EC19matchmakers

Emily's Chronicles: Part 19: The Matchmakers
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.


Life at New Moon was slowly getting back to a new normal. It seemed
strange with Jimmy and Eve now living in their new home, and Laura residing
with Allen at their house. However, they all visited so often that it barely
seemed they were gone. Work was progressing nicely on the Isabel and
Francis's cottage, and it was certain they would be able to move in before
the winter hit with full force, provided the furniture arrived from Scotland
in time. It would be nice for Isabel to have her things, her mother's
things around her in her new home.

This afternoon Emily and Ilse spent the long lazy summer hours talking in
the garrett. It had been a while since lunch and they were both getting
hungry.

Ilse suggested raiding the larder to which Emily happily agreed. The two
girls giggled and laughed as they went down the hall thinking about the
conversation they had just had, one that had featured both Teddy and Perry
prominently. Tramping down the back stairs they heard voices in the
kitchen. It was Aunt Elizabeth and Joe. Emily stopped in her tracks, her
aunt did not very much care for people making off with the stores of food she put
up for the family, and would certainly be angry if she caught the girls helping
themselves to a mid-afternoon snack. They looked at each other impatiently.

"What now?" Ilse asked. "I'm hungry."

"You're always hungry." Emily said only half paying attention, something in
Elizabeth's tone had caught her interest. There was something funny in the
older woman's voice, a tone she had never heard. Her aunt sounded almost
nervous. "Shhh." Emily raised her hand to silence her friend, as she krept
at close to the open door as she could get without being seen.

"Some coffee Mr. Samuels?" Emily heard Elizabeth asked.

"Thank ya, ma'am." Joe said, taking the steaming cup that Elizabeth offered
him, and starting to gulp it down. In time he remembered where he was and
took a short drinking, setting the cup down on the table infront of him.

Elizabeth poured herself half a cup and came over to sit across the table
from Joe, sipping the dark liquid demurely. They were both almost afraid to
meet each other's eyes, still remembering what had passed between them in
the barn the evening past. Joe fidgetted with the handle of his mug, while
Elizabeth payed far to much attention to a stain on the kitchen table. It
was Joe who finally broke the silence. "Missus...?" He asked.

"Yes." Elizabeth acknowledged without looking up.

"Uh... I ... uh... that is... since I'm gonna be working here and all,
takin' care of the place... don't you think it'd be easier if... I
mean...I'd be glad for you to call me Joe." He stammered unsure of what to say. He kicked himself. He'd worked and lived among people of all kinds. He could always
talk to anybody, just a cheery as if they were a member of his own family.
However, now sitting in front of her, he could barely get a sentence out of
his mouth.

Elizabeth pretended to consider the suggestion. She desperately wanted to
ask him to call her by her given name, but that would not due. Instead she
tried to make her voice sound as matter-of-factly as she could. "Yes, I
think would be a good idea. Since you will be working here...Joe." The name
felt good on her lips as she spoke it for the first time.

On the stairwell Ilse whispered to Emily. "What's wrong with them? They're
both talking like they've got a mouthful of mud." Emily sushed her again.
Intent on the conversation, she purched one eye beyond on the door jam,
Ilse's head appeared directly over hers the same distance out.

Elizabeth and Joe sat in awkward silence a few moments more, sipping their
coffee as if it were the most interesting thing in the room. Suddenly, as
if finally thinking of something to say they both spoke at one. "How do you
like...?" Elizabeth began. "This is one of the..." Joe halted. They laughed
embarassed, both enjoying the moment of connectedness.

"Please go ahead Missus." Joe smiled.

"Well, I was going to ask if you are liking New Moon so far." Elizabeth
smiled. Emily thought she saw a glimmer of hopefulness in her aunt's eyes.

"Ma'am this is the nicest place I've been in a long time." Joe said
sincerely. "Not just the house and the ground, they sure are beautiful. The
people too, I don't think I've ever felt so at ease. You all are really
very...special" He smiled hoping she would know that his last word was meant
for her.

"I'm glad." Elizabeth smiled. "That you like it here I mean. You certainly
are needed." She had not meant to say the last part, it had just come out.
But she raised her eyes to look at him, hoping he knew she 'I need you
here.' They stared softly at each other for a long moment.

Finally Joe nearly flinching back to reality whispered. "Well, I'd better
get back to work. Them chores ain't gonna finish themselves."

