"There’s a lot to do for a concert, but in the end, it’s worth it," Melissa said coming into the living room. She looked around. "Where’s Frank?"

"Sleeping," Nancy answered.

"I’ll go check on him," Melissa said turning to leave the room.

"You should let him be," Ned said. "He needs his rest."

"I guess," Melissa said glancing at the steps.

"Melissa, we were trying to piece together what happened today and were hoping you could help us," Nancy said.

"Of course I’ll help any way I can," Melissa said as Joe entered the living room.

"From what Frank told us, the gunman pointed the gun at you," Nancy began.

"If he said so," Melissa said. "But I didn’t see him." She looked at Ned, then Nancy. "Why is this so important?"

"If the gunman was after Frank, the gunman would’ve aimed at Frank, not you," Nancy said.

"But the gun was aimed at me. Not Frank. He got between the gunman and me."

"Can you think of anyone who would want to harm you? Or even try to kill you?"

"Kill me?!" Melissa exclaimed. "I don’t have any enemies. Everyone is really kind to me."

"Are you sure?" Ned asked. "Couldn’t there be someone from your past you may have forgotten?"

"No," Melissa stated. "Everyone I grew up with supports my career choice."

"This isn’t getting us anywhere," Nancy said getting to her feet.

"I just wish I could be more help," Melissa said. "But everyone I come into contact with loves my work."

"Nancy," Ned said. "Maybe she has a psychotic fan. The fan may be after her."

"It’s a possibility," Nancy said turning to face Melissa. "Have you gotten any fan mail that me be a little too adoring?"

"I don’t see most of the fan mail," Melissa said quietly.

"But I thought you took care of that yourself?" Bess stated.

"I don’t have time to go through it all. I have people who go through it an answer questions the fans have. All I get are piles of photos that need signing and then they’re sent out."

"So, you don’t see any of the mail?" Nancy asked.

"Not unless it’s a really special letter," Melissa said. "Those ones are sent directly to me and I answer them myself." Melissa looked at Nancy. "I really don’t see what my fan mail has to do with anything."

"We’re trying to figure out what’s going on," Nancy stated.

"It looks to me like you’re trying to make something out of nothing," Melissa said getting to her feet. "Who knows. Maybe whoever fired the gun could have been a lost hunter."

"Then why did the person take off?" George asked.

"Who knows and who cares?" Melissa focused on Nancy. "Jeremy told me what you thought you heard last night. You’re insane and looking for trouble."

"I have a right to be worried when one of my friends gets shot."

"You’re not worried," Melissa said. "You’re jealous because Frank is paying so much attention to me."

"Hate to tell you," Nancy said. "But Frank has a girlfriend back home. As for being worried, I am. Frank is one of my best friends and doesn’t deserve to be hurt."

"You think you know everything," Melissa spat out as she stormed out of the living room. Jeremy followed Melissa as she went upstairs.

Once they were alone, Nancy said, "Maybe I shouldn’t have said anything."

"You were trying to find out what happened, that’s all," Joe said. "You shouldn’t feel bad about that."

"I wish there was more to go on," Nancy said.

"Maybe it was a hunter," Bess suggested. "There’s nothing you can do about it now."

Nancy sat down in front of the fireplace. Her back was to the crackling fire. There was just something about Melissa that really bothered her. She just couldn’t put her finger on it. She watched as Bess and George left the living room with Joe. She knew she had no right to tell Frank who he could see. They were just friends. She knew he had Callie back home, and she had Ned.

Ned sat down beside her. He put his right arm around her shoulder and she leaned against him. Nancy asked, "Do you think I was out of line with Melissa?"

"No," Ned said pulling her close. "You’re concerned about Frank. You two are good friends. You’re looking out for him, like you look out for all your friends. Besides, from the looks of things, Melissa has been pushing herself on Frank."

"You’ve seen it too."

"It’s not hard. Melissa makes it obvious."

"I just wish we knew more about what happened," Nancy said with a sigh.

"Frank and Melissa told us what they knew." Ned gave Nancy a kiss on the cheek. "The shooting was probably an accident."

"I guess you’re right," Nancy said.

All of a sudden Ned let out three sneezes in a row. Nancy asked, "Are you all right? Are you getting a cold?"

"I’m not getting a cold," Ned said wiping his nose. "I must be allergic to pine."

"Are you sure?"

"I’m sure."

"Okay." Nancy got to her feet and pulled Ned up to her. "Let’s go see if Maggie needs help with anything."

"All right," Ned said wrapping his arms around Nancy’s waist. "But later, you and I need to spend some quality time together."

"Absolutely," Nancy said leaning up to give Ned a kiss.

* * * * *

Later that evening, Bess and George were helping Joe and Jeremy prepare some things for dinner the following day. Nancy and Ned knew there wasn’t enough room for all of them in the kitchen, so they volunteered to do the cooking the following day.

While the others worked, Nancy and Ned slipped on their jackets and went outside. Ned put his arm around Nancy’s waist and they headed into the woods. Ned said, "This is perfect. Just you and me, all alone."

"This is perfect." Nancy turned to face Ned making him stop. "You look so good tonight."

"Don’t I always?" Ned teased pulling Nancy close. "This is just right. You and me together."

"I can’t wait until July," Nancy said putting her head against Ned’s chest.

"At that time you will be my wife," Ned said softly. "Something I’ve always dreamed about."

"I always dreamed I would marry you."

Ned leaned down and kissed Nancy as the wind picked up and it started to snow. A few minutes later, Ned pulled back. Ned said, "Let’s continue this by a roaring fire."

"Sounds good."

Before they could take a step, the heard a scream like the night before. Nancy and Ned looked around. All of a sudden, Nancy saw someone rush through the dark woods. "Someone’s out there."

Nancy took off running with Ned close behind. They swerved among the trees trying to follow the person as fast as they could through the snow banks. They finally stopped, looking around as they tried to catch their breath.

The snow was coming down harder and thicker. Nancy asked, "Can you see anything?"

"No," Ned said wiping snow from his face. "There’s nothing here."

"Let’s go this way," Nancy said after looking around and pointing straight ahead.

"Lead on," Ned said.

Nancy and Ned walked further into the woods. They stopped suddenly when they heard the sound of cracking. The two of the looked up then looked away as more snow came falling down on them. They heard more crackling like the sound of a glass window breaking from a baseball.