Hi all,

I apologize for the delay in the uploading of this chapter but it's here now at least. Please drop a review and let me know your thoughts... Enjoy.

Chapter 4

Abigail was woken early with the sound of footsteps in the living room and she glanced at the girl beside her. Joanna was still asleep, the girl had had a bad night. Twice she'd woken crying and she'd comforted her, the girl crying herself back to sleep. She smiled sadly at her, gently tucking a loose lock of the girl's hair behind her ear. The poor child must be so exhausted.

Quietly she got up after a moment, tucking the blankets around the girl and lit the lamp beside her bed. Joanna didn't move and she glanced back at her as she grabbed herself a shawl then walked out of the room. Elizabeth was in the living room as she walked out, closing the door behind her so the girl didn't get woken. 'Elizabeth, you're up early. I hope you were able to get some sleep after what happened last night.'

'I wanted to apologize before I left for the school.' She started as Abigail placed the lamp down near the sink. 'I had no idea my dress was hanging so close to the fire and- and of course I will reimburse the town for burning down the teacherage.'

'Elizabeth. It's okay.' She pulled her shawl around her tighter, it was still chilly even with the stove still going. 'It was an old building.'

She chuckled nervously. 'Thank you for taking me in and loaning me these clothes and-' She paused then sighed. 'You must think I'm silly and incompetent.'

'No.' Abigail replied kindly, walking over to her. 'I know how hard it is to come to a new place and find your footing. When my husband, Noah, and I first moved to Coal Valley with our son Peter, we were so young. We didn't know anything. But we found our way and I know you'll find your way too.'

'Thank you for saying that. It's very kind of you. Well-' She chuckled nervously. 'I'm off for my first day of school.'

'Good luck.' She grabbed an apple from the fruit bowl for her to eat on the way since she hadn't had any breakfast yet and handed it to her. 'I know the first few days might be a bit bumpy but I have every confidence in you.'

'Thank you.'

Abigail smiled, watching Elizabeth leave then picked up the lamp and went back to bed. Joanna was still sleeping as she crawled back underneath the covers, blowing out the lamp on the table beside her bed. She lay there, staring up at the roof in the darkness as the girl slept on next to her, thinking. If Elizabeth was going to stay with her and Joanna, there was only one other room that the teacher could go in. Peter's room. She hadn't walked in there since the day of the accident, she hadn't been able to bring herself to go in there.

The room slowly started to fill with light as the sun rose, the girl stirring as it began to shine on her face. She yawned softly, opening her eyes as she rolled over. Abigail was there, smiling as she stroked her hair gently, making the girl feel sleepy again.

'Did you get some sleep?'

Joanna nodded. 'A little. I'm so sorry I kept you awake-'

'It's alright honey, don't worry about me.' She replied kindly with her soft voice. 'How are you feeling this morning?'

'Exhausted. So utterly exhausted. I think I could sleep forever.'

Abigail chuckled, tucking a lock of the girl's hair behind her ear. 'It was a little crazy last night, wasn't it?'

'Is Miss Thatcher okay?'

'She'll be just fine. She left ages ago for school.'

School. The girl shuddered at the word. 'I-I don't have to go to school, do I?'

She nodded. 'Yes, you do.' She frowned as she saw the look on the girl's face, an expression of sadness changing to one of fear that she caught before the girl rolled over. 'What is it honey?'

'I hate school.' Joanna mumbled, her eyes watering as she stared blankly at the wall across from the bed. 'The last time I was in school I was at the orphanage. I don't want to go back.'

Abigail sighed inwardly. 'Why honey?'

'The teacher used to hit me if I didn't get things the first time. Please, don't make me go to school. Can't you teach me here? Please?'

'How about we talk about it later, alright?' The girl nodded. 'Okay. I'm going to go start breakfast-'

'I'm not hungry.'

'Joanna, look at me.' She waited until the girl had rolled back over. 'Joanna, I know you're grieving, I know you're scared and upset and have a million other emotions trapped inside you but I'm not asking you if you're hungry. I'm putting my foot down sweetheart, you need to eat. Even just a few mouthfuls but not having breakfast is not an option anymore. You've lost too much weight, you need to eat and start putting it back on or you'll get really sick. Now, how does a couple pancakes with maple syrup sound?'

Joanna sighed heavily. 'Sounds alright, I guess.'

'Good girl.' She got up, heading towards the door. 'I'll go start and you can go get dressed.'

She went into the kitchen, lighting the stove to start breakfast as the girl went upstairs to change. She felt sorry for the child but a little tough love was what she needed. Joanna had to eat, there was no denying how malnourished the child had become over the last couple months.

'Can I help with something?' Joanna asked timidly, joining her in the kitchen.

'Sure. You know how to make pancakes?'

The girl nodded. 'I used to make them all the time, pancakes were Johnny's favorite.' She grabbed a bowl from the cupboard as Abigail placed the ingredients on the bench. 'He loved my pancakes.' She poured some flour into the bowl then grabbed a spoon. 'So what are we going to do about our living arrangements if Miss Thatcher will be staying with us?'

