"Hello, Lydia. How are you enjoying the new house?"

Lydia turned to find June Connor setting her basket on the counter beside her.

"June, hello. It's wonderful, really." She began unloading her own basket for the clerk to tally. "I never thought a town could be so- so storybook."

June laughed and nodded. "That's a lovely description. We're a very lucky community indeed. After all the struggle and disaster in Arrow Bend, relocating here was a godsend. How is Galen enjoying being settled down?"

"He seems fine. I keep wondering if he'll up and wander again, but he really shows no sign."

"Because he has you to keep him occupied." June smiled as the clerk gave her a wink.

Lydia repacked her basket and paid, waiting while her friend was served.

"By the way, tomorrow if you are free. we would like your family to come and have dinner with us - you are the only people we really know as close friends here - kind of a house-warming celebration."

"Why thank you, that sounds delightful. We'll be there, happy to help you celebrate."

The two left the store together, pausing on the bustling street to enjoy a little more small talk in the warm sun. Lydia gave a longing look up the street at the playhouse, and sighed. Her brief audition had interested the company manager, and her name had been added to the available list. But for the moment the productions they had planned, were booked.

"No luck with the theatre yet?"

"They took my name, but no promises."

"Your day will come, keep heart." June patted her arm before saying goodbye.

Lydia sighed again and started for home.

******

Galen was just finishing grooming and feeding their two horses as Lydia entered the barn, and he paused, leaning on the stall rail.

"I swear, Miss St. Clair, you are more beautiful every time I see you."

"And you shovel the same Helliwell charm every time as well." She moved close and gave him a quick kiss. "What have you been up to?"

He waved a hand. "You don't see the sweat and tears that went into cleaning this barn, and the stalls? And a new rope on the well bucket too."

"Oh my, yes! We have two horses in here. I never knew." She teased.

"I'll give you two horses." He grabbed for her, pulling her into a close embrace.

"Why, Mr. Helliwell, what are you doing?" She pulled away a little and grinned at him. "The Connors are coming for dinner tomorrow night to help us celebrate our new home . . . it is our home, right, Galen?"

He saw the worry wrinkles form around her eyes, and he took a deep breath. "It is, Lydia. It is our home."

"Good." She hugged him then backed away. "You can find enough dishes to set up the table for five."

"Guess you'll have to stand then," he said, letting her go. "We only have four chairs."

She swatted his arm and sashayed out of the barn. "Better find another one then," she called, "it's the smart thing to do."

He laughed and watched her out of sight. "Well, Stanley, looks like you and Roan here are finally goin' to be free of them long rides we're used to takin'. There's women that stir a man up, and there's them that settles him down. Guess I found the settlin' kind." He laughed again when it looked like the two horses rolled their eyes.

******

In his shirt that Lydia had purchased for the occasion, Galen answered the door of their new house and welcomed the Connor family inside. Immediately, June and Lois began chattering with Lydia about all the domestic touches, while James and Galen busied themselves opening the bottle of whiskey he brought as a gift.

"Can I pour one for Lois too, so we can all toast?" Galen asked.

"Can't think of a safer time to see if she can handle it." James winked.

"Ladies. Your drinks for a toast to our new home, life, and friends." Galen handed the glasses around, smiling at the pink on Lois' cheeks as she accepted, glancing at her mother.

They all lifted their glasses and drank. The men completely, while the women sipped. Galen poured more for him and James.

"Did that agree with you, Miss Connor?" He grinned.

"Oh, yes. It's father's favourite."

June gave a small gasp, and James a surprised laugh. "It seems we missed something, dear," James nudged his wife.

"Lois?" June inquired, looking perplexed.

"Caleb and I had some when we made the deal for our property . . ." Her words trailed off as expressions around the room changed. "Sorry, I--"

"Nonsense. It was something to celebrate." James put an arm around his daughter. The tragic loss of her fiancé still plucked at the family's emotions.

