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Chapter Sixteen

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A Most Unusual Start

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Allie Grant was perplexed.

She sat at her desk, listening as Mrs. Thornton welcomed the students back to class, but something was wrong. Her teacher didn't do any of the daily opening exercises. She didn't invite the children to share about something special they did over the summer or assign them a written report about their school vacation. Mrs. Thornton didn't even explain anything to the newest students for whom this was their first day of school!

In previous Septembers, Allie's teacher had been excited for the coming school year, and revealed plans the students could anticipate and work towards. Last year Mrs. Thornton had excitedly explained they would prepare an autumn play and a winter concert, have a field trip and a science fair. Today was different. Very different. Allie glanced at her row of friends and noted a few of them were frowning, while others appeared to be worriedly seeking the reactions of others, as was she.

"We are doing something different this year." Mrs. Thornton informed the class. "Each of you older students, I'll call you tutors, will be matched with one of the younger students to help them with their lessons. I will circulate a list so you can each see to whom you are assigned. You little ones will ask your tutor to help you with anything you don't understand and you tutors can ask me in the event that you can't answer the questions of the little ones."

Distractedly, the teacher handed a page to one of the new children in the front row and Allie saw that the little boy looked at the child next to him, confused. Neither knew what to do with the paper, yet Mrs. Thornton seemed oblivious.

"You tutors can choose a book from the top shelf over there and write a book report on it, due in two weeks. You may begin to read in class today." Elizabeth sat down as if she was finished, but hands were raised all over the classroom.

"What about our final pieces from the summer class?" Cooper Canfield questioned. "Miss Yost said you would hand them back to us today."

"I don't know what to do with this paper." The little boy held it in the air, then began to cry. "She doesn't know my name…"

"Are we going to have a science fair this year?" Timmy inquired. "Or a concert?"

"May I be excused?" Tom asked.

"Are we just supposed to go up to find our book?" Allie needed to know.

"Can I color?" Little Annie Mae piped up.

Anna asked. "Where is the list for us tutors?"

Opal, hand raised, called out, "Aren't you going to have opening exercises like you used to?"

Mrs. Thornton's responses were haphazard and when it was time for the morning recess, she asked Allie to hold the bell and ring everyone back inside in a quarter hour, giving her the cowbell and her own timepiece.

Waving at the schoolchildren on the lawn, Robert knocked on the doorframe to find Mrs. Thornton sitting at her desk, her head in her hands. Hurrying inside, he asked. "Are you alright, Mrs. Thornton? Do I need to get the doctor?"

"What?" Elizabeth responded, startled. "Oh. Sorry, Robert. I just have a headache. I haven't slept well for a couple nights." She took the mail from him and waved them in the air. "Thank you for these."

"You're welcome. Bye." Robert was out the door and hopping down the steps. Checking his bag as he hurried back towards town, he decided to stop at the Valley Voice and then head to the Doctor's office. On the way, Robert saw Constable Grant and Judge Avery deep in conversation but thought they were out of earshot so didn't call out to them.

Seeing that Mrs. Coulter was not in the office, he left the mail on her desk and headed to find Dr. Carter.

"Good morning, Robert. Do you have some mail for us today?" Molly inquired as she stood beside the desk.

"Umm. No, Ma'am. Nothing today, but could I speak to Dr. Carter for a couple moments?"

"Of course. Come in. Are you ill or what is the nature of your problem?" Molly began to pull aside a curtain.

"Oh, no. It's not me… It's for someone else. I can wait right here. Thank you." Robert sat in the chair beside the door.

"Ah ha. Be right back." Molly disappeared into the back room.

Soon, Dr. Carter emerged, walking directly to Robert and offering her hand.

"What can I do for you, Robert?"

Blushing, Robert shook the Doctor's hand and whispered. "I don't know if I should tell you this, but I was just at the school and Mrs. Thornton didn't look well. She said she hadn't slept for a few nights and had a headache. She was sitting with her head in her hands when I walked in. Do you think she is sick or needs help?"

"It is hard to say without seeing her. Did you tell anyone else your concern?"

