If there hadn't already been a road out to the Grant farm, it would have been created today. From the time Chester the rooster woke the family, there were feet, wagon wheels, horses hooves, car wheels and every other possible conveyance bringing people out to the meadow.
Except that on this day, a fork in the road was naturally set at the point where it made sense to turn right and head out to the Coulter's. Just after dawn, the building materials necessary for their roof took that turn, while food, chairs, well-wishers, helpers, and cooks turned to the left throughout the day.
Snow was definitely on the horizon, and though there was no sun to rise behind the gray of the sky, as soon as the glow of daylight took hold, the workers started arriving as well, with Lee, Hickam, Kevin and Jesse in the lead. Everyone knew it would be a race against time to get the interior of the Coulter house covered before the snow fell.
The smells of freshly brewed coffee, sweet rolls from Abigail's, Gustav's buttery and flaky croissants, savory scrambled eggs from the Grants' chickens, bacon, sausage and pancakes began to waft from Nathan and Elizabeth's house early. As the enticing aromas traveled next door, a path began to appear between the two homes as the workers took their turns for breakfast.
From the perspective of the golden eagles flying lazy circles in the sky over the treetops, it must have looked much like industrious ants moving back and forth from town to house, and from home to home.
Elizabeth was very grateful that her time of morning sickness had finally passed, as she was firmly ensconced in her large farm kitchen with Julie on one side and Rebecca on the other, managing the flow of food, drink, chairs, tables and guests with the efficiency of a major general and her lieutenants.
Rebecca and Charlie had arrived the evening before on the train, and they'd all had a surprisingly easy and congenial dinner around the harvest table. A collective breath was released when Charlie stepped forward to shake Archie's hand, saying simply, "Glad to have you back." Rebecca had sized Archie up for a moment with slightly narrowed eyes and then she'd smiled, shrugged and wrapped him in a warm hug.
As Nathan and Elizabeth stepped around the counter to the kitchen during this exchange, Nathan whispered to Elizabeth, "That went better than I thought it would..." and she had smiled at him and inclined her head toward Allie. Their daughter was looking from one face to the other, grinning happily, almost unable to believe that every single person in her family shared the same space, with her in the middle. Elizabeth knew her smile made any awkwardness absolutely worth it.
Julie had invited Lucas for dinner as well, and Elizabeth got to see a new side to him. His chameleon nature served him well at their family dinner table, as he relaxed into laughter, stories and a sort of self-deprecating humor that was very unlike his formal persona behind the saloon's bar. Elizabeth liked him better this way, and found herself closer to trusting her sister's instincts about his sincerity.
Lee and Rosemary also joined them for dinner, and as had been the case since she'd come to Hope Valley, Violet never left loving arms. She didn't mind being held by anyone who would engage with her. When she was ready to sleep, they simply brought Jack's crib out to the living room, and she slept soundly through the laughter and commotion.
"I don't know whether to be happy or sad that you haven't needed me," Elizabeth said across the table to Rosemary.
"She's only been with us for three days!" Rosemary said, squeezing Lee's arm. She sighed blissfully, "But they've been the most magical three days."
Lee laughed. "We get absolutely nothing done when we're at home," he said, looking at his wife. "I walk in the door and from there, we just watch Violet." He raised his chin. "Because she's the most brilliant child ever born, right, sweetheart?"
Rosemary rolled her eyes, smiling radiantly. "Well, of course." She looked at Elizabeth. "She sat up last night! Can you believe it? All on her own!"
Elizabeth laughed and took Rosemary's hand, knowing how much more there was in store for her dear friends. "We're so happy for you."
They'd made it an early night, knowing that today would start early and probably end late.
At midmorning as the roof building continued, Elizabeth took a break from the kitchen and went to the window in the living room that looked out to Rosemary and Lee's property. They were working quickly, and Elizabeth took a deep breath, watching Nathan climb a ladder holding one end of a truss that would form the upside-down V of the roofline. She closed her eyes for a moment, having a little talk with God about his safety. And then she added her prayers for the safety of everyone.
Allie came up behind her and grimaced. "He's really up there, isn't he?" she said softly. "I'm glad Grandpa isn't up on a ladder," she added, seeing Archie leading the horses that were helping to lever the trusses up to be placed.
