Her gaze drifted to Lindsay, who was standing on the porch, talking with the Bergquists, the other children gathered around them anxiously. She closed her eyes again."Nothing."

Lana Barguest crossed her arms over her ample chest and turned her back on Ginny and Jon and Lindsay. They were in the barn, discussing Lewis' fate. Ginny and the Bergquists had been arguing for so long that they'd all lost track of the time. Lana sniffed and wiped at her face angrily. Both she and Ginny had been reduced to tears several times already."No," she whispered brokenly.

Jon sighed and wrapped his arms around his wife from behind. He didn't want to give the boy up either, but it wasn't right to break up an intact family. He rested his chin on her shoulder."Lana...honey." "No! She's just a girl herself. She can't take him." Her voice trailed off and, "We've waited so long for a son," was barely audible.

"You were younger than Virginia when our Katherine was born," he reminded softly, smiling a little at the thought of his oldest daughter who was now a teacher in Atlanta and the mother of two beautiful girls herself. They had tried and tried for a boy, but after their last baby the midwife informed them in no uncertain terms that another delivery would kill Lana.

Lindsay leaned close to Ginny and pressed her lips gently against her ear to whisper, "We've been out here for a while. Would you like me to go inside and check on Lewis and the other children?"She winced internally, knowing that she hadn't done a very good job of keeping the hopefulness out of her voice. Confrontations like she'd had with Jean and Jacque or Albert or even the Wards were something she could handle. But this-with Ginny and Lana looking like they were both about to fracture apart at any moment and Jon barely keeping it together for his wife's sake-it was all too much.

Ginny wiped her cheeks with shaky fingers and nodded. The tension around Lindsay's eyes was so painfully evident that she felt a little sick at her stomach at the sight. She hurts for me as much as I do. She hadn't acknowledged Lindsay's presence since the adults had adjourned to the barn to talk in private. But the silent support the rail rider had offered Ginny-the casual, warm palm that came to rest against the small of her back, the eyes that promised they would work things out somehow-meant everything. And now her friend needed some air."That's a good idea."

She patted Lindsay's side gently, her eyes drifting to small window. Ginny frowned. The moon was high in the sky."It's been longer than I thought."

"You sure?" Lindsay questioned softly. Another sniff."I'm sure."

In a much louder voice, Lindsay announced she'd check on the children and be back in a few minutes. Before she was out the door, Ginny had asked about the farm and Talking Rock, and the Bergquists eagerly shifted topics in favor of something more benign.

Lindsay pushed open the door and took a deep breath of cold night air that whisked away the earthy scent of hay and livestock. She absently pulled the edges of her coat together, trying not to feel guilty for leaving the barn. They seem like nice enough folks, but why do they have to talk about this endlessly?

She stood out in front of the house and lifted a hand to knock. Deciding that the children were most likely asleep, she let her hand drop and quietly stepped inside.

It was dark, the orange coals in the fireplace providing the only light. It took a few seconds for her eyes to adjust and then she spotted Lewis sitting nervously on the davenport.

"Hi," Lindsay said quietly as she shut the front door. She held up her hand."One minute, okay? I want to check on the other kids."

Lewis nodded and silently led Lindsay to a large back bedroom that the three girls shared. Lindsay peered at the bed that contained the sleeping children. Not knowing what else to do, she placed her fingers in front of each little mouth so that she could make sure they were all breathing.

Lewis muffled a snort.

Lindsay lifted an eyebrow at the boy, then padded quietly out into the living room where she fed the fire several short logs from a wooden bin along the wall, careful not to use her injured fingers. When she was finished she straightened and dusted her hands on her skirt before turning to Lewis.

He was staring at her and it made her uncomfortable."Who are you? Someone from the orphanage?" he asked curiously, hoping that wasn't the case.

"'Course not," she answered, dropping down on the davenport with soundless sigh."I'm a friend of your sister's."

Lewis' face suddenly brightened."I'm Lewis," he said happily, extending a small hand.

Lindsay smiled."Pleased to meet you Lewis. I'm..." she paused not sure exactly what to say."I'm Lindsay, I guess."It sounded so strange coming from her own lips.

