EC 12

Emily's Chronicles: Part 12: How Dry I Am?
By: Trish and Tammy

Disclaimer: The following is a work of fanfiction. Emily of New Moon was created by L.M. Montgomery and is the property of her, her estate, and her heirs, not me. No copyright infringement is intended and no profit was made.

Early dawn was just beginning to break over New Moon. The dim light had a
strange colorless glow that made everything seem to move slower. Jimmy
brought the wagon to nearly a complete stop as they approached the house,
afraid that the jingle of the tack and the bumping of the wagon would
awaken those within. He did not want to present Mr. Carpenter to Isabel in
his current condition. He knew it would upset her. Instead, he let the wagon
creep along barely making a sound. However, there was something that he
had forgotten, the two dogs with their keen sense of hearing. No matter howmuch Jimmy tried to be quiet, Princess and Laddie, made his intentions
impossible. He was sure their barking would wake everyone in the house. As
it was, Isabel was probably sleepless, listening for any sound of their return.

Perry quickly jumped down from the wagon to open the large barn doors that
Eve had closed the night before. Emily followed, determined to quiet the
dogs. As the dogs calmed down, Jimmy hastened the wagon's pace a little,
and drove into the barn. Perry closing the doors behind them. They had a
lot of work to do. Once inside, Perry quickly unhitched the horses, and
took them to their stalls, removing their harnesses, and for feed and
water.

John pulled his hung-over brother from the wagon, and sat him on a bale of
hay. Jimmy and John set about for a planned-on long drying out of Francis,
for the next couple of weeks, for what seemed to be an eternity. Spelling
each other in the process. It was not going to be easy, he had been
drinking for nearly five months straight - not to mention how much damage
his drinking has done to his liver. Not only did Jimmy not
want Isabel to see her hopefully future husband like this, he also did not
want Emily to see too much. He would have to make sure he kept her out of
the barn during the worst of it. Francis smelled worse than a bar room,
and looked as if he had not bathed in months. Jimmy and John tried to decide
what was most pressing. They asked Perry to bring in some fresh water, but a bath could wait. There were other problems to take care of now. The mostimportant was Francis's reaction to coming off of his months of drunken stupor.

Jimmy decided to send Perry for Dr. Burnley. The doctor's advice would mosthelpful. Although Francis's head was splitting, and he could barely
manage to sit up. The only thing on his mind was Isabel. He knew she was in
the house, and he hoped still asleep so she would not see him like this. He
was so close to her now, it was all he could do to keep from running to her and taking her in his arms. However, he could barely keep his head up or his
eyes open.


Jimmy grabbed Francis by the arms and practically threw him on the cot
he used for a bed. He was still angry at him. How could he have spent all
those months in this state when Isabel needed him. He should have come back to her.

"Isabel!" Francis called. "Let me see her!"

"No, you ain't gonna see her like this. She don't need that." Jimmy
informed him. "We gotta get you dried out first."

"Isabel..." Francis cried, as he rolled over on the cot and fell
asleep. He was dreaming of her the way he had for months. When he was at
his senses, it had hurt too much to think of spending the rest of his life
without her. When he could escape with the liquor he could be with her in
his mind. He could see her beautiful face smiling at him, feel her arms
holding him, and hear her voice like an angel. He had preferred that to
reality. Now he knew what Jimmy was saying was right. He had to get
himself straightened up. He had to be worthy of her. He had to be able to
take care of her, and the baby.

John and Jimmy stared at each other for a moment. Jimmy had sobered up
Mr. Carpenter once before, when his job was on the line, and John was well
experienced at drying out his brother. At that moment they both looked at
Emily, knowing what the other was thinking. This was no place for a young
girl.

"Sparrow. You best get up to the house before Elizabeth finds out
you're gone." Jimmy said, trying to give her a look so she would understand
that the wanted her someplace else.

She didn't take the hint. "Jimmy, I want to help."

