The Three Finalists

Kacie B comes back for the title of Drama Queen!

Last stop in the journey of love - Switzerland

Ben's thoughts on the ladies before the individual dates:
Nicki - The enticing, dark horse! - There are moments where he pictures himself with her for the rest of his life
Lindzi - A little bit country and a little bit city! - He thinks he might be falling in love with Lindzi
Courtney - A little nerdy and unique! - Chemistry is unlike anything he has felt in his entire life

Let the individual dates begin!!!!

Date #1 - Nicki
A helicopter picks them up and takes them for a death ride by a glacier. They land on the top of a mountain for a picnic lunch. Ben told Nicki that her dad reminded him a lot of his dad! (This is a good sign for those who have followed the Bachelor seasons) They screamed from the top of the mountain, and departed to a much smaller mountain top where they got a complete view - Isn't Ben afraid of heights????
The date ended in a romantic log cabin for dinner by a fireplace. They start to talk about "real life" - Nicki working at the winery, how many kids (Ben = 4, Nicki = 2) they want to have, etc... Ben pulls out the Fantasy Suite Card and Nicki acts as if she is surprised to see it. Ben is happy and surprised that Nicki accepted. They ditch dinner and head to the Fantasy Suite. In the suite they pop champagne and Nicki tells Ben how much it means to her that Ben said her father reminded him of his father. She continues to sell herself to Ben. They end the night in a staged bubble bath - well that was the last we saw of the night!

Date #2 - Lindzi
Ben takes Lindzi for a hike to a 300ft repelling activity. They are both afraid & Ben finally admits that he hates heights! So, they are doing it to bond? Ben finally shows his fear as they are repelling down. Lindzi managed to keep it together much better than Ben.
After repelling they end up in a hot tub outside a lodge for a make out session. Repelling, to hot tub, to formal romantic candle lit dinner with Ben in a bow tie. The conversation starts...Lindzi "Maybe I do pull walls up, but it kinda works for me!" Ben tells her he has loved watching her open up. Lindzi then drops the classic "I'm falling in love with you" and then tops it off with "and I'd like this to end with a proposal." Ben so perfectly timed pulls out the Fantasy Suite Card. Lindzi accepts and Ben is honored by her acceptance. They don't show much in the Fantasy Suite other than a shot of LIndzi in a button down shirt and the two of them making out on the bed.

Date #3 - Courtney
They started off the date by taking a train to another town (Wengen). They shopped for their picnic lunch in the town and picked out the perfect location to enjoy their meal. Over lunch they reminisce about the girl drama. Ben tells her he wished she would have been easier on the girls and Courtney tries to explain herself. As the conversation goes deeper he gets so frustrated he drops the subject. Courtney cries to the camera.
They move to happy hour in a wine cellar. Courtney brings up the subject of the girl drama again. Ben seems receptive. Courtney tells Ben that the situation brought out the worst in her. Courtney continues to explain herself and Ben seems annoyed, but he still tells her that he is falling in love with her. He has concerns about Courtney getting along with the women in his life (i.e. sister & Barbara). Blah, blah, blah!
Ben pulls out the Fantasy Suite Card, Courtney asks him how he feels about her before she accepts. He is ready to take the relationship to the next step. Courtney is on board! They begin the night in a 2 seat hot tub, and Courtney makes it a one seat hot tub.

Break to Emily Maynard - Weird!
Emily starts in on how lonely she is in her mansion. And the familiar single mom dialog. Emily flew to LA to meet up with Ashley & Ali (former Bachelorette's) to go shopping and to get a little dating advice. The girls get all dolled up and give Emily a Date Card to attend the Titanic in 3D as a threesome. After the movie they have a champagne toast to kick off Emily as the Bachelorette.

Back to Ben - And I was right! Kacie B. knocks on Ben's door. Ben responds with "Holy S&^%" The awkward moment begins. KB tells Ben that she came to figure out what happened and to get answers. Ben tells her he feels like they were worlds apart - two different families, with two different backgrounds. - Blame it on the Alcohol!!! Ben doesn't back down and poor KB realizes that her folks ruined it for her! She got answers...they just weren't the answers she had hoped for. As one final attempt she pulls out the Courtney card. "If you were to choose Courtney, you would get your heart broken. She is in it to win it." Ben doesn't know what to say - for once he is flabbergasted. They have a really awkward goodbye, Ben seemed more annoyed than anything else. KB spent some time lying on the hotel hallway floor to decompress. - Does she depart unsuccessful?

A conversation with Chris Harrison:
Ben admits that he is second guessing himself based off of the information that KB shared. He said that he didn't have any regrets until she showed up! Now he doesn't know what to do, but he knows that he doesn't want to add KB back into the running. Chris asks him where he stands and he tells Chris he doesn't know but he will fill him in at the Rose Ceremony.

Ben is totally confused and doesn't know who to send home! He can see a life with all of the women! He decides to make his decision at the last minute - wise!