"Let's get to the table," Lydia suggested, and you can all tell me if I would be better sticking to singing."

Galen adjusted himself on the barrel required for the extra seat, giving Lydia a nasty look when she giggled. Dinner was perfect, and compliments were dished out along with every serving. When the main course was over, the women began clearing the table for dessert and coffee, and James asked Galen if he could have a word outside.

"Just steppin' outside for a smoke, ladies." He called, following James.

"Typical men," June muttered.

A cool breeze felt good as the two men moved along the porch to lean on the railing. Galen took out some papers and tobacco, offering some to James, who refused.

"You've fixed the place nice, Galen."

"It wasn't too bad to start with, and thanks for helpin' us find it. Last time I was in this town I thought then that it seemed a fine place for a man to settle when the time came." He rolled his smoke and lit up, turning to his friend. "So, what's on your mind, James?"

"I'm still not sure if I should say anything or not, but- well--"

"Spit it out, friend, I won't bite."

"A friend of mine, a fella I worked with in Arrow Bend, back before the quake an' all, he and his daughter came here, along with plenty of others, and he started a little business in a small shack down on the riverboat dock, below the train station. He's a carpenter, and it's a perfect spot for him to ship his product as well as receive supplies."

Galen blew a smoke ring toward the darkening sky. "I've seen it. Reminds me now, I should ask him about making me another chair. Does he have a good business?"

"He does. Plenty of folks from the riverboat and the train have had him make things - here in town too."

"You want me to order a chair from him?" Galen laughed, but his friend didn't.

"It's Darcy Huber, he owns the big shipping and trading company, along with all the sheds along the dock, 'cept for Harley's, and he wants his place too."

"Can he make a good deal?"

"That's just it. Darcy doesn't want to deal. He just wants my friend out, and he's making his life pretty miserable, blocking his entrance with cargo, interfering with his lumber supplies - he even had some of his men intimidating his daughter."

Another smoke ring wobbled up into the night. "Why are you telling me this, James?"

"You know . . ." he shuffled a bit and looked down. "How you helped us and all . . . I thought maybe . . ."

Galen closed his eyes and leaned on the railing. Expectations follow a fella no matter how he tries to change. He thought of Lydia's face in the barn when she asked about their home, then he replayed James's words about men intimidating his friend's daughter.

He knew his answer.

******

"That was a nice evening, don't you think?" Lydia sat up on the bed in her nightgown, cradling another small glass of the gift whiskey.

"It was, and so was your dinner."

"You sound distracted. Something wrong?"

"James wanted to talk to me, that's why we went outside." He looked at her, and she shrugged.

"Yes?"

"He had a favour to ask."

"For heaven's sake, spit it out."

Galen stretched out alongside her and related James' story, and the favour he was asking.

"What did you tell him, Galen?" Her voice was calm but shaky.

"I said I would go down and see what was up for myself." Not to do anything!" He held up his hands when she turned toward him. "Just look . . . maybe speak to James's friend."

"Don't pretend, Galen. This is what you really want, isn't it, a cause?"

"Lydia- Lydia, I'm not going to do anything. Just look."

"You said this was our life now. This house. This place."

"It is. It is our life. Something I want more than anything - with you. But it doesn't change who I am. I haven't changed, Lydia. I'm still the man you chose to be with."

She slipped off the bed and went to the small kitchen. Leaning on the sink, she stared out at the night sky through the window, her thoughts aligning and settling. Galen came up behind her, slipping his arms about her waist.

"If you don't want me to go, I won't. You are more important to me, Lydia."

She turned in his arms, showing a wry smile. "If I said no you would pout around here forever."

"No, I mean it--"

"Galen, truth is, I don't want you to go, but I don't want you to change either. You wouldn't be the man I fell in love with."

"I swear, I'm just going to look . . ."

Her arms came around his neck, and the smile changed to accepting affection. "Sure- just look."