a month later, after Christmas and New Year, had come and gone it wasJanuary 1985
there's a triumph in the anvil's stroke there's merit in the brave and strong who dig the mine or fell the oak Gawain said
that's very nice, Gawain Elisabetta said
sometime later
I was just at the mercantile, and Neil Yeoman asked if I wouldn't mind dropping this off to you Seth said
that's very kind of you. Thank you, you didn't have to go to that trouble Elisabetta said
no trouble Seth said
I do hope it's what I think it is the compendium of brain disorders and neurology and the list goes no Elisabetta said
well, I can't say I got a word of that Seth said
this just couldn't have come at a better time I called one of my old professors, dr. him Sherwood, about one of my students he's done work with children with reading troubles that is absolutely revolutionary I thought he had forgotten all about me Elisabetta said
you're not an easy person to forget Seth said
Thank you. I thank Seth, I... I feel really bad about everything that happened, you know, with Bilal Elisabetta said
no, you don't have any reason to feel bad. Bilal was a con artist. He was a professional manipulator. Seth said
That's true, and he duped me but I finally saw through his charade. Elisabetta said
I don't want you to blame yourself for falling under his spell Seth said
well, I didn't exactly fall under his spell Elisabetta said
now, what I meant was he fooled you. I'm not saying that you're a fool, exactly Seth said
then what are you saying? Exactly Elisabetta said
I'm just saying that women of a certain age are an easy mark Seth said
now you're calling me desperate. Elisabetta said
what no Seth said
I would really love to sit and chat about my many weaknesses but as you can see I have quite a lot of work to do Elisabetta said
I'm just trying to help you I'm just trying to speak to you as a friend Seth said
Thank you for bringing the package I hope you have a wonderful day Elisabetta said
Sometimes late
He is absolutely impertinent I mean yes he saw through that con artist first and yes I was fooled by him for a while but...Elisabetta said
Elisabetta Maybe it's not Seth you're mad at maybe your pride is a bit bruised you have every reason to be angry at the situation Abby said
I'm not angry Elisabetta said
Clearly, Abby said
Seth seems to take pleasure in reminding me how insane I was he even implied that I was so desperate to find a husband that I couldn't think straight this is amazing if I keep living here I'm going to bust out of my clothes altogether Elisabetta said
My grandma's recipe Abby said
He's made it perfectly clear that as an officer he's not interested in committing to a woman so I don't understand why he's taken such an interest in my love life these are heavenly Elisabetta said
Have another Abby said
Mmm I couldn't maybe just one more you know Abby my family has employed some of the best chefs from some of the finest culinary schools and your score and pies are lighter and tastier than any I ever had at home Elisabetta said
Do you really think so Abby said
I know so Elisabetta said
Noah did love my baking I took great pride in cooking for him and my son Peter and they often brag to others about my cooking but they only had me to compare to certainly not that fancy big city food you're talking about Abby said
Well trust me they were right whether in the big city or here Valley Spring Elisabetta said
After dinner that night
Good evening Seth said
Oh, Abby said
Oh, Abby Seth said
Good evening Seth Abby said
What used to be here Seth said
Oh, it was a cafe there was a time when all the single miners would eat their meals here it was food without the drink of the saloon but the food wasn't much better and Martin Gowen shut it down Abby said
Well, more profit in the drink than food I suppose Seth said
Exactly uh... is there something else Abby said
Actually, I was wondering if you could help me with something Seth said
Well, I'm happy to if I can Abby said
If... let's say a bear saves a deer from a skunk a skunk who had every intention of hurting her. Why...why then would the deer be angry at the bear? Seth said
Perhaps the deer's pride is hurt. Maybe seeing the bear reminds her that she was silly enough to trust a skunk Abby said
Hmm I see Seth said
Furthermore, the bear was saving the deer from an untrustworthy animal but didn't seem to have any interest in replacing him. Abby said
Well... I've lost you Seth said
Seth Bilal was not the right man for Elisabetta he was indeed a skunk but one day there will be an appropriate man a good man who will approach Elisabetta with honorable intentions and then she will be taken perhaps approach her not as an officer who's there to rescue her but as a man Abby said