"No ma'am. Mrs. Coulter wasn't in the newspaper office so I just left her mail there and came right here to you."

"That was wise. Please don't share this with anyone else, okay? How people are feeling is their private business to share, not ours. Telling me is always the right thing to do, so thank you. Don't you worry and you go get those letters delivered. You do important work around here!" Faith patted his shoulder and Robert returned to his deliveries with a relieved smile on his face.

As the door closed behind the lad, Faith pondered the best way to deal with this information.

She would like to ask Allie, but would need to wait to catch her during lunch. With a quick glance at the clock, Faith explained, "Molly? I'm going to the Café for a couple of minutes, okay? I won't be gone for long."

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In the school yard, Allie Grant had taken it upon herself to gather the five youngest children around her to learn their names and ages. Opal, Emily and Anna joined them and explained what this recess meant, telling the little ones to meet them each time and they would play a game or tell them a story or sing songs together. For this morning, Allie decided to sing "The Alphabet Song" to see who knew their ABCs.

"A, B, C, D, E, F, G,
H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P.
Q, R, S… T, U, V, W… X… Y and Z,
Now I know my ABCs.
Next time, won't you sing with me?"(*3)

Allie was happy to see that three of the children knew the song, so they sang it a couple times until recess was over then Allie handed the cow bell to Anna to ring. Ushering the children into the class room, the older girls got the little ones seated and provided paper and a crayon for them to use.

Approaching Mrs. Thornton, Allie explained what they had sung and how three children knew how to sing the song. "Would you like me to show them what the letters look like or do you plan to do that?"

"Ah. Thank you. Why don't you and Anna take the children into the back corner and show them? Just sing softly if you sing, please?"

"Sure." Shrugging her shoulders at Anna, they gathered the children, paper, crayons and the well-used book of ABCs that was often employed in the first weeks of school for the youngest students. They sat in a circle on the floor in the back corner.

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Arriving just before the lunch break, Faith stood outside the open door, unseen. She listened carefully but, although she heard Allie's voice nearby, she heard nothing from Elizabeth for a while. Just as the teacher said it was time to be excused for lunch, Faith entered the door and surveyed the scene. Allie and Anna were surrounded by little ones who were trying to trace the letters outlined on a paper, while Allie was pointing to the letter in the book and describing things that began with the first letter of the alphabet.

Faith's quick perusal revealed Elizabeth seated at her desk, half-heartedly ringing the cow bell as students quickly abandoned books they were reading at their desks. No lessons were written on the chalkboard as the only words scrolled across were 'Welcome Back.'

"Miss Faie! Hi! What brings you here?" Allie smiled, happy to see Faith.

"I've come to have lunch with you on your first day back at school. Is that alright?"

A shadow passed over Allie's face and she glanced around at the group of children near her.

"Ah… I don't know. I think maybe I may need to stay with these new students. It's their first day and they don't know what to do. Could you join us?"

"Sure. Why don't you get situated and I'll find you outside, okay? I want to talk to Mrs. Thornton for a moment."

Faith patted the heads of the littlest children and headed down the side aisle to see the teacher.

"Hello, Elizabeth! How is the first day of school for you?"

Quickly assessing the shadows below Elizabeth's eyes and her pained expression, Faith also noticed the woman didn't stand.

"This is not my best day."

"Not your best day, Elizabeth?"

"Ah, no. I have a headache and just want the day to be over so I can go home and try to nap."

"A headache? Haven't you been sleeping well? Or is it your cycle?"

"No. Not that and no, I haven't been sleeping."

"Any reason you can identify?"

Shaking her head slowly, Elizabeth only responded, "Not really."

Taking a different tack, Faith questioned the teacher. "Is your headache why Allie and Anna are teaching the littlest children and watching them outside for lunch?"

With a defensive sigh, Elizabeth, answered,"They offered."

"Ah, ha. What do you usually do with the youngest students during lunch on their first day of school? I mean in past years?"

"We would all sit outside and eat on blankets. Like a picnic. That way I could keep the new students together and safe."

"And this year?"

