"So do you have an idea for your first story?" Abigail asked slipping into her chair at the table with Kate and Elizabeth. Even though the sisters had a home of their own, Abigail was still family and they saw her at least once a day.

"i think I do" Elizabeth smiled looking up from her writing.

"Oh I wish I could right, your so talented" Abigail sighed giving Elizabeth a smile.

"She is, just wait until she lets you read what she writes" Kate agreed.

"You have to say that because your my friend and my sister" Elizabeth shook her head.

"Because your my talented friend" Abigail said making them laugh.

"Well I'm also your nosey friend, how are you and Frank?" Elizabeth asked.

"I'm still not sure, it's a lot to involve myself in" Abigail shook her head.

"What are you talking about?" Cody asked walking up to them in his pajama's.

"Grown up stuff nothing interesting" Elizabeth said quickly.

"Cody why aren't you dressed for school?" Abigail asked.

"I'm hungry" Cody shrugged.

"Get dressed and we can talk about breakfast" Abigail said raising an eyebrow at him.

"I need you to get my shirt" Cody said.

"Cody you are plenty old enough to pick out your own clothes." Abigail shook her head.

"I can help you" Clara said coming down the stairs offering the girls a smile hello.

"I need you to do it" Cody said looking pointedly at Abigail. Abigail shook her head chuckling.

"Alright young man, Kate can you set the table, we can all have breakfast together" Abigail said

"Sure" Kate nodded going to grab plates.

"I'll start the eggs" Clara smiled.


"Now before I dismiss you for lunch, I have a very special announcement" Elizabeth said finishing up the day.

"What is it?" Emily asked.

"This week we will be having a spelling contest" Elizabeth said.

"Like a spelling bee?" Laura asked.

"It's better then that. For this contest you will be competing against yourselves."

"How?" Gabe asked.

"As you can see I have written each grade on the board and you have a list of words underneath. You have to learn the words for your grade and all the grades below it. At the end of this week we will have a spelling test and every child who gets 100% on their test will get a certificate" Elizabeth said holding up the paper on her desk.

"Wow!" Opal cried. Being one of the youngest children and only in the first grade she only had four words to learn. Kate sighed glancing at the board. She was in the 8th grade, she had many word to learn and spelling was her worst subject.

"Make sure you get someone at home to help you study, alright class dismissed, enjoy your recess" Elizabeth said ringing her cow bell as everyone stood up.

"Ugh I hate spelling" Kate sighed leaning back in her desk as everyone started gathering their things.

"But if you get your sister to help you I bet you can get 100." Laura offered.

"I suppose there are some perks to living with the teacher" Kate shrugged.

"I'm going to get my mom to help me study." Sarah said a she walked by the older girls desk.

"I'm going to get Miss Abigail to help me." Cody said.

"She's not your mom" Sarah said as Kate and Laura stood up following them to the back to get their lunch pails.

"So?" Cody asked.

"It's not the same" Sarah shrugged.

"Sure it is" Cody said.

"Your not her real family, you don't have a family." Sarah said. Kate turned from her conversation with Laura and Anna to see Cody's face fall.

"That's not true Cody, you have a family here you know that." Kate told Cody.

"I hate Sarah" Cody muttered stomping out of the school house.

"Poor Cody, I hope he starts fitting in better" Kate sighed.

"He will, it takes time, the other boys will learn to like him. Want to eat lunch by the pond? " Laura asked.

"Sure, let me just give Elizabeth her lunch" Kate picked up their lunch pail bringing It up to Elizabeth's desk where she was wiping down the board.

"Did you have to do a spelling test?" Kate sighed opening their tin and pulling out the food, Sandwiches, apples, and salt crackers, two of each. She put one on Elizabeth's desk and the other back in the lunch pail to bring outside with her.

"Oh come on, it's a challenge, and you could use the practice" Elizabeth said. Kate just tolled her eyes.

"I'll help you study" Elizabeth chuckled.

"Miss Thatcher" A voice called making them both turn.

"Mr Brown what brings you here?" Elizabeth asked as a man from town hurried into the school. He had no children so him being in the school house was surprising.

"I'm looking for Constable Thornton, do you know where he is?" Mr Brown asked.

"He's on afternoon patrol, what's wrong?" Elizabeth asked.

