Frank wasted no time returning to the pulpit of Hope Valley's little church. He prepared a short sermon and held a service the very first Sunday he was in town, despite being clear that he wasn't quite ready to take up permanent residence. He still had to travel back to Edmonton to help Edward bring the boys to Hope Valley. However before doing that, however, Frank wanted to be sure that renovations were underway so things would be ready when they arrived. The pastor even found time to make a trip to Brookfield, Henry playing the part of cab driver for the venture, to visit with Abigail before his return trip.
The following Saturday found Elizabeth standing on the platform in the train station with her fellow teachers and the Coulters. Though there were no rooms open in the boarding house at this time, Lee and Rosemary had offered to board Elise at least through the end of the school year. As this was the young woman's first time not only away from home, but out of the city, her agreement with the Hope Valley School Board was short-term with the plan to evaluate the situation at the end of term. If Elise chose to remain in Hope Valley, other living arrangements would be considered at that time.
As the train pulled into the station, Elizabeth found her excitement building. She was proud to be able to show off this little town to a friend from Hamilton. Other than her family and Edward, who had escorted her here, Charles was the only one from her Hamilton circle who had visited Hope Valley, and he'd had other intentions while visiting. Elise wasn't coming to see her. She was coming for an experience. Though it seemed like a long time ago, Elizabeth remembered her own excitement laced with trepidation at the prospect of coming west to teach. Despite the hardships she had faced, she didn't regret it.
Even if she didn't stay, Elizabeth hoped that Elise would find enriching life experiences here in Hope Valley. She was thankful to Lee and Rosemary for providing Elise with a safe place to stay. Like Abigail had with her, she anticipated her two friends would offer some wise advice as the new teacher adjusted to frontier life.
As passengers started to disembark, Elizabeth scanned the train cars for her friend. Not many people were getting off the train today and it wasn't long before Elizabeth spotted Elise. It wasn't hard as her stylish dress and hat that stood out. Though it was nothing like what Elizabeth herself had worn back in Hamilton, even Elise's clothes seemed too fancy for the frontier town. Elizabeth had a feeling she knew exactly what people had been thinking about her own attire during those early days.
Walking forward, Elizabeth held her arms open for a hug as she approached her friend. Placing the two bags she was carrying down, the new arrival accepted the greeting.
"Oh, I already feel so out of place here," Elise lamented, looking around as she stepped back from the hug. "However, it seems just like you described to me, Elizabeth."
"I did try to give you an accurate description of what you would be coming to," Elizabeth told her. "As for feeling out of place, that will go away eventually."
"I second that notion. The people here are very welcoming," Eva said as she and Marion approached the pair. "Eva Stiles," she said, holding out her hand to Elise. "I am the music and art teacher here. Though if a substitute is needed, I double as that too."
"Elise Chastain. It's a pleasure to meet you," she replied, taking the offered hand.
As Elise released Eva's hand, Marion held out a hand to her. "Marion Stiles. I teach the younger students."
Elise greeted her as well and then Elizabeth introduced Lee, Rosemary, and Aster to her. After accepting a hug from Rosemary, the new arrival asked to hold the little girl. Rosemary handed her daughter over, Aster going easily to Elise.
"If you tell me what other luggage you have, I will go collect it for you," Lee offered.
"Oh, I only brought what is in these two bags," Elise replied, looking down at the two bags she had placed on the ground. She looked up at her fellow teachers. "I have money to buy some new dresses for the classroom, but I was hoping perhaps you all would help me select a few things once I got here. I don't want to stand out because of the way I dress."
Remembering how that felt, Elizabeth moved to Elise's side, carefully avoiding tripping over one of the bags and slipping an arm through hers. "A much wiser plan than I came west with. It took me awhile to see that my clothes were helping me connect with my students."
"The plan was to have lunch at Abigail's Café so we could get to know you a little before the Coulter's whisk you away to get settled, but why don't we stop by the dress shop first and get you a dress for Monday and then we can do a longer shopping trip Monday afternoon," Marion suggested.
