Mark had gone out to the barn to milk Bessie our cow.  When he got there he noticed our hen Bernice was no where in sight.  He started to look for her.  While looking for Bernice he came across a young girl by the name of Jennifer and her younger brother Charles Morrison.  They were hiding in the barn.  Mark brought them into the house.  They told us they were going to school back east.  Their father died.  He left them at ranch out west and that was where they were heading.  Charles wasn't feeling well.  I sent Mark to town to get the doctor. 

The doctor told me that Charles had the measles and that I need not worry, it was unlikely Mark would get them again.  He was suspicious of them.  I told him what I knew.  He told me he read in the newspaper about a foreign princess and her little brother from Europe were going to school in Denver and they ran away a couple of weeks ago.  He also mentioned the medallion that Charles was wearing.  He found it peculiar.  When he mentioned the medallion to Charles he said that it was a gift from his father.  I asked him what his point was.  He said nothing.  Sometimes he reads too much.  He then drove off.

Jennifer came out onto the porch. She thanked me for letting her and her brother stay at the ranch.  She told me that her and her brother had always been independent.  I told her there was nothing wrong with needing help.  I had told her I would help her with learning to run a ranch.  I told her life on a farm really wasn't that hard and that she might even like it.  As she went into the house Mark was coming out.  He came up to me.  "Pa, did you ask her?"  "Ask her what?"  "About what the doctor said!"  He was excited.  "Mark you forget what you heard!"  "But Pa, suppose she is?"  "Son.....I said forget it! Whatever she is or she isn't she will tell us herself. No other way."  He was disappointed.  When I told him they would be staying here for a while that changed Mark's outlook.

Jennifer and I had gone for a ride.  I wanted to show her around the ranch and give her a few pointers.  She was doing quite well.  We where almost back at the ranch when Jennifer decided she wanted to race.  As she got to the ranch her horse reared and she tumbled to the ground.  I helped her up.  In the fall Jennifer dropped her medallion.  Mark picked it up and gave it to her.  Hoping she would volunteer some information about the medallion.  She didn't.  She thanked him and went into the house to get Charles his dinner.  "Ya' know Pa. I think the doctor was wrong about her."  I asked him why.  He thought she didn't act like a princess.  "Well how should a princess act?" I asked Mark.  He couldn't get over the fact that she liked washing dishes. "You know something son? If Jennifer is a princess that would make Charles a prince." 

Jennifer was all excited.  She told Charles about  her day and learning to do the dishes and washing the clothes down at the spring.  She was so excited about her day that she just rambled on and on.  She was unaware she was getting a crush on me.  But Charles, as young as he was could see it.  "I say Jennifer. Are you in love with him?"  This made her stop and think.  She left the room.  As she was leaving Charles yelled to her....."I'm feeling much better you know. We should be able to leave soon."  "We are awfully lucky they haven't found us yet!"  She agreed with him and opened the door to watch me while I brushed down the horses. 

Jennifer was looking at a picture of Margaret when Mark walked in.  She asked him if that was his mother.  He told her it was.  Jennifer mentioned how beautiful Margaret was.  Mark told her she looked something like her.  She was pleased.  Mark then headed into see Charles.  Jennifer told him that Charles was getting ready to go to town to see the doctor.  Mark was disappointed.  He knew that this meant they would soon be leaving.  He told her that we would miss them and it was nice having them around.  She told Mark he could go in and see Charles. 

I was out plowing the field when Jennifer came out.  She brought me a drink.  She told me there was something she wanted to talk to me about.  She told me she had read the almanac last night and I was plowing the field all wrong.  She said the drainage was wrong for planting beans.  I told her she was right but it was fine for potatoes.  I had to laugh, she did too.  I told her we'd make a farmer out of her yet.  I asked her if there was anything else.  "Mr. McCain, was you wife a blonde?"  I told her she had hair about the color of hers.  She handed me a pod and ask me what it was.  I told her it was a redbud.  "Locked inside is a lovely red flower. Not all things are what they seem."  "That's the way it is with people too," she said.  "No Jennifer, I don't believe that. I think what people are shows."  She was surprised.  "You have never been fool?" Asked Jennifer.  "Oh.....once or twice maybe. By occupations mostly. But not what's inside."  I told her she seems different from when she first came here but she wasn't, not really.  "Your like the pod. You just needed a little watering and sunshine to make you a flower."  I headed back to my plowing.  "I like you Mr. McCain."  "I like you too, Jennifer."  She paused.  She then went to see if Charles was ready.

    We had gone into town to take Charles to the doctor.  The doc said Charles was as fit as a colt.  When we got back to the ranch Jennifer said that they should be leaving tomorrow and that the wished today would never end.  "I love you, Mr. McCain."  She then ran into the house.  Right after that two men rode up.  The one gentleman showed me his papers.  I was impressed.  I went into the house to get Jennifer and Charles.  They were gone.  They had slipped out the back way.  Mark wanted me to give them sometime to get away.  But I couldn't. I knew what had to be done.  I headed for the barn.  Before I could enter Charles opened the door holding a pistol on me.  "Don't come any closer Mr. McCain."  I ask him if Jennifer was inside.  He shook his head no.  He told me they were going to borrow one of my horses and warned me again not to come any closer.  I told Charles to give me the pistol.  He stood there and looked at me and then handed me the pistol.  "I'm sorry sir."  He looked at me.  "She's crying sir."  I told him to wait there.  

I entered the barn.  I walked up to Jennifer.  "You see Mr. McCain, it seems you have cultivated a flower.  And now you have responsibility to it."  "That's right!" I said.  "Did you hear about my father?"  "He died, so your the queen now."  "No! Cause I won't go back! I loved my father, but I won't go back!"  She said she was going to California and get a ranch like they had planned.  "Or maybe we shall be here?" Said Jennifer.  "Here?" I asked.  "I want to be free, that's all I want!"  "You see, a princess has to hold up her head, very straight. She cannot show her emotions or cry or run in the moonlight. Or fall in love."  "But a princess is a queen," I said.  "I love you!" Said Jennifer.  "Jennifer, love is the most beautiful thing I know between two grown up people."  "I do love you," said Jennifer.  "No.....you love the idea of me. Home, freedom and family."  "Is it so incredible to want that? To be like everyone else? Asked Jennifer.  "Jennifer.....different kinds of people have different kinds of responsibilities, that's what life is. And facing them and understanding them is what makes life good."  "You could never turn away from what you are. I think you already know that."  She knew it and knew she had to face up to it.

When she stepped out of the barn everyone took off their hats.  Count Brissara was glad to find her and was happy that she was well.  He told her that he understood her feelings and wanting a freer way of life.  They would respect her wishes, but it was not their wish.  She had accepted who and what she was.  She could not turn her back on any of it.  She then turned to me.  "Mr. McCain.....my brother and I truly appreciate you hospitality, but we have pressing duties at home. Do to the death of my beloved father and the need for leadership."  "I understand your Majesty."  "However.....we would like you to keep this medallion as a memento of our affection for your country. And by it.....remember that friendship is the bond between us Mr. McCain."  "Thank you your Majesty."