"Are you planning to camp for a week?" Joe asked as he tallied up the supplies that Gabriel had put on the table. Along with some fruit and the treats, he had added some more matches, an extra lantern, a new canteen, and some more kerosene for the lanterns. Those were in addition to the canned food, matches, fuel, two lanterns and three canteens he already had.
"Just want to be prepared for anything, Joe," Gabriel replied easily. "The matches and kerosene will get used at some point even if they are not needed this weekend."
"You make a good point," Joe said as Gabriel handed him the money. "Let me get you a crate to carry this stuff in."
"Thank you," Gabriel said as his friend headed back to his store room.
The sound of the door opening brought Gabriel's attention in that direction. Sam took one step into the store and stopped. Though he and the prospector turned hand-man had not gotten off to a good start, Sam had only started trying to avoid him after he had started dating Lillian. The action actually gave Sam points in Gabriel's book. At least the man had the good graces to not rub being the one who got the girl in his rival's face.
Sam mumbled something that even Gabriel could not quite make out, though he was sure he caught the words 'come back' at some point. The man turned about to leave when Gabriel spoke up.
"Avoiding me in the town the size of Brookfield is hard, isn't it?" Gabriel stated, leaning against the counter as he faced the front door, trying to keep his voice casual. His suspicion of the man had long been dispelled.
Knowing he had been caught, Sam stepped the rest of the way into the store and let the door shut behind him. Sticking his hands in his pocket, he gazed back at Gabriel in a non confrontational way. Though he had been caught trying to skip out, Sam passed enough self-confidence that he was not embarrassed by that action
"I just figured I would be the last person you would want to see," Sam told him, not trying to contradict Gabriel's statement. They were both too smart for that tactic to work on any level.
"The guy who shot me, is the last person I want to see so you are not quite the last," Gabriel replied.
Sam ventured a small smile at the comment.
"And I do appreciate the low profile these last months," Gabriel continued. "However, it is a small town not to mention I do not plan on walking out of those kids' lives while still serving Brookfield. The kids Lillian and Grace look out for have faced enough in their short lives."
"Neither Lillian nor I want that," Sam replied.
Gabriel nodded. "Good," he said. "So, I think you and I need to put the past and our egos behind us and agree to at least be civil for the sake of Lillian and those children. Who knows, maybe eventually I will even start to like you."
Sam smiled. The man stepped forward, right hand extended. "I can go along with that," he said.
Gabriel straightened up and shook hands with Sam.
"You know despite that red serge you wear, you are a hard man to avoid," Sam added, a lopsided smile coming to his face.
Gabriel shrugged. "It is a talent," he replied.
"He can also be impossible to find when he wants to be, despite that serge," Joe commented, walking up to the counter and placing a crate next to Gabriel's purchases.
Gabriel looked over at his friend as Sam chuckled at the comment.
"I am a Mountie," Gabriel said easily. "If I could not make myself invisible then I would never catch the bad guys."
"And as someone who was on the wrong side of those skills mistakenly, I have a feeling Gabriel always gets the man he is looking for," Sam commented as he moved closer to the counter.
Just not the girl, Gabriel's mind added silently. A pair of light blue eyes framed by blonde hair came to mind. Was he setting himself up for yet another heart ache?
Faith said her dream as a girl was to marry a Mountie? That is a point in your favor, his inner voice argued.
But dreams and reality do not always mix, his doubt reminded him again.
"Gabe."
"Huh?" Gabriel said as Joe speaking his name cut through his thoughts. He could hear the concern in his friend's voice as he focused on the store owner.
"You seemed miles away there," Joe commented.
"Just lost in my own thoughts for a moment," Gabriel told him. "Sorry," he added. Looking over to Sam he asked, "so what did you come into the store for?"
The question was a lame attempt to distract attention from himself. Though neither Joe nor Sam was convinced by it, both men let it go.
"I came in search of marshmallows actually," Sam said in response to the question. "I am going to build a fire out in the back yard of the orphanage and let Sophia, Mary Louise and Fred roast marshmallows over the fire. Perhaps we could sing a few songs. Something different so they don't feel quite so left out from the camping trip."
"There is no way I could supervise all five children nor would it be appropriate to have the girls with me."
"Hey, I wasn't trying to make you feel guilty. Lillian and Grace understand. They also told the children that it was part of life that we all get opportunities to do different things. She pointed out the birthday party that Sophia and Mary Louise were invited to and the boys were not. She told them they should be happy for one another and not resent each other's opportunities."
Gabriel smiled. "Leave it to Lillian to turn it into a lesson."
