Chapter 2

Elizabeth wasn't surprised to find Abigail already in the kitchen when she came downstairs the following morning. They had talked late into the night, catching up with each other's news in a way that couldn't be done by letter or telephone, before finally realising that sleep was needed if they were going to get through their list of tasks for the next day. Abigail had offered to do the early shift in the kitchen to give Mrs Winters a chance to rest, the addition of seven more children in the house having already meant a lot of extra work for the housekeeper. Others in the town had been generous in their assistance, whether by baking pies and cakes or coming to give a hand with the washing and cleaning required with such a houseful, but Mrs Winters was an older lady set in her ways and found it difficult to hand her kitchen over to anyone else. Even Lilian and Grace had learnt not to interfere. For some reason Abigail was the only person to whom she was willing to relinquish the reins and so she had risen early to get things underway before the chaos of fifteen children descended.

"What can I do?" Elizabeth spoke softly, not wanting to startle her friend.

"The kettle is on the stove so a pot of tea would be nice. I'm ready for a break once I get this bread in the oven so we could make ourselves some breakfast and work out a schedule of the things we need to do to help everyone get ready for Christmas."

Abigail watched Elizabeth closely, not yet wanting to give away her plan to travel back to Hope Valley with her but wanting to gauge just how much of the calm front she was seeing was real. Something was troubling her friend and she knew it was up to her to find out just what that was. Her thoughts went back to when the young schoolteacher arrived in Hope Valley, so naïve to the ways of the world yet full of so much enthusiasm and determination. It was that strength that Abigail had tapped into, despite it appearing as though things were working in the other way. Now she needed to help Elizabeth find the right path forward and live the life she was meant to have, while honouring Jack and his hopes for the woman he had loved so much.

Elizabeth busied herself getting the teacups and pot from the dresser before turning towards the cupboard for the tea caddy, all the while thinking about how wonderful it was to have moments like this with her dear friend. She had worried about Abigail ever since her mother had passed, knowing that she was a woman who needed a purpose and that she would suddenly have found herself floundering as she worked out in which direction life would take her next. When they stopped on the journey over it was the first time she had an opportunity to speak with Bill about the woman she knew he still loved but the stubborn old mule refused to even consider that there was any hope for them to find a way back to each other again. She loved Bill dearly but sometimes she could have thumped him to knock some sense into that wooden head of his. She laughed to herself at that thought and noticed Abigail turn at the sound but the older woman said nothing, obviously realising that this was a private thought that would be shared if Elizabeth wanted her to know.

With the tea stewing she took the jug of milk from the ice box and placed it on the table, then remembering Abigail's sweet tooth returned to the cupboard for the sugar bowl. Such simple things, she thought, but with so much meaning when you were sharing it with someone who meant a lot to you. It was only now that she realised just how much she had missed Abigail's guidance and how she always managed to see things in just the right way to make her question herself and the decisions she was making. If it wasn't for Abigail then she doubted that Jack and she would have found their way to be together and the thought of that was more than she could bear thinking. No matter how short their married life together may have been, every minute was worth the pain that she had endured since his death. And then there was Little Jack. She couldn't imagine life without her sweet boy.

"Elizabeth….Elizabeth!" Abigail's voice made her jump and she realised she was standing still, having stopped midway through pouring the tea. "Are you ok? You were miles away there for a minute."

"Oh gosh, I'm so sorry. I was thinking about when I first came to Hope Valley, when I set fire to the teacherage and you had to take me in. I don't know if I have ever thanked you properly for what you did for me then. I'm sure had it been left up to Florence Blakely then I would have been on the first stagecoach out of there. I've often wondered why you believed in me when no-one else did."

Abigail laughed, "Well, if I'm honest, there were times in the early days when I wondered that too. Especially when you were so pig-headed towards Jack. I kept telling myself that even the most educated people sometimes can't see what is right in front of them!"

Elizabeth jumped in then, knowing that she was taking a risk of upsetting her friend but determined not to let this opportunity pass her by. "You mean like you and Bill?"

Shaking her head Abigail turned back towards the oats she was now measuring out. "That is different. Things came between us over which I had no control. By the time we had it sorted too much water had passed under the bridge. Bill and I were better to remain friends and business partners."

"And Pastor Frank? I know he asked you to go with him to Cape Fullerton. If you had truly loved him you would have gone. There were good schools there for Becky and Cody. And yet you chose to stay. I think that was because you couldn't bear the thought of leaving Bill."

The sound of feet scurrying along the wooden floor of the upstairs hallway and clomping down the stairs, along with the sound of little voices still with a hint of sleepiness in their tone, saved Abigail from having to respond for now but she knew this conversation wasn't over. In the same way that she seemed to be able to look into Elizabeth's heart, sometimes understanding what was really there before she did herself, so it seemed that Elizabeth had the ability to do that with her. True friendship, she thought, is not something that needs to be shown in public, it is what you feel for someone in your very being.

