"Cody, go to bed."
As Opal reunited with her family, Abigail gave Elizabeth and Elina drinks of hot cocoa.
"So where did you get the Mountie girl?" Abigail asked.
"Elina Shepherd is going to be staying with me for a while. Carson is her brother. Jack and Carson took her dead father to the infirmary. She was the one who really rescued Opal." Elizabeth said, gently looking at Elina.
"Ok, So what's with the Mountie jacket?" Abigail asked next.
This time it was Elina who answered "This jacket was my father's. He taught me everything I will ever need to know. I can shoot, ride, read, write, I know French, sew, and I can cook." Elina said.
"Almost better than me." Carson said. He had walked in while they were talking. "I can explain why I wasn't there when Mom died." he said, trying to fix things.
"You better, and it better be a better excuse than when you weren't there when Mitch died. Or when Ashlynn needed you! She didn't want to get married and you know it! You could have stopped her!"
Carson turned red.
"Ashlynn and Mitch?" Elizabeth asked.
"Daddy's hunting dog and our sister!" Elina said while Carson nodded.
"Well here's what I have to say. I was in the middle of saving a boy's life here when that happened. Mrs. Abigail's son Cody. Ok, he would have died if I didn't stay here. And Ashlynn can make her own choices!" Carson said, painfully.
Ms. Abigail looked startled. "You mean you saved Cody instead of your mother?" She was shocked.
"Why?" Elizabeth said.
"Ever since I ran off to become a doctor, my parents and I have had a rocky relationship. We've never really gotten along even before that." He finished and walked back out to his room at the saloon.
"Carson" Elina stopped him. He turned around. "Why did you not come?" she said, tears finally springing to her eyes.
"There's nothing I could have done. Mom had been sick for a while. We just didn't tell you." He turned again and left.
Elina stood there in shock. The door reopened. It was Jack. She looked up and saluted. Jack smiled and saluted right back. Elizabeth thanked Abigail and took Elina to her house while Jack went back to the jail. Elizabeth let Elina into the house.
"Well, how do you like it?" she asked. "It's nice." Elina said.
Elizabeth then led Elina into the guest bedroom. The room had a bed, washstand, chest of drawers, and a small closet. Elizabeth gasped as Elina took out a pistol and put it on the bed before taking out a knife from her left boot.
"Those are a secret. Please don't tell." Elina asked sheepishly.
"I won't as long as you are careful with them." She said her breathing was returning to normal. Elizabeth left her a night dress and took her leave.
Elina changed. She put her knife under her pillow. She fingered her father's pistol. She put it down and fell asleep crying. Early the next morning, Elina woke up.
Quietly, she changed back into her jacket. Smartly, she also brushed her hair. She slipped her knife into her belt and laced up her shiny black boots. She looked out the window. She could jump down from there easily. Even more quietly, she opened the window and jumped. She landed on her feet like a cat and headed towards the town. As she slipped silently towards the cafe, she could see Jack on the porch of the jail. Elina ran softly across the street and averted him seeing her.