Disclaimer: I do NOT own 'Little House on the Prairie'. Only thing I can lay claim to is the story line and any "guest characters"

A/N A friend of mine and I are having a bit of a discussion. I have heard of plenty of women that were called "Miss…whatever their first name was" in the 1800's. My fellow writer says that they were under the impression that would only happen in a more social setting-not a formal one. That being the case, I have two words to say to anyone with that same thought….FAN FICTION….hehehe)

(A/N…if anyone ever asks me what one does when an algebra quiz goes right over their head and they don't know how they did on their first mid-term test…I'm going to grin and say 'stories are a good place to hide. ;) oookkkk LOL Yes, this third chapter is being posted early because of that exact reason. LOL)

In Search of Peace

Chapter Three

Scene Five

One by one the children filed into the one room schoolhouse. As they had been told their teacher would be a Miss Elder they were surprised to see the words MISS ELIZABETH written on the board.

Once everyone was seated Elizabeth stood up. "As far as you are concerned my name is Miss Elizabeth. I will be your teacher until Miss Beadle returns. Are there any questions?"

If he'd taken the time to think Willie would have kept his mouth shut. As it was the young boy giggled and blurted out, "Ma said your last name was Elder. How come you have Miss Elizabeth up there?" The look that came onto the woman's face was not hard to read. Willie knew he was in trouble.

"I did not say it was my last name," Elizabeth's voice was not necessarily harsh it was, however, firm, "I said it was what you are to call me. Least any of you get any wrong ideas; do not get it into your heads to call me simply Elizabeth. Do you understand?" While she spoke to the class she was looking hard at Willie.

"Yes, ma'am." Willie answered as he looked as if he wanted to disappear. The other students simply nodded.

"Are there any more questions?" Elizabeth loved children and did not want the students to be afraid of her.

Albert raised his hand.

"What is it, Albert?"

"I heard you tell pa you have been a lot of places. Where exactly have you lived?"

It was all Elizabeth could do to keep her emotions in check as she heard him refer to Mr. Ingalls as 'pa'. 'Stop being silly, girl. Of course, he'd call the man pa. That is what he is to him.' Smiling she answered, "I have lived everywhere from California to New York. The last place I actually lived for quite a spell was just outside Waynoka."

"We lived in Waynoka! Ma was a barmaid!" Willie again piped up without thinking. This time he got more than a soft glare.

"In the corner, young man!" Miss Elizabeth's voice was firm and her annoyance at his behavior could be heard in the tone of her voice. Willie's shoulders slumped a bit as he rose and went to the altogether familiar corner.

0o0

"I don't care what you say," Laura turned her back on Nellie, "If she wants to be called Miss Elizabeth there is nothing wrong with it. At least she's doesn't have her nose stuck up in the air like some people I know."

"Well! I never!" Nellie stormed off leaving Laura, Albert and Andrew Garvey laughing.

"That girl will never change, at least not any time soon!" Laura looked back over her shoulder.

"I will say this much. I do wonder why Miss Elizabeth doesn't want us to call her Miss Elder. I've never heard of a teacher doing otherwise. Then again," Albert grinned, "until I became an Ingalls I never paid much attention to the teachers and they didn't pay attention to me. Well, that's not quite true," Albert started laughing again, "I was usually the one in the corner!"That got the three children to laughing.

"Sure glad you got away from that place and Mr. Ingalls found you. You've come around," Andrew grinned then added, "Do I remember right? You never were told how you got there were you?"

"Nope," Albert shook his head, "like I said before. All I know is they say I was left there; probably by that jerk that had the nerve to call himself my father."

Before any other comment could be made Miss Elizabeth's voice cut into their conversation, "Albert Ingalls! I need to talk to you, NOW!"

Puzzled looks came on all their faces. The fact that she was upset was as plain as the nose on their faces but why? What had he done?

Once inside the classroom Albert walked up to the desk where Miss Elizabeth was sitting. She wore no expression on her face as she pointed to the bench in front of her, "Sit down."

"Yes, ma'am." Albert's concern shown on his face.

The fact that she was doing her best to control herself was not exactly something she was hiding very well. That made Albert even more nervous. "When I make this request of you there is one thing you need to understand. I would make it of you no matter who you were talking about. That is if I knew for a fact you had either never met them or had only met them once," more than once she had told herself not to let any anger into her conversations for the mere fact that-when one did that?-things often slipped out that shouldn't. This time was no different, "I will admit you have been blessed with a very good family. A lot of children in any orphanage are not so lucky. However, I would appreciate it if you do not go making such negative comments about Jeremy Quinn…" as soon as the man's name came out of her mouth she wanted to run the other way; especially since a look of shock came upon young Albert's face. Quickly she closed her mouth.

"How did you know who my real father was?" Albert asked; his eyes still wide as saucers.

The wall that had accidently taken a bit of a tumble flew back up, "It does not matter," Miss Elizabeth straightened up, "just, do not let me hear you speak negatively about the man again. You may go now."

Albert rose slowly and headed for the door. 'How does she know Mr. Quinn? The man didn't want a son. He only wanted a farmhand. Why would someone as nice as she seems to be defend a man like that? I have to talk to pa. Something's not right."