Eva quickly chimed in with agreement on the plan.
"I'm sure Nathan will watch the kids Monday afternoon for me," Elizabeth replied. Monday would be her last day at the school. She planned on introducing Elise to her class and helping the woman get settled. Elise would also observe Marion and Eva's classes to get a feel for the whole school. "Allie might want to join us. Nathan and I promised her a new dress for the Winter Fest Dance the Amaryllis is hosting on the twenty-ninth. Perhaps she can pick it out then. Allie would probably adore having an audience to model dresses for."
Eva, Elise, and Marion all nodded as Rosemary looked to Lee.
"I will take Aster on Monday afternoon and have supper waiting for you when you get finished with your outing with the ladies," Lee assured with a smile.
"Thank you, all," Elise said, looking around the group. Her gaze stopped on Rosemary and Lee. "Especially the two of you, for opening your home to me. My parents were relieved I wouldn't be living alone and to be honest, so am I. I've never lived alone before."
"We are happy to have you," Lee assured her before stepping forward to collect her bags. "I will just take these and put them in my car. Are any of you ladies riding with me to the café or are you going in the wagon?"
Elizabeth had Cosmo and the wagon as not all of them would fit in Lee's car.
Elise quickly chimed in that she would ride with Elizabeth. Eva's quickly joined her. Rosemary looked torn. "I would love to ride with you ladies, but I am not sure I want Aster out in the open like that."
"I would be willing to take her and ride in the car," Marion said. "The wind on my face is one of the things that I hate most about travel in the winter."
"Oh, that would be wonderful. Thank you," Rosemary said.
"And I will be happy for the company," Lee told her, one of Elise's bags in either hand. "Are we ready ladies?"
With Lee leading the way, the group made their way out of the station and out to the waiting transportation.
Though Nathan had planned on spending the whole day with the children while Elizabeth went to welcome Elise to Hope Valley, Tom stopping by changed those plans. Both kids had quickly taken to their uncle, and he enjoyed spending time with them. Nathan had a feeling that it was good for the young man to be making connections with family. He hoped those connections might help him stay on the path he was currently on and not go back to his old ways.
The kids had been playing with a ball with Muffin, the dog that they had gotten from Jed Campbell, and Nate when Tom arrived. The duck and the dog had taken a few days to get used to one another, neither quite sure what to make of the other at first. However, now it was no longer a surprise to find Nate tucked up close to Muffin while they both napped. Both animals loved to bat the ball around with the kids. After saying hello to Nathan, Tom immediately settled on the floor to join in with the game. After watching them for a few minutes, Nathan asked if any of them minded if he went into town to have lunch with Gabriel if he was free. Tom and Allie merely waved him toward the door. Jack, however, got to his feet and while hugging his legs, told him a proper good-bye before he had left.
Saddling Newton, he made the ride into town. Though his own desire to go fast and feel the wind on his face and through his hair was as strong as his horses, Nathan kept the horse at a reasonable pace. The road still had snow and patches of ice on it and was not safe for galloping.
Soon enough though, he was riding into town. Wanting Newton to have a warm place to wait for him, Nathan stopped by the livery first to see if there was an empty stall. His horse was given a spot next to Apollo, which told him that Gabriel was in town and not out on rounds.
Leaving the livery, he made his way to the Mounted Police office. Opening the door, he stepped inside. Gabriel was leaning back in his chair, feet up on his desk, as he looked at some papers in his hands. Other than looking up, Gabriel made no move at his friend's entrance.
"You look comfy," Nathan commented, taking off his fur cap and hanging it on a hook next to Gabriel's Stetson.
Gabriel shrugged his shoulders. "My office and it makes reading the official updates from headquarters a bit more bearable," he commented. "What brings you into town?"
