"A Hat and Mittens Made With Love"
Saturday came into Hope Valley with cold, but refreshing winds. The few leaves that were left on the trees quickly blew down, and it looked as though the town was just waiting for the first snows of winter. Lee, Rosemary and Patrick had breakfast, bundled up and headed to Lee's office. Lee took the car, but Rosemary wanted to walk Patrick so he could stay in the carriage while she worked. Rosemary wanted to finish the introduction to the town's new librarian and get the Valley Voice to the Mercantile for Robert to distribute Sunday morning.
"Lee, I have the Valley Voice ready to deliver to the Mercantile. There's a nice, little introduction to our new librarian. I wanted to let people know that she'll be formally introduced at church in the morning. I'll interview her next week and do a longer story on her then. Do you think you might be able to deliver the papers? I'm not sure I could keep quiet about our exciting news. You know it wouldn't take much for me to tell everything to Florence, and I don't want to do that," said Rosemary.
"Do you think it will be any easier for me, Rosie? You know I want to tell everyone too."
"Yes, but you have more self-control than I do. I have very few flaws as you know, but that's certainly one of them. Can you just drop the papers off and tell Ned and Florence that you have to get home. Tell them we're going for a walk or something and that I'm waiting for you."
"Fine. I'll bring the newspapers, but I can't be responsible if someone makes me confess the truth."
"Lee Coulter, don't you dare!" Rosemary picked Patrick up from his carriage. "Patrick, your daddy can be so difficult sometimes, but we love him anyway, don't we? Oh gosh, if we have a baby boy, there will be three men in the house." Rosemary laughed. "Oh, I don't care. I love you and your daddy so much, Patrick, and we're going to love this baby just as much as we love you. I don't care if it's a boy or a girl. Come on, Patrick, let's walk home and hope we don't meet up with anyone on the way."
Despite her worry, Rosemary took her time walking with Patrick. The crisp autumn air was invigorating to her. She was so lost in her own thoughts; she didn't realize that Allie and Angela were calling to her.
"Mrs. Coulter. Mrs. Coulter, stop. Wait for us," yelled Allie.
"Oh, girls, I'm so sorry. I was thinking about dear little Patrick here, and I didn't even realize you were calling me. What can I do for you?"
"Mrs. Coulter, Angela and I have something for Patrick. We stopped by your house, but no one answered the door, so we thought you might be out walking. Could we walk with you?" asked Allie.
"Certainly. We'd like that. Should I wait until we get home to ask about your surprise?" asked Rosemary.
"Yes. Angela and I have been working on it for a couple of weeks, and we finally finished it. We needed help. Angela's mother and Miss Miller helped us. I can't tell you anymore. It will ruin the surprise."
"Fortunately, you won't have long to wait. Look. Here we are. Please come in, girls," said Rosemary. "Let me take your coats. You can have a seat. Allie, could you take Patrick's coat off, and you and Angela can hold him while I make us some hot chocolate and put out a plate of cookies. How does that sound?"
"That sounds good. Thank you, Mrs. Coulter," said Angela.
Rosemary brought out a plate of oatmeal cookies and three steaming cups of hot cocoa. Angela and Allie took turns sipping cocoa and holding Patrick.
"Mrs. Coulter, Allie and I wanted to do something special for Patrick," said Angela.
"But you already have. You talked to all the children at school, and they gave Patrick some wonderful toys. Mr. Coulter and I are very grateful to you both."
"Well, we wanted to do this too. Here. These are for Patrick," said Angela. She handed Rosemary two small bundles wrapped in brown paper and twine. Rosemary sighed. "It's OK, Mrs. Coulter. You can open them."
Rosemary opened the larger of the two small bundles first. It was a hand-knit hat in a beautiful shade of pale blue with a pom pom on top.
"I made the hat, Mrs. Coulter," said Angela. "Miss Miller gave us both knitting lessons and helped us with the pattern."
"You made this for Patrick, Angela? I don't know what to say. It's absolutely beautiful. I can't believe you've never knitted before. The stitches are perfect."
