Nan pressed the cool, smooth, round stone into her palm and studied the water that lay out ahead of her.

She had to get at least four skips to beat Dan.
Bringing her hand back to her shoulder, she swung if forward and flung the rock into the air.
It hit the water, skipping once...Twice...Three...Four...Five times.

She jumped up and threw her hands in the air. Gleefully, she chanted, "I win! I win!" After calming a little, she added, "Again. That’s three times today."
Nan held up three fingers triumphantly for Dan to see. And he said she couldn’t do it! Hah!

Dan groaned and punched the air with frustration. Nan had beaten him, again! Like she said, it was the third time that day.

"Awe, it’s just beginner’s luck." He commented ruefully.
"Beginner’s luck? Dan, I’m not a beginner. I’m far from it, and you know it!" Nat would have most likely been sitting there beside her, but was sitting on Dan’s side because none of the other boys had joined them.

"Thank you, thank you." She smiled and took one last sweeping bow. Bess clapped a hand over her mouth and laughed, then suddenly straightened, turning deathly serious.

"Miss Harding, you are acting quite unladylike. I will not tolerate that while you are under my tutelage."
Bess’s face was set sternly, while she acted quite like Miss Snumperding - her third tutor - with her snobbish, I’m-better/higher-than-you-and-shouldn’t-be-here-right-now air.

They all laughed out loud, except for Dan.
"Is that really what," Nat paused for a second to slap at a bug. "She was like?"
Nat turned around twice, trying to catch the moth that kept pestering him.
Bess nodded. "Miss Annabelle Snumperding didn’t stay for very long."
Nan and Nat both raised their brows in surprise. Could Bess really have been that bad to scare off her tutor?

Seeing Dan not participating in the conversation, Nan elbowed him gently.
"You’re not still frettin’ over me winnin’ are ya?" She smiled sweetly.
He gave her a don’t-you-wish smile. "Aren’t you just so funny."
"Yes, I am. Bess said it herself." Nan batted her eyelashes, and rested her hands over her knee.
"Go jump." Dan said, turning and walking away.
He folded his arms and looked out over the foliage. He had to think of something else. This time, something he would most certainly beat her at.

Dan’s eyes lit up and he swerved around.
"I’ve got another idea."
Instead of getting any sort of reply or interest from Nan, he got a frown from Nat.
Obviously Nat didn’t think it a good idea, but Dan didn’t let that stop him.
"Do really think that’s a good idea?" Nat questioned, uncertainly. "You guys have already had one run-into-the wall contest, a game of Capture the Flag and a skipping rock contest. Isn’t that enough for one day?"
Nan seemed to stop and think about it.

"What’s your idea this time, Dan? Are you sure you’re ready to lose again?"
She rested her hands on her hips, eyes gleaming.
Dan ignored the comment, hoping Nan would not back down on his idea.

"What is it?" Nan repeated impatiently - again - after a minute’s silence. Nat stood up and spoke again.
"Dan, Nan, we ought to be getting back for chores. It’s getting late, and you don’t want Mrs. Jo or Nick to come looking for us. You know she goes into a tizzy when something like that happens."
He was hoping to distract the two away from trying another crazy stunt. The extremes they went to, just to prove who was faster - or better for that matter.

Dan continued on, acting as though he hadn’t even heard Nat. "Whoever can race Marty down to the old stump, jump over it, and get back the quickest, wins."
The competitive gleam came back into Dan’s eye.
"Isn’t that a bit high?" She asked, hesitantly.
"Are you afraid to jump it?" He challenged. Nan pursed her lips tightly. "No I’m not. Can’t you do any better than jumping over and old rotten stump anyhow?"
Bess, who had been sitting by and watching the exchange, stood up.
"Honestly Dan, even I could do that." She reasoned. "And beat you." She finished with a smirk.
He let out a laugh and turned to face her.
"Yeah, and I’m Dr. Pierce."
"That’s not funny, Dan. Dr. Pierce is a nice person." Nan and Nat both said in sync.

Dan noticed Bess’s eyes were gleaming with leaping fire. "You don’t think I could do it, do you?"