"Oh... certainly." Elizabeth agreed, trying not to sound too disappointed.
Joe stood as Elizabeth walked him to the door. She pulled open the door, but
he did not exit. Instead they stood staring at each other. Neither of them
could move, they could hardly breathe. As they stood there not quite
certain what to do, they suddenly realized what it was they were feeling.
They loved each other. Joe took a silent step toward Elizabeth. They stood
their lips only centimeters apart, their breath mingling. Finally, Elizabeth bent her
head upward to Joe as he reached for her waist...

Emily and Ilse turned to look at each other, their eyes as wide as dinner
plates as Elizabeth and Joe moved closer to each other.

"Joe!" Perry yelled from the porch seeing the man in the doorway. "Them pigs
got out again. I need yer help roundin' 'em up." He did not see Elizabeth
jump startled on the other side of the door.

The two stared at each other for another too short moment, neither wanting
to move, both wanted to go back to the second before. They both knew
however, that it would have to wait.

"Yeah, I'll be right there." Joe said to Perry in a low, unalarmed voice.
His mind on something other than runaway pigs. Unsure he turned back to
Elizabeth.

"You'd better go." She whispered.

Joe slowly backed away, taking his hat from the peg by the door. There were
no words between them, however as Joe left the kitchen they both knew that
their moment would see it's conclusion, and in the way they were both
dreaming of.

Emily and Ilse nearly tripped over each other running back up the stairs.
Lunging into Emily's room they both fell on the bed, unable to contain their
giddiness at what they had just seen.

"Oh my goodness." Emily proclaimed. "Can you imagine, Aunt Elizabeth and Joe
Samuels."

"Do you think they're in love." Ilse beamed.

"Of course they are, did you see the way they looked at each other?" Emily
confirmed. "Oh this is so romantic." Emily cooed already thinking of an idea
for a story. "Think of it, a lonely, elegant lady, and a rough drifter with
a shady past." She embellished.

"Wow, this is as good as our cousin Isabel and Francis." Ilse grinned.

"Yeah..." Emily agreed. "But, oh no. I just thought of something. There is
so much going on what if they never the chance to finish their kiss?"

"How sad." Ilse overacted. "Star crossed lovers destined never to meet
again."

"This is serious." Emily nudged her. "Aunt Elizabeth deserves to be happy
just like everyone else. If only we weren't all going over to the cottage
tomorrow to help. Then they might get a chance to be alone."

"Well, who knows." Ilse laughed. "There are lots of out of the way places
over there. Maybe they'll find one."

Emily suddenly got a impish grin on her face. "Yeah, and maybe we can help
them."

A few minutes later Emily and Ilse were holding two identical pieces of
paper. On each was written the phrase. 'My darling. I cannot wait until we
are alone together again. Meet me in the shed. I will be counting the
seconds until I see you.' The girls held up the notes and smiled at each other,
hatching their plan.

"One for Aunt Elizabeth, and one for Joe." Emily announced.

"This is gonna be goooood." Ilse smiled as the girls fell back onto the bed
in a happy fit of laughter. Their were sure their well intentioned plan
would work, it just had to.

The next day the entire family took a large picnic and set out for the
cottage, it would be an all out workday. The men were to continue fixing up
the house, while the women would take control of the parlor for a sewing
circle. There were curtains to be made and other necesseties every house
must have. Emily and Ilse, along with Perry and Gussy Dan would work and
clearing and painting the picket fence that surrounded the property. Even Duke was brought along to frollick in his future yard. It was a lovely warm day with a gentle breeze cooling the summer sun. Everyone went straight to work as they arrived. Everyone that is except Emily and Ilse.

As the ladies took the armfuls of fabric and picnic baskets out of the
buggies, Emily exaggeratedly bumped into her Aunt Elizabeth. With hands
flailing everywhere she managed to slip one of the notes into the pocket of
the apron a bewildered Elizabeth was holding. A few seconds later, Emily
nearly screamed when she saw her aunt hand Eve the apron to borrow. The girl
had forgotten her own at the Collie Farm, and Elizabeth did not want to see
her nice dress ruined.

