"Good Friends are Abundant in Hope Valley"
"Angela, Angela, wait for me." Allie ran to catch up with Angela on the walk home from church.
"Allie, I thought you already left. You know we're always the last to leave church."
"No, Uncle Nathan was talking to Judge Avery. You know, Mountie business. Pastor Canfield, should they be talking about Mountie business on a Sunday? Isn't that breaking one of God's commandments?" asked Allie.
"Well, I'm sure God would understand. After all, Judge Avery and Constable Grant have had quite a week. I'm sure God had His hand in that. No one was hurt, and justice will be served," said Joseph. "Now, what are you two young ladies up to today?"
"Well, I know the ladies are going to meet at the café this afternoon. I wanted to ask if Angela and I could go. We can represent the school children. We all have toys we don't play with anymore. I mean, I don't play with toys anymore, and neither does Angela, but I have them packed away in my room. I'd like to give some of them to the Coulter's new baby."
"Allie, what a nice idea. Why don't you and your Uncle Nathan come by after dinner. We can have some pie. We three ladies can go to the café, and the men can do what they want. What do you think?" asked Minnie.
"I think it's a great idea." Allie yelled their plans for the afternoon to Nathan.
"Just when I think she's turning into a young lady, Allie turns into a little girl again. How does that happen, Bill?" Nathan asked.
"Why are you asking me? How would I know?"
"No, I know. I was just being rhetorical."
"Oh, sorry. I thought you expected me to give you an answer. Never mind. Sounds like you have your afternoon planned. I'll be at the café. The ladies will be meeting in the back. If you and Joseph want to come by, we can sit on the porch and maybe play checkers if you like. I'll make some sandwiches for the ladies to have after their meeting, and I'll be sure there's enough for us."
"That sounds good, Bill. I'll see you then."
Later that afternoon Elizabeth and Little Jack started walking to the café and met Minnie, Angela and Allie on the way. "Girls, it's nice to see you. Are you coming to the meeting?" asked Elizabeth?
"Elizabeth, you'll be proud to know that the girls are going to be the representatives of the Jack Thornton School and gather toys they no longer use and give them to Patrick," announced Minnie.
"Girls, I am so proud of you. Thank you for helping. I'm sure Lee and Rosemary will be touched by your generosity," said Elizabeth.
"Mrs. Thornton, you're a teacher, so, do you think you could teach us to knit, so we can make something for Patrick?" asked Allie.
"I'm afraid you're asking the wrong person. I'm not much of a knitter, but I'm sure one of the ladies at the meeting will be able to help you," replied Elizabeth.
"Good. Angela and I decided we want to make the baby a hat and mittens for the winter. Mrs. Canfield said she has some warm, blue yarn we can use."
"That's a wonderful idea. Let's hurry, now, or we'll be late," said Elizabeth.
Every woman in Hope Valley and the nearby farms was at the café when Elizabeth, Little Jack, Minnie, Angela and Allie arrived. Bill, Nathan and Joseph were already on the porch relaxing with a cold root beer.
"You know, I made this root beer myself. It's pretty good, huh?" said Bill.
"Bill, you are certainly a man of many talents," said Joseph.
"I had no idea there would be so many people here, Clara," said Elizabeth.
"Everyone loves Lee and Rosemary. They're so happy for them, and they just want to help," replied Clara.
"Ladies, can I have your attention, please. Thank you. I'm so grateful that you're here today to help our dear friends, Lee and Rosemary," said Elizabeth.
"I can't tell you how many times they have helped me," said Faith.
"And me," said Molly. Soon the room was buzzing with stories about how Lee and Rosemary had touched their lives.
"Lee and Rosemary are dear people. We're so lucky to have them in our community. Clara has a list of items that we thought they would need for the baby. She'll read out each item, and if it's something you have in your home that you no longer need for your own children, could you please raise your hand. If no one has those items, we can see if we'll be able to purchase them at the mercantile. Florence, maybe you can tell us if the mercantile has those items in stock. Clara has also offered to sew some things for the baby at the dress shop. OK. Let's get started," said Elizabeth.
The ladies worked through the list and even added some additional items at the end. Clara would start sewing Monday, and the ladies will pick up new baby bottles and a few other things at the Mercantile.
"This is so wonderful of all of you. I can't believe we got through the entire list. Clara is going to store all the items we collect here at the café. We'll need a couple of people to help Lee and Rosemary get the baby's room ready," announced Elizabeth.
"We have some nice blue paint and wallpaper at the Mercantile," offered Florence.
"There's some white cotton at the dress shop we could use to make curtains," said Clara.
"Clara, I can sew the curtains," said Molly.
Allie stood and cleared her throat. "Angela and I are representing the Hope Valley children. We're going to collect some toys for baby Patrick."
"That's wonderful. Thank you Allie and Angela. Well, I think that's everything then. Thank you, ladies. I know Lee and Rosemary will be so happy," said Elizabeth.
"And we can't wait to meet that sweet baby boy," said Fiona.
"I think we're done here, but please don't leave. Clara and Bill made sandwiches and tea for us," said Elizabeth. "Allie, would you mind going outside to let the men know there are sandwiches if they'd like some."