A few minutes late at the saloon
Can I help you Officer Elisabetta said
Actually, it's just Seth tonight. As you can see. Seth said
I stand corrected Elisabetta said
How's your reading student coming along Seth said
Still working on it Elisabetta said
Elisabetta, I was thinking I haven't seen you very often since I moved out of the saloon. I miss our friendship and I was wondering if you might be inclined to having supper with me Seth said
To be clear when you say you'd like to have supper, you mean you'd like to come to my house where I will be the one doing the cooking? Elisabetta said
Oh no, why would you think that? Seth said
So, what then? Chill and cornbread here at the saloon. Elisabetta said
Yeah no uh... I guess I hadn't really thought it through Seth said
Well, I would love to but I'm very busy with work and I was planning on cleaning out my closet Elisabetta said
Well, I didn't tell you which night I was considering Seth said
Of course, I'm sorry Elisabetta said
How about Friday night Seth said
Actually, that's the very night I was going to clean out my closet. Elisabetta said
I see. Well, maybe another time. Good evening Seth said
Seth on second thought I actually really could use your help with one of my students. Elisabetta said
Yeah, of course Seth said
So why don't you meet me here tomorrow night I'll even share a bowl of chili with you Elisabetta said
the next day
you can't be serious Mrs. Sutton Martin said
I'm absolutely serious, a cafe serving sandwiches, soups, teas, baked goods, and other confections many of the new miners are single and have no one to cook for them Abby said
the saloon's plenty for a town this size Martin said
people need variety, a place to gather, to break bread together Mr. Gowen I believe this cafe can get people to spend their money in town Abby said
to make me an offer. Martin said
I'm prepared to offer you 25% of the profits. I will fix the place up myself Abby said
you fix up the place yourself you take 25% of the profits 75% comes to the company Martin said
Fifty-fifty. Abby said
Fifty-fifty it is but I want your row house. I have new miner's families coming into town and I don't have any place to put them Martin said
Mr. Gowen, that's my home where I lived with my husband where my son was raised Abby said
There are two rooms above the cafe. You can live there those are my terms. I'll give you a week to decide, but then the offer's off the table now. If you'd excuse me, I have work to do Martin said
that night
Good evening, Miss Letcher. Seth said
evening thank you for coming Elisabetta said
you're welcome Seth said
please sit here, across from me Elisabetta said
I thought that we were going to have some dinner together Seth said
We will you said you wanted to be friends and right now I could use a friend to help me with this Elisabetta said
Right Seth said
I'm going to be administering an intelligence evaluation the research shows that some of the smartest students are also the slowest readers Elisabetta said
By me taking this test helps you how? Seth said
I need someone to practice on you'll be my guinea pig Elisabetta said
Guinea pig Seth said
Yes now scientists are using guinea pigs for their experiments again all right it's a written test but I'd like to open with a question to assess your basic comprehension level I want to make sure you can follow simple instructions pay me a compliment Elisabetta said
I don't understand Seth said
It's a simple test to determine whether you can follow directions Elisabetta said
Oh, I see I admire how resolute you are to your students, not good Seth said
There is no good or bad it's only an opportunity to assess your ability to follow directions Elisabetta said
No, I want to change my answer Seth said Well that's very unorthodox but you my Elisabetta said
You look really beautiful tonight Seth said
Please take your pencil turn over your pages and begin you will have one hour to complete the test and then we can have dinner Elisabetta said
Come on seriously Seth said
What? Elisabetta said
Really? Seth said
It will show your ability to perform prehension provoked by visual perception Elisabetta said
That's a lot of "P" words I didn't quite grasp Seth said
Well, here's another "P" word for you please just do as I ask Elisabetta said
The next morning
You were right. there was a bird's nest in the flue Seth said
Oh, we were afraid to light the stove when we heard the chirping laurel said
Did you save the baby birds Jolene said
Oh no I put them in the oak tree by the well safe and sound Seth said
Well, we are so grateful it's the kind of thing Adam would have taken care of It. Laurel said
My daddy can do anything Jordan said
