Jeremy and Candy were waiting for Josh and Kate out in front of the dormitory.

     "How was your ride?" Candy asked as the two dismounted.

     "Wonderful!" Kate replied enthusiastically. "Joshua told me all sorts of interesting facts about the families here in Seattle."

      "And I learned a few things too," Josh chuckled.

     Jeremy moved next to his brother as Josh tied the reins of his horse to the porch rail. "What kind of things did you learn this afternoon, Josh?"

     He and Candy had spent most of the afternoon pumping Jason for answers to their questions about the newcomer without success.

     Josh smiled up at Kate then announced, "This is Kaitlyn Macready."

     Jeremy nodded amiably at her without recognition. Ten years was a long time.

     Candy politely tried to continue the conversation; "Macready is a Scottish name isn't it?"

     "Yes. My mother was Irish and came from Mullingar but my father's family lived in the highlands of Scotland." Kate kept a keen eye on Jeremy as she explained. "They met, married and moved to Washington Territory with their closest friends."

     "Really?" Jeremy took Brownie's reins from her. "Our parents came from Kilmaran in the highlands." Josh could barely keep his composure as Jeremy calmly wrapped Brownie's reins around the rail. "Where did your folks settle?"

     "Just north of here." Kate said matter-of-factly. "Your brother and I just walked through my family's cabin up on Bridal Veil."

     "You did?" Jeremy was puzzled. He knew every cabin on his mountain. "You took the trail to the logging camp?"

     "Yes," Josh was fit to bust.

     "But the only cabins up there belonged to our folks and..." he stopped suddenly and stared wide-eyed at the girl. "Katie?"

     "It's me, Jeremy," she laughed. Kate was certain she would never again be able to so completely flabbergast the Bolt brothers. This was a day to remember.

     Jeremy threw his arms around her just as both of his brothers had done and swung her up on the dormitory porch.

     "It sure took you long enough." Josh teased.

     Jeremy assailed her with questions, "What are you doing here? Where have you been? Is your father coming? How did you get in San Francisco and why didn't Jason tell us who you were?"

     Kate held up her hand, laughing. "I'll tell you everything later, I promise."

     Candy stood there convinced that all three of these characters had gotten way too much sun. "Ah, Jeremy..."

     Jeremy turned to her and laughed, "Sorry, Candy. Do you remember me telling you about the girl who lived in the cabin next to ours? Cricket?"

     Candy took a closer look at the pretty girl. "You were that wild tomboy?"

     Kate laughed, "I can see my brothers haven't forgotten me after all. "

     Josh gave Jeremy a punch on the shoulder. "Jason knew all along and never told us."

     "Knew what all along?" Lottie asked. The laughter from the group had drifted over to the saloon and the woman just couldn't resist joining in. She found Biddie's punch bowl under the bar and wandered over to return it.

      "That this fancy reporter is our sister." Josh explained with pride.

      Lottie almost dropped the bowl in shock. "Your what?"

     "Our sister, " Jeremy repeated, "well sort of. Lottie this is Katie Macready."

     "The little girl who lived near you?" She asked. The boys nodded. "Welcome home, Katie."

     "Thank-you," Kate sighed. "I'm glad my secret's finally out."

     "Me too," Jeremy chuckled. "Now we won't have to be so nice to you."

     "Jeremy," Josh seemed full of plans, "we have to take her to the lake."

     Jeremy joined in, "Let's show her the caves. Remember them Cricket?"

     Lottie broke in. "Excuse me boys, but don't you think Katie might need to get some rest before you drag her all over the mountain? She's just spent a week on Clancey's old tub. I'll bet a nap on a real mattress might be more what of what she wants right now."

     Kate's expression was filled with gratitude. "That sounds fine."

     Candy chipped in, "What if Jeremy and Josh make dinner for us at their cabin tonight? That way we can all get properly acquainted."

     Before the men could protest, Kate agreed. "That's a great idea! We have so much to talk about, but if I don't get some rest I may keel over in the center of my plate tonight. Lead on, Miss Hatfield."

     "Lottie," she corrected her with a smile.

     "Lottie," Kate repeated warmly.

      Lottie handed Candy the punch bowl and the two women walked across the square, the older with her arm around the waist of the younger.

     Jeremy turned to Candy; "Did you just volunteer me to cook dinner?"

     Candy's look was one of perfect innocence. "I'd never do that. I simply made a suggestion."

     "Of course you did," he responded dryly. "Well, let's get to work, Josh. If they expect us to make something fit to eat, we'd better get an early start."

     Jeremy turned and saw his brother watching Kate disappear into the saloon. He leaned in to him and murmured. "She turned out pretty nicely, didn't she?"

     "What did you say?" Josh asked.

     "Never mind," Jeremy chuckled. "You answered my question."

      Candy grinned, "I've never seen a brother watch his sister in quite that way before. Have you, Jeremy?"

     "Nope."

     Josh frowned as he realized what they were hinting at. "I'm going over to Ben's and pick up some things for dinner, that is, if you two are finished with me."

     "We are for now," Candy said.

     "Good." Josh started for Ben's but turned back for one last message. "Before you two get any ideas, let me tell you straight from the start that Kate Macready is not my type, never was and never could be. Career women are nothing but trouble from what I've seen, and nobody, especially the Brat, is going to convince me otherwise. Understand?"

      Both Candy and Jeremy nodded, but as soon as he turned away they looked at each other and shook their heads, grinning broadly.