Ilse lingered around the back of the wagon which the men had used to
bring construction supplies. As everyone was busy heading off to their
places no one saw her slip the other note into Joe's jacket pocket. No saw
it fall out of his pocket and into Jimmy's toolbox when he laid the jacket
over the side of the wagon, either. No one that is except Ilse, and she was
too late to retrieve it. Jimmy had already snatched up the box, and after
giving Eve a quick hug, was heading toward the side of the house to mend
some window casements.

Emily and Ilse looked at each other, frustration painted on both of their
faces. This was going to be harder than they thought.

As Jimmy was reaching down to pick up his hammer, he noticed this strange
piece of paper in his toolbox, to himself he asked, "Mmmmm. What's this?"
turning it over, he saw no name or anything else to hint at its origin.
"That's strange. Who would be writing me?" Jimmy thought as he
turned it over and over. Finally he unfolded it and read... 'My darling. I
cannot wait until we are alone together again. Meet me in the shed. I will
be counting the seconds until I see you.' Jimmy smiled to himself. His Eve must have dropped the note into his toolbox when he wasn't looking. She never ceased to amaze him. He looked around sheepishly. When it was obvious that no one would notice his
disappearance for a while, he layed down his hammer, and strolled
nonchalantly toward the shed at the back of the property. He had tried shove
the note in his pocket, but his mind was so preoccupied thinking about his
wife that he did not see it fall to the ground. The breeze carried it some
distance to the back of the house where it landed in a pile of two by fours
that had been stacked near the back steps.

As the ladies were all sorting through the fabrics, deciding who would do
what with each project, Eve reaching into both pockets, as she always does
when she's relaxing. Feeling the tiny scrap of paper in the right pocket of
the smock, she pulls it out, and turns it over and as she's examining. She sees
no name on it, and wonders if it could be something Elizabeth left in the
apron. Finally she opens it, and read the message penned on the inside...'My
darling. I cannot wait until we are alone together again. Meet me in the
shed. I will be counting the seconds until I see you.'

Eve caught her breath for a moment, afraid her wide grin would
arrouse suspicion. She was certain that her Jimmy had stuck the note
secretly in her pocket when they had shared an embrace a moment before. He
never ceased to amaze her. She looked around, not wanting to attract too
much attention to herself. The other women were busy sort, and planning.
Eve was certain her presence would not be missed for a while. She took the apron
off and layed it over the back of chair as she departed, forgetting about
the note she had returned to the pocket and slipped quietly out the back door.
Eve quickly made her way to the little ramshackle shed hidden in the trees.

The weeds and wildflowers grew tall by the shed door, however there was a
little path leading to it, that had not been too far overgrown as to
prohibit reaching it. Eve looked back over her shoulder for a moment to make sure
she had not been watched. When she was sure it was all clear, she openned the
latch and pulling the little door open she entered the shed, closing it
behind her. Jimmy was already there waiting for her.

"Oooo, Jimmy baby...." Cooed Eve. "You sly fox you." As she ran to him and
through her arms around him, they began kissing each other passionately...

Jimmy and Eve returned quietly to their work, still thinking of one another.
When Eve entered the house she saw that her mother and Elizabeth had
stretched out a large piece of damask fabric and were pinning it to make
draperies for the dining room. Laura and Isabel were working shorter
curtains for the kitchen. They had several pieces of material hung over the
back of the chairs they had brought with them, and were trying to decide
which they liked better. Isabel had taken Elizabeth's apron, in the pocket
of which the forgotten note still rested, and layed it in her lap for safe
keeping. Before Eve could retrieve the apron, Francis came inside beaming
and rushed over to Isabel.

"Darling." He said kneeling beside her and placing his arms around her.
"Come outside for a moment. I want to show you something."

"What is it?" Isabel laughed, touching his face.

"Just come and see." Francis said, taking Isabel's hand. He helped her
stand. She layed the apron on the chair,and the two of them walked outside to the
backyard. Eve had also forgotten about the apron having been called over by
Elizabeth and Judith to help with the draperies.

"I don't see anything..." Isabel said looking around, grinning.

"Here stand right here." He told her guiding her to a spot directly next to
the pile of two by for which also concealed a hidden note. He then nearly
ran out into the middle of the yard and hopped into the middle of an
octagonal wooden frame half hidden by the grass. "What every house needs...
a gazebo." He smiled.

"What a glorious idea." Isabel agreed. She could already imagine sitting
outside in the lacey structure with Francis and the baby on summer nights.

