"I saw Florence this morning she said there might not be a service at church this week." Elizabeth said setting down her teacup as she and Kate were sitting with Abigail after school as they often did.

"Well it depends on when Frank gets back, he was called away to Buxton yesterday and he might be gone a few days." Abigail sighed.

"You sound like you miss him." Kate grinned.

"I do" Abigail nodded making they all smile as the front door burst open and Cody came racing in.

"Miss Abigail! She's coming! Becky is coming!" Cody yelled waving a paper in his hands as he ran to Abigail's side.

"She said she is getting better and the hospital is going to let her come home."Cody cried as Abigail took the paper from him reading the letter for herself.

"That's wonderful news Cody!" Elizabeth smiled.

"When is she coming?" Kate asked.

"It doesn't say, but this was mailed last week." Abigail said glancing at the stamp.

"So soon right?" Cody asked.

"I will wire Dr. Burns and find out." Abigail gave him a smile.

"Then we can all be together!" Cody cried.

"Yes, then we will all be together." Abigail grinned as Cody gave her a hug.


"I haven't seen you writing lately" Kate said as she and Elizabeth walked to school.

"Turned out, its easier to think of yourself as a writer then to actually write." Elizabeth sighed.

"Well don't you want to write about our town? There's always lots of things happening here." Kate offered.

"Yes, but I was hoping to create my own characters based off of people and.. I don't know I just fell like I can't do a place like Hope Valley justice with my word. It's like they aren't enough."

"You know, I once had a very good teacher, and I seem to remember her telling her class that if you just get started writing something, even if you don't like it, the words will flow and it might turn into something you really like." Kate raised an eyebrow at her sister.

"Well, she sounds very wise" Elizabeth smiled.

"She is, and she should learn to take her own advice." Kate smirked.

"Your right, I'll try it." Elizabeth rolled her eyes making Kate laughed. They both turned around when someone called Kate's name.

"Gabe and Caleb are having a foot race before school around the lake, want to come watch?" Laura asked running up to them.

"Yeah!" Kate cried

"Don't be late for school!" Elizabeth called after them as the girls hurried down main street just as Jack rounded the corner on Sergeant finishing his morning rounds.

"Need a ride miss?" Jack asked greeting Elizabeth as he slipped off the horse and walking up to her.

"Miss? Actually no, I'm not in the habit of accepting offers from strangers." Elizabeth met his teasing grin with her own.

"I'm a mountie, you have to trust me, it's the law."

"Well if it's the law." Elizabeth shrugged as Jack put his arm around her as they made their way to where the very well trained Sergeant stood waiting for Jack.

"About dinner tonight, I'm not sure I am going to be back in time. Since Frank is out of town I'm going to go with Faith to the settlement to deliver some supplies." Jack said as Elizabeth put her books into the saddle bag.

"Well maybe she has something for your memory."

"What's wrong with my memory?" Jack asked.

"You forgot to mention that she's staying to run the infirmary, and that she broke off her engagement." Elizabeth crossed her arms turning to Jack letting him know she had heard the latest town gossip.

"Did I forget that?" Jack asked looking guilty, Elizabeth smiled at him letting him know she wasn't really mad.

"You know it really doesn't bother me that she's staying, Faith is a really good nurse and we need her, the town is growing and we don't even have our own doctor." Elizabeth said.

"I'm glad to hear you say that." Jack smiled reaching out and tucking one of Elizabeth's long curls behind her ear lovingly.

"Come on." He nodded to Sergeant putting his hands on her waist and giving her a boost up into the saddle before effortlessly swinging up behind her.


"Good afternoon you two how was school?" Abigail asked pulling a pie out of the oven as Elizabeth and Kate walked into the kitchen that afternoon.

"Did Cody tell you about the science project?" Kate asked.

"No, he just ran right by grabbed a cookie and went upstairs to find something." Abigail shook her head.

"There's a judge coming here from a school in Cape Fullerton. We're all going to make a scene project and have a science fair. The winner will get a scholarship from the school and get to go away to school there." Kate said.

"My that sounds very exciting!" Abigail smiled.

"I'm not sure any of the children in town will actually get to go. Most are needed to help their families but it would be an honer to receive the award anyway." Elizabeth said setting there books down.

"If I win could I go?" Kate asked.

"Would you like to?" Elizabeth asked looking up at her.

"No, not yet anyway." Kate shook her head.

