Chapter Seventeen:

"Where were you two nights ago, Elouise?" Amy questioned from the kitchen table. They were all sat around for breakfast, preparing Meg off to visit her friend Annie Moffat.

"She was working." Meg said, a smile growing. "With Laurie."

"She came home covered in mud in his own clothes." Beth added quickly.

Amy gasped, "You and Laurie?"

"No!" Elouise exclaimed,"First of all, that was manure. Laurie pushed me into a pile of it, he was not happy when I dragged him down and pressed his face into it."

"You did what?" Amy made a face of disgust, "That sounds so boyish. And wearing boy clothes? Girls are supposed to wear dresses and look like princesses."

Elouise snorted, "Yes, if I wore one of my two dresses and then was shoved into the cow's poop, I'm sure I would still look like a princess."

"A princess covered in manure." Beth smiled, laughing quietly.

Jo cackled, "It smelled awful. At least you ruined his clothes and not your own. And you asked to borrow one of the costumes! I'm glad I said no."

"Me too." Everyone said in unison, causing them to break out in a fit of laughter.

Amy shook her head, "As if you would push his perfect face into a pile of cow poop! If I did that he would never talk to me again."

"Not Elouise. That boy practically drools over her." Jo pretended to gag, "I hate gooey feelings. I won't let any boy take you away from us, you're family now."

Beth nodded, "I agree with Jo."

Marmee appeared through the back door, "Meg, they're packing the carriage."

Meg jumped up, rushing from the house. Everyone followed after, talking quietly between themselves. It was another beautiful spring day, and it felt like time was just slipping through her fingers. "It's very nice of Mr Laurence to lend Meg a carriage." Amy said, linking her arm through Elouise's, which she then did to Jo.

"It's very convenient living so close to someone rich." Jo stated, "And making friends with them."

Amy scowled, "That's rude, Jo. Don't let Laurie hear you."

"Teddy won't mind, he know's I'm only kidding."

Elouise smiled as they approached the group, Meg hung out of the carriage waving goodbye to her family. Laurie approached them, giving them each a wave.

"Elouise." He nodded.

"Jo." Jo mocked him, punching him in the arm. "That's what you get for dropping her in manure."

"I did no such thing!"

She rolled her eyes, looking from Meg back to him. "You take the other carriage and surprise her- make sure she doesn't fall in love!"

Laurie grinned, placing a hand at his forehead in salute, "Yes, Captain Jo!"

"Oh Mother! Thank you!" Meg shouted, adoring a necklace her mother had placed in her hand.

"I've never understood saving jewelry until marriage- pretty things should be enjoyed."

Amy pouted from between Elouise and Jo, "I wish I could go to the debutante ball."

"No, you do not." Elouise whispered, not entirely knowing what it was. But if she could convince Amy it wasn't anything special, maybe the girl wouldn't feel as bad about not being invited.

Jo smiled at Meg, waving. "Don't forget about us."

"I won't Jo, it's only a week!"

Hannah approached from behind them, carrying a beautiful pair of shoes, "She needs to have a decent pair of shoes."

Meg looked at Mr Laurence, "Thank you again for the carriage, Mr Laurence. I don't know how to repay you."

"Nonsense!" He smiled, eyes glancing to Beth who stood close to her mother. "Although, there is one thing..."

Meg beamed, "Anything!"

"It's occurred to me today that my daughter's piano suffers from want of use." He directed his comments to Marmee, who only smiled. "Wouldn't one of your girls like to run over, and practice on it now and then, just to keep it in tune? If they don't care to come, why, never mind."

Beth came bursting out from behind her mother, "Oh sir, they do care, very very much!"

"Are you the musical girl?" The man questioned, reminding Elouise that he had never met Beth.

"I love it dearly, and I'll come, if you are quite sure nobody will hear me and be disturbed."

Mr Laurence smiled, "Not a soul, my dear." He turned, seeing that Meg was safely inside the closed carriage and no longer hanging out. He waved the driver, "Drive on, and keep her safe!"