The next day Elizabeth was studying her spelling at lunchtime. Since she had gotten punished she was cramped for time. She had asked Applegate about it and he gave her a little extra time to study, but only until after lunch.

Her head was against a tree, and she was spelling the words out quietly. A tall boy, taller even than Jarrod came up to her. "Hey there. How ya doin'?" The boy asked, sitting next to her.

"I've been right here hoping that I do all right on that spelling test," Elizabeth said, looking at another word and spelling it out.

"That old crab-Apple, he's a real meanie. That's why he picks on ya. Me and the boys were talkin'-" he started.

"He's been real nice to me today," Elizabeth said, closing the book.

"He gave you a slight break in your spelling," the boy pointed out.

"For him that's nice. Look if you're my friend you won't do anything," Elizabeth said.

The boy stood and shrugged his shoulders. He left her alone to work on her math in the five minutes left of lunch and recess.

An hour later, Peter Lane came running into the school, late. He slid into his chair next to Charlie, his best friend. Applewood looked up at Peter.

"Peter Lane, come up here," Applewood said, sternly.

The tall seventeen-year-old ambled up to the front with a swagger. "Hold out your hand," Applewood ordered.

"What fer?" Peter asked confused.

"You are being punished for being lat. Peter, hold out your hand," Applewood repeated.

Peter held out his hand and Applewood smacked it three times. Each time a stupid grin got bigger on Peter's face. "You can't hit hard enough to tickle," Peter said, smirking.

"Go back to your seat," Applewood said, putting the pointer on his desk.

"Yes Sir and I was late because our horse was foaling today," Peter said.

Peter walked back to his seat. Elizabeth watched him, done with her assignments.

"Elizabeth Barkley, since you don't have enough to occupy your time, why don't I give you some more work on the black board," Applewood said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

Elizabeth groaned inwardly. That probably meant more spelling words on the blackboard. Elizabeth's arm was still sore from the day before. Elizabeth walked up to the desk, trying not to cry. She walked to the blackboard and started to write, the tears falling on her pale cheeks.

Elizabeth picked at her food dully at dinner. Jarrod was laughing at his brothers’ jokes when Victoria noticed Elizabeth's lack of appetite. Victoria laid one soft hand on Elizabeth's forehead. "Are you all right, Elizabeth?" Victoria asked, concerned.

"I'm all right, Ma'am. I'm just not hungry," Elizabeth said in a low voice, trying not to cry again.

Jarrod looked at his stepdaughter. She looked as if she had lost her best friend in the whole world. "Are you going to be okay, Elizabeth?" Jarrod asked, feeling the concern his mother showed.

"I'm fine, Jarrod. I'm just not hungry tonight," Elizabeth repeated, averting her eyes away from Jarrod's.

Jarrod reached over and touched his stepdaughter's forehead. 'You don't have a fever. Are you sure you're all right?" Jarrod asked, skeptically.

"Jarrod, I'm just not hungry. May I please be excused? I have homework," Elizabeth said dully. The way that sounded it was like doing homework was like facing the firing squad.

"I suppose so," Jarrod said. He watched her go and then looked at the rest of the family. They were all silent during this. When Beth had died Jarrod had said in no uncertain terms that his family was not going to tell Jarrod how to raise Elizabeth. But even they knew something was wrong. Elizabeth's appetite had been all right since she had stopped being a ranch hand. Something had to have happened.

"Jarrod, what are you going to do?" Audra asked, spooning some more stew on Nick's plate.

"I don't know. Apparently Elizabeth feels that she can't talk about it to me or anyone else," Jarrod said, picking up his coffee cup.

"I think it's probably school-related," Victoria asked, touching her lips lightly with her linen napkin.

"What makes you say that, Mother?" Heath asked.

"Haven't you noticed that when we ask her about school she's very vague? It's like she's terrified and she just looked like doing her homework was like facing a firing squad," Victoria said.

"Mother, I used to look like that when I was 12 or 13," Nick said, smiling at his mother.

"Nick, you hated school period. Beth told me the day before her death that Elizabeth always liked school and did well in it," Jarrod said, putting his knife and fork on his plate.

