PART 6
Becky bent over to pick something up off of the ground. "Matthew, look." She handed him the item she had picked up.
"It’s Colleen barrette. Grandma gave this to her just a couple weeks ago. It must have fell out of her hair." Matthew concluded. He knew he was on the right track.
"Or she dropped it on purpose," Becky said.
"Yeah, she could have. Hoping that somebody would find her. This way." They continued in the direction that they were headed.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"I’m tired, Franz," Colleen complained, then sat down to rest. They were wet, tired, cold, and not even sure that they would get out of the woods anytime soon.
"I know, Colleen. So am I." Franz sat down on the ground beside her. "We’ll get out of here. We have too."
"Looks like the rain is letting up."
"Yes, let’s hope it’s almost done raining."
"Colleen!" they heard somebody yell from a distance away.
"Did you hear that, Franz? That was Matthew."
"Yes, I heard him."
"Franz!" a female voice called out.
"Becky?" Franz said.
"It’s coming from over there, Franz, let’s go!" Colleen got up and started running toward the voices. "Matthew!" she called out to him. "Over here." Franz got up and followed close behind her.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"Did you hear that? That was Colleen," Matthew said. Becky and Matthew followed the voices. Pretty soon, in the distance, they saw Colleen and Franz running toward them.
"Franz!" Becky called out.
"Becky!" Franz called in return.
Matthew ran toward Colleen, and Becky ran toward Franz. They all hugged, and kissed, and cried.
"We’ve been out looking for you two." Matthew told them.
"We were wondering if someone was ever going to find us." Colleen responded.
Colleen and Matthew looked over toward the other two members of the group. They saw them hugging, and could only be happy for them.
"Franz. Don’t scare me like that." Becky said as tears ran down her cheeks.
"I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to." Franz apologized.
Becky nodded, "It’s OK. Just kiss me. I want to know it’s really you." Franz did exactly as he was told.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Back at Plumfield, a joyful reunion took place. The children were glad to have the adults back. The eight of them, though tired and chilled to the bone, were going to be fine. Matthew was telling the children about the bear.
"Bear?" Franz asked. He took Becky’s hand, "Are you OK?"
"Yes, Franz, don’t worry. We saw the bear, but the bear didn’t see us."
"At least you didn’t have a rattlesnake come up behind you," Dr. Mike said.
"A rattlesnake?" Brian looked interested. "Tell us about it."
"Nothing much to tell, Brian, I saw a rattlesnake sneak up behind your Ma, and I took a stick and chopped his head off." Sully explained.
"Neat!" Nan said
"Disgusting," was the word that came from Bess. Everybody laughed.
"We’re just glad to see you all are ok," said Dan.
"Yes, Dan. We’re all fine," said Jo, as she looked up at Nick. "We’re all fine."
Just then, they all heard a knock on the front door. Bess was the closest to the door so she got up to answer it. "Well, hello!" Bess said as she opened the door for a very handsome young man that looked to be in his 20’s.
"Hi, I’m looking for Colleen Cooper. I was told that she’s staying here," the young man said.
"Colleen, yes, she is here. May I tell her who’s asking for her?" Bess asked him.
"Tell her its Andrew." Bess smiled to herself. He is awfully handsome, she thought. "I’ll let her know," she said then headed back into the parlor where everyone was waiting.
"Who is it, Bess?" Jo asked her.
"It’s for you, Colleen. It’s Andrew. He’s awfully handsome. If you don’t want him, I’ll take him." Colleen couldn’t believe that Andrew was here.
"I don’t think so, Bess. He’s mine." She said as she went out to see him.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"Andrew? What are you doing here?" Colleen walked up to him.
"Colleen. I came to apologize. I just couldn’t take it anymore. I’m sorry for everything." He paused a moment. "I love you."
"Oh, Andrew. I love you too. Thank you for coming here. I’ve missed you." Colleen said before she kissed him. She pulled away, "Let’s just forget about what happened."
"I already have." Andrew smiled at her.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Five days later Andrew, Dr. Quinn, and family left Concord to head back to Boston. It was hard for them to go, but they knew they had to get back to their own lives at Colorado Springs.
It was hard for the Little Men and family to see them go, but they would always remember the adventure that they had brought to Plumfield.
THE END
