Jamie knew he had to warn Quentin, he did not want the natives involved but he would need their help and have them aware, in case his plan failed. Oly was busy working on the other part of the plan. So far everyone thought it would work, except Neils who told them he may be a drunk but at least he wasn't crazy. They had all lost their minds and his father was the biggest fool ever.

Jamie needed scouts but he needed also to know that no Natives would be hurt in this plan.

Even Roland was doing his part by printing a rather wild story in his paper, and Ferrin would make sure the real insane person in the territory would see it.

Quentin loved the plan, and it would go well with the Ghost Dance the tribe was going to have.

What is that?" Jamie asked

Its to honor the ancestors, and if it is good enough it was raise their spirits and they will give us guidence about the hard days the blood moon predicted," Quentin explained.

"Good we need all the help we can get." Jamie sighed.

He decided he would only tell four people about this, Saban, Kivak, Toma, and Lunan. He and Kivak would be the scouts, maybe Chayton as well.

It had been a bad day for General Harding, he had lost his hat somewhere, then his favourite horse had thrown a shoe.

Now they were heading into the valley and it was getting dark on them, not to mention that odd stuff about haunting and the moon in the paper today.

It got dark fast, and several off the men were muttering about the fact they did not like the place they were at.

Suddenly they heard drums all around them.

"Damned their eyes, they have surrounded us," Harding muttered.

He did not know that Lunan had taken the ceremony down into a canyon, where the accustics made the drums sound closer and made

"I don't like this let us turn back General," one of the higher ranked men pleaded, he wished Ferrin was here.

"Quiet, we will route these savages and kill them all," Harding growled.

"Well I envy Ferrin, he got sent off to work out that problem with the constable at Rivers End," one man sighed.

"I don't like this at all," another one said.

"I have a bad feeling," another sighed.

"Will you shut your potato holes," the general snapped.

Suddenly there was an errie sound. Something none of the men had ever heard.

Then the horses spooked and the men screamed as ghost like wraths floated through the air.

"My God," someone cried.

It was all Jamie and the others could do to not laugh, and Kivak and Quentin were doing their part to keep the odd noises coming.

Jamie thought it was a nice touch. But he also hoped none of the fleeing frightened men ran into them.

"This was brilliant," Seth said smiling, his kite had gotten.

"Thank Oly and the Creator for the wind to fly them." Jamie laughed.

"My grandfather is the best of men, it is like my father has became what my grandfather used to be before he married Janette. It is sad I don't understand it," Roland sighed.

"At least he is a better man then my father, I mean he is always saying bad things about Lewis, but half the servants on the farm are his children, then he gave a serving woman to my brother to help with the grandchildren and has the nerve to complain when Casper has a child with her." Paul sighed, "When I marry I am going to ask for a couple. I will be true to my wife. Who ever she may be. I do prefer Amy, but we will see."

"Amy is pretty," Alexander agreed.

"Well none of our fathers are perfect, but I would rather have Lewis then mine right now," Alexander sighed, helping put all the kites away in the wagon.

"Lewis is a good father," Jamie said smiling.

"Todd is lucky," Roland agreed.

"My father is the best," Quentin said breathlessly.

"Those noises were great," Jamie laughed.

"What noises we just got here," Kivak said.

"Most odd," Jamie said, "They are gone, probably all the way back to the fort by now."

"Good hope they stay there," Kivak laughed.

Of course Octavia was not happy about Monique going to teach school. She and Jamie had their first major arguement since she had allowed Ethan to take Jeremiah.

Lissa decided since Delilah was always sticking her nose into family matters, and stiring up problems, when she was not even a mother yet. She would try to reason with her mother for Monique and Annabelle's sake.

She got the girls and went into her mothers work room, where Octavia was working on a painting her new hobby.

"Mother please be reasonable and listen to me," Lissa said.

Annabelle and Monique were a little upset with their mother.

"What kind of mother would I be to allow my daughters to live alone and unescorted . . ." Octavia said.