"Jarrod, what do you think e should do?" Audra asked, her blue eyes sad.

"We'll wait for her to tell us what's wrong. "I don't think I should push her to tell me what's wrong," Jarrod said.

The family nodded their head in agreement. Whatever was troubling Elizabeth, they'll wait for her to say what it was.

Meanwhile upstairs, Elizabeth sat on her bed and looked at her mother's picture on the night table. "What would you have done, Mama? I wish you were here," Elizabeth said, touching the glass of the photo. Elizabeth cried herself to sleep, forgetting about her homework.

Meanwhile Applewood was sitting with the Shaw family in town. "It's wonderful that someone is interested in bringing culture to this awful town," Mrs. Shaw said, her voice and face lighting up.

"I hope that it will come to this town. I find culture very hard to find out here," Applewood agreed, enjoying the supper immensely.

"That is correct. The richest family in Stockton is the Barkleys, but they don't always act like the epitome of refinement like people think. The lawyer is always defending deadbeats. Nick Barkley is always brawling. Heath Barkley is just half a Barkley. Accepting him and that girl from Washington D.C. is not acceptable to proper society," Mrs. Shaw said in a snotty tone.

"Maura, Jarrod promised his wife that he'd adopt her daughter," Mr. Shaw objected, shocked.

"Promises to a wife that you were married to for five days don't count," Mrs. Shaw said cruelly.

"You mean that Elizabeth Barkley is not Counselor Barkley's real daughter?" Applewood asked, interested.

"Of course not. That girl's mother and the girl met Jarrod Barkley on their way out west to teach school. Jarrod married her and a man that Jarrod sent to prison murdered her. Of course I've been told that the girl's real father died when she was a baby. Jarrod adopted her and gave her his name," Mrs. Shaw said.

"How long has she been a Barkley?" Applewood asked.

"I don't know, but she's just an orphan and a troublemaker," Mrs. Shaw said.

"Maura, that's not true. I've seen Elizabeth what Elizabeth acts like when she comes to town. She's a polite, well-mannered girl. And Jarrod Barkley loves her," Mr. Shaw objected again.

"It seems as if everyone treats her like a princess, though, Evelina Morris said, glaring at her father.

Mr. Applewood seemed thrilled at hearing this information. In his mind Elizabeth had just become trash.

Elizabeth and Catherine were talking outside a few weeks later. Elizabeth glumly listened as her friend chattered brightly. Since Applewood had arrived Elizabeth's schoolwork had started to suffer. Failing grades had started to become very common in Elizabeth's life. Elizabeth hadn't shown any of the papers to Jarrod; she didn't have the heart to. The rest of the family, however had started to notice her lack of appetite and the disinterest she displayed in the things that used to please her.

Also Victoria had noticed that Elizabeth was falling asleep a lot at the breakfast table. Once she told Jarrod about Elizabeth falling asleep at meal times, but Jarrod said it was probably not enough hours in the night to sleep.

In all honesty Elizabeth's melancholy attitude was starting to worry Jarrod. But Jarrod figured if something was wrong Elizabeth would tell him.

"Catherine, I don't want to sound rude, but I have spelling I have to study for," Elizabeth said, interrupting Catherine's speech.

"Are your grades still bad?" Catherine asked, her brown eyes shining with concern.

"Yeah. I'm in danger of failing and I can't tell Jarrod," Elizabeth said dejectedly.

"Why not? He is your stepfather," Catherine said. Catherine was curious to know why her friend wouldn't tell Jarrod and his family anything about school. Jarrod would help her with Applewood if she wasn't so stubborn in telling him that Applewood was cruel to everyone.

"I don't know. I just don't want him mad at me," Elizabeth said, burying her face in her hands.

"I don't think he would be. Jarrod Barkley loves you. He worships the ground you walk on," Catherine said.

"I have to go," Elizabeth said, gathering her books up in her arms.

Elizabeth stood up and walked back to the school. Since her appetite failed her, she was paler than a sheet and often got dizzy spells. Her steps were unsteady, but she determined not to fall in front of anybody.

Applewood came out of the schoolroom. Elizabeth looked up at the teacher. "I have to study my spelling," Elizabeth said monotonously.

