Mary Ellen woke again from her fitful sleep. Her tears along with the whiskey lulled her to sleep earlier, but she kept waking up, thoughts of her argument with Curt.

She knew he could be a blowhard, had no filter when it came to his opinions, and their relationship was filled with constant bickering. However, he could also be the romantic fool who held her like she was cherished. He wasn't good with the verbal when it came to his feelings, but he always showed how deep his love for her each time they made love.

In her head, she knew that Curt thought more of her than as someone who could be swayed through money and grand gestures. That bit of common sense unfortunately kept being pushed down by the blame that kept festering in her for being so stupid for not seeing that David wanted her, not just a friendship.

David Spencer was a man who could have given her the world. At one time, getting away from Walton's Mountain was what she wanted more than anything. However, she grew up and to her surprise found she preferred a prickly, stubborn man who didn't have a large home in Richmond and settled where she grew up.

Mary Ellen felt tears come down her face as she lay on her pillow. She pulled herself into a little ball on Nora's couch and prayed for sleep again, anything to take away the pain she felt.

Curt was at his dining room table writing words on a piece of paper. He stopped, read, and when he didn't like what he wrote, crumbled the paper and tossed it to join the other balls on the floor.

"Damn it! I can diagnose the rarest lung disease in a coal miner and have the patience of Job when seeing to Yancy, but why the hell can't I do a simple love letter?"

Curt sat for a moment contemplating. 'Because it's not a simple love letter. It's a love letter pleading for my girl's forgiveness for being a jerk'

He sat for a moment. 'I wanted to set David straight, but I was really mad at Mary Ellen. She didn't tell me about what was happening or ask me for help, even though there wasn't much I could do from several hundred miles away. Instead she took the bull by the horns on her own and I got into a snit because I am supposed to protect her as her future husband. Hell, I was jealous too. I thought I was above all that bunk but I guess I'm not. I see a man buying my fiancée gifts that I can't always afford and I let it get to me. Instead of using my brain, I was an ass and took my insecurities out on her'

Curt took a drink of his now lukewarm coffee, not even noticing the temperature change. "No, it's not a simple love letter. One wrong word and my life is over"

Elizabeth woke up to use the bathroom. When she returned to bed, she noticed that Amy was sound asleep on Mary Ellen's bed. What got her attention was when she looked at her sister.

As she got closer, she saw Erin sleeping with a hint of a grin on her face. Feeling the hairs on the back of her neck stand up, she was startled by the sound of thunder and lightning, followed by a drenching from the sky. She quickly closed the window enough to avoid rain coming in. When satisfied, she got back into bed with Miss Margaret and held her bed covers close.

Elizabeth didn't want to be a tattle tale, but enough was enough.

Mary Ellen was asleep again when she heard a sound. She woke up and listened. A second later, there was a small tapping sound hitting the living room window behind the couch. She waited a moment, but heard the sound again. Moving up to her knees, she pulled the curtain open and almost screamed when she saw a wet Curt though the window.

Her hurt was overtaken by pride as she opened Nora's window. "What do you want?" She said in a loud whisper.

"I want to talk to you Mary Ellen" Curt said in a similar voice level, his heart breaking more when he saw her face flush with dried tears. He also saw the look on her face and knew he was in for a fight.

"Where's my gift?"

Curt was confused. "What are you talking about?"

"Well, according to you, my head gets turned when someone buys me trinkets. Since I let material things like that dictate who I love, I will ask you again, where's my gift?"

'Ouch' Curt said to himself, but he knew he deserved it. "I know I was a jerk earlier, but I need to talk to you"

Mary Ellen wasn't going to give in that easily as her wounds were still very raw. "But I don't need to talk to you. Now, if you will excuse me"

She shut the window and closed the curtain. Curt became frustrated and began tapping on the window again. After three times tapping and ignored each time, he took action. "You can't ignore me that easily Mary Ellen Walton. You should know by now that I can be as stubborn as you. Either you open this window and talk to me or else I will keep knocking on the door and wake up Cora Beth and Ike. I'm sure she would love to chew on the fact that I am outside Nora's house in the middle of the night. After all, she has an excellent view from her upstairs."

He waited and was not disappointed when the curtain swished open and his fiancée opened the window. "You wouldn't dare, Curtis Willard"

"I would Mary Ellen. Now I want to talk to you"

"Go home. I'm waiting for a man to give me gifts and empty promises" When finished, she shut the window again along with the curtain.

Curt stood there frustrated. He didn't want to do this here, but knew he was stuck. He pulled a paper out of his jean coat pocket. Looking behind at Ike's, he saw no lights on. Satisfied, he began to read.

