The next morning, as Katie leaned against the railing waiting for Seattle to come into view, she reflected on how different this homecoming was from the last one. Five months before she was standing in this same place with Jason for a short visit to Seattle. Now here she was sailing home with Joshua who might very well turn out to be her husband. How unpredictable life could be.

      Joshua joined Kate, placing his hand over hers. She looked up at him and smiled.

     "Good morning, sire."

      He laughed suddenly, "You'd better cut that out. If you start calling me sire in Seattle every last one of those brides will send Jason a petition demanding to have me drawn and quartered."

      Kate laughed, "That's probably true." She nodded toward the coastline; "Look there, it's Port Angeles. We'll be home soon."

     "Sure will. Do you have a plan for telling everyone about the fire?" he asked.

     "I thought I'd say something in church tomorrow after Sunday service."

     "Very wise, my love."

     "I like that," Kate smiled. "'My love' is so much nicer than 'Brat'."

     "Sorry, but it will have to be 'Brat' until you've got your staff back and those papers are rolling off that new press of yours."

     "You won't call me 'my love' until then?"

     He winked at her, "Don't worry. I'll find ways."

      Kate was about to be kissed again when Lottie and Clancey came on deck.

      The four friends spoke excitedly about their imminent homecoming. Recent news from Seattle was as uplifting as Joshua's recovery. The loggers had begun work on the new dormitory using Joshua's plans. Things were going along just fine and the brides were scheduled to move into their new place on the tenth of November, just a week after the little group arrived home.

      Ben also wired them that Aaron and his men were not about to be out done by the loggers! They formed their own crew and were rebuilding the jailhouse making it larger and stronger than the original.

      For the remainder of the voyage Kate and Josh treated each other like brother and sister, keeping their romance a secret from Lottie and Clancey until the time was right.

      It appeared as though the entire population had turned out to meet the Seamus that drizzly November afternoon. When the ship was within earshot, a cheer began at the timberline and rolled down to the water's edge. The loggers and brides were overjoyed to see Joshua alive and well with Katie by his side.

      Once they'd docked, Jason boarded the old ship with a bound, threw his arms around his brother and held him in a bear hug until the younger Bolt struggled for air.

The poor man had wanted to sail to San Francisco as soon as he heard how sick Joshua was but the town had needed his leadership to help them rebuild their spirits and their dreams.

      Kate came to Joshua's rescue with a laugh. "He's survived pneumonia, but you're going to do him in, Jason!"

      The tall man released his brother and swept the girl up from the deck in another embrace. "Welcome home, Cricket."

      "I'm sorry I ran off," she said softly. "I'll explain everything soon."

      Jason set her down, "I want to hear the whole story, but first to Lottie's!"

      "You mean the place is still standing?" the joyful owner joked.

      Jason placed his arm around her. "Standing, Lottie, but only a shell of its former self. All the life was drained from her the second you sailed south."

      "Oh, how I've missed that silver tongue. Come on, let's get Fishface back into his favorite corner."

      "I heard that, darlin'," Clancey called from the wheelhouse. "I'll be there in a trice as soon as we unload the cargo."

      Jason Bolt was overjoyed. His loved ones were all home again safe and sound, Seattle had survived a major catastrophe, a Bolt had once again cheated death, the holidays were coming and that special magic filled the square.

      Jeremy, Candy, Biddie, and Aaron surrounded the travelers as soon as they set foot on solid ground and there was another round of hugs for all. Josh was interested in the progress of the dormitory so his brothers escorted him over to the building to show him how far they'd gotten.

      Aaron greeted Kate with a wide smile, "Well, Miss Macready. You've come back to us."

      "That I have, Mr. Stempel.'

      "May I ask why?"

      "There was no reason for me to be running around San Francisco looking for something I've had here all along. Besides, I owe Seattle a newspaper and I hope to convince her that I can still give her one she'll be proud of."

      "It might take a bit of doing, but I have every confidence in you."

      Kate blushed at the compliment. "I brought home a new printing press. It's on the Seamus, if you'd like to see it."

      "This evening, perhaps. My men and I are finishing the new jailhouse today. I'll finally be able to get Claude and those Hobbs brothers out of my storage shed at the mill."

      "You've caught them?" Kate asked as her heart tightened within her.

      "Didn't Jason wire you about the arrest?"

      "No, we never heard."

      "The Marshall brought them in earlier this week. The trial is set for Tuesday morning."

      "I'm glad you found them," she said weakly.

      As Aaron returned to work, Candy linked her arm through Kate's. "We were so afraid you'd stay in San Francisco."

     The wide smile on her friend's lovely face made the girl forget the Hobbs for the moment. "I couldn't stay. I missed you all too much. How have the Pruitts been?"

     "Oh, Molly has a cold and Christopher is pestering her but that's nothing out of the ordinary. Tell me about you! How was your trip? More importantly," her voice lowered a bit, "how are you and Joshua getting along?"