"Faith! I don't know why you are quizzing me, but I am not in the mood. I told you I am feeling poorly." With that curt reply, Elizabeth stood, beginning to turn towards the chalkboard. "Now, if you will please excuse me."

"Of course. If you need some pain medication, Elizabeth, please come see me at my office?"

Faith spoke kindly and softly, then turned towards the door to go outside and find Allie and the little ones.

. .

As Nathan, Faith and Allie sat around the dinner table after giving thanks, the room fell silent. Distracted, each one pondered something different.

Faith was the first to clear her throat and break the silence.

"Ah, Allie? Please tell us about your first day back at school?"

She tapped Nathan's foot under the table and when he looked at her questioningly, she nodded to his daughter. Nathan turned to watch Allie.

"It was very odd."

Allie had her father's full attention.

"Mrs. Thornton didn't do any of the things she usually does. No Bible verse, no songs, no announcements of what we'll be doing this fall. She didn't even have our final writing piece which Miss Yost promised would be returned to us today. Mrs. Thornton told the older students to find a book in the bookcase and begin to read, preparing for a book report."

Nathan had straightened, listening intently as Allie described her concerns before he inquired.

"Didn't she begin some math lessons or vocabulary or history or anything?"

Nathan watched Allie shake her head.

"That's what was so strange. She didn't. She only described something new she wanted us older students to do. She called us 'tutors' and told us we would be partnered with a younger student to help them with their lessons. She wants the younger children to ask us questions and have us explain everything. But, she never showed us the list of who she matched with whom." Allie sighed. "One little boy, Mikie, was crying at recess because he didn't think the teacher knew his name, but Mrs. Thornton never asked. Poor fella. We got him calmed down and distracted him with 'The Alphabet Song.'"

Faith caught Nathan's eye as he raised his eyebrow.

She asked, "I saw you and Anna were teaching the children in the back. What happened this afternoon?"

"The same, except Emily and Opal joined Anna and me and helped."

"Something is not right about this. It is not a student's responsibility to teach or babysit the younger students," Nathan spoke, his voice controlled but low.

"I witnessed it myself when I met Allie for lunch," Faith confirmed. "We did have a lovely time though and those little ones are adorable. They also adore you, Allie."

"Thank you for coming and bringing the cookies," Allie commented, adding, "They loved those."

"So you didn't do any work of your own? Any reading?" Nathan was beginning to think he needed to talk to Lee. "Did you choose a book?"

Laughing, Allie explained. "When I went to the bookcase before I left this afternoon, the only book left was "Pride and Prejudice" which I read over the summer! I took it and will easily do my report."

"Ah ha."

Nathan gave Faith another look.

"Well, I know you love working with young children, Honey, so that was sweet of you to help out today. If this happens again though, please let me know? If Mrs. Thornton needs help in the classroom, the town should provide that. Okay? You'll tell me and Faith, please?"

"Sure. But shouldn't she ask for help if she needs it?"

"I would hope so, but we'll wait and see."

Changing the subject, Nathan commented, "This salad is really good, Faith. I've never had chicken and fresh grapes in a Waldorf Salad before. Is this your original idea?"

"I honestly don't know if I heard of it or thought of it myself!" Faith laughed. "I like it though and we can still enjoy cold meals for a couple more weeks."

"True. I did notice it was not as warm at noon today, so change is coming." Nathan smiled, grateful that Faith was here and he could discuss some things with her later. "How was Hans Sterk this morning?"

"Improving every day. I will continue daily visits this week and then begin to alternate days and gradually cut back to just once a week. He has been sleeping well and is anxious to get back to work. Oh, any news on some chickens?"

"I don't know as I left that in Ned's hands. I'll have to inquire tomorrow as I was a bit distracted today," Nathan confessed.

"What happened, Dad?"

"Where do I begin? Changes are coming to Hope Valley! A new Constable arrives on Wednesday to serve as my assistant and back-up. His name…"

A worried Allie interrupted, "Excuse me, Dad, but are we still staying in Hope Valley?"

"We are, Honey. Evidently there are some plans within the Mounties that they'll be revealing when they can, but for now I need to get him acclimated to Hope Valley and the surrounding areas." Nathan attempted a smile. "The advantage is that I can take time off without having to depend on Bill."

