Kate was more tired than she knew and slept peacefully for three hours. When she woke she became disoriented for a moment and forgot where she was. Her heart raced at the thought that officers were still stalking her. She moved quickly to the window to get her bearings. The familiar sight that met her eyes calmed her fears immediately. Bridal Veil Mountain was aglow in the late afternoon sunshine. It seemed as if it were inviting her to come out and play. Kate had every intention of dressing for dinner, but the call of the mountain was just too strong to resist. All she wanted to do was be alone for a while and walk the trails she had traveled as a child. It took her all of two seconds to make her decision. She laid aside the blue dress, threw on her knickers, shirt and sturdy shoes, swung open the window, inched her way out on a tree branch and climbed safely to the ground.

     Kate headed for what the children used to call "Secret Place". It was a narrow hollow set in the rocks just above Forester's Creek. Years ago Jeremy, Josh and Kate discovered "Secret Place" and realized it was the perfect place to take refuge from the adult world. They were convinced that they were the only three who knew of its existence. Tucked away inside the hollow, they'd spin stories, make plans, dream dreams and talk out their differences without the aid of Jason or their parents. Kate felt a great need to sort out some of the thoughts that had haunted her ever since she'd left Chicago and come to the west coast. "Secret Place" was where she most wanted to be before she officially began her stay in Seattle.

     The place was still there and seemingly undisturbed. Kate pulled away some brush and branches, and scrambled up the ledge. She sat back into the recess the way she used to. From this vantagepoint the girl could see the flowing water of the creek and the path below without being seen by a passer-by.

     Kate closed her eyes and listened to the world she once knew. No clambering people, angry voices, printing presses or police whistles disturbed her here. All she heard were the songs of the birds in the trees and a few chattering squirrels playing tag around the rocks. The sight of the two animals made her smile. They reminded her of herself and Dan in San Francisco. She wondered what he would say if she invited him to enjoy this peaceful moment with her.

     As she sat thinking of him, a family passed by her on the trail below. A man, his wife and their little boy were chasing each other through the trees never noticing her perched just above them. Their faces were unfamiliar to Kate but their affectionate play brought back memories of her father and the Bolts. A strange feeling passed over her. She seemed to be balancing between the past and the present, between child and adult. Why did she feel as though she was making a choice?

     A large raindrop plopped against her nose and disturbed her thoughts. Looking up, Kate realized that she'd never make it back to town before she was caught in a spring shower. She scooted back farther into the recess just under an overhanging rock to wait until the worst of the downpour passed her by. As she looked out at the large drops pelting down from the sky, Kate was surprised to see a familiar figure racing up the trail. He was heading straight for her hiding place.

     She laughed as Josh slid in beside her."Still playing in the rain, I see."

      He grinned at her and shook his head like a wet dog, spraying her with water.

     "I went to Lottie's to bring you to dinner. She went up to see if you were awake and found the room empty and the window wide open." He chuckled, "When she came down she said that either you had been kidnapped or you'd flown the coop. I told her to go on over to our cabin for dinner because I knew where to find you."

     "You did, did you? How?"

     "Your heart still leads you," he smiled at her. "I just followed the trail."

     Kate shook her head. "I don't get it. How could such aggravating boy grow into such an astute man?"

     He countered, "How could such an impulsive brat still be so impulsive?"

     "Me? Impulsive?" She feigned shock.

     "Yes, you, impulsive! You didn't notice the rain clouds, didn't bring an umbrella or rain slicker... You're going to catch pneumonia," he warned in older brotherly fashion.

     Kate gave him a steady gaze hoping to ward off Josh's protective attitude without starting an argument with him so soon after she arrived.

      "I've survived worse that a drenching in a rain storm in the past ten years, Josh. A reporter in Chicago has to fend for herself against all sorts of problems."

     "Maybe so," Josh conceded as he took off his jacket and slipped it over her shoulders," but now that you're home again, we're going to watch out for you."

     Kate's first reaction was to complain, but the rain was tapering off and their friends were waiting for them so she just said, "I have to warn you that I'm not always going to be so willing to let you."

     Josh shrugged, "You never were." He slid forward and off the rock, landing on the trail below. "Let's go."

     Kate scooted down to the edge of the rock. Josh eyed her appearance.

     "Nice outfit, by the way. Did Jason find some more old clothes?" He stretched his arms up to her as if to catch her, but Kate gave him a disparaging look and jumped down solidly beside him.

     He shook his head, "Let me give you a hint, Brat. If you plan to catch a husband around here you're going to have to change your ways and your wardrobe."

     Kate's eyes widened, "Is that why you think I've come home, to catch a husband?"

     Josh caught sight of the fire he had sparked in those brown eyes and tried to retreat. "Well, no, I guess not. Why did you come? Was it just for a story on the brides?"

      "No," she answered shortly, feeling both angry and hurt.

     They walked in silence for a while and Josh tried again to make peace before they got to town.

     "I'm sorry, Cricket, but that's why all the other girls came here. There's nothing wrong about looking for a husband. At least, I don't think so," he hadn't been this uncomfortable in a long time. "Listen, I want to know, really, why else have you come back to us? ... We've called a truce, remember?"

