PART 2

A couple of hours later the entire family finally made it out to Plumfield. Nick, Jo, Franz, Becky, and the kids went out to welcome them.

"Jo, everyone, this is my husband, Sully."

"What kind of name is that?" Tommy said from the back of the group of kids.

"Tommy," Jo scolded.

"That’s OK," Sully turned to Tommy. "Sully is my last name. That’s all I’ve ever gone by. I don’t go by my first name," he explained.

"Looks like Mr. Sully here needs a haircut," Emil whispered over to Tommy.

"I heard that too," Jo whispered to Emil.

"And these are my children," Dr. Mike looked down at the little girl holding her hand. "This is my Katie." Then looked over to the others, "Colleen, Matthew, Brian, meet the people of Plumfield." Jo then introduced her kids to them.

"Colleen?" Nan ran up to her, "You’re staying with me and Bess." Nan took Colleen’s hand and pulled her into the house the same way she did with Bess when Bess came. Bess followed slowly behind the two. Colleen only laughed. She’s was enjoying Nan’s enthusiasm.

"Brian? You’ll be staying with us." Nat told him. "There’s a lot of us, but you’ll get use to it." He smiled at Brian. Brian followed the boys up to their room.

"Matthew?" Franz reached out to shake his hand. "I’m Franz Bhaer, Jo’s nephew. I teach the school here. And this is Rebecca Laurence." Franz introduced himself and Becky. "Why don’t I take you to your room." Franz went into the house followed by Matthew and Becky.

"I guess that leaves the three of you," Jo said, after introducing her caretaker and boyfriend, Nick Riley. "Follow me." The rest of them disappeared into the big house.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Up in the girl’s room, Nan was showing Colleen her frog skeleton and her dissected worms.

"How interesting, Nan."

"You actually think that is interesting?" Bess asked Colleen.

"Yes, in fact I’ve seen things far worse than this."

"You have? Like what?" Nan was getting excited.

"I’ve helped Ma out with a lot of surgeries." Colleen smiled at her. "In fact, I’m going to be a doctor just like her."

"Neat. So have you seen like really gross stuff? Blood, and the insides of people?"

"I’ve seen everything, Nan." All of a sudden they heard a groan from the other side of the room.

"Oh, please! How disgusting." Bess decided to change the subject. "So do you have a boyfriend?"

"Yes, I do. Kind of."

"How can you kind of have a boyfriend? You either do or you don’t." Asked Nan.

"Dr. Andrew Cook. He’s the other doctor in Colorado Springs." Colleen began.

"Colorado Springs? Where is that?" Nan asked her.

"Colorado," Colleen replied.

"Duh, Nan," Bess laughed at her.

"Sorry, Geography isn’t my best subject, Bess."

"Anyway, back to your boyfriend, Colleen." Bess urged, dying to hear about him.

"We just had a little argument before I left to come to Boston. It’s no big deal." She shrugged, obviously not wanting to talk about it. The girls took the hint.

"Well, how about you tell me about some of those surgeries you’ve helped in?" Nan got excited again.

"I suppose I can."

Bess groaned again.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

In the boy’s room, Brian was getting to know some new friends. Of all the boys, though, Brian enjoyed Nat the best. They seemed to have a lot in common. If fact, they both loved to write, which Brian found rather interesting.

"You write for a newspaper?" Nat was thrilled. "That’s so neat. I’ve only had one story published in a newspaper before, and here you write for one."

"I’d love to read that story sometime, Nat." Brian said.

"Sure."

"So what are your friends like back in Colorado Springs?" Dan asked.

"I don’t really have too many friends. The one best friend I had, his name was Anthony, he died. I haven’t really had any good friends since then." Brian smiled as he remembered Anthony.

"How about a girlfriend?" Tommy asked. The boys laughed at the question.

"Girlfriend?" Brian started to blush. "Well, there is Sarah. She’s really sweet, and I have taken her to a couple of dances before."

"Ahhh," Dan said, and the boys began teasing Brian about Sarah.

Brian became fast friends with the boys.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

"Matthew, here’s your room." Franz took him into Asia’s room, which had been fixed up for him.

"Look’s like this will do nicely." He said, as he set his bags down.

"So, where are you from?" Becky asked from the doorway.

"Colorado Springs."

"Oh, really? I heard it’s beautiful down in that area with the Hot Springs and Pike’s Peak."

"Yes, it is. I was the sheriff there for awhile. Till I quit. Long story." Matthew smiled. "How do you fit into Plumfield?" he asked Becky.

"My second cousin is Bess Laurence. That blond that followed your sister into the house. Her father, Laurie Laurence, is my cousin. I came to stay with him in town for a visit awhile back and decided to stay," she looked over at Franz with a smile on her face, than looked back at Matthew. "I’m originally from Philadelphia." She continued to explain. "I’m still staying with Laurie and his wife Amy. Amy is Jo’s sister. I come out here every day to help with Jo’s son, Rob.

"So many names to get used to." Matthew said, smiling at Becky.

"You will. We’re a big group, but you’ll remember everyone’s name soon." Becky assured him.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

"Thank you for letting us stay here, Jo. I really would like to spend some time with my sister while I’m out East." Dr. Mike said.

"How many sister’s do you have?" Jo asked her.

"Four, all older. Rebecca, who lives here now; my two oldest sisters live in Boston; and then there was Marjorie. She died last year of diphtheria. I couldn’t save her." Dr. Mike had a tear come to her eye.

"I’m sorry. I’ve had a sister die too." Jo comforted Dr. Mike.

"You have?"

"Yes. Beth. It was years ago. She died of scarlet fever."

"Guess you do understand then. Any other sisters?"

"Yes, Amy and Meg, both live in town. You’ll meet them later." Jo smiled, as she walked out the door, leaving Dr. Mike, Sully, and Katie to get settled in.