The snow, though lighter, was still falling the following morning. Gabriel knew that he had to check on the surrounding area to make sure things were okay. Knowing he would feel better if Billy was with Lillian and Grace rather than alone at home, Gabriel sat down with Billy after breakfast. The result of the conversation was that Billy agreed to stay at the orphanage until Gabriel got back, the reminder that Gabriel had gone through the court to get guardianship of Billy enough of a reassurance that Gabriel would come back for him.
Other than a few minor issues, the people of the area had made it through the storm fine. Gabriel returned to the orphanage shortly before the evening meal. He was surrounded by children the moment he walked through the door, Billy having been the first to reach him. Gabriel hugged Billy back, before greeting the other children, not bothering trying getting Billy to let go of him. The boy had agreed to stay at the orphanage that day. If he needed a little extra reassurance right then, Gabriel had no problem providing it.
It wasn't until after dinner that Gabriel and Billy finally said good-byes to the occupants of New Hope Orphanage.
"Miss Walsh's orphanage is different from the other two places I stayed," Billy commented, his arms around Gabriel's waist as the latter guided Apollo toward the cluster of buildings of Brookfield. "I am still thankful I belong to you," he added quietly.
"So am I, Billy," Gabriel replied. "So am I."
On Monday, Billy went to school as promised. Deciding that it might be best for Billy not to feel trapped in the schoolroom for a long time after reading his essay, Miss Peterson waited until it was near the end of the school day to have Billy read the essay. The teacher was thankful that she did, as several children had tears on their cheeks by the time that Billy had finished reading the essay. Despite having already read the essay herself, Miss Peterson found herself wiping away a few tears again herself.
With only ten minutes left to the school day, Miss Peterson took Billy's place in front of the classroom as the boy returned to his seat. She used the last few minutes of the day to tell the children what she hoped they would take away from the assignment. By the time she was done with her prepared speech, it was time to dismiss the class.
Wednesday, the Cuthberts arrived on the noon stage. The other children of New Hope Orphanage had given Ellie a going away party the night before as the Cuthberts planned on taken the late afternoon stage back to Clearwater, having train tickets to start the journey out East for the next morning.
Lillian, Ellie and Gabriel were there to meet the stage. As Bill and Veronica Cuthbert stepped from the stage, they spotted their niece who was in Gabriel's arms. As Veronica greeted her niece, tears glistening in her eyes, Ellie hugged Gabriel's neck, suddenly unsure of the changing situation. Gabriel rubbed the frightened child's back, thankful that neither the aunt nor uncle tried reaching for her after seeing the reaction.
Lillian stepped forward, introducing herself and Gabriel to the Cuthberts. Gabriel stopped rubbing Ellie's back long enough to shake hands with Bill Cuthbert.
"You have a few hours until the return stage arrives," Lillian stated when introductions were over. "Constable Kinslow and I were hoping you would join us for some refreshments at the hotel in the meanwhile. You can meet my sister, Grace, who works here during school hours."
"Miss Grace tells stories with funny voices," Ellie supplied, her head still resting on Gabriel's shoulder as she watched her aunt and uncle. It was clear to all four adults that she was sizing the aunt and uncle she barely knew up while clinging to what had become familiar to her following the accident.
Veronica looked to her husband, giving him a slight nod. It was Bill Cuthbert who responded to the invitation.
"That sounds like a wonderful idea," Bill replied. "It will be nice to sit some place that is not rocking back and forth for a bit."
There was light laughter as the group headed inside.
"Take a seat. I will be right with you all," Grace called from where she was waiting on other tables.
Lillian led the way to an empty table by the window. She and Veronica sat on one side of the table, Lillian by the window. Bill took the seat across from Lillian, allowing Gabriel to move a fifth chair to the end of the table. For now though, Gabriel kept Ellie in his lap as he set across from Veronica Cuthbert. He was hoping that Ellie would soon feel comfortable enough to sit in the chair next to her aunt.
Lillian took charge of the conversation, asking Bill and Veronica about their home and life in Halifax. Realizing that the orphanage proprietor was trying to get information for Ellie about the place she was going to, Veronica tried to speak more to Ellie than Lillian. She even told Ellie about some of the places they could explore in the city when the weather got better. By the time the food had arrived, Ellie had moved from Gabriel's lap to the extra chair and was speaking to her aunt and uncle.
There was still an hour left until the stage was due to arrive when they had finished the food. The lunch rush had passed, and so that Lillian could speak to the Cuthberts without Ellie there, Grace took Ellie for a tour of the hotel.
"I thank you and your sister for looking after our niece, Miss Walsh," Bill Cuthbert said when they were alone. "Ellie always has been a shy child, but she seems to have adjusted well here despite the trauma she went through."
"I just hope the child can adjust to life in Halifax with us," Veronica added.
"Just be patient and show her love and she will," Lillian told the woman.
"I guess we got passed the first challenge but the stage coach might be the bigger challenge," Veronica stated, the worry clear in her voice.
"Ellie will need reassurance during the ride, but I did take her for a short ride on the stage coach recently," Gabriel replied. "We only stayed on it for about ten minutes and a friend of mine had followed with a wagon. Ellie was scared and clingy but considering what happened the last time she was on a stage coach she did okay."
"Ellie can sit in my lap if it will make her feel more comfortable," Veronica stated.
"My niece has seemed to have made quite a connection with you, Constable," Bill stated.
"Gabriel was the one that found Ellie after the accident," Lillian replied.
Bill nodded in understanding. "I could see how a bond could form in that instance," he conceded. "However, I do not think your duties would include staying a part of her life once she was turned over to Miss Walsh and Miss Bennett."
"I thought it was important for Ellie to be able to keep that first connection she had made while she adjusted," Gabriel replied. "I am also out with the other children at the orphanage frequently."
