It was early spring, and Kivak and Quentin had been out hunting, when they arrived at the village to find a large gathering of men and women.

"It is a bad moon," the old man said.

"What is happening?" Kivak asked.

Quentin was wondering the same thing.

A lot of people seemed upset.

"Blood moon, it is a bad sign." Saban said.

Kivak gasped then he saw it too the moon is red.

"It is time to move North," the old one said.

Quentin saw how worried everyone was, he thought the moon was a bit ominous looking, but go North, he seldom saw his sister and father now, if they went North it would be to far for them to come and see them.

"Now wait," Saban said, "We can not panic. This might not be as we think. We need to have a council meeting,"

There was a lot of murmering in the crowd.

"We are not waiting for old women to decide we need to go to war, two more squatters, my pony was hurt when we ran into their fence," Coren shouted, he was still angry that Saban had been chosen chief.

"You will wait," Saban said.

Kivak, Quentin, and some of the others agreed rather loudly with Saban, a few young men hissed disapproval.

Coryn wanted to go kill the squatters.

"I can speak their language allow Kivak and I to go and speak to them." Quentin said.

"That is a bad idea he may give them the land for a few trinkets," one of the other men said.

"It is not my land to give," Quentin reminded him.

"I say allow them to go it does no harm, and might prevent war," someone with a cooler head called, Toma Quentin suspected.

"Anyone besides Coryn disagree?" Saban asked. None did even Coryn was silent which Quentin thought odd.

The next day Quentin and Kivak along with Toma went to the squatters huts, they were frightened.

They would not come out at first.

"Maybe they left," Toma said.

"No I can still smell them," Kivak said.

"Hello there please come and speak to us we mean you no harm," Quentin called.

A man came out.

"You can't stay here, unfriendlys will burn these homes down and your women and children might be hurt," Quentin warned them.

"You speak the Kings English Savage," the man said startled, he had never been so close to a savage before.

"Oh my," the woman cried, she was so frightened, but intriqued at the same time.

"I speak and read, and the maps say this is Native land, go back to your kind, it is the only warning you will recieve," Quentin warned.

"He says the truth we can not control the unfriendly tribe they will harm you, now pack your wagon and go before sunset," Kivak said, carefully.

One family took heed the words of the two young Native men, the others did not, and Kivak thought sadly tomorrow they would join their ancestors becaus Coren was taking six or seven renegades and he would attack the remaining squatter.

The next night Coren led them in and burned down the shacks, the empty and the one who contained the man who did not heed Quentin's warning but his wife had taken her child and fled with the smarter family.

Octavia and Jamie had another child they named Joseph, and all seemed right in the world.

Even General Harding had been too busy with affairs of state to bother much with the Natives, he had only sent patrols around the farms that had been harrassed but no problems had been announced. But they did not know that was soon to change.

In Rivers Edge they were having a spring coming out ball and Delilah was insisting Monique and Annabelle attend even though they protested.

If Octavia had not had a sick baby and sick toddler and children she might have taken Annabelle and Monique's complaints more serious and argued with her daughter. But she was tired and just wanted peace for a while.

Deliah took them out and bought them new dresses. Purple for Monique and pink for Annabelle. The girls were not happy at all no one they would know would be there.

They wished their mother would have insisted they stay home and help her with the sick children.

"You look so nice Annabelle," Delilah said admiring the makeup she had done.

"I guess," Annabelle sighed.

The ball was for young ladies 14 to 20 who were not married, although, some married ladies like Delilah and a few others were on hand to chaperone.

There were a lot of young men and except for Todd and a Timberlane they knew none of the young men, but Todd was engaged to Johanna and Monique wondered what he was doing here.

It was hot and crowded in the house where the ball was held.

At the ball Monique did meet someone interesting to talk to Myrah Swensen, Oly's daughter, she was older then Delilah and Lissa so Monique only had heard of her never really met her.

"My father insisted I come to this gala," Myrah said walking outside, it was so very warm in the house.

"You too eh?" Monique said, they had been introduced by Todd who seemed to know everyone.

"Oh yes, see I teach school at Stonebridge, and father worries I will become an old maid," Myrah laughed.

"Do you want to be a maiden lady, I think that is a lonely life but nothing wrong with it," Monique said, thinking maybe she would be one if she couldn't have Todd.