"Bess, you couldn’t do it even if you wanted to." He replied sarcastically.

She glared at Dan and crossed her arms tightly.
"You are...Are...Pig-headed and arrogant!" She shot back, even more frustrated than before.
Dan looked back at her, not bothering to hide his surprise.
Sweet, feminine, fragile Bess was capable of saying something like that?
"Pig-headed and arrogant, hmm? She thinks I’m pig-headed and arrogant!" He tried to muffle his laugh.
Bess spun around angrily. "You just think you are so good." She thought vehemently.
"Well, Dan, you might just be in for a bit of a surprise when you see just how well I can ride."
Bess couldn’t help but giggle. She was sure his reaction would most likely be a humorous one.

"So do you want to do it or not, Nan? It’s not like you have all day to decide."
He pressed her for an answer, clearly running out of patients. Nan finally agreed.
"Okay, I’ll do it." Dan let out a whoop. "But not today. We don’t have enough time before chores. And not enough time after chores because of dinner and homework."
That flattened his excitement. Dan frowned with disappointment, but reluctantly consented, knowing she was right.

"Alright then, tomorrow afternoon after school." He reached out for her to shake on the agreement. Nan nodded and clapped his hand with hers.

"All right, Dan. If you insist." She cast another sly glance up at him and added simply. "Then prepare to lose."

Dan pushed himself down in his desk seat and sighed softly. This day seemed to drag on forever.

Maybe it was just because he was anxious to get out and beat Nan. No, it was like this every day. He was probably just noticing it more because of the race with Nan.
"I’ll win today..." Dan mused silently. "...Nan." A smile slowly formed on his lips.

Franz cleared his throat and Dan soon realized every face in the room was looking at him.

"Did I miss something?" He asked, slowly. Laughter erupted from all over the room.
Franz raised an eyebrow and after a moment, continued on with the lesson.
Dan let his breath out, which he didn’t realize he’d been holding. Maybe Franz would let him off this time...
But Dan knew very well by the scowl on Franz’s face that it wasn’t going to be that easy.

When school was finally left out, Jo stopped them even before they could leave their seats.
"Children, because of the tests you are taking tomorrow, Franz and I both feel each of you should be fully rested. Therefore, you all will be retiring early."
She watched as their smiling faces turned to frowning ones.
"Chores will be completed first, and then after they are finished, you may have free time until dinner."
A wave of moans quickly came in response of what she had said.

"If I catch anyone not doing their chores, or taking free time before they have finished them, your punishment will result in an even earlier bed time."

She dismissed them and noticed how quick they were to gather their things and file out of the school.

"I have a feeling their chores will be done faster than they ever have been before." Jo and Franz both let out a chuckle.

"What do I do, Aunt Jo?" Franz took off his glasses and sat down at his desk.
"It seems that every day now, I catch him daydreaming. His work will suffer greatly if this continues. It disrupts the rest of the class as well."

Franz rubbed his forehead, tiredness suddenly washing over him. Jo folded her arms and shrugged.
"I don’t know. He has great dreams of going off to unknown places, just as I used too."
She sighed wistfully. Sometimes she still dreamed of it. "But he most certainly needs to learn how to control them."
Jo sighed again, feeling stumped like Franz. The two stood in silence again.

"Maybe I’ll have Nick speak to him. He seems to understand and relate to Nick the best."
Franz nodded. "Yes, I think that’s our best option. Let’s just hope it will work."

Silently, he prayed it would.

Bess finished dusting off the pictures and sneezed. Of all the chores in the house, this was probably the most bothersome. She walked down the hall, out the front door, and walked over to the railing.
As she was shaking the duster out, shouts and laughter wavered over from the barn.

Nan ran out, and disappeared behind the barn. Dan, Tommy and Emil were running behind her, trying to catch up.
"You won’t win, Nan!" Dan shouted. Nan shook her head and ran faster.

They all continued for another minute, around and around the barn until Nan pulled to a halt at the barn door.
"We gotta stop, what if Mrs. Jo catches us?" The three boys stopped running, and looked at each other.

