Chapter 139 – Easter Dinner Prep
Jack and Elizabeth both looked at Becky with awe.
"Smart girl." Jacobs said with a smile. "That is exactly what they did. They are going to go right past right in front of us and then across the field behind the livery and when they get to the water tower, they will turn and go right up the road and put it next to the schoolhouse."
"After they pass us." Becky said. "Can you take me over to the schoolhouse? I have never been able to see how they set the building back down."
"Sure." Jacobs said. "I guess you need to know if you want to be an engineer."
Once again, Jack and Elizabeth looked at Becky surprised. They wondered how Jacobs knew that, but at least she had opened up to someone. Elizabeth also knew that she would have to find a way to challenge Becky in school to really see how well she had learned about things despite not being in school for the better part of the last year. Elizabeth also made a mental note to get a wire ready to send to her Aunt Agatha as she was going to need more advanced science books. Becky was wide-eyed watching every little movement that the men made. At one point she leaned over and said something to Jacobs. He quickly jumped down, rushed over to the men and after speaking to them, they stopped the horses.
"What did you tell him?" Jack asked.
"I noticed that one of the wheels on the carriage was not rolling right." Becky said.
They watched as the men made a few adjustments, then Jacobs came back over and stood next to Becky.
"How did you see that?" Jacobs asked.
"I don't know." Becky said. "I just knew that if they didn't stop and adjust that the wheel was going to break."
"Well you were right." Jacobs said. "The men said that you caught it in time, but they will have to switch the wheel before moving to the other cabin."
"Wow." Jack said. "So glad that you were watching. It could have been bad if you hadn't caught it."
Becky smiled shyly at the praise.
"So the teacherage is getting moved as well?" Elizabeth asked.
"Yes." Jacobs said. "The men said that it will take a little work to make it livable, but they can salvage it so they thought it was worth it."
"That is good." Jack said. "At least there will be a place for the substitute that comes in for Elizabeth this fall."
"I agree." Elizabeth said. "We will just have to talk to Abigail and remind her to keep it for that."
"I think that Frank already mentioned something." Jacobs said. "He had asked who was going to be his new neighbor. Bill told him that they didn't know at this point and it was going to remain the teacherage."
Elizabeth smiled, she hoped that her friend came out and covered for her while she was home with the new baby. Jack saw that Elizabeth was smiling again. He took her hand and squeezed it. He didn't know why she was smiling, but he was glad to see the smile on her face again. The group watched the men slowly pull the house past them and across the road and behind the livery. Jacobs then turned the wagon and headed back to town. He knew that it would take a little bit of time for them to turn the corner. He planned on getting Becky back in her chair and taking her over toward the schoolhouse. He wanted to leave Jack and Elizabeth at the cafe, especially since both were supposed to be resting. When they got to the cafe, Jack looked at Jacobs.
"What are you doing?" Jack asked. "I thought we were going to the schoolhouse?"
"I will take Becky over there in her chair." Jacobs said. "I think that you both should rest. I can get someone to take you home or you can stay at the cafe."
Jack looked at Elizabeth.
"I would like to go home." Elizabeth said. "Maybe Aunt Elizabeth can come with us if she can get away."
"Sounds good." Jack said.
"Okay." Jacobs said. "You two head in and I will get Becky over toward the schoolhouse."
Jack and Elizabeth got out of the wagon and headed into the cafe. Jacobs helped Becky down and got her settled in her chair before taking her and heading toward the schoolhouse.
When Jack and Elizabeth came in the back door, Charlotte and Elizabeth Rose looked at the two of them.
"Back already?" Elizabeth Rose asked.
"Yes." Jack said. "The men have gotten the cabin past the livery. We were watching from the road, by there. Jacobs took Becky over toward the schoolhouse since she wanted to see the men lower the cabin."
"She is amazing." Elizabeth said. "She caught something before it turned into a disaster. Something about the way a wheel was or wasn't moving."
"You are both going to have to challenge that girl in class the coming week." Jack said.
"Yes." Elizabeth said. "She wants to take final exams. She said that she was preparing for them before her parents died. I think that she should be more than ready. I also can't wait to see what she comes up with for a science project. Honestly, I would like to see her win and give the regional kids a run for their money. She was telling us about how her dad was an engineer. Sounds like she might want to do that as well. It is the most excited I have seen her."
"I will do everything that I can to help her." Charlotte said.
"I will as well." Elizabeth Rose said. "You are right. She was excited when she was talking to you both earlier. I haven't seen her like that at all. She was like that this morning after she talked to Jacobs as well."
"Thank you both." Elizabeth said. "I am so glad that you are both here to help. I wondered what he said to her, because it seems like she likes him."
Jack smiled, but didn't say anything.
"Glad to be here." Elizabeth Rose said. "I know that I haven't been in a classroom in a few years, but I am looking forward to working with the kids again."
"So am I." Charlotte said. "Especially since I have spent time with a lot of them over the last few weeks."
"So what is the plan for this afternoon?" Elizabeth asked.
"We have to get ready for supper as well as for tomorrow." Ann said.
"Abigail over at the office?" Jack asked.
"Yes." Elizabeth Rose said. "Do you want to stay here or what were you thinking?"
"I need to talk to Wynn." Jack said. "I think I am going to go over to the office for a bit."
"Don't overdo it." Elizabeth said.
"I won't." Jack said. "I have barely done anything. I think I can walk across the road and sit in a chair."
"Okay." Elizabeth said.
Jack gave Elizabeth a kiss.