Sam's smile held a touch of pride in it. "Yes, Lillian knows how to talk to theses children," he commented. "Vincent and Christian are going to have a great time with you on the camping trip. They deserve the experience without anyone feeling guilty. However, roasting marshmallows over a fire in the backyard, is a treat for any child."
"Sounds like everyone is going to be happy tonight," Joe agreed, having placed Gabriel's purchases in the crate. "There you go," he told Gabriel. Turning to Sam he said, "let me go grab those marshmallows for you."
"Thanks, Joe," Sam said. He looked to Gabriel who had picked up the crate. "Do you need any help getting gear packed? I could lend you a hand."
Gabriel held back the refusal that was on the tip of his tongue. He had just told Sam they should be civil to one another and here Sam was being nice and offering help. "I would like some help loading the wagon if you can spare the time," Gabriel said instead. "Thank you."
"I will be there shortly," Sam told him, moving to get the front door for Gabriel.
Feeling exhausted and with her feet aching, Grace thankfully slipped out of the Royal Brookfield. Gabriel was giving them a ride out to the orphanage, but there was still the walk to the schoolhouse to be made. Stepping out onto the boardwalk though, Grace found Gabriel perched on the wagon seat of the wagon parked right in front of the Royal Brookfield.
"Your chariot awaits, Miss Bennett," Gabriel told her graciously, a friendly smile on his face.
"You know in London, the chauffeurs wore tails," Grace teased.
"This chauffeur is going to be comfortable," Gabriel teased back, getting down from the wagon seat. He held out a hand to Grace. "May I assist you up?"
"You may, kind sir," Grace said lightly, placing one hand in Gabriel's as she climbed up on the wagon seat.
Grace gave a sigh of relief as she settled on the seat, her aching feet grateful that she was off them. "I wonder if Lillian will let me just put my feet up until dinner time," Grace speculated out loud, not really expecting an answer.
"I am sure your sister could be persuaded," Gabriel commented as he settled on the seat beside her. "Lillian doesn't strike me as the unreasonable sort."
Grace blushed a little. "No, she isn't."
"When we get to the school, stay right where you are," Gabriel told her. "I can get the children settled in the wagon."
"Thank you," Grace replied, more than happy to do just that.
The short ride to the schoolhouse was quickly completed. Gabriel pulled the wagon to a stop just short of the schoolhouse. Though she stayed where she was, Grace conversed with some of the other parents as they waited for the children to come pouring out of the school house. When they did, Gabriel climbed down from the wagon seat.
Grace spotted her children in the crowd and waved to them. Seeing the wagon the kids face lit up.
"Does this mean you can take us camping?" Christian asked as he led the group of orphans to the wagon.
"It does," Gabriel told him. "Though Dr. Carter says I still need to favor my ankle a little which might mean more breaks and she does not want me running."
"We will remember that, Mountie Gabe," Vincent said happily, having come to a stop beside Christian.
Grace watched as Gabriel greeted the other three children. "I thought everyone might like a ride home in the wagon, before Christian and Vincent and I leave?"
There was a chorus of cheers and then Gabriel was helping the girls and Fred into the wagon. Christian and Vincent had made easy work of climbing in themselves.
As they started toward the orphanage, Grace touched Gabriel's arm. When Gabriel was looking at her Grace said quietly, "thank you for seeing these children. As orphans feeling overlooked is a common occurrence. Something as simple as a wagon ride can mean the world to an orphan," she told him, drawing from her own experiences as a child.
Gabriel nodded. "It is my pleasure," he told her.
Grace looked back at the children who were sitting among the camping gear, obediently not touching anything. The smiles on their faces were enough to make her forget her aching feet.
Faith stood staring into her wardrobe. She had quite a few choices when it came to dresses to wear, but nothing felt quite right to wear to dinner on Monday. If she were in Hope Valley she could simply walk to Dottie's Apparel and buy a dress. That was not an option in Brookfield. A new dress meant either making one or a trip to Clearwater. Faith had no desire to make the trip to Clearwater by herself and she knew of no one that was heading to the small city that was several hours away by wagon or horseback.
There was a knock at her apartment door that led up from the infirmary. "Come in," Faith called figuring it was Maggie.
"Hello," came the distinct British voice moments later.
"I am in the bedroom," Faith called back. She turned from the closet as Maggie appeared in the doorway of the room.
"I just wanted to let you know that I put up the close sign and was leaving."
"Thank you," Faith said.
"Wardrobe issues?" Maggie inquired.
"I was just going over my options for Monday night," Faith admitted, having already told Maggie about Gabriel asking her to dinner at his place.
