Chapter 237 – Mr Landis's Problem
The students started to gather their items to leave the school house, while Elizabeth made a couple of notes at her desk. As the students started to clear out, Wynn, Jacobs and Frank started to put the benches back in order. Aunt Elizabeth, Charlotte and Patty helped get the students moving and picking up other items. Mr Landis stepped closer to Elizabeth's desk and leaned over so others wouldn't hear.
"We need to speak." Mr Landis whispered a bit loudly.
"As soon as the students are gone." Elizabeth said.
Elizabeth stood up and looked around the room.
"Abigail." Elizabeth said. "If you can, I need to speak to you for a moment once the students are gone."
"Of course." Abigail said. "I have a bit of time before I have to be back. Give me a moment."
Elizabeth went back to making her notes on the paper and pretty much ignoring Mr Landis. She knew it probably wasn't the best strategy but she was taking a few moments to gather her thoughts.
Wynn had been helping Frank put the benches back in order when he looked up and saw the look on Elizabeth's face, so he excused himself and went over to her.
"Beth." Wynn said.
Elizabeth looked up at her uncle and gave him a half smile.
"Yes." Elizabeth said.
"I just wanted to check on you." Wynn said. "Frank said that he would finish up organizing things for church services if you wanted, especially since Mr Coulter's men will be bringing the two new benches tomorrow."
"I am fine." Elizabeth said. "But thank you for letting me know. I am waiting for all the students to leave. Apparently Mr. Landis wants to have a conversation with me."
Wynn looked the man up and down before turning back to Elizabeth.
"Would you like me to stay?" Wynn said. "I have dismissed the cadets as Patty and my wife said they would walk you home."
"I was going to ask." Mr Landis said. "What was with the armed security and not letting me in without showing who I was."
"That was my doing." Wynn said. "If you have a problem with it, take it up with me and not Beth. I have every right to order protection for someone and because of that, we limited access to the schoolhouse to authorized personnel only. They were informed you were coming and would have asked anyone they didn't recognize for identification and what they were doing at the schoolhouse."
"That doesn't answer my question as to why they were here." Mr Landis said. "I am going to be required to report the security to my superior."
"Fine." Wynn said. "IF if they have a problem with it, they can contact Sr Deputy Commissioner Connor or the Commissioner himself. Protection was ordered and I was just making sure it was carried out."
Mr Landis just stood there tapping his foot and staring at Wynn. Wynn was unfazed by the stare down and wasn't going to release any more information if he didn't have to.
"I am waiting." Mr Landis huffed.
"There were credible threats against my husband and potentially me." Elizabeth said. "Deputy Commissioner Delaney added the protection in the least intrusive way possible. The students were told that the cadets were here to watch over everyone since there were so many changes happening and new people in town."
"What changes?" Mr Landis said. "New people?"
"Elizabeth just sighed and went back to her paperwork.
"In the last month." Wynn said. "There were three natural disasters in the area which included two mudslides and a flash flood. It resulted in several men injured and two settlements being moved to town. Additionally there was a group of forty men that have been camping in the field behind the school here, since they have been helping to build new housing for everyone. They will be left last week, but Mr Coulter has hired several new men as well. With Corporal Thornton injured and threats made, other Mounties were brought in. Because they didn't know everyone and there were many people all at once, I felt it was best to make sure that the children felt safe. Many of the children from the settlements were traumatized with the loss of a parent and felt unsafe with so many unfamiliar people."
"Yes." Pastor Frank said, stepping up to stand with Wynn. "Several of the children have expressed to me that they feel much safer with the cadets guarding the schoolhouse. If that is what it takes to make the children feel safe so they can learn, the town thinks it is a small price to pay."
"Fine." Mr Landis said. "Now if you will excuse me. I need to have a conversation with Miss Thornton about school business."
"If you need to speak to Mrs Thornton." Wynn said. "There is nothing that you can't say in front of us."
"That is correct." Abigail said, walking over. "Pastor Frank is part of the schoolboard, which I am the head of. In addition to that, Deputy Commissioner Delaney is the ranking member of law enforcement and since he has been taking Corporal Thornton's job, he can stay since Corporal Thornton is also on the schoolboard."
"In addition to what Mr Stanton said." Charlotte said. "You will not be speaking to my daughter-in-law without either me or her husband present and since he is recovering from pneumonia and other injuries, you are stuck with me. I am a retired teacher and have been helping my daughter-in-law with the new students the last two weeks."
Mr Landis grunted and huffed, then tried to stare the group down and no one even flinched.
"Speak it is whatever you have to say." Abigail said. "We all have things that we need to do."
"It is completely unacceptable to have a married teacher." Mr Landis said. "Much less a teacher in her condition."