"So am I, Allie," Elizabeth said, putting her arm around her. She looked down at her daughter. "Are you happy? Your whole family is around you."
Allie sighed. "I couldn't even think that this would happen someday." She looked up at Elizabeth and said simply, "It all changed with you."
"Oh, Allie," Elizabeth said, hugging her tightly. "That's a sweet thing to say. And it also just may have been the right time. People allow more as they get older and live through things. They forgive," she said.
Allie raised her eyebrows. "Not always," she said, laughing softly. "I'm just really glad Grandma and Grandpa forgave each other."
Elizabeth held her tightly at her side as they watched for a moment more.
"It's time, I think. Can you gather the children and bring them here?" Elizabeth said.
Most of the students from her class were here with their parents. Generally, the men were working on the house, and the women were helping with the food. One of the exceptions was Fiona, who was interested in how the roof was being placed, so she was over at the Coulter's with Kevin as they handed tools up to the workers, fetched nails, found hardware and supports and generally acted as another set of hands.
Carson was walking around the house taking pictures that he wanted to put together to show the progress of the roof as it materialized.
As Allie found the children in various parts of the house and the treehouse, or watching from a distance outside, she told them where to meet. Soon the living room looked something like Elizabeth's classroom as they all gazed out the windows.
"You see that topmost point of the roof? With a Mennonite barn raising, that's the last piece put in place. It's a tradition to place a wreath or a flag, or even the bough of a nearby tree, in that spot as it's finished. It's called 'topping out,' and often when it's placed, the master carpenter on the job will make a speech, asking for God's blessing and thanking everyone who helped."
Robert raised his hand. "Who will make the speech? Mr. Coulter?"
"I've talked to him about it, and he said he wanted to thank everyone, so he will," Elizabeth said.
Now Opal had her hand up. "What will they put there?"
"Mrs. Coulter has made a wreath out of scraps of fabric from their wedding quilt, her wedding dress, and other pieces of their clothing. She also added a small scrap of one of Violet's blankets to the wreath, since it will be her home too," Elizabeth said.
Albert said flatly, "My mother says the Coulter's might not get to keep Violet."
Elizabeth took a deep breath and nodded. "That's true. But it doesn't mean they love her any less, even though she might go away again. Can anyone tell me what the word 'foster' means?" Elizabeth asked.
Hattie raised her hand. "Does it mean to help something or someone to grow?"
Nodding, Elizabeth said, "Yes, Hattie. It means to encourage the development of someone... the way I'm fostering learning in all of you as a teacher, even though I know you'll all leave my classroom someday. The Coulter's are fostering Violet. We hope she'll become their daughter in time, but just like we will all have relationships from our time at school together, they will always have this bond with Violet, no matter what happens."
Elizabeth couldn't know that Rosemary was standing just outside the living room, holding Violet and listening to every word.
"That's your Auntie Elizabeth, Violet," she whispered, holding her lips close to Violet's cheek. "She is my best friend in all the world and I love her very much.
Lunch was a catch-as-catch-can affair, with the harvest table full of every type of delicious dish imaginable. Workers came from next door intermittently so the work could continue, and they filled themselves with sandwiches, Elizabeth's savory stew featuring Airdrie Ranch beef, sopped up hungrily with the fresh sourdough bread. There were salads and side dishes, and to top it all off, pies, cakes, and fruit.
Suffice it to say, no one went back to work hungry. And this was only lunch. Dinner was yet to come, once the roof was up and they began to celebrate the Grants' housewarming and Archie Grant's birthday. Elizabeth wasn't even sure what would be served for dinner, as Gustav, Julie, Lucas and Bill had chosen to take on that task.
Nathan was one of the last to come for lunch, and from what Elizabeth had seen through the window, he'd spent most of the morning using his height to assist from the top of the ladder.
When he came through the door, she brought him a plate of food and sat with him in the loveseat as he ate ravenously. She came around behind him and rubbed his shoulders, knowing that the combination of the amount of wood he had chopped in the last few days and his work on the ladder today had to have taken its toll.
"Ohhhh," he said, groaning, "That feels so good, angel." He looked sideways at her and gave her a crooked smile. "I've discovered something today. I am not as young as I used to be," he said, laughing softly.
