Trevor Blumas

Nick and the boys set out to get a Christmas tree but bring back a severely beaten woman. And preparations for an annual Christmas pageant are further complicated by emotional issues of some facing a first Christmas without cherished loved ones.

Based on the work of &NFi;Little Women&NFi_; novelist Louisa May Alcott, this short-lived series follows the trials and tribulations of Josephine Bhaer (Michelle Burke), the indomitable founder and head of the Plumfield School for Boys. When her husband unexpectedly dies, Jo's forced to run the struggling boarding school by herself. Also featured are Spencer Rochfort as resident caretaker Nick Riley and Robin Dunne as Jo's nephew, Franz.

Trying to juggle her roles as a teacher, writer and parent takes a toll on Jo, who begins to question her life choices and to harbor reservations about her future. Meanwhile, the children launch their own business.

As Halloween draws near, Laurie's yarns about a fabled ghost dubbed the Lantern Man send Nat, Nan and Tommy in search of the specter's grave. Later, a mysterious stranger sends chills up Jo's spine.

Jo and Nan quickly find out that it's a man's world after Jo joins the suffrage movement, and Dr. Pierce advises Nan to set her sights on being a nurse rather than a doctor.

Asia's father comes to visit his daughter, but she doesn't welcome his presence. Nick takes a temporary job at the General Store, not realizing that Mr. Gerson's visiting niece is very interested in Nick and will go to extremes to catch him.

Headmistress Jo (Michelle Burke), Bess (Rachel Skarsten), Dan (Corey Sevier) and the rest of the gang from the Plumfield School for Boys return for a second and ultimately final season of this short-lived drama series based on the writings of Louisa May Alcott. In this season, Jo becomes a voters' rights activist, Nick is accused of murder, and Jo's sister Meg (Jennifer Wigmore) takes the helm of the boarding school.