Part 1: Chapter 92: 1892 Red Deer, Alberta

A Mediocre Summer

Nate was the only one surprised to see his father the next day. He glared at his parent before making room at the barn to do chores. Archie smiled and waved in greeting. Nate just took a bucket to milk their cow. He sat down at his stool and went to work. Archie began whistling as he read instructions for a really odd contraption. Archie started to fiddle with it. The metallic clanking reverberated around the barn.

Nate looked over at his father, as Archie looked down at the instructions again. Archie's whistling came to a slow stop as Archie used the mechanism with sharp looking tools. Nate stopped what he was doing to watch what Archie was trying to do with the locking mechanism. The boys sat in relative silence as Archie played with the new mechanism.

"What is that?" Nate asked as Archie finally managed to open one of the locks.

Archie smiled at Nate.

"It is a lock picking trainer," Archie explained.

Nate looked at him with hesitation and wariness.

"Why do we need one?" Nate asked.

"Because your Uncle James won't be around forever. It would be a useful skill to know," Archie said. "And it is your present."

Archie tossed the instructions to Nate. Nate caught the manual and read through the description of the first type of lock. He grabbed the tools Archie had used for the same lock and began to fumble through the process. It took time and a lot of noise, but Nate eventually got the lock to open. Nate gave his father a quick smile of appreciation and thanks.

Archie smiled widely back as they both went about completing their morning chores.

Nate and Archie worked in a companionable work space. They returned to the kitchen where Colleen and Ophelia were working on breakfast. Colleen and Ophelia both gave Archie a long glare and Colleen added a tapping toe.

"Why were you gone?" Colleen demanded after they sat down to eat.

Archie sighed into his toast as he took a sip of water.

"We needed money. It took me longer to get it," Archie said. Ophelia gave one look as she raised an eyebrow at her husband with skepticism. She could sense this was a half truth, but she also knew Archie wouldn't discuss it in front of their children.

Colleen met Nate's eyes. Both were giving each other looks. But Colleen shrugged and changed the topic. The family had awkward conversation for the rest of the meal.

Archie looked at his family in surprise when Nate and Colleen walked towards the McSweeney farm.

Ophelia made sure that the children had lunches for them both. Archie looked at her in surprise.

"Eoan is struggling with steady hands. Thomas is having to help more often," Ophelia explained.

Archie looked at her in shock, but also gave a small nod

"Any idea about what's causing it?" Archie asked.

Ophelia shook her head, "Mildred hasn't said anything, but I get the sense that what she thinks it is, is NOT good."

Archie looked at Ophelia in more alarm.

"You're worried," Archie noticed.

Ophelia nodded as she started the dish water and placed the dirty dishes carefully in the wash bin to soak.

"Anything we can do?" Archie asked.

Ophelia shrugged.

"They have farm hands, and Thomas is becoming more involved, but Eoan is not the type of person who can sit back while others do his work," Ophelia said.

Archie nodded at noticing the same thing about the man.

Nate and Colleen were approaching the edge of the McSweeney land. Thomas was next to Eoan in the field each checking their parts of the border field. Thomas noticed Nate and Colleen walking up to them. He turned and smiled.

"Hello," Thomas greeted once they were close enough to hear each other.

Nate smiled as Colleen greeted them.

Eoan stood up. His hands were shaking as he wiped his head of sweat. Nate and Colleen both greeted him.

"Do you need help?" Nate asked.

"Always," Thomas said as Eoan took a sip from his canteen. He nodded as an answer.

Nate smiled at Thomas with his father. Colleen bent over to begin her work. Thomas was beaming at the fact that she was interested in learning this part. Most girls in the school had no interest in learning about planting, harvest, and crop rotations. They were taught how to take care of the house and family. Thomas loved Colleen's interest in other things. Despite that she wasn't going to learn it in school, she was just as much of a learner as Nate was.

Nate bent down next to his sister and began instructing her on what she needed to do, which he had learned in previous trips to the land.

Eoan watched the children work and interact with one another.

He smiled at the picture they made. He watched them work for a few minutes. His fingers twitched into a curl, without him wanting it to. His frustration at his increasing movement issues caused him to stretch and flex them in such a way that his intentional movements caught the attention of Thomas.

"Are ya alright, Da?" Thomas asked as he watched Eoan flex his hands again.

"I'm fine," Eoan growled out before bending to help.

Thomas looked at his father. Eoan McSweeney wasn't fooling anyone. His movements were becoming more noticeable. Thomas was becoming more and more worried about him. So was Mildred. But Eoan was refusing to see a doctor. Something his family was growing increasingly irritated with him about.

The family worked with happy conversation led by Colleen as they worked in the morning.