"Miss Miller told us that she could knit with her eyes closed, so she knew she could teach me. Mama gave us the yarn and needles. I could feel the ribbing and then the smooth part of the hat where I knitted a row and purled a row. That's how I knew I was doing the stiches right. Mama checked it for me to make sure."
"Angela, this is just beautiful. I love it, and even when Patrick outgrows it, I'll keep it for him for when he has children of his own. They can wear it, and he can tell them about the lovely girl who knitted it for him. Thank you so much." Rosemary was teary eyed, and got up and hugged Angela.
Rosemary opened the second small bundle. It was a pair of mittens that perfectly matched the hat. "Oh, these are just beautiful. Allie, did you make these?"
"I did. I made a couple of mistakes on them, and I went back to see Miss Miller. She showed me what I did wrong and helped me fix them. Uncle Nathan was no help at all as you can imagine. Once Miss Miller showed me what I was doing wrong, then I was able to finish them. Angela and I went back to see Miss Miller again, and she showed us how to sew the seams up. You can't even see the seams. She really knows what she's doing."
Rosemary couldn't help herself. She had tears of joy running down her face. "Thank you both so very much. These are the nicest gifts you could have ever given Patrick. It is truly a gift from the heart. I'm sorry if I'm crying. I'm just so happy." Rosemary hugged both Angela and Allie.
"It's OK. We understand," said Allie.
They finished up their cocoa and cookies, and Patrick was slowly getting drowsy. "It seems like it's time for Patrick to take a nap. We have to get going. Thank you for the cocoa and cookies, Mrs. Coulter," said Angela.
"Thank you, girls. We'll treasure your gifts. As a matter of fact, Patrick will be wearing his new hat and mittens to church tomorrow."
"Really?" asked Allie.
"Yes, he will and proudly so. Thank you. This is such a thoughtful gift. You girls are a treasure."
Allie and Angela gathered their coats and hats, put the cups and plates on the kitchen table, said goodbye to Rosemary and gave Patrick a kiss on the forehead. "We'll see you in church tomorrow," said Angela.
"Angela, let's go over to my house. Do you want to see if we can make hats for ourselves with the yarn Miss Miller gave us?" Both girls giggled and were off to Allie's house.
The afternoon and passed quickly for Lee and Rosemary. Lee delivered the papers, but not before Florence asked what the news was, how Patrick was doing and if they had met the new librarian. Before Lee knew it, he had been in the Mercantile for over an hour. Every time he tried to leave, someone else would come in and ask him the same questions over again. Fortunately, he drove his car, so he was able to finally drive out of town without meeting up with anyone else.
Laura walked into town to visit the library. Elizabeth told her that the door was unlocked during the day and that borrowing and returning books was on an honor system. She went up the steps and into the sunshine-filled building. "Oh, this is perfect!" Laura said to herself before being startled by someone in the library.
"Miss Couture, I mean, Laura, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to startle you. I was just returning a book," said Nathan.
"Constable Grant, Nathan, I didn't realize anyone was here. I thought I'd stop in to see the library. It's beautiful. I can't believe how many books are here."
"It is quite nice, and the library gets a lot of use—not just by the children, but by the adults too."
Laura looked around, touching the shelves and artwork on the walls as she walked by. "It's perfect. What is this? 'Always do what you are afraid to do. Ralph Waldo Emerson.' That was from his 1841 essay, Heroism. He popularized the phrase and openly admitted that he didn't write it.' 'Be true to your own act, and congratulate yourself if you have done something strange and extravagant, and broken the monotony of a decorous age. It was a high counsel that I once heard given to a young person, "Always do what you are afraid to do.'" Laura knew the passage by heart. "Emerson was one of the Transcendentalists in Concord, Massachusetts. It's quite something isn't it?"
"Yes, it is."
"Where did this come from? It's perfect for the library."
"I made it."
"Did you? Well, it's a lovely and encouraging sentiment. What made you choose that for the library, Nathan?"