The teacher didn't say anything as Elizabeth moved into the classroom. Elizabeth sank into her seat with relief. As long as she sat she was in no danger of dizzy spells and fainting. She picked up her book and tried to spell the words out under her breath.

20 minutes later Elizabeth was still spelling the words out when the bell rang and everyone rushed into the room, giggling. Catherine slid into the seat next to Elizabeth. Applewood walked into the room and up to his desk where his valise was on the table.

Applewood reached into his valise for tests that he had graded the night before. He pulled his hand out with a look of disdain on his Scrooge-like face. A dark fluid was all over his hand and the papers in his hand.

Everyone, except Elizabeth, started to giggle again. "STOP IT! Destruction of public property and you think it's funny?"Applewood roared.

Elizabeth's face was totally ashen-gray and emotionless as she waited for Applewood to signal her out. She usually was the scapegoat for every bad thing that happened in that school and it happened, regular as clockwork, that she was punished.

"Elizabeth Barkley, come up here," Applewood said, picking up his pointer.

"Mr. Applewood, please? I didn't do it," Elizabeth begged in a tiny trembling voice.

The school room was deathly quiet for all but two seconds. The next eight words sounded as if they came from a funeral bell.

"Elizabeth Barkley is hereby expelled from school," Applewood said, in a dangerously low voice.

Everyone gasped in shock. No one had ever been expelled from the Stockton school before. Elizabeth's chin and knees shook and her stomach lurched violently as if she would throw up. Elizabeth thought of Jarrod instantly. How was she going to explain what happened to Jarrod?

Elizabeth walked through the fog to the Barkley ranch. Since Stockton was a waterfront town fog was common both morning and afternoon. She shivered slightly at the chill of the fog.

The Barkley mansion was aglow with warm lights as she approached Elizabeth walked up the stone steps and pushed at the oak door. The Barkleys-Jarrod included-were all congregated in the parlor. Elizabeth remembered dimly that Jarrod had said that he was working at home today. Jarrod looked up at Elizabeth as she came into the room. Her face was red and tear-streaked, her hair was all a mess.

"Elizabeth, what's wrong? Are you sick?" Jarrod asked, his voice turning all serious.

At Jarrod's kind-but serious-tone, Elizabeth burst into tears and ran to her stepfather. She threw her arms around his neck and cried as if her heart would break.

Jarrod smoothed back her tangled reddish-blonde locks of hair and gently kissed her forehead. "What happened?" Victoria asked kindly, putting a hand on Elizabeth's shoulder.

"He...He...He expelled me, Mrs. Barkley. I didn't do anything," Elizabeth sobbed, looking at Victoria.

"What did he say you did?" Jarrod asked, stroking her ear.

Elizabeth wiped her nose with his sleeve. "He said that I poured ink into his valise, but I didn't! I didn't! Jarrod, you know me! I'm NOT a troublemaker!" Elizabeth said, nearly close to shouting.

"I know you didn’t. When you lie to me you don't look me in the eyes," Jarrod said, pulling out his linen handkerchief to wipe her tear-stained cheeks.

"Here. Blow your nose, Elizabeth," Jarrod ordered, handing her the handkerchief.

"What do I do, Jarrod? I can't go back. Mr. Applewood hates me," Elizabeth whimpered, looking first at Jarrod and then looking at the others.

Jarrod felt a brief tug at his heart. After a few weeks Elizabeth was looking to him to help her. She was starting to trust him with her problems at school. Jarrod looked at Victoria, Heath, and Audra. All of them felt sorry for her, Jarrod could see that in their eyes, but because of the promise that they made not to tell Jarrod how to be her father, they kept quiet now.

"You won't go back today. You can stay here with Mother and Audra and continue your studies," Jarrod said firmly.

"Thank you, Jarrod. I...I...love you," Elizabeth stammered.

Jarrod's blue eyes glowed with happiness. In the few weeks that he had been her father, this was the first time that she had said that she loved him.

Later that night, after Elizabeth had gone to bed, Jarrod sat with his family in the parlor. Jarrod and the family were trying to talk about Elizabeth's problem at school. Elizabeth had finally told Jarrod that she was failing her grade and no one in the family had understood how or why.