Nathan had placed his gloves into the pocket of his coat. As he walked toward the desk, he unbuttoned the coat but didn't shrug out of it.
"I needed to have a word with my best friend and then perhaps take him out to lunch if he has the time.
"Oh?" Gabriel said, tossing his papers on the desk but not changing his position. He folded his hands on his stomach as Nathan sat down across from him. "Why do I have a feeling I did something wrong that I don't know about?"
Nathan smiled. "Wrong isn't quite the right word but I do have a concern that I want to bring up."
"Would this have to do with Vincent asking Allie to the Winter Fest Dance?" Gabriel asked.
"Yes," Nathan said. "Not that I have anything against Vincent. He's a good kid but this is my little girl we are talking about. She was already hurt when her relationship with Robert did not work out, though for the record, I think the kid did the smart thing by saying they both needed to have freedom to explore life's opportunities without any commitments. I just don't want to see her hurt again."
"I don't want to see Allie hurt either," Gabriel assured him. "According to Vincent though, he asked her just as friends. He just didn't want to show up at the dance and have no one to talk to as both Tommy and Mark, the only two kids beside Allie he spends time with, both asked girls they liked to the dance."
Nathan nodded. "Allie was thinking about not going at all, until Vincent asked her to go as friends. She said something about all her classmates going as pairs."
Gabriel nodded. "I've seen them together. Right now, I think they are just friends. They do have something in common, having both lost parents and now are part of a whole family. And let's face it, the fact that our families are so close kind of forces them together. So, unless you are disowning me as friend, keeping them apart is not an option."
"Hmm . . . " Nathan said, a playful smile on his face.
"I will make sure I have a chat with Vincent about how to treat ladies respectfully and proper decorum. I knew it was something that needed to take place but wanted him to get adjusted to his life with me and Faith first. I was still hoping to put it off for a bit longer, but if his peers are interested in girls in that way then it might be time. I would rather Vincent feel like he can come talk to me about things of that nature rather than relying on his friends for information."
"Kids have a way of growing up faster than you think they should," Nathan replied.
Gabriel chuckled. "You would know better than me. I've only been a dad for about five months now. Most parents start with a baby and then deal with a teen. Faith and I decided to do it the other way around."
It was Nathan's turn to chuckle. "Doing it the other way probably isn't any easier," he conceded. "I think all parents make fewer mistakes with the younger children than their first because of lack of experience. At least once the new little one reaches their teens years, all the firsts will be done for you and Faith."
"That is an excellent point," Gabriel conceded.
"I'm a bit nervous about the baby Elizabeth and I are expecting as well. Both Allie and Jack were four when I really started parenting then. I never had to be the one responsible for an infant. When Allie was that small, I handed her back to Colleen when she started crying."
"Well, you could always hand the new baby off to Elizabeth this time around," Gabriel joked.
"Somehow, I don't think Elizabeth is going to let me get away with that," Nathan replied.
"At least you will have Elizabeth to teach you what to do. My experience with babies is as limited as yours. Faith too. We'll be learning together."
Nathan smiled. "You and Faith are going to be fine. You'll have plenty of support from not only Elizabeth and me, but the other parents in Hope Valley as well. Living in the row houses you have plenty of neighbors you can rely on for advice when something seems overwhelming."
Gabriel nodded. "It is actually reassuring that our wives are expecting so close together. You and I can lean on each other through this whole parenthood thing."
"It'll be just like our Academy days," Nathan commented.
Gabriel laughed at that comparison. "While I appreciate the sentiment, it might be best if we don't say that around our wives."
"Good point," Nathan said. "So, are you ready to take your lunch break? My treat."
"Yes," Gabriel said. "The thing about paperwork is it will not run off on you, but someone could walk through that door needing my services at any time. I better eat while it is quiet."
Gabriel lowered his feet to the floor and stood. Together, the two friends bundled up against the cold and then headed across the street to the Amaryllis to enjoy a meal and finish catching up with one another.