The next morning Kate awoke from a beautiful dream and found herself in an even better one. How different the world looked after the sharing of a single kiss. In an instant, Joshua Bolt was more than her brother and closest friend; he had shifted quite naturally into a new position in her heart. The girl smiled at the memory of his words, the tenderness in his voice, the softness of his lips upon her own.

    Biddie slept soundly on the other side of the cabin. The town meeting had gone on much longer than anyone had expected the night before and Biddie was exhausted. Katie appreciated the private time she had to treasure her memories and to anticipate her walk with Joshua that afternoon. I’ll tell him how the fire got started, she determined. She had always hated keeping secrets and this secret had been draining all the life from her for two weeks. He will stand by me when I tell the others. I won’t have the courage to do it without him. Katie’s plans were interrupted by a woman’s voice drifting down from the old Bolt cabin. The reporter recognized Lucy Dale’s querulous tone.

    "Miss Pruitt! Maude and I have traveled all this way to convince you to add your name to our petition."

    "What petition is that, Mrs. Dale?"

    "A petition barring Jason Bolt from building another news office in Seattle."

    In the brief silence that followed, Katie’s heart began to pound. She sat up straining to hear every word.

    Candy’s voice was even. "Mrs. Dale, if that is all you came up here to say, you’ve wasted your time."

    Maude added her voice to the conversation. "Miss Pruitt, be reasonable, this newspaper has only brought our town grief. Those chemicals caused the explosion that destroyed your home. Just think what the outcome would have been if you girls had been sleeping inside."

    Candy paused again and Kate heard her say, "I have thought of that, but banning a newspaper office is not the answer. Katie has created a good paper; she deserves another office."

    "We all know your fondness for Miss Macready. The truth is, we in the Betterment League have been concerned about her presence here in Seattle for quite some time."

    "Why is that?" Candy asked, no longer attempting to mask her anger.

    "The children—the little girls especially, follow her like the Pied-piper. She has become a role model to them, Miss Pruitt. Even your Molly..."

    "And what is wrong with that?"

    "Honestly, Miss Pruitt, do you really want your sister to become like her? Kaitlyn Macready is not the sort of woman we want influencing the minds of our young ladies. She’s much too independent. She’s chosen a profession no decent woman would dream of attempting. Then there’s her fondness for traveling in a boy’s clothing..."

    "Mrs. Dale, I don’t want to hear any more of this. We brides have been living with Katie at the dormitory for some time now and you won’t find a girl more conscientious, warm or compassionate..."

    Maude’s voice was sharp. "Come Lucy, we’re wasting our time. We wanted to know where you stand, Miss Pruitt and to advise you."

    Candy’s tone was icy. "To advise me?"

    "We already have thirty-five names on this petition. Some of the brides from the dormitory have also signed. If you and the Bolts insist on defending Miss Macready’s position in this town, well, all we can say is, it’s entirely possible that a certain logging operation will find itself losing a substantial amount of business in the future."

    "Is that a threat?"

    "No, Miss Pruitt...only advice for the moment. We suggest you do everyone a favor by convincing Miss Macready to find employment elsewhere. Good day." The women got into their buggy and rode off back to town. The last sound the reporter heard was the sound of the Bolt cabin door slamming shut.

    Kate’s heart pounded as she rose quickly and dressed in her knickers and shirt. Lucy and Maude’s words burned within her soul. She was no good for Seattle. Thirty-five citizens had felt strongly enough to add their names to a petition to be rid of her and her paper. Anyone who loved her would suffer for wanting her to stay in town. She couldn’t allow this to happen!

     Katie had seriously planned to leave Seattle after the fire but Josh’s kiss had given her hope, hope that his love might be a refuge to her from all the pain in her past and the guilt of the present. Now, the Betterment League had stolen that hope away. Josh could not protect her from the gossip and slander of those who hated her. And what would they do to him if he tried? Joshua Bolt just couldn’t love an outcast. He had to love a woman he could be proud of, someone the whole town would accept. There was only one thing to be done.

