Jack pulled the wagon up to the front of the house. Kate hopped down as soon as it was stopped.

"Can I go unpack my room?" She asked.

"In a minute" Jack chuckled reaching up taking Elizabeth's waist and swinging her down setting her on her feet.

"She's excited" Elizabeth laughed.

"Can we please tell her now?" Jack whispered.

"Now I don't know who's more excited you or her." Elizabeth laughed but nodded.

"Hey Kate, I think there's something in the barn for you." Jack said.

"The barn?" Kate asked glancing toward the barn facing the house.

"Yeah, come on" Jack smiled as the girls followed him into the barn. Jack and Elizabeth stood in the doorway as Kate stepped in looking around the empty barn.

"What is it?" Kate asked. Jack gave a little whistle and suddenly a grey horse stuck it's head over the half door looking at them.

"A horse!" Kate cried running over to it and petting the grey horse's nose.

"Not just any horse, your horse." Jack smiled.

"You got me a horse!" Kate yelled turning to Jack and Elizabeth who were both grinning.

"Her name is Gracie, she was training to be a mountie horse but she was just to gentle. She's 5 years old, well trained. Very sweet, and gets along well with Sergeant." Jack said.

"You got me a horse!" Kate cried again like she couldn't believe it.

"Do you like it?" Elizabeth laughed.

"Yes!" Kate cried throwing her arms around her sister then Jack as they both laughed.

"I know how badly you have wanted one for years, and Jack and I talked it over and, you earned it Kate. You are becoming so grown up and responsible. You have been through a lot lately and you carry yourself like a real adult." Elizabeth smiled.

"Thank you!" Kate smiled giving her a hug again.

"There's a saddle and everything for you up on the wall. What do you say we go unpack this morning and after lunch we can all go for a ride?" Jack asked.

"Yes!" Kate smiled.


"Now she is fully trained but just get used to each other day." Jack said as Kate swung onto the back of Gracie later in the day. Jack passed her the reigns and Kate held them expertly in her hand. Gracie was smaller then Sergeant but she was patient and gentle, less spunky then Sergeant could be, which made her the perfect horse for Kate.

"Hi Gracie" Kate smiled petting her neck as Jack swung onto Sergeant.

"Trot her around for a bit and we'll take them on the path toward town." Jack said. Kate nodded riding around the land with Gracie as Elizabeth came out of the house.

"Ready?" Jack asked.

"Ready." Elizabeth smiled as Jack pulled Sergeant up to the front porch and Elizabeth cleanly slipped onto the back behind Jack wrapping her arms around him.

"Now that Kate has a horse, we should do this more often." Jack smiled feeling her arms go around his waist.

"I could not agree more." Elizabeth smiled pressing herself against her back as she kissed his cheek.

"Alright girls, let's go" Jack smiled as they headed toward the trail. Elizabeth sighed feeling so content, Kate could not stop smiled as she road next to them. Jack was giving her tips and talking about his first horse but Elizabeth was happy just to lean into him and relax. The house was built, they were halfway moved in. Everyone was home and safe and she was just so happy.


"Dinner!" Elizabeth said placing the bowls on the table. There was a fire in the fire place keeping out the late August night chill. Kate came out of her bedroom off the kitchen.

"You all unpacked?" Elizabeth asked.

"Almost, I just have to put my books away." Kate smiled. They had brought most of her things from the row house. Kate had insisted on keeping her same bed and desk even though they offered to buy her a new one. She had her blankets and pillows, a few pictures and a things that were meaningful to her but she didn't need much in her bedroom, she spent very little time there expect for sleeping.

"I just made soup, I wasn't able to unpack the pans yet."

"Soup is great." Jack smiled coming to the table and waiting for Elizabeth to sit before he sat down.

"First dinner in our new house." Elizabeth sighed smiling as they started to eat.

"I will finish putting the bookshelves up tomorrow after church and you can unpack your books." Jack said glancing to the half finished shelves on the wall in the sitting room on either side of the fire place.

"I can't wait to put everything away." Elizabeth smiled.

"Well the bedrooms and kitchen are unpacked at least, that way it's livable for now. The rest I can hopefully finish this week." Jack said.

"Don't rush Jack, your busy enough with everything you have at work after being out. Your right the house is perfectly liveable." Elizabeth assured him.

"Can I ride Gracie to church tomorrow?" Kate asked.

"Sunday clothes are not for riding." Elizabeth said quickly before Jack could agree.

"But it's such a far walk to town now. Tell her Jack." Kate said.

"Oh no, I'm not getting in-between this one." Jack held his hands up looking between the two girls as Elizabeth shot Kate a firm look.

