a month later after Christmas and New Years, hade come and gone it was January of 1986
there's triumph in the anvil's stroke there's merit in the brave and strong who dig the mine or fell the oak gabe said
that's very nice, gabe Elizabeth said
sometime later
I was just at the mercantile, and Ned Yost asked if I wouldn't mind dropping this off to you jack said
that's very kind of you thank you, you didn't have to go to that trouble Elizabeth said
no trouble jack said
I do hope it's what I think it is the compendium of brain disorders and neurology and list go no Elizabeth said
well I can't say I got a word of that jack said
this just couldn't have come at a better time I call one of my old professors, dr. hinshelwood, about one of my students he's done work with children with reading troubles that is absolutely revolutionary I thought he had forgotten all about me Elizabeth said
you're not an easy person to forget jack said
thank you I thank Jack, i... I feel really bad about everything that happened, you know, with Bilal Elizabeth said
no, you don't have any reason to feel was a con man he was a professional manipulator. jack said
that's true and I was duped by him but I finally saw through his charade. Elizabeth said
I don't want you to blame yourself for falling under his spell jack said
well, I didn't exactly fall under his spell Elizabeth said
no, what I meant was he fooled you I'm not saying that you're a fool, exactly jack said
then what are you saying, exactly Elizabeth said
I'm just saying that women of a certain age are an easy mark jack said
now you're calling me desperate. Elizabeth said
what no jack said
I would really love to sit and chat about my many weaknesses but as you can see I have quite a lot of work to do Elizabeth said
I'm just trying to help you I'm just trying to speak to you as a friend jack said
Thank you for bringing the package I hope you have a nice day Elizabeth said
Sometimes late
He is absolutely impertinent I mean yes he saw through that con man first and yes I was fooled by him for a while but...Elizabeth said
Elizabeth Maybe it's not jack you're mad at maybe your pride is a bit bruised you have every reason to be angry at the situation Abigail said
I'm not angry Elizabeth said
Clearly, Abigail said
Jack seems to take pleasure in reminding me how insane I was he even implied that I was so desperate to find a husband that I couldn't think straight this is amazing if I keep living here I'm going to bust out of my clothes altogether Elizabeth said
My grandma recipe Abigail said
He's made it perfectly clear that as an officer he's not interested in committing to a woman so I don't understand why he's taken such an interest in my love life these are heavenly Elizabeth said
Have another Abigail said
Mmm I couldn't maybe just one more you know Abigail my family has employed some of the best chefs from some of the finest culinary school and your score and pies are lighter and tastier than any I ever had at home Elizabeth said
Do you really think so Abigail said
I know so Elizabeth said
Noah did love my baking I took great pride in cooking for him and my son Peter and they often brag to others about my cooking but they only had me to compare to certainly not that fancy big city food you're talking about Abigail said
Well trust me they were right whether in the big city or here hope Valley Elizabeth said
After dinner that night
Good evening jack said
Oh Abigail said
Oh Abigail jack said
Good evening jack Abigail said
What used to be here Jack said
Oh it was a cafe there was a time when all the single miners would eat their meals here it was food without the drink of the saloon but the food wasn't much better and Martin Gowen shut it down Abigail said
Well more profit in the drink then food I suppose jack said
Exactly uh... is there something else Abigail said
Actually, I was wondering if you could help me with something jack said
Well I'm happy to if I can Abigail said
If... let's say a bear save a deer from a skunk a skunk who had every intention of hurting her why...why then would the deer be angry at the bear jack said
Perhaps the deer's pride is hurt maybe seeing the bear reminds her that she was silly enough to trust a skunk Abigail said
Hmm I see jack said
Furthermore, the bear was saving the deer from an untrustworthy animal but didn't seem to have any interest in replacing him Abigail said
Well... I've lost you jack said
Jack Bilal was not the right man for Elizabeth he was indeed a skunk but one day there will be an appropriate man a good man who will approach Elizabeth with honorable intentions and then she will be taken perhaps approach her not as an officer who's there to rescue her but as a man Abigail said