Rose Ceremony:

Rose #1 - Lindzi

Rose #2 - Courtney

The shocker - Nicki goes home! Nicki tells him that she hopes he is making the right decision. He seconds that! He admits to crying and having doubts about their relationship.

Julie, Jonna & my mom are all fighting for the pool! Good luck ladies!!!!

Name:	Bachelorette #1	Bachelorette #2	Bachelorette #3	Bachelorette #4
Carly	Kacie B.	Lindzi	Jamie	Rachel
Carol	Lindzi	Rachel	Brittney	Jennifer
Nick	Elyse	Nicki	Jennifer	Kacie B.
Natalie	Kacie B.	Lindzi	Nicki	Courtney
Allison	Jamie	Nicki	Kacie B.	Emily
Melissa	Nicki	Rachel	Kacie B.	Courtney
Jeannette	Kacie B.	Lindzi	Courtney	Elyse
Michelle	Jamie	Courtney	Kacie B.	Nicki
Kerri	Kacie B.	Jamie	Rachel	Nicki
Julie	Courtney	Lindzi	Nicki	Kacie B.
Shaundy	Kacie B.	Jamie	Nicki	Lindzi
Jamie	Jamie	Kacie B.	Courtney	Nicki
*Marisa	Lindzi	Jamie	Kacie B.	Nicki
Jonna	Lindzi	Kacie B.	Jamie	Brittney
*Amanda	Courtney	Lindzi	Kacie B.	Nicki

*Submitted predictions, not included in pool

Hometown Dates!!!

First Hometown Date #1 - Ocala, FL Lindzi's hometown. Ben is lucky to go home with Lindzi as he is only the second guy that Lindzi has brought home to meet her family!

They met up at a horse-track (Jonna's dream date). Lindzi looked so cute in her little western getup with a big belt buckle, cowboy boots and spurs! They saddled up a horse for a carriage ride around the track. Ben needed some lessons on how to control the horse.

After the carriage ride they enjoyed wine under the trees. Lindzi told Ben that she lived with the last guy that she dated and she thought she was going to marry him. However, her family saw the red flags with the other guy!

*Breaking News* At Club Condo I got a knock on the door. Answered the door to find Nick with a single rose asking me if I would accept the rose! And an upgrade to my diamond earrings. Awe, I'll take him to my hometown! :)

Back to Lindzi & Ben...they rode the carriage to her parents house. She introduced Ben as her boyfriend to her parents (how cute). They had a nice chat with her folks on the lawn and found out that Lindzi's parents got married at SF City Hall where they had their first date. There is something about City Hall!

What better way to get to know the family than a chariot race against her parents. They lost, so they had to pull the carriage with her parents back to the house.

Over the river and through the woods to Lindzi's parents for dinner. Mom tells Ben that Lindzi hasn't had much experience dating. Ben appreciated her explanation of Lindzi. Ben met with dad and told him if he were to get ready to ask her to marry him that he would ask her father for his permission.

The night ended with smores with the family. Dad gave Ben his approval over a toast by the fireplace. Ben left on a high! He told the camera he thinks he might be falling in love with her. He wouldn't change anything about the day!

Hometown date #2 - Clarksville, TN Kacie's hometown.
Ben meets Kacie at a high school football field to be greeted by a marching band with Kacie as the majorette! After her performance she runs and jumps on him. They have a picnic on the football field that was named after Kacie's grandfather. Ben asks "Anything I should know about your parents before I meet them?" Kacie response with "my dad is a federal probation officer, oh and my dad doesn't drink. We're in the bible belt Ben!" Ben thinks - Perfect...I'm a winemaker! He tells Kacie that he has concerns about how they would feel if he were to take their little girl away to CA.

Off to meet the family. It looked like Ben planned to bring the family wine as he gave them something in a wine bag that said "Cheers"! lol After dinner Kacie sat down to talk to her sister. Kacie described Ben as her future husband to her sister. She told her sister that she has always done what the family wants, but now she is doing what she wants!

Ben sits down with Dad... Dad admitted to being skeptical about the process. Dad tells Ben that if Kacie is not the one he wants Ben to communicate to her soon so she doesn't get hurt any more. Ben goes from Dad to Mom. Mom has concerns as well. She expresses her serious concerns with them living together before marriage. He assures Mom by telling her that he has traditional values.

Dad sits down with Kacie and tells her to be very, very careful. He then makes sure that if she moves she will get her own place and not move in with Ben without being married. Kacie tells Dad that she would say 'yes' if Ben were to ask her to marry him. Dad tells her that if Ben were to ask her dad for her hand in marriage he would say 'no' as it is too soon - they need to date more.

The date ends with Kacie giving Ben a kiss goodbye and telling him to "be safe". Kacie is nervous that her parents may have ruined her chance with Ben!!! Natalie is nervous that her first pick might go home tonight!

Hometown date #3 - Fortworth, TX Nicki's hometown. Ben LOVES Texas!
Nicki takes him to a western shop to get a pair of cowboy boots. They got all dressed up (Wrangler's and all) with their western gear and headed to a bar for some booze.