"Jarrod, you know that Elizabeth would never pour ink into that man's valise," Victoria said, bringing everyone's attention back to the original problem that happened that day.

"I know, Mother. That would explain why she has been so lethargic lately and lost weight," Jarrod said, drinking his coffee.

"Beth would have told you if Elizabeth was a troublemaker, wouldn't she?" Nick asked.

"Yes she would have, Nick. I don't think that Elizabeth is to blame for what been happening. I think something might be wrong with the teacher," Jarrod said, standing up and putting his hand on the fireplace mantle.

A slight cough from the corner drew everyone's attention. Silas, the family butler, was looking at Jarrod. "Mr. Jarrod, Miss Elizabeth's friend Miss Catherine came by a few days ago," Silas said, putting some more coffee on the coffee table.

"What about it, Silas?" Victoria asked.

"Miss Catherine said that Mr. Appplewood is too harsh on everyone. He whipped a po' boy fo' bein' late to school. And the boy said he was helpin' out on his pappy's farm," Silas said.

"So Catherine says that he's too harsh on everyone and Elizabeth's the one who gets punishment worse than anyone," Victoria said thoughtfully.

"Yes, Mrs. Barkley," Silas said, laying a log on the fire.

"Pappy, can Heath and I join you in the schoolroom?" Nick asked, turning to his brother.

"Nick, maybe you should stay home. I know your temper and you could lose it," Jarrod said uneasily.

"Pappy, I'll be calm and civil," Nick promised, a cherubic look on his face.

""Just don't hit him, Nick," Victoria warned. Like Jarrod Victoria knew her middle son's temper. Heath could usually talk his brother out of getting mad, but neither Victoria or Jarrod knew if Nick wouldn't lose it this time.

"I promise, Mother," Nick said.

Early the next morning, before school had started for the day, Jarrod, Elizabeth, Nick, and Heath sat in the schoolroom, listening to Mr. Applewood tell the story of his valise and the ink. "Ruined. Absolutely ruined. And I believe your stepdaughter did it," Applewood said, putting extra reflection on the word stepdaughter.

Jarrod felt a touch of annoyance at his daughter being referred to as his stepdaughter. "Mr. Applewood, I've known Elizabeth for only a few weeks. I'm the one who brought Elizabeth and her mother out here. She has rarely ever lied to me. If anything, she has been very honest. I believe her when she said she didn't do it," Jarrod said, his voice firm.

"Well, parents-even stepparents-believe anything about children. But there are two sides to every story," Applewood said.

"Oh, I agree. You were at the front of the school, weren't you?" Jarrod asked in his best lawyer's voice.

"Of course," Applewood asked, puzzled.

"Then could there have been a possibility that someone could have come in through the other door?" Heath spoke up, catching the jest of what Jarrod was asking.

"Yes, it is quite possible. Maybe I did react in haste. Elizabeth, you are accepted back into school," Applewood said, looking kind for the first time since he became the teacher.

"Thank you, Mr. Applewood," Elizabeth said, nearly wilting with relief.

"You're welcome. Elizabeth, would you like to ring the bell?" Applewood asked generously.

"Yes Sir and thank you, Jarrod, Nick, and Heath," Elizabeth said, turning her eyes to Jarrod and his brothers.

"I'll see you at home later tonight, Elizabeth," Jarrod said. Jarrod gently kissed his stepdaughter's forehead and both walked out into the predawn chill. Heath and Nick walked out with their brother and niece and wished her goodbye. Nick and Heath walked down to the livery and Jarrod went to his office. Elizabeth pulled the rope to ring the bell with great force.

The children piled into the school and greeted Elizabeth as she rang the bell. After the children had gone inside, Elizabeth looked up at Mr. Applewood. The look in his eyes made the skin on her arms crinkle in gooseflesh. The hatred in his eyes told her that he still believed that she had poured the ink in his bag. Jarrrod, Heath, and Nick's persuasive argument had done nothing to sway Applegate's opinion.

After lunch that day the students came into the classroom to find Joshua Shaw dumping Applewood's valise and papers all over the floor. Elizabeth froze in utter consternation at the scene before her. "Get out! Get out!" Elizabeth waved her hands at Joshua as if he was a pesky fly or dog.