"It would be Dan’s fault." Tommy and Emil concluded, nodding their heads.
Dan gave Emil a shove and said, "Well, I didn’t exactly see you decline."
"You were the one that got mad because Nan said you wouldn’t win tomorrow."
The boys continued to bicker for another minute or two.

"Guys, stop!" Nan snapped sternly. "Get back in the barn. We’ve gotta get our chores done. Or there will be no race tomorrow."

She walked up from behind and pushed them into the barn until they were out of sight.

Bess turned and walked back inside.

After seeing that little escapade, she suddenly had a sick feeling rise in her stomach.
Maybe she couldn’t beat Dan. Maybe he was right.
Maybe she couldn’t ride Marty, and jump over the stump...Even if she wanted to.
Maybe it was only Nan could do those things. Dan was right. Why hadn’t she just listened to him instead of insisting it wasn’t true?
Her smiled faded and she dropped her shoulders.
Maybe she didn’t belong in at Plumfield, like her mother had insisted at first...

Dan walked out and was about to call to Emil when he noticed Bess on the porch.
She looked...Down. Really down. Suddenly he wondered why she was so unhappy.

He had just gathered enough courage to walk up to the porch and ask when Nat called him.

"Dan, what’s taking you so long? You have to finish grooming Penny before we put her back in her stall. We finished mucking it out. Come on!"
Dan turned and waved to Nat. "I’m coming."
Turning back around, he noticed Bess had already gone back into the house.
If only he’d gotten to talk to her.

"Augh! If only we didn’t have to go to bed early tonight. Then dinner would be later and we’d be able to do our ‘stunt’ as Nat calls it."

Nan plopped down on her bed and rested her chin in her hands.
Bess listened to Nan talk, while silently putting away her clean clothes.
"Hey, maybe we could sneak out. What do you think, Bess?"
"Bess?"
"Huh-hmm?" She looked up confused.
"Bess, I just asked you a question." Nan sat up and gazed at her friend.
"Is something wrong, Bess?"
She quickly shook away the question. "No, I’m fine. What made you ask?"
Bess looked up at Nan and pasted a smile on her face. "Oh, I don’t know. You just seemed kind of...lethargic I guess."
Bess shook her head.

"Nope, just a little tired." Nan sighed and rolled over. "Okay, if you say so. But I still think something’s wrong."
She stood up and walked down the hall. Jo was calling them for dinner.

As Nan disappeared down the hall, Bess reached up to push away a tear that slid down her cheek. She couldn’t cry now. Not before dinner...

"Yoo-Hoo!" Dan jumped into the air, throwing his fist up. "Tests are done, and school’s out early!"
Bess smiled slightly at his awkward way of letting out excitement.

They all walked down the hill, up to the house, ready to eat the refreshments that Asia had fixed up for them.

In a matter of minutes, everyone was seated and gulping down cold glasses of lemonade.
By now, news of Dan and Nan’s race had spread to each one of the children.

Asia - with the help of Bess - entered the dining room and placed both plates of cookies on either end of the table.
Hands reached forward, and quickly the plates were empty of all contents that filled them only a second ago.

She chuckled, and stepped back into the kitchen, surprised to see that Bess had not joined the rest of the children in the dining room, but her in the kitchen.
Asia dusted off her hands and wiped her brow with the hem of her apron.
"Them kids sure know how to eat." She chuckled and looked at Bess.
Bess nodded, taking a seat at the small table in the kitchen.
"Didn’t you want some cookies or lemonade?" Asia asked.
She shook her and said, "Maybe some lemonade. But no cookies please."

Asia poured some lemonade into another glass and handed it to the quiet girl sitting patiently at the table.
After a few moments of pure silence, Asia spoke. "Is somethin’ botherin’ you, Bess?"

"Uh, no. Nothing’s bothering me." She assured the older woman.
"Nothing at all. I’m just...Just thinking about what the results will be on my test."
She cringed inwardly at telling such a lie, but she couldn’t let Asia know the real reason.

