Laura counted the applications she had for the Arizona Queen pageant. Thumbing through, she glanced at the pictures of each girl and smiled, remembering when she was that young. The competition should be a good one this year. All of the girls seemed to all have even footing when it came to the contest. She jotted some notes down, taking note of their height and made a note in her head that she would have to order a couple more contestant number wrist bands for the late arrivals. She rose as the doorbell rang and walked to the door.

“You Laura Fitzpatrick?” the UPS man asked.

“That´s me,” Laura said.

“Sign here please,” the man said, handing her a clipboard.

Laura quickly scrawled her signature down and looked at the box. “Thank you,” she said with a smile.

“Have a good day, ma´am,” the man said. He left her porch and headed to his truck.

“What ya got sis?” Patrick asked as he walked over to her, wiping his hands with a towel.

“Did you wipe your feet before you came into my house?” Laura asked glancing at her brother.

“Geez, yes mom I did,” Patrick said teasing her.

Laura lifted the box up and carried it to the den where she was working. “My guess is that it´s the crown and trophies for the pageants,” she said.

“You know it was one hell of a shock when you won that when you tried out for it, but to see you organizing it, never thought I´d say that day come,” Patrick said, helping her leaf through the boxes contents.

“Hell has officially frozen over, what can I say?” Laura quipped. “Has Ridley called at all today?”

“Not that I´m aware of, and the machine wasn´t flashing when I passed it,” Patrick said. “Problems?”

“Not at all,” Laura said. “She was going to pick up some of the applications for the horse show today and let me know when she was coming down to go over them.” Then in a low voice she murmured. “Also hoped maybe she had heard something about Drew.”

“Maybe she got held up,” Patrick said.

“Or a late start,” Laura returned. “It´ll be okay. The day is young. I tend to forget my days start at 4:30 in the morning.”

“You know I don´t know how you and Nathan are going to deal when you two marry,” Patrick said with a chuckle.

“You kidding me?” Laura said, glancing at him. “Nathan gets up at four.”

Patrick chuckled. “Well, I´m heading back out, gotta go into town and get some extra toiletries for the guest house. Mark, Melody and the kids will be arriving some time this afternoon.”

“Okay bubby,” Laura said giving him a kiss on the cheek. “Be careful.”

“Yes mom,” Patrick said with a smile. “Oh and Laura, Drew´ll be okay. You´ll see, she´ll be back.” Laura nodded. She waved her hand with a shake of her head and went back to her planning. Patrick watched her a moment longer then headed out.

**

Nathan gently kissed Laura´s neck as they snuggled on the coach. He gently rubbed her arms, feeling her even breathing. She had fallen asleep against his chest twenty minutes before, and he was merely content with just sitting there with her close. “I love you,” he murmured softly in her ear. Tightening his hold on her, he laid back getting comfortable.

.