He rushed back to her side, and put his arms around her. "Only the best for
you." He smiled.

When Isabel had returned to the ladies in the house, Francis bent down to
grab some more blocks of wood from the pile. It was then that he noticed the
slightly crumpled piece of paper sticking out from between two of the
boards. Unfolding it he read it's loving message...'My darling. I cannot wait until
we are alone together again. Meet me in the shed. I will be counting the
seconds until I see you.' He laughed to himself. Isabel must have dropped it
there when he wasn't looking, know he find it when he went for some more two
by fours. For the second time that day, the note missed it's intended
pocket and was carried by the breeze around the house where it came to rest by the
wheel of the wagon, where it was soon covered by a jacket falling from the
side. Francis was already off toward the shed, to await the rendezvous with
his beautiful wife, Isabel.

Inside Isabel returned to her chair to work on the curtains with Laura. She
picked up the apron and once more placed it on her lap as she sat down.
This time, however, she felt something crumple in her hand. Looking through the
folds of the material she found the note. No one else had noticed it, as
she opened it and read...'My darling. I cannot wait until we are alone together
again. Meet me in the shed. I will be counting the seconds until I see you.'
Isabel felt a rush of excitement. Francis must have hidden the note there
when he knelt beside her. It was all she could do not to run to the shed
when she thought of him waiting for her there. Instead she merely stood up,
exaggerated stretched out her back, and announced...

"I think I'll stretch my legs for a bit. You don't mind do you, Laura?" She
knew her cousin wouldn't mind.

"Oh no, dear, you go right a head." replied Laura, smiling at her cousin.

Isabel had tried to put the note safely back into the pocket of the apron,
but in her haste to leave, she did not see it fall into Laura's sewing box.

The warm sun felt nice on Isabel's face as she found her self once more in
the backyard. This time, however, she strolled past the frame of the gazebo
with a smile to herself, out of the gate, and down the little path to the
shed, stepping carefully. Seeing how nicely the path had kept over the
years Isabel was certain that Francis must have chosen this spot very carefully so
that she would have no trouble getting to it. Isabel reached the little
building nearly out of breath from the thrill. Entering quietly she found
her husband waiting for her inside.

As the sun climbed higher in the sky, Joe Samuels walked over to the wagon
for a drink of the cold water that had been set out in a bucket. He had
worked all morning on the roof, and was dry as a bone. Coming close to the
wagon he saw that the jacket he had set over the side earlier had fallen to
the ground. He bent down to scoop it up, and as he did the small piece of
paper tumbled out onto the grass. 'What's this, a note, for me?' He thought
to himself as he picked it up and unfolded it. It would have been possible
to knock him over with a feather as he read its inscription...'My darling. I
cannot wait until we are alone together again. Meet me in the shed. I will
be counting the seconds until I see you.' Thinking for a moment, he remembered
seeing Elizabeth walking to the wagon a few minutes before. She had
retrieved a basket she had put in this morning, but he realized she must
have had another reason for the errand. His heart jumped with the thrill of
anticipation. He had never expected, nor even dared to hope for this. She
must love him, just as he loved her. Forgetting about the water, he dropped
his jacket once more, and looked around to see who might be watching.
Everyone was working intently. Jimmy was sawing boards, Malcolm had turned
attention to cutting down the weeds that now made the front yard, the kids
were working on the fence, and Francis was busy building Isabel's gazebo.
Making sure no eyes followed him, Joe walked with a purpose in his step to
the back of the property and silently entered the shed to wait for his true
love.

Emily and Ilse had been concentrating on the shed all morning. Apparently
their notes were finding their ways into all sorts of hands. Not only had
Jimmy and Eve visited the shed, so too had Isabel and Francis. As they
watched Joe striding down the path, they had cause to hope that finally
their writing had reached it's intended couple.

Isabel returned inside to continue her sewing, smiling to herself. Laura
had pinned the curtain panels, and Isabel went to work stitching the seams and
hems. A few seconds later Laura bent down to retrieve more straight pins
from her sewing box. Feeling around the inside she came across the small
piece of paper that had landed there earlier. She had not remembered
putting it there, and was sure that it contained some long forgotten notes on
measurements or some reminder to buy thread. However, she opened it anyway
out of curiosity and reads it contents. She was surprised and thrilled to
find what was written inside....'My darling, I cannot wait until we are
alone together again. Meet me in the shed. I will be counting the seconds until I see you.'
Laura stifled a grin, how uncharactisic of Allen to suggest such a
thing. He must have put the note in her sewing box the night before. She
could hardly wait to be out of the house, and down to the shed. Placing the
note safely in the pocket of her apron, she politely excused herself and
walked toward the back door.

