The children had not yet started to gather in the school yard when Elizabeth arrived that morning. As she was earlier than usual, it did not surprise her. Climbing down from the wagon seat on her own, Elizabeth moved to the back of the wagon, intending to get the crate there.
"I will get that," Lee told her, having put on the break, he got down from the wagon himself.
Elizabeth smiled. She would have managed the crate from the wagon into the school house. After all, she had managed to get it down the steps of the mercantile on her own. Her original plan had been to take the crate to the library and then bring the children to the library. However, Lee had spotted her with the crate and had offered to take it out to the schoolhouse for her.
"What is in this thing any way?" Lee asked, as he picked up the crate and headed for the school house.
"Twenty-five copies of A Christmas Carol," Elizabeth told him as she went ahead of Lee so she could hold the door for him. "My Father wanted to know what I wanted for Christmas and I told him that I wanted to give each of my students a copy of the story. He was happy to oblige me, and send it early so we can read it in school together. I have a writing project in mind for the students after we finish. He even sent me a copy of it in braille for Angela."
Lee shook his head. "I wish I had teachers like you growing up," he told her. "I may have actually liked school."
Elizabeth laughed. "I just hope my students are as happy about the project," she replied. "Can you place the crate next to my desk for me? I want to write an inscription in each of the books before I hand them out."
"Of course," Lee replied, doing as he told. "There you go," he said, having placed the crate down. Elizabeth was already at the stove starting a fire to drive the chill from the room. "Anything else I can do for you?"
"No," Elizabeth replied not looking up from her task. "I appreciate the fact that you took some time from your work day to help me, especially as some people seem too busy to lend a hand these days," she added.
Having been told by Ned on Saturday that the crate had come in, Elizabeth had requested help from Lucas with getting it out to the school house yesterday. Though he had told her he would, things kept coming up and it had never gotten done. This morning, Elizabeth had just determined to figure out something herself.
"Well, there are not too many things that could happen that would make me too busy to help out my friends," Lee told her. "Have a good day, Elizabeth."
"Same to you, Lee," Elizabeth told him as her friend left.
Looking at the door, Elizabeth thought of her disappointment yesterday. Perhaps she should have just asked Lee for help in the first place. Or accepted Nathan's offer of help on Saturday. Nathan had been in the mercantile picking up marshmallows, chocolate and graham crackers. Knowing that Opal was staying with the Grants for the weekend, Elizabeth had imagined Nathan and the girls spending the evening in front of the fire enjoying their treats. Off balance from the images that had come to mind, Elizabeth had declined the help and left hurriedly telling Ned she would be back for the crate.
Still, Elizabeth couldn't help but feel like expecting help from Lucas to bring the crate out here should have been such a big deal. He claimed he loved her but sparing a few minutes to bring the crate out to the schoolyard was too much for him?
Elizabeth knew that Lee would have helped Rosemary out almost immediately. Jack would have dropped just about anything to help her move the crate. Elizabeth smiled as she remembered the crates her father had sent her to replace the items that had been lost with the stage coach robbery. They had been on the boardwalk in front of the saloon. They had been way too heavy for her to move but along came Jack, willing to lend a hand even though they hadn't even been friends at that point.
Elizabeth sighed, trying to put Lucas out of her mind. She wasn't going to let him ruin the school day for her.
With a fire going, Elizabeth moved to the front of the schoolhouse. Leaving her coat on for now, she placed her hat and gloves in her basket and placed the basket on the desk. Retrieving her pen and ink, Elizabeth sat down on the platform in front of her desk and reached into the crate for the first book. Opening it, she wrote an inscription in the front cover: Hoping you will read this in Christmas Futures and remember this Christmas Present which will be a Christmas Past. Merry Christmas, Mrs. Thornton.
Her father had sent her more copies than she had requested, saying she could do what she wanted with the others. Elizabeth planned on adding one copy to the library and then maybe sending a copy or two to Lillian and Grace for the children in their care. She was sure the other extra copies would come in handy. For now though, she planned on writing in the ones to give to her students.
As the room warmed up, Elizabeth removed her coat. Setting it aside, she went back to the task. Footsteps caused Elizabeth to look up from her task. Mr. and Mrs. Wise were walking down the aisle, Opal and a little girl walking hand-in-hand in front of them. Opal had told her that her parents were going to Brookfield to talk to Grace and Lillian about adoption. Elizabeth hadn't expected for the couple to return with a child.
"Who have we here?" Elizabeth said kindly, smiling as she met the two girls' gaze. She remained where she was sitting so that she would be more on the child's level.
"Byrony Mitchell, ma'am," the young red-haired child replied in a timid voice.
"Byrony might become my sister," Opal said from beside the girl. "It depends on if she likes living with us."
"I see," Elizabeth said with a smile. "The Weises are wonderful people Byrony."
"Yes, ma'am."
"Even though the adoption is not official yet, we hoped you would not mind if Byrony attends school while she is with us, Mrs. Thornton," Walter Weise stated.
Elizabeth looked up at Opal's parents. "Of course Byrony is welcome in my classroom," Elizabeth assured him, thankful that her father had sent a few extra copies of the book. She looked back down at the little girl. "I hope you like it here," she told the girl.
Byrony shrugged her shoulders, clearly not willing to commit to anything.
"Opal, why don't you take Byrony outside. You can introduce her to your friends when they arrival," Walter suggested.
"All right," Opal replied.
Still hand-in-hand, the two girls headed back outside. Elizabeth set aside the book and pen she held and got to her feet.
"We were hoping we could have some of your time to tell you about Byrony, Elizabeth," Melissa said.