"There was an accident at the mill. Mr Coulter was hurt" Mr Brown said hurrying back out of the school house.

"Poor Lee" Kate sighed.

"If you see Jack tell him to come by when he gets the chance." Elizabeth said.

"I will" Kate nodded heading outside.


Jack walked up to the school house just before Elizabeth rang the bell to start their afternoon.

"Did you find Lee?" She asked quickly as Kate came running up the steps inside having seen Jack go in.

"How is he?" Kate asked.

"He's going to he ok, I stopped the bleeding and bandaged his foot. He is going to need some stitches though, and I don't feel comfortable doing them with the way his skin is cut. I sent a wire to Doctor Burns and he or someone will come out later and stitch him up." Jack said.

"Thank goodness he will be alright." Elizabeth sighed with relief.

"How is he now?" Kate asked.

"Resting, although Rosemary is at his bedside so I can't imagine it's a restful rest" Jack chuckled making them laugh.

"She has a big heart." Elizabeth said the first to compose herself.

"With a big mouth to match." Kate muttered making Jack chuckle as Elizabeth shook her head at her unable to hide her own smile.


"Alright, don't forget your homework, class dismissed" Elizabeth called ringing her bell at the end of the day. The children hurried to gather their things and head outside.

"Miss Abigail is picking me up to walk me home." Cody said happily as he and Kate grabbed their lunch pails.

"That's so nice, see you are special to her." Kate said thinking of the conversation she had overhead before.

"Abigail" Elizabeth gave her friend a smile as she left the school with Kate and Cody seeing her friend outside talking to Paster Frank.

"Hi Miss Abigail" Cody smiled.

"Hello Cody, Paster Frank and I were just talking about going to play some darts tonight so Clara is going to take care of you" Abigail said as Cody hopped down the stairs towards her. Elizabeth gave Abigail a knowing smile.

"But you can't! It's meatloaf night and we have a spelling test on Friday and you have to help me learn the words!" Cody cried.

"Cody why don't you come over tonight, I will make you a big piece of meatloaf and I will help you and Kate study your words together" Elizabeth offered. Cody didn't say anything as he looked at Abigail.

"It will be fun." Kate assured him.

"Thank you Elizabeth! Come on Cody, why don't you girls come by for tea and you can tell me about your day." Abigail said putting her arm around Cody.

"I'll pick you up tonight" Frank called.

"Sounds wonderful" Abigail turned back giving him a smile as the girls left with them.


"What about this one?" Abigail asked holding up a navy blue dress in the parlor of the house behind the cafe.

"Are you going on a date or to a funeral?" Kate asked teasingly.

"This is the one!" Elizabeth said again holding up a pretty pink dress.

"I'm not sure this is a good idea" Abigail sighed.

"True me it's beautiful!" Elizabeth cried.

"I meant tonight, getting all dressed up, going out and leaving Cody."

"Don't worry about Cody, he will be fine" Elizabeth reassured her.

"I know but is this happening to quickly? I mean really what do I know about Frank?"

"That's why your going on a date right? To get to know him?" Kate asked.

"Exactly! See listen to Kate" Elizabeth said pointing to her sister as Abigail gave another sigh and Cody came thumping down the stairs.

"Cody! Isn't Miss Abigail's dress beautiful?" Elizabeth asked holding up the pink dress and nodding for Cody to agree with her.

"I guess" Cody sighed.

"Cody I won't be long, and you will have fun at Miss Thatcher's" Abigail said quickly.

"No I won't" Cody muttered.

"Sure you will! You can play catch with Constable Thornton while I shop for dinner, then you and Kate can play with Rip outside, we will eat meatloaf, and study your spelling words. Don't you want to play with Rip?" Elizabeth asked knowing full well she was bribing Cody into a good mood.

"Yeah, there's a big stick out on the back steps and if you throw it he will bring it back, you have to catch him to get it out of his mouth though." Kate added.

"I would rather stay here with Miss Abigail" Cody said firmly.

"We will study your spelling words tomorrow Cody I promise, and I will make you a pie for dessert tomorrow night. Ok?" Abigail asked.

"Ok" Cody nodded. He turned to go outside then turned back slipping his arms around Abigail in a tight hug before running back outside.

"He's not usually like this" Abigail said softly once he was gone.

"We will be fine" Elizabeth assured her before holding the pink dress up against her.

