"Come on Rip" Kate whistled for him on her way back from the barn and feeding the horses. Rip trotted behind her on the path to the house.

"Barn chores are done." Kate said opening the door and letting herself in.

"Thank you" Elizabeth smiled.

"Can I go for a walk to the creek?" Kate asked.

"Just don't be long it will be dark soon." Elizabeth said.

"Take Rip with you, I saw some beaver out the other day, he will keep them from bothering you." Jack said.

"Ok, come on Rip" Kate called heading back out the door.

"How are you feeling?" Jack asked as he set a cup of tea in front of Elizabeth and sat down to his own across from her.

"Well, actually better then I have in weeks, no more sickness." Elizabeth smiled softly.

"That is wonderful to hear, I swear every time you push a plate of food away Abigail looked like she was about to force feed you." Jack said making Elizabeth chuckle.

"No more danger of that."

"Looks like this school holiday did you some good."

"It did, and when we go back I think I will tell the class. It's time the town knew and they start preparing for someone in my place."

"Well I know for sure you will be missed in your absence. But I think your right, you would wear yourself out trying to take care of the baby and school. Even with Kate and I helping you." Jack gave her a smile Elizabeth didn't fully return.

"What's wrong? Is it missing school?"

"No, well, yes. I will miss teaching and the students greatly but I know I will see them often and when I am ready I can go back to my position. It's just, lately the baby feels like it is coming rather soon and I think, I might not know how to be a mother." Elizabeth said softly.

"Oh Elizabeth, you are with children all day, so caring and helpful to them all. And you raised Kate, why would you even think you can't do this?" Jack asked reaching out to take Elizabeth's hand.

"I know how to be a teacher yes, but it is so different. And I never raised Kate as my own child. I care for her wellbeing and disciplined her when she was young, but just as often she was my own confidant and playmate. I was only 8 when Mother died and I fear my memory of her is limited."

"You are so loving and gentle, I never for a second doubted you would be anything but wonderful in raising our child. I think you are much more ready then you think. And whatever you don't know, we'll learn together. I promise." Jack said softly making Elizabeth smile up at him.

"As nervous as I am, the biggest part of me can't wait." Elizabeth said softly.

"That makes two of us." Jack smiled bringing her hand up to his lips and kissing her softly.

"You know once word gets out everyone is going to be in a tizzy." Elizabeth smiled.

"If we can handle Rosemary and Abigail we can handle the rest of the town." Jack smiled.


Monday morning in November school started back up again. While Elizabeth was up early more then ready to go back to school, she thought she was going to have to physically drag Kate out of her bed.

"If you don't get up you will be late and I will make you write lines on the board the entire lunch and recess break!" Elizabeth called as she made eggs on the stove.

"Why must school start to early, what's wrong with having school start in the afternoon. Having a short break for lunch and a short break for dinner?" Kate asked in a huff as she dragged herself out of her warm bed into the cold morning air.

"I'll bring it up with the national school board." Elizabeth said sarcastically.

"Great, while your there don't forget to mention you assign to much homework and should be written up for it." Kate shot back.

"Hey, I thought I was the only one in this house allowed to be in sour moods." Elizabeth narrowed her eyes.

"Just because you have the baby as an excuse doesn't mean you get to use it for everything." Kate muttered rolling her eyes coming out of her room dressed.

"Wow, it's awful cold in here this morning." Jack came in from the barn hearing Kate and Elizabeth glancing between them not talking about the temperature of the room.

"It's her fault" They said at the same time pointing to each other making Jack chuckle.

"I hope this baby takes after me, I'm not sure I can handle 3 Thatcher girls." Jack said.

"I hope so too." Kate muttered sitting down at the table ignoring the look Elizabeth shot her as Jack bit back his smile.

"Can we chalk this up to a rough morning back to school for us all and be civil?" Jack asked.

"Fine." Kate and and Elizabeth nodded as Elizabeth put breakfast on the table.

"Good, I will give you two a ride into town if you would like? It's getting awful chilly." Jack offered as they started to eat.

"I'll walk, I wanted to meet up with Laura before school. They just got back yesterday." Kate said.

"Alright." Jack nodded.

"I would love a ride, I just need to stop at Clara's shop before. I have some dresses for her to let out."

