With the game so close, Elizabeth asked Lee to set up a practice field on Jack's land so that the boys could use the actual field. Having gotten word that the girls were really putting in an effort, Tom had decided they needed to begin taking them a little more seriously, though he still didn't really consider the girls a real threat.

Finally, it was the day of their last practice before the game, and Elizabeth had some final things that she wanted to review. She loaded her team up in the wagon, and they headed up to Jack's land.

"All right, so I brought us up here so we can work more on some skills that can be used offensively to our benefit. Knowing how they can be used also helps us in defending against them as well. As always, whatever we do at practice is a secret; we have an advantage right now because the other team is underestimating us, which in the end will give us the element of surprise.

We already practiced bunting, so the first thing I want to do is see how well you're doing with that. As this is our last practice before the game, does anyone have a question or need a refresher on anything we have already worked on?" Elizabeth asked.

Opal and Ruby both raised their hands, indicating that they were still uncertain about the mentioned skill, and Elizabeth explained quickly. Seeing they were still a bit confused, she decided to show them. "Allie and Anna, could you please come up here? Anna, you pitch to Allie, and Allie, you are going to bunt. All right?"

The girls got into position, and Allie demonstrated a few times. "Very good girls. Why don't you two work with Opal and Ruby, and then the rest of you can pair up and practice with each other in the grass? Then we will switch off so that everyone has a chance to do it."

For the next hour, the girls worked hard, and even Opal and Ruby caught on, thanks to Allie's patient coaching.

"Now that we have a good grasp on bunting, let's move on. Opal and Ruby, you did great, by the way. The next skill we need to work on is stealing bases." Elizabeth pulled out her notes and began to read them off. "So, the rules to keep in mind are this: As long as a ball is in play, runners on first, second, and third can steal. If you are running and it's a foul ball, you have to go back to your base. You need to wait until the pitcher is in the set position. When a pitcher is in the set position, they are committed or obligated to follow through with the pitch. They have come to a complete stop, and then when they begin, natural movement in prep to throwing is considered a commitment to the pitch, and he can't change up and at last minute attempt to throw the runner out. He would be obligated to follow through." After she finished reading, she could see they were amused by her method of instructing them, especially Allie.

"I know it's entertaining that I'm having to use my notes for this, but I want to make sure we are prepared, and part of that is knowing everything about a particular subject. Once you understand the whys, then you will better understand the mechanics when we put it into play."

"It's okay, Mrs. Thornton; we know it's because you want us to do well." Allie encouraged, then added teasingly. "But are we going to get tested on it?"

Elizabeth chuckled, ruffling her hair. "Very funny, Allie."

"Now my father taught me to look for some tells. A good one is that they will dig their toe in the dirt." Elizabeth then demonstrated what to do.

"That's your chance to steal a base, and you'll run. If you are going to steal, then you usually want to be a few paces away so that if at the last minute the pitcher changes, you can run back." Elizabeth demonstrated for them. "So, make sure you are not so far away that you can't make it back."

"Now, for those of you who were in the last game, do you remember the hidden ball trick that Cody used to tag Robert out?"

Anna and a few others nodded.

"For those who don't remember or weren't there, let me quickly explain because I wouldn't be surprised if they attempt it again."

"Cody played second base and caught a pop fly though Robert still made it to second. He ventured off the bag, ready to run as the next batter stepped up. But what he didn't see was that Cody had hidden the ball in his glove, so it was still in his possession. He waited as Robert ventured a few steps off, but when Robert went running back to base, Cody had the ball and tagged him out. While stealing is always a risk, if you are paying attention and know what you are doing, it can have a big payoff."

"Wouldn't it be great if we could use that against them.?" Anna said to Allie. They all laughed just imagining the looks on the boys' faces.

"It certainly would, Anna. Why don't we show them what that looks like? Maggie, I need you on second base. Emily, you are going to be the third baseman, Hattie, I need you as the batter, Louise, why don't you catch for me? Allie, you are going to be trying to steal third, okay?"

"Oh, I got this, Coach," Allie said with a smirk. "I'm as good as there already."

"Oh, you do, are you sure about that?" Elizabeth laughed, her brow raised.

"I guess we will find out." Allie chuckled, issuing the challenge.

"Are you girls ready?" Elizabeth said to the others.

