Flash Back three months before both Elisabetta and Seth had arrived, a world fire burned down the school and several buildings and the mine exploded, killing forty-seven men with a mouth.

Flash to the present day when Elisabetta is preparing lessons on her first day

Oh. Hello. Seth, I didn't know anyone else was here. Elisabetta said

Good morning, Elisabetta, I am staying in one of the rooms upstairs until something more permanent can be arranged. Seth said

I'm sorry I'm afraid I may have left you with some of my chalk dust Elisabetta said

No. No chalk dust; now I feel cheated Seth said,

Now, if you'll excuse me, Seth, as much I would love to talk, I have reading materials to prepare for my student's good day Seth

Sometimes later in the saloon

Boy 1 I'm saying it's a lie.

Boy 2, you're dead wrong

Boys, remember the rules. No talking while I'm talking. Elisabetta said

Boy 1 is too! Ma says my pappy wrote it.

Boys, you're not listening to me. Elisabetta said

Boy 2, you're a liar

Boy 1 takes it back!

Stop it! Elisabetta said

Stop it this minute Elisabetta said

Boy 3: Show him! (Kids shout encouragement.)

Boys, stop it Elisabetta said

After School

Oh, Elisabetta, Just in time for dinner. Would you mind setting the table for three? Abby said

Remember how you said the first few days might be a little bumpy? Well, you were right. Elisabetta said

Oh, black and blue, too, it appears. What happened? Abby said

Some boys got into a tussle over the message on the wood. I stepped in the middle and caught the worst of it Elisabetta said

Never step between two coal boys when they're mixing it up. Abby said

I need to get them interested in their lessons, but I've never been through anything like what they've been through before and I don't know how to help them Elisabetta said

When Peter was little, I was the only teacher he had. He was so bored during his lessons; sometimes he would nod off like an old man in a rocker Abby said, (Chuckling.

So, what did you do? Elisabetta said

Levity: I added a little levity to the learning. Abby said

(Knock on door)

Oh, would you mind? Abby said

You. Both Seth and Elisabetta said

Nice Shiner Seth said

It's my first, actually, but I think I earned it. Elisabetta said

Good evening offers Abby said

Evening, Mrs. Sutton. Seth said

We're glad you could make supper on short notice Abby said

To tell you the truth, I'm not too popular in town yet supper invitations aren't exactly pouring in, Seth said

Well, we're very happy to have you here, aren't we, Elisabetta? Abby said

"Happy" isn't the word for it. Elisabetta said

Do you like it? Abby said

Very much, ma'am, the artist has a wonderfully colored composition Seth said

You know art, do you? Abby said

A little. My mother taught me to appreciate different techniques and subjects Seth said

Is she an artist herself? Abby said

No, A teacher is a most honorable profession; in any event, a very talented artist Seth said

Was my late husband? God rest his soul. Abby said

I'm so sorry for your loss; I can't imagine how hard it must have been for you to have them both go into that mine every day. Seth said

well, most days, I didn't care about it; I just went about my business and I pretended I didn't know what they were doing or how deep into that mountain they really were, and when their shift ended and they'd come, sometimes laughing, sometimes grousing, always covered in that coal dust, Abby said

Did they ever talk about the danger? Seth said

He didn't need to; it's an unspoken contract that every coal miner makes between himself and his family. Abby said

Mrs. Sutton, can you tell me what you remember about the day of the explosion? Seth said

I'm sure Mrs. Sutton doesn't want to discuss that subject now. Elisabetta said

It's okay, Elisabetta. I don't mind; I remember everything. The explosion was so loud that it shattered windows and rattled the whole house. Then it dawned on me what had happened; no one said a word. We didn't need to. All we could think to do was run. There are no words for what we felt or what was in our hearts. But they never came home Abby said

Thank you so much for coming to the office Was it really necessary for her to relive the worst day of her life? Elisabetta said

I'm inquisitive I gather the information because it is part of who I am. Seth said

It's insensitive but apparently, that's part of who you are, too It seems to me that a town whose church and school burn to the ground and whose mine explodes, killing half the town's population, wouldn't warrant investigation of Elisabetta said

In the time that I am here to stay here, Miss Letcher, I fully intend to investigate all suspicious events that have taken place, which is why I was asking questions tonight Seth said

So, do you think you can see something or talk to someone for a few moments and deduce all sorts of facts that everyone else has missed? Elisabetta said

Sometimes. Seth said

how clever. Elisabetta said

I know after just two minutes of talking to you, Elisabetta, that you weren't wearing your shoes or dress and that you weren't disappointed when you found out I was coming to dinner. Seth said

How could you know that? Elisabetta said

You're walking on the outside of your feet to compensate for your shoes pinching, and your dress is three inches too short and a little tight around the waist, but it's still yours. You did forget that I went to school with you Seth said

And not being disappointed about seeing you at dinner, Elisabetta said

That was just a guess Seth said

How dare you! Elisabetta said

The next afternoon, Elisabetta writes a letter home

Elisabetta: in closing, I hope I've conveyed that despite the hardships I experienced coming here, I am for want of nothing, standing strong on, my own two feet, a proud Letcher just like you raised your loving daughter, Elisabetta Postscript: I would, however, mention that they have me teaching the children here in an actual saloon, so for school supplies or anything of cultural value you could send me, I would be eternally grateful.

Good afternoon, Miss Letcher Seth said

Afternoon offices: Thorndlike. Elisabetta said

Do you think that we could dispense with the offices, and could we go back to you? Call me Seth. Seth said

Ok, you may call me Elisabetta. Elisabetta said

Ok, Elisabetta, it is. Seth said

Have yourself a good day. Seth. Elisabetta said

Post-Postscript Pleasegreet my younger sister for me and pass along that I've yet to see any whiskeyrunners, However, I have run into some cowboys, outlaws, and one very handsome,annoying office how I went to school within Hamilton