PART 2
Jo was in town running some errands later that morning. Suddenly, she heard her name being called from behind her. She turned to see Alan, looking as dashing and well dressed as ever. He looked at Jo with a smile. His gaze made Jo blush. "Would you care to join me for some, tea?" he asked. Jo agreed and accepted his extended arm as they walked down the street.
When tea was finished, Alan escorted Jo back to her carriage. "I had a wonderful time, today," he said.
"I enjoyed it as well," said Jo. "It's rare to find someone who loves Charles Dickens as much as I do. It seemed lately I had no one to discuss literature with at all until I met you."
"I am delighted to assist you on that account, Jo."
"That would be wonderful, Alan."
"Would you have dinner with me again tonight?" Alan offered. "I'll pick you up around six."
"I'd be delighted."
"So, Bess," Emil said politely, "I was planning to take a walk today. Would you like to join me? We'll be back before lunch."
"Well Emil, I…" Bess couldn't finish before she was interrupted by Dan who was running over to them.
"Hey, Bess! Ya want to go for a walk?" Dan said.
"I'm taking her, Dan" snapped Emil.
"But I bet ya she wants to go with me, Emil."
"I asked her first, Dan"
As they argued Lyndon rode up in a carriage. "Hi Bess. I was in the area and thought you might want to go for a walk. We'll have some lunch and then come back."
"I'd be delighted, Lyndon." She looked at Dan and Emil still arguing. "Goodbye boys. I'll be back after lunch." So, Lyndon jumped down from the carriage and hitched up the horse. They were gone before Dan or Emil could mount a protest.
Tea had turned into lunch for Jo and Alan. When they finally parted Alan had left Jo to finish her shopping. She was just climbing into the carriage for the ride home when she heard Amy screaming and saw her running up the street in a very undignified manner. "Amy! What on earth is it?"
I just heard that somebody has been asking questions about Bess, like what she likes to do, where she lives, who else lives there and all kinds of other questions. It's very strange and it's making me nervous. I wish Laurie was here. Oh, Jo, what should I do?"
"First of all Amy, you have to calm down. That's good. Now, there are any number of explanations for someone asking questions. Maybe she has an admirer. Why don't you go home now and I'll get Meg to come and sit with you. Then I'll go back to Plumfield and check on Bess. I'm sure she's fine. Nick is there and he would never let anything happen."
"Yes, I suppose you are right."
"Everything is going to be all right," Jo said confidently.
Jo noticed Nick as she drove the carriage up to the house. With his shirt sleeves rolled up in the heat she could see the muscles rippling through his arms as he exercised Penny. "He always takes such special care of Penny," she thought. She saw the sweat glistening on his handsome face and thought of all the years of hard work that he had been through, but that he never complained about. She stopped the carriage and took in the scene.
Captain Max was sitting under the fence as the kids sat on the rail chatting easily with Nick. Even Dan was there, this morning's comments having been readily forgiven. She noticed how Nick's eyes sparkled as he played a numbers game with Nat, the other children having long ago given up trying to compete with either of them.
Nick saw her there watching them. He winked and flashed a big smile at her. She smiled back readily.
"What different lives we've led," she thought. "My life so full of promise and love. His life so full of pain and loss. She didn't know why she thought of that and then suddenly she realized that Bess was not with them. She climbed down from the carriage and was greeted enthusiastically by Captain Max, as she called frantically for Nick.
Jo excitedly told Nick and the others about the things Amy had heard and asked about Bess' whereabouts. Dan and Emil told her that she had gone for a walk with Lyndon and would be back after lunch. Jo was relieved by the news. Nick was not so happy about it. "I best go lookin' for 'em," he said.
"Bess will be so embarrassed if you follow them, Nick," Jo said.
"I'll just check on 'em, Jo. Make sure everythin' is alright. She won't even know I'm there."
"Can we go with you?" Dan and Emil offered.
"I'm not so sure 'bout that," Nick replied.
"Oh Nick, you worry too much. Six eyes are better than two. Let them go with you." Nick didn't want to show Jo how worried he really was, so he agreed.
"As long as you've finished your lunch. Don't want nobody complainin' they're hungry. And be ready to go in ten minutes," he said. He bent down and hugged Captain Max and commanded, "Stay with Jo." Captain Max went quickly to her side and brushed his head up against her leg. Jo bent down instinctively and gave him a hug. Nick smiled. "Take care of her," he told the dog. He glanced at Jo. Then he headed off to the house.
Inside he explained what was going on to Franz as he checked the rifles. "I want to go with you, too Nick," said Franz.
"Thanks Franz, but I need ya to stay here," Nick said as he handed him a rifle. Franz noticed that Nick was sweating and his hands were shaking. "I don't want your Aunt Jo to worry so keep this in a safe place nearby, but ready to use if ya need to."
"What do you think might happen?
"I dunno, but let's be ready. I'm countin' on ya here, Franz."
Nick picked up the other rifle and checked it again thinking "I haven't raised a gun against a man since…". He shook the memory out of his head. "There's no time for that," he told himself. He turned to leave and Franz grabbed him by the arm.
"Are you all right, Nick?" he asked, worried.
Nick quickly collected himself. "Yeah, I'm alright. We'll be back soon with Bess."
PART 3