"Sip, finger out," Edith said as she instructed Colleen on etiquette for a tea party.

Colleen spilled her tea slightly. Edith smiled as she gracefully tilted her own tea cup to sip tea. The young girl in front of her was looking at Edith with horror.

"I don't know if I can do that," Colleen said in protest.

"Practice is all you need. Again," Edith instructed with a gentle smile.

Colleen knocked her tea cup and saucer together as she heard Nate being instructed on how to fight with James.

"Glove up! Block your face," James could be heard saying loudly.

Nate would adjust. James would take a few hits. Nate would swing back. Colleen got distracted by the noise.

She sighed heavily in frustration as she wiped her hands.

Edith smiled at her.

"Why can't we watch?" Colleen asked.

"A lady doesn't encourage fighting," Edith said with a look.

"Uncle James literally teaches men to fight every single day," Colleen protested. "You married him. How does that not encourage him to fight?"

Edith sighed as she put down her tea cup and saucer onto the table in her parlor. She pondered her answer as she heard the noise coming from their yard once more. Ophelia had asked her and James to watch the kids once a week, so that she and Archie could argue. Archie hadn't been forthcoming about their finances or his increasing, longer trips out of town. He would technically be on business, but the money he brought back was not worth the time spent away from the family. James had begun to suspect that Archie was doing something illegal. But Archie stopped coming with his family when they were visiting. Instead he was at work to make a little more money while at home. Edith and James had continued the lessons they had started with the children and made sure to keep learning. As Colleen was almost 12, she would need to start to learn about hosting guests for tea or other social experiences. Colleen was eager to learn, but her energy as a person made it hard for her to stay focused throughout the lesson.

Edith looked at Colleen.

"I know this is boring to you. But it is important. Would you want to spill a drink on whomever you are hosting?" Edith asked.

Colleen shook her head.

"Do you think Luke's parents will be as accepting of your skills as we are?" Edith continued.

"Luke's parents?" Colleen asked in confusion.

"Thomas will introduce all of you at some point. Do you think that they won't judge you on your hosting skills?" Edith pointed out.

Colleen sighed and shook her head. Luke's parents were getting worse. They were traveling through India, but everything about the trip was to make a statement about their position and wealth. Luke had admitted before leaving on the trip, that he would rather stay at his school during the next summer holidays with how not friendly his father and mother were towards each other. Mildred had rolled her eyes heavily and had immediately gone outside to lose some arrows. Colleen knew Aunt Edith was correct. Luke's family would judge them for every little mistake.

Colleen gave a slow nod of agreement as she turned her attention back to her aunt.

Edith smiled at her and picked up her cup to sip. She took an elegant, small sip.

Colleen looked at her aunt in admiration.

"I don't think I will ever get as good as you are," Colleen admitted as she tried and failed to not slurp noisily.

James and Nate came into the parlor fresh from the washroom. Both were smiling.

"You are forgetting that she had to relearn this skill when she was attacked. And to be perfectly frank, her right handed skills were worse than her left handed," James said in a teasing whisper as they joined the ladies.

Colleen looked at Edith in surprise.

Edith only narrowed her eyes at her husband as she took another sip and then lowered her cup to look at Colleen.

"Unfortunately, all of that is true," Edith admitted, "which is why I am telling you to practice."

Colleen smiled at her aunt and tried again. While she was not nearly as graceful as Edith, Colleen showed improvement. Everyone smiled at her. James and Nate sat down to join the ladies. Colleen served them tea and sandwiches. Both politely thanked her, and took a sip of their tea.

Ophelia had spent a lot of time arguing or giving Archie silent treatment most of the time when he was around. Archie had started hiding things from her and James. Both knew that Archie knew that if he was around them more often, they would deduce what was wrong before he could finish what he was doing. Whatever Archie was doing, he was lying more often. Ophelia was tired of him being gone a lot.

This particular afternoon, Ophelia was waiting in the Mercantile for a package. The McSweeneys had paid Nate and Colleen for their help on their farms. Colleen had helped pay for food with hers. Nate had saved his to buy a present for Colleen. Ophelia and Edith helped Nate design the gift. It was arriving today. Ophelia was waiting for the mail wagon. She was knitting Thomas a sweater for his birthday. She heard the wagon pull up. Fred and Jessica both walked around to collect the mail bags and packages that were on the wagon. They began sorting. Ophelia waited as they sorted through the packages. Finally Fred stood up and gestured Ophelia over to get her mail. She gathered the mail from Fred, said goodbye, and left the Mercantile. Ophelia walked safely across the street. She started sifting through her letters. When she made it to the small package she smiled and continued towards the fort.