"That's fine. I will come by this afternoon and chop more wood for the fireplace. Maybe we could have lunch together?" Jack asked

"I would love that." Elizabeth smiled.

"Are you telling everyone about the baby today?" Kate asked.

"Yes I am, it's getting harder and harder to hide." Elizabeth ran her hand over her belly lightly with a smile.


"Hi Kate." A voice called. Kate turned as James was walking up to the school house where she was sitting on the steps with Laura talking about her trip. James' sisters ran off to play with the other little girls as James walked up to them.

"Hi James, this is Laura, Laura this is James, They just moved here the week before break. His family lives in our old row house." Kate introduced them.

"Nice to meet you." Laura gave James a smiled.

"You too, Kate talked a lot about you" James smiled sitting down with them as Jack drove up in the wagon. He hopped down before reaching up to carefully help Elizabeth down as all the little children ran to greet her.

"Hi, hello! I missed you all! Come on it's cold, let's go inside and start our day." Elizabeth grinned as they all started to climb the steps together. Kate waved to Jack as he drove away following her friends in.

"Alright boys and girls find your seats" Elizabeth called as she took off her coat moving to the front of the room. There was chatting as everyone found a hook for their coats and hats and took their seats. Kate glanced up at her sister as she waited for the room to quiet down.

"She has a secret doesn't she?" Laura asked slipping into her seat next to Kate who gave her friend a smile.

"What makes you say that?" Kate asked as Anna turned around to raise her eyebrows.

"Does it have something to do with how tightly she is holding her shawl in front of her?" Anna asked smiling. The few weeks of break had been good for everyone, Elizabeth's energy was coming back along with the slight bump of a baby that had popped out two weeks ago. In town she had been able to wear coats to cover it because the air was turning so cold. But now that school was back on she couldn't wear her coat all day and it was best to just tell everyone.

"Is it obvious?" Kate asked her friends and they both smiled as she confirmed it.

"Probably not unless you know what to look for, we're probably the only ones who would." Laura reassured her as the room fell silent.

"I hope you all had a wonderful little break from school, this morning I want you to all be thinking about something you did over your break that you can write about because that will be our English assignment after recess." Elizabeth said addressing everyone.

"What did you do on your break Mrs Thornton?" Laura asked.

"Well I spent some time resting and getting ready, because I actually have some news to share with you all" Elizabeth said as everyone turned to her totally focused.

"This springtime I will be taking another longer break. I will be having a baby." Elizabeth said. A choruses of noises filled the room as everyone was cheering and talking at once excited.

"Alright alright" Elizabeth smiled trying to calm the class again.

"Congratulations Mrs Thornton" Laura called and Elizabeth gave her a warm smile. Of all her students except Kate, her relationship with Laura was the closet since Laura and Kate had been friends for so long now.

"Then you won't be our teacher anymore?" Opal asked.

"Well, I will be gone for a while, but I will come back when the baby is a little bigger, and we will come and visit and you will see me all the time in town. Even if I am not in front of the classroom everyday I will alway be here for all of you. You are all so very special and important to me. You can always come to me if you ever need help with anything." Elizabeth told them smiling at them all holding back the tears from her eyes.

"Is she crying?" Laura whispered to Kate surprised.

"Give her a second, she will be laughing." Kate shrugged.

"Alright, in the mean time, let's begin our day with some science." Elizabeth said. Kate glanced across the row where James was sitting with the other boys as he gave her a smile over the news.


"Hey Kate want to come over for apple dumpling?" Laura asked as Elizabeth rang the school bell.

"No thanks, I was going to walk with James today." Kate said as James came up behind them.

"Alright, see you tomorrow." Laura waved heading down the stairs as James took Kate's books.

"That math test just about killed me." James sighed as they started down the stairs and Kate slipped her gloves on.

"It was awful." Kate agreed.

"I think I failed it. I don't think I did well at all." James muttered.

"Come on, I know what you need." Kate smiled leading him into town.

"Abigail" Kate called opening the door into the kitchen.

"There you are, come on in I'll get you some hot apple cider." Abigail smiled at her.

"Come on, come sit." Kate pointed to the table.