"Oh you and this dress" Abigail chuckled.


"That's good, remember snap your wrist when you let it go" Jack called tossing the baseball back to Cody.

"I hope this puts him in a better mood" Elizabeth sighed as she and Kate climbed the steps.

"Me too" Kate nodded.

"You can stay and play with them, you don't have to come help me make dinner" Elizabeth said as Kate opened the door to the mercantile.

"I know, but I think Cody likes to play with Jack by himself. I think he really looks up to Jack." Kate shrugged.

"I'm sorry, when did my little sister get so grown up?" Elizabeth cried giving Kate a smile.

"Stop, ok what do we need?" Kate asked puling out the list Abigail had given them.

"Let's see we have this, just the bottom few" Elizabeth looked over the list as Kate looked around the store. Mr's Yost's daughter Megan was behind the counter. She was talking to a blond women Kate had never seen before and looked a bit to dressed up to be from Hope Valley.

"Just grab some salt, I think we are running low" Elizabeth said pulling Kate's attention back as Kate reached for the bag and followed Elizabeth to the counter. The blond women offered them a smile.

"Mr Coulter said I could put this on his account, it's for his leg." The women said.

"Of course, can I have your name?" Megan asked.

"Faith Carter" The women said with a smile. Elizabeth's eyes widened as she glanced down at Kate who was busy looking at the catalog of dresses, then back at the women.

"Faith Carter from Hamilton?" Elizabeth asked. This made Kate look up quickly glancing between her sister and Faith with a look that mirrored Elizabeth's. Faith's mouth dropped open as the looked between them.

"You must be Elizabeth Thatcher! It's so nice to finally meet you! I grew up reading all about your family in the papers, you girls are like the princesses of Hamilton! And of course Jack told me all about you!" Faith cried shaking Elizabeth's hand. Kate couldn't help her eyebrows shooting. They had certainly lived like princesses but they didn't any longer. And Faith being here was not looking so good for Jack and Elizabeth…again.

"You too" Elizabeth smiled kindly at Faith.

"I'm Kate, it's nice to meet you" Kate said offering her own hand.

"Oh of course! Jack talked a lot about you too" Faith smiled.

"So what brings you to Hope Valley?" Elizabeth asked.

"I'm taking care of Mr Coulter, the doctor was busy so he sent me." Faith said.

"All the way from Hamilton?" Kate asked.

"No, I work at the hospital in Union City now" Faith shook her head.

"Oh, what brought you to Union City?" Elizabeth asked.

"My Fiancé lives there, he's in banking."

"Oh… Oh! You have a fiancé! That's wonderful congratulations" Elizabeth said and Kate picked up on the relief on her voice. So Faith wasn't here to have anything to do with Jack.

"Thank you, I had better get back to Mr Coulter, I hope we have the chance to get better acquainted."

"I'm sure we will, it's a small town we are bound to bump into each other again." Elizabeth smiled as Faith picked up her things.

"Wonderful, so good to see you"

"You too" Elizabeth smiled as Faith left.

"So, what was that about?" Kate asked as she and Elizabeth were walking home.

"It was about Faith coming back to take care of Lee." Elizabeth shrugged.

"So we're not going to have a repeat of when Rosemary came?" Kate asked softly.

"No! Of course not. Faith is engaged, and Rosemary came purely with the intent of courting Jack again. It's very different. Besides Jack and I are in a much better place, we have built trust and understanding." Elizabeth said lightly.

"Well now look and see who's become all grown up!" Kate smiled at her sister as Elizabeth chuckled.

"Are you going to tell Jack you saw her?"

"Of course, we have no secrets but I know it won't be an issue." Elizabeth nodded.

"My Elizabeth Thatcher how you have grown" Kate smiled as they walked home.


"Ok spell auspicious" Elizabeth said from where she was cooking by the stove.

"I have no idea" Kate sighed at the table her head in her hands.

"Oh come on use your Latin."

"Now I really have no idea." Kate muttered.

"My we are rusty today" Elizabeth shook her head as the door opened.

"Hi" Jack smiled coming in.

"Jack wonderful timing" Kate grinned at him.

"Where's Cody?" Elizabeth asked.

"Outside with Rip, I told him five more minutes" Jack said hanging his hat by the door on what had now become known as "his" hook.