'I was going to clear out Peter's room for Elizabeth-' Her voice trailed off as she stared into the distance. 'I should get started on it this morning.'

'Mrs Stanton-' Joanna placed her hand on the woman's arm, looking up at her. She knew Abigail hadn't gone into that room since her son had died, it wasn't right that she had to give it to another person. That was Peter's room- 'Give her my room. I can sleep on the floor out here, I don't mind. Peter's room should stay as his room.'

Abigail smiled sadly, touching the girl's cheek. Joanna had such a kind heart. 'I'm not letting you sleep on the floor honey.'

'I wouldn't mind. Just until your ready-'

'I won't allow it sweetheart. You can share my room if you want but you're not sleeping on the floor.'

'I've slept in worse places-'

'I can guess you probably have but that's not going to happen here while you're under my roof. You can share my bed if you want or I can borrow a cot so you can have your own bed.'

'Okay.' She smiled. 'If you want to.'

'Good. I'll tell Elizabeth she can keep that room when she gets back then.' The girl handed her the batter and she began pouring some of it into the skillet. 'What do you think of Elizabeth?'

'I don't know-' Joanna glanced out the window as Abigail cooked the breakfast. 'You know it's hard for me to trust people.'

'I know.' She remembered well the first weeks the girl had lived with her. Joanna had been like a wary dog, afraid she was going to be kicked at every turn. It had taken her ages to begin to gain the girls trust. She flipped the pancakes over, motioning towards the table. 'Would you mind setting the table?'

The girl grabbed the plates and utensils, quickly setting their places. 'You won't force me to go to school until I'm ready, will you?'

'No Joanna, I won't but you will have to go eventually.' She took the skillet off the stove and went to the table, serving up the pancakes. 'I'll ask Elizabeth if she'd mind doing lessons with you here, just until you start trusting her.'

'Thanks Mrs. Stanton.'

'No problem.' She placed the skillet back on the stove then grabbed the maple syrup and joined the girl at the table. 'Thank you Lord for the food we're about to eat-'

Joanna sat reading a book later that morning, doing her lesson that Abigail had assigned her for the day while Abigail mended a skirt for one of the ladies. Abigail had been taking in sewing jobs as a way to supplement the pension check she received from the mining company. It didn't bring in much but it was something at least and something to help keep her busy. The sound of the steam whistle from the mine blowing made her jump, her book falling to the floor as she got up and ran to the window. The other widows hurried on their way past, Abigail joining her as she placed her hand on the girl's shoulder.

'Come on.' She whispered gently, her mind and heart racing with mixed emotions. 'We better go to the mine.'

The girl nodded and they started to the door, the woman grabbing her hat before they headed out. In silence they joined the other people making their way to the mine, every single person consumed by their own thoughts and emotions. Now, finally, they hoped to be able to say a proper goodbye to those that they had lost.

'Neighbors, we have done what we promised.' Mr. Ansvile exclaimed as the rest of the town gathered at the mine. He looked out over the crowd, the women and children whose husbands and fathers they'd dug up waiting to hear what they'd found. 'Today we dug up the rest of the lost men-'

Abigail placed her arm around Joanna, the girl pressing close to her as the foreman continued to speak.

'Now, I know that these last few months have left us all feeling like-' He paused, trying to think of what to say. 'Well, like there ain't nothing right in this world. But besides finding the brave men that lost their lives, we found something else today. And I hope it'll bring comfort to at least one Coal Valley family.'

Abigail's hand went to her mouth in surprise and shock, seeing the writing on the plank. She knew instantly who had written the message, there was no denying the handwriting. Noah.

'What's it say, teacher?' The boy Elizabeth was holding so he could see what was going on asked.

'Forgive me, Pa.'

Henry Gowan stepped forward, taking hold of the plank. 'Ladies, I promise to take good care of this plank until it's decided what we're going to do with it.'

'A miner, one of our own-' A man spoke up as a ripple of murmurings came from those gathered around. 'Spent his last minutes on this earth writing those words to his family. We should be the ones who decide where it goes.'

'I'm going back to my office-' Henry started towards his car. 'Mr. Spurlock.' Another ripple of murmuring ran through the crowd as the miner stepped in front of the car, Henry starting to get a little annoyed at his insolence. 'Kindly step aside, Mr. Palmer.'

'This ain't your decision, Mr. Gowan. This is a matter for the widows and the miners to decide-' Other miners began to join him in front of Gowan's car. 'And you're neither sir.'

'Step aside, Mr. Palmer.'

'Or what? Or you'll run me down? Is that what you want, Mr. Gowan? Huh? One more dead miner-' He started towards him only to be stopped by one of the Pinkertons standing beside the car.

The sound of a horse neighing caught the crowd's attention, turning to see a man in red uniform riding up towards them. 'Move back-'

Joanna and Abigail looked up at him, the crowd stepping aside to let the horse and rider through.

'Who's that Miss Thatcher?' Rachel asked as the man rode towards the car.

'That's a Mountie.'

The Mountie pulled his horse to a stop, looking around the crowd then turned to the man in the car, guessing him to be the one in charge by the way he stood out from the other men gathered around. 'Sir. Would you like to tell me what's behind this commotion?'