Nathan continued, "Superintendent O'Reilly assured me that there is nothing about which I should be concerned as it is all in my favor, and to take each day as it comes. I do have to find accommodation for Constable Burns though, so I've contacted Mike, as the Mayor, and inquired about the boarding house. Eve has a waiting list for longer-term boarders so I reserved a room at the Saloon to start with. Poor chap! I hope he sleeps soundly."

"What about the room behind the jail or upstairs?" Allie asked, curious.

"The mattress in the back room is as bad as the jail cells! A letter came today that I should clean out the upstairs and prepare for a plan to be revealed soon! So? Who knows? Calvin and I can begin to work on that once he arrives."

"It sounds as if there is a lot going on, Nathan. I, for one, am glad you will not be solely responsible for the safety of such a large area, especially when there seems to be an influx of residents. I'm also glad everything is relatively quiet as far as law enforcement is concerned."

Faith squinted at Nathan as she continued, "Everything is quiet right? No dangerous situations to anticipate?"

Chuckling, Nathan reassured her. "Don't worry, Faie, informing the Doctor is at the top of my list if I hear of any concerns. However, the Superintendent told me he knew of no imminent dangers!"

Having finished his dinner Prince laid down at Nathan's feet, shifting to get close. He loved listening to his master's voice and was content, knowing if there were any scraps, he would receive the treats.

"Did you buy the land, Dad?" Allie decided to change the dinner table subject matter!

"All the paperwork is signed, Honey. As soon as the funds are transferred tomorrow, the land is ours! Uncle Bill decided to purchase the parcel on one side of us and Uncle Lee and Aunt Rosemary will build on our other side. Lee and I will meet to discuss plans once we write a list of important features to include."

"May we begin that list now, Dad?"

"Is that okay with you, Faith?"

"Very okay! I've often day-dreamed about houses and plans. Did you ever see the houses in the Sears Roebucks mail-order catalog? I've poured over those pages many times!"

Nathan took in this new information.

"If Ned could find one for us to look at could you show me some of the ones you like? I know the house catalogs exist, but I have never taken the time to investigate."

"Sure! We can ask Ned. It would be fun!" Faith added, "Maybe Allie would like to day-dream with us too!"

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Later that evening, Nathan and Faith sat in the wicker chairs on his front porch to talk some more.

"You are concerned about the school, aren't you?" Faith squeezed Nathan's hand.

"I am. I mean what teacher doesn't start the school year engaging the students? I am especially concerned about this plan for tutors. I don't want my daughter responsible for others, when she attends school to get her own education. I will keep a close watch on that, and may speak to Lee. Do you think Elizabeth is sick or something? This is so unlike how she has taught in the past."

"When I spoke to her at lunch, she said she had a headache today. So, I'll see how she is tomorrow. I may stop over again to follow-up."

Nathan was quiet and Faith, sensing something was different, squeezed his hand again. "Nathe? Are you alright?"

"I am. I'm sorry. Nothing to do with you, Faie. I am so grateful to be able to face some of these challenges together. You know I don't relish confronting Elizabeth Thornton right now. I would take you with me, but it is not your responsibility yet. If you are willing to share what you observed with Lee, maybe he and I can go together? We'll have to think about that." Nathan let go of Faith's hand, got up and moved his wicker chair closer to her's, draping his arm over her shoulders. "Let's just enjoy the peace and beauty of the night sky for now, eh?"

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The following day, Faith checked in at the school before morning recess and was shocked as she listened from outside the door. The students were interacting, but the voice she heard was that of Lucas Bouchard! 'What is going on?'

When Lucas's grammar instruction was winding up, Faith stepped into the back of the classroom surprised that there was no sign of Elizabeth. She waited to speak to Allie and accompanied her outside, followed by the little ones Allie had been with yesterday.

Whispering as they descended the steps, Faith inquired about Mrs. Thornton.

"I don't know. Mr. Bouchard showed up and said he was substituting this morning and began asking questions about grammar, throwing a baseball to whoever raised their hand to answer. It was weird." Allie shrugged. "Do you think Mrs. Thornton is sick?"