"Here we go then," Elizabeth said as she took the position of pitcher. She kept an eye on Allie, waiting for her to move. She could see the smirk on Allie's face as she edged off the base a few steps. Elizabeth suddenly turned and threw to Maggie, but Allie made it back. They did a couple more times, and then Elizabeth committed, and as the ball headed for home plate, Allie was on her way to third, stepping on with a flourish.

Elizabeth laughed at the smug look on Allie's face and the grins on the other's faces. "Are there any questions?"

The girls all shook their heads. Seeing the eagerness in their eyes, she said, "So let's split up and steal some bases then."

They worked for a while, and the girls had a great time. Even Elizabeth got into the act and stole a few bases before they broke for lunch, eating the picnic that the mothers had provided.

"Mrs. Thornton, how do you know so much about baseball?" Allie asked as Elizabeth joined her team on the blanket they had spread under a tree.

"Well, I went to a few games with my father before I left home and really enjoyed watching the game and the strategies used. When I was little, we would play catch occasionally, and he showed me a few other things when he had time. Then when I was around your age, my mother forbade it, and my father had become too busy anyway.

A few years after I started teaching here, a bunch of families had moved in, and the students had kept to themselves. The original Hope Valley kids just separated and stuck to certain groups and never mingled. So, in an effort to get them to interact, Mountie Jack and I decided to have a baseball game and split the children into two mixed teams. Mountie Jack had Opal as his assistant, while I had Cyrus as mine. I learned from him, too, though he and his father left right after the school term ended. Judge Avery was our umpire then too. Jack was shocked when I said I would be the other coach and teased me just like the boys and Coach Tom are doing to us now.

Determined to prove myself, I learned everything I could about the game. I've always believed that knowledge is power and so I researched all the rules and regulations and studied the mechanics of the game. You see, by learning all the rules, then you have parameters that you can work with. Then I learned about the mechanics of playing, such as bunting, stealing bases, and even as far as learning what each position's job is. By knowing all of this then, you can begin to develop an offensive strategy as well as how to defend against it. That's why I have had us rotating through everything. That's why I say that baseball is nuanced and complex, and that is where we are going to have an edge. I have a reputation for being bookish, and Jack used to tease me a lot about my approach. Anything worth doing, even something as simple as a game, is worth doing right. We will practice as we play so that when the game is over, we have left everything on the field. If we lose, then we still gave it everything we had and can take pride in that. A philosophy that is good to carry over into other aspects of your life," Elizabeth explained. She paused, looking around at the land she and Jack were going to build their dreams on, then back to the girls.

"When my husband passed, I went to Hamilton, and even after, my father and I took in some games and would spend time talking about when he played in university. So, I picked up more knowledge because I was fascinated. It actually made me feel close to my father again, as well as to Jack, and that comforted me. Plus, having a son, I want to make sure that I support him any way I can while also teaching respect for women and showing that they can do the same things men can."

The rest of the afternoon, the girls reviewed all that they had learned over the week, and Elizabeth interjected here and there. They even created some signals to use on the field.

"All right, girls, we need to get going because we still have the pre-game slumber party that is being held in our honor at the café," Elizabeth said as they loaded the equipment in the wagon. "Mrs. Coulter has a surprise for us, too, I am told."

With cheers, they loaded up the wagon and headed back to town. Bill, Nathan, and Lee watched them returning curiously. They noted the equipment in the back as well as the disheveled appearance of Elizabeth and the girls and realized they had been practicing again.

"Elizabeth and the girls sure are putting in a lot of time practicing. Though come to think of it, I didn't see them on the field, so I wonder where they practiced?" Bill asked.

"She took them up on Jack's land so they could have privacy," Nathan said. "At least that's what Allie told me. Tonight, Rosemary is throwing a party for them."

"How is Allie handling spending so much time with Elizabeth? Have you two managed to clear the air yet?" Lee asked.

"I think this game has actually been good for their relationship. Elizabeth had asked if she could talk to Allie and apologize to her, which I allowed, and they managed to clear the air. I think it helps that Elizabeth has reverted back to being herself and maybe even better. As for Elizabeth and I, we have not addressed our issues yet. I know that we need to, but I'm just not sure I'm quite ready to begin that conversation. I am getting close, though." Nathan replied.