She heard a sound, children were going to school now. She saw Cody Stanton. He was smiling walking with Quinn and Philip towards the school. He saw her. She quickly got out of sight. Cody decided to risk the cost of being late and followed her.
"Hey who are you?'' he asked as he followed her.
Elina decided to stop.
''Can I help you?'' she asked, slightly annoyed.
''You're the girl I saw last night. Carson's sister right?" he asked, tilting his head to one side.
''Yes, I have been given the burden of having him as a brother.'' she said, scowling.
"What do you mean? Mr. Shepherds the best." he said, confused.
"You would know wouldn't you?" she said. "
What do you mean? Oh nevermind, Are you coming to school? Where did you get the Mountie Uniform?" he asked.
"My father gave it to me when I was ten, when he retired. He got it from a Mountie Tailor. Could I come to school with you? Would it be ok?" she asked.
She walked Cody back to Elizabeth's house and got in back through the window. Cody gasped as she made it back through the window.
"I will meet you at the front door." she said as she closed the window.
Elina came out wearing a red and black dress. This time she came out of the front door.
"So when does school start?" she asked, looking at the sun.
"Now so let's run." Cody smiled as he burst into a run.
Now even in a dress, Elina was an extremely fast runner. She beat Cody to the school by several feet.
She pushed him in first. "Ms. Thatcher, I have a new student." he said, dragging in Elina.
"Right Class, this is Elina Sheperd. Her late father was a Mountie like Mountie Jack. Elina, why don't you sit in the back next to Cody." Elina went to sit next to Cody. "Elina, do you have any books?" Ms. Thatcher asked.
Elina shook her head. "Cody, I want you to share with Elina ok. You can take turns." She finished as she started her class.
As the class went on, Elizabeth could see that Elina knew all of the answers but, she wondered why she didn't answer. When they were doing math, Elizabeth noticed that Elina had moved quietly to help Philip Cantrell. He had always had a hard time in math. He raised a hand, "Ms. Thatcher, I understand this now." he said smiling.
"Great Philip. Elina, do you know this math or are you just ignoring it." she said, turning on the girl.
The girl stood up, "I know most of this and I learnt what I didn't know and Philip looked like he needed help." she answered bravely.
Then they heard gunshots, Elina ran to the window then to the door.
"Elina do not go out there." Ms. Thatcher shouted sternly at Elina who had already started running. Elina had just seen Jack fly out the saloon and land on his back. He was unconscious.
The gunshots came from a drunk man at the saloon. Bill Avery wasn't there and neither was the Pastor or Carson so Jack was on his own. Being drunk, the man was stronger than him and threw him out of the saloon. Dust flew everywhere. The man came out and kicked him in the ribs. Jack grunted in pain trying to slide sideways to get the drunk off balance.
"Jack, can you move?" Elina said worriedly with her hands by her knife watching from the boardwalk.
"No, but leave him alone. He'll kill you." Jack said, moaning in pain.
"Shepherds and Mounties don't die easily and fortunately for you I am both" She said as she advanced towards the drunk.
"Did the Mountie send a little girl to come and stop me?" the drunk said, slurring his words. She shoved the man into the wall. Then she dragged him into the water trough. She dunked him several times. Then she dropped him on the ground and he was unconscious. She ran to Jack, sweat covering her skin. His ribs were cracked. There was now a crowd of onlookers.
"Someone get Carson, Get the doctor." She yelled.
No one moved. They were all still in shock from seeing a girl take down a drunk man.
"Fine, someone get the school teacher. I will get the doctor." she said acidly as she ran towards the infirmary.
Once she arrived, Carson was in the middle of setting a broken leg. She slammed open the door. "Carson, Mountie Jack broke a couple of ribs in a tangle. He can't move." she said worriedly.
Carson immediately let Nurse Carter finish with the leg. He hurried to the saloon. Elina ran ahead of him.
"I'm going to assume you took care of the drunk," he said proudly.
His sister nodded. Elizabeth was now with the unconscious Jack. He moaned in agony as Carson felt around for the breaks.
"He'll be out of action for a while Ms. Thatcher." he said as he and Lee Stanton, who had been watching, took him to the jail where he stayed. Elina went with him. As Carson set the bones, Elina took a broom and started sweeping the jail. Then she dusted.
When Jack woke up, he saw both Shepherds standing over him. "You can't be doing anything Mountie related until those ribs heal." Carson said, frowning.
"But, Bill or Elina can help you. She practically is a Mountie." he said smiling. "and since Bill is out of town you have no choice but to let my sister help you."
"Well, I guess she'll have to help. Elina, who taught you to fight?" Jack asked curiously.
"Carson and Dad and some other Mountie." she answered as she wiped his desk.
Jack looked pleased. "Well, how would you like to be my assistant? You'd be missing school though." He looked at Carson wondering if that would be ok.
"She already knows everything that is being taught in that school. Dad and I taught her everything she knows." Carson and Elina smiled. Carson left after a while and Elina continued to clean.