A few minutes late at the saloon
Can I help you officer Elizabeth said
Actually, it's just jack tonight as you can see jack said
I stand corrected Elizabeth said
How's your reading student coming along jack said
Still working on it Elizabeth said
Elizabeth I was thinking I don't see you very often since I moved out of the saloon I miss our friendship and I was wondering if you might be inclined to having supper with me jack said
To be clear when you say you'd like to have supper you mean you'd like to come to my house where I will be the one doing the cooking? Elizabeth said
Oh no no why would you think that? Jack said
So what then? Chill and cornbread here at the saloon Elizabeth said
Yeah no uh... I guess I hadn't really thought it through jack said
Well I would love to but I'm very busy with work and I was planning on cleaning out my closet Elizabeth said
Well I didn't tell you which night I was considering jack said
Of course, I'm sorry Elizabeth said
How about Friday night jack said
Actually, that's the very night I was going to clean out my closet Elizabeth said
I see well maybe another time good evening jack said
Jack on second thought I actually really could use your help with one of my students Elizabeth said
Yeah of course jack said
So why don't you meet me here tomorrow night I'll even share a bowl of chili with you Elizabeth said
the next day
you can't be serious Mrs. Sutton Martin said
I'm absolutely serious, a cafe serving sandwiches, soups, teas, baked goods, and other confections many of the new miners are single and have no one to cook for them Abigail said
the saloon's plenty for a town this size Martin said
people need variety, a place to gather, to break bread together Mr. Gowen I believe this cafe can get people to spend their money in town Abigail said
make me an offer. Martin said
I'm prepared to offer you 25% of the profits I will fix the place up myself Abigail said
you fix up the place yourself you take 25% of the profits 75% comes to the company Martin said
fifty-fifty Abigail said
fifty-fifty it is but I want your row house I have new miner's families coming into town and I don't have any place to put them Martin said
Mr. Gowen, that's my home where I lived with my husband where my son was raised Abigail said
there are two rooms above the cafe you can live there those are my terms. I'll give you a week to decide, but then the offer's off the table now, if you'd excuse me, I have work to do Martin said
that night
good evening, miss thatcher. jack said
evening thank you for coming Elizabeth said
you're welcome jack said
please sit here, across from me Elizabeth said
I thought that we were going to have some dinner together jack said
We will you said you wanted to be friends and right now I could use a friend to help me with this Elizabeth said
Right jack said
I'm going to be administering an intelligence test the research shows that some of the smartest students are also slowest readers Elizabeth said
By me taking this test helps you how? jack said
I need someone to practice on you'll be my guinea pig Elizabeth said
Guinea pig Jack said
Yes now scientists are using guinea pigs for their experiments again all right it's a written test but I'd like to open with a question to assess your basic comprehension level I want to make sure you can follow simple instructions pay me a compliment Elizabeth said
I don't understand jack said
It's a simple test to determine whether you can follow directions Elizabeth said
Oh I see I admire how dedicated you are to your students, not good jack said
There is no good or bad it's only an opportunity to assess your ability to follow directions Elizabeth said
No, I want to change my answer jack said Well that's very unorthodox but you my Elizabeth said
You look really beautiful tonight jack said
Please take your pencil turn over your pages and begin you will have one hour to complete the test and then we can have dinner Elizabeth said
Come on seriously jack said
What? Elizabeth said
Really? Jack said
It will show your ability to perform préhension provoked by visual perception Elizabeth said
That's a lot of "P" words I didn't quite grasp jack said
Well here's another "P" word for you please just do as I ask Elizabeth said
The next morning
Your were right there was a bird's nest in the flue jack said
Oh we were afraid to light the stove when we heard the chirping laurel said
Did you save the baby birds Jolene said
Oh no no I put them in the oak tree by the well safe and sound jack said
Well we are so grateful it's the kind of thing Adam would have taken care of Laurel said
My daddy can do anything Jordan said
