Chapter 173 – Charlotte Returns

Overall, Elizabeth had a good day at school. She was able to get what she needed done before the students arrived. When they did arrive, the first thing that she did was collect the homework and then start with more math. Once she got through the math, she had a history and geography lesson. She heard a few of the students grumbling about all the work and no time to work on things.

"Students." Elizabeth called.

She waited until she had everyone's attention.

"I know that I have covered a lot of material this morning and we have another lesson left before lunch." Elizabeth said. "But remember, you will have this afternoon and evening to work on things as well. I also expect you to put the work into your science projects. I expect to see work started on those tomorrow. Just remember we were out of school for over a week and we have a lot to make up. Not only that, I am only here in the mornings this week. The only thing that is due tomorrow is the math homework. The rest is not due until later this week or next. I don't want to hear anymore grumbling or I will make the history and geography due tomorrow as well. I can easily give you a history and geography test this week instead of a history next week and a geography test the week after."

"Sorry, Mrs Thornton." Some of the children said.

"Good." Elizabeth said. "Please keep in mind what I said. I have plenty that I can assign if you continue to complain."

The children went back to their work and Elizabeth went to work with the five youngest students on their stuff. With ten minutes to go before lunch, Elizabeth called all the students back together. She went over what the homework due the next day was. She also reminded them of their vocabulary words and gave them their new writing assignment which was a paragraph of what they thought it would be like to live in a large city. She also gave them the history and geography chapters that would be on the two tests that she mentioned.

It was about twenty minutes later when Abigail came back in. Wynn looked up at her, but couldn't read the expression on her face.

"Bad news?" Wynn asked.

"I don't know." Abigail said.

"Just tell me what Mr Bolt said." Wynn said.

"Okay." Abigail said. "It was more what he didn't say that I am concerned about."

"Slow down." Dee said. "What are we talking about?"

"When Katie Yost was here earlier." Wynn said. "She said something about Mr Bolt selling the newspaper and he was here to clear out some personal items. Abigail went to talk to him."

"Just sit down and tell us what he said." Jacobs said. "Then tell us what you are worried about."

Abigail nodded. She poured a cup of coffee and then sat at the table with the guys.

"Katie was partially right." Abigail said. "Mr Bolt said that he sold part of the business. So in essence he will have a partner who will live here in Hope Valley and run the paper here. Mr Bolt will continue to own the majority of the paper and live in Benson Hills. The two papers will work together. The one here will still only be published once a week, and special editions as they see fit. Benson Hills will be a daily paper."

"Did he say who his partner is?" Jacobs asked. "I mean I will be in Benson Hills eventually, so maybe I should go meet with him."

"No." Wynn said. "Wait until you are there."

Jacobs nodded.

"He said that he was bringing someone that wouldn't mind living in a dead end town." Abigail said. "It was the way that he said it, like there is nothing here."

"Abigail, calm down." Wynn said.

"There is plenty going on and from what I can see this town is growing fast." Jacobs said. "I think he just doesn't see it. Do I think that Hope Valley will ever be big enough for a daily paper? I doubt it, but that doesn't mean that a twice a week paper is not a good thing."

"Did he give you a name?" Wynn asked.

"Thomas Wright." Abigail said.

Wynn, Dee and Jacobs all looked at each other.

"I take it that name means something to you." Abigail said.

"It is a common name." Wynn said. "But if it is the Thomas Wright I think it is, then I don't know what Mr Bolt was thinking."

"Why?" Abigail asked.

"Thomas Wright." Dee said. "He is the assistant editor at that big paper in Calgary. I highly doubt that he would give up that job for an editor of a small town newspaper."

"It must be a different person." Abigail said. "Mr Bolt said would be here by the end of next week."

"Just for my records." Dee said. "Did Mr Bolt say if he was still going to be owning all the buildings. He currently has three in town."

"I didn't ask." Abigail said. "Katie did say that he was keeping the old tailor building that we rented to one of the families and her dad would still be managing it for him."

Dee nodded and made a note in his records. They went back to work and after another five minutes, Dee got up and headed out. Neither Wynn or Jacobs even looked up, they figured he found something that he wanted to check. They were still sorting through all the paperwork that had come on the stage the day before.

After Elizabeth dismissed the students for lunch, she sat down at her desk and looked at the stack of homework that she had to grade. She let out a big sigh just as her aunt walked in.

"Rough morning?" Elizabeth Rose asked.

"Sort of." Elizabeth said. "We covered a lot and there was some grumbling about stuff. I have math worksheets to grade and the writing assignment from yesterday. Although, I am tempted to leave their workbooks here. They have another writing assignment and vocabulary words to study that are in their workbooks."

"Take the math." Elizabeth Rose. "I will bring the workbooks when I come over later. Yes, I know that Wynn and I are eating in town, but I can drop off the workbooks. I will have them put their vocabulary works on a separate sheet of paper and they can work on their other writing assignment this afternoon as well. It will help that Charlotte is back and will be here. I also want to get the students going on the science projects. I told them they all needed to come back with a topic to research or something to start today."

"Good." Elizabeth said. "That will help. They have a vocabulary test on Friday morning, a history test next Tuesday and a geography test the Tuesday after. I have given them all the chapters. They also still have reading they need to complete. I haven't tested them on the reading in awhile, nor have I had them read out loud."