Everyone ran to their seats as soon as they heard Applewood's steps returning to the classroom.

Elizabeth sat in her chair, her face in her hands, waiting for Applewood to single her out for punishment. Again. Applewood hissed under his breath as he walked toward his bag. He picked up the valise and papers and turned toward the class, his gray eyes blazing with anger. Elizabeth held her breath, waiting.

"Peter Lane, come up here please," Applewood roared.

"What fer?" Peter asked, perplexed.

"For destruction of property and to receive punishment," Applewood said automatically.

"No Sir," Peter said, his face falling into a deep frown.

"Then I will come to you," Applewood said, picking up his pointer and walking toward Peter.

Elizabeth knew then that Peter was going to be punished for something he didn't do. Elizabeth also knew that if she said something she could get punished in his place, but she was willing to cover for both Joshua Morris and Peter Lane.

"He didn't do it," Elizabeth said as Applewood walked past her desk.

Applewood paused and looked at Elizabeth. Her hands were folded calmly on the desk and she looked ahead at the blackboard. "Elizabeth Barkley. Then I suppose you do know who did this?" Applewood asked sarcastically.

Elizabeth kept her features calm and collected and didn't say a word. "Young lady, you will reveal what you know. NOW!" Applewood roared, hitting her desk with his pointer.

"That's enough!" A voice roared out in the wooden echo of the pointer.

Elizabeth turned her head to look into the bright blue eyes of her stepfather. Heath, Jarrod, and Nick stood by the back stove. All of their faces were grim and fatalistic.

"Elizabeth, go get your things. You're going home now," Jarrod said, his blue eyes locked on Applewood's gray eyes.

At that instant Elizabeth knew that Jarrod was very furious. He only talked to her in that tone of voice when he was angry. The only thing that made her feel better was that it wasn't her he was mad at.

"Mr. Barkley, you've caught me in an awkward position," Applewood said, trying to save himself.

"My daughter forgot her homework. But Elizabeth won't be back in your class ever again," Jarrod said.

"Mr. Barkley, I was close to resolving my little problem," Applewood said, still trying to save himself.

"My brothers and I heard your 'little problem' halfway down the street. Mr. Applewood, I'm calling a meeting of the schoolboard," Jarrod said.

Elizabeth entered the room from the school's cloak room, wearing her brown coat and carrying her dinner pail in her hand.

"I'm ready, Jarrod," Elizabeth said.

Jarrod wrapped his arms around her shoulders and led her outside, Heath and Nick following them.

Applewood followed them out in a fit of rage. "Mr. Barkley, I haven't finished talking to you!" Applewood snapped, treating Jarrod as if he were a pupil.

He grabbed Jarrod's arm and swung him around. Jarrod grabbed Applewood by the shirtfront and pushed his head against the schoolhouse.

"You owe our mother a thank you. She told Nick not to hit you, but she didn't say anything about Heath or myself," Jarrod said. Jarrod grabbed Applewood's pointer and broke it over his leg.

Elizabeth, Nick, and Heath stared at Jarrod in shock. Jarrod was angry, but this was different than if Elizabeth lied to him or Jarrod wanting to go after Cass Hyatt in revenge. This was parental rage. That of a father protecting his little girl.

At the school, later that afternoon, Applewood stood there telling his side of the story. Of course this story put Jarrod, Heath, and Nick as antagonists who were out to cause trouble for the teacher.

"So I was close to resolving my little problem when Counselor Barkley and his brothers came in and pulled Elizabeth out of my school," Applewood said, concluding the story.

"Do you have anything to add to Mr. Applewood's story, Jarrod?" Fred Madden asked his friend.

"No. I did pull Elizabeth out of the school after I heard him threatening to hit her. No man has any right to strike any child of mine. Not even a teacher," Jarrod said, his jaw tightening.

"But Jarrod, children also have to be in school. The law is very strict about that. You're a lawyer. You helped pass that law in Stockton," Fred said.

"Yes, I am a lawyer. But I'm a father first. I promised my wife I'd raise her daughter as my own and protect her," Jarrod said.

