"And with an astounding collection of 216 critters, the winner of this year's Critter Festival is... Rio!" Dunhill grinned broadly as she squeezed through the crowd to stand at the front with the runners-up. He shook her hand and picked up a small crate next to him. Passing it to her, he announced that her prize was a case of Hana's famous homemade peach jam.

As Rio passed by afterwards, Toni glowered at her. "It's not fair!" he exclaimed. "You're bigger'n me! How am I supposed to beat you? You always win!"

Rio smiled at the boy next to her and ruffled his hair. "Hey, you did great!" she exclaimed as he pulled away from her in annoyance. "You came in second—that's pretty amazing for a kid. You even did better than Rod! Just wait 'til you get a little bigger. I won't stand a chance against you!"

He brightened up at that. "Hey, yeah, that's right! 'Cause I'm so good at it now, all I need is to get a little taller! How do I do that, though?" he asked as he looked up at her with a puzzled frown.

"Well, it would help you to grow faster if you ate more veggies," Rio said, putting on a serious, thoughtful expression.

"Vegetables? Really? Gross! But if it'll help me get bigger.... Hey, Mom! Can we have salad for dinner?" he shouted as he ran off towards his startled mother.

Rio laughed merrily, as both Vaughn and Neil admired her deft handling of the tempestuous child—Vaughn from a distance and only in his thoughts, and Neil to her face as he joined her.

Neil liked the kid okay, most of the time anyway. He had spirit, that was for sure. But he was clever and quick, and all too often bored in the quiet, small village. That frequently resulted in him getting into mischief, but he wasn't really a bad kid. Just... kind of pesky at times. But Rio never seemed to be bothered by him or the other kids in the village.

Rio smiled up at him as he took her hand and gave it a squeeze. "Hey, nice job," he said. "You really caught a lot of bugs this year. When did you find the time?"

She laughed again as she replied, "Well, lucky for me there are insects out and about at night as well as all day! As soon as I finished my day's work, I'd be off running around looking for critters to catch. It made a big difference, too, having Vaughn to help around the farm. He even took on some extra work so I'd have more free time. Said he didn't care much about catching bugs anyway."

An irritated looked passed over Neil's face, and he followed her gaze as she turned and waved to the cowboy standing some ways behind them, leaning with his back against a corner of the livestock barn along one side of the grounds. He tipped his hat in response to Rio's gesture, but to Neil's relief, he didn't move to join them.

As usual, Rio made the rounds, chatting with all the villagers and many of the tourists who had come from out of town for the festival. When she approached the group of women that included Camellia, she could sense the elegant woman's discomfort even from a distance. Conscious both of her fear of insects and of her internal struggle between that fear and her desire to be courteous, Rio simply smiled at her and held up her hand, saying, "Don't worry, Camellia. I'll keep my distance. I've been catching bugs all morning, and I know how much they bother you."

The other woman looked relieved and grateful, though she shuddered at the mere thought of touching bugs. "So very many insects," she said, shaking her head. "I don't know how you can do it."

Sensing Neil's rising impatience—he thought Camellia stuck-up and priggish and had little patience with her—she smiled again at her and led him away from the women and towards Hossan and Clement. The two men brightened at her approach, calling out congratulations to her as she drew near.

"Rio, that was very impressive! If, err, perhaps a trifle disgusting," Clement exclaimed, looking slightly askance at her, as though he half expected a bug to fly out of her hair at him or something.

Neil snorted, but Rio grinned at him. "Thanks, Clement! It was so much fun, I just love this festival! It's definitely one of my favorites!"

"Well, hopefully the Cooking Festival is another favorite," he chuckled. "I trust you intend to compete again this year? Your stew last year was an utter delight!"

"Wouldn't miss it for the world! What's the theme this year? I missed the announcement," Rio smiled.

"Ahh, yes. This year, I'm judging bread, pasta, and rice dishes. I can hardly wait to taste your entry! What will it be, I wonder? A lovely, creamy risotto perhaps? Pasta with a savory mushroom sauce?" His eyes shone as he considered the possibilities.