After drinking at the bar they headed to a park for a glass of wine and an intimate conversation about her previous marriage. Afterwards they went to meet her parents. Ben brought flowers to her parents - he learned his lesson!

Mom told the camera that she likes Ben and see's a connection with him that she didn't see with Nicki's husband. Nicki and Mom have a chat where Nicki tells her how perfect Ben is. Mom just doesn't want her daughter to get her.

Nicki sits down with Dad to tell him that she is falling in love with him. Dad tells her he has concerns about her getting hurt because of possibly "too readily giving her hand in marriage" to her prior husband. Now he feels more responsible, and that he let her down. Dad gets emotional and tells her he is "so happy for her".

They sat down for a traditional dinner of Texas meat! Dad #2 to give his approval over a toast. Nicki steals Ben away to tell him that she is "in love with him" The camera caught Nicki's brother saying to her parents "I actually like the guy!" lol

Ben told the camera that he has great gut feelings about Nicki's ability to make him happy for the rest of their lives.

Hometown date #4 - Scottsdale, AZ Courtney's hometown. Courtney tells the camera she feels bad for some of the things she has said about the girls. - Really?
Ben gets bolder by bringing wine and flowers to her parents house. Ben tells the camera "it would bother him if he ended up with someone that rubbed people the wrong way." His plan is to ask her family more about Courtney and her relationships.

They have lunch outside on the patio. Courtney tells her family in front of Ben "I like him/love him" (Nick's commentary - Courtney's had a nose job! Everyone in the family has a big nose, except for her! - That might be why her upper lip never moves!!!!!)

Courtney pulls her sister aside to tell her how much she loves him. Ben sits down with Dad. Dad asks him if he is ready to make the commitment. Ben doesn't really answer the question. Dad tells Ben he is happy that he came and that he wants grandkids.

Courtney sits down with Mom to tell her that she is "falling for him." Courtney tells Mom if he keeps it up she will be ready to say "yes." Mom seems a little surprised by that, but thinks it is sweet.

Ben and Courtney leave her folks place to have a picnic on their own. (That was the shortest parent meet & greet ever!) Courtney told Ben that she is ready for the next chapter in her life. Ben reassures her that he does want to get married. Courtney mentions that the location would be her dream location for her wedding. He notices that it is set up for a wedding. Ben tells the camera that he is nervous about what Courtney has planned. Courtney pulls out paper to write vows, a bow tie, and rings. This must be why she is wearing a white dress! Ben must be into all of her fun because he wrote vows. They recited their vows to each other in front of a Pastor. At the end of Courtney's vows she told him that loves him. They went all the way through to exchanging the rings and kissing the bride - but it wasn't official! The car pulled away from the location with "Almost Married" written on the back window.

Chris & Ben recap the hometown dates:
Lindzi - He saw her vulnerable side. He liked Lindzi's interactions with her family. He liked her parents and left thinking "I could love this woman."

Kacie - He realized that community and family is very important to her. He mentioned her mother saying that she doesn't want them living together if they are not married. He doesn't like that answer and says "compromise!"

Nicki - She had a great date planned! She continues to surprise him. He was surprised by her parents relationship. He liked that Nicki told him how she felt and said some last words to not live with regrets.

Courtney - Ben talked about her surprise faux wedding. He said she is an incredible woman and he felt like he could write a lot more about her.

Rose Ceremony:
Rose #1 - Courtney
Rose #2 - Lindzi
Rose #3 - Nicki

Kacie B. goes home with broken hearted. Tears came in the limo, but not in front of Ben. Kacie is caught in the limo saying WTF happened? After watching this show, she is going to hate her father!

Nick says "You can't marry someone who's parents don't like booze!"

Next week Kacie B. comes back - I'm pretty sure it is her because of the ring that they showed on the hand of the girl walking to Ben's room.

The board took a huge hit tonight!!!

Name:	Bachelorette #1	Bachelorette #2	Bachelorette #3	Bachelorette #4
Carly	Kacie B.	Lindzi	Jamie	Rachel
Carol	Lindzi	Rachel	Brittney	Jennifer
Nick	Elyse	Nicki	Jennifer	Kacie B.
Natalie	Kacie B.	Lindzi	Nicki	Courtney
Allison	Jamie	Nicki	Kacie B.	Emily
Melissa	Nicki	Rachel	Kacie B.	Courtney
Jeannette	Kacie B.	Lindzi	Courtney	Elyse
Michelle	Jamie	Courtney	Kacie B.	Nicki
Kerri	Kacie B.	Jamie	Rachel	Nicki
Julie	Courtney	Lindzi	Nicki	Kacie B.
Shaundy	Kacie B.	Jamie	Nicki	Lindzi
Jamie	Jamie	Kacie B.	Courtney	Nicki
*Marisa	Lindzi	Jamie	Kacie B.	Nicki
Jonna	Lindzi	Kacie B.	Jamie	Brittney
*Amanda	Courtney	Lindzi	Kacie B.	Nicki

*Submitted predictions, not included in pool