The fire had been banked and its glowing coals radiated warmth and low light. Jack was wrapped in a rough blanket his head resting on his arm close to hers. He'd been asleep almost immediately. He had insisted that she take the quilt from the trunk in the cabin so she had the extra warmth inside her blanket. On the other side of the fire Lou's face was barely visible snuggled against her mother under a bear skin, sound asleep and softly snoring.

"It's a family trait," Maeve sighed softly with a smile. "Poor child." Elizabeth grinned and turned her eyes up to gaze at the stars in the clear black sky. It was so beautiful. So very peaceful.

"I can't do what he wants me to do. He expects me stay here again." Elizabeth frowned slightly at the words and turned her head back to look at Maeve. The younger woman was watching her intently her chin resting on Lou's curly head.

"Everywhere I go I keep waiting for someone to recognize me as Mae Mackenzie," she said. She tipped her head and nuzzled Lou's red curls with her nose. "I am Maeve Murriael now. I have nicer clothes than I did. I have respect for my….talents. I have good companions from the theater world but some things are difficult to hide."

"She won't care," Elizabeth assured her. Maeve smiled in the light from the fire and shifted Lou closer to her side.

"I was going to take her with me," she said. "When I left. My mother knew I wanted to leave. She told me that no school would take me with a child. No one would hire me if I had the baby. She gave me the earrings to sell. The money was supposed to be for tuition."

"But you had to leave Lou behind…." Elizabeth shifted to her side and tucked her crooked arm under her head.

"That was what she wanted," she said abruptly. "It was for the best. It still is."

"Children are adaptable," Elizabeth replied firmly.

"Really?" Maeve glared at her. "Take her away from all this? The trees….mountains…your class…..my father? I'd have to put her in school in New York and then go to London. She'd be all alone there."

"There are schools in London," Elizabeth said as she nestled her head more comfortably in her elbow. "I'm pretty sure there are trees too." Maeve met Elizabeth's gaze and sighed deeply.

"Your daughter is so like you," Elizabeth went on. "This….will not be enough for her either before long. She has curiosity and a strong desire to learn about everything. She has such a gift for oratory. That gift has to be explored and strengthened and….

"This has been the best day of my life," Maeve interrupted softly. "It's going to have to be enough. For both of us. I'll get them settled in town but then I have to go." With that she closed her eyes, tucked her chin to her chest, snuggled deeper into the bear skin. The conversation was over. Elizabeth sighed sadly and shook her head. Tears stung her eyes as she stared up at the stars and recounted events of the day. Lou was so happy to be showing them everything. Even happier when Maeve shared things she remembered. The swelling knot in her chest began to ease as she felt Jack's hand creep slowly into hers. She turned her head up and met his eyes as he studied hers. His hand reached over to cup her cheek and caress the soft skin there. He nodded slightly. He knew they would find a way. He winked she pressed a grateful kiss into the palm of his hand. She smiled at him, snuggled into her quilt, closed her eyes and drifted into an exhausted sleep.

It was afternoon before they made their way back into town. Lou rode behind Maeve on a single horse because the fourth horse was stacked high with bundles they had packed from the cabin. Elizabeth followed the pack horse and Jack brought up the rear. They headed past storefronts toward the livery. Lou eased herself off the horse, missed the stirrup and landed in the dirt on her bottom. Maeve laughed and dismounted quickly holding tight to the reins as she helped the little girl up and away from the horse's hooves. Lou giggled and brushed the seat of her overalls off and took the reins of the pack horse as Maeve led their horse into the stable.

"Nice dismount, Lou," Elizabeth chuckled as she slipped off her own horse. Lou giggled again and reached up to rub the horse's nose.

"Jack!" Faith called to him from the steps in front of the infirmary. He glanced over and frowned when he saw the desperate look on her face. He handed his reins to Elizabeth and strode across the street. Elizabeth's smile faded slowly as she watched their conversation. Jack turned his head to look from her to Lou and then back to her. Something was wrong. Something was very wrong.

Elizabeth glanced over at Lou and then Maeve, who had stepped out of the stable and was standing by her daughter watching her with the horse for a moment. Then Elizabeth saw Abigail headed across the street toward them from the café and she knew. Her heart was pounding as she felt Jack standing next to her as she watched Maeve. The young woman looked up at them and her smile slowly faded as she took in their faces. Her eyes darted from them to Faith watching sadly from the infirmary steps and Abigail getting closer. She reached out and put her hand on Lou's shoulder. The little girl looked up at her and then her blue eyes turned to Jack and Elizabeth. She studied them for a long moment as her smile faded. She looked up at her mother in confusion and then dropped the reins.

"Pap," she cried suddenly and turned to run toward the lane to the row house.

"Lou!" Elizabeth reached for her but Jack caught her first.

"Let me go!" she screamed as he wrapped his arms around her and lifted her off her feet. Jack grimaced as Lou kicked and howled trying to tear his arms away. Abigail drew a frozen Maeve close to her side as they watched Jack struggle with the terrified child.

"Calm down right now!" he ordered.

"Let me go!" she screamed again as she continued kicking and fighting him.

"I will when you settle down and listen to us," he said. Lou groaned and stopped struggling. She glared at them all as Jack set her back on the ground and loosened his grip on her. He'd no sooner let her go when she tried to run and he lifted her off her feet again. She was like a desperate, wild animal in the middle of the widening circle of concerned spectators. Elizabeth shook her head sadly and finally moved toward Jack and Lou.

"Louisa Sorcha Mackenzie!" she said firmly. "Settle down….right now." Lou struggled for a second longer and then stopped. Elizabeth wiped the tears from her eyes and knelt down on the ground as Jack let the little girl slip down. She was still and expressionless as he turned her toward her teacher. Elizabeth sighed heavily.

"It's the worst possible news that you could ever….ever….get," Elizabeth said with resignation. She bit her lip and studied the little girl's white face. Each and every freckle stood out as if they'd just been painted on alabaster skin. Her red curls were plastered to her forehead with the sweat of exertion. Her blue eyes were angry and tear filled. Her hands were clenched in tight fists and Elizabeth reached out to take one in her own hands. She gently peeled back the tight little fingers and smoothed Lou's hand into her own.

"You're not alone, Lou," she said softly. "No matter how bad it is or what you are feeling, you are not alone." Lou's shoulders began to heave and her lips to quiver as tears spilled from her eyes. She fell limply into Elizabeth's arms and began to sob. Elizabeth held her close as she cried, tears spilling down her own cheeks.

"I have to see Pap," Lou said as she pulled back and looked at her teacher. "I just have to see him."

"Sweetheart, he's not there," Elizabeth's voice cracked with emotion.

"It's okay, Lou," Maeve said as she moved from Abigail's side. She held out her hand. "We'll both go." Lou looked from Elizabeth to her mother and hesitated a moment before slipping her hand into Maeve's. The circle around them parted as the two of them made their way down the street to the lane toward the row houses.

"Jack," Elizabeth gasped as he helped her to her feet and wrapped his arms around her. Faith put a hand on her arm.

"I'll go," she said. "Dr. Shepherd is there. He's been waiting for you to get back." Elizabeth nodded and Faith forced a smile as she hurried to catch up with Maeve and Lou. Elizabeth watched them and then turned her gaze back to Jack. She took a deep, quivering breath and then settled into the comforting circle of his arms.