"That makes two of us," Elizabeth said. "I don't even know how many people are here! I've got Allie watching Jack and I think most of the girls are in her bedroom dressing him up," she said laughing.
Elizabeth stood to stretch her back, and Nathan sat up suddenly, "Wait, I should be rubbing your shoulders," he said, standing up and walking her back around to sit. "Cooking for all these people, being the great hostess you always are, and Robert told me you even taught a lesson to the children today?" He massaged her shoulders gently. Leaning down to her ear he said softly, "All while carrying the most recent member of the Grant hockey team..."
Elizabeth sighed and closed her eyes. "That's lovely. You have very good hands," she said softly. "And I've been thinking. You like baseball much more than hockey." Her voice was drifting off with how good it felt for her muscles to relax in her neck and shoulders. "There are only six on a hockey team, and nine on a baseball team. Who knows? We might be parents to the next Ty Cobb..."
He laughed softly behind her. "You have no idea how happy you're making me right now, on so many levels."
From the back door, Hickam called out, "Anyone know where Nathan is?"
"Here," Nathan said with a sigh. "I'm here," he said, louder.
"Oh, good," Mike said. "Lee wants your advice on something. It has to do with lot lines, or sight lines, or something..." His voice trailed off, seeing that Nathan had his hands on his wife's shoulders and she seemed to be sighing with her eyes closed. "Oh, gosh, well, I can tell him you're busy..." Mike said, turning on his heel.
Elizabeth opened her eyes with some difficulty and laughed. "No, it's fine, Mike. I need to get back to work anyway," she said, standing up.
Hickam was already on the other side of the wall, most likely blushing. "Okay, I'll let Lee know you're coming..." and they heard the back door slam.
Nathan looked around to make sure no one else was nearby and walked with her into the corner of the living room that wasn't visible to the rest of the house. He put his arms around her and kissed her soundly, which set her to sighing again. She put her arms up around his neck and let herself go completely into the warmth of his lips on hers.
He pulled away from the kiss and held her tightly as they breathed together.
"I love you," Elizabeth whispered into his chest. "Please be careful on that ladder."
"And I love you," he said softly into her hair. "Take good care of our little Ty Cobb."
She laughed and looked up at him. "Ty Cobb Grant? Is that now in the running?"
He raised his eyebrows. "It's not a bad name," he said, nodding and smiling at her.
"Luckily we have plenty of time to decide." Then with determination, she said, "I need to get back to our guests, and you have a roof to finish." She kissed him again and led him by the hand to the back door. "Go get finished so you can come back to me."
Opening the door and giving her one more quick kiss, Nathan said, "Yes, ma'am."
The last of the boards went into place and the waterproof tar covering for under the shingles was completed by just shy of two in the afternoon. Lee stood next to Rosemary holding Violet, inside their new house for the first time.
Everyone had gathered here for a toast, with beverages provided by Lucas and Bill.
"You've all heard the phrase 'many hands make light work,' and it was never truer than it was today," Lee said. "We are overwhelmed by your kindness, your love for us and how you've all braved the cold of this day to come out and help us." He raised his glass. "Rosemary, Violet and I hope to spend many happy hours with all of you under this roof we've just raised together." He looked at Rosemary and Violet, and with his eyes glistening, Lee said, "Truly, my cup runneth over."
Then he raised his glass higher and said, "To all of you." A cheer rose up and everyone toasted the Coulter's new home.
"Hey, everybody, look!" Robert was pointing out of the large space that would become the living room window. "It's snowing!"
Lee looked outside and raised his glass again. "And none too soon!" he said, laughing.
One by one they ventured out into the large snowflakes that were now falling on the Coulter's new roof. A few stayed behind to cover the windows and doors with the large cloths they'd brought from the sawmill for just that purpose.
The last three to leave were Lee, Rosemary and Violet. They walked through each room and talked softly about what to do next, stopping for a few extra minutes in Violet's room. She smiled back at them from Lee's arms and touched the wall with her pudgy little hand, taking ownership.
Just before they went through the cloth draping the front door, Rosemary turned. She pulled Lee and Violet into an embrace, and kissed Lee tenderly on the cheek.
"How much better could our life be than it is right now?" she said softly.
Lee pulled back and kissed her, and then kissed Violet on the cheek. "I have no idea, Rosie. I don't even know how there could be more than this."