Lewis scratched his chin."You guess?"

"No," she corrected with another smile."I'm pretty sure."

"Good."His gaze slid sideways to the door."Is Ginny talking to Uncle Jon and Aunt Lana?"

Lindsay's eyebrows jumped."Uncle and Aunt." Lewis shrugged one shoulder and brought his stockinged feet up onto the davenport to sit Indian style."They asked if I wanted to call them Ma and Pa, but I said no."

"Mmm. Were they unhappy that you didn't want to?"She picked at a tiny piece the davenport's fabric, well aware that she wasn't very good at fishing for information."Maybe they were even mad enough to give you a whippin'?"

"No!"Lewis looked horrified."They don't do that. Annie said, well, she's eight and is always trying to steal my biscuits. Annie always..."

Lindsay stifled a chuckle. Like his sister, Lewis could hold his own in the conversation department."Lewis..." she reminded gently, her voice reminding him what they were talking about.

"Oh. Right. Anyway, my first day here I dropped a plate." He winced. "I was sure I was gonna get it."His own parents used spanking quite frequently as a means of punishment or way to control the boys when they got too rambunctious."But she told me they've never spanked her once. They don't believe in it."He didn't quite know what that meant, other than his backside would be safe.

Lindsay looked a little surprised, idly wishing that her father had had similar thoughts when it came to child rearing.

"As for them being unhappy about it what I said... Well...." Lewis considered that for a moment."A little I guess. So I said that, since I didn't have any Uncles or Aunts or anything, I could call them that, if they wanted."

Lindsay nodded slowly."And they wanted?"

"Yup."

Lindsay leaned forward and rested her elbows on her knees. I might as well make the most of my time. I need to go back soon."Are you happy here? Would you rather stay than come with your sister and me?"

Again, Lindsay was surprised when Lewis hesitated in his answer. She hadn't really considered that any of the children could bond with their new family so quickly. Which was a little ridiculous, she privately admitted, considering how she felt about Ginny.

"I do like it here," he said carefully."Uncle Jon is a vet-vent-vat-" He scowled and tried again."A vent-vet-vent-"

Lindsay narrowed her eyes as she tried to decipher what the boy was saying."A ventriloquist?" She shivered."God."She'd seen one of those once in a saloon in Kansas City. Of course, after the show the crowd had demanded their money back, attacked the performer, and ripped that queer little head clean off his dummy.

Lewis snapped his fingers."That's it. And I'm his apprentice," he informed her excitedly, his pride in the announcement written across elfin features.

Lindsay made a face. They have apprentices?"What the hell do they need apprentices for?"

Lewis glanced around nervously."Shhh...Girls aren't supposed to cuss!"

Lindsay couldn't help but smile. She'd heard this lecture from another redhead."Sorry," she offered with as much contriteness as she could muster."So you're going to make a puppet or doll or whatever talk when you grow up?"We're stealing him tonight!

Horrified, Lewis scrunched up his face."Girls play with dolls!"

"Some girls."

"When I get bigger I'm gonna fix hurt cows and horses and stuff."

"Ohhhh...." The light of understanding finally dawned on Lindsay. Maybe Georgia isn't as odd as I thought it was. "A veterinarian."

"Right. That's what I said. Didn't you hear me? You talk normal so you should be able to understand me. Everyone else here has a funny accent."

Lindsay nodded."I know."Her jaw worked silently for a moment. This was going to kill Ginny."I guess now we need to tell your sister you don't want to come with her." And then see if she's willing to let you go.

"No!"Lewis shot to his feet."I love it here but I love Ginny more!" Desperately, he looked around the room, ready to bolt if need be."She hasn't left yet, has she? She promised! I-"

Lindsay reached out and grabbed Lewis by the sleeve, tugging him back to the davenport. "Shh... Relax. You'll wake the girls. Ginny's still here," she promised, feeling bad that she'd unintentionally frightened the boy so. She let out a raspy breath and mentally crossed her fingers."So you do want to leave?"