"No I have a caller, it is just not someone . . I am not sure father would approve of, if I can not be with Logan then I think I would prefer the life of a maiden lady," Myrah sighed.

"I feel the same way, do you think I could teach school?" Monique asked, "I am only 14 but I was always top of my class. I love teaching my little brothers.

"Sure you could, and I hear that Mr. Havern is coming to teach at Rivers Edge Academy this fall,"

"That means that the school will have no teacher, oh Myrah I am so happy I met you tonight, I would like to meet Logan, I take it he is not here?" Monique asked.

"No this is not the kind of place he would enjoy coming, he prefers barn dances and moonlight walks," Myrah laughed.

Just then some others came out seeking coolness of the garden. Monique hoped one was not Delilah.

"Oh did you hear about Johanna running off with Westly Timberlane and getting married in Portland?" someone said.

"Oh poor Todd," Annabelle said.

"Good Lord, she was a family friend, I had no idea," Delilah gasped.

For a moment Monique's heart flew Todd was a free man.

"My sister was in love with Westly a long time, she was settling for Todd," Alan sighed.

"Oh Hello Alan, I didn't know you were here," Annabelle said glad to see the friendly neighbour.

Alan smiled, he hadn't planned on coming but Jamie had asked him to come and escort the girls home.

"I feel for poor Todd," Delilah

"Poor Todd my uncles donkey," the other girl said, "Go peer in the window."

There he was kissing Susanna Reed, the girl he had met years back at the Orphingtons she had only been fourteen at the time and now Todd felt she was older and more ready for a commitment.

As Monique watched she felt her heart breaking, she would be an maiden lady and teach school.

She returned to Myrah and others began to join in the chat about how it seemed young people seemed to easily went on with their lives after a break up.

"A man has stolen my heart, I think I want to be a maiden lady," Monique sighed.

"You are young yet, you may meet someone," Myrah said kindly.

Monique really liked her, she was so kind, and she didn't put on airs like Valerie her cousin did, of course Valerie was only ten so what did she know.

Later Delilah dragged her back in and introduced her to some other young men.

Annabelle slipped off to the garden where Alan waited to drive them home.

"Mind if I put my arm around you that way if Delilah barges out here she won't take you off to meet boring young men with more money and time then sense?" Alan joked.

"Not at all Alan, I like you," Annabelle said smiling.

"I like you too, a lot, always have, even though Monique was my best friend, you were just the neatest and nicest girl I ever had the chance to meet," Alan said.

"Oh Alan really?" Annabelle asked, she felt so comfortable with him, he wasn't like those other young men.

"Yes would you concider going to a barn dance with me?" he asked, putting his arm around her shoulder.

"Of course," She said smiling, why was it she was so comfortable with him.

The next day Monique heard her father talking about Mr. Emmerson passing away and about Mr. Havern leaving.

"I want the job as teacher, and I will live in the groundskeepers house so they wont have to pay my room and board.

"I don't know about you living alone you are only fourteen," Octavia sighed.

"You were married at fifteen, besides you said you enjoyed teaching," Monique reasoned.

"I could live with her, its a short walk to the inn and now with Johanna gone you will need another lady to help at the inn," Annabelle said smiling, now that Alan was baking and helping his father with the cooking it would give her more time with him.

"That would be perfect," Monique said.

"How did you know about Johanna?" Jamie asked.

"The gossip about her and Westly is all over, he is awefully old for her," Annabelle sighed.

"He is only 24 she is 18 that is not bad, my sister married a man 12 years older then she, and look at Oly and Janette, it is better to be closer in age, but sometimes the special man or woman is just different age.

"How about a years difference," Annabelle said thinking of Alan he was only 14 but more responsible then most men.

"Your father and I are a year apart," Octavia said smiling.

"Did you meet someone interesting at the ball?" Jamie asked, wishing Delilah would leave her sisters alone.

Annabelle smiled, not sure how her parents would feel about her having Alan call on her.

Monique looked puzzeled, then realizing her parents had artfully changed the subject, and sighed, "Well father."

"I will take your offer to the town council, it is not my decision to make Monique," Jamie said.

"Jamie," Octavia sighed when the girls had left to get up Joseph and Nicholas.

"Yes my love?" Jamie said feeling a bit frisky.

"I don't want my daughters moving out," Octavia said frowning slightly.

"Do you seriously think the town council will allow a young lady teach school and live in that house, though it would solve our problem, but who would take care of the school it is a bit run down Emmerson was getting up there and the roof will need redone." Jamie said.