Well you all must miss him very much jack said
The blessing of fire Thank you constable laurel said
Mama said daddy will be home in one or two weeks Jordan said
Well that's that's very good news jack said
All right let's let constable jack get back to his work let's go upstairs and do your schoolwork laurel said
Yes ma'am Jordan and Jolene said
I feel almost selfish saying this when so many family have lost their husband and father but when we get Adam back I don't think I'll ever let him leave this house again Laurel said
Well I can understand that jack said
When you almost lose someone you-you care about you realize all those little arguments over simple things meaningless things they just don't matter anymore laurel said
An hour later (Knocking on Door)
Jack Elizabeth said
I need to talk to you jack said
Please come in Elizabeth said
Thank you where do I start life is too short for us to hold on to petty grievances jack said
I agree wholeheartedly Elizabeth said
Good I want you to know that if you need anything even if you have the smallest care in the world you can count on me knock on my door day or night jack said
Thank you Elizabeth said
You're welcome and if you give me a second chance I can do better than chili and cornbread at the saloon jack said
That night
Oh my goodness Abigail where have you been all day Elizabeth said
Oh working on a project I sorry I just really there's no dinner Abigail said
I'm fine I just warmed up some leftovers so... what is this project Elizabeth said
Well I'm not ready to say just yet but when I am you will be the first to know Peter was taller than me by the time he was 13 this house has so many memories Abigail said
Abigail, what is it? Elizabeth said
I'm no longer a wife I'm no longer a mother I'm just struggling to find my purpose now Abigail said
Before I came here I thought my purpose was teaching at one of those big city schools good shut that door and he opened up another one a much more meaningful one and that is teaching her in hope Valley and I just know God will show you what he wants for you too Abigail Elizabeth said
Thank you Elizabeth that's good advice well I'm bushed I'm going to hit the hay good night Abigail said
Goodnight Elizabeth said
The next night
Elizabeth jack said
I'm sorry I know it's late Elizabeth said
What's wrong jack said
It's Abigail she has been coming home late at night she said she's working on something but she seems really depressed she never came home tonight and I'm... I'm worried about her Elizabeth said
I think I know where she is jack said
You do Elizabeth said
Yeah come on I'll take you to her I have a feeling this conversation is better between just the two of you jack said
Abigail what are you doing here Elizabeth said
Elizabeth how did you know where to find me Abigail said
Jack brought me he says you've been here every night this week what's going on? Elizabeth said
Well actually this is all your fault the other day when you were enjoying my scones and you said all those fancy chefs at home had never concocted anything finer I got to thinking what if I could reopen the cafe in town it would be a great new start for me Abigail said
Oh, Abigail, that's a wonderful idea Elizabeth said
I met with Martin to try to make a deal but I should have known he would make things hard he said he would allow me to open the cafe but I had to give him my home Abigail said
Your home Elizabeth said
I have a week to decide Abigail said
Oh Elizabeth said
It's a steep price to pay and my first inclination was to say no but then I realized Noah and Peter didn't live in that house anymore they're with me wherever I go and I need to find a new purpose in life I need to find a new reason to get up in the morning Abigail said
I understand and I know you would be a huge success but why keep it a secret Elizabeth said
Nobody in town has ever tried anything like this before I didn't want you to think I was crazy Abigail said
I would never think that Elizabeth said
Well maybe you should Martin is betting against me and maybe he's right I don't know Elizabeth maybe it's... it's too risky to lose my home for a foolish dream Abigail said
Abigail, I would never tell you what to do but you are one of the most remarkable women I have ever met you didn't think you could help Carla deliver those twins but all three of them wouldn't be alive if it weren't for you and none of those windows would have their homes if you hadn't led them into the mine I believe in you and I believe you can accomplish anything you set your mind to Elizabeth said
Thank you that means a lot I was going to bake some cookies for the kids but then I fell asleep and the dough went bad Abigail said