    Katie packed her few things in a small bundle and quickly scribbled a note to Biddie. The girl glanced out the window toward the Bolt cabin. Candy had gone inside to waken the children and get them off to school. Quietly, Kate readied Scotty, positioned herself in the saddle and headed for Tacoma. Time and space would shield her from the memory of the past two weeks. When she was back at work on the Register in San Francisco, she would forget the aching in her heart for the home she had rediscovered and the promise of love she had lost.

    A brisk wind swept through Seattle that morning. It had an invigorating effect on all of its residents. The Bolts and the other men in town finished clearing the rubble from the foundations of the burned buildings. As they worked, their thoughts brimmed over with possibilities for the new dormitory. The girls would have private rooms, a large fireplace, a separate parlor to receive guests, indoor plumbing. They’d have everything the men could not include in the hastily built original.

    Joshua said very little that day as he toiled alongside his family and friends. He kept his special moment with Katie a secret.Besides, he mused, nobody would believe me any way. He worked diligently marking the hours until he could slip away and join Kate for that walk and very special conversation.

    At mid-morning, Lottie called the workers into the saloon for beer and sandwiches. The Bolts discovered Clancey at a far table. The captain, already a few drinks ahead of the others, was in a gregarious mood.

    The men were in the midst a tall tale when Candy entered Lottie’s. She spotted the Bolts immediately and headed straight for them. She wasted no time telling them of the discussion she had had with Lucy and Maude that morning.

    Clancey chuckled, "Didn’t I tell you, Jason? I knew Kate would rub those old girls the wrong way sooner or later."

    Jason was not as amused, "Yes, you did, Clancey."

    Joshua was irate. "Katie wasn’t around when you had this discussion was she, Candy?"

    "I don’t think so. She and Biddie must have been asleep. No one was stirring when I brought the children to school."

    "That’s good. She’s had enough troubling her lately." Joshua thought a moment. "Clancey, you’re going to San Francisco soon, right?"

    "Day after tomorrow, bucko. Why?"

    "Would you mind bringing three passengers along with you?"

    "Not as long as they pay."

    "Katie needs a break from everything that’s happened. I want to take her to San Francisco with me for a few weeks. If Lottie would come too…"

    "Come where?" Lottie asked, bringing over a fresh plate of sandwiches.

    "San Francisco. What do you say, Lottie? Just a short trip to get Katie away from the Betterment League for a while."

    Lottie smiled, "That’s very thoughtful of you, Joshua. I wouldn’t mind getting away myself."

    Joshua stood up, gave Lottie a quick spin and headed for the door.

    "Jason, maybe you and Candy can have a talk with Lucy and Maude while we’re gone. Try giving their attitudes a little adjustment, will you?"

   "We’ll do our best, brother."

    Joshua practically flew out into the square. Jeremy leaned over to Jason and chuckled.  "I’ve never seen him this happy about going to San Francisco."

   "We’re going to have to keep an eye on that boy, Clancey." Lottie grinned.

    Clancey was oblivious to the knowing smiles about him as he reached for Josh’s lunch.  "Why is that, dearie?"

   "Do you mean to tell me that after all these years of living around young people, you still can’t recognize Joshua’s symptoms?"

    Clancey stopped in mid-bite. "What are you jabberin’ about, woman?"

    "Joshua is in love." Lottie informed him simply.

    "Again?" Clancey shrugged and returned his attention to the sandwich when it dawned on him. "With Hurricane Kate?"

    Candy nodded, "The very same."

    The old sailor cackled with glee, "Ah, I knew we’d be facin’ rough seas travelin’ south this time of year, but the seas will be nothin’ compared to what Joshua will be facin’ if he tries to woo Kate. The two of them are as different as night and day."

    Candy, was anxious to see things work out for her friends. "Well, Captain, the world needs both the moon and the sun every twenty-four hours. I think Joshua and Katie need each other too."

    Lottie sighed as she moved on to serve her other customers. Jeremy and Candy Bolt, Joshua and Kaitlyn Bolt it sounded so nice. Now if Miss Independence would only cooperate with the way things were developing, everything would be perfect.