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