"Constable Kinslow and I are engaged," Lillian informed him. "I am very grateful for the support and help he gives me in my calling, not just by interacting with the children but helping out with things that need to be fixed as well."
"It is good to be able to support one another in endeavors," Veronica said, smiling at her husband. "I kept teaching until our son Jacob came along and even then it was my choice to stop teaching. We didn't need the money but Bill knew it was important that I have something to help occupy my time while he worked. However, I wanted to be home with my child and between Jacob and painting, I have never been bored. I am glad I could be home with my son rather than letting a nanny raise him. Jacob is fifteen now and would rather I not hover over him as much. It will be nice to have a young child in the house again, though I do wish it was under different circumstances."
"I have always been willing to adopt, dear," Bill reminded her gently, reaching across the table for his wife's hand. "It has never been more children I have been opposed to."
Veronica looked at Gabriel and then to Lillian. "I was quite ill following the birth of our son. The doctors recommended that I not try to have any other children."
"I'm sorry," Lillian told her.
"Thank you," Veronica replied. "I had considered adopting but every time I started considering it, I would grow bitter about not being able to having more of my own children. I told myself if God wanted me to have more children then he would have allowed me to continue having children. I suppose in the way, this was God's way of telling me it is okay to have more children, though I do miss my sister."
Lillian rested a comforting hand on the woman's shoulder. "I am happy that Ellie has a loving family to care for her."
"Perhaps once Ellie is settled with us, we can revisit the idea of adopting if you would like, Veronica," her husband told her.
Veronica nodded. "One step at a time," she told her husband. "So what can you tell me about, Ellie?" she asked, looking to Lillian. "What have you found that she likes or dislikes? How has she been adjusting to the loss of her parents? What fears does she have?"
Lillian happily answered the woman's questions, thankful that she was receptive to receiving the information. It set her mind at ease that all of Ellie's needs would be met by this aunt and uncle who had come west to claim her.
Unsurprisingly, the stage coach was a few minutes late. However, Gabriel was still waiting with Ellie and her family when it pulled up in front of the hotel, having promised Ellie he would see her off. Still, Gabriel was glad that Ellie was now happily holding her aunt's hand.
As the stage coach came to a stop, Gabriel opened the door. As the only occupant was a female passenger, Gabriel politely offered his hand to her to help her down.
"Thank-you," the blonde said, taking Gabriel's offered hand. "Would you be Constable Kinslow?" the newcomer asked when both feet were on the ground.
"I am," Gabriel replied.
"I am Sofia Connelly. You contacted me about needing an architect for a project," the new comer stated.
"Of course," Gabriel said. "I must confess I did not know you would be arriving."
"That is my doing. I did not bother with a letter or anything. I thought it would be easier to talk in person and I will admit I was looking for a reason to take a trip."
Gabriel nodded. "I will help you get settled just as soon as I see Ellie and her family off," Gabriel told the architect. "You should go into the hotel out of the cold. I will bring your luggage."
"Thank you," Sophia replied. "There is just one bag," she told him.
Gabriel nodded in acknowledgment, before turning to Ellie and the Cuthberts. Bill had already given Ellie's small bag to the driver who had also removed Sofia's bag. The driver handed it to Gabriel.
Ellie gave Lillian, Grace and Gabriel a final hug. Lillian promised to write to the young girl. As Ellie hugged Gabriel the little girl asked, "what if there is another accident?". The words were just above a whisper.
"Then I will come find you again," Gabriel promised, knowing that he could not promise the girl there would not be an accident.
Ellie nodded and then finally let go and took a step back. Unbuttoning the first few buttons of his serge, Gabriel took out one of the cloth roses that Joe had gotten in.
"This is for you, Ellie," Gabriel told her as he knelt in front of the child. "If you are worried or scared, I want you to hold onto this rose and remember how safe you felt with me, Miss Lillian and Miss Bennett. All right?"
Ellie nodded as she took the rose. She held it against her dress even as Gabriel picked the little girl up and placed her in the stage coach. Having already been helped aboard by her husband, Veronica held her arms out to her niece. Ellie went to her aunt, allowing herself to be settled on the woman's lap.
With a final wave, Gabriel took a step back. He shook hands with Bill Cuthbert before the man joined his family on the stagecoach.
Gabriel went to Lillian's side, slipping his arm around her waist. As the stage coach pulled away, Gabriel, Lillian and Grace waved goodbye to the little girl who waved to them.
"I should get back to work," Grace said, as the stage coach moved from sight.
Alone with Lillian, Gabriel noticed that Lillian held something in her hand. "What is that?" he asked.
"It is from Mr. Cuthbert," Lillian said. "He told me to use it to care for the other children at the orphanage," she added handing the check to Gabriel.
"That is a very generous gift," Gabriel said, seeing the amount.
Lillian nodded. "It will definitely help not only make ends meet, but perhaps give the children treats a little more often. I told him he did not need to do it, but he said he wanted to show his gratitude for us being there for Ellie when she needed us. He wanted to be sure we could continue to do it for the children who are not as lucky to still have family to take them in."
"Which is exactly what you will do with it. His gift will help other children, which is exactly how it should be."
Lillian nodded.
"So, do you have time to come meet with Miss Connelly with me?" Gabriel asked, nodding toward the hotel.
"There is still a half hour until school lets out," Lillian said. "I wish she had given us some warning though. What if we cannot come to an agreement about the work and cost and she made the trip for nothing?"
"I do not think that would bother her," Gabriel said, remembering Sofia's comment about needing a reason to take a trip. "Let's just make sure we show her hospitality while she is in town whether we end up working with her or not," he said practically.
Gabriel retrieved Sofia's bag, and then escorted Lillian back into the Royal Brookfield.