"I vote for pasta alla Genovese, myself," Allen called as he joined them.

"Nah, gotta be lasagna! The best food ever!" Rod exclaimed as he trotted up behind Allen.

Vaughn, who'd been near enough to overhear the conversation, sauntered over. "Well, my vote is for rice porridge. Simple, homey food, and you make the best, Rio."

"Dunno about that old lady food," Neil spoke, glaring at Vaughn, who scowled at the insult, "but you make pretty good fried rice."

Rio looked in bewilderment from the chef to the other men gathering around her, clamoring for their favorites. Then she started to laugh and laugh. "Hold your horses!" she gasped breathlessly. "I feel like a waitress during rush hour!" She shook her head ruefully as she caught her breath, still chuckling. "I already know what I'm going to bring, and," she added, holding up a hand to stop the inquiries on everyone's tongues before they started, "I'm not telling anybody what it will be ahead of time. So just give it up. My lips are sealed!"

"Maybe Neil could un-seal them," Rod suggested mischievously.

"Fuck off," Neil snapped, his cheeks reddening as he glared at him.

Looking over the top of his glasses at Neil, then at Rio, Allen smirked and commented breezily, "Well, that's no problem. I'm sure if Neil has no interest in un-sealing Rio's lips, Vaughn would be willing to rise to the occasion."

Vaughn tipped his hat back, a slow grin spreading across his face. "Reckon I could be persuaded to lend a hand," he drawled with a wink.

Neil moved as if to lunge at Vaughn, but Rio grabbed hold of his arm. "No, you couldn't," Rio snapped, glaring angrily at him, then at Allen. "Enough already! You'll have to wait until Friday, all of you." Then she turned and stalked off, pulling Neil along behind her as he continued to look back over his shoulder, glaring at the grinning men behind him.

"She's so much fun to tease," Allen chuckled.

"She's always been easy to rile up," Vaughn agreed with a knowing nod as he turned to go.

Just outside the festival grounds, standing by the gate into her backyard, Iroha waited for him, a frown of disapproval on her usually serene face.

"You chose not to take my advice," she stated, flatly.

"Looks that way," he agreed.

"Don't you... don't you care about her?" she exclaimed, finally exasperated.

"More than you'll ever know, little lady. You see, instead of scaring me off, you gave me fresh hope. I'd been just sitting there thinkin' about giving up and going back home when you showed up. She seemed so certain, I was thinkin' I didn't stand a chance. But from what you said, it looks like maybe she does still feel somethin' for me, even if she can't or won't admit to it. If she didn't, she wouldn't be all torn up just from my being here. So maybe do I still have a chance with her, after all."

He tipped his hat back and looked down into her disbelieving eyes. "Love ain't pretty, missy. Life is ugly and painful from time to time. But anything worth having is worth fighting for. If I'm not willing to fight for her with all I've got, I sure as hell don't deserve her, no matter what. And that goes for that kid, Neil, too." And with that, he turned and sauntered off, leaving Iroha standing thunderstruck behind him, staring after him in consternation.

**************

"By the way," Vaughn said, wiping the sweat from his brow as he stepped through the door at midday, "I got a letter from Mirabelle this mornin'. Not sure exactly when it arrived, since Tina wasn't delivering mail during the bug festival. She gave it to me on my way over here."

Rio, who was slicing fresh peaches to go with their sandwiches, froze with the knife slightly raised as she stared at him, open-mouthed in astonishment. "M-Mirabelle?" She set the knife down and wiped her hands on a towel. "How... how did she find you here? And... how is she?"

"She didn't 'find me', I wrote to her first, the day after I arrived here. I've been writing her every so often, just so's she'd know that I was still alive and searching for you. Just never was in any place long enough for her to get to write back until now."

Vaughn hung his vest up on the coat rack and took his hat and gloves off, placing them on the table near the door. Without answering her second question, he went to wash up, then took a seat at the small dining table, leaning back and looking at her as she stood irresolutely in the kitchen, too flustered to finish her preparations. After watching her stand over the peaches for a moment, picking up the knife, setting it back down, and picking it up again, he joined her in the kitchen. "Lend a hand?" he asked, taking the knife gently from her grasp.