"Good Afternoon Mrs Stanton."

"Hello James it's good to see you."

"We are here for math test cookies." Kate said.

"Coming right up" Abigail smiled placing a plate of oatmeal cookies in front of them."

"Wow, you get good service here." James said impressed as Abigail went back out into the cafe.

"Abigail is family." Kate smiled as they each bit into a cookie.

"Math test cookies huh? How bad did you do?" Elizabeth asked raising her eyes at Kate as she walked in.

"Not for me, James" Kate said.

"Oh James, that's alright your first math test was bound to be hard." Elizabeth said gently, picking up a cookie.

"If that was me I would have gotten an I told you so." Kate whispered making James laugh.


"Rip! Here boy!" Kate turned as she road Gracie through the field hearing Jack's voice. He was on Sergeant just coming out the woods as he whistled.

"Jack" Kate called nudging Gracie and riding over to him.

"Hey did you see Rip in town? He never misses dinner but I haven't seen him" Jack said.

"No he wasn't there, did you check under the back porch?"

"Yeah, I wonder where he could be" Jack whistled again.

"He's probably sleeping, somewhere he couldn't have gotten far" Kate said.

"I suppose not, I guess his stomach will lead him home when he wakes up." Jack chuckled as they started to ride home.

"How's she riding?"

"She's great! You were right she's so easy going" Kate said patting Gracie's neck.

"She wont be winning any races like old Sargent here but she's a good girl" Jack smiled.

"Hey Jack, did you know Elizabeth want's you to make a cradle for the baby?" Kate asked.

"I caught her hinting at it. I already talked to Lee about the lumber." Jack winked at her.

"Good" Kate nodded.

"What about you? Do you have a birthday wish? As I recall that's not to far off." Jack smiled.

"No, just glad to spend a day with friends and get cake at the end of it." Kate shrugged.

"Well, seems to me that doesn't sound to bad at all." Jack laughed.


Elizabeth rolled over in her sleep searching for Jack's warm body waking up when she didn't find it.

"Jack?" She called not able to mask the worry in her voice as she sat up. Their room was empty as she slipped down the stairs surprised to find that dark as well. It had been months since Jack woke up from a nightmare but if he did he was usually down here. She glanced out the window surprised to see him standing on the back porch with the lantern lifted in the air looking out into the night.

"Jack" Elizabeth whispered wrapping her shawl around her and stepping out onto the back porch. Jack was looking out into the black night standing by Rip's full bowl of food.

"Something happened" Jack said softly wrapping his arm around Elizabeth to keep her warm in the cold night..

"We don't know that Jack. Chances are he begged food off of someone else. He's done it before plenty of times." Elizabeth said gently.

"But he's always home by nightfall." Jack said.

"I know, maybe you should come to bed, there's no use worrying. We will help you go out and look for him tomorrow." Elizabeth said gently rubbing Jack's arm.

"I searched the land, and Kate didn't see him in town." Jack sighed.

"Well, theres nothing we can do in the dark, come back to bed we will start first thing when the sun is up." Elizabeth said softly shivering despite him holding her. Jack looked down at her wanting to argue but he knew she would insist on staying out here with him and he didn't want her in the cold.

"Ok, come on." Jack nodded leading her back into the house.


Kate and Jack rode out at dawn all over the land calling for Rip. Elizabeth walked to town asking if anyone had seen him, checking everywhere she thought he might be. There was no sign of the dog as she walked back to the house slowly, calling for him in the wooded path.

"Rip!" She heard Kate call as she glanced down the path where her sister was slowly leading Gracie through the woods.

"Hi, no sign of him?" Elizabeth asked walking up to Kate.

"No, Has anyone in town seen him?"

"Not a soul, where could he be?" Elizabeth sighed her worry growing more and more. She had gone to bed last night sure they would be awoken by the old hound scratching at the door for his breakfast but he hadn't shown up at all.

"Do you suppose he wondered somewhere and got lost?" Kate asked.

"I can't imagine him going far, besides we never tired him up and he never left home before."

"It's just so strange, he has never been gone like this." Kate shook her head as they started walking back to their homestead.