"Your cousin's right." John agreed. "Nobody wants to see you get in
trouble." He tried to give her a plausible excuse for wanting her to leave.

"Emily you were a big help last night, thank you. But your Aunt Elizabeth
has been so kind, I would hate for her get angry with all of us, especially
now. "You can come back later to check for a little while if you want."

"He's right, Sparrow." Jimmy said taking her by the shoulders and
leading her out of the barn. "Now hurry up to your room before anyone see's
you're gone. Ilse's probably worried sick." He gave her a quick hug, and then
closed the door on her protests. He hated to keep her out of this when it
meant so much to her, but he didn't know exactly what to expect himself.
When he had helped Mr. Carpenter out before, it had been after only one
night of drinking, five months was something entirely different.

Emily stomped her foot and headed for the house. Her mind was racing
trying to find ways to get herself back into the barn. Her anger and
Murray pride were steaming. As she reached the kitchen door, she decided to tell Ilse about the events of last night. Maybe she could help her think of a
plan to get back into the barn where the action was. After all two heads were better than one. She quietly turned the knob on the old heavy door, and
tiptoed across the kitchen without making a sound.

Upstairs Elizabeth was just finishing getting dressed. She had always
been an early riser, and if the men were going to be returning today she
had plenty to do. She buttoned the neck of her dress and pinned it with a
cameo her mother had left her. Normally she would never have worn it around he house but she was still determined to make a good impression Isabel's future in-laws. That was if that louse could be found. It was true she never liked Francis Carpenter. She considered him crass and forward, and his drinking was something she could not abide. She hoped that when he learned about Isabel and his impending fatherhood that news would cure him of his need for alcohol. For Isabel's sake she hoped the man she had fallen in love with would prove of more character than he had shown so far. She had grown close to her cousin from away, and Isabel deserved all the happiness anyone could have, especially after putting up with a lifetime of Malcolm Murray.

She opened her bedroom door and strode out into the hallway. Elizabeth had the habit of listening quietly as walked to back to stairs to
make sure everything was alright. Now that Isabel was nearly midway through her pregnancy, she was listening even closer. There was also Laura and the trouble she had faced in her sister's absence, along with Eve, and Emily to be looked after. Which is how Elizabeth saw her role. The family protector.

Today they even had two guests upstairs, Ilse and Sarah. Everything seemed well in order. Elizabeth took a contented deep breath as she reached the back staircase and began to descend, taking each step lightly as not to wake the others.


Emily took a nervous deep breath as she turned the knob of the door
that opened to the back staircase and began to ascend, taking each step
lightly as not to wake the other. She and Elizabeth practically knocked each other over.

"Uh, Emily--watch where you're going." Elizabeth scolded her. She looked at ther niece for a moment. "You're never up at this hour, what are you...?" Then she noticed that Emily was still wearing the same dress she
had on last night, she also noticed that Emily was covered with filth and
smelled like a...like a barroom. Her eyes went wide with disbelief. "You
went with them didn't you, and you lied to me." Emily could see her aunt's wrath beginning to take hold. She grabbed Emily by the arm and marched her back down the stairs.

"I know what I did was wrong, Aunt Elizabeth, but in my heart I felt
that I had to go help find Mr. Carpenter. I'll accept any punishment you
hand out to me, for defying you...now that he's been found." She pleaded with
her elder.

Then Elizabeth, disbelieving what she just heard, "I'll deal with you
later Emily Byrd Starr, go take a...did you say, Mr. Carpenter has been found!?"

"Yes." answered Emily, "He's out in the barn with Cousin Jimmy, Mr.
Carpenter, and Perry."

Elizabeth was sure that the men knew how desperately Isabel wanted to
see him. If they were hiding him in the barn he must be in no shape to see
her, or any other respectable person. She cringed at what Emily must have been exposed to last evening. She was going to see about this, and decide for herself just what needed to be done.

