else to Zelda she was glad that she'd been a help to Kafei, and even that he'd come back to tell her that his father was going to help, but more than anything, she wanted to call Link back and tell him he had it all wrong.

(&)

Rusl's chest heaved from the exertion, but the sense of triumph he always felt was well worth it. This was the fifth time he'd sat in a chair, and the tingling he felt in his feet made him want to shout with joy. However, this was a solemn occasion. His wife knew what he was going to say, but Link and Aryll had no idea. He took a deep breath and began.

"Your mother and I have been in touch with your grandmother in Labrynna. We've all done a lot of prying and thinking, and I've decided to take a job that she offered me in the office at the mill."

Link and Aryll stared at him and then at their mother.

"You mean move to Labrynna?" Aryll whispered after a painful moment of silence.

"Yes," her father said gently.

"Why, Dad?" Link managed. "Why leave Kakariko Village? You and Mom love it here."

"Yes, we do, Link, but your mother and I want you to get to school, and we can't wait too long or the snows are going to be upon us. It's the ninth of October, and I can't believe we're not snowed in already."

"You can't do this, Dad!" Link burst out, all calmness deserting him. "You love it here in the mountains, and I won't let you give it all up for me."

Rusl waited for this outburst to die down and then said, "I talked to old Doc Borville just this morning. He told me I would never sit in the saddle again. If I thought there was a chance, I'd stick it out, Link, but I know in my heart he's right. I never thought I'd be happy behind a desk, but I'm so thrilled to be sitting in a chair right now that I'll take what I can get to support my family. And that is what I'm talking about, Link," he added almost sternly. "It's my job to take care of this family, and any way I can do that, I will."

The room fell very silent snow. Aryll could hear the pounding of blood in her ears. Leave Kakariko Village? Leave Ruto and Kafei? What would she do? She had no desire to live in Labrynna. Why, God, why did this happen to Dad? Why must he suffer this way? She began to cry. She told herself not to, but she couldn't hold back the tears. Uli went to her.

"It's all right, Aryll. I've cried too, and I know I'm going to cry again."

"So it's really all set?" she sobbed. "We're really going to go?"

"Yes, dear. We leave nest week."

Aryll cried against her mother's shoulder, feeling like her heart would break. Link didn't feel any better himself, but his father was saying something and he tried to attend.

"Link, did you hear me?"

"No, I'm sorry, Dad, I didn't."

"You can go to school, son."

Link nodded, but there was no joy in it.

"You don't understand," Rusl went on. "Your grandmother checked it out. You can start as soon as you arrive. Attendance was down this year, and they'll take anyone they can get. Or if you'd rather wait until the term break, you can start in January."

Link blinked at his father. That was good news, but not at the expense of this family.

"You're schooling is a factor, Link, but it's not the only reason. Can you see that?"

"I'm trying, Dad, but it's just not working. I think the main reason you're doing this is because I went back to work."

"Exactly!" Rusl said triumphantly.

Link could only shake his head. "But you just said-"

"I just said the schooling is not the reason, but your supporting this family is."

Link only looked at him.

"Link," Rusl said patiently. "If I had died, then I would expect you to stay here and take care of Aryll and your mother, but I'm not dead. I'm not even an invalid. I can work. I can't do the work I've always done, but I can make a living, and that's what I'm going to do." He paused for a moment, a strange light coming into his eyes. "You know, Link, I nearly forgot that your nineteenth birthday is three weeks away. You can do what you wish, but Aryll, your mother, and I are moving to Labrynna. If you want to join us, you're more than welcome."

Link had to smile at this new tactic. He now understood. Rusl smiled in return.

"What day do we go?"

"Next Friday. The sixteenth."

"All right," Link told him. He looked to Aryll. She was still visibly shaken but holding on. Rusl asked everyone to pray with him, and they all bowed their heads.

"This is no mistake," he told his heavenly Father. "We're all going to hurt, Lord, but You are here with us, and we know this is all a part of Your plan. Thank You for sovereignty and loving hand. Help us to trust you when we are tempted to fret. Surround us, especially Link and Aryll, with your grace. Make our peace greater than your pain, so that our lives may glorify You as never before."

God touched Link's and Aryll hearts in a special way during their father's prayer. They knew that they would hurt, but the move was for the best. Aryll was able to hug and kiss her parents good-night with a genuine smile on her face.

Link, equally serene, went off to bed with plans running through his mind. They would have to work hard to be able to move in a week, but the snow would not allow them any more time. The temperatures were already dropping fast. Link was nearly asleep when he remembered Zelda. He would have to seek her out in the morning and tell her himself. Somehow he knew she would be hurt if she found out secondhand. He told himself he'd take care of it right after breakfast in the morning. She was heavy on his heart until he fell asleep.

So there leaving, how will Zelda endure it? Find out next time!