     Kate frowned but conceded, " All right, truce."

     Josh smiled in relief, "Good. I don't want to be the one to ruin our dinner by ticking off the guest of honor."

     Kate laughed in spite of herself and Josh's heart lightened at the sound.

     "So why did you come home?" He asked with an honest interest.

     "Jason asked me if I would get a newspaper started here in Seattle."

     "A paper? Do you know how to do that?"

     "I can do it if the town really wants one. It'll take money to buy the proper equipment and supplies. We'd need a building and I'd have to recruit and train a staff..."

      "It sounds like you've put some thought into this."

     Kate explained, "Jason asked me back in San Francisco. I've had the entire voyage to think about it."

     Josh marveled once again at the spirit of the women who inhabited the West Coast. Half of what he and his brothers had accomplished in Seattle would not have happened without their courage and determination. And now here was little Kate Macready who had been such a nuisance to him in the past, expressing the same desire to accomplish great deeds in this wilderness. He couldn't help but smile.

     Kate saw that smile and misinterpreted its meaning.

     "Josh, the one thing I'm going to need to be successful is something I can't get on my own."

     "What's that?"

     "Your support. Everyone in town will find out how close we are and they'll be looking to you three when they decide whether or not they should trust me with this paper." Kate stopped walking and looked him straight in the eye. "What answer will they hear from you, Josh?"

     Josh thought for only a moment before he spoke, "You have a plan, you have the talent, you believe in yourself and we have a need for a paper of our own. How could I not support you?"

     Kate surprised him by jumping up and giving him a grateful hug. "Thank-you Josh. That's all I need to hear."

     The friends continued walking arm in arm for a while until Josh said, "You came all the way up here to start a paper? I thought you came back to see us."

     "I did," she admitted but added with a twinkle in her eye. "When I read that you and your brothers had charmed one hundred women into moving to Seattle, I realized that someone had to set these girls straight about you or who knows what you would have them believing."

     "And you thought you'd be the one to do it?"

     "What's a sister for? Who else could tell them about the time Joshua Bolt practiced kissing a girl by smooching his reflection in his father's shaving mirror?"

     Josh dropped her arm in protest. "I never did that!"

     "Oh, yes, you did!" Kate laughed, "Jeremy and I saw you do it. We made a pact not to tell anyone but the first girl you ever really kissed."

     Josh just shook his head in amazement at this revelation. Kate pressed on mischievously.

     "I'm really disappointed, Josh. I was sure Jeremy could have told someone about this by now."

     Josh walked along with a smile until the full meaning of her comment dawned on him.

     "Ooo," he turned to her with an evil look. "You're going to pay for that one."

     Kate recognized that look and backed away laughing. "Josh! Remember, we're adults now..."

     He kept advancing toward her. "I remember, but you're still going to pay."

     The young man lunged forward for her arm but she slipped away easily with a laugh that made the burden of the last ten years disappear like sea foam.

     "You've got to catch me first, Squid."

     Kate took off down the trail at a run. Josh was right behind her and would have caught her if he hadn't tripped over a root and went tumbling. Kate ran on further before she realized that Josh was no where around. Turning, she saw him huddled up in a ball, cradling his right arm close to his chest.

     " Oh, Josh," she cried out and ran back to him. "Josh, what did you do? Did you break something? I'll go find Jason."

      She started to leave, but he groaned. "Hey, Brat."

     Kate leaned over him to try and assess the damage. "What is it, Josh?"

     He looked up at her with the most pitiful expression she had ever seen. "Katie?"

     "Yes?" she asked

     Like lightning, Josh stood straight up, catching her waist over his shoulder.

     "Got ' cha!" He crowed.

     Kate kicked her legs wildly trying to make him drop her but to no avail; he was too strong and too tall.

     "Joshua Bolt, you rat, you'd better put me down."

     "In a minute," he called back cheerfully. Kate realized that he was heading straight for the creek.

     "Josh!"

     "What?"

     "If you throw me in..."

     "Yes?"

     "I'll tell Jason," Kate threatened lamely.

      Josh stopped his trek to the creek and pretended to think about it. "Sorry, you'll have to do better than that." He continued walking.

     "I'll have Lottie bar you from the saloon for a month!"

     Josh tilted his head to one side, "You're getting warmer but..." He reached the water's edge and placed his hands around her waist as if to heave her in.

     "Stop, Squid! I give up! What do you want?" She asked desperately.

     "I want you to solemnly swear that you will never print one word of Bolt family history in your paper, especially my personal history!"

     Now Kate pretended to think it over.

     "Well?" He asked. She hesitated a moment too long and he started to lift her off his shoulder.

     "Alright! All right! I promise. Are you happy now? No personal history in the paper."

     "Thank-you," he replied smugly and lowered her to the ground. Kate huffed as she tucked in her shirt and straightened her hair.

     "You are still the biggest weasel I have ever known!"

     "Oh yeah?" Josh scooped her up in his arms.

     "Josh!" Kate cried in frustration. "This is silly. Everyone's waiting for us. Would you put me down?"

     "Ahem" an unexpected voice from among the trees made Josh spin around in surprise. Aaron Stempel stepped onto the trail a few yards away. "Having any trouble, Miss Macready?"