     Kate linked arms with her, "We didn't do very well at first but we're back to being friends again."

     "Friends?" Candy was dissatisfied and it showed. "Aren't you, well, you know, closer?"

     "Sure we are. Squid almost died. People can't go through an experience like that and not be closer." Kate answered honestly knowing all the while that her answer wasn't exactly what Candy was looking for.

     "We were hoping..." the redhead sighed, "oh, never mind what we were hoping! You're home now and that's what's important."

     Biddie came scurrying up to the two. "Katie, Captain Clancey says you've brought home a surprise for the brides. If you don't tell me what it is in the next second I am absolutely going to burst."

      Kate laughed, "It's a gift from some people I met in San Francisco. Can you get the girls together at Lottie's tonight? I'll show you all then."

     "You just watch me," she chirped happily before she bustled across the square.

     As the girls shared a laugh over Biddie's excitement, Kate spied Reverend Adams entering the church. She asked Candy to go on ahead to Lottie's and she'd meet her there later.

      Joshua had been watching Kate from the second floor window of the new dormitory. He saw her slip into the sanctuary and then emerge fifteen minutes later with a smile on her face. She waved to him and he returned the gesture with a thumbs up.

      Biddie gathered the dispersed brides together at Lottie's that evening for Kate's big surprise. The Bolt brothers helped Clancey move the six trunks from the Seamus to the saloon. Katie explained to her friends how the gifts came about and the lids of the trunks were thrown open. After that, no one could be heard for another hour. The ladies bustled up and down the stairs, exchanging dresses and trying them on until everyone had claimed the gown that had been deemed "just perfect" for them.

     Katie sat with Clancey and the Bolts as chaos reigned above them.

     "Your gifts are a big hit," Jeremy smiled.

     "Pamela's gifts. I wish I could afford to replace everything they lost," she said wistfully. Josh tried to regain the joyful mood by quickly changing the subject.

     "You girls will be able to move back into the domitory next week. Once we're sure you're settled we'll start work on the news office."

     "As long as I can work out of Aaron's shed again I'll be happy. I don't think many people want another news office in the square."

     Jason shook his head, "No need to worry about that, Cricket. Candy and I had a little talk with the Betterment League while you were gone."

     "And?"

     "Well, let's just say they were given a new objective for the coming year. It will keep them very busy, too busy to worry about shutting down the paper."

      Katie's eyes narrowed, "How did you manage that, Jason?"

     "I simply pointed out that a Ladies Betterment League was too exclusive. Seattle should have a Town Betterment League with Maude as president. Took care of everything."

      "I still don't understand how this is supposed to help."

      Jeremy grinned, "Jason volunteered to be Vice President. As Vice-President, he'll have a major say in what goes on the agenda. I'm the secretary for this new league and Josh, you were voted Sergeant-at-arms."

      "Gee thanks!" Joshua snorted.

      Kate laughed at the vision she had of the three loggers participating in monthly meetings, balancing teacups on their laps and sharing in the quilting bees.

      "I appreciate the sacrifice, Jason," she went over and gave him a kiss on the cheek, "and Jeremy," she leaned over and kissed him too.

      "Hey, how about the Sergeant?" Joshua asked.

      Katie blushed, unable to treat him like a brother any longer.

      "Sorry, you didn't volunteer. You were drafted!"

      The Bolts hadn't told Kate the entire story. When Clancey had wired them that she was returning to Seattle, Jason and Aaron called a special town meeting. The men encouraged everyone who attended to voice his or her opinions about the future of the Inquirer. Comments flew fast and furiously for three hours. When all the concerns had been aired, it was decided that any new office would be built farther from the square and closer to the water's edge. Jason and Stempel began marking ground south of Aaron's home for the building the very next day.

      The excited brides descended from the second floor one at a time to model their gowns for the men. Each young lady was showered with praise from Clancey and the Bolts before returning to their temporary homes. Candy and Biddie were the last two down the stairs. Jeremy was delighted by the way his future bride looked in her blue satin gown. He whispered a compliment in her ear, which made her eyes sparkle.

      Jason approached Biddie who was absolutely aglow in her gown of ivory and lace.

      "Why, Biddie, you look as though you're dressed for your wedding day."

      "I do, don't I?" she smiled happily. "The girls insisted I take this one. It was the nicest of all and, of course, I wouldn't dream of asking anyone to give it up but they all said it was made for me. It fits quite well, don't you think?'' she asked shyly.

     "It does." Jason agreed.

     "You're a sight to behold, Biddie, darlin'," Clancey called to her. "Picture perfect, as they say."

     "I think I'll put this gown away for now. I wouldn't want it to get mussed."

     The young woman headed back up the stairs with Candy and Kate beaming right behind her.

     "I haven't seen the brides this happy for a long time, brothers," Jason smiled. "Something tells me we're in for a good year."

      Joshua grinned as he listened to Kate and Candy laughing on the landing. "I would bet on it."