Olivia was practically vibrating with excitement as Jarrod drove the surrey down the drive leading to the ranch. Victoria knew the girl had to be in pain, her muscles cramped up from their long journey, but she was as stubborn as any of her siblings and pushed through the pain most of the time.

"Mama!"

Victoria laughed at the exclamation. "Yes, Darling?"

"It's bigger than Shepherd's Home!" Olivia said as she pointed to the house which had just come into view.

Jarrod smiled at his sister's exuberance. "And it's full of people who are going to love you very much. Just watch out for Audra."

Olivia frowned when her mother laughed. "What do you mean?"

"He means that Audra will be fussing over you and showering you with so much attention that it might be a little overwhelming."

"Oh!"

Victoria laughed and gently squeezed her daughter's hand. "Look," she pointed, turning the girl's attention to the house and the people gathered on the porch.

Olivia's eyes moved from one face to the other, stopping on the unfamiliar face of Heath. "Mama, is that our new brother?"

"Yes."

"Heath?"

"That's right, Little Bit." Jarrod pulled the surrey to a stop in front of the house. Getting down, he turned and helped Victoria down then smiled at Olivia. "Ready to meet the rest of this crazy bunch?"

Holding out her arms, Olivia giggled as she wrapped them around Jarrod's neck. "Is that Silas?" she whispered when a man moved out to start taking their luggage from the surrey.

"It sure is." Jarrod kissed her cheek. Her excitement had her heart pounding. "Easy, Little Bit."

"I'm just so excited." Tears filled her eyes as she looked at Jarrod. "I never thought I'd get to meet any of you or…come home."

"Did ya pinch her, Brother Jarrod?" Heath asked before Jarrod could reply, giving the two a lopsided smile when they looked at him.

Jarrod rolled his eyes. "I did not, Brother Heath."

Olivia sniffed then smiled. "From what Mama has told me, I think that would be more like Nick."

Jarrod grinned at the look on Nick's face. "She's got a sharp wit, Brother Nick. You'll have to watch out."

Nick shook his head as he moved off the porch to stand in front of them. "You look like Mother."

"Jarrod told me that, too."

"Maybe because it's a little scary how much you look like her." Nick winked at her. "How about you let me carry you into the house and give our old brother a break?"

Olivia threw her head back and laughed then kissed Jarrod's cheek before reaching out and letting Nick take her. "I can walk most of the time, but my legs…" she frowned.

"The trip was hard for her." Jarrod supplied.

Audra stopped Nick after he finished coming up the steps onto the porch. "Hello, Olivia."

Olivia smiled and reached out to finger Audra's hair. "Like gold," she whispered.

Audra smiled. "Oh I'm so happy to meet you. I've always wanted a sister."

"Mama said you picked my bedroom and decorated it for me."

"I did. I hope you like it. Mother said we could have new dresses for your party if you want."

"We'll go together?"

"Well, Mother thought it might be better for you if we ask the dressmaker to come here to the ranch. She thought the trip back and forth to town might be too much."

Olivia nodded. "Always listen to Mama."

Audra laughed and kissed Olivia's cheek. "Always."

Eugene smiled at Olivia as Nick brought her past him. "Hello."

"Hi. Did you come home just to meet me?"

Eugene winked at her and nodded. "I sure did. I couldn't miss meeting my new sister, could I? You have to be better than this one," he hitched his thumb toward Audra.

Olivia covered her mouth to hide her grin when Audra scowled at Eugene and slapped his arm.

"Children." Victoria laughed and shook her head. "Let Nick get her into the house."

Nick winked at Olivia as he finished carrying her into the house, stopping when she gasped. "What is it?"

"All those stairs!"

"You have brothers that are quite capable of carrying you up and down those stairs." Jarrod told her.

"Three of them anyway." Nick added earning him a glare from Eugene.

Victoria sighed and rolled her eyes. "Boys! She's not a doll to fight over. Nick, take her into the living room and put her on the settee."

"Yes, Mother."

Olivia giggled as she grinned at her mother. "And I thought you said Audra was who I had to watch out for."

Victoria laughed as she helped settle Olivia into a comfortable position on the settee. "We thought she would be. How was I to know your brothers would fuss with each over you?"

"Oh Mama." Olivia whispered as she leaned into Victoria and burst into tears.

"Oh Baby." Victoria soothed then smiled when Heath tapped her shoulder. Giving up her spot, she watched as the young man cradled his newest sister against his chest and kissed her head.

"It's a bit overwhelming, isn't it, Livy?" Heath whispered. "I know how it feels. They're a right rowdy bunch and for someone who's never had a family…or…well…never been around their family…it takes some gettin' used to."

Olivia looked at up him, smiling when he wiped at her cheeks with his handkerchief. "You gave me a nickname like Jarrod did."

Heath winked at her. "Well, the way I see it…Olivia's a mouth full and just a bit too stuffy for such a pretty girl."

Kissing his cheek, Olivia sighed as he helped her settle back against the settee. "We're sort of the outsiders."

"Sort of, but they won't let us stay that way for long." Heath grinned. "Just gotta get used to their noise. Especially Brother Nick and his bellowing."

"Now see here!" Nick yelled and scowled at Heath.

Olivia made a face. "You mean that?"

Everyone laughed as Heath nodded. "I mean that."

"Mother, where is the nurse?" Audra asked, seeming to just realize they were missing a person.

"She'll be coming with Dr. Merar. We told Olivia's main doctor that we would have our family doctor see Olivia once we got her home. Nurse Collins went to his office and told us she would come out with him so that we could have time for Olivia to meet everyone and rest for a bit."

"Mrs. Barkley, I've brought tea and cookies."

Victoria smiled at Silas and moved to let him set the tray down on the table. "Silas, this is Olivia."

"My, my, Miss Olivia. You sure do look like your mama."

Olivia smiled, not surprised to be hearing that again. "Mama says you remember me when I was a baby."

"I do. You were just a little thing and always happy." Silas smiled at her and handed her a cookie. "Your Mama says these are you favorites."

Taking the cookie, Olivia smiled and nodded. "Oh they are. You make the best ones, too! Did you bring just tea?"

Silas winked at her and shook his head. Picking a glass up off the tray, he turned back to Olivia. "Milk for the little miss."

"Oh thank you!" Olivia moved the cookie to her left hand and settled the glass of milk on her lap, using her right hand to steady it. Dipping her cookie in, she lifted it to her mouth, humming as she chewed the softened goodness of the gingersnap.

Victoria's eyes watered as she thought back in time to the first time her baby had made any sort of noise that resembled speech. She'd been given a bit of cookie, a gingersnap, and had reached out with her little hand, taking it and putting it messily into her mouth. She'd uttered her version of, "Yum," and had been startled with the praise that had been heaped upon her.

"Mother?" Eugene whispered when he noticed her tears.

Wiping the tears from her cheeks, Victoria smiled at her youngest son. "It's nothing, Son. Just memories."

Olivia finished her cookie and was given another one by her mother who had retaken her place on the side of the settee. "Mama, the tea will get cold."

Victoria nodded, understanding what her daughter was saying. "Stop standing around and drink the tea Silas brought us before it gets cold."

"Yes, Mother."

Silas winked at Olivia then quietly left the room…happy that his family was once again whole.