"Slow down." Elizabeth Rose said. "We will get through everything. With three of us in the afternoon it should be easier. Is there anything else?"

"They have another math worksheet as well." Elizabeth said.

"Then there is plenty to do this afternoon." Charlotte said, walking in.

"Oh, keep James, James and Gabe separated this afternoon." Elizabeth said. "They have been warned and continue to mess around."

"Not a problem." Charlotte said.

As Charlotte walked closer, Elizabeth saw that she was carrying five large books.

"What do you have there?" Elizabeth asked.

"Science books." Charlotte said. "I got them in Benson Hills yesterday."

Elizabeth didn't say anything, she didn't want to fight. All she wanted to do was get home and check on Jack and maybe take a short nap.

"Thank you both for helping." Elizabeth said. "If you have things, I will head home."

"I made some bread for you." Elizabeth Rose. "If you don't want to go in and get it, I will send it with Dee later."

"Please do that." Elizabeth said. "I have enough for sandwiches with the leftover soup for Jack and I this afternoon."

Elizabeth Rose nodded.

"Go." She said. "I will see you after school."

Elizabeth gave her aunt a hug and smiled at Charlotte before she grabbed her basket and headed out. Once Elizabeth was gone, the two teachers sat down and looked at the note she had left as well as plotted out what they were going to do that afternoon as Patty watched the children.

By the time that they took a break for lunch, Wynn and Jacobs had gotten through most of the paperwork that had come the day before, but they didn't have many more answers. Every time they found an answer it led to two or more new questions and they were getting frustrated. Abigail had been able to get through several more ledgers. She had just started the 1906 ledger before they took a break.

"You find a lot of payments to or from Pacific Northwest." Wynn asked.

"Some." Abigail said. "But the notations make sense. I still wrote them down. Only a couple of others that I have suspicions about and nothing to Wilder."

"Okay." Wynn said. "I will look when you get through them all. It will be easier for me that way."

"Okay." Abigail said. "Any further word on when the auditors will be here?"

"I got a message that they are headed this way." Wynn said. "It didn't say more. I still expect them Thursday or Friday."

Abigail nodded.

"Are we eating here or heading to the cafe?" Dee asked.

"Cafe." Wynn said. "I need a break."

"Oh that reminds me." Dee said. "I ordered several cases of soda for you. They will be here on Thursday's supply wagon. What you don't use, Abigail can sell."

"What are several cases?" Abigail asked.

"Seven or eight." Dee said with a grin. "I have ginger ale, orange, root beer and a citrus coming."

"That is only four." Abigail said.

"Two of each." Dee said. "They weren't sure they had two of the root beer, so we might only get one."

"How many bottles in a case?" Abigail asked.

"Twenty-four." Dee said. "Dad said he was getting sick of coffee. I usually keep soda stocked at the office for him when he gets like this."

"You will be responsible for putting them in the store room." Abigail said. "You will also be responsible to make sure that a few of them get into the ice box each day for you guys."

Dee just gave Abigail a grin.

"Just don't let the children see them." Abigail said. "I don't want to deal with that and I am sure the parents don't want it either."

"Yes, ma'am." Dee said.

Wynn just chuckled, because he knew the biggest kid of all was Dee. They headed out to the cafe because they knew that they also needed to go check on Jack.

Elizabeth got back to the house and sent the guard outside. She got the soup to heating before she went to check on Jack herself. Once she had the soup, kettle and another pot of water on, she walked over to the bedroom and looked at Jack. He was sitting up in bed with his head leaning back. He looked like he was sleeping. She went and sat down next to him. Jack turned his head and opened his eyes a bit.

"Hey Bella." Jack said.

"Hey, you." Elizabeth said. "How are you doing?"

"Sore." Jack said. "I am a lot more sore then I thought I was going to be. That was all that was going on this morning. I talked to Jacobs about it and he wasn't concerned, but he did recommend that I use some of the medicated tea that Dee has. I had one after this morning's session and I can have one after this afternoon."

"Is the bruising worse?" Elizabeth asked. "You want me to send one of the guards to get Faith?"

"No." Jack said. "I haven't checked the bruising, but I don't think it is worse."

"So what hurts?" Elizabeth asked.

"It hurts to breathe." Jack said. "It hurts to move, my throat is raw from coughing and being sick. My legs feel wobbly most of the time. I just hurt."

"I am sorry." Elizabeth said. "I wish I could make things better for you."

"No, but thank you." Jack said. "I just want to rest until they come. I am not hungry, but I would take some tea if you have that."

"How about some broth?" Elizabeth asked.

"I don't know if I have enough energy to eat." Jack said.

"Then I will feed you." Elizabeth said. "I will make you some peppermint tea as well. Just rest, I will be back in a bit."

Jack put his hand on her midsection.

"You eat first." Jack said.

Elizabeth smiled, leaned down and kissed Jack. She got up and went back to the kitchen. She made herself a bowl of soup and had that while she graded a few papers. Once she was done, she made another small bowl, mostly of broth and took it Jack with a cup of peppermint tea. Once she helped Jack finish, she went back to grading while she waited for Jacobs and Dee to show up. She was worried about how tired Jack was and made a note to talk to Jacobs about it.