They're adorable these shapes... do you have any more of this dough Elizabeth said
In two days time in town
I have to say I'm surprised you're going through with this Mrs. Sutton Martin said
Trust me that makes two of us Abigail said
All that's left is for you sign at the bottom of the page and the cafe you're to run congratulations Martin said
Thank you, Abigail said
you widows put me through hell over those row houses I'm glad to finally get one back just for the record this town will never support a cafe Martin said
How do you know Abigail said
Well I don't know much but I business and if hope Valley were ready for another eatery I would have opened it myself Martin said
Later that day
I smelled cookies Mrs. Sutton are you selling them miles said
Well miles I'm not officially open yet but um let me see what I can do here you go these are on the house Abigail said
Gee thanks miles said
Hey miles I guess that makes you my first official customer Abigail said
I sure hope you have more miles said
Why? Abigail said
Because you're gonna need them miles said
Meanwhile across town
Gabe, what's going on? Elizabeth said
They're selling cookies at the old cafe better hurry before they're gone Gabe said
Minutés later
Oh my goodness Abigail what is all this? Elizabeth said
After I signed the house over to Martin... oh yes I lit the stove I guess the smell of fresh baked goods drew all these people they've been at my door since early this morning Abigail said
I am so proud of you-you did it Elizabeth said
Not without your encouragement Abigail said
Excuse me, ma'am, the line starts back there jack said
Very funny this is amazing isn't it Elizabeth said
It is I guess it proves if you want something bad enough you find a way to get it jack said
I guess you're right Elizabeth said
Hello miss thatcher Jolene said
Hi Elizabeth said
Officer jack Jolene said
Jolene how are those baby birds doing jack said
I named one after you because his red feather are like your coat Jolene said
I'm honored jack said
Come along Jolene laurel said
You won't have to fixes anything anymore my daddy come home tomorrow Jolene said
The only miner pulled out alive after the disaster is coming home from the hospital tomorrow a new business is thriving this town is growing fast jack said
Soon it'll be a big city just like cape Fullerton and you won't have any reason to leave Elizabeth said
True but there is another reason for me to stay jack said
Is there Elizabeth said
Yes I think it's only fair that you take the same test you gave me starting with a basic task to test your ability to follow instructions jack said
Oh really Elizabeth said
Yeah it's an important part of the test jack said
All right Elizabeth said
Good do you agree to forgive me for everything stupid I've ever said or done jack said
Oh I don't know there are just so many of them Elizabeth said
Well no one said it was gonna be an easy test Jack said
I can follow those instructions Elizabeth said
I'm glad jack said
Is that the end of the test Elizabeth said
Oh no now comes the written part jack said
That evening
Well there's another one you got wrong jack said
Are you sure you're scoring it correct Elizabeth said
Relax I graduated with honors jack said
Jack do you stay up night just thinking of ways to drive me batty Elizabeth said
Nope don't have to just sort of come out naturally okay jack said
Well are you going to tell me or not Elizabeth said
Are you sure you want to know jack said
Of course, I want to know Elizabeth said
See it turns out you're not quite as smart as I thought you were jack said
That's not true Elizabeth said
Jack is this payback for the test I gave you Elizabeth said
No no you really didn't do very well jack said
Let me see jack let me see it give it to me please Elizabeth said
Okay just relax jack said
The next morning in town
That look really good child 1 said
All right children bring your signs the stagecoach will be here any minute what Elizabeth said
Nothing looks like you've been busy jack said
We have the children are beyond excited to welcome home Mr million Elizabeth said
Six months in the hospital is a long time I'm sure it will be a bittersweet day for everyone jack said
Yes hopefully more, sweet then bitter hi you must be very excited Elizabeth said
He's the top miner in town did you know that he once dug 2 miles through the mountain in just one day Jolene said
Yes I believe you've mentioned it a time or two Elizabeth said
You look silly Jordan said
What do you mean sweetie Elizabeth said
Uh... jack said
I have paint on my nose don't I, how long were you going to let me go on like that Elizabeth said
I don't know All day jack said
