"More News at the Church Than in the Valley Voice"

Sunday morning Nathan and Allie were up and ready for church early. Nathan made breakfast for them of eggs, bacon and toasted bread. He had cut up apples that he picked from the tree behind their house.

"Let's go, Allie. We don't want to be late for church."

"I'm ready. Don't you usually do rounds before church, Uncle Nathan?"

"Yes, but not today. I'm really not required to do rounds on Sundays. I just do them anyway. Not today though. We don't want to be late for church. I heard that after church we're having cake and punch. I bet they did it so everyone could meet Laura, I mean, Miss Couture."

"Uncle Nathan, are you sure you're not sick. You're acting strange."

"No, I'm fine, and I'm not acting strange. I just don't like being late. You know I like to be punctual."

"OK. I'm ready. Let's go."

Allie and Nathan walked to church. The entire town knew about the new librarian, and they were anxious to meet her. Miss Couture was already at church when Allie and Nathan arrived, and she was up front speaking to Minnie and listening to Angela play hymns on the piano. There wasn't an empty seat when it was time for Joseph to start the service.

"Good morning to all, and what a good morning this is. I'm sure you know we have a new resident here in Hope Valley. I would like you to meet Miss Laura Couture. She's the new librarian. She's also a teacher and a mathematics and science tutor. I'm going to ask her to come up so she can tell you a little about herself. You'll all have an opportunity to speak to her after church. The ladies were kind enough to make cake and punch for all of us, so I hope you can stay a while. Miss Couture."

"Good morning. I'm so happy to be here in Hope Valley. Everyone has been so kind. I've met all the children, who came to welcome me at the stage coach stop. I'm sure they told you I was sound asleep. I couldn't have made a very good first impression. I was tired from having traveled such a long distance to get here. I hope you'll forgive me for that. I'm looking forward to helping all of you in the library and getting to know everyone. I'll be starting tomorrow, and I have lots of ideas, and I hope you'll tell me yours as well. Please come and visit me." Laura also told the congregation about her childhood in Quebec and how Mr. Landis invited her to Hope Valley.

"Thank you, Miss Couture. I'm sure you'll find that in a very short while, Hope Valley will feel like home to you. Let's begin our service now. Our first hymn will be 'In the Garden.' Would you please stand as we sing together."

Joseph's service was beautiful. His sermon was about gardens and harvesting and how that relates to growing and nurturing both the body and soul.

"We have another announcement this morning before our closing hymn. Please stay after the service and join us for refreshments. Mr. and Mrs. Coulter and Patrick, would you please come up."

Joseph sat down with Minnie in the front pew. Everyone just looked at each other, but thought that Lee and Rosemary wanted to thank the congregation for helping them get Patrick settled. They really were not prepared for Lee and Rosemary's news.

"Thank you, Pastor Canfield. Rosemary, Patrick and I have some news we'd like to share with you. It came as quite a surprise to us." Lee caught Florence's eye, and she looked truly frightened. "Oh no, Florence, it's not anything bad. I'm sorry. In fact, it's quite good news. Surprising, but very good news."

"Oh, Lee, just tell them. Enough beating around the bush," said Rosemary. A few people chuckled. They knew Rosemary well.

"Well, as I was saying. It's really good news." Rosemary elbowed Lee. "Alright, sweetheart, I'm getting to it. Everyone, Rosemary and I are going to have a baby."

The congregation looked confused, and no one spoke.

"Oh, Lee. They think you're talking about Patrick. What Lee is trying to tell you is that we are expecting a baby in the spring. Patrick will have a baby brother or sister. I saw Faith on Friday, and she, well, that's our news. We're going to have a baby!"

The congregation stood and everyone clapped and cheered. Then it was hard to get everyone to settle down for the closing hymn, but Joseph did, and the congregation sang with great enthusiasm. Some of the ladies went to the refreshment table ready to serve cake and punch, but half the congregation was talking to Laura, and the other half were speaking to Lee and Rosemary. Angela continued to play hymns on the piano until Allie came and convinced her to have cake and punch at the refreshment table.

