Nick rubbed the back of his hand against his perspiration-dampened forehead, groaning with slight discomfort at the unusual spring heat.  Hearing voices from the kitchen then, he paused just outside the doorway. 

Jo's sisters were here again. 

He succumbed to his natural curiosities then, however and inched closer, daring to listen through the door for telling clues as to what both women were discussing. 

"He's terribly handsome." 

Her comment caught him off guard, but he recovered quick enough and leaned against the wall, a slight smile turning up the corners of his mouth.  He had never thought much about his appearance before, but, hey, he could accept that.  

"Nick is handsome," Asia spoke then. 

Nick jerked upright from his slouched, crossed-arm position against the wall.  Who had Amy been talking about?  Not him, he gathered from the housekeeper's response—support on his behalf. Thatta girl, Asia. 

"He's a teacher, too," Amy continued. 

"A teacher?"  Asia seemed to ponder the detail.  "Well, now…"  

His smirked drooped a bit at one side and he frowned.  Whose side was she on?  

"I'm telling you, Asia.  He and Jo are perfect for each other.  Like cinnamon and sugar."  

"I s'pose I could make somethin' a little extra special," Asia agreed with a slight hint of resignation in her tone—if nothing more than to appease and get the other woman out of her kitchen. 

Ecstatic was the only word to describe Amy's response. "Wonderful!"  

Nick slapped his hat against his thigh, lines of a deep scowl settled between his brows.  What was going on here?  Asia had been his only hope and even she was agreeing to Amy's charade of inviting some owl-faced teacher for dinner.  Something had to be done.  Matchmaking was evidently part of the big picture and Jo— 

Bess's sweet sounding but all knowing tone broke through his abstractions, "Picnics are positively romantic, Dan." 

Dan smirked, both he and Bess oblivious to Nick’s presence.  "Yeah, well, if I ever take a girl on a picnic, it'd only be for the food."  

She rolled her eyes in a manner that suggested the male gender was hopeless and continued out to the porch—with Dan trailing behind, almost at her heels. When the click of the front door reached his ears and confirmed their departure from the house, Nick regarded the stairs with pensive intensity.  Picnics, eh?  

Sporting another slight grin, he strode out to the barn, whistling softly.  
 

Her short, dark tresses had just been brushed back from her cheeks in order to blow out the lamp when a shadow fell across the floor.  Jo gave a small start; her heart, however, slowed upon recognition of Nick's warm but unusual smile.  

"I didn't see you there."  

"Sorry fer scarin' ya," he apologized leaning casually against the doorframe.  

"Have you been there for long?" the query lept from her lips, unchecked, before she could catch herself.  

"Jus' walked up," Nick said, hoping to allay her unease.  

Jo smiled, her brown eyes dancing in the faint light of the oil lamp.  "Did you need something?" 

He stood up and rubbed a hand behind his neck, ducking his head in a bashful manner.  "Yeah, actually…" he hesitated.  What if she said no?  Fear of rejection tore relentlessly at him.  

"Yes?" 

Still, he hesitated… for a moment.  He had to make a move, be bold.  Before that handsome teacher dud of Amy's could.  "I was wonderin' if ya might want ta go fer a picnic by the lake... just you an' me."  

She blushed liked a schoolgirl.  "I'd like that." 

Nick relaxed considerably.  "Great.  How 'bout Wednesday, early afternoon?  Kids don't got school 'cause o' spring break," he reminded though doubting the headmistress had forgotten.  

Jo smiled again.  "That would be lovely." 

"Good.  Real good."  His eyes glimmered with anticipation. "Wednesday, then." 
  

Convincing Jo to let them join the Plumfield group for dinner on Tuesday was not a difficult ordeal.  Amy just did not bother to mention that a "real" guest would be coming over as well.  

"Thomas Buckminster Bangs, don't you dare!"  

Tommy lifted his head, the identical expression of a whipped puppy dog crossing his freckled face.  He HATED it when people called him that!  It was downright intimidating—especially when it was Mrs. Laurence.  "What?" he asked innocently. 

"Don't you dare even think about scooping that icing off with your finger."  Amy shot him a no-nonsense look before scurrying from the dining room.  "Jo!" she gasped, scrutinizing her sister's attire, "Don't tell me you plan on wearing that to dinner?"  

Jo rested her hands on her hips.  "What?" 

"That… that dress."  Amy waved her hands in the air.  "You cannot wear that for dinner." 

"And just why not?" 

"Well it's…" she paused.  It was one of Jo's nicer dresses—she did rather like it.  But, tonight she needed something different. It was not the dress to be worn when meeting her future husband!  

"Why don't you wear your blue and purple one?" 

Before Jo could respond, a knock sounded, causing a whole new scenario of chaos.  "Who could that be?" she wondered out loud, walking into the large hall.  

Nan, however, beat her there, swinging the front door open with evident enthusiasm.  "Howdy!  What do you want?" 

"Nan!" Jo chided, putting her hands on the girl's shoulders as she came up behind her.  "I'm sure—" she stopped, her lips parting slightly at recognition of the handsome stranger.  

"Austin?"