Ophelia was let through the gates with a salute. She glared at the men who kept it up. But she went through and quickly walked towards the Normandeau home. Ophelia quickly went into the cleaning room, cleaned and sanitized herself, dressed in new clothes, and then walked toward the parlor. Nate and Colleen were sitting at a tea table with James and Edith. Colleen had her back towards the door. Nate saw Ophelia. Their eyes met and Nate politely excused himself to go speak with his mother in the hallway. He silently approached his mother. She silently handed over the package.

Nate opened the box ever so slightly. He looked at the contents with awe.

"You're sure about this?" Nate whispered.

Ophelia smiled and nodded.

"She will love this," Ophelia said as she hugged her son.

Nate smiled at Ophelia before grabbing the gift. Edith and James had seen that Colleen's gift had arrived.

"Colleen," Edith said as she gestured to Colleen to look behind her.

"Hi, Mama!" Colleen exclaimed when she saw her mother. Ophelia gave a loving smile back. Ophelia sat in Nate's seat.

Colleen looked confused at why Nate wasn't sitting down.

Nate smiled at her.

"Colleen, I know that we don't always agree with each other about things, but you go above and beyond in being there. I had wanted to have this for your birthday, but my allowance went towards the bills when Dad was gone. So, with helping Mr. McSweeney this summer I was able to purchase this gift," Nate said as he handed her the box.

Colleen looked at him as she accepted the box. She lifted the box and pulled at the silver clasp and pulled out a bracelet with three charms on it. The charms had a letter 'C,' a paintbrush, and a fishing lure.

She was completely surprised. Tears of happiness were washing down her cheeks.

"I," was all Nate got out before Colleen had thrown herself into his arms. Nate almost lost his balance, and would have fallen had he been any shorter.

"I know!" Colleen whispered into his ear," I love it. You're the best!"

Nate smiled at her as she finally released him from her hug.

"If you keep this up, your future wife is going to be spoiled," Colleen teased.

Nate rolled his eyes at her and sighed heavily.

"Not going to get married," Nate protested with crossed arms.

"You will, and your teacher wife will proudly wear whatever baubles and trinkets you give her, and everyone will know that it came from you," Colleen sing-songed back.

Nate just shook his head.

Colleen smirked at her brother as she put on the charm bracelet. She let it dangle and listened to the music in the clanking of the charms. The charm bracelet became her favorite piece of jewelry. It was rarely off of her until her death.

As the summer was winding down, the family was at a decent place financially, due to Colleen's and Nate's work on the McSweeney farm. Everyone was becoming more worried about Eoan. He was now beginning to stumble about. He had stopped going into town because the people assumed he was drunk (he wasn't a big drinker). Eoan was still refusing to see a doctor.

Mildred was watching her husband with open horror and worry. Thomas was also more vocal about his worries. He had even written to Luke about his fears about his father, but Luke was just as worried and confused. He didn't remember anyone else with similar mannerisms, but if he asked his parents for help, they would scoff and laugh and say something along the lines of 'well, it serves them right.' But as the summer was winding down, Archie was off and away from his family more often. Nate and Colleen had to help around their house more often. It seemed like they only saw Thomas on tutoring days, when they were being watched by Edith.

As the summer break was ending, the family's were making sure that they were registered for school again. Ms. Fletcher was returning to everyone's frustration. Becky was the only Clarke returning. Elle had gotten a job to offset the loss of Natalie for the Clarke family. Emily was standing in line with Becky as Mildred approached with Thomas. Ophelia was listening to Colleen and Nate's conversation. All mothers made eye contact and all rolled their eyes as their children all turned their attention to their friends.

"It's been too long," Thomas said with a loud complaint.

Colleen nodded in agreement. Nate gave a head tilt.

Everyone all smiled at each other as they caught up on their family news to keep entertained as the line moved forward.

Ms. Fletcher gave the group a long glare as she registered the children. She gave each student a supplies list and didn't bother with her expectations for the classroom. They knew them by now. As the family left the schoolhouse, they all said a 'see ya soon' and continued to there respective tasks.

Ok, so this was planned on being uploaded a long time ago. But life. I want to respond to specific comments. To the person who called me brave about being so open about my life issues. I don't feel brave. It feels necessary. I am not putting out how my struggles are affecting me emotionally. I am not ranting about my issues. There is a bit of safety in being behind a key board to say these things about my life. The most common lie is "I'm okay." For those kind souls who said they would help with my story, I may take you up on the latter publications of my writing. A good chunk of Parts 4 and Parts 5 are written out. The issue with my disease is that it also affects speech and mental capabilities. I won't be able to communicate well when I get to where my mom was. As always, thanks for your kind words and understanding.