"I didn't actually make it for the library. I made it for Mrs. Thornton soon after I came to Hope Valley. It's a long story, but I cared for her. I felt responsible to watch over her, because her late husband, who was also a Mountie, was killed in the line of duty. It turns out it was one-sided. She's in love with Lucas Bouchard. He owns the Queen of Hearts Saloon. You'll probably meet him at church tomorrow. He gave the library building to the town and obtained many of the books. He has a great deal of money, and people say he's charming. I don't think I ever had a chance. Anyway, Mrs. Thornton hung the sign here in the library, and the rest is in the past." Nathan hesitated. "I'm sorry. Was that too much information?"
"Not at all. I'm sorry things didn't work out for you and Mrs. Thornton.
"You are?"
"Well, isn't that what people say when they're told a tragic story of unrequited love?"
Nathan laughed. "Yeah, I suppose you're right. It was hard, but I've moved on."
"I'm glad to hear that, I mean that you're over it and that you've moved on." Laura hesitated. "Well, I have lots of ideas for the library. I'm glad to know you're a reader. I hope I'll see you here often."
"Yes, I do. I borrow books all the time. I really should be getting home. I'd like to surprise Allie and Angela with dinner at the Café. Do you think you might like to join us?"
"Thank you, but I can't. I promised Opal that I would be back in time for supper, but I hope you'll ask again."
"Thank you. I will. Good day, ma'am, I mean Laura."
"Have a nice evening, Nathan."
Nathan closed the library door behind him, put his hat on, smiled and let out a deep breath. "I'd better get home."
"I know we just had hot cocoa, but I'm cold again. Let's sit by the fire, and we can start working on our hats," said Allie. She and Angela got their stitches cast on and had each knitted several rows when the front door opened.
"Hello, girls. I can't believe how cold it is out there."
"Hi, Uncle Nathan. Angela and I just came from the Coulters' house. We gave Mrs. Coulter the hat and mittens we knitted for Patrick. She loved them. She was crying, Uncle Nathan. She was so happy."
"I'm glad. I know how hard you worked on them. What are you making now?"
"Miss Miller gave us some yarn. We're making hats for ourselves," answered Angela.
"Good for you. Knitting is a nice skill to have. Wait. Can I ask you two something?"
"Sure, Uncle Nathan."
"I met Miss Couture last night. She said that the three of you were kindred spirits." Nathan stopped for emphasis. "Yes, I actually know what that means. But, then she asked me if the two of you were bosom friends. I had no idea what she was talking about. Can you explain that? It seems, I don't know, kind of a strange phrase."
"Uncle Nathan. Bosom friends are best friends; really kindred spirits. Angela and I are bosom friends."
"Oh, OK. Miss Couture said you would explain it to me. I guess you met her at the stage coach stop yesterday?"
"We did. Constable Grant, it was the funniest thing. She was sound asleep in the seat. Mrs. Thornton had to wake her up. Judge Avery came out and gave us each a cookie while we were waiting for the stage. It was pretty funny, wasn't it, Allie?"
"Yeah, it was. We like Miss Couture. She's going to help us with our mathematics and science. Can you imagine, Uncle Nathan. Miss Couture is a librarian, a teacher and a mathematics and science tutor. And, she's a girl! I don't know any girls who can do all those things."
"Yeah. I walked her home last night. You know she's staying with Opal's family. She told me that she grew up in Quebec and has lots of brothers and sisters. Her family owns a woodworking business, and they make furniture. I ran into her at the library just now."
"Uncle Nathan, are you OK? You look a little sick. Your face is all red," said Allie.
Allie elbowed Angela, and they giggled.
"Yes, I'm fine. Oh, where were we? I don't know. Never mind." Nathan cleared his throat. "Would you two young ladies like to go to the Café with me for dinner?"
"Yes, we sure would," said Allie.
"OK. Let's stop by Angela's house, and we can check with her parents first. I don't want them to think I kidnapped you." Nathan laughed at his own joke.
"Uncle Nathan, are you sure you feel alright, because you look a little sick."
"I never felt better. Let's go."