'We had a mine disaster in this town recently.'

'I'm aware of that.'

'Today-' He looked down at the plank he was holding. 'This was found. The identity of the deceased miner who wrote it is unclear. Now, understandably, everyone's very emotional about it but it's a distraction we can ill afford.'

'No one is going to be thinking about that job until we find the owner of that message.' Palmer yelled.

'There is no reason why both can't happen at the same time.' The Mountie replied, looking at the man in the car then he turned back to the rest of the crowd. 'Folks, only fair way to judge who should have it is for all the widows to submit a sample of their husband's writing to Mr. Gowan as evidence.' He glanced back at him. 'I'm sure he can come to a decision in three days.'

'And who might you be, young man?'

'My name is Jack Thornton. I'm the new Constable of Coal Valley.'

'You sure you don't mind Joanna?'

'Not at all.' She replied as they sat around the dinner table that night. 'I'm happy for you to have the room, Mrs. Stanton is happy for me to bunk in with her. I've already moved my things out so it's all yours.'

'Thank you Joanna.' Elizabeth smiled. 'Thank you so much.'

'No problem.' The girl pushed her plate away, a few bites taken from her meal but still she'd eaten barely nothing. 'Maybe I please be excused? I need to go take care of Aztec.'

Abigail sighed, seeing how little the child had eaten of her dinner but it was something at least. She nodded. 'Alright. Don't be too long, it's bed early tonight.'

'I won't be long.'

Elizabeth got up, picking up the plates to help Abigail clean up. 'Joanna seems like such a sweet girl, giving her room up for me.'

'Joanna has a heart of gold.' She nodded, scraping off the scraps into the bin for the chickens to eat then sighed again. 'I just wish I knew how to help her Elizabeth, that child has been through so much, she's going through so much pain and hurt-' She placed the dish into the sink. 'She doesn't want to live anymore- I'm so worried about her and I just don't know what to do.'

'How serious is she about it?'

'She almost threw herself off a cliff yesterday-' Abigail grabbed the kettle of warm water off the stove and poured it into the sink. 'She just wants to end the pain she's going through, I'm at a loss to know what to do.'

Elizabeth placed the remaining dirty dishes next to the sink. 'How do you think she is now? Do you think she might attempt it again?'

'I don't know. I've tried talking to her about her feelings again but she's gone back into her shell. She's a hard girl to read, she's been through so much-' She placed her hands on the edge of the sink, leaning against it. 'I feel so hopeless.'

'Oh Abigail-' She placed her arm around her. 'I'm sure you'll find a way to get through to her. I know you can.'

'Thanks Elizabeth.' Abigail choked back a sob. 'After the disaster, Joanna has been the only thing that's kept me going. I'm so worried about her. What if she really is serious about ending her life? What can I do to help her?'

'Abigail, you will find a way.'

'I hope so.' She replied, starting to wash up the dishes again.

They cleaned the kitchen up in silence, each of them absorbed in their own thoughts. Finally everything was washed and put away and Elizabeth hung the towel up on the cupboard handle. 'I'm going to head to bed early, goodnight Abigail.'

'Night Elizabeth.' Abigail replied, turning to the window as she headed up the stairs. The girl still hadn't come in yet, a light still on in the shed the girl was using as a stable. She waited for a moment then grabbed her shawl and lit a lantern, heading out into the cold night. Joanna was with her stallion, brushing him as she walked in and hung her lantern up on a hook next to the door. 'Joanna, it's getting late.'

The girl nodded, running her hand over the stallion's back. 'I know.'

'It's time to come inside.' The girl nodded again, placing the brush on the shelf. 'You okay sweetheart?'

'I'm fine.' Joanna ran her hand over Aztec's neck again then blew out the lantern on the bench and followed Abigail out of the stable. Closing the door behind her she shivered in the breeze as they headed back to the house.

'Something on your mind?' The girl shook her head, closing the door to the house behind them.

'Honey, I know something is wrong. I can see it.'

'I don't want to talk about it.' She admitted after a moment. 'Can I just go to bed?'

Abigail nodded, taking off her shawl. 'You can go to bed honey, I'll be in to tuck you in in a minute.' She watched as the girl headed to their room then went to the fire and stoked it. She stared into the flickering flames of the burning coal, her thoughts returning to the plank. Part of her wished that it was the girl's father that had written the message, instead of her Noah. It wasn't fair that she had something to remember her husband by yet the child and none of the other widows had anything. The constable had said for the widows to put in a sample of their husbands writing but she wasn't going to. There wasn't any need. Besides, right now she had the young girl to worry about.

Joanna was already in bed when she walked in, she could hear the sound of the girl softly sobbing into her pillow and she sat down beside her. 'Joanna, honey-' She placed her hand on the girl's shoulder. 'Come on, talk to me sweetheart.'

The girl shook her head as she sat up, turning to her. 'Just hold me, please.'

'Oh honey.' She kissed her head gently, taking the girl in her arms. 'It'll be alright. It'll be alright.'