"Alright, you just seemed a less perky and cheerful than you usually are."
Asia smiled and patted Bess’s shoulder as she passed.
"Guess I better go and check on them children before they tear the whole house down."

Amazingly, when Asia entered the dining room a second time, everyone was still seated but chatting and laughing loudly.

She quickly discovered the source.

Nat and Nan were engaged it a contest of arm-wrestling.
She rested her hands on her hips, and soon was mixed in with rest, watching intently.

Bess got up from her chair and peered out the door from the kitchen to the dining room.
Nan was at it again. She slowly smiled.
Nan thrived at Plumfield. Someone would have been a dolt to not see it. It was obvious.
Bess stepped back and let her hands fall to her sides.
"Maybe I should go and speak to Aunt Jo...About leaving..." She murmured, feeling down again.
It would have to be done sometime; why not now? Her mind wondered back to Dan and Nan’s bet.

She knew she could never beat Nan, or Dan, but what was wrong with just trying?

Sneaking a peak across the dining room again, she was relieved to see that everyone was still engaged in the arm wrestling matches.
Bess quietly left the kitchen, and snuck upstairs to retrieve her great-grandfather’s watch.

She needed that to time herself. If she hurried, maybe, just maybe she could get back before Nan and Dan were ready.

"H-hello, Marty. I-It’s just me." Bess reached up her hand to let the dark brown horse know she was there.
Marty snorted and tossed his head but let Bess stroke his neck.

"Now, if you don’t mind, I’m going to take you for a little ride." She placed the saddle on his back and reached down to tighten the girth.

At least she hadn’t forgotten how to saddle up.
After pressing the bit into Marty’s mouth, Bess stuck her head out and checked down both ways to make sure no one was coming.
Feeling it safe, she quietly led Marty out. He snorted, but followed her easily.

Once outside, Bess placed a firm hand on his muzzle and peered out again. The coast was clear.
Grasping a hunk of mane, she swung herself up and pushed back her skirt.
Bess steadied her hands and held tightly to the reins. Checking the time, she counted as it reached the eight.
"Five, four, three, two, one..." Bess counted mentally with the clock.
At one, she dug her heels into Marty’s sides and he galloped off into the forest.

"What is going on here?" Jo stepped into dining room, hands on hips. She was met with twelve pairs of eyes, including Asia’s.
"I’m sorry Mrs. Jo. They started arm wrestlin’ and I’m afraid we all got into watchin’ it."
She smiled sheepishly, waiting for Jo’s reaction.
Jo glanced over, and was not surprised to see that Nan was the winning competitor.

They were all expecting she would make them get up, and out, chastising them in her gentle way about table manners.
But to their surprise, she didn’t.

Instead, Jo walked over and sat on the arm of one of the chairs. Every jaw went slack.

"Well, what’s the matter? Get wrestlin’." She winked.
Smiles spread across the room at the way she spoke as Nan and Nat got back to their "wrestlin’."

Bess leaned low over Marty’s withers, as she had seen the other boys do in their various horse races.
Her eyes began to sting and water from Marty’s black mane that kept hitting her eyes.

She blinked furiously a few times trying to focus on the old stump that loomed ahead.
It was down on its side, making a perfect jump. But as it drew closer and closer, the bigger it seemed to get.

Swallowing hard, Bess spoke softly. "We can do this Marty. I just know we can."
She prepared to raise herself in the stirrups, leaning forward. Three feet before the stump, Marty hesitated, slacking his stride. But Bess pressed harder with her heels and he continued on. In one swift motion, they were up and over it.

She was jolted forward a little, but all in all it was a good jump.

One time was done, but they still had to go back over.
She pulled him around, and aimed for the stump one more time.
It didn’t seem so big now.

Marty headed for the stump, seeming more eager this time than last. When the time came, he tucked up his front feet, preparing to jump over.
But a loud crack interfered with their plans.

Marty twisted around, startled, tossing Bess from the saddle. She felt the reins slip through fingers as she tumbled sideways off of him.
Bess felt a sharp pain on the side of her head, as she hit the ground with a thud.

Something warm was trickling down her temple, but before she could reach up to confirm her fears, nothing else was known to her.