"May I go?" Kate asked.

"Alright but we're not done" Elizabeth nodded as Kate hurried outside.

"Cody is not in a good mood" Jack shook his head.

"He wanted to stay home with Abigail and study his words tonight, he really wants to get that certificate" Elizabeth said.

"He mentioned that" Jack nodded starting to set the table.

"So, I ran into Faith Carter today" Elizabeth said turning from the stove to watch Jack.

"Oh good, you met her" Jack smiled.

"She's very pretty."

"Well she's a very good nurse" Jack nodded.

"I'm sure she is."

"Elizabeth you know I had nothing to do with her coming to Hope Valley right?" Jack asked looking up at her.

"I really want to believe that, but I think I might need something a little more convincing then just words" Elizabeth said her voice more teasing then anything else. Jack grinned walking over to.

"I wonder what that could be" he whispered taking hold of her arms as he leaned in close. His lips just brushed her's when the front door opened causing them both to jump apart as Cody came in.

"Is dinner ready?" Cody asked.

"Coming right up, just wash your hands" Elizabeth said turning back to the stove as Jack turned to finish setting the table. Kate came in with Rip looking sheepish.

"I tried to get him to stay out longer" Kate shrugged.

"It's fine, you go wash your hands too and we will eat" Jack smiled at her as Rip went over to his little bed by the stove laying down to watch them.

"That's not how Miss Abigail makes meatloaf" Cody frowned with Jack put his plate in front of him.

"Well it is Miss Abigail's recipe" Elizabeth sighed placing a napkin at each plate and sitting down. Jack only sat down after Elizabeth and Kate were both seated. It was little gentlemanly things he did that made Elizabeth's heart swell and showed how much he cared.

"It tasted exactly the same" Kate said taking a bite as if to prove it.

"I'm not hungry anymore" Cody leaned back crossing his arms looking at Elizabeth as if to challenge her.

"Well, I'm not a doctor, but I think it's because you have a case of the giggles trapped inside you." Elizabeth said seriously as Kate bit back a smile. She knew this trick well, Elizabeth had done it many timed when they were alone in the bedroom to eat because Kate had not been allowed at the dinner table in Grandmother's house for one reason or another.

"No I don't" Cody shook his head.

"Good, because whatever you do, don't smile, because there is absolutely nothing to smile about" Elizabeth said blowing on her spoon and hanging it from her nose. Kate was already giggling before she had let it go balancing it carefully.

"Nothing funny, nothing at all, isn't that right Jack?" Elizabeth turned to Jack as Cody was already biting back a smile.

"That's right, you listen to Miss Thatcher, there is nothing to laugh about." Jack said blowing on his own spoon and balancing it on his nose. Kate laughed loudly now trying to compose herself enough to balance her own spoon on her nose. As Cody suddenly started laughing trying to do his as all four of their spoons fell to the floor as they laughed together.

"I guess I am hungry" Cody said picking up his fork when they had settled down. Elizabeth glanced as Jack and they shared a smile as they all started eating.

"Miss Abigail!" Cody cried when there was a knock on the door soon after dinner and Abigail came in. He ran to give her a hug.

"I'm so glad to see you" Cody said.

"And I am glad to see you, did you have a fun time tonight?" Abigail smiled.

"Yes! Miss Thatcher taught me to balance a spoon on my nose!" Cody cried.

"Wow I can't wait to see that" Abigail chuckled as Elizabeth smiled.

"Cody let's go get your baseball outside" Jack said.

"Thank Miss Thatcher for having you" Abigail said softly.

"Thank you for having me Miss Thatcher" Cody said.

"You are welcome anytime Cody" Elizabeth gave him a hug before he ran outside after Jack.

"How was your night Abigail?" Kate asked.

"I had a lovely time" Abigail smiled.

"And will there be other nights like this?" Elizabeth asked.

"I believe there will be" Abigail smiled making both girls squeal with excitement as Jack came back in.

"Abigail I will walk you and Cody back it's getting late and to dark." Jack said.

"Oh you don't need to do that!"

"No I'm headed home anyway, you would give me some company." Jack assured her.

"Alright, we will see you outside" Abigail nodded as she left the house meeting Cody outside.

"Good night Jack." Kate gave him a smile as she went up the stairs to her room.