"Young lady." She said practically running across the room. "You take a
bath and ... Oo, burn that dress." Elizabeth ordered catching another
whiff of her young charge from halfway across the room. She did not wait for Emily to answer, and nearly ran down the porch steps and across the yard to the barn.

"Yes Maam." answered Emily. "I will... (as Elizabeth is exiting the back
door) take a bath. (Then to herself she whispered, " As soon as I see
Ilse.")
______________________
Suddenly the quiet tension of the barn was disturbed by a noise
from outside. Someone was trying to open the door knob. They had not
thought to lock it, certain everyone was still asleep. They all turned as a
shaft oflight shot into the dusty air of the old barn. Had Isabel seen them return, and come to greet her lost love? Jimmy disliked the idea of her trying to walk through the cluttered space, there were so many things she could fall over.Could it be Elizabeth coming to assist. She had probably guessed the
state they would find Mr. Carpenter in, he thought to himself remembering another time he had sobered the teacher up after he barged into the house and read Elizabeth the riot act for her treatment of Emily. Jimmy fought a smile of laughter at that thought, he knew Elizabeth had never liked Mr. Carpenter since, but she had deserved that tongue lashing.

An almost guilty silence fell over the occupants of the barn as the
door opened even further. They held their breath. Jimmy's worst
suspicions were confirmed as Elizabeth crossed the threshold of the barn door scowling. He knew there had not been enough time for Emily to get upstairs and could tell that Elizabeth had discovered that little secret. She looked at the scene that greeted her in the barn with distaste. Jimmy, John, and Perry stood silent as if waiting to be charged for a crime. Elizabeth looked them over, and they knew she would deal with them later. Then she saw Francis Carpenter dead to the world sprawled across Jimmy's bed.

"Well, that's what he's been doing while poor Isabel has been here
preparing to bring his child into the world." Elizabeth said ruefully
disliking the fact that this man had fathered a Murray. But she had not
come for a fight, looking at him she realized that he had probably been as
miserable without Isabel as she had been without him. " Well, gentlemen.
It looks like we've got our work cut out for us, sobering him up and keeping
all of this from Isabel while we do it." She said rolling up her sleeves....
--------Meanwhile, back in the house, Emily is back in her room with an
awakening Ilse. As she sits up in bed and rubs her eyes, and yawns.

"Guess what, Ilse!?" whispers Emily excitedly, "We found Mr. Carpenter
last night! He's down with Cousin Jimmy, Mr. Carpenter, and Perry, in the
barn." As she is unbuttoning the back of her smelly dress, so she can take it
off.

"Really!?" Asks Ilse, with her once sleepy eyes, wide with excitement.

"He's really been found!? When can we go see him!?"

"I thought you would never ask." answered Emily. "Cousin Jimmy shooed me out. Now we need to think of a way to sneak back into the barn. Will you
help me!?"

"Sure, " said, Ilse, as she pulled down the covers, and slid off the bed.

"But...but, what about the dogs?" Just then she got a brainstorm--"The
dogs. Emily, we could say that Eve asked us to take her dogs for a walk.
That's how we can get back into the barn. Right!?!"

"Yeah, we could do that." agreed Emily. "I rather doubt that Eve would
want Princess and Laddie in there, while Cousin Jimmy and Mr. Carpenter are
helping his brother through his drying out process. Let's ask her if we
can take them out for a walk."

Emily was so excited she forgot completely about the bath she was
supposed to take and hurridly changed into one of her old everyday dresses.
She rushed Ilse to get dressed, and together the girls slipped down the
hall to Eve's room. They could hear Eve and Sarah whispering behind the
closeddoor, and were glad the women were up. Emily lightly tapped on the door not wanting to wake her still sleeping aunt and cousin. Eve opened the door and greeted the two excited girls.

"Well, good morning, girls!" said Eve, as she greeted them. "Won't you two
come on in?"

Before the girls could answer, Sarah too greeted them, "Good morning,
girls!"
"Good morning, Eve...and Mrs. Carpenter!" replied the girls together.