"Of course," Elizabeth replied. She motioned to the front seat of desks. "Let us have a seat," Elizabeth said.
"When we went to Brookfield, we were not sure whether or not we would come back with a child," Walter started as they all settled in the pews. "However, as soon as we met Byrony, Melissa and I knew she was the child we wanted to make a part of our family."
"But things are not official yet?" Elizabeth questioned remembering the phrasing used by both Opal and Walter.
"No," Melissa said, "but that isn't because of doubt on our side," she told Elizabeth. "We are committed to making Byrony a part of our family."
"Given her past, however, Byrony is a little skeptical about being a part of a family."
"Would you mind telling me about her past?" Elizabeth asked. "It might help me interact with her better in the classroom."
Walter nodded but it was Melissa who spoke.
"According to Lillian and Grace, Byrony's mother died while giving birth to her. Her father, who was about nineteen at the time, said he couldn't love a child who had cost him his wife," Melissa said.
Elizabeth gasped. She couldn't imagine the thought of a father not loving a child. Then she thought of Ally. Ally's father had just left as well. Apparently there were some out there who were not meant to be a parent.
"To his credit, the father went to the preacher. He might not have wanted the baby but he wanted to make sure the baby was properly cared for. Apparently the preacher and his wife agreed to keep the child for six months. Though paper work was filled out that had the father giving up parental rights, it wouldn't be filed for six months. They were hoping that given time to get over his grief, Byrony's father would change his mind. He never did. He left town and no one ever heard from him again."
"When the six months was up, Byrony was surrendered to a big orphanage in Calgary. According to Grace, children in those big orphanages have their physical needs met but the workers don't have the time to offer much emotional support to the children in their care. About six months ago, Byrony was adopted by the Lyman family, who live on a farm about eight miles outside of Brookfield. They had three older boys but Mrs. Lyman apparently wanted some company in the house while Mr. Lyman and the boys were out working the fields. Timid Byrony did not fit well with the Lymans. From what Lillian said, both the Lymans were strict and not very affectionate though they do care for their boys well. However, it was not a good place for a timid girl who was starving for human affection."
"Constable Kinslow was out near the Lyman farm about two months ago. The oldest boy had been out riding and got thrown from his horse. He suffered only bruises but Constable Kinslow still made sure he got home safely. Little Byrony was curled up in a ball on the porch seat. Mr. Lyman saw the constable's interest in the girl, and mentioned that they planned on returning her to the Calgary orphanage as soon as they could because she was not a good fit. He told Constable Kinslow that she had good enough manners but seemed terrified of everyone in the family. They were simply waiting for a good time to make the trip. Constable Kinslow offered to take Byrony with him and handle the legal issues if they were certain they were giving up custody."
As Melissa paused, Walter took up the story. "Constable Kinslow took Byrony back to New Hope Orphanage with him. Lillian said when he brought Byrony in the girl had clung to anyone who was willing to hold her."
"The poor thing," Elizabeth said.
"Lillian contacted the orphanage in Calgary and took the necessary steps for Byrony to stay at New Hope Orphanage. She says that though Byrony is shy, and doesn't talk much, she likes to have a connection with people. Lillian said that she would follow them around. Loud voices and arguing upset her, but Byrony had gotten use to New Hope Orphanage. When she learned we wanted to adopt her she said she would rather just stay there."
"That is why this could be temporary," Melissa told Elizabeth. "We want that little girl, Elizabeth. However, if she doesn't adjust to living with us, then she might be better off at the orphanage than with us. It was Constable Kinslow that even got her to consent to come with us for a trial period. Byrony had hid in the coat closet near the front door. Constable Kinslow crawled into that closet right next to that little girl, Elizabeth. He told her that we were good people and that we wanted her to be a part of our family. He told her that he, Lillian and Grace all wanted her to know the joys of a loving family and told her that if she came to Hope Valley with us, he would personally come to Hope Valley in a week and check on her. If she wants to at that time, Constable Kinslow will take Byrony back with him."
Elizabeth reached out for Melissa's hand. "I will do my best to make sure Byrony feels welcomed here at school," she promised her.
Melissa nodded. "Opal has been wonderful so far. She has been so accepting of Byrony. She and Byrony had a 'sleep over' in the living room last night so Byrony did not have to spend her first night in her new house alone. This morning, Byrony dropped her plate while clearing the table. The girl broke down into tears immediately, apologizing. Before I could say anything, Opal went to her, gave her a hug. Opal told her not to worry about the plate, because she had broken so many she had lost count of them."
Elizabeth laughed. "That sounds exactly like Opal," she said.
Melissa nodded.
"It isn't much time, but Melissa and I pray that when Constable Kinslow comes to Hope Valley next Monday that Byrony will tell him that she wants to stay with us."
"I will be praying for that as well," Elizabeth told them.
"Thank-you," Melissa said, squeezing Elizabeth's hand before releasing it. She and Walter got to their feet. "I appreciate the time. I know that Byrony will be in good hands while she is at school."
Elizabeth nodded, getting to her feet as well. She walked with the Weise's to the door of the schoolhouse. As the Weise's left, Elizabeth looked over the school yard. Her students had gathered and were playing in groups. Quite a few of the boys were throwing snow balls at one another. She spotted Opal and Byrony off to the side with Ally and Emily. The older girls were trying to teach Byrony how to play Cat's Cradle. Elizabeth smiled, happy that they were already trying to make the little girl feel welcomed.
Elizabeth checked her watch. There were still a few more minutes before it was time to start school. Turning from the door, Elizabeth headed back to the books she had been writing in. With Byrony now here, she needed to write in two more books to have enough for her class. She could easily do that and then call the students in to begin the day.