Closing the top drawer of the dresser in the guest room of the Coulter's home, Elise felt a relief that she was done unpacking. Turning from the dresser, the relief quickly evaporated as she took in the nicely decorated but unfamiliar room. A sudden wave of homesickness, which had been kept at bay by the activity of the day, came over her. A sob bubbled up as she moved toward the easy chair beside the window.
Though parting in Hamilton had produced some tears, Elise hadn't cried since the train had pulled out of the Hamilton train station. She had been excited at the prospect of her new adventure. What she had seen of her country amazed her as she realized how small of a bubble she had existed in during her time in Hamilton.
Her arrival in Hope Valley had been no different. Meeting her hosts, fellow teachers and others that she already couldn't remember their names, had been exciting. It kept her dwelling on the family she had left in the East. True to their word, the ladies had helped her select a simple, but frilly white blouse, and a light blue skirt with tiny white flowers on it for Monday. The talk over dinner had been both informative and comforting as Elise got to know the town and its people. Rosemary had kept up a constant stream of chatter as they drove from the main street of the little town to their home. Lee had offered to drive her two and from work while the weather was cold, suggesting that she might enjoy the walk when the wether warmed up. Already imagining the winter landscape would come alive in the spring had Elise figuring that the man was probably right on the assumption.
Once back at the Coulters home, Lee had taken her bags upstairs while Rosemary had shown her around the property. Elise could tell she was going to be quite comfortable staying with the Coulters - the home being on par with her parents home in Hamilton. She knew what would take some getting use to was the lack of neighbors, public transportation and nearby stores. She had made herself useful, helping Rosemary get supper while Lee took care of Aster. The chatter during, though and after, as she had helped Lee with the dishes, supper had come easily. With the last plate back in the cupboard, Elise had excused herself to unpack.
"My dear, are you all right?"
Rosemary's questioned came as the woman stepped into the room and sat down on the bed next to Elise. The former actress didn't wait for an invitation to put a comforting arm around the other woman's shoulders.
Elise nodded. "It just finally . . . hit me . . . that I am . . . far from home."
The sentence came out through her sobs. Elise felt silly and she tried to get her tears under control.
"I remember that feeling the first time I headed for New York. I was so enthralled with the prospect of being on stage and the city that how far away I was from everyone didn't hit me until I was trying to fall asleep. I must have cried half the night. So, you go ahead and shed whatever tears you need to but I speak from experience when I say it will get easier."
Reassured that her emotions were understood, she leaned into the comfort of the woman beside her. She might be in a new place, experiencing new things but she wasn't alone. She needed to remember that.
Despite another bout of tears, Elise did end up sleeping well. So well that she ended up sleeping late the following morning. By the time she finally allowed herself to be roused from slumber, Rosemary and Lee had already eaten breakfast and were completing final preparations to leave for church. Elise encouraged them to go ahead without her, saying there was no need for all of them to arrive late. In the end, Lee stayed back to wait for their boarder while Rosemary took Aster on ahead. While Rosemary took the automobile, Lee planned on bringing Elise to church in the one-horse pulled sleigh that he kept on hand for when the roads were not passable with the car.
Elise hurried through her morning tasks, hoping that she wouldn't make Lee and herself too late for church. She picked out one of her Sunday dresses that she brought with her, carefully pinned the hat she had worn on the train to her head, grabbed her heavy cloak and headed downstairs. While she had gotten ready, Lee had scrambled and cooked some eggs in a patty which he put between two slices of eggs.
"It'll keep your stomach from rumbling too loudly during Pastor Frank's sermon," Lee told her as he handed her the sandwich. He already had his winter coat on. "You eat that and I will go hitch Mozart to the sleigh."
Elise nodded in response as Lee headed toward the door, pulling hat and gloves on as he went. Not bothering sitting down, Elise took a bite of the sandwich. It was the first time she had eaten eggs in this manner but it tasted good. She was grateful to Lee for thinking of it.
