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should sleep, and she suggested we move the spare bed into her room, so she wouldn’t be afraid.  When I asked her where she thought Sarah should sleep, she surprised me.  She said “Mamas always sleep with Papas” and since we would be getting married, it would be all right.”
     
    Suzy burst out laughing.  “Our little girl may be older than we thought.  Oh, Clint, I do hope this works out.”
     
    “I do too,” he said.  “It has been a lonely place since Ruth passed.  It will be nice having laughter and noise in the house again.  Sarah’s husband was killed in 1862 so she’s been alone a lot longer than I have.  Then she lost her farm and had to move back in with her parents.  She’s going to want to make this work as much as I do.”

Chapter 8:  They’re Here!
    “Papa, we need to go.  Today is the day.  Come on Papa, we can’t be late,” Cassie Thomas pleaded with her father to hurry. 
     
    “We won’t be late, Honey, I promise,” her father said.
     
    “What if the stage is early, Papa?  They might not like us if we’re not there when they come in.”
     
    “Okay, we’ll go on in,” he said.  “We can wait in the café until the stage gets there.  Get your bonnet, and I’ll hitch up the horse.”
     
    “Please hurry, Papa.
     
    “Okay, sweetheart.  Ten minutes and we’ll be on the road,” he promised.
     
    There was no sign of the stage when they stopped in front of the hotel.  “We’re safe,” he said.  “They’re not here yet.”
     
    “Good,” his daughter said.
     
    “Cassie, it’s going to be okay.  They’re going to love you.  After all, you’re a beautiful girl and you have good manners.  You wait,” he said.
     
    “I hope so.”
     
    “Let’s go inside and wait in the café, out of the sun,” he said.
     
    They sat by the window so Cassie could watch for the stage.  “I wish it would hurry and get here,” she said.  “I think it’s coming, Papa, let’s go back outside.”
     
    “We’ll see it from here when it comes past the livery stable honey.  We won’t miss it.”
     
    Another twenty minutes passed.  “I hope it didn’t break,” Cassie said.
     
    Another ten minutes.  “There it is, Papa.  I see it.”  She jumped up and tugged at her father’s hand.  “Come on, Papa.”
     
    A big cloud of dust, stirred up by the hooves of the six horses and the four stage coach wheels hung over the street as the stage was braked to a stop by the yelling driver.  He stepped down and opened the door to the coach.  A drummer climbed out and headed for the saloon.  The driver reached up and took the hand of the disheveled woman, and helped her to the ground.  He then  turned and lifted the small girl from the coach. 
     
    Clint stepped forward, with Cassie right by his side.  “Sarah?”
     
    In a soft voice, the lady said, “Yes, I’m Sarah Hutchison.  Are you Clint?”
     
    “I’m Clint and this is Cassie.  She’s been hopping around like crazy waiting for the stage to get here.”
     
    “Papa!” the embarrassed girl exclaimed.
     
    “Sarah knelt down and said, “Cassie, I am so glad to finally meet you.  Your father has written so many nice things about you.
     
    “This is my daughter, Rebecca.  Sometimes she’s Becky, but usually Rebecca,  She’s been anxious to meet you too.”
     
    She stood, and took Clint’s hand.  In her soft musical voice, she said, “I’ve been anxious to meet you too.”
     
    “It is my pleasure,” he said.  “I’ve enjoyed your letters and it’s good to have a face to go with them. 
     
    “We’re about thirty to forty minutes from my sister’s farm.  Would you like to freshen up, or walk around before we go?” he asked.
     
    “We’re going to your sister’s?” she asked.   “I thought we would go to your place.”
     
    “Suzy thought you might want to stay at her place until we can get to know each other a bit more,” he said.
     
    “That’s very thoughtful