"I will walk you over." Charlotte said. "I need to take a basket of goodies over anyway."
"Fine." Jack said. "I could have taken it."
Charlotte didn't say anything, but just shot Jack a look. Jack and Charlotte headed out across the road. Elizabeth washed her hands, then took a seat at the prep table and started chopping vegetables to help.
Jacobs and Becky got over to the area around the schoolhouse. He introduced Becky to Kenneth and asked if she could sit and watch.
"Absolutely." Kenneth said. "You, young lady, have a very good eye and saved us a lot of trouble."
"Thank you." Becky said shyly.
"Are you going to be okay if I head to the office?" Jacobs asked.
"Sure." Becky said.
"We will make sure that she gets back safe." Kenneth said.
"Thank you." Jacobs said. "Please make sure that someone helps her to the cafe. You will have to lift her up a couple steps."
"We should make a ramp." Kenneth said. "It will give the young lady some more freedom and make everyone's life easier."
"If you want." Jacobs said. "But hopefully she won't need the chair all that long."
"So we make it temporary." Kenneth said. "Either way, the young lady should be able to go outside without help."
Jacobs nodded, patted Becky on the shoulder and then turned to head back to the office.
They had barely gotten off the porch when Charlotte stopped Jack.
"We need to talk." Charlotte said.
"About what?" Jack asked.
"Seriously." Charlotte said. "About the way that Lizzie spoke to me. Are you just going to let that happen?"
"Yes." Jack said.
Jack didn't give his mother a chance to respond, but turned, crossed the road and went up the steps to the mayor's office. Charlotte stood there shocked for a moment before following her son. She couldn't believe that he was going to allow that. She may have teased Jack about sass, but he had never walked away from her like that. When Charlotte got to the door of the office, she knocked and waited a moment.
"What do you need?" Bill asked as he cracked the door.
"I brought some scones." Charlotte said. "Also thought I could talk to Jack."
"Thank you." Bill said, holding out his hand for the basket. "Talk to him later."
"I can bring them in." Charlotte said.
"Sorry." Bill said. "We have evidence laid out, you understand."
"Fine." Charlotte huffed and handed over the basket.
Bill closed the door and Charlotte heard him lock it. She stood there for a moment and looked around. She decided to head over to the schoolhouse and see how Becky was doing.
After Charlotte and Jack left, Elizabeth Rose and Ann exchanged a look. Elizabeth caught the look, but ignored it. She really didn't want to get into everything in the middle of the cafe. She closed her eyes and counted to ten before looking up at her aunt.
"Aunt Elizabeth." Elizabeth said. "I need to talk to you, but I just don't know if this is the time and place."
"Okay." Elizabeth Rose said. "I will be here when you want to talk, just know that I know that something is bothering you."
"You are right." Elizabeth said. "Something is bothering me. Something happened this morning before we came into town."
"I take it, this was after Dee came in?" Elizabeth Rose asked.
"Yes." Elizabeth said. "It has to do with Hamilton."
"Okay." Elizabeth Rose said. "I understand why you are upset and there was tension. Just remember that you and Jack need to do what is right for you."
"I agree." Elizabeth said. "It is not Jack that I am frustrated with. We talked about some things and have made a decision, but we also need to talk to you and Wynn about how we are going to do things."
"Okay." Elizabeth Rose said. "We can talk later. I am going to be here."
"I know." Elizabeth said. "I just want something to be easy. It just seems like it is one thing after another and we can't catch a break."
Ann came over and took a seat next to Elizabeth.
"I may not know what you are talking about." Ann said. "But I will listen and help in any way that I can. Especially if you want to talk to someone that is not involved. I will say one thing and then I will let it be. All I am going to say is that you need to take a deep breath and say a prayer. If you feel in your heart that what you have chosen is the right thing that God would want, then you need to stand by that."
"Thank you." Elizabeth said. "That helps. Jack and I both believe that the decision that we made is what we were meant to do. Other people may not understand, but we completely believe that it is right. It might be hard for some time, but we are committed to making it work."
"Very well." Ann said. "Then my mother and I will do everything that we can to support you."
"Thank you again." Elizabeth said. "Right now, I will ask you to pray that things work out for all involved. We have a lot of steps to complete before we get to the end result we want and I have a feeling it won't be an easy road."
"The best things usually are not." Ann said.
"Okay." Elizabeth said. "Now what else do we need to do? I know that we have to get things ready for Easter dinner and we will have several extra mouths to feed."
"So we have the four hams ready to go in the oven." Ann said. "Abigail said that she would put them in after supper and cook them tonight. She is going to make the buns in the morning. She is also planning on scalloped potatoes and mixed veggies. I have beans soaking to make a bean soup. Mother is making a coconut and carrot cake."
"And what is for supper tonight?" Elizabeth asked.
"We have meatloaf, veggies and potatoes." Clara said, coming into the kitchen.
"We probably need more potatoes peeled." Ann said. "There is also leftover roast beef."
"Abigail was going to use that for the Mounties coming if needed." Clara said. "It will be fine in the icebox until Monday."
"Okay." Elizabeth said. "So potatoes. I can do that."
"I also need some cabbage chopped as well as bacon." Ann said. "I am going to make some cabbage with bacon tomorrow."
"Oh I haven't had that in years." Elizabeth said.
"Good." Ann said.
The woman went to work in the kitchen and got quite a bit done. Elizabeth Rose even made a couple loaves of bread and also some of Abigail's scones. It was steady, but not overly busy through the afternoon and it allowed the women to get a lot of things done.
