The loud applause in the theatre echoed behind the stage and up the hall. Ladybird supported herself against a wall as she finished giving her feet a final stretch. Beatrice attached the feathered band to her head and checked her tutu in the mirror. Wysteria tightened the strings of the bow to the violin and rose en pointe.

Sara-Ellen stepped backstage and rejoined the other dancers while an announcer took her place on the opposite side of the curtain.

Ladybird turned to her sisters and took their hands. "I want you two to know that I am so happy for this moment. I would rather be dancing with no one else other than my sisters." She embraced them both until Gracie called them forward.

"Dance your hearts out," she said then nodded for them to step through the curtain.

Applause rained down on the sisters as they took to the stage. They stood staring at the applauding and whistling crowed.

"What exactly did they tell them all to expect?" Wysteria asked.

Ladybird took a deep breath and positioned herself on one side of Wysteria opposite Beatrice. "Whatever it was, let's give it to them."

Wysteria looked at Beatrice who nodded then with a chasse she passed the bow over the stings. With another step she moved into Vivaldi's Autumn and Beatrice and Wysteria commenced to dancing, flitting about the stage like the birds they were. Every pirouette, every arabesque, every grand jete was perfectly in place.

Ladybird and Beatrice performed a grande allegro while Wysteria danced a bourree en couru while never missing a note on the violin. The sisters ended by coming together in a tight circle facing inwards with their hands intertwined.

The audience erupted in applause and people stood from their seats. Ladybird, Wysteria and Beatrice smiled at each other then faced the audience. Hands joined, they walked to the edge of the stage and curtseyed.

"Brava!

"Brava!"

"Encore!"

"Yes, again!"

"Do another!"

Ladybird laughed. "Well, sisters, do you two still have a little more dance left in you."

Beatrice stepped away from her sisters and stood in fourth position.

Wysteria tucked the violin under her chin. "I know just the song." She counted to three in her head then stepped to the edge of the stage playing I dreamt I Dwelt in Marble Halls.

Ladybird and Beatrice danced toward each other to opposite ends of the stage. Together the three of them pirouetted under the golden glow of the theatre lights before an enchanted crowed in the height of autumn.

/

"What a night!" Beatrice sighed from where she sat before the fire soaking her feet. "I don't think I'll walk again for days."

"I thought they would never let us stop dancing," Ladybird said. "Now I know how those little ballerinas feel when you constantly wind a music box."

Wysteria came into the parlor with the kettle and added more hot water to her sisters' basins.

"Wysteria, sit. You deserve a break," Ladybird insisted.

"My feet don't hurt as bad," Wysteria said going from Ladybird to Beatrice.

"But don't your fingers want to fall off from playing like that?" Beatrice said. "My legs are like led!"

Wysteria sat before the fireplace next to Sacha. "Beatrice, after hiking up that mountain your legs should be iron. Oh, but it was all worth it wasn't it?" she ruffled Sacha's fur.

Breakfast hopped onto the back of Ladybird's chair and watched the popping fire with that cat's indignation.

Ladybird looked around the quaint room. She didn't know what would happen next. She didn't even know if they'd remain another year in Narrow Lake after all that had happened and with what Silas said about their grandmother. She took her teacup from the table adjacent her chair and sipped the Earl Grey. She looked up to the ceiling, not really seeing it. "I need an answer," she whispered. "What comes next? How can I keep my sisters together?"

Breakfast's tail brushed her cheek as the cat shifted positions and the weary dancers enjoyed the warm fire on a cold night.

/

Beatrice laughed gleefully as she raced up the sidewalk, her pink skirt flying. Leaves rolled down the sidewalk in the chilling breeze as she looked over her shoulder. "Ha, you'll never catch me, Wysteria!"

"Give me back my gloves, Beatrice!" Wysteria shouted after her sister. She groaned as her hat was blown off her head and she had to stop to get it.

Beatrice reached the steps to their house and danced then laughed when Wysteria arrived disheveled. "Oh, Wysteria you look like a ruffled hen!"

"Beatrice, where are my gloves? Those are my best pair," Wysteria demanded.

"Here!" Beatrice said handing her the gloves and going up the steps. "You're no fun when it's cold, Wysteria you're like a little plant." She opened the door and went inside with Wysteria trailing after her.

Ladybird took up the rear shaking her head. Some things never changed but she found comfort in that. When she reached the steps Sacha came out to great her chewing on a turkey bone. She opened the mailbox and took out the day's mail. Only one letter. Seeing that it was addressed to Mrs. Winters she went ahead and opened it.