"I say what is unacceptable." Abigail said. "This is a private school with Mrs Thornton's salary paid by the parents of the children. This school was started after a mine disaster here a year ago and the other teacher leaving due to being harassed by hired security of the mine company. I requested a new teacher from the appropriate authorities and Miss Thatcher was sent to us almost a year ago. She had my permission to get married to Corporal Thornton and no one in this town has a problem with a married teacher. They also have no problem with her mother-in-law and Deputy Commissioner Delaney's wife helping at the school while they are here."
"Your wife has been helping at the school as well?" Mr Landis asked, looking directly at Wynn.
"Yes." Aunt Elizabeth said. "I have a current teaching certificate. I have been doing private tutoring the last few years since my husband has been traveling a lot. When I travel with him, I have offered to help at the local school. I have permission from the Minister of Education for Ontario as well as the Minister of Education for Alberta. If you have a problem with it, I can wire Robert or David. I am sure they would love to hear from me on a Friday afternoon."
"No, no need to bother either of them." Mr Landis said.
Mr Landis then looked at Elizabeth with a scowl on his face.
"I wasn't aware that you were married." Mr Landis said. "I still feel that it is unacceptable for you to teach in your condition."
Elizabeth stood up and came to stand in front of her aunt and uncle.
"We only have a little over a month of school left." Elizabeth said. "I have already arranged for a teacher friend of mine to come out and teach for the fall while I have the baby. She has even mentioned possibly staying if there would be work for her, especially since I told her the town is growing. Along with her teaching certificate, she is interested in helping set up the library that will be coming to Hope Valley at some point over the next year. I told her that if the school keeps expanding at the rate it is, we will need a second teacher before long. She is excited to get away from the big city and settle into small town life."
"And the schoolboard is okay with this?" Mr Landis asked, looking between Abigail and Frank.
"We are more than okay with it." Abigail said. "Elizabeth offered to find someone to cover for her when she learned she was in a family way. I think her friend sounds wonderful and either helping at the school or library when Elizabeth comes back is more than acceptable. Before you ask, we will find a way to make sure both women are paid. I know that the parents have been paying Elizabeth's salary, but there are other plans in the works.
I have been approached by a wealthy businessman and he would like to fund part of the needs for the school. He is also the one that is funding the library that will be built. He understands that the families here want to contribute and not feel like they are taking a handout. It is important to the people of this valley to be able to stand on our own feet. We might not have as much as others, but we share what we have and help one another."
"I want to see all this in writing." Mr Landis said.
"Mr Stanton and the schoolboard is not required to give you anything of the such." Aunt Elizabeth said. "This school was started by Mrs Stanton and other mine widows. The school building itself was built with donated funds and by the townspeople themselves."
"You know that it is only a matter of time before this school will become a part of the county system that is forming." Mr Landis said.
"That will not happen as long as I have a say in what happens in Hope Valley." Abigail said.
"I agree." Elizabeth said.
"Us too." Frank, Aunt Elizabeth and Wynn said.
"There are plenty of private schools back east that are not part of the city or county systems and I will help them anyway I can to keep this private as long as that is what the parents want." Aunt Elizabeth said.
"This isn't over." Mr Landis said.
"Yes it is." Wynn said.
Wynn then raised his hand and Jacobs immediately hurried to his side.
"Yes, Sir." Jacobs said.
"Please escort Mr Landis to the stagecoach and see that he boards it." Wynn said.
"Yes, Sir." Jacobs said. "My pleasure."
Jacobs then looked at Mr Landis.
"Let's go." Jacobs said. "Because if you don't want to walk, I will carry you there over my shoulder."
"You can't speak to me that way." Mr Landis huffed.
"Yes, I can." Jacobs said. "Trust me when I say you don't want to cross me. I am not in the mood to deal with the likes of you. It has been a long week and an even longer month. I have little patience left and have the backing of the Mounties to remove anyone deemed necessary from this town. You have been dismissed and the stagecoach is waiting for you."
"You will all be hearing from me." Mr Landis said.
He then glared at the group, picked up his briefcase and left. He was closely followed by Jacobs. Once the door shut, Elizabeth collapsed into one of the benches. They were all worried about her. Wynn immediately sat beside her and picked up her hand, to take her pulse.
"Do you need me to go get Faith?" Frank asked.
"Yes." Aunt Elizabeth said.
"No." Elizabeth said at the same time.
Elizabeth looked at the group gathered.
"I am fine." Elizabeth said. "A bit tired, but fine. I was just overwhelmed because I know that Mr Landis is not going to let this go and the last thing I wanted was more trouble."
"I understand that." Abigail said. "But you have to know that we are just worried about you. We all admit that it is usual for someone like you to be teaching."
Elizabeth's face twisted a bit.
"What I think Abigail means." Frank said. "I think she was trying to say a married woman in your condition, nothing to do with your background."