I'm so nervous to see him he wouldn't let me visit him in the hospital he said we couldn't afford it Laurel said
Yeah well he's a proud man all the man in this town are cat said
Look here he comes a child said
All right children hold up your signs Elizabeth said
What's wrong with daddy's leg Jordan said
Hush now morgen-rose laurel said
Sweethearts laurel I didn't know how to tell you Adam said
I love you I'm glad you're back laurel said
Welcome home Adam cat said
Thank you, Mrs. Montgomery, Adam said
Let me laurel said
No no no I can still do for myself Adam said
Laurel didn't know did she Elizabeth said
I don't think so cat said
That must have been quite a surprise for Mrs million and those poor girls Ramsey said
They're a strong family of faith they'll get through this cat said
Is almost barbaric that in this day and age a hospital would issue a pegleg when they have prosthetics readily available Elizabeth said
We're people of modest means I'm sure that that's all Adam could afford cat said
Well if nothing else the FD play will lift everyone's spirits Ramsey said
What is the FD play? Elizabeth said
Founders day play don't tell me you haven't begun the rehearsals it's next Saturday Ramsey said
Miss Ramsey, I have no idea what you're referring to Elizabeth said
My goodness no ones told her is that possible Ramsey said
Even year the children put on a play it's in celebration of the history of hope Valley cat said
That's lovely but given the fact that I was unaware perhaps we might postpone it a week or two Elizabeth said
And celebrate on some date besides the actual anniversary it's almost a sacrilege the mayor won't hear of it Ramsey said
The mayor's is your brother cat said
Mrs. Appleton always did such an amazing job everyone looks forward to hearing the mayors eloquent speech as he guides us towards a new year filled with... Ramsey said
Filled with, sister Silas said
Never mind Silas I will get you a copy of the play so you can begin rehearsals immediately Ramsey said
Cat... how am I going to pull all this together in a week Abigail and I are moving out of the row house this week and I promised her I'd help get the cafe ready for business and I still have lessons to prepare Elizabeth said
Okay don't worry the mothers are going to pitch in I am going to get reverend Anderson to drop by the costumes and the backdrop I should probably go home and find the sheet music cat said
There's music too Elizabeth said
Yeah cat said
Don't panic you can do this you crossed the country for heaven's sake how difficult could it be to produce a play Elizabeth said
Talking to yourself not a good sign jack said
You were eavesdropping Elizabeth said
it's not eavesdropping when one's talking to one's self out loud in public jack said
I have to put on a founders day play in a week a play that has been performed every year a play that apparently has costumes and music ...Elizabeth said
Okay Elizabeth come here come here sit down sit now take a deep breath in through your nose and out through your mouth there now don't you feel better jack said
I do an entire production (sighting ) Elizabeth said
The next evening at Abigail house Gasps Elizabeth
Were you talking to yourself again I'm beginning to worry about your mental health jack said
It's this play I hardly slept a wink last night I've never directed a play before Elizabeth said
Well didn't they go through that in that big city university you attended jack said
I didn't go to drama school jack I went to teacher college Elizabeth said
No great dramatist exists without a touch of madness Aristotle jack said
Well aren't you just full of surprises Elizabeth said
Yes jack said
Have I thanked you yet for helping us move Elizabeth said
About 100 times jack said
Thank you no oh Elizabeth said
Elizabeth are you okay Abigail said
How could I have been so careless Elizabeth said
It was an accident Abigail said
No no, this way my fault I wasn't looking where I was going... Elizabeth said
It's okay Abigail said
Abigail, please let me Elizabeth said
No, I've got it Abigail said
Of course, I will reimburse you for the vase Elizabeth said
Oh don't be silly this has been held together by glue for years I mean Peter broke it three or four times I always told him not to play ball in the house Abigail said
Abigail, I'm so sorry Elizabeth said
No, it's not the vase we built a life here together the three of us Abigail said
I can only imagine how difficult this is for you Elizabeth said
I think I would like to take this vase with me too Abigail said
Of course, I'll go get the glue Elizabeth said
Elizabeth I'm really happy I'm not in this alone Abigail said