"Guess who's down in the barn!?" asked an excited Ilse.

"Who!?!" asked Eve and Sarah at the same time.

"Mr. Carpenter!!", replied Emily.

"I should hope that my husband is down there." answered Sarah.

"Yes! But besides him, Mrs. Carpenter." said Emily. "Your
brother-in-law!!!"

"Francis!?" asked Sarah, with surprise, gestering towards Eve. "Our two
men actually found him!?"

"Fancy that!?" remarked Eve, grinning at them. "To think Isabel was
worried that he may never be found. Is she *ever* going to be pleasantly
surprised now!?"

"There's only one catch, though" said Emily. "She mustn't yet be told,
because he has to get dried out first."

"Oo-oo-oh, really!?" asked Sarah. "Somehow, that doesn't surprise me about that man. This isn't the first time, John has had to help his brother dry out. I'm glad now, that Jimmy is there too to help."

"Oh but--This isn't the first time that Cousin Jimmy has had to help Mr.
Carpenter dry out either." added Emily. "He's done that before too."
Emily could see the surprise on Sarah's face and knew she had better
explain.

"Yes, about a year ago. He came to New Moon drunk. He barged in and told
Aunt Elizabeth in some not so kind words exactly what he thought of her for
forbidding me to write."

Ilse laughed in her chuckling way. "Yeah, he told her off good." Ilse was
sure this was no small accomplishment. Imagine someone having the guts to
read Elizabeth Murray the riot act.

"I think that's why my Aunt Elizabeth doesn't care for him very much."
Emily said.

"I can believe that." remarked Sarah. "When he's drunk, he always has
this knack of shooting his mouth off. Alcohol has a way of turning men from
'Dr. Jeckal into Mr. Hyde'."

"Anyway." Emily continued. "Jimmy got him sobered up out in the barn
because he had an important evaluation at school to get ready for. Aunt
Elizabeth even let him borrow some of Jimmy's clothes. So maybe she likes him a little better than she lets on." Emily informed them, smiling. "She at least seems to be giving him a chance for cousin Isabel's sake."

As an already dressed Laura is exiting her room, she overhears the chatter going on behind Eve's door, for which she proceeds to knock. Ilse, who is closest to the door, opens it ajar to peer out to see who it is, seeing
that it's her future step-mother, she opens it more widely to let Laura enter.

"Good morning, ladies!" says a smiling Laura, to them all. "What's going
on in here, anyway?"

After the four females reply to Laura's greeting, Sarah is first to speak,
"Emily just informed us, that Mr. Murray and my husband, John, found
Francis. They sprung him from the Stovepipe Town jail last night, and that
they're now holding him outside in the barn until he dries out."


"Whhaaat!?" answers Laura with disbelief. "Francis Carpenter has been
found!? This is *too* good to be true!!!"

Emily recounted the story of last evening, and the condition of their
newest guest once more to Laura. She was surprised to find that her aunt
was not greatly shocked at the news that she had accompanied the men to
Stovepipe Town. Perhaps she had expected as much from her niece. The
whispers behind the bedroom door continued as they tried to figure out how they were going to hide this from Isabel. It would certainly be too upsetting for her to witness the spectacles that would surely take place out in the barn. They decided that they simply could not let her out of their sight, and of course they could not let her anywhere near the barn.

Ilse quietly pulled the door ajar enough to leave a small space just
right for spying down the hall. "The coast is clear!" She whispered. "Your
cousin Isabel must still be sleeping."

The two girls and three women slipped silently out of the bedroom, and
tiptoed down the back steps. The day outside was promising to be bright
and warm. The sun was just beginning to rise as they crossed the yard of New Moon heading for the barn. Perry was just returning with Dr. Burnley as the reached the door. He said good morning to the ladies and they could see
the doctor's face brighten as he greeted Laura. They saw hers brighten as
well.