"You children help clean off this table before you go out and play." Asia made sure to stop the bustling crowd before they were so much as out of their seats.
In a matter of minutes, the table was cleared, glasses were washed and they were once again tramping out the barn.

"Come on, Nan. Hurry up!" Dan called back to the girl, who was walking behind, talking with Nat and Emil.

"Don’t you guys have any patients?" she mumbled, pulling away from them and running up to join Dan.

Nat laughed and called in response, "No, I don’t think we do." Then he added, "At least not when we’re anxious to get something we want."

Bess forced her eyelids open squinting at the bright sun that was shining down through the trees. The world around was blurry, with little star like things floating everywhere.
Pushing her self to a sitting position, she closed her eyes tightly, and then reopened them.

Much to her disappointment, the stars had only dimmed a little.
"What am I doing out here?" Bess wondered suddenly. Then the incident flashed before her.

Marty, where was Marty? Her aunt would never forgive her if she found out Bess had ridden out alone, on her horse.

She waited another moment, hoping yet again that the stars would disappear before she stood up.
Bess didn’t want to take the chance of blacking out again.
The trees swirled slowly, but between biting her lip, and pinching herself, she managed to stay conscience.
"I’ve got to find Marty," she thought frantically.

Bess shaded her eyes and glanced around, surveying the many trees. Nowhere did she spot the dark brown horse. "Only hoof prints..." She thought sullenly. "Wait a minute, hoof prints...They've got to be Marty's." It wasn’t much, but at least it could direct her in the way he had gone.

Bess trudged forward wishing she could just lie down and go to sleep in her own bed. Dizziness whirled through her head again. Maybe she’d stop for a minute’s time.
Yes, that wouldn’t hurt anything and hopefully her head would settle. After a minute or so of resting, she glanced around, once again checking for Marty.

Nothing...again. She sighed in disappointment, but something caught her eye.
About forty feet away stood a big, dark colored animal. Her heart wrenched with fear. A bear was the first thing that crossed her woozy mind. But no, a bear didn’t have a long, swishy tail. Horses did…Marty was a horse.

Bess jumped up - much faster than she should have - and ran closer to where Marty was standing.

Careful not to spook him, she called his name in a soft voice. "Good boy, Marty. It’s just me, Bess. Ready to go back to Plumfield now?"
Her eyes began to blur again, but she ignored it.

Finally she managed to get close enough to take the flyaway reins in her hands.
As she pulled on the reins to lead him forward, Marty threw up his head, pulling Bess off her unstable feet.

"Whoa, Marty. Calm down." She stood up shakily, perspiration coming in beads on her forehead.

Getting him to a nearby rock, she pulled herself onto his back. Marty took off almost instantly, causing her jounce in the saddle. She hauled back on the reins, pulling him to a halt.

Bess had to figure out which way to go, before they rode off anywhere.
"Hmm...I wonder how far I’ve walked."
One swift glance around the area told her the stump was no where in sight.
She’d never seen this part of the Plumfield property before.
How would she find her way back like this? She was lost, injured and could barely control the horse she was riding.

Marty sidestepped angrily, swatting his tail furiously at the horseflies that plagued him.

Bess nudged him with her heels, turning him in circles to keep attention. She’d just have to start riding.

But before they got far, Marty did a mini-buck, make her head swim even worse then before.
"This is not going to work." Bess dismounted, her hands trembling for no reason at all.

A squirrel scampered across the ground, going right through Marty’s hooves.

The skittish horse kicked up his heels, vaulting Bess backward onto the ground.
She tried to stand up and catch Marty, but black was again creeping up on her.

The last thing she heard was Marty...galloping off in the opposite direction.

Nan and Dan burst into the barn, now growing excited about the race that was laid before them.
"I claim second ride!" Nan called.
Dan shrugged and agreed. She stopped and thought a moment, feeling something wasn’t quite right.
"Where’s Bess? She said she would come and watch to cheer me on." Nan quickly thought back over the day.

Come to think of it, she hadn’t seen the other girl since gathering their books in the school/barn.