"I'll tell them, Mrs. Thornton, but I know Uncle Nathan said they were going to be playing checkers. I'm not sure we can get them in here."
"That's OK. Just tell them we can bring the sandwiches out to them then," said Elizabeth.
Allie went out front, and she was surprised when Bill, Joseph and Nathan came in to have sandwiches.
"How did you make out with your meeting, ladies?" asked Bill.
"Oh, Bill, it was wonderful. We have everything we need and just have a few things to pick up at the Mercantile," replied Elizabeth.
"Mrs. Thornton, what about our knitting lessons? Can someone help Angela and I learn to knit?" asked Allie.
"Yes, oh, I almost forgot." Elizabeth turned and saw Fiona. "Fiona, Allie and Angela are asking if someone could help them learn to knit so they can make something for the baby. Would you be able to help them?"
"Yes, I'd be glad to help. Why don't you girls come to my house tomorrow after school. I'll be finished at the barber shop by then. If you have yarn and needles, bring those too. You'll be knitting in no time," said Fiona.
"Thank you, Miss Miller, but, do you think you'll be able to teach Angela too?" asked Allie.
Fiona took Angela's hands. "Don't you girls worry. I can actually knit with my eyes closed. If I can do that, Angela, you can learn to knit. I promise," said Fiona. Angela smiled.
Bill, Nathan and Joseph sat at a table together and ate their sandwiches. "I'm impressed with how these ladies came together and managed to get everything organized in one afternoon," said Joseph.
"That's what happens here in Hope Valley. Allie and I have only been here for three years, and I feel like I've lived here my entire life," said Nathan.
"So, do you think you and Allie will stay then? I know it's been a difficult few months for both of you," said Joseph.
"Yes. Allie and I talked about it. It has been difficult, Joseph. When you said this morning in church that God sent that little boy to Lee and Rosemary, it made me think. God sent Allie and I to Hope Valley for a reason. I thought that reason was to look over Elizabeth and Little Jack. Along the way, I found myself falling in love with Elizabeth. Now I understand that was not God's reason to send us here. I know now that it was to give Allie a good, stable home and true friends. I've come to terms with my feelings for Elizabeth. I don't think that it's my responsibility to look after her and Little Jack. My responsibility is to raise Allie. I always knew that, but somehow I felt responsible to look after Elizabeth and Little Jack too. It has been a difficult and painful thing to deal with, but I'm OK now. I have both of you to thank for that. You've been such good friends to Allie and I, and I want you to know that I'm grateful."
"We'll always be here for both of you. I'm glad you know that," responded Joseph.
"Now don't go getting all mushy on me, Nathan. You know I can't stand that. But, for the record, I feel the same way. You can always count on us," said Bill.
"And Nathan, you never know if the next stagecoach coming to Hope Valley will bring the right person for you and Allie. Just look at Lee and Rosemary. If Walden and Cathcutter hadn't tried to swindle the town, Gabe wouldn't have come here, and Lee and Rosemary might not know about baby Patrick. God works in mysterious ways, my friend," said Joseph. "You may not realize it, but He intervenes in our lives every single day. You just have to be aware of that, and look for His messages."
Nathan looked down at the table and then looked up at Bill and Joseph. "Thank you. I'm lucky to have such good friends."
"We are too," said Joseph.
The ladies were beginning to leave the café with their lists of projects. Elizabeth and Clara stayed to go over all the details of the meeting and who was doing what. They were concentrating so much on their project, that Elizabeth didn't realize that Little Jack got up and quietly walked to the front of the café to where the men were sitting.
"Well, who do we have here?" asked Joseph.
"Jack. I'm Jack."
"Jack, does your mama know you're out here?" asked Nathan.
"Mama there." Little Jack pointed to the back of the café. "Jack here."
Joseph got up and walked to the back of the café to let Elizabeth know that Little Jack had joined the men. Elizabeth had just realized that Jack was missing and was getting frantic.
"Elizabeth, Jack is at a table with us. He's fine. When you're ready to leave, just come and see us."
"Oh, Joseph, I was panicked for a moment. Thank you."
"I can see that. He's just fine with us. We'll watch him until you're done."
"Thank you, Joseph. I appreciate that."
Joseph walked back to the table and let Bill and Nathan know that everything was fine. He found Little Jack entertaining the men and talking about his favorite book, favorite toy and his mama.
"He's quite a talker," said Bill. "He asked me if I could get him a puppy. I told him he had a toy puppy, and he made it very clear he wants a real puppy." The men and Little Jack shared a laugh, and before long, Elizabeth came to their table.
"No, no. Don't stand. You look like you're enjoying yourselves. Thank you for watching Little Jack. I was talking to Clara, and turned my back on him for a minute, and when I looked back he was gone."
"Children do that. He was fine here with us. As a matter of fact, we've been having a nice conversation," said Nathan. For the first time since that awful day in the jail, Nathan and Elizabeth shared a smile.
"Thank you, all of you, for being so kind to Jack. We feel very lucky that he has so many wonderful men in Hope Valley to look up to. I really mean that." Elizabeth smiled again. "Come on now Jack, let's go home. We can read a book and play a little while before it's bedtime."