By the time, Lee stepped back inside, Elise hand finished her sandwich. She wrapped her heavy clock around her and donned her gloves. Lee then escorted her out to the sleigh, tucking a fur blanket around her legs before climbing into the other side of the sleigh.
"I am sorry for making you late," Elise told him as the sleigh moved along as a moderate clip.
Lee chuckled. "Giving my attendance record for church in my adult life, I am sure the Lord is just happy with me finding my way to church these days," he told her. He glanced at her. "And don't worry about your late arrival either. People around here are understanding. Giving your arrival from Hamilton yesterday, they would understand you claiming too tired to attend."
"Maybe, but what kind of example will that set for my students," Elise said. "Besides, I am anxious to meet people."
"Well, church is a good way to do that," Lee confirmed. "Besides, Pastor Frank is leaving this afternoon for Edmonton. He'll be there the next few weeks getting ready to bring a group of boys here. Some of those boys will be in your class."
Elise nodded. "Elizabeth mentioned that. I have to admit, I am a bit nervous. Here I am learning how to be a teacher in a small town and I am about to get students that probably need me more than any that I helped teach in the city. Some of who might not even want to be in class or respect me."
"Well, if there are any behavior issues, you make sure you let Frank or his partner, an Edward Montclair, know about them. They will help address the issues. I don't know much about this Montclair fellow but Frank said he's a former Mountie so I am sure he knows how to be firm and fair with the boys."
Elise felt the heat rise in her cheeks at the mention of Edward. Would he still think of her as just Margaret's little sister? "I know Edward. My sister and he were in the same graduating class as Elizabeth back in Hamilton."
She felt Lee's eyes on her.
"I think there is more than just him being your sister's classmate?"
"Edward only saw me as a little kid."
"Something tells me he won't view you that way now," Lee mentioned. "And Hope Valley has a way of bringing together people who were meant to fall in love. It did for me an Rosie."
Elise ducked her head and didn't reply. Lee left the subject at that, focusing his eyes on the horse ahead of him. The rest of the ride to the church was silent. Reaching the churchyard, Lee found a place to tie Mozart off before helping Elise down from the sleigh. Everyone else was in the church.
As the two entered, Frank was leading the congregation in an opening hymn. Even as the signing continued, eyes turned at their footsteps. Lee patted the hand that was tucked in the crook of his elbow as he led Elise down the aisle to where Rosemary had saved two seats for them. The one thing that the young woman from Hamilton was keenly aware of was that none of the feminine eyes looking at her was shadowed by the brim of a hat.
So much for trying to blend in, Elise thought as she settled on the end seat of the pew the Coulters normally occupied.
As he cut the last piece for the cradle he was building for the coming Kinslow baby, Nathan put down his saw and stood up straight. Reaching his hands above his head, he stretched his back muscles. With Elizabeth at home with Jack again and Allie at school, Nathan spent a good portion of his day in his wood shop, working on both orders and personal projects. Along with this cradle he had plans on building some knew furniture for the nursery. Though Elizabeth still had the crib and rocking chair from when Jack was an infant, the other furniture had been giving away. Nathan planned on building a dresser and changing table for the nursery. Bill had asked to buy a bassinet and mobile for the child, a surprise for Elizabeth at the joint baby shower that Rosemary was already planning for Faith and Elizabeth.
A knock at the door brought Nathan out of his thoughts. He looked to the clock even as he called out an invitation. He was relieved to see that he had not lost track of time completely. He still had forty minutes before Elizabeth wanted to head into town for the dress shopping outing with Allie and the ladies.
"Is everything okay?" Nathan asked, as his wife stepped into the wood shop. He noted her troubled expression.