Well, you all must miss him very much. Seth said
The blessing of fire Thank you Constable Laurel said
Mama said Daddy will be home in one- or two weeks. Jordan said
Well, that's very good news Seth said
All right let's let Constable Seth get back to his work let's go upstairs and do your schoolwork Laurel said
Yes ma'am Jordan and Jolene said
I feel almost selfish saying this when so many families have lost their husband and father, but when we get Adam back; I don't think I'll ever let him leave this house again Laurel said
Well, I can understand that Seth said
When you almost lose someone you-you care about you realize all those little arguments over simple things and meaningless things. They just don't matter anymore Laurel said
An hour later (Knocking on the Door)
Seth Elisabetta said
I need to talk to you Seth said
Please come in Elisabetta said
Thank you. Where do I start life is too short for us to hold on to petty grievances Seth said
I agree wholeheartedly Elisabetta said
Good, I want you to know that if you need anything, even if you have the smallest care in the world you can count on me to knock on my door day or night Seth said
Thank you, Elisabetta, said
You're welcome and if you give me a second chance, I can do better than chili and cornbread at the saloon Seth said
That night
Oh, my goodness Abby where have you been all day Elisabetta said
Oh, working on a project I'm sorry. I just really there's no dinner Abby said
I'm fine I just warmed up some leftovers. So... what is this project? Elisabetta said
Well, I'm not ready to say just yet but when I am, you will be the first to know Peter was taller than me by the time he was thirteen. This house has so many memories Abby said
Abby, what is it? Elisabetta said
I'm no longer a wife I'm no longer a mother. I'm just struggling to find my purpose now Abby said
Before I came here, I thought my purpose was teaching at one of those big city schools good shut that door and he opened up another one a much more meaningful one and that is teaching her in Valley Spring and I just know God will show you what he wants for you too Abby Elisabetta said
Thank you, Elisabetta. That's good advice well I'm bushed I'm going to hit the hay good night Abby said
Goodnight Elisabetta said
The next night
Elisabetta Seth said
I'm sorry I know it's late. Elisabetta said
What's wrong Seth said
It's Abby. She has been coming home late at night she said she's working on something but she seems really depressed she never came home tonight and I'm... I'm worried about her Elisabetta said
I think I know where she is Seth said
You do Elisabetta said
Yeah, come on I'll take you to her. I have a feeling this conversation is better between just the two of you Seth said
Abby, what are you doing here Elisabetta said
Elisabetta how did you know where to find me Abby said
Seth brought me. He says you've been here every night this week what's going on? Elisabetta said
Well, actually this is all your fault the other day when you were enjoying my scones and you said all those fancy chefs at home had never concocted anything finer I got to thinking what if I could reopen the cafe in town it would be a great new start for me Abby said
Oh, Abby, that's a wonderful idea Elisabetta said
I met with Martin to try to make a deal but I should have known he would make things hard. He said he would allow me to open the cafe, but I had to give him my home Abby said
Your home Elisabetta said
I have a week to decide Abby said
Oh, Elisabetta said
It's a steep price to pay and my first inclination was to say no but then I realized Noah and Peter didn't live in that house anymore they're with me wherever I go and I need to find a new purpose in life I need to find a new reason to get up in the morning Abby said
I understand and I know you would be a huge success but why keep it a secret? Elisabetta said
Nobody in town has ever tried anything like this before. I didn't want you to think I was crazy Abby said
I would never think that Elisabetta said
Well, maybe you should Martin is betting against me and maybe he's right. I don't know Elisabetta maybe it's... it's too risky to lose my home for a foolish dream Abby said
Abby, I would never tell you what to do but you are one of the most remarkable women I have ever met you didn't think you could help Carla deliver those twins but all three of them wouldn't be alive if it weren't for you and none of those windows would have their homes if you hadn't led them into the mine I believe in you and I believe you can accomplish anything you set your mind to Elisabetta said
Thank you, that means a lot I was going to bake some cookies for the kids but then I fell asleep and the dough went bad Abby said