"Let's not count our chickens before the hatch." Abigail said as Elizabeth picked up a roll from the table munching on it.

"I thought you were having dinner with Jack today." Abigail said dumping blueberries into a bowl to make jam.

"Oh yeah, shouldn't you be home cooking?" Kate asked.

"Jack doesn't think he will he back in time for dinner tonight."

"Where is he?" Abigail asked.

"At the settlement. With Faith." Elizabeth sighed.

"Oh oh" Kate muttered reaching for a roll of her own.

"You know she has been terrific." Abigail said mixing in super not noticing the tone both girls had.

"I know, we're very lucky to have her." Elizabeth nodded.

"But?" Abigail asked not catching on to Elizabeth's attitude

"I want to like her Abigail, and I think we could be friends, if I could just trust her with Jack." Elizabeth sighed picking up a blueberry from the bowl to pop into her mouth.

"Give it some time, I think you two actually have a lot in common." Abigail said gently.

"It isn't easy." Elizabeth nodded.

"What it's easy?" Cody asked as he ran down the stairs into the kitchen.

Ease dropping on grownups apparently." Abigail said turning to him as Kate laughed.

"Can I go out and play with Robert?" Cody asked.

"Do you have homework?" Abigail asked.

"Ummmmm" Cody glanced at Elizabeth who put her hand on her hips giving him a look.

"Cody!" A voice that Kate didn't recognize came from the cafe.

"Becky!" Cody yelled running from the living area into the restaurant dining room, Abigail and the girls close at his heels. They rushed into the dining room but Cody stopped short when he saw his sister in a wheel chair next to Dr Burns.

"What happened to her?" Kate whispered glancing at Abigail who was looking just as surprised.

"Arn't you glad to see me?" Becky asked.

"Sure I am, are you ok?" Cody asked softly.

"I am fine, it's just taking a while to get better thats all." Becky said quickly. Cody put his arms around his sister giving her a hug as Dr Burns crossed the room to talk to Abigail.

"Why didn't you tell me about this?" Abigail whispered.

"I was hoping she would be out of it by now." The doctor sighed.

"Is it serious?" Elizabeth asked.

"The truth is, there's nothing wrong with her legs"

"Then why the wheel chair?" Kate asked.

"Well she's weak from being in bed. quite frankly she just hasn't been motivated to put in enough effort. That's why I brought her here, she just needs encouragement and support."

"So your saying it's emotional." Elizabeth said as the Doctor nodded.

"She has to want to get better, one from the people who care about her is the best medicine right now."

"Well she will get plenty of live that is for sure." Abigail said as Kate glanced over at Cody and Becky talking and laughing together.

"I know she will, Mrs Stanton when I was here last we spoke about the children needing a real home." Dr Burns turned to Abigail.

"I remember." She nodded.

"Well that need has not gone away, I was wondering, have you thought about taking the children on a Permeant basis?"

"I have thought about it every day, and I know that it would make Cody happy, but, I want to make sure it would make Becky happy too. She has been through so much she might not be ready to make a decision like that."

"Well the sooner she decided the better, they needed to be placed in a home as soon as possible."

"I will talk to her and let you know." Abigail nodded.

"Alright, well I will say my goodbyes"

"Thank you for everything doctor" Abigail said as he nodded giving her a smile and walking back to the children.

"Your going to keep them!" Kate whispered excitedly.

"Abigail, are you sure about this?" Elizabeth asked her friend softly.

"So sure" Abigail nodded. Elizabeth and Kate grinned at each other before turning back to Becky and Cody.


"Hi Becky" Kate smiled finding her sitting on the porch the next day.

"Hi" Becky gave her a warm smile as Kate sat down at the table across from her.

"Do you like to draw?" Kate asked glancing at the sketchbook in Becky's lap.

"Yeah, my Pa taught me" Becky smiled.

"Can I see?" Kate asked.

"Sure" Becky put her papers on the table. Kate was expecting to see people or landscapes but instead she saw numbers and graphs and the most detailed drawing of a bridge.

"What is this?" Kate asked surprised.

"It's bridges, my Pa taught me, he worked on the Queensland bridge" Becky shrugged.

"Elizabeth, look at what Becky drew" Kate said as she spotted her sister coming outside.

"Becky, this is amazing, where did you learn this?" Elizabeth asked shocked as the looked over Kate's shoulder.

