It rained early Sunday morning, not a serious stay-at-home rain, but enough rain to soak the dirt roads and make getting to services a little more difficult. As Kate prepared for church, she tried to put the evening's misfortunes behind her, but it was impossible. The last person in the world she wanted to see that day was Joshua Bolt. She secretly hoped that he might come down with a cold that morning and would have to stay in bed for the day. The girl even considered feigning sickness herself, but Aaron had hinted at walking her to church and she did want to see him.

     Kate dressed quickly and joined Lottie for breakfast. The women chatted casually about the weather, the Reverend's sermons and their plans for the day. Just as the church bell rang, Lottie caught sight of the Bolt brothers stepping up on the dormitory porch across the way. Josh was looking furtively in their direction. Lottie knew that an apology was on its way; however, Aaron Stempel was also on his way, and it looked as though he would get to the saloon before Josh had enough time to work up his courage. Katie's back was to the window so she couldn't see what was happening. Lottie decided to head Aaron off at the pass.

     "Katie, would you mind running up to my room and getting my umbrella? I forgot to bring it down."

     "Of course," the girl smiled, happy to be able to do a favor for her friend.

     As soon as she was out of sight, Lottie stepped out onto the porch just as Aaron was about to knock at the door.

     Lottie spoke quickly, smiling broadly all the while.

     "Why Aaron. How nice of you to come walk me to church. Aren't you thoughtful? You know, since Katie's arrived I've been feeling a little neglected by you men. I was starting to think no one cared about old Lottie and here you are. When I saw you heading this way through the mud, I said to myself, 'Good old Aaron. He'd never forget his old friend, even in a rainstorm.'"

     The mill owner couldn't get in even one word of explanation. When Lottie did stop long enough for him to say something, he only said what any true gentlemen could say to a lady like Lottie.

     "Shall we go?"

     When Josh saw Aaron approach the saloon his spirits sank. He wanted to get this apology over with as soon as possible. As he watched Lottie walk into the church with Stempel he breathed a sigh of relief. A few moments later, Kate stepped out on the porch with a confused expression on her face and an umbrella in her hands.

     "This is not going to be easy," he admitted to his brothers.

     Jason clapped him on the shoulder, "Just think of how much better you'll feel when it's all over."

     Josh took one step forward...and one step back. "What if she won't listen?"

     "At least you'll know you tried," Jeremy encouraged him.

     Josh took a deep breath, turned up his coat collar against the rain and dashed across the square. Kate saw him coming and wanted to turn back inside but realized how childish that would look so she stood her ground.

     "Good morning." Josh greeted, much too casually.

     "Good morning," was Kate's cool reply.

     "Going to church?" He cringed at how idiotic the question sounded.

     Kate just couldn't resist. "Don't all good children go to church on Sundays?"

     Josh paused. She'd opened the gates and now he was going to have to walk through.

     "They do, and so do good journalists, I hope."

     Kate wouldn't look at him, "Some of them do, some of them don't. This one does."

     Josh smiled weakly, "So do I." That sounded stupid too. Now what?

     "May I walk you to church, Miss Macready?" he asked as humbly as he knew how.

     Kate saw that the church members were all inside and the doors were closing. She gave one last look around the square, but Aaron was no where in sight. She must have missed him.

     "I don't think so Josh..." she opened up the umbrella and intended to trek across the mud on her own.

     "Cricket, please." Kate gave him an impatient glance but he forged ahead. " I came over here to tell you that I'm sorry for what happened last night. I was a complete jackass. I had no right to accuse Aaron of anything or to treat you like a child. I want you to know that I'll understand if you want to ignore me, but I hope you won't."

     Kate listened to this cascade of repentance without turning around. Josh waited for some sign that he was forgiven but after a few moments he accepted defeat.

     "Could I just hold the umbrella over you until we get to church?"

     Kate nodded. Her heart was softening toward him but her pride kept her from saying anything just yet. The strains of "Amazing Grace" poured out from within the wooden building as they walked. The closer thy got to the church, the more uncomfortable Kate felt about being angry with Josh. When they reached the front door, the young man made one last attempt.

     "For what it's worth, Cricket. I promise to treat you as an adult from now on and I'll try to stay out of your way...because you're important to me and if that's what will make you happy, then that's the way it will be."

     All of Kate's reserve evaporated at that moment. She slipped her arm through his and asked softly,

     "Would you stand by my side instead?"

     Josh smiled down at her. "I'll do my very best."

     The two walked into the little sanctuary together as everyone finished up the hymn. They hoped their entrance would go unnoticed but more than a few smiles passed across the aisle between Lottie and the Bolts as the service continued.

     The sermon that morning just happened to be about the importance of forgiveness. Kate glanced at Lottie while Josh studied his brother's expressions to see if they had any influence over the sermon topic but all three seemed innocent.

     When the last hymn was sung, the congregation filed out to see sunshine glancing off the puddles in the square. What had begun as a miserable day was turning out to be just fine.

     The Reverend Adams shook Kate's hand as she exited.

     "It is so nice to have you with us today, Miss Macready. Jason tells me you're from Chicago. You wouldn't happen to know an old friend of mine by the name of Dwight Moody, would you?"

     "Yes, I do. My father and I attended many different places of worship and we enjoyed Mr. Moody's sermons very much."

     "Good, good. I hope we'll see you here often, Miss Macready."

     "You can count on it, Reverend. In fact, I'd like to publish your sermons in our newspaper if you don't mind."

     "My sermons in print? Well!" The minister's kind old eyes gleamed with pleasure.

     "Good afternoon, Reverend."

     Kate caught sight of Aaron heading for the exit. She waited for him at the bottom of the steps. He smiled apologetically when he joined her moments later.

     "I'm sorry, Katie, there was a little mix up I couldn't possibly avoid. I noticed that Joshua came in with you. I assume everything has been straightened out."

     "Yes, thank-you, Aaron."

     "Are you ready?"

     "I am."

     "Let me get the buggy and we'll be off." He tipped his hat to her and headed toward his cabin.

     Candy and Jeremy had been standing nearby and noticed the brief exchange. Jeremy nudged his girl and Candy stepped over to Kate to find out what was going on as discreetly as she could.

     "Um, Katie, Jeremy and I are taking the children for a picnic. Would you like to come? We have plenty of food."

     "No thank-you Candy. I'm going to be busy this afternoon. Would you mind telling Lottie that I'll be back before evening?"

     "Sure," Candy agreed then returned to Jeremy.

     "What did she say?" he asked.

     "She's busy,"

     "Doing what?" Jeremy wanted to know.

     Candy shrugged, " She said she'll be back this evening. I couldn't pry."

     "Why not? You used to be pretty good at it."

      Candy turned on him with her hands on her hips, "Jeremy, if you want to know so badly, you ask her."

     Before the argument could escalate any further, Aaron drove his buggy up to the church, jumped out and helped Kate in then hopped in beside her.

     Josh moved up beside Candy and his brother as all three of them watched the buggy disappear around the trail. Jeremy turned to his brother.

     "You might have been right about Stempel, Josh."

     "Right or wrong, Jeremy, Kate's old enough to make her own decisions and if we care for her like we say we do, we'll stand by her no matter what happens."

     Candy smiled, "Bravo, Joshua!"

     "You're right, Josh," Jeremy agreed, "Besides, this is the same girl who scalped me, hid your clothes and locked Jason in the barn every time he turned around."

     "Maybe we should warn Aaron." Candy said with mock seriousness.

     The brothers looked at each other and grinned, "Naaa"

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