They're adorable. These shapes... do you have any more of this dough Elisabetta said
In two days,' time in town
I have to say I'm surprised you're going through with this Mrs. Sutton Martin said
Trust me, that makes two of us Abby said
All that's left is for you to sign at the bottom of the page and the cafe you're to run. congratulations Martin said
Thank you, Abby said
you widow put me through hell over those row houses I'm glad to finally get one back just for the record this town will never support a cafe Martin said
How do you know Abby said
Well, I don't know much but I have a business and if Valley Spring were ready for another eatery I would have opened it myself Martin said
Later that day
I smelled cookies, Mrs. Sutton. Are you selling them Morton said
Well, Morton, I'm not officially open yet but um let me see what I can do here you go these are on the house Abby said
Gee thanks, Morton said
Hey Morton, I guess that makes you my first official customer Abby said
I sure hope you have more Morton said
Why? Abby said
Because you're gonna need them Morton said
Meanwhile, across town
Gawain, what's going on? Elisabetta said
They're selling cookies at the old cafe better hurry before they're gone Gawain said
Minutes later
Oh, my goodness Abby what is all this? Elisabetta said
After I signed the house over to Martin... oh yes, I lit the stove I guess the smell of fresh baked goods drew all these people they've been at my door since early this morning Abby said
I am so proud of you-you did it Elisabetta said
Not without your encouragement Abby said
Excuse me, ma'am, the line starts back there Seth said
Very funny this is amazing isn't it Elisabetta said
It is I guess it proves if you want something bad enough you find a way to get it Seth said
I guess you're right Elisabetta said
Hello Miss Letcher Jolene said
Hi Elisabetta said
Officer Seth Jolene said
Jolene, how are those baby birds doing Seth said
I named one after you because his red feathers are like your coat Jolene said
I'm honored Seth said
Come along Jolene Laurel said
You won't have to fix anything anymore my daddy come home tomorrow Jolene said
The only miner pulled out alive after the disaster is coming home from the hospital tomorrow a new business is thriving this town is growing fast. Seth said
Soon it'll be a big city just like Cape Fullerton and you won't have any reason to leave Elisabetta said
True, but there is another reason for me to stay Seth said
Is there Elisabetta said
Yes, I think it's only fair that you take the same test you gave me, starting with a basic task to evaluate your ability to follow instructions Seth said
Oh, really Elisabetta said
Yeah, it's an important part of the test Seth said
All right Elisabetta said
Good, do you agree to forgive me for everything stupid I've ever said or done Seth said
Oh, I don't know there are just so many of them Elisabetta said
Well, no one said it was gonna be an easy test. Seth said
I can follow those instructions Elisabetta said
I'm glad Seth said
Is that the end of the test? Elisabetta said
Oh, no now comes the written part Seth said
That evening
Well, there's another one you got wrong Seth said
Are you sure you're scoring it correctly Elisabetta said
Relax I graduated with honors Seth said
Seth do you stay up at night just thinking of ways to drive me batty Elisabetta said
Nope don't have to just sort of come out naturally okay Seth said
Well, are you going to tell me or not Elisabetta said
Are you sure you want to know Seth said
Of course, I want to know Elisabetta said
See it turns out you're not quite as smart as I thought you were Seth said
That's not true Elisabetta said
Seth is this payback for the test I gave you Elisabetta said
No, you really didn't do very well Seth said
Let me see Seth let me see it give it to me please Elisabetta said
Okay just relax Seth said
The next morning in town
That looks really good child one said
All right children bring your signs. The stagecoach will be here any minute what Elisabetta said
Nothing looks like you've been busy Seth said
We have the children are beyond excited to welcome home Mr. Million Elisabetta said
Six months in the hospital is a long time. I'm sure it will be a bittersweet day for everyone Seth said
Yes hopefully more, sweet than bitter hi you must be very excited Elisabetta said
He's the top miner in town did you know that he once dug 2 Morton through the mountain in just one day Jolene said
Yes I believe you've mentioned it a time or two Elisabetta said
You look silly Jordan said
What do you mean sweetie Elisabetta said
Uh... Seth said
I have paint on my nose don't I, how long were you going to let me go on like that Elisabetta said
I don't know All day Seth said