"Good night little shadow" Jack called after her as he stepped closer to Elizabeth once she was out of sight.

"I'll see you tomorrow?" Jack asked.

"Kate and I were thinking about breakfast at Abigail's if you would like to meet us before school." Elizabeth nodded.

"I would love that, oh and…" Jack trailed off pulling her closer to him as he wrapped his arms around her giving her a lingering kiss goodnight.

"Did you still need some convincing?" Jack asked.

"No, but I won't object to any of that" Elizabeth gave him a grin.

"I'll see you tomorrow" Jack winked picking up his hat and heading out to catch up with Abigail and Cody.


"Let's go!" Cody yelled Friday afternoon as he ran up the steps to the cafe.

"Can we stay for tea?" Kate asked as they followed him in.

"Sure." Elizabeth nodded as Cody ran through the Cafe into the kitchen and living area.

"Woah slow down!" Clara said as he nearly bumped into her as she was carrying a stack of plates.

"Where's Miss Abigail?" Cody asked.

"She's out with Paster Frank" Clara said.

"Don't worry you can show her your certificate when she gets back" Elizabeth said as she and Kate finally caught up to him in the kitchen.

"But I want to show her now" Cody frowned.

"Well she's not here now."

"She's never here! she's always busy!" Cody yelled.

"Cody thats not true." Elizabeth said softly.

"Who cares about a stupid certificate anyway!" Cody yelled as he took the paper in his hands and ripped it up throwing it on the ground and running upstairs.

"I'll go" Elizabeth said turning to Clara and Kate who nodded.

"Here, let me help" Kate took some of the plated from Clara helping her in the cafe as Elizabeth climbed the stairs. She passed her and Kate's old room that was now Clara's, finding Cody in his bedroom the large storage room then had turned into Clara's room when she first came.

"Cody, what's wrong?" Elizabeth asked.

"You wouldn't understand." Cody mumbled not looking up at her as he lay on his bed.

"Well I could try." Elizabeth said gently sitting on the edge of his bed, Cody kept his head down.

"Do you want to know a secret?" Elizabeth asked. This made Cody turn to look at her.

"Mountie Jack told me he used to get upset when his mom went out without him too. But it didn't mean she didn't care about him." Elizabeth told him.

"It's not the same" Cody frowned.

"Well I think he felt a lot like you do."

"But Miss Abigail is not my mother! Sarah said that Miss Abigail can't love me the way a real mom can!" Cody yelled. Elizabeth felt her face fall as she suddenly understood why Cody had been so angry all week.

"Sarah is wrong" Elizabeth said firmly.

"No she's isn't I don't belong here!"

"Cody that is not true"

"Yes it is I don't belong anywhere!" Cody yelled putting his head back down on his bed.

"You know Cody, when Kate and I first came here, we didn't belong either. Especially Kate, she had trouble making friends with the other children at first. I didn't know anything about making a life for myself. Miss Abigail took us in and cared for us and taught us, and loved us, just like she did with you. She became our family here, and now I can't imagine what we would do without her. Miss Abigail may not be your mother but I know in my heart she loves you and cares about you, and that you are her family, just like Kate, and Clara, and me. You don't have to grow up with someone to make it a family Cody, I learned that when I came here too." Elizabeth told him as Cody looked up at her.

"You really mean it?" Cody asked.

"I do, Miss Abigail cares about you very much." Elizabeth nodded softly making Cody smile.


"I don't blame Sarah, I don't think she meant anything by it." Elizabeth said later as she told Abigail what had happened.

"Of course not, I do wish I had known sooner though." Abigail sighed.

"We have all been a little distracted lately." Elizabeth said gently.

"Well I need to talk to Cody and tell him Sarah was wrong."

"Yes, I talk to him and he seemed better after but he certainly needs to hear it from you." Elizabeth nodded.

"Thank you" Abigail gave her a smile.

"I should let you go talk to him" Elizabeth said getting up and taking both their tea cups to the sink.

"Elizabeth, what did you tell him?" Abigail asked.

"Just that, family doesn't always look the way we think it does. And that he has a big family here, you created a wonderful family here for yourself Abigail, and I am proud to be a part of it." Elizabeth gave her a smile.

"You girls came to me when I was feeling most alone in the world. We found each other." Abigail told her.

"And we were just what we needed" Elizabeth gave her friend a hug.