Dear Mrs. Winters

We have not spoken in a while. Recent circumstances have caused me to look into your whereabouts and that of your daughters. I hope you are all doing very well. As I am a busy man I shall make this letter brief. You're family, that is your in-laws and your nine nieces, wish to meet you. This may come as a surprise but rest assured I have studied this family and Mr. Fairchild is indeed the brother of your husband, rest his soul. The seasons are changing and perhaps you crave a warmer climate. I have provided you with four tickets for the journey and an address. Farewell

J.M St. Cloud

Ladybird turned the envelope over and looked at the address. "Mr. St. Cloud," she laughed. "After all these years, Sacha!" she said to the wolf who wagged his tail at her. "Wysteria! Baby B!" she turned to go inside when she caught something white out of the corner of her eye. She gasped at the sudden appearance of the horse and rider.

"Good afternoon, Miss Winters," Tennessee said. "Is Beatrice home?"

"Mr. Wellbeloved!" Ladybird said. "What a pleasant surprise. You won't believe the news we've just received. We've been invited to...to..." she pulled out the address slip. "Florida! Oh I've never been to Florida before. Have you?"

"Afraid not," Tennessee said.

"Oh, how rude of me," Ladybird said. "I'll get Beatrice for you." She hurried inside only to bump into Beatrice in the hall.

"What's this talk about Florida?" the youngest sister asked.

"I'll tell you later," Ladybird said. "Right now, Mr. Wellbeloved is outside and wishes to see you."

"Why?" Beatrice asked nervously.

"Well to say goodbye I suppose."

"He already did that back on the mountain," Beatrice scoffed.

"Yes," Ladybird said fixing her sister's hair. "But not properly." She pushed her toward the door. "And a gentleman always does it properly." She smiled as Beatrice stepped outside then hurried to tell Wysteria the news.

Beatrice set her hands on her hips as she came down the steps and onto the street. "So I see you've found your Dalmatian."

"I told you he'd go home," Tennessee said.

Beatrice narrowed her eyes. "I ought to slap you!" she hissed. "You abandoned me on that mountain."

"I left you with friends!"

"I don't know them from Adam!" Beatrice snapped. "And I have you know I don't like Adam at all." She turned her back to him and stuck up her nose."

Tennessee sighed. "Will I'm sorry suffice?"

"Sorry for what?" Beatrice said looking at her nails.

"Sorry for abandoning you on the mountain," Tennessee said then smirked. "But not as sorry as I was for going after you in the first place."

"Tennessee Wellbeloved!" Beatrice exploded and Tennessee bought fell from the saddle with laughter. "You and your Dalmatian and your little sword and your sassy mouth and..."

"I had a good time, Beatrice," Tennessee said putting an end to her fit. "You're a courageous woman."

"Me?" Beatrice said in shock. "Oh no, Ladybird is a woman and Wysteria is a lady, I'm just Beatrice."

"And you are your father's daughter."

Beatrice couldn't stop the smile from coming to her face. "So..." she twisted her foot. "Where are you going next?"

"There is a skirmish in the west I'd be sore to miss," Tennessee said. "You?"

"I'm not sure," Beatrice said. "Ladybird was going on about Florida a moment ago."

Tennessee nodded. "Wherever you go, Beatrice may it be well for you," he said. "I hope to one day ride through whatever town you choose to settle down in and find you a gray old lady with lots of adventures under your belt." A horse and rider appeared at the end of the street and he sighed. "I have to go, now. I just wanted to say goodbye properly."

Beatrice smiled.

"Have a good life, Beatrice Ann Winters," Tennessee said as he trotted away. "May the road rise to meet you!"

Beatrice swung her hand at him. "And Tennessee Wellbeloved may said road not rise and hit you in the face!"

"That mouth of yours!"

"No, that mouth of yours!"

"Runaway!"

"Outcast!"

"Twirly girl!"

"Dalmatian rider!"

"Pain!"

"Messenger boy!"

"Oh, I forgot to tell you. I got promoted!"

"...Woohooooo!"

/

"Ladybird?" Are you ready to go Ladybird?"

"Huh?" Ladybird's head jerked up and she looked around to find Wysteria standing before her in the empty hall.

"Trains don't wait," Beatrice said. "No matter how special we think we are." She flipped her hair. "How many times are you going to read that? Give it to me!" she snatched the letter.

"Beatrice, don't be a child!" Ladybird said trying to get the letter back.

Wysteria picked up Breakfast and stepped outside where Silas and Samantha had the wagon loaded.

"Those two couldn't be more different," Silas said.

Samantha laughed. "Beatrice will always be the life of the room and Ladybird the regal beauty."

Wysteria nodded in agreement. "So goes the stories of the carnation and the ranunculus," she said. "I'm ever so glad to be a periwinkle." She laughed as Beatrice took to the street and ran up the sidewalk with Ladybird going after her.

"Beatrice, please, you'll wrinkle it."

"Give up, Ladybird, you can't win!" Wysteria called after her but Ladybird was determined. Wysteria climbed into the wagon next to Sacha and they followed them toward the station. So maybe the bouquet they made wasn't perfect and they did make an awful company of birds, but when they day was done it was spoken in stone: they loved each other still the same.

END