Me too Abigail were both embarking on a new adventure Elizabeth said
That night above the cafe that Elizabeth's and Abigail's wood now call home
This is going take some getting used to Abigail said
It'll feel like home in no time Elizabeth said
I'm sure you're right Abigail said
It's like you said when we first started packing love travels with you...Elizabeth said
Wherever you go Abigail said
The next morning
Children may I have your attention please today we are going to cancel our math lesson Elizabeth said
All yes all the children said
In fact, we are going to cancel all of our lessons we're going to start rehearsing for our founders day play which we will perform this Saturday now how many of you know the song? Elizabeth said
Saturday in a week Gabby said
Mmm-hmm Elizabeth said
Last year Mrs. Appleton had us practicing for a month Gabby said
Well, I'm not Mrs. Appleton and you all performed this play before so I'm... I'm not worried at all Elizabeth said
Patrick was the narrator and he graduated school months ago a boy said
Yes well just have to get started and try our best now I'm going to need everyone to help me uh... maybe some of the older students could help me with the Jolene Jordan I thought you two were going to stay at home today and spend the day with your father Elizabeth said
we change our minds pa said he needs to take care of some business Jolene said
My daddy only has one leg now Jordan said
Well, what matters is that he's home now right Elizabeth said
Yes ma'am Jolene said
I find the sheet music in my attic cat said
Cat that's wonderful one item off my list Elizabeth said
There ain't no way we can learn this play in one week a boy said
Now children if I may Elizabeth miss Thatcher is going to need all of your help and your concentration for this it's a very important play to all of us especially after the year that we've had Cat said
The good news is that I found the costumes reverend Anderson said
Oh Elizabeth said
Did you store these at the church cat said
That would be the bad news, Reverend Anderson
My goodness they're all signed this is horrible Elizabeth said
Well it is a play about a coal mine we could make this into one of the miner's costumes it's already blackened revenge Anderson said
And what about the backdrop or is it best not to ask about that church fire too Elizabeth said
More of the bad news revenge Anderson said
How are we supposed to have a play without a backdrop a boy said
Noah Sutton painted the last one I don't know anyone else who has that skill left in hope Valley cat said
Boys and girls if there's one thing I've learned about the people of hope Valley it's that they don't quite even when everything is against them so we are not going to quite now I don't know exactly how but this Saturday we are going to do founders day proud Elizabeth said
That afternoon at Abigail new house
Have you sewn yourself to the back of the chair yet Abigail said
No oh but apparently I will be wearing this for the rest of the day Elizabeth said
Look what I have compliments of the mayor and his sister Dottie Ramsey enough fabric to make new costumes Abigail said
Oh my goodness that's so generous Elizabeth said
Yes, however, there is a small price the star of the play will now be the motor's son Abigail said
Oh well I suppose we can afford that Elizabeth said
And Dottie will also be the master of ceremonies Abigail said
She will Elizabeth said
Oh yes it's a hope Valley tradition Abigail said
Hi Elizabeth jack said
Jack Elizabeth said
I brought you some salmon cornbread jack said
Oh Elizabeth said
Although it doesn't hold a candle to Abigail it's all we have until she officially opens jack said
Ow Elizabeth said
Your needle attack you jack said
Wouldn't be the first time today Elizabeth said
Hmm so your cooking is only rivaled by your sewing jack said
I suppose you could do better Elizabeth said
May I I think a whip stitch will do here jack said
Where did you learn that Elizabeth said
Oh I have sewn before jack said
Where Elizabeth said
Uh... close to the bone jack said
What Oh my goodness what happened Elizabeth said
It was nothing although the bear is still talking about it jack said
The next morning in saloon/ schoolhouse
Oh my lord this wasn't here yesterday where on earth Elizabeth said
Meanwhile at the cafe
Thank you for helping with this Abigail said
Oh it is mostly selfish on my part the sooner you open the sooner I can get to eat here jack said
Oh and sooner I can start cooking for hordes of hungry miners you seem to like a national with the paintbrush Abigail said
Well I like painting walls jack said
Perhaps you might consider painting a mural on one Abigail said
Mural jack said