"Let's make some hot cider and warm up maybe we can go back out" Elizabeth sighed not knowing what else to do but keep looking. The air was cold, even in the middle of the day now and she wanted to warm them back up before they kept looking. Kate released Gracie into the field following Elizabeth into the house. They hung up their coats making their way into the kitchen.

"Can you light the stove, I might as well make a hot lunch while…Elizabeth trailed off glancing out the window.

"What?" Kate asked looking up at her.

"Oh no" Elizabeth cried softly hurrying to the back door as Kate went to the window. She saw Jack riding up through the back of the yard on Sergeant. Rip was draped over the front of his saddle but they way he was laying told Kate it wasn't good. She rushed out the back door running past Elizabeth but stopped short of running to him.

"Jack" she called as Jack rode up slipping off Sergeant as Elizabeth caught up with Kate. He walked Sergeant the rest of the way seeming to take his time getting to them.

"What happened?" Elizabeth asked softly.

"I found him curled up under the willow tree by the lake. Looks like the good Lord called him home yesterday." Jack said softly.

"Oh Rip" Kate whispered feeling the tears spring into her eyes.

"He was old, he had a good long life." Jack said his voice strong as he wrapped an arm around Kate giving her a hug.

"He did" Elizabeth agreed softly. Kate let go of Jack reaching up to scratch Rip's ears almost expecting the dog to wag his tail despite what Jack said.

"I'm sorry Jack" Elizabeth whispered wrapping her arms around his waist. He held her tightly for a minute before stepping back

"I'm going to get started on a box and grave for him." Jack said softly.

"Can we help you?" Elizabeth asked.

"No, you go inside where it's warm, I will do this" Jack said slowly walking Sergeant to the barn as Kate and Elizabeth watched him.

"Poor Jack" Kate whispered.

"Come on, we can at least make him a hot lunch." Elizabeth said softly heading back to the house.

"I want to help with Rip." Kate said.

"Jack said no, he wants to do this himself and we should let him, we can offer to help again later. But Rip was his dog first and Jack wants to do this for him" Elizabeth said as they started walking back to the house.

"Elizabeth, what are we going to do without Rip?" Kate asked softly a lone tear sliding down her cheek.

"Oh, come here. I know, it's alright." Elizabeth soothed pulling Kate into her holding her close.


Jack made a box for Rip and the buried him right next to the place he planed on planting the trees come spring time. The ground was almost frozen but Jack insisted on digging the grave himself placing a small marker in the ground above it.

"He will be so happy here" Elizabeth said gently wrapping herself around Jack's arm. Jack, ever the stoic mountie just nodded not letting his face show any emotion. But he wrapped his arms around Elizabeth, something she had learned was his own way of comforting himself, to pull her closer into him. Even more now after a hard day he would pull her close at the end of the night, his hand always coming to rest on her just slightly showing belly. She was glad she was able to offer him such comfort so easily.

"You were a good boy Rip." Kate whispered. Elizabeth reached out taking her hand giving it a squeeze.

"We're going to miss he. He wasn't much of a watch dog but he was a good friend." Elizabeth said softly.

"And foot warmer" Kate whispered making the three of them chuckle.

"Good boy Rip" Jack whispered.


"How are you?" Elizabeth asked a few days later as she and Jack went for a walk around the land hand in hand.

"Fine, a little cold, I should look in the boxes and see if I can find my scarf, winter is coming soon." Jack said turning up the collar on his shirt against the late fall breeze.

"How are you? You want to take a rest?" Jack asked turning to Elizabeth putting an arm around her. She gave a soft smile, her always loving husband was just getting more and more protective of her. She knew she would probably be tired of it by the time the baby was born but it was truly just so endearing.

"I was talking about Rip." Elizabeth said tucking herself close to him wrapping her arms around one of his

"He was just an old dog Elizabeth" Jack sighed not looking at her. Elizabeth stopped walking pulling him back to look at her.

"Jack" Elizabeth said gently. Jack sighed meeting her eyes. They were so soft and blue and held everything she loved.

"I keep looking back, I keep going to whistle for him, tell him to come on when I'm walking home from work. It's just a habit I guess, I look back and he's not there and I remember all over again. I keep feeling like I forgot something." Jack said a sad smile playing at his lips.