Dan stopped so quickly, Nan bumped into him. "What’s the matter?" She demanded, wanting to know why he had stopped so suddenly.
"Marty’s not in his stall. Do you suppose Nick took him out?" He asked, trying so figure out why the horse wasn't in the barn. Nan shook her head.
"Nick always takes Ivanhoe to town, never Marty. ‘Member? Mrs. Jo pretty much just uses Marty for the buggy."

The other boys clamored into the barn...minus Nat. "Did you guys notice Marty in the pasture? He’s not in his stall."
It was then both Nan and Dan noticed the grim faces. "What’s the matter, you all look like you’ve seen a ghost."

They shook their heads.
Nat appeared in the doorway of the barn, leading Marty.
"Oh good, you got him from the pasture."
Dan walked forward to meet his friend and take the horse. "Dan, you remember those things you said to Bess the other day?"
Nat was trying to pull the puzzle pieces together, hoping his sometimes-not-so-bright friend would figure it out.
"Yeah. I remember." Dan suddenly felt a bit awkward. He exactly been nice, and it seemed to bother more than their bickering usually did. Actually, it seemed to have bothered her alot more.

Nat sighed and looked at his friend slowly.
"I didn’t get Marty out of the pasture, Dan. He came galloping up the way just a moment ago." He stopped speaking for a minute. "With this."
Dan took the piece of ribbon from Nat’s hand. "It’s the ribbon Bess was wearing today."

Three pairs of worried eyes met each other. Bess was lost and possibly hurt, most likely because of Dan.

"Look what you’ve done, Dan. She’s gone to prove she can beat you because of all that nonsense that she couldn’t. Another one of you real bright moves."
Nan crossed her arms worriedly.
"What should we do?" She questioned. Dan turned around slammed his palm into the wood.

"Well, we’ve gotta go find her." Dan shrugged and looked down at his hands. "And hope she hasn’t done anything stupid."
"Because of what I said," He mused guiltily. "I did it this time."
Nan couldn’t help but grin. "You sure have a way of sayin’ all the wrong things!"
Dan would have chased her into the woods and pinned her to the ground, but they had other things to do.

"Well, we’ve gotta go and see if we can find her. Before anybody knows she’s missing."
They put Marty away and then joined back up at the entrance of the barn.

"Wouldn’t she had gone to the old stump, if she was trying to jump Marty?" Tommy asked. Everyone nodded.

"Okay, we’ll go this way and you guys go that way." Nan quickly grabbed for Nat and Dan.
"Don’t play around. We’ve got to find her."

As the trio reached the stump, they didn’t notice anything that looked like Bess.
Nan plopped down and rested her chin in her hands.
"Okay, she not here. Where else do we look?"
Nat and Dan were too busy to answer.
They were playing detective, looking for any and every clue they might possibly find.

"Scoot over. You can’t have the whole stump for your self." Dan commented, plopping down beside her. Nan rested back on her palms.
A fly landed on her check and she reached up to swat it.
"Nan?" Nat asked, alarmed.
"You’re bleeding." Nan looked at him. "I am not. Why would I be bleeding?" She switched her glance over to Dan.
"You’ve got blood on your cheek." He reached up to wipe the smudge, so he could show her.
Nan wrinkled her nose and looked at his fingers closely. "I don’t know why-" She then noticed her palm was red. "What would I have done that would make me bleed...?"
Nan glanced down to where she had rested her palm. The area had a small trail of blood on it. "Who?" She looked up, confused, at her friends.

"Bess." Nan scooted to the edge and jumped off the log. "Look! Here’s a scrap of her dress, too!" She pointed at the bright, calico fabric of Bess dress. Nat and Dan slid down on either side to inspect the trail and scrap.

"That means she's hurt." Nat stood up and start walking. "Come on, you guys. If she’s hurt, then we really have to hustle."
Both stood up and followed Nat, who had found Marty’s hoof prints. "Maybe these will take us to her..."

At least they could hope.

"Asia, have you seen any of the children?" Jo asked, concerned, as she stepped into the kitchen.