"Jack is taking us in the wagon. Even Jack doesn't ride in his Sunday clothes so don't expect him to side with you." Elizabeth said putting another bite in her mouth.

"But I want to show her to Abigail and all my friends." Kate said.

"There will be plenty of time for that. I am not arguing this with you." Elizabeth said firmly.

"Alright" Kate sighed taking another spoonful.

"We will go riding again one afternoon after school, I promise." Jack said. Elizabeth just smirked at him. If anyone thought Jack would be the stricter parent, they were wrong. Though Jack always backed her up, it was Elizabeth who always laid down the law, at least with Kate that's how it had always been.

"Can we go riding tonight?" Kate asked.

"We rode for hours this afternoon! And we need to finish unpacking if we are going to have dinner with Abigail tomorrow." Elizabeth smiled.

"But you can muck out the stalls before sundown." Jack said.

"Eww" Kate made a face as Elizabeth laughed.

"Eww is right, we'll get to it after dinner." Jack winked at her.


"What was with your sister today?" Laura asked as they were walking home glancing behind her as if she was afraid Elizabeth was following them.

"I don't know" Kate shrugged.

"She was mad, fight with Jack?"

"I don't think so, maybe just a bad day." Kate shrugged.

"Maybe, when can I come see your horse?"

"How about Saturday? You can come for lunch and we can go for a ride, you have to see the new house too."

"I can't wait, see you tomorrow." Laura waved going further down the street as Kate went into the back door of the cafe. Abigail looked up at her giving her a warm smile.

"Apple?" Kate asked nodding to the pie sitting on the stove.

"Blueberry, a bit to early for apple. Come sit, tell me all about your first week in the new house." Abigail smiled putting a biscuit in front of Kate as she sat down at the table where Abigail was mixing something in a bowl.

"It's so nice. I love my room, and it's so big it still feels kind of empty. But Jack is so proud, and Elizabeth too." Kate smiled.

"Well they both should be, they worked very hard." Abigail nodded

"The only downfall is it's so far from town. It's not a bad walk now, but come winter Jack said he will drive us to and from school every day with the wagon. It's to cold to walk."

"In my day we walked to school in snow storms." Abigail said making Kate laugh.

"You and Charlotte tell the same stories." She said making Abigail smile.

"Abigail, did Elizabeth say anything to you about a fight with Jack or something upsetting?" Kate asked.

"No, as a matter of fact when I spoke to her yesterday afternoon when you and Jack were riding and she seemed in very good spirits, why is something wrong?" Abigail asked.

"I'm not sure, she just seemed a little more frustrated then usual at school today. Laura noticed it too." Kate shrugged.

"Well we all have off days, I wouldn't think it means anything, from what I can tell Jack and your sister are still very much in their newlywed bliss." Abigail said.

"Yuck" Kate made a face making Abigail laugh.

"Oh there she is!" Rosemary sang as she came in from the curtain that separated the cafe from the living space.

"Hi Rosemary" Kate smiled as Rosemary gave her a warm hug.

"How is your new house? I must say we miss having you next door." Rosemary sighed.

"We love the house, but we miss you too. Just last night we were talking about how much we miss having you and Lee so close."

"Oh well we are so happy for you all never the less." Rosemary smiled as Elizabeth came into the kitchen.

"My it's getting chilly out there." She sighed.

"Fall is in the air today, how about some hot tea?" Abigail offered.

"Tea would be lovely thank you Abigail." Elizabeth smiled siting down next to Kate.

"Now Elizabeth I was thinking about the Christmas celebration this year." Rosemary said.

"Already Rosemary? It's hardly September." Elizabeth sighed. Kate glanced at Abigail is if to point out Elizabeth's tone.

"Yes well I thought we could start now and not be so rushed later. Jack is home this year, I would think you would be in better spirits, you two were such scrooges last year." Rosemary frowned a little. Elizabeth opened her mouth to say something back but Abigail cut her off.

"Rosemary, perhaps another time. Elizabeth just finished the school day I am sure she would like a little break from planning." Abigail said gently.

"Of course, I'm sorry, perhaps I am getting a but ahead of myself." Rosemary nodded.

"It's alright." Elizabeth sighed.

"I should get home and start dinner for Lee, see you later ladies" Rosemary gave them a smile and wave.

"Bye Rosmary" Kate smiled.

"Was I short with her?" Elizabeth sighed looking guilty.

"We all tend to be a little short with Rosemary from time to time. I think she knows not to take it to heart." Abigail said gently.

"I didn't mean to be, I think I'm just feeling a little overwhelmed with the house and trying to unpack everything." Elizabeth sighed.