The girls, pretending to paint the fence, had sat back and waited for Aunt
Elizabeth to exit the house. They were sure that their plan would work.
They both cringed as it was Laura they saw making her way down the little
path to the shed.

"Oh no!" Ilse moaned.

"Maybe this wasn't such a good idea after all." Emily agreed. Together the
girls waited for the commotion they were sure would follow, but it did not.
They watched Laura enter the shed that Joe was occupying.

Laura opened the door smiling, expecting to see Allen waiting for her.
Instead she was greeted by the surprised and confused face of Joe Samuels
still holding the note in his hand.

"Oh, I'm sorry." They both said at once, turning red.

"I thought my husband would be in here." Laura explained. At the same time
Joe sheepishly informed her that "I thought someone else would be meeting
me."

"Oh, I'm so sorry." She said backing out of the shed." It was then that
Laura
noticed the note, identical to the one in her pocket, that Joe held in his
hand. She looked at it questioningly. "Can I see that?" She asked.

"I...I found this in my jacket." Joe explained unable to meet her eyes. He
handed her the note, which she promtly matched to the one she had.

"But,... who would you be expecting to meet you here?" Laura questioned,
still unsure.

Out by the fence the girls continued to watch the shed. They had expected
to
hear a scream, or at the very least two very embarrased people hurrying back
to their respective jobs. When no one came out, they began to get worried.

"What's going on?" Ilse said concerned over the delay.

"I don't know."Emily said, whatever it was, it couldn't be good.

Back in the shed Joe scuffed the toe of his boot along the floor. How could
he explain about his feelings for Elizabeth, especially to her sister?

"Well...ya see ma'am..." Joe began nervously. "I....uh....I really think
the world of your sister, Miss Murray, and....I....I'm not sure how to tell
her."

"Mmmm....I see." said Laura, as a smile formed on her face. "I think that I
might be able to help you, Mr. Samuels."

"I don't know." replied, Joe, all filled with self-doubt. "I wouldn't want ta
scare her away."

"Oh, no-no you wouldn't." answered Laura, reassuringly. "I'll just arrange
to have a little sister-to-sister chat with her. No problem." Also
thinking to herself, that perhaps she should also show this note to her
sister as well too. As an after thought, she adds, "Mr. Samuels? Why don't
you also let me have that note too, you're holding, while you're at it?"

Handing the note over to Laura, Joe said "Here."

"You're more than welcome." she replied, grinning at him. "Don't you worry
about a thing now. Alright!?"

He nodded, and said--"I won't."

The two smiled at each other. Joe was glad he had found an ally, he suddenly felt he could trust her as much as he trusted Eve. However, as he thought for a moment he realized something. "Uh... Mrs. Burnley." He said to Laura. "There's just one thing. I didn't write that note to Miss Murray, and I'm pretty sure she didn't write the other one. If we both didn't write 'em, who did?" He wondered aloud.

"That's another thing, I'm going to talk to my sister about." Replied
Laura. "So that we can get to the bottom of it, and find out who or whom
the authors are. When we find out, we'll let you know."

Laura smiled and patted Joe reassuringly on the arm before she turned and left the shed, taking the notes with her to show Elizabeth. Joe stayed behind a few moments, as much to think, as to spare Laura any embarassment upon being seen leaving the building with him. Being to new to Blair Water, he just couldn't figure out who would have written those notes. He knew however, that whoever had done so had the best of intentions and he would consider them a friend. Peering out the door to make sure no was looking, Joe bounded down the path, his mind racing.

Back inside the house Laura walked up to her sister, who was stitching the rod pocket on a drapery panel, and quietly tapped her on the shoulder. "Elizabeth, can I speak with you on the porch, please." She said.

Elizabeth had no idea what Laura might have to say, and although she was busy she put down her needle and thread and followed her sister out to the porch. When they reached a quiet corner she turned. "What is it Laura?" Elizabeth asked.