"Mother, dear mother, were you not fifteen and on your own, with no relatives living near by to aid and assist, and if you wish I can have Todd or my husband go and check each and every night to make sure they are latched up like hens in a house," Lissa said.

Annabelle could not help it she had to giggle at the thought of her and her sister roosting at dusk.

Octavia looked at her three daughters, and sighed, how was it that Lissa could always manage to take the wind right out of her sails and turn her own words or deeds against her, she was so much like Jamie sometimes it was maddening for a woman to be so much as a man.

Monique tried not to smile. She and Annabelle were so much closer to Lissa because she understood how they felt. She never tried to make them something they were not.

Meanwhile unbeknownst to any of the sisters, Delilah was confronting her father about her younger sisters.

"Father you can not be serious about allowing those girls to live at that school, they are mere children what will the town think, the Swensens think, what . . ." she started.

"It was Neils idea," Jamie sighed, he had been shocked when they had agreed, but now he had to stand by what the town and his daughters wanted.

"That man is a lush, he should be voted off the council, I can not believe this. Oh and Annabelle . . . father you have to do something." Delilah cried.

"What has she done now?" Jamie sighed, he wanted to spend some time working on some new toys for Joseph and Nicholas, but Delilah was not one who could talk to you while you worked she had to have your whole attention.

"She is wishing for Alan Keene to call on her, father, you have to stop . . ." Delilah started.

"There is nothing wrong with Alan." Jamie said, thinking at least Alan knew about real life and came from a caring family.

"She can do better, he is going to end up cooking at the inn, what kind of . . . "

"Look Delilah not everyone can marry money," Jamie snapped. He was loosing patience with her.

"Don't you want a better life for your daughters, two of your children have already ruined their lives I . . ."

"None of my children have ruined their lives," Jamie snapped.

"Well let us just see what mother has to say about this," Delilah pouted her father was so sentimental and silly just because Quentin wanted to run around half naked with a bunch of savages and Lissa married some low class man that worked at the Inn, he still saw no fault in it because they were his favourites.

"Oh I give up, you girls can move there, but I want you home during the summers," Octavia sighed.

"Mother we promise to obey all the rules and callers will come here, or we will meet them at the dances," Annabelle said.

"I am not even recieving callers," Monique said.

"See that is another thing father, Monique is refusing . . ." Delilah started.

"Oly said that we could recieve them at his house if Delilah is a pickle," Monique giggled.

"Delilah leave them alone," Lissa growled. But she smiled at Monique, she knew Monique had no intention of recieving anyone as a caller.

"Will you all leave me alone, I am trying to paint while your father is watching the children," Octavia complained, the last thing she wanted was Lissa and Delilah fighting.

"Sorry Jamie sighed, "Come girls, leave your mother."

Octavia nodded at Jamie, he had just came in to keep Lissa from tearing into Delilah and she apprechiated that.

Lissa was so angry at Delilah.

She just wanted to smack her a good one.

"You are so beautiful Annabelle, I think you should encourage Alexander to call on you or perhaps Paul," Delilah said.

Leave your sisters alone and come and prepare the midday meal, the children are hungry, Jamie sighed.

"Father I . . ." Delilah started

"Come on girls lets go give that house a good cleaning, and see what is needed for the school," Lissa said, giving Delilah a don't you dare look.

"They didn't even ask me if I wanted to come along," Delilah complained.

"Well now did you really wish to clean that house with them, and I need someone to fix something for these children. Surely you didn't forget how to make a simple midday meal," Jamie said, thinking if any of his children were failures it was Delilah. Later when her mother came in from putting the youngest boys down for a nap while Jamie took the older two fishing Delilah decided she would try to reason with her mother again.

"Mother don't you wish your daughters to do well as I have?" Delilah asked.

"I wish them to be happy, are you happy? Why is it you are hear almost every other day, I seldom see Lissa and she lives closer. In fact I was hoping to speak to her today but when you are around she seems not to want to chat," Octavia said frowning at her daughter. She thought maybe Jamie was right, she had spoiled Delilah.