Yes a nice view of hope Valley perhaps some beautiful mountains Abigail said
Now where would you get an idea like that Noah painted the old founders day mural you know it takes a special kind of person to see things from an artists perspective Abigail said
I wouldn't know jack said
Wouldn't you Abigail said
No, I'm just a simple wall painter ma'am jack said
Don't worry I won't tell Elizabeth Abigail said
The next day to school
Okay, Cassandra, we're going to try this again let's take it from the top Elizabeth said
For some of us the rains stopped and then the crops dried up Cassandra said
Okay now we change the placard and now it's Jolene Elizabeth said
For those of us who were struggling to meet our ends, Jolene said
To make ends meet Elizabeth said
For those who were making ends meet ...Jolene said
For those of us who were struggling to make ends meet Jolene Elizabeth said
Is she okay a girl said
Just ... just keep rehearsing your line I'll be right back we're all tired Jolene and everyone forgets a line once in a while Elizabeth said
I know the line I'm just not sure I believe them anymore look what happened to all the fathers who came here to work in the mine look what happened to my pa Jolene said
I know how hard this must be for you having him back after he was gone for such a long time Elizabeth said
My daddy never come back miss thatcher not the pa I knew Jolene said
Jolene just because he may not look the same... Elizabeth said
I'm not talking about his leg he's changed he's not the same person and I don't know why Jolene said
I know it's hard to believe but even our mamas and our daddies have struggles sometimes Elizabeth said
I just want everything to be like it was before Jolene said
All you can do is love him you can't be responsible for how acts all right come here it's okay it's all right Elizabeth said
That afternoon
Jack Elizabeth said
Where did that come from jack said
Your guess is as good as mine Laurel what's wrong Elizabeth said
Constable, it's Adam I need your help we had an argument last night and he wasn't in the house when we woke up this morning I don't know why I just thought he needed some time to think but he hasn't come home all day and I I found a note I must have missed it laurel said
(I'm not the same man you married you and the girls are better off without me) jack said (reading the note)
We had words terrible words and I didn't mean what I said I swear it I just... I'm afraid he's going to do something awful laurel said
Don't worry I will find him jack said
Jack, please be careful Elizabeth said
I'm glad to see you be so concerned for your constable jack said
I'm concerned for my constable and I'm also concerned for the man who wears the constable uniform Elizabeth said
Sunday morning
Noah, I wish you were here to see this Abigail said
A class at saloon cleaning up form the night before founders day play
Hey, I never noticed that before What is that? A boy said
I think the bigger question is who is that? A girl said
May I borrow your magnifying glass miss thatcher a boy said
Certainly, Elizabeth said
James come get a load of this gabe said
What's so funny you three Elizabeth said
Come to see for yourself miss thatcher James said
Thank you where Elizabeth said
there a girl said
Oh my goodness did any of you three know about this Elizabeth said
Why would we know anything about this miss thatcher we weren't the ones who painted the backdrop a girl said
It does look a lot like you and mountie jack though James said
No it doesn't James it doesn't at all and I'll ask that you three to forget all about this incident Elizabeth said
Lips are sealed miss thatcher Gabe said
Moments later Elizabeth runs to jack officer
Jack are you aware that someone painted a tiny likeness of the two of us on the founders day backdrop Elizabeth said
Likeness jack said
Yes and it's hidden there like a little stick of dynamite ready to go off and some of my students just lit the fuse Elizabeth said
What are we doing in the painting jack said
I can't really say... we're kissing Elizabeth said
We're kissing well that is completely inappropriate pure fiction jack said
Yes fiction Elizabeth said
Who would paint such a thing you know I think I should launch an investigation interrogate some of your students until we get to the bottom of this jack said
All right but on second thought both of our reputations are on the line here Elizabeth said
Hmm... that is a good point but I promise I will get to the bottom of this don't you worry jack said
I'm glad you're on the case Elizabeth said
Rip stars barking like a baby
I'm going to go Elizabeth said
Have a good day our little secret boy more barking for rip jack said