Laura pulled the two identical notes from ther pocket and showed them to Elizabeth. "It seems that these were meant for you and...Mr. Samuels." Laura smiled.

Elizabeth read the notes, her face turning red, although Laura could not tell whether from anger or embarassment. "Emily." Elizabeth ventured when she had finished, already knowing she was correct in her guess.

Laura knodded, she had come to the same conclusion, but that was not the only thing she wanted to discuss with Elizabeth.

"I'm certain, Liz, that they were well intentioned," Laura replied.
"....and they really meant no harm by they did, but what I can tell you is
that...by these notes, were really meant to bring you and Mr. Samuels
together."

"Mr. Samuels and me together?!" asked a surprised Elizabeth, blushing still
more.

"Yes, dear sister," said Laura. "I don't mean to embarass you or anything
like that, but Mr. Samuels told me that he thinks the world of you."

"I have something to confess to you too, dearest Laura," admitted
Elizabeth. "I uh...uh...also feel the same about Mr. Samuels. Only this
morning, we agreed to go on a first-name basis, when we had coffee
together."

"Oh, Elizabeth that's wonderful." Laura beamed. "I thought I saw an attraction between you two."

"Was it that obvious." Elizabeth asked embarassed. She was not used to playing the novice while Laura took the role of the authority, but it was true her little sister did have more experience in matters of the heart than she did. She had closed hers off for so long.

"Only to someone who knows what its like to be in love." Laura laughed.

"Oh, dear." Elizabeth said, thinking of all the happy couples now in the family. "Then I'm sure everyone must know."

"And if they do, I'm certain they couldn't be happier for you...and for Mr. Samuels." Laura put her arm around Elizabeth's shoulders. "You both deserve as much happiness as everyone else."

"Well, then, perhaps you are right about the girls being well intentioned." Elizabeth conceded. "Buy, my heavens, meeting in the shed, what do those girls take me for?"

"A woman in love." Laura smiled. "Now don't you worry, I think there's a way we can teach our little matchmakers about mettling."

"What? How?" Elizabeth asked intrigued.

"You'll see, but we'll need some help." Laura thought for a moment, and then took Elizabeth by the wrist and led her toward the door. As they entered Laura announced. "Oh, Isabel, dear, we need your help on a little project..."

When the sun reached it's zenith overhead, the ladies decided it was high time to open the picnic baskets for a well deserved break in the shade. Much work had been done that morning, and the exterior of the house was beginning to shape up very nicely. The interior would be worked on next. Under the midday sun the family lounged in the shade, enjoying their lunch. Emily and Ilse tried to stay as far away from the adults as possible, fearing they had been discovered. As they walked slowly up to where Elizabeth and Laura were laying out the meal they kept their eyes to the ground, afraid to meet anyone's gaze. Suddenly it was Laura who called attention to them, hugging each girl tightly in turn.

"There you are, I missed you both this morning." She grinned. They looked at each other curiously, attributing Laura's emotionalness to giddyness at still being a fairly newlywed.
They did not see the notes, written in Isabel's hand, that Laura slipped into each of their pinnafore pockets.

Later that afternoon, Emily went to get a drink of water from the back of the wagon. Resting for a moment she stuck her hand down into her pocket. Feeling something crumple in her hand she pulled out a small piece of paper. Surprised, she unfolded it and read the note...'Emily, we have to talk. Meet me in the shed.' The note was signed, Ilse.
This was completely unexpected. If Ilse needed to tell her something, she could just walk over and tell her. Unless it was far too secret to even take the chance that they might be overheard. Emily's curiosity got the better of her as she slipped off toward the shed.

Ilse had just finished painting the last board on the front gate when she thought she remembered a cinammon drop she had left in her pinnafore pocket. Reaching her hand in she did not find a piece of candy, but a neatly folded piece of paper. "Huh," she said as she read it's message...'Ilse, we have to talk. Meet me in the shed.' The note was signed Emily. This must be big, otherwise Emily would have just told her. Maybe it was about Aunt Elizabeth and Mr. Samuels. Ilse quickly layed her paint brush down and hurried to the shed, not really caring if anyone saw her.

Ilse openned the door quickly and burst inside. Emily was already there waiting for her. "Emily!" Ilse cried. "What was so important that we had to meet here in the shed?"

"You tell me." Emily said. "You're the one who put the note in my pocket."

