Meghan closed the PEG and sighed heavily. Buck had left for the barbershop before she had gotten out of bed and looking around the study that Luke had made just for her she felt the familiar pang of loneliness threatening to overwhelm her. She opened the newspaper once again going straight to the classifieds and reread Walter's ad for the Dreamer's Hotel, smiling she decided it wouldn't hurt to ask and it'd only be for a short while. Meg closed the paper and rose from behind the desk resolved to apply for the job, she ran upstairs to change out of her nightgown and robe and into a day dress then left the house before she could change her mind.

Meghan reined in Golden Rod in front of the Dreamer's Hotel and slid off her sidesaddle. Straightening her skirts she took a deep breath, entered the establishment and looked around for Walter. The banker appeared moments later with a smile and greeted her.

"Good morning. What can I do for you Mrs. Saunders?"

"Hello Mr. Simmons. I'm here to apply for the attendant position." Meghan replied.

The banker's eyebrows shot up in surprise. He knew that Meghan had come into a great deal of money from her trust fund, and silently he wondered why she would apply for a job. "I see." He began. "I didn't know you needed a job."

"Oh, I don't need the job. I just thought I'd like to have one. Is the position already filled?"

Walter shook his head. "No. May I ask why you want the job?"

"Well. I used to help my father in the clinic, but Serena is more than capable of doing that now and has even taken to seeing some patients herself, so I'm not really needed there anymore. Lately I've been home all day watching the wildflowers grow, and I can't tell you how incredibly boring that is. So when I saw the help wanted ad I figured it was the cure to my suddenly dull life."

The hotel owner nodded. "I see."

Meg worried her bottom lip. "Of course this would only be temporary."

"Temporary?"

"Well yes. Not many people know yet, but I'm going to have a baby."

"You're going to have a baby?"

Meghan laughed at the pallor that appeared on the man's face. "Well, I'm not going to have it tomorrow. I still have about six months before the baby comes."

"Well that's good to know." Walter said on a sigh of relief. "So what are your qualifications Mrs. Saunders?"

Meg furrowed her eyebrows in thought. "I'm used to working with the public, and I happen to think I have a good attitude. Both of which are critical to this job. Of course I'm also very well educated, and I'm planning to go to medical school after the baby is born."

"A baby and medical school?" Walter asked unbelievingly.

Meg smiled. "Luke and I are almost certain it will be difficult, but we're convinced we'll be able to handle it. So what do you think? Am I qualified?"

"Temporary you say?"

"Yes."

"Until when would you be able to work?" Walter asked.

Meg thought for a moment and did some quick calculations. "Probably until the end of the year. I figure by then it would be difficult, not to mention dangerous, for me to come into town what with the unpredictability of the weather."

Walter considered it. This certainly took him out of the staffing jam he'd found himself in since taking over the hotel, and he knew Meghan to be a responsible and very sweet young lady. It certainly couldn't hurt having her behind the front desk of the hotel and it gave him another three months to get settled in his new position as a hotel owner and some time to find a permanent person for the job.

"Congratulations Mrs. Saunders. You've got the job."

Meg squealed in delight and hugged her new boss. "Thank you so much. You won't regret this I promise."

Walter pushed her away gently and looked around hoping that no one saw her display. "You're very welcome Mrs. Saunders."

"Mr. Simmons?"

"Yes?" He replied as he turned to face her.

"Seeing as we'll be working together, I was kind of wondering if you wouldn't mind calling me Meghan or Meg? I'm afraid I've never become used to the sound of my married name and although I do love the sound of it, 'Mrs. Saunders' makes me feel a little like Luke's mother."

The banker laughed softly. "If that's what you prefer."

"It is."

"Then it would be my pleasure. You can call me Walter as well."

"Thank you."

"You're welcome." He answered and watched her turn away. Suddenly he called out to his newest employee. "Meghan?"

The young woman was looking around the lobby of the hotel as she left and was startled when he called her. "Yes?"

"Can you start first thing in the morning?"

She smiled broadly. "Yes sir."

"Good, I'll see you then."