"I don't know, Honey. She hasn't come to see me. I'll get back to work now as I only came to check on her. I don't want to interrupt recess! I'll see you later, okay?"

"Yes. Did you see Dad today? He prepared a chicken pot pie this morning so it will be easy to bake it later for dinner."

"That sounds delicious! I'll have to stop in and tell him so!" Faith winked at Allie, then waved as she headed into town to talk with Nathan.

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Knocking on the open door of the jail, Faith stood at the entrance as Nathan looked up. His face broke out in a wide and happy grin. "Hi!"

"Hi! Can you step outside for a moment?" Faith asked as she moved aside.

"Any time for you, Faie. What's up?"

In hushed tones, Faith described what she had seen at the schoolhouse and Nathan's countenance darkened.

"Lucas doesn't have the best track record when it comes to interacting with the students. I may have to get on this sooner rather than later. Could you come with me to tell Lee first-hand what you've seen?"

"Can we go now? I want to collect Molly or Dorcas and check on Elizabeth if she is at home."

"Okay. Let's go." Nathan closed and locked his office, and together they went to find Lee.

. .

"Under whose authority are you here teaching, Lucas?" Lee asked after he and Nathan strode into the class room as the students departed for lunch.

Puzzled, Lucas responded. "Authority? I guess Elizabeth's? She wasn't feeling well this morning so I offered to cover for her so she could sleep-in." He chuckled, adding, "It's not hard and the children seemed to have fun."

"Fun is not why they are in school, but that issue aside, you are not a qualified teacher, Lucas, nor approved by the school board as a substitute. Are you expecting Elizabeth to return soon?"

"She said she'd be here after lunch. Do you want me to go get her?"

"And leave the children unsupervised? Lucas?" Lee was livid. "Anyone who takes on this responsibility is required to remain until the end of the school day, or Elizabeth returns. You are dismissed. Nathan? Would you please step-in until I can sort this out with Elizabeth or another parent?"

"Of course." He nodded at Lee.

"Whoa! Wait a minute. What makes Nathan qualified to step-in when I cannot?" Lucas's voice was raised and his hands were on his hips in protest.

"I don't owe you an explanation, Lucas, but for one thing, Nathan is a parent. Number two, he is a known and respected public servant. Third, he is on the list of substitutes in the event of an emergency. Fourth, I have just authorized him to take over." Lee turned away, but quickly turned back to address Lucas again. "If you would please depart now, Lucas? You are not a parent, so should not be in the building during school hours."

In a huff, and with a scowl at Nathan, Lucas grabbed his suitcoat and headed towards the door and into town.

"There are so many things wrong with this picture, I can't even start. I'm heading to Elizabeth's, although I may have Rosie accompany me. I'll see if Cat can come relieve you before lunch ends, Nathan. Thank you." Lee placed his hand on Nathan's arm, then departed followed by Nathan who went to sit on the schoolhouse steps and watch over the students.

Nathan soon had a crowd of adoring children gathered around asking questions and requesting another story or a game.

It was there that a red-faced Elizabeth found him entertaining the students as he challenged them to call out words beginning with letters of the alphabet. With the youngest surrounding Allie, she held open the book of ABCs so the little ones could call out names from the picture book.

"Constable Grant? Thank you for stepping-in to watch the children during their lunch hour. I will take over now." Elizabeth spoke her thank you, but her tone of voice did not convey that message.

"Children, please find your seats and I'll follow you in." She nodded dismissively at Nathan who had stood and was speaking to the students by name, telling them to have a good afternoon and pay attention to Mrs. Thornton.

He gave a brief hat tip and was off striding into town.

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At the door of the jail, Nathan turned to see Faith watching him, so he grinned and placed his index finger against his lips then let it go as if sending a kiss across the road. She responded with a smile and returned the gesture. The couple now had a way to express their love without anyone realizing!

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(*3) "The Alphabet Song," Copyright 1835 by publisher Charles Bradlees, Music theme by Mozart and same tune as used for "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" and "Baa, Baa, Black Sheep."

Public Domain.

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