"Perfectly understandable. You have been moving at lightning pace all summer with Jack coming home and the wedding and honeymoon and moving. Things will settle in and you will feel better." Abigail nodded.

"Your right" Elizabeth sighed.

"Anything I can do to help?" Abigail asked.

"No, thank you." Elizabeth smiled.

"Well I can send you home with dinner that's for sure. Give you a bit of a break tonight." Abigail smiled handing Elizabeth a basket full of food.

"Thank you Abigail, I don't know what I would do without you." Elizabeth smiled as Abigail gave her a warm hug.

"See you girls tomorrow." Abigail smiled as Kate and Elizabeth started home.

"Can Laura come over for lunch Saturday? She want's to see the house and we were going to take Gracie for a ride." Kate said.

"Lunch is fine, but you should ask Jack about the ride, he might not think you and Gracie are ready to ride with two people." Elizabeth said.

"I can, it's the same as with one. And we won't go far." Kate said.

"Kate, please just discuss it with Jack before, alright?" Elizabeth sighed rubbing her forehead. Kate reached out taking the basket from Elizabeth to carry.

"Are you sure your ok?" Kate asked watching her.

"Yes, I just have a headache, and rather busy. There is so much to do."

"Well I can help. Dinner is made and Laura and I finished our homework before we walked to Abigail's. I can correct the first years spelling tests for you." Kate offered.

"Thank you" Elizabeth smiled at her softly.

"It's Wednesday, the week is half way over, and at least you can rest this weekend." Kate offered.

"Your right, It will be good to finish unpacking and settle in." Elizabeth nodded.


"The barn is done, which means it's secured for the winter." Jack said at dinner the next night.

"That's good, you and Lee worked fast." Elizabeth nodded.

"I was thinking we could start looking for animals soon. Have a working farm come spring time. Where did we stand on the goats?" Jack asked.

"Goats are nice but maybe not the first year." Elizabeth sighed.

"But a cow right?" Kate asked.

"A cow for sure, Chickens in the spring." Jack nodded.

"A barn cat would be nice." Elizabeth added.

"Cat for sure, the field mice are crazy out here I am sure." Jack nodded.

"And we know Rip is no good at chasing mice." Kate said glancing down at Rip who lay under the table as they ate.

"I think a mouse could run right over Rip's nose and he wouldn't wink an eye." Elizabeth laughed.

"I'll ask around. It's probably to soon now, but maybe we can start gathering some things for spring. Having a real farm around here." Jack smiled.

"I want to start gathering seeds for the garden next year too." Elizabeth nodded.

"Good idea I will see about digging up a garden bed in a few weeks so it's set to go when she ground thaws." Jack nodded.

"Who ever thought we would be running a farm one day." Kate laughed.


"What's wrong with you?" Kate asked coming out of her room the next morning as Elizabeth was sitting at the table her head in her hands.

"I'm just not feeling myself this morning." Elizabeth sighed.

"What does Jack say?" Kate asked filling a cup with water and placing it in front of Elizabeth.

"Nothing, I didn't tell him, you know how he worries."

"Well is there something to worry about?" Kate asked.

"Of course not, I probably picked up a bug from one of the children at school." Elizabeth sighed sipping the water.

"So are you going to go see Faith?"

"There's no reason."

"Your sick" Kate said rising her eyebrows

"I am under the weather. Besides it's Friday and I can rest this weekend and be good as new Monday." Elizabeth said standing up and smoothing her skirts.

"Well, if you still feel sick tomorrow, you'll tell Jack right?" Kate asked

"Alright deal, come on we're going to be late for school" Elizabeth said as Kate picked up her books and followed her out. All morning Elizabeth tried to ignore her rolling stomach. It eventually did go away but flipping through her desk calendar at lunch time she felt a new wave of nausea come over her that had nothing to do with her stomach. The afternoon could not have passes more slowly as she tried to keep her mind focused on the children, failing miserably and dismissing them into the warm fall air thirty minutes early.


"Good afternoon girls" Abigail called walking up to them as Kate and Elizabeth were walking home from school.

"Abigail, it's so good to see you!" Elizabeth cried truly happy to see Abigail.

"Abigail can you and Cody come over for dinner at our new house soon?" Kate asked.

"We would love that." Abigail smiled.

"Can you come tomorrow afternoon, for tea just us?" Elizabeth asked and knew she sounded like she was begging but she felt it was urgent.

"I suppose Clara could cover for me in the cafe. Is everything alright?" Abigail asked as she and Kate both gave Elizabeth a strange look.

"Of course, I just miss our talks" Elizabeth quickly covered.

"So do I, how about after lunch. I'll being some scones." Abigail smiled taking Elizabeth's hand.

"Sounds wonderful." Elizabeth sighed in relief.