(Chapter Eighteen)

Newcomers

"Good morning, sweetheart," Jack spoke softly at the breakfast table.

Elizabeth breathed deeply. "Morning to you too."

"What do you have planned for today?" he asked, his voice still no more than a whisper.

"I might take a walk over to the mercantile. Stock up on some food. Maybe later I'll go on over and have another visit with Rosemary."

"Good. I'll be busy today."

"With what?" she questioned her husband.

"Isn't a man allowed his secrets?"

"I suppose he is," she said with a matter of teasing in her voice.

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It was September 26th and extremely cold for that time of year.

As Elizabeth bundled against the cold, she thought of the coming baby. I wonder if you're a girl or a boy? she said, lovingly looking down at her bulging abdomen.

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"That will be $3.32," Mr. Yost announced as he rang up Elizabeth's items that she wished to purchase. Elizabeth handed the money to the kind man, and he gave her the bundle of groceries.

"Oh, I almost forgot. You have a letter, Mrs. Thornton."

"A letter?" she asked as he handed her the small envelope.

I'm not expecting a letter, she thought to herself.

"It says right here: 'Mrs. Elizabeth Thornton'," he confirmed that the letter was for her.

She replied with a friendly "Thank you," as she left the store. She scanned the envelope briefly.

It read: 'To Mrs. Elizabeth Thornton. From Miss Julie Thatcher.'

Oh no, Elizabeth thought to herself. I hope it's not bad news. Is Julie unsure of herself again? Does she wish to continue on in art school, or is she once again thinking of becoming a teacher? Her thoughts raced on as she stared at the envelope.

Not thinking of her surroundings, she didn't even notice a young man walking toward her. And before she realized, she bumped into him. "I'm sorry," Elizabeth began.

"No, I'm the one who is sorry ma 'am," the young man apologized.
She judged him to be twenty-three or so. He was very handsome in her opinion.

"I – it's alright," she managed. "I don't think I've seen you around here before," she stated. "Although, I must admit, I have not been up and about lately."

"Oh, excuse me. Where are my manners?" he apologized.
"My name is Jonathan – Jonathan Redwood."

"Hello, I'm Elizabeth Thornton. How long have you been in town?" she asked, trying to grasp whatever information she could about this stranger.

"Just arrived yesterday ma 'am," he said politely.

"Oh, I see. Do you have any family, Jonathan?"

"Oh, yes ma 'am. One brother and two sisters."

"Did they come with you?"

"Yes ma 'am. Mama's in the Mercantile. Peter and Jessica are back at home. I volunteered to help Mama today. We take turns, you see."

"And your other sister?"

"Oh, Katie. She's married. Left home a few years back."

"I see. How old are you all, if you don't mind me asking?" she tried to pull out as much additional information as she could pry out of the boy.

"Katie's twenty-five. I'm twenty-two; twenty-three next month. Peter's seventeen, and Jessica is twelve. Oh, and Katie has 3 children: Molly, Curt, and Joyce. They are five, three, and fourteen months."

"Wow, you four are spread out there. Your nieces are nephew must be so cute. Have you met them?"

"Yes ma 'am. I've met Molly when she was one year old. I haven't met the other two yet."

Elizabeth was about to reply when the mercantile door opened.

"Mama," Jonathan said cheerfully as a woman descended the steps.

"Jonathan," his mother said softly. "Have you made a friend already?" she asked teasingly.

"Mama – This is Elizabeth Thornton," he obliged his mother.

"Well, Miss Thornton, how do you do?"

"It's Mrs. Thornton," she replied quietly, not too harsh. Just harsh enough to make her point.
"Oh, I see," Mrs. Redwood seemed to reprimand her son for choosing to make his first friend in a new town a married woman.

"Well, if you'll excuse us, Mrs. Thornton. We'd best be going. Left the young 'ins back home alone for too long already."

"Of course, Mrs. Redwood," Elizabeth said politely, despite the woman's lack of manners.

Jonathan's eyes seemed pleading as he walked past Elizabeth.

Oh, what a poor boy, Elizabeth thought to herself. His mother has him completely under her wing. Poor, poor boy.

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"How was your day?" Jack asked Elizabeth that night before retiring.

"Very good. It was a lovely day – And I met someone at the mercantile."

"And who would that be?" he asked teasingly.

"A new family. Well – I only met the mother and son. Their name is the Redwood's. They only arrived yesterday, and they had four children: twelve, seventeen, twenty-two, and twenty-five; and grandchildren who are five, three, and fourteen months."

"Well, it sounds like you had an exciting day."

"Mm – hmmm," she replied excitedly. "I hope you can meet them soon, Jack! Their son, he's so nice. He's very polite."

"Should I be worried?" Jack teased her again.

She let out an exaggerated laugh and wacked him with a pillow. "Jack!"