PART ONE
BY: ae

Late October, 1883

Dan Madison walked back and forth, back and forth, past the parlor room door, anxiously twisting his hat round and round in his hands. He did not know why he felt like he had to ask her permission-it was such a silly little thing, really. But, somehow, it made him feel more relaxed. How or why, he wasn't sure. And, he would not have been able to explain it if someone asked.

"M-Mrs. Jo?" he asked timidly, stepping into the parlor, where Jo was bent over her desk. No doubt, she was taking advantage of the quiet evening and using the time to catch up on her entries in the conscience book.

Her slender hand stilled, and Jo lifted her head, smiling softly at the familiar figure standing before her. "Yes, Dan?" He had changed so much since moving to Colorado. While that same mischievous, boyish charm of his still remained, he had matured into a fine, sensible young man.

"I-I was wonderin' if, ah…." Dan swallowed nervously. "Could I ride out an' speak with Mr. Laurie for a little while tomorrow mornin'?"

Jo raised her dark brows, warm brown eyes holding an inquisitive gleam. He wanted to speak with Laurie? That was not so peculiar, but rather the fact that he-an adult, who had long past moved out from under her supervision-was asking for her permission.

"Of course you may, Dan," she answered upon remembering that he stood there, waiting patiently for an answer. "You didn't have to ask my permission first, though." She was touched, in a way she could not have elaborated…though still bewildered.

"Thanks, Mrs. Jo," he breathed with relief, his shoulders visibly relaxing. Bowing his head respectfully, Dan pushed his hat back on before quickly striding from the parlor.

Jo tapped her pen against the white paper of the conscience book, puckering her lips slightly with amusement. Poor boy-he seemed quite nervous about something, though she had no idea what. So he wanted to speak with Laurie… She grinned softly. Somehow, she did not think it would be long before his "secret" was made known.

"Hey Nat," Nan hissed softly, waving him over to the window. "Look at'im. What do you suppose he's in such a hurry for?"

Nat paused from pitching hay and leaned against the handle of the pitchfork. "I don't know." He shrugged, his gaze following Nan's. "So Dan's choppin' the wood-I don't see anything abnormal about that. He's done that chore for as long as I can remember." The familiar gleam returned to his blue eyes. That was not what Nan wanted to hear, and he knew it.

"You're a writer, Nat. Have you no imagination?" she asked in exaggerated exasperation.

"Maybe not." He shrugged.

"That's not what I meant, Nathaniel Blake, and you know it." Nan crossed her arms, feigning exaggerated frustration. "It must be somethin' important," she mused thoughtfully, tapping her chin. "He's a hard worker, but he's never worked quite that fast."

"Awe, Nan, let 'em be." Nat nudged her with his shoulder. "Dan's a hard worker, and he always has been. You probably just haven't noticed it before now," he teased, flashing her a charming smile. "Then again, I wouldn't want ya paying that much attention to him..." It was meant to be a jest, but his sentence grew soft, almost inaudible.

Nan felt her cheeks warm, and she quickly looked away. "I-uh, l-look," she said abruptly, catching movement from the corner of her eye. "Dan's finished with the wood. Wonder where he's going now?"

Nat rolled his eyes and snickered softly. No matter what changed, how it changed, his Nan would always be the same Little Miss Nosy.

He could feel the heat climb up his neck. His Nan? Good grief! Where had that come from?

"Whoa." Dan applied pressure to the bit, bringing Blue to a halt at the end of the lane leading to the Laurence's exquisite house. Underneath him, the Mustang sidestepped with defiance and tossed his head, but obeyed nonetheless. Taking the reins in one hand, he leaned forward and swung to the ground. After securing Blue to the tethering pole, he walked the short distance to the front door.

Dan raised a gloved hand to knock. Halfway there, his confidence wavered, and he rubbed the back of his neck. C'mon, Dan, don't be a ninny. He straightened his shoulders and pounded three times.

"May I help you?" a slim young woman with cinnamon colored curls and china blue eyes asked, her voice holding stern formality. He raised his brows slightly, a little intimidated. She was a girl, yes, but from the looks of it, not a girl he dared to mess with.

"My name's Dan; Dan Madison. Is Mr. Laurence at home?" he questioned politely, offering the maid a small smile. "I was needin' ta talk to'im."

She seemed to harbor suspicions about him, but then with a curt, hesitant nod, she stepped back. "Won't you come in?" She led him to the parlor and, after informing him it would be a minute or two, turned and left the room.

Removing his hat like Jo had taught him to do years ago, Dan slowly took a seat.

"Dan!" Laurie's voice shattered the silence a moment later. "It's good to see you again." He extended his hand, smiling broadly.

Dan jumped up, startled, almost falling off the settee. "Same to you, Mr. Laurie," he returned sincerely, with a hesitant grin.

After closing the French doors, Laurie took a seat, motioning for his guest to do the same. "I'm sorry we weren't able to meet you at the train with everyone else. We were stuck bobbing in the ocean for three extra days until the wind finally picked up."

"That's alright. No big deal. I know ya would've come if ya could have. Mrs. Jo and Nick were there with Nat, Nan, and Bess-and Rob. Asia, too. 'Most everybody."

"Jo's been anticipating your arrival for months," Laurie chuckled, settling back in the overstuffed chair. "As well as everyone else, of course." His blue eyes twinkled with merriment.

Dan flushed, knowing exactly who the certain someone he meant after mentioning 'everyone else'. "It's good ta be back. Never realized how much I'd miss everybody."

"I take it you haven't let the cows trample you?"

"Nah, I managed ta pretty much stay away from 'im." Dan chuckled this time. "I just finished building the house. Got a barn and a corral, and now that the house if completed, the place is finally started to take shape," he joked, starting to relax a bit.

"Good, good. Still holding your position as sheriff? I look forward to the day when I can tell people that my son-in-law is a sheriff out in the Wild West." Laurie eyes glinted teasingly.

Dan couldn't help squirming, trying to answer with as much nonchalance as he could muster. "Yep. Started out just taking it 'til I got on my feet, an' then when I did, I didn't want ta quit. God's given me more than I ever could have asked for," he said his tone full of grateful solemnity.

"Glad to hear it. Sounds like things are going quite well for you," Laurie said truthfully, with sincerity. "Well, now, I'm sure you didn't just ride over to talk chat like two old ladies at a tea party." He smiled.

"Well, not…not exactly." Dan offered a wobbly grin. "Actually, I was…was," he started, unable to get the rest of the words out. He had never been one with words-not like Nat. How was he supposed to say what he wanted to say?

Laurie tilted his head, as if encouraging him to continue. "And?"

"I-I was wonderin' if…if…I might…might…uh, a-ask for Bess's hand," he blurted suddenly. "I mean…I…I'd like ta marry her, sir."