"What note?" Ilse questioned confused. "You gave me a note."

The two girls looked at each other, and pulled their notes out their pockets to compare them. It suddenly dawned on them whose handwriting was on the paper. They had seen it enough on the blackboard at school to recognize it as Isabel's. They realized it was they who had been had this time.

"I think someone is trying to teach us a lesson." Emily groaned.

"Yeah, I guess we deserved that." Ilse said. "Come on lets get back to work."

The girls went to open the door, but it would not budge. The tried again, nothing. Ilse even began kicking at it, but it was obvioulsy locked.

"Oh no!" Ilse cried, getting a little scared. Would anyone hear them clear back here?

"Help!" Emily screamed. "Let us out!"

In their haste to reach the shed neither of the girls had noticed Laura and Elizabeth hiding around the side of the structure. They did not even hear the lock move when Laura reached around and latched it shut once Ilse was inside.

"Yeah, Let us out!" Ilse yelled.

"Not until you promise." Came Laura's voice through the boards.

"Promise what?" Emily yelled back.

Slowly the door openned revealing Elizabeth's form in the doorway. She was standing with her hands on her hips and was looking very stern. "Not to mettle." She said.

The girls looked at each other guilt written all over their faces. Then they looked at Elizabeth whose anger seemed to be cooling a little, and then at Laura who was stifling a giggle. "We promise." They said together, looking down at the floor.

Elizabeth began to smile at them and knelt down beside them. "Girls, I know you meant well, but really you must let Mr. Samuels and myself decide when and where we will...talk to each other, alright."

"Alright." They agreed as Elizabeth hugged them.

"Now, go back to your jobs." She smiled at them. The girls still looked around sheepishly. They had not expected Elizabeth to treat them so kindly after they had embarrasshed her, even if it was unintentionally. They walked slowly down the path, leaving the two ladies standing by the shed.

"That was very nice of you,Elizabeth." Laura complimented her.

"Well, they're just girls, and they were only trying to help." Elizabeth smiled.

Laura thought for a moment. It suddenly occured to her that each happy couple had been able to spend some time alone together in the shed today, except she and Allen.
"Let me see those one of those original notes that the girls wrote." She said.

Elizabeth handed her sister one of the old crumpled pieces of paper. "Why?" she asked.

"Oh, nothing." Laura assured her. "I think I'll just put this to good use, that's all." She smiled as she started down the path. Elizabeth laughed knowing exactly what she meant.

Laura walked around the front of the house until she found Allen sanding the old paint from some of the porch posts. She went over and stood beside him. Running her hand along the porch post, she almost invisibly stuffed the note into his other hand. Then she turned with a knowing smile and headed toward the back of the property where an old nearly delapidated shed stood.

Confused Allen openned the note Laura had just given him and read the contents...'My darling, I cannot wait until we are alone together again. Meet me in the shed. I will be counting the seconds until I see you.' He threw his head back and nearly roared with laughter, before he remembered this was supposed to be a secret. Laying down his tools, he walked quietly off the porch without drawing attention to himself, and made his way down the little path to where his wife waited for him.

Elizabeth stepped out onto the porch into the late afternoon sun. It had been quite a day. She noticed that Joe was busily working sawing some two by fours beneath an old oak tree. She remembered what Laura had said he told her... that he thought the world of her. For a moment she was unsure of what to do, then she did the only thing she could do. A pitcher of lemonade was sitting on the porch railing. She took one of the glasses next to it and filled it with the yellow liquid. Then she walked across the yard to where Je was working.

"Joe." She said surprising him. "You looked like you could use a nice drink." She smiled, realizing that it was a deeper warmer smile than she had ever given him.

Joe looked up at her and saw the look on her face. "Thank you very much...Elizabeth." He said, he knew now that Laura had told her, and that it seemed his feelings were returned. He hoped she would not object to his calling her by her given name. She didn't, she wanted to close her eyes and revel in the sound of her name on his lips. Instead she handed him the glass letting her fingers a bit too long beneath his.

"It has been quite a day, hasn't it." He asked, his smile saying more than his words.

"It certainly had." She agreed. "The kind of day... that could lead to anything." She smiled.

The stood for a moment in silence staring at each other, both realizing where their feelings would inevitably lead, and both hoping they would hurry. They did not even see Emily and Ilse watching them from across the yard, huge smiles painted on their faces.