I'm so nervous to see him he wouldn't let me visit him in the hospital he said we couldn't afford it Laurel said
Yeah well he's a proud man all the men in this town are Caitlin said
Look here he comes a child said
All right children hold up your signs Elisabetta said
What's wrong with daddy's leg Jordan said
Hush now morgen-rose laurel said
Sweethearts laurel I didn't know how to tell you Adam said
I love you I'm glad you're back Laurel said
Welcome home Adam Caitlin said
Thank you, Mrs. Montfort, Adam said
Let me Laurel said
No, I can still do it for myself Adam said
Laurel didn't know did she Elisabetta said
I don't think so Caitlin said
That must have been quite a surprise for Mrs. Million and those poor girls Donatella said
They're a strong family of faith they'll get through this Caitlin said
Is almost barbaric that in this day and age, a hospital would issue a pegleg when they have prosthetics readily available Elisabetta said
We're people of modest means I'm sure that that's all Adam could afford Caitlin said
Well, if nothing else the FD play will lift everyone's spirits Donatella said
What is the FD play? Elisabetta said
Founders Day play don't tell me you haven't begun the rehearsals it's next Saturday Donatella said
Miss Radford, I have no idea what you're referring to Elisabetta said
My goodness no one's told her is that possible Donatella said
Every year the children put on a play it's in celebration of the history of Valley Spring Caitlin said
That's lovely but given the fact that I was unaware perhaps we might postpone it a week or two Elisabetta said
And celebrate on some date besides the actual anniversary it's almost a sacrilege the mayor won't hear of it Donatella said
The mayor's is your brother Caitlin said
Mrs. Appleton always did such an amazing job everyone looks forward to hearing the mayor's eloquent speech as he guides us towards a new year filled with... Donatella said
Filled with, sister Silas said
Never mind Silas I will get you a copy of the play so you can begin rehearsals immediately Donatella said
Caitlin... how am I going to pull all this together in a week Abby and I are moving out of the row house this week and I promised her I'd help get the cafe ready for business and I still have lessons to prepare Elisabetta said
Okay don't worry the mothers are going to pitch in I am going to get Reverend Anderson to drop by the costumes and the backdrop I should probably go home and find the sheet music Caitlin said
There's music too Elisabetta said
Yeah Caitlin said
Don't panic you can do this you crossed the country for heaven's sake how difficult could it be to produce a play Elisabetta said
Talking to yourself is not a good sign Seth said
You were eavesdropping Elisabetta said
it's not eavesdropping when one's talking to one's self out loud in public Seth said
I have to put on a Founders Day play in a week a play that has been performed every year a play that has costumes and music ...Elisabetta said
Okay Elisabetta come here come here sit down sit now take a deep breath in through your nose and out through your mouth there now don't you feel better Seth said
I do an entire production (sighting) Elisabetta said
The next evening at Abby's house Gasps Elisabetta
Were you talking to yourself again I'm beginning to worry about your mental health Seth said
It's this play I hardly slept a wink last night I've never directed a play before Elisabetta said
Well didn't they go through that in that big city university you attended Seth said
I didn't go to drama school Seth I went to teacher college Elisabetta said
No great dramatist exists without a touch of madness Aristotle Seth said
Well, aren't you just full of surprises Elisabetta said
Yes Seth said
Have I thanked you yet for helping us move Elisabetta said
About one hundred times Seth said
Thank you no oh Elisabetta said
Elisabetta are you okay Abby said
How could I have been so careless Elisabetta said
It was an accident Abby said
No, this way my fault I wasn't looking where I was going... Elisabetta said
It's okay Abby said
Abby, please let me Elisabetta said
No, I've got it Abby said
Of course, I will reimburse you for the vase Elisabetta said
Oh, don't be silly this has been held together by glue for years I mean Peter broke it three or four times I always told him not to play ball in the house Abby said
Abby, I'm so sorry Elisabetta said
No, it's not the vase we built a life here together the three of us Abby said
I can only imagine how difficult this is for you Elisabetta said
I think I would like to take this vase with me to Abby said
Of course, I'll get the glue Elisabetta said
Elisabetta I'm really happy I'm not in this alone Abby said
Me too Abby we're both embarking on a new adventure Elisabetta said