"I'm sorry, he was with you through everything. I miss him too. I miss when he used to get all underfoot when I was trying to hang laundry." Elizabeth said making Jack laugh.

"Remember when I first moved into the row house after we were married. He used to pout, like a little child, jealous of you when we made him sleep downstairs and went up to bed." Jack said making them both laugh again.

"When you were gone last year, he always kept Kate and I company, especially at night when we would miss you most. He used to sit right at our feet and it was like the three of us huddled together, getting through another evening without you." Elizabeth said softly making Jack smile.

"Lately I had this image in my mind of him laying next to a cradle by the fire. For some reason I thought he would be so protective of the baby." Jack sighed.

"He would have been, that's how he was with Kate remember?" Elizabeth nodded taking Jack's hand again as they started walking.

"I miss him" Jack sighed.

"I know." Elizabeth nodded.

"You know your the only person in the entire world who can get me to talk like that" Jack said turning and raising an eyebrow at her.

"I know" Elizabeth gave him a sweet smile.

"I love you for that" Jack said turning to face her again.

"I know" Elizabeth shrugged making him laugh and pull her in for a kiss.


"There she is! Happy Birthday!" Elizabeth sang as Kate came out of her room Saturday morning.

"Morning" Kate smiled as Elizabeth kissed her cheek presenting her with a plate of pancakes.

"I thought we said you were not going to go over board this year" Kate smirked looking at the plate pile high.

"You said so, I never agreed." Elizabeth smiled finishing setting the table.

"Hey! Happy birthday!" Jack smiled coming in from the barn.

"Thank you" Kate smiled as they all sat down at the table for breakfast.

"So Kate, how does it feel to be fifteen?" Jack asked.

"hummm the same" Kate shrugged.

"Well it's only been a few hours give it some time." Jack smirked.

"These are really good." Kate said taking another big bite of pancake.

"Why is it that you two always sound impressed when my food is good! It has been years since I burnt anything." Elizabeth pretended to pout.

"Your right Love I'm sorry it's just some things about you stick." Jack teased leaning over to kiss her cheek. Elizabeth playfully pushed him away.

"Alright present time?" Jack asked as soon as they were done.

"Present time." Elizabeth smiled getting up to clear the table. Jack went put to the back porch coming back with something big covered with a blanket as he proudly placed it on the floor next to Kate.

"Here you are." Jack smiled as Kate pulled the blanket off.

"Oh Jack!" She cried. Under the blanket was a beautiful new leather saddle. Kate had been using Jack's old one to ride Gracie but to have a band new one of her own was beautiful.

"It's a little smaller so it should be a smoother ride. I thought we could go for a ride before lunch, break it in a little." Jack offered.

"It's beautiful! Thank you I love it!" Kate cried giving him a hug.

"Your welcome, you deserve it you have been taking good care of Gracie." Jack smiled.

"Here, open this one." Elizabeth smiled handing Kate a box. Kate opened it pulling out a beautiful new dress, shiny new hair clip and a beautiful necklace.

"Thank you! I love them" Kate smiled wrapping her arms around Elizabeth.

"Happy Birthday Katie, I love you"

"I love you too" Kate smiled.


"How does it feel?" Jack asked as Kate swung up onto the saddle.

"Good, slippery." Kate grinned.

"Your not going to fall off are you?" Elizabeth asked.

"No, I'm just sliding a little." Kate shook her head.

"We will break it in." Jack nodded to her. He swung onto Sergeant as Kate started trotting around the yard. Jack road over to Elizabeth who was watching from the porch.

"I wish you could ride with me." Jack said softly.

"Me too, by summer we can take our rides again." Elizabeth nodded putting her hand over her coat where the baby was growing already enough to make her coat flare out more then usual.

"Small price to pay I suppose" Jack smiled. He leaned down and Elizabeth stood on her toes on the top step so he could kiss her softly.

"See you in town for lunch?"

"Are you sure your alright walking on your own?" Jack asked softly.

"Yes, but Rosemary is coming here and we will walk together."

"Good, see you soon" Jack smiled trotting off to ride with Kate.


"Let's go slow and break it in. We don't want you or Gracie getting sore first day out." Jack said as Kate pulled into a walk beside him.

"Jack, do you remember the day your father died?" Kate asked softly.

