"A midwife, Amy?"

"Yes, Mama. After helping today, I made up my mind."

"What kind of schooling is required for that?"

"I don't know. I can ask Mrs. Thornton and when Dr. Turner comes back to town, I will ask him too."

"Honey, I'm proud of you, but don't get your hopes up. We can't afford a lot of extra schooling."

"Yes, Ma'am." She would have to pay for it herself. She could get a job, at the store. Since Miss Diana wasn't going to work for awhile, someone had to fill in.

AT SCHOOL, THE NEXT DAY

Caleb nudged Amy with his knee to wake her up. She was struggling to keep her eyes open and he didn't want his mom to see her. "Thanks," she whispered and sat up straighter on the bench.

"Ok, everyone, time for lunch. See you in an hour." The kids grabbed their lunches and coats and headed outside. Amy stayed at her seat, laying her head on her desk.

"Amy? Sweetie? Are you feeling ok?" Elizabeth asked.

"Yes, ma'am. I'm just tired. I'll shut my eyes for awhile if that's ok."

"Sure. I'll wake you up so you can eat something before the others come in."

"Thank you." Amy leaned forward and shut her eyes, but she couldn't sleep. "Mrs. Thornton?"

"Yes, Amy."

"Do you know how much schooling it takes to be a midwife?"

"No, I'm not sure. I can look into it for you though."

"That would be great, thank you." Amy stood up to find Caleb but he walked back in the door as she was leaving.

"Hey, where were you headed?"

"To find you actually. Can we go for a walk?"

"Sure." He helped her with her coat and then grabbed her hand.

Elizabeth watched them walk out, very obviously caring about each other. It made her wonder what would have happened if she had met Jack while they were so young. They would have a different life, that's for sure.

ON THE TRAIL, JUST PAST THE SCHOOL

"Are you doing ok?"

"Yes, I'm ok. Just thinking, I guess."

"About what?"

"School. I decided that I want to be a midwife."

"You would be good at that, I think."

"I hope so. I just don't know how much schooling it takes. Mom told me not to get my hopes up because we can't afford much."

"I can help you. I've been saving…"

"Caleb, I appreciate that but I can't take your money."

"I want to help you. I know you could do it, Ames."

She stopped walking and looked up at him. "Caleb, you're very sweet, but I'm just going to get a job."

"Did you tell your Mom?"

"About the job?"

"Yes."

"No, not yet. I really want this Caleb. I have to convince her somehow."

He cradled her beautiful, delicate face in his hands, kissing her forehead, but really wanting to kiss her lips. "Amy, I want to help. I can come with you to talk to her."

"Ok. Let's wait until your Ma finds out how much schooling I would need." He nodded, leaning his forehead against hers.

"We should get back," he said quietly.

"We have a little more time." She buried her head in his neck, her arms around his waist. "Caleb?"

"What?" She leaned her head back, looking into his eyes.

"Thank you."

"For what? I haven't done anything."

"You have been there for me ever since I came to town when we were little kids. For seven years you've been my friend and I really appreciate it. I couldn't have made it without you." He pulled her close, kissing her forehead.

"I'm so glad I met you, Ames. I was having a hard time too. You helped me a lot."

"What do you mean, you were having a hard time?"

He took her hand and they started walking back towards school. "I started rebelling a little. Yelling, slamming doors, ignoring my parents."

"You, Caleb Thornton? That doesn't sound like you at all."

"I was so lonely. We had moved from a town with a lot of kids, to a town where the only kids were my sisters and brothers. I felt lost."

"That's sad."

"I still remember when you came to town and my life suddenly seemed better. You made me happy, Amy, and I appreciate that."

"I guess we needed each other then, just as much as we do now." She squeezed his hand and leaned against his shoulder.

"Yes, I think so." He definitely needed her. He couldn't imagine life without his best friend, the one he told everything to, the person he loved most.

AFTER DINNER, THE THORNTON HOUSE

Caleb sat in the living room, by the fire, doing his homework when he heard little footsteps coming into the room. "Caleb?"

"Hi, Carlie. What are you doing down here? Isn't Mama tucking you in?"

"I told her I wanted you to do it." She climbed up on the couch next to him and looked at him. "Will you please, Caleb?"

He had a hard time saying no to her. He was apparently her favorite brother, or so she told him. She yawned and snuggled close to him, laying her head on his arm. He figured she could stay with him for a few minutes so he covered her with a blanket and finished studying.

Elizabeth came down later and found them both asleep on the couch. It was warm and they were together, so she covered Caleb, put more wood in the fire and walked back upstairs.

IN THE MORNING

Caleb woke up realizing he was still on the couch and Carlie was still next to him.

"Hi, Caleb," Carlie said as she snuggled closer.

"Hi, Carlie. Looks like we had a slumber party on the couch."

"I'm cold." He covered her with his blanket too and got up to get the fire going.

Jack walked over and sat down, picking up his daughter. "Who is this all covered in blankets?" He started tickling her, causing her to squeal.

"Its me Daddy! Carlie! Please stop!"

"Stop what Carlie?"

"Tickling me!"