"My Pa, we were building a model of this bridge but we never got to finish." Becky said.

"This is amazing, I have a great idea! Why don't you build a bridge for our science fair. Then you could build the model you and your father never had the chance to finish." Elizabeth cried.

"You think I could?" Becky asked smiling.

"With your talent you might even win." Elizabeth smiled.

"I'm not that good. Becky shook her head.

"Believe me, you are that good." Elizabeth said firmly and Kate nodded making Becky smile.

"Come on girls, it's getting cold time to come inside. We can make come hot chocolate." Elizabeth said remembering the reason she had come outside in the first place as Kate handed Becky her sketch book back.

"yum" Kate smiled standing up.

"Would you like to try to talk inside?" Elizabeth asked Becky.

"I don't know" Becky hesitated.

"We will be right here, we won't let you fall." Kate promised.

"Maybe tomorrow?" Becky asked.

"Tomorrow it is" Elizabeth nodded as Kate picked up their things and Elizabeth went behind Becky to push her inside.


"What are you doing your project on?" Laura asked Kate as they sat on the rock in the school yard waiting for school to start.

"I was thinking about doing it on how a victrola works, but now I think that's to easy, what about you?"

"I was going to do weather, tornados and storms, why is yours to easy?" Laura asked.

"Because Elizabeth already said Becky's is probably going to win, she has this amazing sketch of a bridge she's going to build."

"Just as well, I don't think my Ma would let me go away to school in Cape Fullerton. Elizabeth would let you go for sure though! I can help you with your project if you want." Laura offered.

"That's ok, Becky deserves to win, I don't think I would go away to school anyway." Kate shrugged.

"Why not?" Laura asked.

"Because, I don't want to leave Hope Valley, we have been here for two years now, it's my home. And Elizabeth and I have never been apart. I know one day we will be, but I'm not ready for that day to be now." Kate shook her head.

"Well, good. I don't want you to leave." Laura said as the girls smiled at each other. Elizabeth came out of the door ringing her cow bell calling all the children in to start their day. Kate and Laura hurried over just as Abigail was pushing Becky to the steps.

"Miss Thatcher! Kate! We're going to stay with Miss Abigail!" Cody yelled making Kate turn around as she and Elizabeth went down the stairs to greet them and the children went inside.

"That's so wonderful!" Elizabeth smiled as Kate grinned.

"There's still some paperwork to be filed." Abigail smiled.

"Well I will say a prayer that everything goes through." Elizabeth said.

"Can I tell my friends?" Cody asked.

"I don't see why not" Abigail laughed as Cody ran up the steps to school.

"Becky would you like to tell some of the other girls?" Elizabeth asked.

"Do you think they remember me?" Becky asked.

"Of course! They can't wait to see you! Come on Rachel and Laura and Anna are inside" Kate said trying to make Becky excited.

"I can't" Becky whispered looking at the steps into the school house.

"It's ok, we will get some of the bigger boys to help" Abigail said gently.

"Of course, Kate go ask Gabe and Caleb and Sam to come out and help lift Becky's chair please?" Elizabeth asked. Kate nodded hurrying inside.


"How was your day?" Jack smiled waiting for the girls as they walked down the steps to the school house.

"Wonderful, their science projects are really coming along, the children are so excited about them." Elizabeth smiled as Jack took her books from her then reached for Kate's tucking them under his arm.

"What's your project on Miss Kate?" Jack asked.

"Victrolas" Kate sighed.

"Well, you don't sound to excited." Jack turned to her as they started walking back to town.

"It's silly, I can't think of anything good. Besides Becky is going to win anyway, Elizabeth already said." Kate shrugged.

"I said no such thing! I said she had a good chance of winning, which you all do if you try hard enough. Besides I am not the judge so I can't speak for him. The most important thing is that you learn, and do a project you are proud of." Elizabeth said.

"You sound like a teacher." Kate wrinkled her nose.

"Alright, well your sister said you have just as much a chance of winning as anyone else if you work hard, and that if you don't even want to go away to school it doesn't matter if you win just that you do your best."

"The winner goes away to school?" Jack asked.

"Well they win a scholarship to a school in Cape Fullerton." Elizabeth nodded.

"That's far." Jack frowned.

"It is" Kate nodded.

"You don't want to go there, you have the best teacher right here" Jack told Kate.

"I know, I don't think I would go, it would still be nice to win though."