"Nope, we don't even know the exact day. He went to war, he and two other men went out, they didn't return after a week so people when looking and found them killed." Jack shrugged.

"Well, do you remember the day you found out?"

"Yes, probably always will." Jack nodded

"I think Elizabeth secretly hates this day." Kate whispered.

"What? How could she…? Oh." Jack said softly suddenly remembering.

"She thinks I don't know why she tries to make the whole thing special. But I know, you should have seen it when we were younger, she used to go crazy." Kate shrugged.

"Kate, I'm sorry I didn't even think about that." Jack said pulling Sergeant to a stop so he could face her fully. Kate just shrugged.

"It doesn't matter to me. I don't remember anything about it, it's Elizabeth, she gets sad Jack, and she won't talk to me about it no matter how old I get."

"She doesn't want you to feel like you have any part in her grief." Jack said softly.

"I know that. But still, it's connected. I was born, mother died. They happen together and it makes her sad. You have to take care of her today Jack." Kate said.

"I will" Jack promised.

"Thank you." Kate sighed nudging Gracie into a walk again.

"You know, it's not you that makes Elizabeth sad, and your older now, maybe you should talk to her. Let her know you know how she feels." Jack offered moving Sergeant to fall into step beside her, Kate just shrugged again.

"You didn't choose to have your mother die Kate, sometimes these things just happen." Jack said firmly.

"I know." Kate nodded, they rode in silence for aa few minutes.

"I'm not sad about it Jack. I just wanted you to know you had to take care of Elizabeth." Kate said.

"Alright, back to celebrating your birthday then." Jack gave her a smile.

"Can we please go fast just for a little?" Kate asked. Jack glanced up at the sun.

"Alright, it's just about time for Abigail's… Last one to the cafe has to muck the stalls for a week!" Jack called kicking Sergeant into a run.

"No fair!" Kate cried racing after him.

Abigail's cafe was full of people when Kate came downstairs. After their ride she had hurried upstairs to her old bedroom to change into her new dress and fix her hair before coming back down. Rosemary and Lee, Bill, Clara, Abigail and Faith, Jack and Elizabeth were all there along with Laura, Anna, James and most of the other kids from school.

"Happy Birthday!" Laura cried bounding over to Kate giving her a hug as soon as Kate came down the stairs.

"Thank you" Kate smiled.

"I made this for you myself, Mrs. Stanton taught me." Laura smiled handing Kate a beautiful pink scarf.

"Thank you! I love it" Kate smiled hugging her again.

"Alright who's hungry! Birthday girl why don't you head into the cafe we can all have lunch." Abigail called as the group moved to sit down. The afternoon was filled with laughter and talking. Rosemary made everyone, even Bill play a few party games, Abigail brought out the biggest cake Kate had ever seen and everyone sang to her. Rosemary and Lee got Kate a new book, Abigail gave her a new apron she had made and her friends brought little treats and handmade things. They sat in the cafe until it was almost dark enjoying themselves. Kate hugged everyone goodbye as they started to leave thanking them all especially Abigail


Kate and Jack walked the horses home with Elizabeth, the night was cold and they walked quickly, glad when they could finally be settled into the warm house as Jack built up the fire. Kate immediately sat down to her new book as Jack started shining his boots in the kitchen. They both stopped after a few minutes looking around realizing Elizabeth had disappeared somehow.

"Jack! I told you" Kate frowned.

"I didn't know." Jack shrugged hurrying up the stairs not finding her in any of those rooms.

"She's not on the porch." Kate said looking through the window. Jack squinted into the dark seeing a soft light coming from the barn.

"I see her." Jack said slipping on his coat he grabbed the lantern and hurried down the cold path letting himself into the barn shutting the door to keep the cold out. Jack and Lee had designed the barn to stay fairly warm on it's own though winter.

"Elizabeth." Jack called softly as he hung his lantern and rounded the corner finding her in the empty stall where the chicks hurried around her peeping and chirping as they played with each other, a few of them asleep in her lap.

"Here you are, we couldn't find you." Jack said softly sinking into the hay next to her.

"I thought they might be cold." Elizabeth said softly running a finger over the top of the yellow fluffy head of one curled into her skirts.