"Huh? Oh, yeah... sure. Thanks," she replied, her cheeks turning a deeper shade of red. He finished slicing the peaches, even filling the small container for Neil for her, while she poured glasses of lemonade with trembling hands. He carried the plates and glasses out to the table while she cut two slices of the peach pie she'd baked just that morning.

Raising an eyebrow as he took the plates of pie from her, he said, "No pie for Neil?"

"Oh, no. He doesn't care for sweets. He'll eat fruit, but that's about it."

"Hmmm," Vaughn said as they sat down to eat. "Kid doesn't know what he's missin'."

Rio toyed with her food, watching him as he ate and waiting for him to answer her question. At last, he finished his meal, leaned back in his chair, and looked back at her. "So...?" she asked, looking at him anxiously.

"You know, you ought to have written to her. And your friends. They've been worrying about you and missing you all this time. You hurt them a whole bunch, Rio, when you just up and left like that. I might've deserved it, but they sure as hell didn't."

She flushed crimson and looked away. "I... I know. It was selfish. And wrong. I meant to write, really I did. But... at first I was too upset, and I didn't know what to say. What could I say—that I'd found out you were cheating on me and that I'd gone away to have our baby all by myself? I couldn't tell them that. And then as time went by, it just... got harder and harder to think of what to say. So I kept putting it off." She looked back at him, tears in her eyes. "But that doesn't mean I don't care about them, or that I haven't given them a thought in all this time. I think about them all the time. And I feel terrible for leaving them like that. I can't blame them if they're mad at me, hate me even. But... but I still care, and I'd like to know how they're doing."

He contemplated her for a moment, then he nodded as if satisfied and pulled an envelope out of his vest pocket. Sliding it across the table towards her, he said, "Then why don't you read for yourself?"

She snatched the letter up eagerly, then hesitated, looking questioningly at him, wordlessly asking if it was really okay for her to read his letter. He nodded, understanding her unspoken question, and she pulled out the pages and began to scan them quickly.

**************

Dear Vaughn,

How wonderful it is to hear from you! I'm so glad you're doing well, and I'm thrilled you've finally found Rio. I know how hard you've been searching, how much you've sacrificed to find her. I hope that whatever misunderstanding came between the two of you, you're able to patch things up. Then I hope that you'll return home to us, even if only for a visit. We've all missed you, both of you, so much.

Now that I can finally write to you and get you caught up, I have a lot of local news to tell you. As you may recall, Denny and Lanna married shortly before you left on your search. They now have a darling baby boy, and get this—they named him Fisher! I can't imagine a more suitable name for their son, though it does make me smile whenever I hear his name.

And Julia is engaged! She and Elliot finally are tying the knot. I had a time of it talking her into having a real wedding, though. As you know, Rio was her dearest friend, and she was just heartbroken when she left and never even wrote. She insisted that since she'd lost her best friend and couldn't have her at her wedding, she didn't care to have one at all. They were going to just sign the papers and consider it a done deal. Maybe you could mention the wedding to Rio... it would be such a surprise for Julia, and it would mean the world to her for you both to be there to see her wed. The wedding is this coming Sunday, though, so I don't know if you can manage it on such short notice. But for my sake, will you please try?

Natalie was real put out that Elliot was getting married before her, of course. Even if she's younger, she just always has to try to prove that she's better than her big brother. All's forgiven and forgotten now, though, because a week ago Pierre finally proposed to her. So they'll be getting married in a few weeks, too. I'm expecting more weddings before long, as well. Will seems to be getting pretty serious about Miss Lily, and Mark's been courting shy little Sabrina, much to Regis's dismay, since she's his darling princess. He just can't bear the thought of her being all grown up.