"No, Mrs. Jo. I haven’t seen them since they left and ran out to the barn." Asia stilled her dishwashing and dried her hands. "Maybe their plain’ a game of Capture the Flag in the woods." She suggested.
Jo tipped her head and licked her lips.
"That’s probably it. I’ll go speak to Nick. He just rode in from town." She smiled at Asia and grabbed her shawl before leaving the house.
"That’s a girl. Go speak to Nick." She chuckled and turned back to the stack of waiting breakfast dishes.

"Over here!" Nat waved Nan and Dan over to where he was standing.
"I still say we’re walkin’ in circles." Dan thrust his thumbs into his pockets and tipped his head.

"We’re not, but Marty might have been. Look at the hoof prints." Nat pointed to the scatter of hoof prints in the ground. "They’re all in a circle." Nan commented.

"Marty must have been spooked and thrown Bess. That would explain all the hoof marks in a circle."
Dan leaned down and looked closer. "Then she couldn’t have gone far. She’s got to be around here somewhere."
They split up and covered every inch of the area.

"Nat! Dan!" Nan shrieked. Both heads shot up from where they were looking and ran over to where Nan was kneeling.

"We gotta get her back to Mrs. Jo and get Dr. Pierce! She’s got a bad gash on her temple. Does anybody have a cloth or something? We gotta stop the bleeding."
"Come on, you guys. We don’t want to be out here any later than we have to. For our sake and her’s!" Seeing they were making no moved forward to carry her, she pushed them forward.

"Carry her?" Dan especially looked shocked. "Dan, just do it! She’ll never know and we’ll never tell anyone."

Reluctantly, he gently pushed his arms under her back and lifted her off the ground.

"Okay guys, let’s go."
Suddenly, Nan and Nat both noticed that Dan seemed to be really serious...and concerned.

Dan cast another worried glance down at Bess. She looked liked...like...He didn’t even want to think about it. The usual color had gone out of her cheeks and her face was pale.

"I didn’t mean for you to practically kill yourself. I-I just was, well...being my usual self." He said lamely.
"I guess I just got carried away. I just figured you’d pretend to be upset, and then everything else would be fine, like always."

Dan stopped when he thought he saw her move her head. "Bess? Bess?" He persisted, barely speaking.
She didn’t move. Didn’t even moan. "Just my imagination..." He mumbled silently feeling disappointed.

"I-I’m sorry Bess."

"Children! What happened?" Jo rushed to entryway of the house when Dan, Nan and Nat entered, Bess limp in Dan’s arms.

"Bess hurt herself." Nan quickly jumped in and spoke. Jo gave her a funny look. She looked as though she wanted to say something, but dismissed it and hurried on with Bess.

"Bring her inside, and set her on the couch. Nan you go and ask Asia for some cold cloths and Nat, go and ask Nick to get Dr. Pierce. Hurry!"

Bess rolled over and moaned softly. Her head was throbbing painfully on the left side, like someone was using it for a drum. She slowly opened her eyes.

"She’s awake!" Someone jumped up from beside the bed, bumping it heavily and ran down the hall.

"Dan..." The words that had been plaguing her were playing through her mind again.

"I-I’m sorry Bess..." Bess swallowed and for the thousandth time wondered if she had only dreamed of Dan speaking, and carrying her.

"Oh Bess!" Amy ran in and sat on the side of the bed, kissing her on the forehead.

"Mother, what are you doing here?" Bess asked, confused.

"Nick came and let us know you were hurt, so we came over to check on you. You don’t know how worried we all were about you." Amy looked at Bess, motherly love clear in her eyes.

Soon, Bess and Nan’s room was filled with everyone from Plumfield.

"We’re so relieved to know you’re all right, Bess." Jo stepped forward and squeezed her hand. "You gave us all quite a scare." She let out a nervous laugh.

"Were they really that worried? Or are they just trying to make me feel like I belong here?" She couldn’t help but wonder. Bess glanced up and saw Dan, just as a sharp pain seared through her temple. His usually merry eyes now held a look of sadness. Seeing that she noticed him, he quickly stepped out of the room.