"He's right in here." Perry informed the doctor. "He's in pretty bad
shape" Perry held the door for Allen and the ladies, and then followed them
inside shutting the door tightly. The inside of the barn was still quite
dark although Jimmy had lit a lantern. The animals were just beginning to
stir, and Eve's two dogs who had been laying at Jimmy's feet, trotted over
to greet her. Dr. Burnley made his way through the maze of farm implements and stalls to where Francis Carpenter lay still unconsious on Jimmy's cot. John and Jimmy were standing beside the bed, while Elizabeth was washing the surface dirt from their guest with a wet clothe. Eve and Sarah rushed over to greet their men with hugs. Not wasting any time Allen took Francis's pulse, and pulled back his eyelids. Checking for any signs of coherance. Everyone waited and held their breath.

"You were right to call for me." Allen commended them. "He's near killed
himself with alcohol. He's very close to being poisoned from it." The
doctor informed them. "This is not going to be easy."

"Where's Isabel?" Dr. Burnley asked turning to Laura. She informed him that
Isabel was still sleeping.


"Good. Keep her out of here." Allen commanded. "She doesn't need to see
this." He thought of Isabel sleeping peacefully in the house awaiting the
return of Mr. Carpenter. He knew she would be disappointed at not seeing
him this morning, but it would not be good for her to see him like this. He
looked back at his drunken friend, and was suddenly furious. "Poor Isabel, doesn't need any of this. Keep her away from the barn, this could take awhile, and will probably get ugly."

"Oh, don't worry about that Father." Ilse interrupted. "We've already
talked about that. We're not going to let her out of our sight." She smiled,
happy to include herself in the little deception.

"Good! I'm counting on all of you to keep this secret from her. It won't
be easy." Dr. Burnley said seriously.

Upstairs Isabel awoke to an extremely quiet house. She had barely gotten
to sleep last night. Her mind was filled was thoughts both happy and
terrifying. She knew that if anyone could find Francis that Jimmy, John,
and Perry could. That is, if he were anywhere to be found. She had finally
drifted off in the wee hours of the morning. Her dreams gave her little
relief, they were filled with unpleasant images of where her love might be.
She was glad to see the morning come. Maybe today would be the day she
would be reunited with him. Then she realized that she did not even hear
Elizabeth stirring in the kitchen. Maybe he was here already, waiting for her
somewhere.

Isabel dressed as quickly as she could in one of the brand new maternity
smocks that Laura and Eve had made for her, pinned her hair back, and
slipped quietly from her room. She noticed as she made her way toward the
front steps which were easier for her to climb that all the bedroom doors
were still closed. It seemed that she had been so eager to find what the day
held that she was the first one up.

Isabel walked down the staircase, and through the house to the kitchen.
Elizabeth did not even have breakfast started. This certainly was odd. She
guessed she wasn't the only one exhausted from yesterday. Well, there was nothing that said she couldn't start breakfast, a small act to repay some
of the kindness the others had shown her over the past months. She grabbed the empty egg basket that had been left on the counter by the sink, and walked out into the warm sunshine. In her heart she had hoped to see the wagon parked infront, but was disappointed. 'Maybe they couldn't find him.' she thought ominously to herself. As she cast her eyes to the ground and crossed the yard she reminded herself, 'Now remember, positive thoughts. There are a lot of places to look. It was probably silly of me to think they could find him in just one night.' She smiled thinking of how surprised he would be when he learned of the baby.
Isabel reached the barn in a little better spirits. She was determined not
to lose hope. (He was closer than she could ever imagine.) She reached out
and took hold of the latch to open the door. It wiggled, but would not open. She always had trouble openning that latch, it tended to stick.

Inside the barn everyone jumped at the sound of the latch turning. There
was only one person it could be, the entire family was out there. Emily and
Ilse ran to the door, and slipped through quickly, not wanting to open it
too far less they would let Isabel see a clear view inside.