"Yes." Abigail said. "I am sorry if it was implied that I mean something else. You know I don't care about where you grew up. You are a part of Hope Valley now and that is all that matters. We love you and just want the best for you."
"She is right." Aunt Elizabeth said. "We just want the best for you."
"The best thing for me is to be with Jack and still be able to teach as long as I feel that is what is right." Elizabeth said. "Some time off when the baby comes is fine, but I worked hard to earn my teaching certificate and I feel that I have a lot more to give the children in this area."
"We aren't debating that." Frank said. "I have seen the difference that you have made. Just look at Bo or the Walker kids or even Becky and Cody."
"Thank you." Elizabeth said. "It just feels like everything is working against me. He is not going to drop this. First it was Higgins and now him. Nothing has been easy, especially since Jack and I got married. I would just like to have something go easy. First it was my sister and Tom. Then Jack got injured trying to catch the Garrisons. I was sick, Jack was gone, the weather and all the problems that caused. Then Jack got injured again. Then my father showed up. It has just been one thing after another. It feels like Jack and I never even had a chance to really enjoy just being married.
Don't get me wrong. I love this child already and I am more than ready to take on the Russell girls, but we didn't plan any of this. At times it can be overwhelming, especially when someone is always challenging my decisions. Jack and I have a plan and even if things haven't worked out like we planned, we are okay with adjusting our plans. We just want everyone to be happy for us and understand that we know what we are doing. We are adults and more than capable of knowing what is right for us. Please just know that we are trying our best and that we know each other so very well. I can't explain the connection that we have, but it is deeper than just the short time we have known each other. We both feel like we have known each other for then the just shy of the year that we have actually known each other."
"I am sorry that you feel that." Aunt Elizabeth said. "I might not be able to fully understand the connection that you and Jack have, but I see it and know that it is stronger than anything I have ever seen between two young people. The only time I have seen a bond close to what you share is in a couple that have literally grown up together and spent many years married. Even then I don't even know if it is as strong as what you and Jack have."
"I agree." Abigail said. "I am sorry that you feel like we don't support you, but that is the farthest from the truth. We all love you and want what is best for you. As a parent, we sometimes forget that adult children are capable of making decisions for their own life and knowing what is right for them. I had the trouble with Peter and I know that Noah struggled with it as well. When a child is born, we have hopes and dreams for the child. When that child chooses something else then what we, as parents, had planned, it is hard. The biggest thing that I have learned in the last year since losing Noah and Peter is that maybe if I had been more open to what Peter actually wanted, I might not have missed out his wedding and he would have been comfortable telling me about Clara long before she showed up here."
"Abigail is right." Wynn said. "It is hard to see our children grow up and make decisions of their own. We want the best for them and for them not to experience any pain. I have learned that is maybe the worst thing we can do as parents. I am not saying to not keep your children safe, but letting them make mistakes and learn things on their own is better than us as parents clearing the path for them on everything.
I see it with recruits as well. Just reading their applications, I can see which men are motivated because they truly want to be a Mountie and make a difference versus those that are doing to please a parent or because it was what was expected of them. The second group are the ones that tend to not make it and if they do, they are the ones that struggle to move up. I think it is because they don't have the internal motivation. Do you understand what I am trying to say."
"I do, Uncle Wynn." Elizabeth said. "Thank you everyone. I think part of the reason that I have been overwhelmed is because today has been the first time I have been in the classroom all day since the beginning of the month. The other thing that I think added to it, was the way that Mr Landis looked down on both Gem and Becky. They are smart and know what they want. I think he tried to make them feel like they shouldn't have those dreams just because they are girls."
"Those girls and all the girls in your class." Patty said. "They will do whatever they want, because you have shown them that. You have shown them that they can be anything they want, no matter what their background is or where they come from. You have shown them that just because they are a girl, they shouldn't limit their dreams."
"I agree." Abigail. "The children of this town have very strong role models – both men and women. You brought hope back to the children of this town. You were the one that was able to reach the children last year. You showed them how to be strong when you went into the mine or when you found Roseleen in the mine or when you stood up to Spurlock and the Tolliver gang."
"Thank you everyone." Elizabeth said. "I am embarrassed that I reacted so strongly."
"Don't be." Abigail said. "You have a right to react how you want. Not only are you under pressure, but you are also pregnant. We all understand. We just wanted to make sure that you are alright."
"I am." Elizabeth said. "I just want to go home and have a nice weekend."
"I agree." Aunt Elizabeth said. "It sounds like David and Andrew are leaving on Monday. Let's have a nice weekend together."
"Can you walk me home?" Elizabeth said.
"We would me more than happy to do that." Patty said.
"Go." Frank said. "I will finish up here and make sure the building is locked."
"Thank you." Elizabeth said.
Elizabeth stood and finished gathering her items and left with Patty and Aunt Elizabeth.