"Oh you want me to tickle you?" He started up again.

Caleb chuckled from his seat by the fire. They had all fallen for that trick many times over the years.

"Daddy, please. I need to go potty," she said giggling but slightly annoyed.

"Ok, sweetie. I'll stop."

Carlie got up and ran to go potty and Jack watched Caleb. "Is something bothering you, son?"

"I guess. I'll figure it out though."

"You know, you can always talk to me or your mom, right?"

"I know. Thank you."

Carlie ran back in the room and jumped on Jack causing him to groan. "Hey, you are just asking for the tickle monster to get you, you know that, right?"

"No, Mama says to come eat."

"I guess we better listen to Mama, right?"

"Yup! Let's go," she said pulling his hand.

"Coming, Caleb?" Jack asked.

"I will, in a minute, I need to go milk the cows first."

"I already did."

"Oh sorry. Thank you for doing that."

"Its fine. I didn't mind."

Caleb stood up and followed Jack and Carlie in the kitchen to eat breakfast.

AFTER BREAKFAST

Jack walked over to Elizabeth, kissing her goodbye. "Carlie and I are leaving now. See you later."

"Thanks, Babe. Love you." She kissed Carlie and then went upstairs to check on everyone else.

She walked into the girls room. "Hey, almost ready to leave? Five minutes."

"Yes, Mama," Emmy answered. "I can't get my hair right though."

"Come here, Sweetie." Elizabeth sat on the bed and quickly braided her hair to keep it out of her face.

"Ok, you're set."

"Thanks Mama."

Drew and Will ran in, top speed as usual. "Ready boys?"

"Yes, Mama," they said in unison.

They walked to school, carefully, because there was fresh snow on the ground. Caleb had left early to walk with Amy, as he did every morning. She could see them walking ahead, holding hands and deep in conversation.

"Hi Mrs. Thornton!" Nate said as he ran up.

"Hi! How's your Mama and the twins?"

"Loud! But I'm happy to have a brother and a sister."

Elizabeth chuckled as he grabbed Bug and Emmy and ran ahead.

"Well, I guess it's just us, boys." She looked down at the twins.

"Can we go play, Mama? I see Davie and George! Please?"

"Sure, go ahead." With that, she found herself alone, which was funny, all things considered.

UP AHEAD

"So I'm going to ask Travis about working at the store. I know he needs help since Miss Diana can't work."

"I thought you were going to wait, Ames. What if you can afford school? You wouldn't have to work."

"I know, but I have a feeling it will be a lot of money. If I start saving now, in a year I should have the majority of it."

Caleb sighed but didn't say anything more. He did have an idea though. He would bring it up to his Ma and Dad after dinner.

AFTER DINNER THAT NIGHT

"Ma, can I talk to you and Dad for a moment?"

"Sure sweetie. Let me check on the kids and then I'll be right back, ok?"

"Ok," he said nervously. He paced the room, as he did whenever he was nervous and thinking. Jack watched and smiled.

"Caleb? You can relax. You can talk to us about anything."

"I know. Sorry." He sat, but his nervous energy made him tap his fingers on the table. Jack just shook his head, wondering what in the world his boy had on his mind.

Elizabeth came down and started some tea. "Anyone want some tea?"

"No, thanks, Ma." She looked at Caleb, tapping his fingers, bouncing his foot.

"Caleb, what's bothering you?" She sat next to him and grabbed his hand to calm him.

"Ok, it's about Amy."

"I figured," Elizabeth responded. "What about her?"

"She wants to be a midwife."

"Yes, I know. Don't you think it's a good idea?"

"Yes, I do, but her Mom says they won't be able to afford to send her to school."

"Oh. Well, I am waiting on a response to my telegram. I sent it to a professor of mine from when I was in college. I'm having him look into the schooling requirements."

"Thanks, but Amy is pretty much convinced they won't be able to afford whatever it is. She won't let me help her. I offered to give her the money I saved but she refused."

Jack took Elizabeth's hand and squeezed. Every day, he was baffled at how proud he was of their son.

"So, I had an idea to propose to both of you."

"Go ahead," Jack prompted.

"I know that Grandma and Papa William set up education funds for all of us in the family. What if there was a way to set up a fund, like a scholarship for others? We could call it the William Thatcher scholarship fund. It could be given once a year to the best student. The one that got the best grade and wrote the best essay."

"That's a great idea Caleb. I will talk to your Grandma about it."

"Thanks. I just want Amy to have a chance, Ma. She deserves it as much as anyone."

"You love her, don't you, baby?"

"Yeah. I do." He started tearing up, as badly as he tried to fight it.

"I'm proud of you." She stood up, kissed the top of his head, and went to get her tea.

"Dad, can I ask you something?"

"Yes, of course."

"As much as I've wanted to, I haven't told Amy that I love her."

"Are you nervous she won't feel the same?"

"No, I'm positive she will."

"Then why not tell her?"

"We're so young and we can't get married for like five more years. I just wonder if it would be fair to tell her, when I know we can't move forward for so long."