"Ooo, someone is anticipating their date," Maggie teased with a slight smile as she came into the room and crossed to the wardrobe. She surveyed the dresses and pulled out a pretty dark-green gingham dress. The dress had a boat neck neckline, with a lace-trimmed flounce overlaying the bodice. The short sleeves were slightly puffed, and also trimmed with lace. The simple skirt ended in a three-inch ruffle at the bottom. "Simple and feminine," she commented.
"And the dress I wore when Carson took me out on a boat in the little pond at Hope Valley," Faith commented.
"Oh," Maggie said, putting the dress back in the wardrobe.
Faith sighed. "The problem is, I could probably come up with a memory with Carson with every dress I own."
"Then you need a new dress," Maggie said easily.
"Do you sew?" Faith asked. "Because while I can mend things, sew a button on, and do simple projects I would not want to wear a dress I attempted to make. Especially when I have three days."
"No. My sewing skills are limited to buttons, socks and people myself," Maggie admitted. She paused for a moment, a thoughtful look on her face. "Lillian," Maggie said suddenly with a smile. "She is a wonderful seamstress. Perhaps she could make a dress for you."
"In three days?" Faith asked doubtfully.
"We will not know unless we ask," Maggie said.
"I would hate to trouble her," Faith hedged.
"Lucky for you, I have no such reservation," Maggie replied. The British nurse took Faith's hand and started toward the door with her. "Let's go."
Still feeling reluctant, Faith let herself be dragged out of her bedroom and out of the apartment. She did not want to be a bother to anyone but a new dress for Monday would be nice. It was the desire for the dress that kept Faith from further protest. What could it hurt to ask?
Maggie and Faith made the walk out to the orphanage. Grace, who was supervising the three young children getting weekend homework out of the way, answered the door. She directed the two women to the kitchen where Eleanor and Lillian were working on dinner preparation. After greeting the two women, Maggie wasted no time detailing the situation and making the request.
"I would love to help but I am not sure I could finish it in time with all I have to do here," Lillian said reluctantly as she peeled a carrot.
"I understand," Faith told her but Eleanor was not having it.
"Fiddlesticks," Eleanor remarked. "Grace and I can keep an eye on the children this weekend, especially as there are two less until Sunday. Sam is usually around here for a few hours and he will help I am sure."
"I could help out as well," Faith said, seeing a way for her to give something in return if Lillian was willing to make the dress. "I enjoy children but I will warn you, my skills in the kitchen are limited to peeling and cutting."
Lillian glanced at the housekeeper. The older woman that was like a mother to her already did so much. "Are you sure?"
"I do not have to work this weekend," Grace supplied from the doorway between the kitchen and the dining room where the kids were doing homework.
"Faith should have a new dress for her date and you, my dear, have the skills to provide it," Eleanor told her. "You should take Faith into town now to pick out material and get whatever else you need for the dress before Joe closes for the night."
"I can take over peeling the carrots," Maggie volunteered.
Lillian smiled. "All right," she said, wiping her hands on the apron before removing it. Maggie held her hand out for the apron and Lillian surrendered it. Lillian looked to Faith. "Let's go," she said.
Faith felt a wave of gratitude sweep over her. She was not sure what she had been going to find when she came to Brookfield but at least when it came to the people, it felt like she had not left Hope Valley. People here were just as willing to help one another as they were back there.
As they walked back into town, Lillian asked questions trying to figure out what kind of dress Faith would like. Not knowing a whole lot about fashion, Faith felt like her answers were not much help. Reaching the store though, Lillian seemed unfazed by her companion's unsure answers.
Joe was sweeping the floor of the empty store when they walked in. "Hello, ladies," he greeted them.
Both women returned the greeting and then Lillian went on. "Joe, can we see your dress catalog? Faith has a date with Gabriel on Monday evening, and I am going to make her a dress once I know what she would like. If I have a picture, I can make a pattern."
Joe set his broom aside as he started toward the counter. "So, Gabriel has a date and he neglected to tell me, huh?" the store owner mused. "Just wait until I see him," he added a teasing glint in his eyes.
Going behind the counter, Joe found the catalog and placed it on the counter. He looked to Faith.
"Lillian will make you a dress that will have our town Mountie rendered speechless," Joe assured her. "Though I do not think you need much help from a dress in accomplishing that."
Faith blushed at the compliment and turned her attention to the catalog that Lillian had opened.
"I will be finishing some clean up," Joe said. "Let me know if I can help you with anything," he told the ladies.
"We will," Lillian replied. "Thank you, Joe," she told him though she did not look up from the catalog. "Is this what you had in mind with the skirt?" Lillian asked pointing to a dress that had a three-tiered skirt, a short ruffle on the end of each tier of fabric.
"Yes," Faith said, realizing that expresses her thoughts on the dress would be much easier with the pictures for examples.