"Well win or lose there's more important things in life." Jack said putting a hand on her shoulder.

"But trying your best in school is important" Elizabeth raised an eyebrow at him.

"Of course, try your hardest, just don't win, that's a long ride to pick you up every day." Jack winked at Kate.

"It's a boarding school Jack" Elizabeth chuckled.

"Oh like you two would spend more then a few hours apart? I can see it now, your sister would be begging me to go pick you up and bring you back home every Friday." Jack muttered to Kate making both sisters laugh.

"How was your day?" Elizabeth asked Jack as the rounded the corner to main street.

"Oh the regular I.." Jack started but glanced up and they followed his eyes seeing a man standing on the porch of his office.

"I have to go see to something." Jack said.

"Mountie business?" Elizabeth asked looking a little worried.

"No I… no it's private" Jack said.

"I see." Elizabeth nodded narrowing her eyes at him.

"Very mysterious" Kate nodded.

"Yup that's me" Jack nodded giving them a little smile as he hurried away shaking the man's hand before ushering him into the building closing the door behind him.

"Well?" Kate asked looking up at Elizabeth.

"Come on!" Elizabeth quickly pulled her to the side of the building they stood on either side of the window looking in.

"What's going oh?" Jack asked the man.

"You know how I told you there was another man looking to buy my land? Well he's getting ready to make an offer and I thought you should know.

"I see" Jack nodded before looking over seeing the edge or two heads peering through his window thinking they were going unseen. Jack shook his head biting back the smirk of the girls trying to spy on him.

"Mr Besser will you excuse me for just a minute?" Jack asked crossing the room, the heads quickly disappeared from his view but he saw them again out of the corner of his eyes when he turned his back to the window. He reached up pulling down the shade quickly blocking them from seeing.

Kate sighed as the shade when down.

"You were to obvious" She said glancing at Elizabeth.

"Me? You were! Did you hear anything?"

"Maybe something about land?" Kate shrugged.

"That's all I heard too" Elizabeth sighed.

"Maybe somebody stole that man's land." Kate guessed.

"Oh it could mean anything, it's not much of a hint." Elizabeth shook her head.

"We should have listened at the door." Kate sighed.

"Come on" Elizabeth chuckled leading her back onto the street.

"Jack is coming over for dinner tonight, I was going to make pot roast how does that sound?" Elizabeth asked.

"Fine" Kate nodded.

"I'm going to run into the mercantile for some beans, coming in?"

"No I'll wait outside."

"Ok I'll be right back" Elizabeth said climbing the steps as Kate glanced a little further down the street seeing Becky sitting on the cafe porch struggling with her chair.

"Hi Becky, what's wrong?" Kate asked hurrying over.

"My chair is stuck, I'm starting to get cold but when I tried to go inside the wheel got stuck." Becky said. Kate knelt down testing it noticing the wheel wouldn't move forward.

"It's stuck." Kate nodded.

"I'm freezing" Becky shivered.

"Let me get Abigail" Kate started.

"You can't, she left to bring a meat pie to the women who just had her new baby." Becky shook her head. Kate glanced around the road, it was pretty empty, Jack was busy and Lee or Bill were no where to be seen.

"What if I help you? I can walk you in, it's only a few feet" Kate said glancing toward the door.

"I don't know" Becky hesitated.

"It's so close I won't let you fall, look you can hold me and the porch railing." Kate said.

"Alright" Becky nodded after a minute. Kate helped her set her feet firmly on the porch floor helping Becky to stand. Her legs were wobbly for a minute but after a second she got her footing.

"Ok here I will hold your arm." Kate took Becky's arm as Becky held the railing with the other. Becky was taller and older then her and Kate was glad she didn't have to support all her weight.

"Just go slow" Kate smiled as Becky took a shaky step, then another and another before she was more sure of herself and putting less weight on Kate.

"Look your almost there!" Kate cried and Becky grinned as Elizabeth and Abigail came around the corner at the same time.

"Oh Girls!" Elizabeth cried seeing them.

"Here let me get the door!" Abigail hurried forward rushing to open the door as Kate helped Becky walk through in and Elizabeth got her a chair to sit as soon as they were inside. Becky and Kate were both grinning as Becky lowered herself back down.

"She did it!" Kate cried.

"I am so proud of you!" Abigail knelt in front of Becky pulling her in for a hug.