Speaking of Mark, will you let Rio know that he spoke with Taro the other day about the farm? I guess she promised to sign it over to him after he'd finished restoring Sunny Island. Well, he's done that, and the farm is thriving. Now that he's getting serious enough to think about marriage, I think he's hoping to finalize things. Of course, it looked pretty hopeless for a long while there, when she just vanished and no one knew where she had gone. But now that you've found her, I hope she'll come home and do right by her promise to Mark. He's a good man, and he's become a right good farmer.

That's all for now, but I hope you'll come home to visit soon. You know you're like a son to me, Vaughn, and I've been worried for you. It would be a real joy to see you again, and Rio too, if you can persuade her. The sooner, the better.

Please let me know if you need any help with anything, and write again soon.

With love,

Mirabelle

**************

Rio looked up at him, her eyes red and teary. "She's... not doing so well, is she?" she said, more a statement than a question.

Vaughn shook his head. "No, I don't think so. Or at least, she thinks she isn't doing well. Hard to say which. But she'd never be so insistent about visiting her soon otherwise."

Rio jumped up. "I've got to go back there, Vaughn. Maybe they all hate me. I don't know. But I have to go anyway. I have to finish things up with Mark, and I want to be there for Julia's wedding, if she'll let me, and... and I want to see Mirabelle before...." Her voice trailed off and she turned blindly towards her closet, stumbling a little over her chair and teetering unsteadily.

Vaughn leaped up from his seat and grabbed her arm, preventing her from falling. "Whoa, now. You can't leave right this second anyway, so you might as well take a deep breath and think things through. I need to get back, too, so you can travel with me." Rio looked at him suspiciously, and he returned her look unflinchingly. "Mirabelle's about the closest thing I have to family, Rio. If something's wrong, I need to be there for her. It's not about you—not this time, anyway. It's about doing the right thing."

Rio sighed. "You're right. I'm sorry, Vaughn. I'm just... all shaken up. I'm not thinking straight. Let's see... if you're going, too, I'll have to arrange for someone to take care of my farm while I'm away. I can probably get Neil to take care of my animals, but I'll have to find someone to tend my crops."

Vaughn looked at her curiously. "You're not planning to invite him along?"

She shrugged as she picked up her dishes and went into the kitchen. "To meet a bunch of strangers, go to a wedding, and sign some documents? I'll ask him, but I doubt he'll be even slightly interested."

His mouth twitched in amusement as he said, "How is it that someone as lively and friendly-like as you keeps winding up with cranky old sourpusses like us?"

"I've often wondered that myself," she replied drily as she gathered up the containers with Neil's lunch. "I guess it must be true that opposites attract."

**************

She'd been right, of course, that he had zero interest in accompanying her. So he'd readily agreed to look after her animals, and only then when it was too late had it occurred to him to ask why Vaughn couldn't see to them himself in her absence. He was not at all pleased to find that he was accompanying Rio back to their old home. But she assured him that it would be a quick trip, probably just a couple of nights at most, and that she'd be back in plenty of time for the Fireworks Festival that marked the impending end of summer. He remained sullen, though, despite her reassurances, and finally, thoroughly exasperated, she'd left him to stew in his own juices.

Yuri had come through for her friend and managed to provide her with a dressy ensemble for the wedding, despite the short notice. Neil would see to her animals, and Iroha and Olivia had promised to look after her crops, orchards, and flowers while she was gone. She was set.

Friday morning arrived, the day of the Cooking Festival. She'd considered skipping it, after all, in order to get an earlier start back to the Sunshine Islands. But Vaughn assured her that they could make the train if they left immediately after the competition ended. So she agreed to his suggestion, and prepared her entry for the contest early in the morning.

When Vaughn walked in, his backpack in hand, she was dressed and just about ready to go to the festival, decked out in a simple strapless red dress with a brown belt and pulling on a pair of brown cowboy boots. She stood and slipped on a pair of sunglasses and a brown straw cowboy hat, and grabbed a covered basket from the counter. A bulging pack stood ready near the door, and some tickets lay on the table next to the door. "All right, I'm ready. Let's go," she said, pushing past him and hurrying out the door. He dropped his pack next to hers and followed, closing the door behind him and striding to catch up to her.