"I'm sorry, Mary Ellen for being a jerk. You did nothing wrong. I was the idi—oh hell" He crumpled the paper and put it in his pocket. He ignored the sinking mud he stepped into as he spoke his piece.

"Mary Ellen Walton, I'm so sorry for being a jealous ass. I know there's more to you than being easily swayed by shiny things. I saw that stuff in Miss Sallie's room and it got my back up. You saw a situation and you dealt with it because I was in North Carolina…no, you did it because that's just what you do, and it's one of things I love most about you when I'm not being stupid."

Not seeing or hearing a response, Curt decided to go for broke as he continued to pour his heart out. "I guess….I…..I know that there are times I think you are too good for me. You're nineteen, smart, quick on your feet, and the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. I wonder how the hell out of all the guys out there you picked me, a thirty year old pain in the rear who is building a new practice and won't see much money come in for a long time"

Mary Ellen heard inside as fresh tears fell from her eyes. 'I am honest and blunt. I am okay with that, but sometimes what I want to say comes out totally wrong. I like having my way, but I'm getting used to compromise, but only with you'

Curt inhaled before continuing, not caring anymore if anyone saw him. "You gave me the greatest gift the day you said yes to being my wife. I am a healer, Mary Ellen and I can help the sick. If you walk away from me, nothing in this world could heal me. I promise until the day I die that I will do whatever it takes to cherish what all you have given me"

He took a breath, ignoring the emotion he could feel coming up in him. "I'm going to screw up from time to time, but if you are ever lost or afraid, just look next to you and I'll be there"

Not hearing a response, he turned to walk away despite his earlier promise. He took two steps before he heard the front door open. He turned around but before he could register it, he was tackled by a figure in a dark blue flannel nightgown. The two fell with Curt landing on his back in the mud.

"Curt, that was the most beautiful thing anyone has ever said to me" Mary Ellen said in a ruffled voice into his shoulder. "Oh, I love you" she said before showering him with kisses.

After a moment, Curt recovered his faculties and responded back with vigor. It took a moment, but he finally registered where he landed. "Mary Ellen, let me up so we can get out of this mud"

"Oh, God, sorry Curt" Mary Ellen said with contriteness as she got off of him holding back a laugh.

Curt felt a wave of relief as he saw the brightness in her eyes. She didn't need to say anything as the look she gave him told him everything he needed to know. "So, you must forgive me if you are risking scandal by being out here with me after three in the morning. What would Cora Beth say?"

"She would see you like I do" Mary Ellen said with a playful tone. "A lovesick fool who is covered with mud because he couldn't stay away from me"

Curt looked at the back of his legs and saw the copious amounts of mud. Relieved they were okay, he got inspired as he wiped the mud from his body. "You know what's more romantic? A lovesick fool sharing with his girl all that he has"

Before Mary Ellen could react, her fiancée grabbed her and hugged her tightly spreading mud all over her arms and back. "Curtis Willard, no!"

They were so engrossed in each other that they didn't hear a door open. "Should have known you wouldn't wait until morning"

The couple turned to Nora who was in her bathrobe in her doorway. "Curt, what on earth…..you know…never mind. I don't want to know"

Curt walked closer, causing the other woman to stand in front of her doorway. "No way, you are not going to trail mud into my house"

"Come on Nora, it's either like this or strip down to my underwear. Wouldn't Cora Beth like that?" He said loudly before he faced the single light in the mercantile in front of Nora's home. "Why don't you take a picture Miss Cora Beth? It'll last longer"

All three laughed as that solitary light turned off. Nora turned to her friends. "You're cleaning up the mess, Curt, and then you're going home"

An hour later, Curt came out wearing his spare clothes from his van followed by Mary Ellen wearing Nora's bathrobe and wet hair. "So, supper still going on tomorrow afternoon?"

Mary Ellen smiled. "Yes, Doctor. Be there at four sharp"

"You bet I will future Mrs. Willard"

They shared a kiss before Curt left and Mary Ellen went back into Nora's house.

Olivia woke up suddenly and sat up. She looked over and saw John was still asleep. After getting her breathing together, she sat and thought about the images she remembered from her dream.

A scream…..a figure lying in a dark place.

It was too fuzzy to see who the person was, but it sent a chill down Olivia's spine. Quietly, she got up and checked on each of her children. When she saw that all who were there sleeping peacefully, she went quietly back to bed. She knew Mary Ellen was safe at Nora's. Ike and Cora Beth were next door and no one had said anything, so she should relax. Curt would be home by now stewing about how to make up with her eldest daughter.

She attempted to go back to sleep and forget her nightmare, but she couldn't. She would relax until she had all the children under her roof and it wouldn't be for another twelve hours.

After saying a quick prayer, Olivia closed her eyes again.