Jack thought for a moment. Elizabeth sat next to him and nodded for him to answer. "When I was courting your Ma, I loved her so much, but I waited to tell her, for a long time. I was afraid she didn't love me back and that I wasn't good enough for her."

"I did love him, Caleb. I wished for a long time that we could move forward, faster. Even now, I think about what our lives would be like if we had met when we were younger. It would be different and I don't want different."

"What's your point?"

"My point is, things turn out the way they do and we need to be grateful for how ever that is. If you tell Amy you love her, you are taking a risk that things may need to change in your futures. Your dreams may change."

"But if you don't," Jack continued, "You take the chance that things may change now. They will go slower. You just have to figure out what you want and be prepared for whatever happens."

"Why does it have to be so complicated?" he asked with a sigh.

"Sometimes it is. Other times it just seems that way because you have to be patient."

A FEW WEEKS LATER

"Caleb? Are you home?" Elizabeth asked one Saturday afternoon. She figured he was on his walk with Amy, but she tried anyway. "Caleb?" she called up the stairs.

Just silence. She took the letter from her mother and walked to the Avery House, knowing he and Amy would show up there eventually.

"Anybody home?" Elizabeth called as she walked in the door.

"Yes, in the kitchen," Charlotte answered back.

Elizabeth removed her coat and shoes and wandered in. "Hey Mom. How are you today?"

"Great, no kids today?"

"Not right now. Jack took them on a walk by the stream. It's beautiful outside."

"You didn't want to go?"

"No, I went to Leesa's house for tea."

"Its good to have time with a friend."

"Yeah it is. So how is business?"

"Good. We have two boarders right now. They arrived on the stage last week. The woman, Patty, is leaving tomorrow but the older gentleman, Kevin Thomas, is here to stay. Moved from Toronto, I believe he said."

"What brought him here?"

"He didn't say specifically. He is a rancher though. Cattle." Elizabeth nodded and helped herself to a piece of pie and coffee.

"Is he planning on building?"

"I don't know, although I don't know of any vacant houses or farms so that might be his only option."

A few moments later, Amy and Caleb walked in. "Hey kids," Charlotte said with a smile. "Nice walk?"

"Yes, until Dad showed up with the kids," Caleb said, sounding annoyed. Elizabeth chuckled.

"You could have walked with them," she suggested.

"No, that's our place. We walk there every Saturday. Pretty sure Dad knows that."

"Caleb, it's fine. We can talk in the parlor," Amy suggested, squeezing his hand. "Do you want some pie? I made it this morning." She walked over and sliced a piece for him before he could answer.

"Sure."

"Caleb, I got a letter from your Grandma."

"You did? Great!"

"Yeah, she thought it was a good…" She stopped talking because Caleb was shaking his head at her to stop. "We can talk later."

"Ok, thanks, Ma."

He and Amy went in to the parlor to talk and Elizabeth smiled at Charlotte.

"So what's going on that he didn't want you to say out loud?" Charlotte whispered.

"My mother is setting up a scholarship fund for students here. It was Caleb's idea."

"That sounds wonderful."

"Yeah, she thought so too."

"Why the secrecy?"

"Caleb wants to help Amy go to school to be a midwife but she may not be able to afford it. This way, if she gets a scholarship, she can go."

"Oh that boy. Such a huge heart." Charlotte smiled, squeezing Elizabeth's hand.

"I know."

IN THE PARLOR

"So Caleb…what's going on?"

"What do you mean?" he asked between bites of pie. "This is really good."

"Thanks, I mean you're acting funny. You seemed mad because your Dad showed up on our walk and now the letter from your Grandma."

"I like our walks. I just wanted it to be us."

"The letter?"

"I can't tell you yet, but soon."

"Hmmm. Ok." The door flew open just as Caleb was going to put his arm around Amy.

"Seriously?" Amy giggled as Carlie climbed up on the couch between them.

"Hi Caleb!"

"Hey. What are you guys doing here?"

"Daddy wants us to stay here because he has to go to work." So much for being alone with Amy.

Jack walked in to find Elizabeth. "Caleb, is your Ma here?"

"In the kitchen."

"Elizabeth?"

"Jack, what's wrong?"

"I have to go. Right now. There was a bank robbery in the next town. I have to go help."

Elizabeth's stomach dropped as it always did when he left, knowing he was going to be in danger. Caleb and Amy wandered in to see what was going on. "What's going on, Dad?"

"I have to leave. Bank robbery."

"How long?"

"I don't know." He answered Caleb but looked at Elizabeth. He hated leaving. Always had.

"Elizabeth?"

She walked over and hugged him tightly. "Thank you for letting me know. Please be careful." He pulled back to kiss her goodbye, well aware of all the children and his mom watching, but not caring.

"Love you," he whispered. He kissed her again and then turned to the kids. "I have to go. Give me hugs and kisses." They rushed forward, except for Caleb of course, who watched from the doorway, squeezing Amy's hand.

Charlotte watched and waited. When they backed up a bit she hugged her son. "Jack, be careful."

"I will. Love you Ma."

Caleb followed Jack to the door. "Dad. Don't worry about us, ok?"

"Ok. Love you bud. Remember, make your choice, but I say don't wait."