Meg watched with a wide grin as Luke pulled up to the house in his buckboard. Turning back to the mirror, she took one last look at herself before turning to the door. Swinging it open, she almost ran head on into Serena.

"Slow down Meg. Luke isn't going anywhere."

"I know, but you can't blame me for wanting to spend every minute I can with him." Meg said with a smile.

Serena laughed, "Well yes, but you two will have the rest of your lives together after you're married."

Meg shrugged shyly, "I guess. Was there something you needed from me Serena?"

Serena shook her head. "Your father asked me to keep you busy so he could talk to Luke for a few minutes."

Groaning Meg looked at her stepmother, "Please tell me Daddy's not going into over protective father mode."

"No it's nothing like that, he's making a suggestion for later."

Daniel put his arm around Luke's shoulders. "I've been thinking Luke, and I've come to realize that with all the wedding preparations being made you and Meg haven't had anytime alone."

"Well Daniel, as long as the two of us are together we don't mind." Luke said cautiously.

"Well that's all good, but I think that the two of you should have a romantic evening out. Which is why I've arranged for you two to have dinner at the restaurant tonight."

Luke's eyebrows shot up. "You have? Well, thanks Daniel, I really appreciate it."

The sound of footsteps coming down the stairs had both men turning and smiling at Serena and Meghan as they came down.

Luke couldn't stop the smile from appearing when he saw his fianc�. Meg was dressed in a mauve colored cotton dress with capped sleeves and a modest neckline, trimmed with black satin ribbon. Her hair was up in a chignon, she wore very little make-up and the only jewelry she wore was her mother's locket and her engagement ring.

Meg ran down the last few steps and threw herself into Luke's arms. She kissed his cheek then turned to her father. "I trust you two have had a nice chat, but I think it's time we headed to the picnic."

"Go on, we'll be along in a bit." Daniel said as he stood beside Serena and wrapped his arm around her waist.

Meg nodded and kissed her parents� good-bye.

As they young couple rode to the picnic, Meg watched Luke as he guided the horses expertly. "So, are you going to tell me what you and my father talked about, or are you going to leave me in suspense?"

Luke smiled, "Umm, I think I'll leave you in suspense."

Meg playfully smacked his arm. "Well then, we'll just see if I sit next to you at the picnic. I may have to sit beside Caly and Buck, or I might just find an eligible bachelor to sit by. After all, if you insist on keeping secrets from me, I'll have no other choice."

"Ha, ha. Very funny." Luke said as Meg giggled. "You wouldn't really do that would you?" Meg smiled wickedly then shook her head, Luke exhaled quickly. "You had me worried there for a minute. Okay so you want to know?"

"Yes!"

"Daniel suggested I take you to dinner tonight after the picnic. Just you and me."

Meg's mouth dropped open, "My father suggested that?" When Luke nodded, Meg shrugged. "I guess he really is coming to terms with the marriage."

"I figure we could leave early from the festivities, go to the boardinghouse where I'll pick up a change of clothes then head back to your house where we'll change."

"Sounds wonderful. Oh! I know just what I'll wear."

"And what's that?" Luke asked.

"You'll see." Meg said with a mischievous grin.

"You are going to be the death of me."

The couple talked and laughed as they went on to the schoolhouse.

�

Luke watched as Meg and Corey sat huddled together talking. He was incredibly happy that Meg had been reunited with her best friend. As Corey excused herself from Meghan's side, Luke walked up to his fianc� and sat beside her.

"Oh Luke isn't she beautiful? I hardly recognize her."

"I think the men of this town will be falling over themselves for the honor of courting her."

"She only has one man on her mind." Meg said worriedly.

"Who?"

"Buck." Meg laughed at Luke's shocked expression. "I told her that he and Caly had gotten close in the time she's been gone. But whatever Corey wants, Corey goes after . . . full force."

"What are you gonna do?" Luke asked tenderly.

"I don't know. Corey is my best friend and whatever she wants, I want her to have. But Caly and I are friends, too, and I know how she feels about Buck and what he means to her." Meg sighed. "I think I'm going to step back and let fate run its course."

"I think that's a good idea." Luke glanced around quickly making sure no one was watching before he pulled Meg in for a tender kiss.

They pulled away from each other as they heard someone approaching. Luke turned and smiled at Corey who was holding two cups of lemonade. He excused himself to let the young women continue their girl talk. A short time later the announcements were made for the beginnings of the races. Corey got up to look for Buck who was standing behind her with Luke.

As the two of them went off Meg hugged her fianc�. "Are you going to enter any of the races?"

Luke shook his head, "Nope. You?"

Meg laughed. "No. I asked Corey to enter the three legged race with me but she saw the opportunity to be close to Buck, so she asked him."

"Does she know what happened to Caly?"

"Of course not. It's not my place to say anything, but I do intend to tell her that the man who beat Caly has ties to me."

"Are you sure you want to bring that all up again?"

Meghan nodded, "Yes I'm sure. Corey should know about me and Simon Moore. If she found out from someone other than me she might be hurt. This way I feel like I'm not keeping anything from her."