Helen paced her morning room she kept pacing when Frank came into the room. He stood before her confused "Helen why are you pacing. What on earth is wrong?" he asked puzzled. She dismissed her brother and sat down "nothing at all how was your day?" she returned he sat his green eyes full of mischief "oh not much I went to see Mrs. Denison she is very lovely women. If only she wasn't married". Helen snapped "when will you learn to leave other men's wives alone. Straighten yourself out and marry an nice unmarried girl or even a widow".
Frank stood shocked at his sisters outburst he then crossed the room and sat on the ottoman next to Helen "What is wrong?" she sighed. "Anthony Harrison is in Sumter he is living with his cousin the new shopkeeper James Bagnall" he gave her a surprised look "your fiancee or should I say former one. Do you still love him?" she stood up and continued to pace "yes of course but he probably has moved on maybe is married" her brother laughed "I doubt it if he's married he wouldn't be here by himself" she hit her brother "Ow" he called out "Francis Davin Ernest just leave it be you have never been in love or close to it" she snarled at him. She stormed out of the house.
.....
Anthony was walking down the country lane trying to get his thoughts together. All he could think of was Helen and how she was cold to him the previous evening.He saw blonde hair women storm down the path towards him he recognized it was Helen she walked by and hadn't noticed him walking stormily he felt her anger "Miss Ernest" he called out to her she stopped and abruptly turned. As soon as she saw him her face turned from an angry glare to a neutral frown "Yes Mr. Harrison?" she asked nonchalantly "Miss Ernest are you unwell?" she answered " I am fine" and turned around and continued walking down the lane however Anthony bolted toward her and grabbed her arm "Helen what is wrong?" for moment both stood frozen staring into each others eyes but Anthony pulled back "Miss Ernest I must beg for your forgiveness it won't happen again" Helen anger vanished she was left shaken "it is alright I just got into a slight disagreement with my brother that is all and came out for fresh air" he nodded "as did I. I haven't been to the country in so long. Vancouver is a very large city I spent most of my time stuck in doors chained to a chair" he laughed but she did not she wasn't amused but glared at him a little.
"Shall I escort you back Hele- Miss Ernest?" he held out his arm she took it reluctantly and said "Yes how is your family back in Owen Sound? Have you seen them?" he sighed "No not yet as I understand mother is well and you must remember my sister Mary Anne?" she nodded "I do she is Alma's age they were close".
"Well she is married now Mrs. Fletcher and I am an uncle to her son Jeremiah. You probably don't know but my father past last year" she looked over sympathetically "I didn't I am sorry" they didn't speak for a couple minutes quietly going down the road back to the Ernest farm. He glanced at her "how come you left and came here?" she began to get anxious but finally she did looking away from him "after you left everyone pitted me. But then mother started to invited friends over with their sons she was trying to match me with one of them. I became angry and rude to many of the guests and the town started to basically shun me socially. I was sick of the place and the attitude. Frank had a affair with a married women and he was forced out of town and he brought me here. I've been happier made friends Mrs. Barclay in particular many respect me here. Not so much Frank as he is not holy rid himself of his rakishness" he bellowed a little "no appears not even though he was a rake I always liked Frank. How is Alma?".
Helen shook her head "unmarried still mama says she silly child. She is very naive and gets into many scrapes and she is wild they say back home" he smirked at her "didn't they used to say you were wild young girl" she smiled "maybe once. But society changes one" he cringed "do you feel it changed you?" he asked. She frowned she stopped walking and looked away she finally answered after a few minutes. "Yes I think so. After you broke our engagement people talked out me all the time. I could not get away from it. It changed me for the worse I became gruff and sullen. I have been changing that these two years since meeting Maud." They continued to walk when Anthony sighed "I apologize Helen for hurting you all those years ago. I hope you can forgive me and we can move past it and become friends." She nodded "of course thank you Anthony" she grinned and he walked her home. After returning to her room she wrote in her diary a little writing
"It is better to be friends than to be nothing at all. I have missed him all these years. If he cannot love me than I rather be his friend. It is better to have in in my life than not at all"
.........
Frank climbed the stairs and knocked on his sisters bedroom door she answered. "What is it?" he smiled "I was wondering if you would come to the general store with me. I don't know what we need for the house and I know you wanted to get some ribbon for your hair" she nodded "alright I will be down in a moment" she began to get ready she had a silly thought what if she saw Anthony that would be good. She hadn't seen him in a week he was busy with his and his cousins new business she had been hoping that Maud would have another dinner and invite him and Mr. Bagnall. She joined her brother in the car and went to the store call Bagnall-Harrison General Store she entered with her brother and went about her business gathering house hold items when she reached the ribbons she was joined by Anthony. "Hello do you need any help with the ribbons" she grinned "yes I plan to buy one but I don't know which" he focused on all the ribbons and answered her "what about the sky blue. I recall it was always your favorite colour and it rather becomes you" she laughed "yes your right I will get it" she went to the register with him when he waved his hand "5 dollars for your items, but the ribbon is on the house" she was perplexed but thanked him he asked "have you received the invitation to the picnic on the Barclay farm yet?" she shook her head "oh well its for tomorrow. Will I see you there" she nodded "yes I've been trying to get Maud to hold such an event for past few weeks. It will be nice to finally have a get together". After Frank urged her to hurry and the next night she was in her room putting on her favorite blue dress she had arranged her hair into a neat bun she rushed downstairs and began to walk to the Barclay farm. She knocked on the door and was greeted by her friend "Helen, thank you for coming Mr. Bagnall and Mr. Harrison are already here. Are you well?" she giggled "Yes Maud I am well how is Miss Elizabeth today?" she greeted the baby on her mother's hip the infant laughed and she was handed over to Helen. "She is getting so big Maud" after speaking those words little Bee Barclay came over the five year girl smiled "Yes as am I Helen" Maud looked over to her step-daughter "of course you are a very big girl". Helen gave the little girl back to her mother and greeted little Bee when Anthony entered the room. He grinned at Helen and the group made their way to the dining room Anthony and Helen sat next to each other and conversed with each other "So how's your business" she asked.
"Its going well. I never thought I would enjoy such a simple life I always thought banking would be my occupation" he uttered.
She stared at him puzzled "do you plan to stay in Sumter?" he nodded "Yes my mother is planning a visit here next week" she cringed while she remembered Estella Harrison a prudish women who forbade her the happiness she so wished those years ago. "How long does she plan to stay?" he frowned "2 weeks".
Anthony gazed at her then asked "Helen will you join me on a walk tomorrow. I do enjoy country walks" she nodded "sure."
"I will call on you at 11?"
"That will be great" she spent the rest of the night talking and laughing with the rest of the party. She was secretly excited for the walk the next day but also dread at soon meeting Estella Harrison again. What would she be like? Disagreeable probably.