"I don't want to leave Uncle Jon and Aunt Lana or leave Ginny," he clarified miserably."If I stay here I'm going to be an apprentice in just a few more years. It's not the same as my real folks...but Jon and Lana are nice and listen to me when I talk... like Ginny does. And I have my own room, and Aunt Lana makes the best blueberry pies." Lindsay leaned back against the sofa with an unhappy grunt. She let her head fall back and her eyes fluttered closed."Then I guess we've got to think of a plan so that we can all be happy."And this plan had better be a hell of a lot better than your last one, String Bean.

Fifteen minutes later, Lindsay and Lewis headed to the barn with their hearts in their throats.

Two men jumped from a moving train, tumbling down a gravel-filled embankment and coming to a violent crash at the bottom.

"Damn," Bo cursed. He stood up and brushed off his coat, drawing in a deep breath of pine-scented air. He glanced down at Albert who was sitting back on his heels, trying to catch his breath."Here we are."

Albert shook his head. He was going to make Lindsay suffer twice as much for making him chase her ass out into the middle of nowhere.

Bo took off his Derby and scratched his head."What's the name of this place again?"

Albert made a face."In Big Ugly they said the name on the paper was Talking Rock." The men had counted piss-poor, whistle-stop towns for hour after hour until they'd hit the twelfth town.

Bo laughed humorlessly and began to walk towards the flickering lights of houses in the distance."Can't believe a damn thing that comes out of people's mouths nowadays."

"Ain't that the truth."

"It's too late to find String Bean." Bo extended his arms out in front of him, stretching his sore back."Let's go get a drink."

Albert grunted and unconsciously patted the railroad schedule in his coat pocket. He'd already planned on nabbing her when she tried to board the next outbound train in the morning.

"You're buying."

"No," Albert chuckled and fell in step behind Bo, "the guy who I'm going to rob is."

Ginny tucked the thick quilt up under Lewis' chin. She smiled and pushed back bangs the same color as her own. The tiny room was dark, except for a sliver of moonlight that painted the narrow twin bed.

The boy flashed her a brilliant, if sleepy, smile."Can I really come back here and still be an apprentice?" he asked, a big yawn interrupting his question.

"Every summer," Ginny confirmed."Once school gets out."She wasn't sure how she was going to manage it, but she planned on keeping her promise to the Bergquists. Lewis wouldn't disappear from their lives. "We'll find a way...somehow."

"Maybe James can come too and..." Lewis began excitedly, then abruptly stopped. His voice cracked and his eyes fluttered shut."I miss everyone."

Ginny continued to stroke his forehead."So do I," she whispered, her chest tight."We'll find them, Lewis. Just like we found you."

He continued to speak with his eyes closed as he tumbled towards sleep."I knew you'd come someday."

A tiny bittersweet smile appeared on Ginny's face. Better late than never, little brother. I'm so sorry it took me this long."Shhh," she crooned quietly and drew her thumb along the smooth skin of his forehead. "Go to sleep."

"I'm not tired," he protested weakly, instantly reminding Ginny of the many nights she would lie quietly next to him, trying to convince the little boy that he actually was tired...he just didn't know it. That hadn't worked then and she didn't bother trying it now. Instead, she schooled herself in patience. And she didn't have to wait long. Within seconds, Lewis' breathing evened out and the sound of soft snores filled the quiet room.

When Ginny was sure he was asleep, she straightened the covers once more and stood. "Goodnight, sweetie," she said quietly.

A small hand shot out from under the blanket and wrapped slender fingers around hers."Don't go." He began to whimper."Don't leave me."

Ginny sucked in a surprised breath and dropped back down on the bed. She resumed her gentle stroking of his forehead with her fingertips."Oh, Lewis," she began, her heart twisting painfully in her chest."You don't have to worry anymore. I'll be here when you wake up."

The skin she was touching drew together as the boy frowned."Promise?" he begged.

Ginny nodded and swallowed thickly."Promise."

The magic word did the trick and the boy visibly relaxed."Mmm...'kay."