"Haaa" Isabel gasped, jumping alittle at the sight of the two girls
exiting the barn. "Girls, what are you doing out here?" She asked, laying
her hand on her stomach to quiet the baby who had also been a bit disconcerted at the little scare its mother had just experienced.

"Oh, cousin Isabel, we didn't mean to scare you. Are you alright?" Emily
asked concerned.

"Yes, dear I'm fine." Isabel reassured them. " But what are you two doing
out in the barn at this hour?" She repeated.

"Us?" Ilse feined innocence. "Uh, we're just taking care of the dogs."

"Oh." Isabel said, buying the excuse. "Well then, I'll just get the eggs
for breakfast. Elizabeth isn't up yet."

"You can't." Emily blurted out.

"Why not?" Isabel questioned her.

"Umm. You shouldn't be in the barn in your condition." Emily informed her.

"Yeah." Ilse agreed. "You could fall."

Isabel was touched by their concern. "I promise, I'll be very careful."

The girls were growing frantic. They had to keep her from going in the
barn. "Uh, there's all kinds of bugs and dust in there." Ilse stretched to
come up with another excuse. "It's bad for the baby.'

"A little dust is not going to hurt the baby." Isabel assured them.

"Well, you can't eat eggs when you're pregnant." Emily said, pretending
to be the sole owner of some new earth shattering information. "They're
chicken babies. You can't do that."

"Girls, honestly. What is going on?" Isabel was feeling more than a
little suspicious.

"Nothing, we just want to make sure you're alright." The girls smiled.

"Here let us take that." The both took the basket from her hand. "We'll
get the eggs."

Emily took a still confused Isabel by the arm and walked her back to the
porch. "Don't worry about a thing, Cousin Isabel. We'll take care of
everything." She opened the door and practically forced Isabel inside.
"I'm sure everyone will be up in a few minutes." Emily looked nervously
at the kitchen ceiling, knowing full well that no one was sleeping above. "You
just sit down and rest."

Isabel stood in the kitchen as the door closed in front of her. She
could hardly get a hold of what had just happened. Why were the girls
acting so strange?

Emily ran back to where Ilse stood in the yare still holding the egg
basket. "That was close." She said looking urgently at Ilse.

"This sure isn't going to be easy." Ilse agreed.

The girls quickly went back inside the barn to let the adults know that
Isabel was up, and that getting back into the house would not be easy. If
she thought everyone was out in the barn, she would be even more suspicious.

Eve took the basket from Emily, "Please allow me to gather up the eggs,"
she volunteered.

"Gee!! Thanks, Eve." said Emily. "How are we going to keep Isabel
occupied during the drying out of Mr. Carpenter?"
"Yeah!," agreed Ilse.


The adults in the barn all looked at each other, hoping that some one
would come up with a suitable answer, that would help them all out. Since Dr.
Burnley, is the doctor in the house, perhaps he could supply the answer??

Allen thought for a moment. He knew that Isabel was healthy enough to
travel, and that after the months of stress and waiting a change of scenery
could very well do her good. Then he looked down at Francis lying on the
cot. He knew too well what was to come, and yes it would be very hard to
hide it from Isabel.

"What we really need to do is get her out of here for awhile." the doctor
informed them. "I could order her to bed, but she's in perfect health and
it would be unfair to worry her unecessarily. I think a relaxing vacation
could do her a lot of good, it would get her mind of things and be better than
just sitting here waiting."

The group thought a moment then Allen came up with a suggestion. "Mrs.
Carpenter." He said turning to Sarah. "Could you possibly take Isabel to
Charlottetown for a while, and the girls too. I really would prefer they not see this either."

"Why!? Of course, I could take Isabel and the girls back with me to
Charlottetown!" replied a thrilled Sarah. "What a great idea!?"

"Wow!!!" remarked Ilse. "Us going to Charlottetown!?"

"What a fantastic idea!?" added Emily. "And we can keep a close eye on
Isabel there too!"