Elizabeth and Little Jack went to stand by Rosemary. "I can't believe you've been able to keep your secret since Friday. How did you ever do it?"

"Well, it wasn't easy. Lee was at the Mercantile yesterday to drop off the newspapers, and he was there for over an hour. Thank goodness everyone was asking him about Patrick. We really wanted to tell everyone at the same time, so this was perfect."

"You know Little Jack and I are very happy for you, and I'll be glad to help in any way I can." Elizabeth hesitated. "Rosemary, I just realized that you're going to have two babies to take care of at the same time. How will you ever manage?"

"Faith suggested we either have family come and help us, or she said she could probably find us a nurse or a nanny to help out. I haven't even been able to think that far out. Lee has his sister and niece, but I don't think either of them would be able to come help us. You're so lucky you have Laura. She is a dear. Unfortunately, there aren't any other girls graduating from school, but we'll figure it out."

Many of the children went to speak to the new librarian. She asked each of them what their favorite book was or who their favorite author was. She told them she would like to hold programs at the library, such as book discussion groups, plays about books and story time for young children. She asked them to come visit her so she could get to know them and what they liked to read. They wanted to hear all about Quebec and if everyone in the province speaks French.

"Oui. Nous parlons tous français. Yes. We all speak French." We also speak English as well. I think people in Quebec like to hold onto and respect their traditions.

"Can you teach us, Miss Couture?" asked Opal.

"Mrs. Thornton is your teacher, so we would need to talk to her about it, but we might be able to have a French Club at the library."

"I'd like that. Thank you, Miss Couture," said Opal.

"You're very welcome, Opal."

Nathan made his way over to see Lee and Rosemary while Allie was sampling the cake and punch with Angela.

"Congratulations to both of you. What great news. I'm very happy for you."

"Nathan, I couldn't believe it. Rosie brought Patrick to see Faith on Friday for his examination. Rosie asked Faith if she might have a tonic for her or something new, called vitamins. She's been feeling very tired. Faith insisted on examining her to make sure there wasn't something else causing her to be tired, and surprise! They called me to come to the infirmary right away. I can't tell you how hard it has been not to tell anyone until this morning," said Lee.

"It's certainly great news." Nathan noticed Elizabeth standing near Rosemary. "Good morning, Mrs. Thornton."

"Good morning, Constable," replied Elizabeth.

"Hey, Nathan, have you met Miss Couture yet? I haven't had a chance to meet her. Do you want to come with me? I think Rosie has everything under control on this side of the church."

"Yeah, sure. I've met her. She's quite nice. I'll introduce you."

Lee and Nathan made their way over to the other side of the church where Miss Couture was speaking to a few of the children. By now people had already spoken to the guests of honor and found their way to the refreshment table.

"Laura, hi. Good morning. I'd like to introduce you to Lee Coulter. Lee, this is Miss Laura Couture, our new librarian."

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Couture. Welcome to Hope Valley," said Lee.

"Thank you, Mr. Coulter and congratulations to you and Mrs. Coulter. I'm happy to hear your wonderful news. Your son, Patrick, is so cute. You must be excited."

"Oh, we are—both excited and surprised."

"I'll check the library tomorrow and see if we have any books you might find helpful."

"I would appreciate that. I'm sure Rosemary will be by to see you. She publishes the Valley Voice, our local newspaper. She said she'd like to interview you. She's also an avid reader, so I'm sure she'll be by the library often."

"That would be lovely. I'd be glad to speak to her about the library, and I'll look forward to getting to know her. I love to talk to people about books. Constable Grant here stopped by the library yesterday to return a book. It sounds like Hope Valley has a number of avid readers."

"Yes, we certainly do. Jesse Flynn, who works for me, always has a book in his hands. I do occasionally catch him reading when he's supposed to be working though," said Lee.

