Chapter 23

I'm so glad it's Friday

Jack had said goodnight around 11:00 last night,and he had told her that he would see her tomorrow. She went inside and decided that she needed a bubble bath. She got in and just totally relaxed for about an hour. She didn't know why tonights events had hit her so hard. She just loved these kids, and she wanted to be trusted by them and their families. This was her very first class and she wanted to do her very best. She got out of the tub and headed for the kitchen. She had some leftover chocolate cake that she was planning to enjoy while she read her Bible in bed. Setting her alarm, she settled back in her bed,read her Bible and talked to God. She fell asleep somewhere between,please bless all of the kids and thank you for keeping us safe.

Elizabeth woke up the next morning,still was happy when she realized that today was Friday. She was looking forward to a nice quiet weekend. Hopefully,she would finally get to go to the merchantile to get the ingredients to finish the dishes that Molly haad given her the recipes for.

With everything all ready forschool,she grabbed an apple,her extra large travel mug filled with coffee, and headed out the door. She went thru town on her way to school. This morning,she saw Dr Shepherd, Henry Gowen and Ned Yost and the all waved at her. Of course she waved back at them. The church was always the last thing that she passed before she got to school every morning. She couldn't wait until services this Sunday. Since they were gone in Union City last Sunday,it was going to make church in a couple of days so much more enjoyable.

She walked up the stairs to the school. All of the children waved at her as she went inside. She wrote some homework on the chalkboard for the kids to do over the weekend,ad she called the children inside.

"Good Morning boys and girls.I hope everyone is doing well this morning. Emily,have you seen Opal?" Elizabeth looked all around the room and didn't see her.

"Her mom wanted to keep her at home .Carson told her that it would be a smart thing to do,because she was still very tired and was coughing a little this morning. She said that we would see her in church on Sunday though" Emily answered her,trying to sound encouraging.

"Ok class,to start off this morning,I want to apologize for the things that happened last night. I should have been more prepared. It was supposed to be fun and it just got all messed up,and I want you to know that I'm really sorry."

"That's ok Miss Thatcher,we still love you." said Ruby. Elizabeth gave them all a big smile as she went on with the lesson for today. She pulled down a map of the United States of America and told them what it was.

"Boys and girls,we are going to learn all the states and capitols of the United States of America.I have all the states written on one side of the flashcards,and the capitols are written on the other side. There are 50 of them in all. Let's see how many we can learn by lunch,and then next week we will learn all about them."

About noon,she called lunch and all the kids fled to go outside. She didn't have any work to do so she went outside to sit on the stairs. As she watched the children eat and play,she realized that she forgot to bring anything for her lunch today. She had gotten so little sleep and then just walked out with just an apple. About 15 minutes later passed by of watching the kids play,she looked and saw Jack heading her way.

"Hi there! how are you today?"

"I'm doing pretty well, glad that today is Friday. How are you Jack?"

"I'm doing well too,I just came by to see how everyone is doing today,especially after all the events that happened last night." He also wanted to know how she was doing too.

"Everyone seems to be doing well. Emily told me that Mrs Weise actually kept Opal home today though. Carson told her that it would be a good idea,because she was still pretty worn out and coughing a little this morning." Elizabeth explained. Jack could see that she was still blaming herself.

"That probably was a good idea,she was pretty cold and wet last night. Hey I thought that you might like to know of some good news that happened last night,we didn't have a robbery at the merchantile." he told her

"Well that's great! Something good actually happened last night." Jack nodded in agreement knowing that something else beside not having a robbery,happened last night. He suddenly remembered the bag in his hand.

"Oh,I forgot,I ordered you something."He reached into the bag,pulled out a box and handed it to her. She opened it and found the most beautiful teachers bell. She turned it over and there was an inscription that said, Every Moment is a Fresh Beginning. She looked at him and thanked him and was so touched that she didn't know what to say. It would be so nice to have someway to call the children inside. She asked Jack if he would like to stay until lunch was over and he reached back into his bag and he pulled out 2 turkey and cheese sandwiches. He offered her one which she gladly accepted.

"I kind of thought that you might have needed some lucnch today,especially after last night.I didn't know when you would wake up,and if you would have any time to prepare anything." She nodded in agreement and appreciation.

"Thank you so much! Your right,I didn't sleep very long or very well. I didn't realize that I had forgotten something for lunch until right now."she explained

They chatted for the rest of lunch. She told Jack that she would see him later,thanked him for the bell and for lunch,and that she needed to call the kids back inside. He went out his eay and she waved at him. As he walked down the road towards the jail,he looked back at her happily ringing the new bell to call the children inside. He walked inside the jail,and said hello to Rip and starte to on some stuff when Lee came in the door. He said hello toJack and went to clean the cells.

"Um Lee, can I talk to you about something?" He came out of the cell to where Jack was,he pulled over a chair and sat down.

"What's up?" Lee was giving him his full attention. Now these guys were best friends so Jack felt very comfortable asking Lee for his advice about this and he valued his opinion.

"What do you think of Elizabeth? Do you think that she's a good person?" Lee knew where these questions and conversation was going,so he just best friend had it bad.

"Yes to both questions. I think she's a very amazing women. Am I sensing that you think she's pretty amazing too?" Jack only nodded

"I would like to ask her out that be a good idea do you think?" Jack really wanted his best friends opinion.

"Absolutely! I think you two would make a very nice couple." Both guys could only smile in total agreement.

Back at school,Elizabeth had just let the kids out of school. She found herself letting out a big breath as she said.

"Have a great weekend,and I'll see you all at church on Sunday."She put her new bell on the desk,locked the door and went to walk home. She was so glad that it was Friday:)