As they walked, she said, "I've got our tickets for both trains, both ways. Are you ready to leave as soon as the festival is over?"

"Yep," Vaughn affirmed, tugging his hat a little lower over his face. Normally, he'd be eager for this opportunity, but he was worried. Mirabelle had sounded strangely desperate to see them, and he didn't like to think about what that might mean. She was a motherly sort and rarely asked anything of others, so for her to make such a request.... He hooked his thumbs in his belt loops and walked a little faster, as if that would somehow get him back to the islands more quickly.

When they arrived, she stopped to register with Dunhill. He took her basket and peered beneath the cloth, then looked up at her in surprise. "This is your entry?" She nodded, and he shrugged as he pushed the sign-in sheet towards her. "All righty then, you know your own business best. Off you go, the both of you. Judging starts in just a few minutes—you got here just in time."

"What is your entry?" Vaughn asked, more curious than ever.

"You'll see soon enough," she said with a weak smile as she scanned the crowd, waving to her friends and nodding to strangers and acquaintances as she made her way up to the stage.

No one else from town had cared to enter this year, though Allen had threatened to do so. In the end, though, Rio was the sole representative of the village, pitted against three entries from out of town. Since she was the last to arrive, she was also the last to be judged. The first entry was a dish of cannelloni made by an elderly woman, Linda, from a nearby town. Clement tasted it thoughtfully, and after a little consideration nodded grudging approval. The next entry, a dry-looking pilaf made by a young man named Carl, earned a frown of displeasure, but the risotto that followed, made by a young lady called Marie, earned a deep sigh of satisfaction.

Finally Clement called for Rio's entry. Dunhill brought her basket over to him and removed the cloth. Clement started in surprise... and lifted out a loaf of French bread. "Bread? This is your entry? Are you quite sure?" he asked in astonishment, turning to stare at Rio, his eyes fairly bulging.

She lifted her chin proudly and nodded, and he shrugged. He squeezed it, listening intently as his eyes opened wide in surprise. He set the loaf down and Dunhill offered him a knife. He waved it away, though, instead tearing off a large piece. He sniffed it, he listened to it, he poked and prodded it, and finally he tasted it. His eyes closed and he fairly purred as he slowly chewed and swallowed.

Without a word, he stood and nodded to Dunhill, who called the contestants to return to the stage. Once everyone was gathered, Clement stepped forward. "Ahh, I have tasted some marvelous dishes today—marvelous! Such skill, such talent, such inspiration! But alas, there can be only one winner. And the winner of this year's Cooking Festival is...." He paused, looking over the crowd and then at each contestant, taking his time for dramatic effect.

"The winner is... Rio, of Echo Village!" The crowd gasped, everyone taken by surprise by his choice, then began to cheer. Rio hopped up and down happily, then ran up to hug first Clement, then Dunhill as they awarded her the prize: a small parcel of dried truffles.

Linda, the older woman who had entered the cannelloni, scowled angrily as she protested, "How can that be? How can she have won with just a... a loaf of bread? I slaved for hours over the sauce, and I even made the pasta by hand! This contest must be rigged!"

Dunhill gave her a cold look and opened his mouth to speak, but Clement stepped forward. "My dear lady, you are clearly an enthusiastic cook. Your cannelloni was very good, very good indeed. Quite passable for a dinner party with friends, especially one where the wine is generously poured. But do not mistake me—you are no more than a keen amateur." He reached over and picked up the remains of the loaf. "This mere loaf of humble bread is a work of art. The crackle of the perfectly crisp golden crust! The fragrance! The light, even crumb! The slight chewiness!"

He breathed deeply, a blissful expression on his face, then turned to Rio. "Tell me, my girl, where did you learn to bake such a splendid loaf?"

"My mother," she replied with a smile.

"Your mother? Was she a baker?" Clement asked, surprised.