That night above the cafe that Elisabetta's and Abby's wood now call home
This is going take some getting used to Abby said
It'll feel like home in no time Elisabetta said
I'm sure you're right Abby said
It's like you said when we first started packing love travels with you...Elisabetta said
Wherever you go Abby said
The next morning
Children may I have your attention please today we are going to cancel our math lesson Elisabetta said
All yes all the children said
We are going to cancel all of our lessons. We're going to start rehearsing for our Founders Day play which we will perform this Saturday now how many of you know the song? Elisabetta said
Saturday in a week Gawain by said
Mmm-hmm Elisabetta said
Last year Mrs. Appleton had us practicing for a month Gawain by said
Well, I'm not Mrs. Appleton and you all performed this play before so I'm... I'm not worried at all Elisabetta said
Patrick was the narrator and he graduated school months ago a boy said
Yes well just have to get started and try our best now I'm going to need everyone to help me uh... maybe some of the older students could help me with the Jolene Jordan I thought you two were going to stay at home today and spend the day with your father Elisabetta said
we changed our minds pa said he needed to take care of some business Jolene said
My daddy only has one leg now Jordan said
Well, what matters is that he's home now right Elisabetta said
Yes ma'am Jolene said
I find the sheet music in my attic Caitlin said
Caitlin that's wonderful one item off my list Elisabetta said
There ain't no way we can learn this play in one week a boy said
Now children if I may Elisabetta Miss Letcher is going to need all of your help and your concentration for this it's a very important play to all of us, especially after the year that we've had Caitlin said
The good news is that I found the costumes reverend Anderson said
Oh, Elisabetta said
Did you store these at the church Caitlin said
That would be the bad news, Reverend Anderson
My goodness they're all signed this is horrible Elisabetta said
Well, it is a play about a coal mine we could make this into one of the miner's costumes it's already blackened revenge Anderson said
And what about the backdrop or is it best not to ask about that church fire too Elisabetta said
More of the bad news revenge Anderson said
How are we supposed to have a play without a backdrop a boy said
Noah Sutton painted the last one I don't know anyone else who has that skill left in Valley Spring Caitlin said
Children if there's one thing I've learned about the people of Valley Spring it's that they don't quit even when everything is against them so we are not going to quit now I don't know exactly how but this Saturday we are going to do founders day proud Elisabetta said
That afternoon at Abby's new house
Have you sewn yourself to the back of the chair yet Abby said
No oh but apparently I will be wearing this for the rest of the day Elisabetta said
Look what I have compliments of the mayor and his sister Donatella Radford enough fabric to make new costumes Abby said
Oh, my goodness that's so generous Elisabetta said
Yes, however, there is a small price the star of the play will now be the motor's son Abby said
Oh well I suppose we can afford that Elisabetta said
And Donatella will also be the master of ceremonies Abby said
She will Elisabetta said
Oh yes it's a Valley Spring tradition Abby said
Hi Elisabetta Seth said
Seth Elisabetta said
I brought you some salmon cornbread Seth said
Oh, Elisabetta said
Although it doesn't hold a candle to Abby, it's all we have until she officially opens Seth said
Ow Elisabetta said
Your needle attack you Seth said
Wouldn't be the first time today Elisabetta said
Hmm, so your cooking is only rivaled by your sewing Seth said
I suppose you could do better Elisabetta said
May I think a whip stitch will do here Seth said
Where did you learn that Elisabetta said
Oh, I have sewn before Seth said
Where Elisabetta said
Uh... close to the bone Seth said
What? Oh my goodness what happened Elisabetta said
It was nothing, although the bear is still talking about it Seth said
The next morning in a saloon schoolhouse
Oh, my lord, this wasn't here yesterday where on earth Elisabetta said
Meanwhile, at the cafe
Thank you for helping with this Abby said
Oh, it is mostly selfish on my part. The sooner you open the sooner I can get to eat here Seth said
Oh, and sooner I can start cooking for hordes of hungry miners you seem to like a national with the paintbrush Abby said
Well, I like painting walls Seth said
Perhaps you might consider painting a mural on one Abby said
Mural, Seth said
Yes, a nice view of Valley Spring perhaps some beautiful mountains Abby said