"I agree with Emily," Eve remarked, as she handed the basket filled with
eggs to Emily. "Yes, you girls certainly can."

"Well, that makes it unanimous," added Laura. "Better there then here.
Besides, it wouldn't be fair to keep Isabel cooped-up in the house for the
next couple weeks, when she needs to get outside for much needed exercise
and fresh air. Us three ableminded ladies can mind the store more
effectively, in her absence. Great thinking, Allan!"
"What an excellent idea." John smiled. "She would be very comfortable in
our house. I'm sure Sarah will take excellent care of her, and the
girls." He assured them, putting his arm around his wife's shoulders.

"Now wait a minute." Elizabeth interjected. "I don't know if I like the
idea of Isabel trapsing around the countryside in her condition. What is
something should happen."

"Isabel, and the baby are both in excellent health." Allen informed her.
"I see no reason why anything should happen as long as she takes care of
herself, and she's done a good job of that so far."

"Are you sure they'll be ok?" Jimmy asked, needing to hear it one more
time.

"Quite sure. Infact it would be better for her than staying here, and
possibly stumbling onto your secret visitor here." Dr. Burnley gave them
his medical opinion. "I know a very good doctor in Charlottetown." He said
taking a pencil and pad from his coat pocket and scribbling a name and
address on it. He tore of the page and handed it to Sarah. "Here is his name and address. I want you to take Isabel there after you arrive just to put
everyone's mind at ease. I don't think there will be, but if there are any
problems you can call on him. I will write and tell him to expect you. He
will take good care of her."

"Thank you, Dr. Burnley. I'll go right way, and inform Isabel of our
plans." said Sarah, with agreement.

Emily and Ilse took the basket full of eggs and left the barn with huge
smiles on their faces. They practically skipped all the way back to the
house. Imagine, a summer outing in the city. They felt like real ladies.
Rhoda Stuart would be green with envy.

"Now remember, we can't let on yet." Emily reminded Ilse. "Cousin
Isabel doesn't know that she's about the go to Charlottetown with Sarah..."

"... and us!" Ilse laughed.

"Yeah." Emily agreed with a smile. "We'll have to act like it's a
surprise for us too."
"You can count on me!" Ilse grinned. Emily was afraid that their giddy
smiles would give everything away. She'd have to be on the look out so that
Ilse didn't give it away yet.

The two girls openned the kitchen to find Isabel standing at the stove,
preparing slices of bread for toasting. She had already started the bacon
frying, and put the water on for tea.

"Here are the eggs, Cousin Isabel." Emily smiled widely as she handed
her the basket.

Isabel looked at Emily a bit suspiciously. It seemed that the girls
were still acting strangely. She wondered what going on with those two, but
decided not to pursue it. Emily was always exicted over something or other,
and anyway, things had been a bit strange around here lately. "Thank you
girls." Was all she said to them with a wondering smile.

Emily and Ilse began to set the table as Isabel began to broke the eggs
into the skillet to fry. Ilse unthinkingly grabbed enough plates for all
the people currently at New Moon, seen or unseen. Emily nudged her with a
serious look on her face. "Seven!" she whispered urgently. Ilse nodded her
head embarrased. Now she understood. Emily quickly looked up at Isabel, but she hadn't caught the mistake. She was deep in thought.

After laying the dishes and silverware out on the table, Emily walked
over to the stove, and layed her hand on Isabel's arm. "Don't worry, I'm
sure they will find him." It was hard for her to keep secret the fact the Mr.
Carpenter was just out in the barn, especially from Isabel, but she knew it
was for the best, and she wanted to give her cousin some hope.

Isabel smiled down at her. "Yes, I'm sure they will." Emily thought
that her eyes did not look as certain as her words tried to make it seem.
"Keep that thought for me, OK." She gave Emily a hug, grateful for what the girl was trying to do.