"You know, I often read at night and lose track of time. I just say to myself, oh, just one more chapter, and before I know it, it's midnight," said Laura. "Does that ever happen to you, Nathan?"

"Guilty. I shouldn't be doing that. I have to get up early to do my rounds. Sometimes that's the only time I get to read though," answered Nathan.

"Me too! It has been so nice to meet you Mr. Coulter. I'll have to make my way over to see your wife. So, I'll see you in the library then," said Laura.

"It was nice meeting you too, Miss Couture. Nathan, I'll talk to you later." Lee winked at Nathan, who knew that Lee only excused himself so he and Laura could speak privately.

"I'm looking forward to tutoring your niece, Nathan. Mrs. Thornton said she's an excellent student."

"That she is. Sometimes I think she's just a little too smart for her own good. Do you know that one time she actually tried to convince me that fishing was like doing homework? She was talking about the different species of fish, the right bait, fractions used to measure the ingredients to cook the fish."

"Did she really? Well, she's not wrong you know. There's a lot that can be learned from fishing."

"Do you like to fish, Laura?"

"As a matter of fact I do. I used to go with my brothers all the time. They taught me. We had many fish dinners when I was growing up."

"You really have quite a wide variety of interests. I'm impressed. I think you'll do very well here in Hope Valley. Since you like to fish, do you think you might want to come fishing with Allie and I next weekend? I can make a picnic in case the fishing isn't good. Hopefully, it won't be too cold. If it is, we could always change it to dinner at Abigail's Café if you like."

"I'd like that very much. Thank you, Nathan."

"Is Saturday afternoon good for you?"

"That's perfect. I'll look forward to it. I haven't been fishing in a while."

"Allie and I like to go to the creek. It's a bit of a walk, or we can take the horses if you prefer."

"Actually, I haven't been riding in a while either. I'd like that very much. How about if you let me bring the picnic?"

"OK. It's a date then; a plan. Next Saturday then. Is noon good for you?"

"Yes, it's perfect. Good. It's a date. Well, I guess I should walk around and visit with the people I haven't spoken to yet. Why don't you stop by the library this week with Allie, and we can set up a schedule for her tutoring."

"I'll do that. I neglected to take out another book when I was there yesterday. Thank you, and enjoy the rest of your day, Laura."

"I will. Bye, Nathan." Nathan smiled at Laura.

"Rosemary, did you see Constable Grant and Miss Couture over there just now?" Elizabeth pointed to where Nathan and Laura were speaking.

"No, actually I didn't. Why do you ask, Elizabeth?"

"Well, I don't know. They looked a little, chummy, for just having met," responded Elizabeth.

"Oh, Elizabeth. What do you care what Nathan does, or who he sees for that matter. You made your decision. I thought all of that was in the past," said Rosemary.

"I suppose. I mean, yes, it is. I'm just surprised. That's all."

"Life is one surprise after another, Elizabeth. Look at Lee and I. We've had two big surprises in just one month."

"I guess you're right. I'm just surprised," replied Elizabeth.

Allie was watching Nathan from the refreshment table and passing her observations along to Angela.

"Uncle Nathan is acting strange. I asked him if he was sick, and he said he's never felt better. What could be wrong with him, Angela?"

"I think he might be sweet on Miss Couture."

"Really?"

"Yes, really."

"That's great. I thought Uncle Nathan was done for when Mrs. Thornton broke his heart. I like Miss Couture. I'll have to get Uncle Nathan to ask her out on a date."

"What makes you think he hasn't already asked her? From what you saw this morning and told me, I bet he's already asked her out. Ask him, Allie."

"Are you daring me, Angela?"

Yes, I am. Go ask him."

"OK, I will. While I'm at it, I need to find out what's going on with Mrs. Thornton. She's acting strange too. Oh no, I sound like Mrs. Yost now. Forget I ever mentioned it, Angela."