"I'm not sure," Elizabeth replied, pulling the door shut behind her. She rubbed her abdomen. "Jack hasn't shown a lot of excitement about the baby and perhaps it shouldn't be completely unexpected. He was an only child for a little over four years and then he got a big sister. He's use to getting attention from everyone. I could see him afraid of losing that which is why I've been trying to talk to him about how he can be a good big brother. This afternoon he said he didn't want to be a big brother and that he wanted a nap. When he headed upstairs, I thought maybe he just needed some time alone. I gave him a few moments and then followed. He wasn't in his room. I found him in the nursery - in the crib. He threw a tantrum when I tried to get him out."
"Where is he now?" Nathan asked.
"He fell asleep in the crib," Elizabeth replied.
Nathan nodded.
"I don't know what I should do," Elizabeth lamented. "I don't want to punish him when he's just trying to express emotions he doesn't know how to express, but I'm not sure letting him sleep in the crib is the best solution either."
"Let me worry about Jack," Nathan told her, reaching out and resting his hands on her upper arms. "A nap or two in the crib won't hurt him."
Elizabeth nodded. "You'll be understanding with him, won't you?"
"I will," Nathan assured her. "Now, go back inside and get ready. I'll make sure everything in here is in its place and then hook Cosmo to the wagon for you so you can head into town."
"All right," Elizabeth agreed, tilting her head up to accept a kiss from Nathan.
Nathan pressed his lips against Elizabeth's, trying to convey to her that she was not in this alone. When he broke the kiss, Elizabeth gave him a smile. Reaching for the door, he held it for Elizabeth to walk outside. He stood in the doorway to make sure she crossed the yard safely. As if she knew what was going on, Elizabeth turned back to the wood shop as she reached the front door and raised a hand to him. Nathan returned the gesture before closing the door.
It took only a few moments to put the tools away, which he had been using. He then made sure the fire was out in the stove which warmed the room and donned his coat, hat and gloves. Making his way to the barn, Nathan greeted both Newton and Sargent, rubbing both horses' necks for a little while before moving to Cosmo. He took a few moments to brush down the broad work horse, before leading him out of the barn. In no time, he had Cosmo hitched to the wagon. Climbing onboard the wagon, he made the short drive to the house. As he brought the wagon to a stop at the foot of the front steps, Elizabeth stepped back onto the porch.
"Jack was still sleeping when I checked on him," Elizabeth said as Nathan climbed down from the wagon.
"Don't worry about him. You enjoy your time in town. Maybe choose a new dress for the dance yourself."
Elizabeth shook her head. "The dress you bought me for my birthday is still fitting and it might be the last chance I get to wear it for a while. Besides, I will need some new dresses for the later part of my pregnancy as I don't have any of the ones from when I was expecting Jack."
"Business is good so you don't need to worry about getting what you need for yourself or the baby," Nathan assured.
"Even with us buying this place?"
Nathan nodded. "Yes," he assured her. "Not only did Bill insist on a price that is probably cheaper than he could get for the land and buildings but the payments are very reasonable. We can probably get him paid off quicker than planned but I am thankful for the lower payments. It gives us some flexibility."
"I'm surprised he didn't try giving us the place."
"He did," Nathan replied. "He insisted he wanted to do something to help us and he still owed us a wedding present. He's buying the material for the expansion of the barn and the house in the spring. My plan is to add a master bedroom suite and a small room for a nursery downstairs, and then we will have four bedrooms upstairs for the kids or guests. I was planning on drawing up the plans and getting your thoughts on my ideas then?"
"I like that idea," Elizabeth said. "We probably will need more room with another kid and Muffin now."
"We've got some time to finalize the plans. For now, let's get you heading into town."
Nathan helped Elizabeth up onto the wagon seat. He then helped her tuck the heave fur lap robe around her.
"Drive carefully," Nathan told her.
"I will. I'll pick up a chocolate creme pie from the café for dessert tonight."
"I won't say no to that," Nathan said with a grin.
Taking a step back, Nathan let Elizabeth give Cosmo the command to start forward. He watched for a few moments before turning and heading back into the house. He had a little boy to figure out how to help.