"Well there's plenty of hay in here for them. They will be just fine. The barn won't get to cold for them." Jack assured her.

"I just needed a minute." Elizabeth sighed finally looking up and meeting his eyes.

"I know, and Kate knows to you know, you don't have to come out into the cold just to hide from us." Jack said softly putting his arm around her as Elizabeth melted into his side leaning her head on his shoulder.

"It's no fair to Kate, I always try to make this day about her but, this year it feels harder then it has in a long time." Elizabeth sighed her voice cracking a bit as she held back tears.

"why do you think that is?" Jack asked softly

"I don't know, maybe because, I will actually be a mother myself soon, and sometimes I really wish she was still here with me. She would have loved this." Elizabeth sighed running her hand over her belly softly. Jack caught it locking their fingers together.

"I know your mother and father would be so proud of you. You are so strong and brave and kind and have the biggest heart. And you raised Kate to be the same way. You know what you want in life Elizabeth, and you don't let anything stand in the way of that." Jack said looking down at her. Elizabeth gave him a soft smile.

"What was it like, the day Kate was born?" Jack asked.

"I remember mother didn't come to breakfast that morning. Father was all excited and said the baby was coming and I was all excited. We toasted them with our milk being silly, I couldn't wait to have a brother or sister. Father left for work and I was sent out of the house for the day with my governess. When we came back for dinner father came home and he was talking to the maids and he looked worried, there was still no baby. He just paced in the sitting room, for hours. It got late and I stayed up what I imagine was well past my bedtime. The doctor came down and called Father to hurry upstairs. I think I finally fell asleep on the couch. Next thing I remember is Father coming down the stairs with this pile of blankets, I had never seen him look so upset in all my life, he always used to smile, he hardly smiled after that day. He put Kate in my arms and she was impossibly tiny, they were not sure she was going to make it she was so small. I remember he told me straight, no beating around the bush, in that second I was no longer a child, we didn't have a choice. He said this was my sister, Mother had died, she might too, but in the meantime we had to take good care of her. My sister, my responsibility." Elizabeth said softly.

"I'm so sorry Elizabeth, that must have been awful." Jack whispered.

"I don't know what it's like to be a women growing up with out a mother, but I know someone who does, who knows a lot more then you might think." Jack said softly as Elizabeth looked up to see Kate standing in the stall doorway.

"Hi" Kate whispered.

"Hi sweetie." Elizabeth smiled as Kate let herself into the stall and Jack stood up.

"I'm going to go back into the house, see you soon." He whispered kissing Elizabeth's forehead as he headed out and Kate sat down in his spot.

"You know how much I love you right?" Elizabeth asked.

"Sure, but it's ok to be sad. I'm not a little kids anymore you don't have to hide in the barn."

"I just, never want you to think that me being sad about this day has anything to do with you."

"But it kind of does."

"I just don't ever want you to think I'm not grateful for you Katie. You are the best thing to ever happen to me. You were always meant to be mine." Elizabeth said putting her arm around Kate pulling her close.

"I know that." Kate nodded.

"You are my favorite person in the world, your my baby sister."

"Not such a baby." Kate muttered making Elizabeth laugh.

"You will always be my baby sister no matter how old you get." Elizabeth teased softly.

"Even when we are both old ladies in our rocking chairs on the front porch?" Kate asked.

"Even then." Elizabeth nodded as Kate settled into her for a minute and they sat in a comforting silence.

"What do we say we go inside? See if we can talk Jack into a game of cards before bed. Birthday girls choice of games?" Elizabeth offered.

"Deal" Kate smiled as they started to softly pick up the chicks that had settled around them so they could safely stand. Kate jumped up but Elizabeth was noticeably slower as Kate chuckled.

"Need a hand?" Kate asked. Her usually thin and very graceful sister seemed to be adjusting to the added weight and length of her middle slowly.

"You mock, but I bet I won't be able to get down on the ground like that again one day soon." Elizabeth sighed standing up and fixing her skirts making Kate laugh.

"Don't worry, I will help you up." Kate smiled.

"I know, what would I do without you Kate?" Elizabeth sighed putting her arm around her sister as they walked back to the house.

A long one, and kind of a sad one...