Unbeknownst to those in the kitchen Eve, Laura, and Sarah had just
sneaked back into the house through the front door. They had to make Isabel
think they were coming from upstairs. They walked quietly through the
front hall into the kitchen.

"Oh, Good Morning." Isabel turned to greet them as they came in the
room. "I didn't hear you come downstairs."

"Good Morning, Isabel!" said Eve. "How are you this morning?"

"Good Morning, Izzy!" added Laura. "Mmmm! Just smell those eggs frying,
will you!?"

"And how are you this morning, Isabel?" asked Sarah, as she came over close
to her future sister-in-law, she gently took hold of both of her upper arms
and turned Isabel towards her, adding--"I know you must be terribly
disappointed, Isabel dear, that Francis still hasn't been found. I was
thinking, I would like very much for you and the girls to go home with me to
Charlottetown, as well as going on a shopping excursion for the baby, to get
your mind off of things. I won't take 'no' for answer!"

"Infact, Allan insists up on you going!" added Laura.

"That's right. " said Sarah. "He even gave me the name of this doctor
friend of his, for us to take you to, when we arrive there. His name is,
Dr. Sidney McIntosh."

Isabel was about to protest. She felt that she needed to be here when and
if the men returned with Francis. She wanted to be the first thing he saw.
As she looked around the room at the ladies concerned looks, and the girls
excited smiles. She realized that perhaps it would be best for her to go to
Charlottetown with Sarah and the girls. The truth was that sitting here at
New Moon listening for every sound from the lane was driving her crazy. Yes,
she wanted to find the man she loved, but she also had to think of her baby.
She was sure that the nervous feelings she had now would not do her child or
herself any good. Perhaps is it would be nice to have a change of scenery
right now. It would be nice to become better acquainted with Sarah. She had
only known her for a short time, but she was sensing a true friendship
developing between them. After all, hopefully, in a little while they would
both be Carpenter women. Besides the girls seemed so excited, how could she disappoint them.

"Alright, thank you, perhaps that would be a lovely diversion for a
while." She accepted to the overwhelming approval of all.

The ladies sat down to breakfast discussing plans for the trip. There
was packing to do, Sarah needed to retrieve her and John's buggy from the
inn, and Ilse would need some things from her house. In a strange way Isabel
was actually looking forward to the trip. It would be nice to take it easy
for a bit, and she was excited about the idea of shopping for a few extra
things for the baby. The thought even crossed her mind that it would be
funny if they were to run into Francis on the streets of Charlottetown.
Imagine, the ladies being the ones who find him. She was still quite unaware
that her love lay drunk and sick only a few yards away in the barn.

As the conversation carried on around the breakfast table Isabel scooped
a forkful of egg from her plate and raised it to her mouth. Then she heard
Emily's earlier comment echo in her head. 'They're chicken babies.' Suddenly
she couldn't stomach the thought of eating it, and layed the bite back down
on her plate looking around almost guilty. She would skip the eggs today.

It was late morning by the time Isabel, Sarah, Emily and Ilse were ready
to go. Sarah had fetched her buggy, Emily and Ilse had packed way too much,
and Eve and Laura helped Isabel carry a small satchel of clothes and personal
things from her room. Laura had promised to write as soon as she had any
news, and Isabel had promised to see the doctor that Allen had recommended as
soon as she arrived. She thought how odd it was that she had not seen
Elizabeth all morning, but the ladies had assured her that she was tending to
important business, and they would convey her farewell.

The two ladies, and two young girls climbed aboard the small well kept
buggy, Isabel needing a little extra assistance from Laura and Eve. Sarah
had raised the canopy to keep the July sun from Isabel. With waves and hugs
goodbye the traveling party was off down the lane from New Moon heading
toward Charlottetown. Laura and Eve gave each other a self contratulating
smile that they had actually managed not only to keep their visitor secret,
but also to get Isabel to take a very much needed excursion. Together they
hurried to the barn to see if they could be of help there.