Ginny gently kissed his cheek the way their mother did when she tucked her and Alice in during their childhood. Years later, on many nights when one of the babies was fussy, she and Alice took over that duty for the boys. Alice gravitated towards James and she to Lewis. She'd end up telling him a story or discussing something that had happened during the day, and they would laugh quietly and dream together of a new life where there was green grass to play on and where he could have the puppy he'd always longed for. Innately, she understood his giving, sensitive nature, which was much closer to her own than his sometimes stoic, often mischievous twin. Ginny spared a thought for the other half of this pair of boys that meant so much to her, vowing to never stop looking.

She stood to make her way to the door, her legs stiff from being perched on the edge of his bed for so long, but before she could turn around she heard her brother's fuzzy mumble again.

"Ginny?"

She narrowed her eyes and peered through the darkness, trying to determine if he was talking in his sleep."Yes?"

"Lindsay's..." He smacked his lips together a little and burrowed deeper into the mattress, "She's nice."

This time Ginny's grin stretched her face."She is."A little jolt of happiness bubbled up inside her. He was just a child, but his opinion, she admitted to herself, and James' too, mattered to her.

He rolled over and tucked his hands under his cheek. "Nite."

"Good night." She watched his chest for a few moments, reluctant to leave. Finally, she let out a soft sigh and opened the door to find Lindsay waiting patiently for her. Her friend was holding their coats and two feather-filled pillows the Bergquists had loaned them.

Ginny pulled the door shut and scanned the small, fire-lit living room curiously.

Lindsay leaned against the back of the davenport, emotionally and physically exhausted."They went to bed a while ago. Said to say goodnight and asked us to join them for breakfast."

"Mmm..." Ginny yawned and stepped closer to Lindsay, invading every inch of her personal space without a second thought. "Can't blame them for that." Too tired to be self-conscious, she nuzzled Lindsay's neck, dropping several small kisses on the warm, silky skin she found there. She hummed happily, reveling in the pure hedonistic joy the action brought her.

Lindsay nearly jumped out of her shoes."Whaa!"

Ginny laughed quietly and glanced up to innocently bat her eyelashes at the other woman. "What?"

A single eyebrow rose as Lindsay eased past the initial surprise at Ginny's sudden burst of semi-public affection."You're certainly not as shy as you were when we first met."

"I was never shy, Lindsay. I just didn't know you. And..." A faint blush worked its way up from her neck to her cheeks but Ginny pushed out the words, which were new, delicious, and terrifying at the same time."I didn't love you...then." Her voice dropped an octave and Lindsay felt it all the way in her toes."The way I do now."

Lindsay reached up with one hand and cupped a pink cheek."Me too," she whispered, unable to keep what she was sure was a goofy smile from overtaking her face.

Ginny grasped Lindsay's wrist and gave it a little tug."Let's go to bed."

"In front of the fire?"Lindsay tilted her head towards the low burning, hickory-scented flames, "or in the barn?"She wanted to be completely alone with Ginny, without the prying eyes of curious children, but left the decision up to the younger woman.

Ginny didn't even hesitate."The barn. It shouldn't be uncomfortably cold. Not with the horses and that big cow and you-"

"Hey," Lindsay protested in faux irritation, already opening the front door."Are you comparing me to the cow?"

"Keeping me warm," Ginny finished, blue eyes dancing. The day, she reflected, had been hard and tiring and wonderful. She wasn't sure she could live through too many more like it. At the same time, however, she prayed for more. Two more to be exact.

Lindsay draped their coats over one arm and wrapped the other around Ginny. Their bag containing their blankets and nightshirts was still in the barn from earlier.

The outside air was frosty but the wind had died down to a gentle breeze. Every breath sent a stream of fog disappearing into the night sky and their feet crunched on the dry grass as they walked. The barn was so close they didn't bother to don their coats, and for a few paces they moved along in companionable silence, their eyes adjusting to the moonlight as they breathed in the fresh air.

Ginny turned her head as she walked, content to stay close enough so that Lindsay's arm could remain comfortably wrapped around her waist."Have I said thank you?"

"You don't have to thank me, Ginny." But the redhead could hear the smile in Lindsay's voice.