"Dan, where are you going?" She wanted to call out to him, but everyone was busy talking and chatting. Sighing, she tried to block out the pain and listen to the talk.

"You foolish dolt. You should have known she would still be mad at you." Dan kicked angrily at a large stone on the ground.

"Nan, you’re right. I do know just what to say at just the right time." He muttered sarcastically. Balling his fists, Dan stared at the ground.

"You lost a friend because you had to act so stupid and so..." He ran a hand through his hair. "Pig-headed. You finally get to be somewhat good friends with her and then you blow it completely!" The conversation that was the root of this whole problem played through his head. Dan sighed heavily and turned toward the woods. He wanted to take a walk.

"I’m so glad you’re going to be able to get up and go around." Nan bounced at the end of Bess’s bed.

Bess smiled half-heartedly and said, "Yes, Dr. Pierce said that it was only minor, and that I’ll be as good as new in just a few days." She turned her head and stared out the window. She was only half listening to Nan. The other girl was chatting happily, obviously not realizing that Bess was only paying half attention.

"Do you know where Dan went, Nan?" She asked abruptly, interrupting her. Nan furrowed her brows and drew her knee up to rest her chin on.

"I think he was last seen walking through the woods. Why did you ask?" Nan was suddenly curious as to why Bess was asking about Dan.

"N-No particular reason." She fibbed. Nan raised in eyebrow in question.

"Come on, Bess. You can tell me." She smiled sweetly at Bess, hoping she would tell her the real reason.

After more poking and persuading, Bess gave in. "All right! When I woke up, and everybody was all around I saw him, and he looked really down." Nan wrinkled her brows in thought.

"Hmm...I think he feels bad about what he said, and thinks that you’re mad at him because you got hurt. I’m sure he’s thinkin’ it’s his fault you got hurt, too."

She tried to make it sound worse than it really was. Bess bit her lip and gazed out the window.

"I should talk to him..." She murmured, barely audible. Nan smiled wickedly.

"That’s just what I had in mind."

"Just be careful, Bess. Don’t wonder too far, and don’t be gone for too long!" Jo called from the porch. Bess nodded politely, and quickened her pace. She couldn’t wait to get out and think.

When she reached the stream, Bess found a log and sat down, resting her chin in her hands.

"Do I still want to leave? Should I talk to mother and Aunt Jo? I’m sure Dan would be more than eager for me to go." She sighed and looked down at the stream.

"Is anybody sittin’ here?" Dan said, startling Bess. She whipped around, almost tumbling off the log.

"I-ah, no." She looked away quickly, hoping he wouldn’t see her turn red. "I must really look like a fool." "So, w-what brings you out here?" Bess questioned, trying to break the silence.

"U-uh-oh. I’m um...Well..." He fumbled, turning red. "I came to talk to you." Dan blurted out.

Bess’s eyes went big. "Why me?" He ran a hand through his hair nervously.

"I-I’m sorry about all the stuff I said the other day. It wasn’t right, and it wasn’t fair. I went a little too far this time, and I was acting-"

"Pig-headed and arrogant?" A smiled tugged at the corners of her mouth. Dan laughed nervously.

"Yeah, both." They both laughed. "Neither thing I said was true. I’m sure you could ride Marty. And beat me." He stopped, as if thinking over what he had said.

"Well, you couldn’t have beaten me, but..." He smirked playfully. Dan suddenly turned serious again. "Bess, I-I’m really sorry." He looked the other way, not quite sure he could look at her right now. Bess knitted her brows. Where had she heard those words?

"I-I’m sorry, Bess."

Yes! That was it! Dan really had spoken to her. She wasn’t just dreaming.

"Bess?" Dan looked at her confused.

"U-hmm?"

"Is something wrong?"

"No, why do you ask?"

Dan shrugged. "You just seemed off in another world for a minute. But then again, you do that all the time." His eyes twinkled.

"You!" She jumped up and chased him back to Plumfield. She would get him this time, no matter what he said!

Hope you enjoyed. Any feedback, comments or constructive criticism is greatly appreciated! Thanks for reading!