"Of course I am happy, I am just bored, all Julius ever does is sit around and play the piano, read, and visit with his friends. The only time we talk is when we are planning a party," Delilah sighed, "I want a baby."

"I am not sure . . ." Octavia sighed and looked up from the items she was picking up, and saw her daughter doing that touched in the head sign as if she thought her mother insane.

Delilah went out and picked up Joseph, who was had gotten up from his nap pallet and was trying to follow his father, who was going down to see the older boys who were fishing.

Maybe a baby was just what she needed, she was so bored. Joseph was so sweet, and Lissa always seemed to be slapping the fact that she wasn't mother in her face.

After the daughters were gone and the boys were all out of the house or asleep, Jamie said, "What are we going to do about about Lissa and Delilah.

"Oh please, if Maylissa wasn't so pushy." Octavia sighed.

"Delilah is the pushy one." Jamie countered, could not Octavia see that.

"But Lissa always must have her way, I wish they would both just stop interferring." Octavia said, she shook her head.

"Lissa only interfered because Delilah did," Jamie sighed.

"I don't think either of them are happy, I am glad Quentin is," Octavia sighed, thinking she did not want to fight with Jamie about this, she was too tired.

Meanwhile, the girls and Lissa had finished cleaning the house and were waiting for Alan and Jack to come take them back home. Lissa had to relieve David who was watching Rafe for her.

"You know the house is not bad at all just dirty, some new beds and drapery and covers for the sofa and it will be very cozy." Monique said.

"It is so nice! And it is our own place, which bedroom you wish, I would like the back one if you prefer the front one." Annabelle said smiling.

"It does not matter I will take the front, we can wall paper it to our taste, the class room is going to need a good cleaning, men are not very tidy are they." Monique said, she was so happy here dreams were coming true.

"No they are not, I am so excited, Lissa is the reason we are getting to do this," Annabelle said.

"I wish Delilah was more like Lissa," Monique sighed.

Annabelle nodded.

Delilah at the at moment had put on a colourful silk wrapper and was ready to retire.

"Julius I need to talk to you about something," Delilah said smiling.

"Of course darling, did you know Mr. Kayhill was having a party tomorrow," he said smiling, but he didn't look up at her he kept banging on that piano.

"I want a baby," she said.

"Wear that peach dress, it looks good with my brown suit," Julius said.

"Did you hear me Julius?" She asked after he was silent for a while studying the sheet music.

"Yes dear what ever you wish, I love you."

"Love you too," Delilah said and giggled, "Come to bed so we can work on it."

She dashed up the stairs and into their bedroom.

"Work on what? All right I am never going to get this progression tonight anyway."

At the Inn Lissa could not sleep, she was so upset. She hated fighting with Delilah but she infuriated her so much.

Rafe and Fade were both asleep in their beds, and Lissa wondered what she could do to make herself not feel so lonely at night when Philip was working in the pub.

She knew Delilah was not happy in her marriage, and she wondered sometimes if she had made a mistake with Philip. He did love her so much and he treated her well and never pushed her to do something as many men did their wives.

That night she had a dream about Rafeal.

They were in bed talking, and then they made love, and she partly woke and realized it was Philip in bed with her. It took all she had to not push him away, he was her husband, even though she pined in her heart for Rafeal.

A few days later, Lissa was out at her parents farm working Satin, she came in and there was Delilah.

"Your mouth doesn't look that big," Tristen quipped looking at Delilah.

What are you speaking of?" Delilah asked, she hoped her child was not a boy they could be obnoxious at this age.

"Lissa said you had a big mouth, it looks normal to me," Tristen said smiling.

"Just go play," Delilah snapped.

She saw Lissa and glared at her.

Lissa started crying not really knowing why she was so moody lately, and that was not like her, she really wished she hadn't made that Delilah has a big mouth comment but Delilah had really hurt Lucas's feelings.