"Promises to a wife you were married to for 5 days don't count," Maura Shaw said cruelly.

Everyone in the room stared at Maura. Jarrod broke the ice with a question. "Mr. Applewood, why is my daughter failing?" Jarrod asked.

"I suppose she doesn't try hard enough," Applewood said, his face turning red.

Jarrod picked up a file that he had brought with him. "Allow me to read this to you. My wife wrote it when I first said that she would have to go to school here. 'Elizabeth Randall is a great student. While her strengths are reading and math, her weakest areas are geography and writing. Elizabeth is a joy to have in any classroom. And while she does make occasional mistakes, she does try," Jarrod finished, closing the file.

"I really don't think this is necessary to listen to, Mr. Barkley," Applewood said.

"I most certainly agree with, Mr. Applewood," Maura piped in.

"I believe it is. I have to understand why-or how-my little girl could go from a good student to failing," Jarrod said, laying the file on his desk.

"You said that your wife wrote that. A parent will say anything about their children," Applewood said, slandering Beth.

"I agree that most people would, but let's take a look at your resume. Fred, may I have the resume Mr. Applewood gave you?" Jarrod asked, holding out his hand.

Jarrod opened the file where he stood and read for a few seconds. "I'm not going to go into this entire list of schools. The glowing reports from your teaching experience are impeccable. You have taught at a lot of impressive schools. Tell me, why did you leave the last school you were at in Minnesota?" Jarrod asked, going into lawyer-mode.

"I was unhappy with the position," Applewood said vaguely.

"And what about the school before that?" Jarrod pressed relentlessly.

"Is this really necessary? This is about Elizabeth and how her mother could say anything about her," Applewood said, trying to change the subject.

"You said that my wife could have lied about my daughter. What about you?" Jarrod asked.

"What are you driving at, Jarrod?" Fred asked, confused.

"We were hard-pressed for a teacher and we accepted Applewood's resume on face value. I think we should contact these references and see what kind of teacher he was," Jarrod said, his blue eyes hard as ice.

"I did not lie on this!" Applewood roared to Fred.

"Jarrod is not saying that you did!" Fred protested.

"You hired me to teach the children and when I do you blame me for punishing a troublemaker!" Applewood continued his rampage.

Jarrod's jaw tightened at Applewood referring to his daughter as a troublemaker. "I've run into people like you before, Barkley! You want your children to be disciplined, but are afraid to. In the schoolroom children have to learn that there is only one voice. Mine. That they have to be punished for wrongdoing. If children want love they should find that at home," Applewood said, his gray eyes brittle.

After that rant everyone stared in shocked silence. Applewood looked at everyone. Even Maura Shaw didn't look as if she were on his side any more. Applewood walked to the cloakroom and picked up his hat. Applewood looked at Jarrod and then at Fred. "My resignation will be on the desk tomorrow," Applewood said in a dead voice as he walked out.

Jarrod breathed a huge sigh of relief. Elizabeth's problems with the teacher were over. He could just picture her relief when he told her. The only problem left was, who was going to teach school now?

Elizabeth sat in the parlor, trying to be patient as she waited for Jarrod to come home. It struck her as funny if she thought about it. A few weeks ago she wouldn't have wanted to know if Jarrod was coming home or not. But now she found herself wondering what the schoolboard had decided about Applewood.

Nick looked over at her as she sat there, nervously biting her lip. "Relax, Elizabeth," Nick said, putting his hand on the mantle of the fireplace.

"I'm trying, Uncle Nick. It's not easy though. I hope they get rid of Applewood. I'd really like to have a teacher like my mother was," Elizabeth said, taking a drink of tea from the cup on the table beside her.

"I'm sure we'll find a teacher. I taught the school once and Audra taught a few times," Victoria said, patting Elizabeth's knee gently.

"I don't mind what I get as a teacher. I bet that Mrs. Shaw is probably a better teacher than Applewood was," Elizabeth said.

'I think anybody is a better teacher than Applewood," Heath said, grimacing at Applewood's treatment of Elizabeth that afternoon.

The front door opened and Jarrod entered the foyer. "Jarrod! How did it go? Did Applewood get fired? Who's going to be our next teacher?" Elizabeth asked, the questions coming out in rapid succession.

