Chapter 54 - Merlin in Charge

The last few months had been a busy time for the River tribe. The time had come at last for Merlin to take over leadership. He had graduated school with honours and Freya graduated as top of the class. Now as an adult it was his job to be head of the family and to decide on the path they should follow.

Gone were the medieval outfits and the castle. Merlin had chosen to remake the house in the style of the American Pioneers. Although due to their prosperity their house was more of a pioneer mansion.

He felt that the River family had the pioneer spirit of thriving in a foreign land and making it their own. He wanted to play to their strengths. They had always been good at working the land and being one with nature so he had them plant more crops and wanted each family member to play an active role in the garden.

Albin had loved caring for horses in his youth. Now retired he found himself taking a daily short walk to visit Kainda's horses. Peaches despite her advanced age had lately fallen pregnant and given birth to a foal called Caesar. Albin had fallen in love with him and Kainda had promised him to Albin once he was old enough to leave his mother.

Merlin had built a paddock onto the garden and hoped his father would teach him how to ride once Caesar came to stay.

Clark Lutz had now become a teenager and it was clear he had inherited Laughing Bear's prominent nose.

Whilst Clark's sister Lois, had graduated school.

She had been dating Chi-Han Beech Pond and as soon as she graduated they had married. 

She had also decided that she wanted to play for the local baseball team and was hoping Lance would be able to use his influence to help her in her dream.

Evelyn and Lance had abandoned wearing medieval wear once they moved into their new home.

Evelyn had also gone for a drastic haircut and now sported a short bob. She felt it was much more practical look for a journalist. She had also managed to get a job with the local paper. It wasn't much at the moment but she had high hopes for the future.

Evelyn's high hopes weren't all based on her job. She had found out that she was pregnant and by the time the new pioneer house had been built she was starting to show

Gwen River had realised that her best friend Peter Field was rather good looking. She enjoyed his company and during one costume party they sat outside watching the stars together. As she sat with him laughing she wondered if he felt the same way.

On the day he graduated Merlin took Freya out for a meal at the local bistro. There was a big family party later, but just for a few hours he wanted it to be him and Freya,

He told her of his vision for the future and she listened attentively to his every word. They sat their for hours talking and Merlin knew the time was right and that she was the one. The light had started to fail when he took a ring case from his pocket and got down on one knee. 

Freya was delighted and said yes at once. They would arrange the wedding in a few months and Merlin could start his role as head of the family with a loving wife by his side.