The kitchen door burst open and when the first of the children came bustling in it was as though the room suddenly came to life. Chatter filled the air, despite the sleepy eyes that told them that some had been a bit more reluctant than others to leave the warmth of their beds. Christmas was only a few days away and the sense of excitement could be felt in the air. Abigail felt her heart swell when she saw the happy faces of these children who had each been through one of the worst experiences anyone could imagine in life, the loss of their parents, and the emotions that accompanied that feeling of abandonment. It was through the patience and care of Lillian and Grace that they had learned that they were still loved and wanted and now they knew this was their home and no matter where they went in the world as they grew up they would always belong here.

But behind them in the doorway the Scott children had stopped, not sure what to do next as their eyes showed how much they wanted and needed to feel that same warmth and love that had just been taken from them while their bearing showed just how overwhelmed they were feeling. Abigail moved across from the stove and indicated for them to come in, the other children shuffling along the benches that flanked either side of the big table to make room. She wondered if any of them remembered how they felt when they first arrived. The periods of uncertainty and sadness, not knowing what was going to happen to them. And while these children had their siblings around them, the greatest fear for them must be wondering if they would be able to stay together. She thought back to the time Becky and Cody had arrived in Hope Valley and how much they clung to each other, not sure who else they could trust. It had taken time and patience, not just from her but the whole community, before they realised that they were no longer alone.

Elizabeth had been watching Abigail as she quickly cleared away their teacups and began setting out the breakfast dishes for the children. She saw how her friend crouched at the doorway in front of the two smallest of these lost little souls, speaking quietly and reassuringly as she soothed their fears in the loving manner she showed towards everyone. This was her friend's greatest gift, she realised. To be that light around whom everyone gathered as she worked her magic to help them find their way. She gave a little chuckle to herself again, Abigail once more casting a quick glance in her direction. Not many people would agree with her but she knew that hidden behind his curmudgeonly exterior Bill Avery had exactly the same ability and drive to make things right for those who needed help, he just had a funny way of showing it.

The room filled up quickly then, Lillian, Grace and Mrs Winters all coming in and starting the morning routine that made life in the orphanage run smoothly most of the time. Even with the addition of these new children the system seemed to work, it just meant that a bit more thought was required on everyone's part. Looking around she suddenly realised that Little Jack hadn't appeared with the others. Probably still sleeping after the journey yesterday and the excitement of being with everyone last night, she thought. "I'm just going to wake Little Jack," she whispered quietly to Abigail, not wanting to make a fuss about him not being there.

"Oh, he's awake already", Lillian replied over her shoulder as she settled the littlest of the children in their high chair. "Gabe always pops in here first thing each morning to check that we are okay and Nathan Grant was with him today. Jack saw him out of the window as we came down the stairs and he was out the front door before I could stop him. I figured he was safe enough in the presence of two Mounties."

Abigail watched Elizabeth closely, trying to see what reaction she would have at the mention of Nathan being here and unsurprisingly a mix of emotions seemed to play across her face. But in the end there was primarily a nervousness in how her friend reacted, as though she was battling within herself to understand her feelings. "Of course, he loves both Gabe and Nathan so would be excited to see them. I'm guessing they will bring him in with them before they head off for the day."

Lillian nodded, "Gabe usually stops to have some breakfast with us so I imagine Nathan will come in too. It is a special time each day for the children as he always has some funny anecdote to tell them." She stopped for a moment then before continuing, "although obviously since the fire he has kept things a little less flippant as he understands that this is not a time for too much laughter. Still, we know that it can be a great healer so I have encouraged him to continue in the same way as much as possible." Then almost to herself Lillian quietly finished, "I really don't know what I would do without him."

Elizabeth was about to comment when the sound of her son's voice could be heard along the hallway, the loudness of it telling her just how excited he was. It had been a while since they had spent any time with Nathan, her visit to Union City with Lucas seeming to have created a distance between them. She had hinted to him why she had said yes to the trip, hoping that would perhaps tell him that it was simply a matter of him asking her, yet somehow she could feel the gap growing wider and she wondered just how much damage she had done to their relationship with that visit.

"Mom, mom….Mountie Nathan said I could go for a ride around the field on Newton if I eat all my breakfast!" Little Jack shouted, quickly climbing up onto the end of one bench and picking up his spoon as though his porridge would magically appear. The women all laughed and while Abigail filled a bowl for him Elizabeth turned towards the two men. Before she could answer Nathan spoke, "If that is okay with you Elizabeth. That boy can be so insistent that it is hard to say no to him!"

Nathan's blue eyes seemed to bore into her as she stumbled to find words to say. She knew how determined her son could be when he set his mind to wanting something so understood how difficult it would have been to refuse his request. But that wasn't what made her catch her breath, it was the look of love that was written across his face, not just towards her but when he turned his head in the direction of Little Jack. Oh my, she thought, he is everything Jack would have wanted in the man who would raise his son. In the man who I would fall in love with and would love me in return.

Abigail watched the unspoken conversation between them, unaware that from the door to the hallway Bill was also looking at the interaction between these two before turning towards her. She sensed him then and looking up saw a similar expression in his eyes. Could it be? Did he feel the same regret that she did?

The moment was broken when Gabe crossed the room towards Lillian. "We need to speak to the Scott children. Bill has discovered something about the fire."