Later Octavia asked her if she was expanding her ankles were swollen a bit, but she had not been sick in the morning as she had been with Rafe.

"Since the girls are working so hard on everyting for their new house and the school the garden has suffered, so I was wondering if you would help me weed and clean it up. Tristen has been watering it for them but he is a little young for weeding," Jamie told his oldest son at home.

"Sure father," Lucas said, he loved it when his father took time to be with just him.

After they had weeded the garden, and talked about the different plants, and how good the fresh tomatoes and maize would taste, Lucas decided it was time he broached the subject that he and Tristen had talked about ever since their father had came home from the kite flying adventure.

"Father I am good rider now, and Tristen is good as well, we wish to spend a moon with Quentin and get to know our brother," Lucas said, hoping his father would say yes.

"You know that really is a good idea, but you must listen to Quentin and obey him as you would me." Jamie warned.

We will I promise. Lucas said, he could not wait to tell Tristen.

"Well I also have to talk to your mother about it.

"She will say no," Lucas sighed.

"She said no to your sisters moving to the school," Jamie reminded him, "I think she will say yes, but you are not to say anything about this not even to Tristen until I have her agreement."

"No father, not a word," Lucas laughed, he wouldn't have to say anything. Tristen would know, somehow Tristen always knew things Lucas did, even though Tristen was in the barn grinding grain for the foals he would know.

It was clear that both Lissa and Delilah were expanding. Octavia was very happy, she thought maybe the confinement would give her quarreling daughters time to think.

When Jamie come up to her where she had been working on a painting, she told him her thoughts. "More grandchildren," Jamie said and smiled, he would like lots of grandchildren, and to see his children all have happy marriages as Quentin did.

"What do you think about letting Lucas and Tristen spend a month with Quentin?" Jamie asked.

"Well I would hope they wouldn't want to stay there like he did," Octavia said looking worried.

"The girls could stay home and Lissa could come out here and stay with them, and I could take you to Boston to visit that new art gallery you read about and Roland told you about, we could take in a play, Lewis and Jack, and thier sons run the Inn so well I am not needed for a couple of weeks. We have some money saved I was going to buy a new mare, but I think you could do with a honeymoon," Jamie said.

"Oh Jamie that sounds wonderful, I do think the girls could manage Nicholas and Joseph, as well as Rafe, and Lissa would love walking around out of doors if she goes to confinement, when could we do this?" Octavia asked, her husband giving up a mare, and taking her to Boston was enough to sway the argument about the boys being needed at home.

"About a week or two, I am sure Quentin will want his brothers to visit. But I will ride out with a message for Fire Hair to give him," Jamie reasoned.

"Good, look at Star playing with Dancer, it is like she has forgotten Drum, don't you wish people could forget so well?" Octavia asked.

He knew she was thinking of Rafeal and Lissa, and sighed, "No, and I do not think she has forgotten Drum, I think she is ready to move on."

"I still miss Piper, Drum's father, I am glad David let us have Dancer, he is Pipers grandson." Octavia said smiling.

Jamie thought about his horses, remembering all that had gone, and sighed it was sad that they had to remember, but that was part of being human he reasoned.

"I don't think Delilah should have children, she and Julius are too interested in social events," Octavia sighed, thinking about what Ethan had said about Gabrielle and her two children how nannies had raised them and she seldom ever even saw them growing up. But now that they were adults she had interferred in their life so much they had become estranged, and only spoke to Ethan.

She thought Lissa would eventually get over Rafeal, Philip was such a good young man.

"Maybe they will settle down," Jamie said, thinking what Amberly had told him about Julius looking to buy a servant, he really doubted that. But he could hope.

"Cheer up, I have to go to town to buy tickets to Boston and see Oly, do you wish to come along?" Jamie asked smiling.

That brought a smile from Octavia, she had long wanted to go back to the city now that she was older and had more then a few pence.