"Hold your horses, Elizabeth. I can only answer one question at a time," Jarrod rebuked her gently.

"I'm sorry, Jarrod. Okay. How did it go?" Elizabeth asked, slowing down.

"Let me get my hat and coat off first," Jarrod said, taking off his hat and coat and hanging them on the hall tree.

"I'll wait in the parlor," Elizabeth said. She left the foyer and sat down on her footstool, drinking her tea.

Jarrod entered the room and sat down on the couch next to his mother. "Now?" Elizabeth asked her stepfather.

"Not very patient, are you?" Audra asked, confused by Elizabeth's need to know.

"Nope. I'm a hopeless case and I'll never improve," Elizabeth said, grinning sheepishly.

"Applewood has retired. You never have to worry about him again," Jarrod said, looking into Elizabeth's blue-gray eyes.

"How did that happen, Pappy?" Nick asked.

"When I questioned his references he pitched a full-scale fit. He retired when he saw that no one would defend his actions anymore," Jarrod said, turning to his brother.

"So Jarrod, who's going to teach us?" Elizabeth asked.

"The schoolboard talked about that too. Audra, would you like to teach the children until we find a teacher," Jarrod said turning to his sister.

"I'd love to. When do I start?" Audra asked.

"Is tomorrow all right?" Jarrod asked.

"It's perfect," Audra said, smiling a sunny grin that matched her blonde hair.

Elizabeth's stomach growled loudly at that moment. Elizabeth started to giggle. "I'm sorry, everyone. I haven't eaten much in a long time," Elizabeth said, her face turning red.

"That's all right, but you are going to clean your plate tonight, Young lady," Jarrod said, pretending to be stern.

"Yes Sir, Jarrod," Elizabeth said. She was melting with relief that Applewood was gone and everyone in the house felt the joy radiating from her smile.

Jarrod sat in the parlor late that night, looking into the flames of the fireplace. Elizabeth had just come down for a glass of milk and held the glass in her hand. Her reddish blonde hair was unbraided and went down to her waist.

"Jarrod, if that fireplace hasn't talked back yet, then I suggest you go to Islas del Cielo," Elizabeth said, half-jokingly.

Jarrod turned slightly to look at his stepdaughter. "Very funny, Elizabeth. What are you doing up so late? You have school tomorrow, I believe," Jarrod said.

"I know. I just couldn't sleep. I figured a glass of milk might help," Elizabeth said, sitting on a footstool at Jarrod's feet.

"I was just thinking about everything that has happened in the past few weeks. You and your mother arriving, your mother dying, and the problems we had and Applewood," Jarrod said, pushing a lock of her hair behind her ear.

"That's a lot to think about, Jarrod. One thing is different, though, from a few weeks ago. I hated you when I first met you. My father died when I was small. I thought you couln't take his place," Elizabeth said, in a small voice.

"What do you think now?" Jarrod asked, serious look in his blue eyes.

"That I didn't want another man to take my father's place, but you come awful close," Elizabeth said, a teasing twinkle in her eyes.

"Thank you. That means a lot to hear that coming from you. A whole lot," Jarrod said, with tears in his eyes.

Jarrod and Elizabeth sat there in silence. Elizabeth drank her milk quickly. After she licked the milk mustache from her upper lip, she looked at Jarrod again.

"Jarrod, why did you stick up for me? I've been rotten to you since Mama and me met you on the train," Elizabeth asked.

"Well, when I met you I thought you were a good kid. I still do," Jarrod said.

"Thanks. Can I ask you a favor?" Elizabeth asked, her blue-gray eyes shining.

"Of course. What is it?" Jarrod asked.

"Can I call you Father," Elizabeth asked, her eyes pleading.

"Nothing will please me more," Jarrod said, his blue eyes glowing.

"All right, Father. I think I'll go up to bed now. Good night, Father," Elizabeth said.

"Good night, Elizabeth," Jarrod said.

Elizabeth kissed Jarrod's cheek and hugged him before she went upstairs. She knew that she loved Jarrod with all her heart. That now she was ready to call him her father. That finally the broken heart she had felt on Beth's funeral day was now healed.