"No, she was a wife and a mother, neither more nor less. She taught me how to cook. My first lessons were in how to boil an egg, how to make a green salad with vinaigrette, how to make tea, and how to bake bread. She considered those the fundamentals, and she wouldn't let me learn anything else until I'd perfected all of them. She used to tell me that anyone can make something complicated, masking inferior ingredients and lack of skill with strong flavors like herbs or garlic or spices. She told me that only a real cook could make simple, homey foods perfectly."

Clement smiled broadly at her. "Ahh, a woman after my own heart. Well, Rio, I would have to say that your mama was right about that. I congratulate you. Should you ever give up farming, I'll gladly offer you a position in my kitchen!"

After a few hasty farewells, Rio and Vaughn were off, rushing out of the fairgrounds and towards her house with Neil following behind. Rio knew he was still upset, and she supposed she could understand why... but she also knew he'd have hated going, hated every minute of it, glowering darkly at everyone—especially Vaughn—and exasperating her even further. Though she refused to admit it even to herself, she was a little relieved to get away from him and his moodiness for a few days.

"All right," she called as she tore into the house, kicking off her boots and tossing her hat to the side as she darted towards her closet and began pulling out clothes. "Neil, I didn't have time to do more than milk the cows this morning, so will you please finish up for me? I expect to leave the islands Monday morning, so I should be back by Monday evening if all goes well. Tuesday morning at the latest. So in case I don't see you beforehand, I'll meet you at the festival grounds Tuesday evening, say between 8:00 and 10:00? I should be able to handle my animals that day, but Iroha and Olivia will tend my crops for me, just in case I'm late getting back."

She gathered up her clothing and dashed into the bathroom. She continued speaking while she changed, her voice slightly muffled by the door. "Vaughn, we'll have to hurry off if we're to catch the train on time. Can you go saddle up while I finish changing? I'll meet you out there in a few." He grunted in agreement and headed out the door, grabbing their packs on the way. "Neil?" she called after the door closed behind Vaughn.

"Yeah, what?" he grumbled.

"Are you still angry with me for going?"

He sighed heavily. "No... not exactly angry. Not anymore, at least. I just.... I don't trust Vaughn, that's all. And the thought of you going off somewhere with him...."

"You know, I'm not exactly 'going off somewhere with him'. We just happen to need to go to the same place at the same time, so we're traveling together. That's all. It's not like we'll be staying in the same room at the inn or something. If it was someone else, like Rod or Allen, I doubt you'd care even a little bit. It's not really that much different."

"Yeah, it is that different. Rod and Allen don't want to get into your pants," Neil snapped, scowling.

"Oh, don't worry about that," she called, then she opened the door and stepped out, wearing shorts and a tank top. "I'll be wearing a dress, not pants."

"Not helping," he growled, watching her pull her boots back on.

"Just kidding, and you know it! Relax, Neil. Nothing's going to happen. It's you that I want to be with, not him. It doesn't matter how much he hopes and waits and wishes, I'm not changing my mind about him. Okay?"

Sighing again, Neil hesitated, then nodded. "All right. But I swear if he gives you any shit, I'm going to smash that smug grin straight through the back of his head."

"If he gives me any shit, you won't have the opportunity—I'll have already beaten you to it," she replied with a grin. After a moment, Neil grinned back at her. He knew she could do it, too, if she had a mind to. She was stronger than she looked.

"Well... I guess we'll be off then. Thanks for taking care of my animals, Neil. I really appreciate it."

"Yeah... sure.... Hey, take care, okay? And... and have fun. You know, at the wedding and all. Sorry I've been kind of a grouch lately. And don't worry about the farm. I'll look after things for you until you get back."

"Thanks. I... I'll miss you, you know," she said, her eyes suspiciously dewy as she looked up at him.

He gave her a lopsided smile. "Ditto."

She hesitated for a moment, then before he knew what hit him, she grabbed him and kissed him hard, then turned and fled out the door, grabbing the tickets and banging the door shut behind her.

Neil listened to the sound of her boots running towards the barn, then a few moments later, the staccato beat of hooves on gravel. Then they were gone, and the only sound was the droning song of the cicadas.