Octavia smiled and nodded. He was right even though she felt Monique would make a wonderful teacher, she felt she was too young to be teaching and living in town.

Jamie was riding a colt, when it shied and tossed him off, he went to look at the item the colt had shied from it and the saddle even slipped off. Jamie grunted and heard childish giggles.

Tristen and Lucas were flying kites and one of them had gotten caught in the hedge.

"You boys be careful with these, I have a meeting to go to," Jamie sighed.

Sorry father," Tristen said.

Jamie tried to get Tiger to get nearer to the kites but the horse shied.

"Where did you get these?" Jamie asked.

"Oly made them for Orsen and Thoren, gave us some too," Tristen said.

"Oly is the nicest adult, except for you father of course," Lucas said smiling.

"How hard are these to fly," Jamie said noticing Tiger was snorting a bit but hadn't offered to spook.

"Easy, want me to show you?" Lucas asked.

"Maybe later, I need to saddle my mare and go to that meeting." Jamie said smiling, all his children adored Oly. He was glad Oly had time to make toys.

Jamie was surprised to see Westly Timberlane back so soon from his wedding and honeymoon. When he was elected to the town council many opposed him, but others voted for him and he had won the election. Coats who had lost his chair to Westly had been angry and said that the young man had all his employees vote for him.

Oly had said, Well Coates at least his employees can read. Jamie often chuckled at that. It was an open meeting so Oly, Roland, and Lewis had shown up to listen in.

"Congratulations on your marriage, Amberly said.

Jamie wondered how Amberly kept getting elected to the council.

"Yes congratulations, Johanna is a fine young woman," Jamie said.

Everyone congratulated him, and Seth called the meeting to order.

"Our first order of business is a teacher for Amberly day School, as you know we are loosing Mr. Havern, he was an expense we could just no longer afford unfortunately," Seth said.

"Anyone have any idea, Jamie how about Octavia would she like to teach again?" Westly asked, thinking she had been a great teacher.

"No she wouldn't but my daughter Monique would be interested in teaching and she would live in the house there, and only take a small stipend for expenses, such as clothing and food," Jamie explained.

"That is perfect," Neils said, and Jamie wondered if he had been drinking.

"I agree, Alvin said she was the smartist person in his class, smarter then all the boys as well, he admired her," Westly said.

"Neither do I," Seth said smiling.

"We are talking about Monique not Maylissa," Jamie said, wondering if they realized she was only fourteen or were they that desperate.

"Then it is settled, next item is the annual picnic," Seth said.

"I think we should ad some contests for the children, with prizes," Westly said, "I will donate some money for prizes if Amberly will discount them."

"Of course," Amberly said.

"Really that is a good idea," Jamie agreed, seeing Lewis fill Neils glass once again, most the men were drinking a little ale, he and Roland were having tea. But Neils was drinking whiskey neat.

"Maybe the womens club could organise it," Seth suggested.

"Good idea, let the women do it," Neils said grinning.

"We have one more thing on the agenda, General Harding, our petitions to the govener to remove him have been once again denied." Seth sighed, "I want to let Captain Ferrin tell us what he has learned."

Roland looked at his father and shook his head.

"Harding plans on leading his men against the Indians and killing all in the next week, there was some squatters killed in their territory, I can not stop this as I have been able to stop this or misdirect as I have in the past. Something has to be done, and quickly. The General is very supersitious, and I wish I could spook him some how. You know the badlands I am taking them in that way hoping just the surroundings will be enough to scar him. Lewis I need some of that ale please, the man is driving me to drink," Ferrin sighed.

"Scaring him could be good, I really don't want the Natives involved." Seth sighed.

"Aw just kill the sonova . ." Neils snapped

"Father, he is an officer in the kings army we can not do such a thing," Roland said, hoping Ferrin wouldn't arrest him for treason.

"Ssshutup Roland, you rotten no good pup go fly a kite with your crazy . . ." Neils sneered.

"Now just a minute, you may be grown up and my son, but you are not to big for me to whip your bum," Oly snapped.

"What a minute kites, that is a good idea," Jamie said, and he quickly told the others his plan, after Oly smacked Neils a good one with his cane, and Lewis and Ferrin hauled a sobbing Neils out of the meeting. Jamie would put him up for the night, he was in no shape to go home to his wife.