Now, where would you get an idea like that? Noah painted the old Founder's Day mural you know it takes a special kind of person to see things from an artist's perspective Abby said
I wouldn't know Seth said
Wouldn't you Abby said
No, I'm just a simple wall-painted ma'am Seth said
Don't worry I won't tell Elisabetta Abby said
The next day to school
Okay, Cassandra, we're going to try this again. Let's take it from the top Elisabetta said
For some of us, the rains stopped, and then the crops dried up Cassandra said
Okay, now we changed the placard and now it's Jolene Elisabetta said
For those of us who were struggling to meet our ends, Jolene said
To make ends meet Elisabetta said
For those who were making ends meet ...Jolene said
For those of us who were struggling to make ends meet Jolene Elisabetta said
Is she okay a girl said
Just ... just keep rehearsing your line. I'll be right back we're all tired Jolene and everyone forgets a line once in a while Elisabetta said
I know the line. I'm just not sure I believe them anymore look what happened to all the fathers who came here to work in the mine Look what happened to my pa Jolene said
I know how hard this must be for you having him back after he was gone for such a long time Elisabetta said
My daddy never come back miss Letcher, not the pa I knew Jolene said
Jolene, just because he may not look the same... Elisabetta said
I'm not talking about his leg he's. changed he's not the same person and I don't know why Jolene said
I know it's hard to believe but even our mamas and our daddies have struggles sometimes Elisabetta said
I just want everything to be like it was before Jolene said
All you can do is love him. You can't be responsible for how acts all right to come here it's okay it's all right Elisabetta said
That afternoon
Seth Elisabetta said
Where did that come from Seth said
Your guess is as good as mine Laurel. what's wrong Elisabetta said
Constable, it's Adam I need your help we had an argument last night, and he wasn't in the house when we woke up this morning I don't know why I just thought he needed some time to think but he hasn't come home all day and I found a note I must have missed it laurel said
(I'm not the same man you married. You and the girls are better off without me) Seth said (reading the note)
We had words terrible words, and I didn't mean what I said. I swear it I just... I'm afraid he's going to do something awful, Laurel said
Don't worry I will find him Seth said
Seth, please be careful Elisabetta said
I'm glad to see you are so concerned for your constable Seth said
I'm concerned for the constable, and I'm also concerned for the man who wears the constable uniform Elisabetta said
Sunday morning
Noah, I wish you were here to see this Abby said
A class at the saloon cleaning up from the night before the Founder's Day play
Hey, I never noticed that before. What is that? A boy said
I think the bigger question is who is that? A girl said
May I borrow your magnifying glass Miss Letcher a boy said
Certainly, Elisabetta said
James, get a load of this. Gawain said
What's so funny you three? Elisabetta said
Come to see for yourself Miss Letcher James said
Thank you where Elisabetta said
there a girl said
Oh, my goodness did any of you three know about this Elisabetta said
Why would we know anything about this Miss Letcher, we weren't the ones who painted the backdrop a girl said
It does look a lot like you, and Mountie Seth thought James said
No, it doesn't James it doesn't at all, and I'll ask that you three to forget all about this incident Elisabetta said
Lips are sealed Miss Letcher Gawain said
Moments later Elisabetta runs to Seth's officer
Seth, are you aware that someone painted a tiny likeness of the two of us on the Founder's Day backdrop Elisabetta said
Likeness Seth said
Yes, and it's hidden there like a little stick of dynamite ready to go off and some of my students just lit the fuse. Elisabetta said
What are we doing in the painting Seth said
I can't really say... we're kissing Elisabetta said
We're kissing. Well, that is completely inappropriate and pure fiction Seth said
Yes, fiction Elisabetta said
Who would do such a thing? You know I think I should launch an investigation and interrogate some of your students until we get to the bottom of this Seth said
All right but on second thought both of our reputations are on the line here. Elisabetta said
Hmm... that is a good point, but I promise I will get to the bottom of this don't you worry Seth said
I'm glad you're on the case Elisabetta said
Rip Stars is barking like a baby
I'm going to go Elisabetta said
Have a good day. Our little secret boy more barking for rip Seth said