Maud woke in the morning Ray was already in the kitchen when she came in with Bee. She cooked breakfast and then they ate in silence. After Ray went to get the car ready and they drove to the Bram farm. "What do you think Irene will do now?" he asked his wife "I know Dr. Sidey has offered a position to her. She will be very happy I think" they arrived and her sister came out of the farmhouse. She ran to her sister and tackled her in a hug "Oh Maudie how I missed you. Wow you look great Bee how have you grown" Bee looked at her aunt and grinned "auntie Irene" she squealed she took her niece from her sister and kissed the child. She handed Bee back to her sister and made her way to Ray "Hello Ray" she hugged him "How are you?" she asked.
He smiled at her "We have been well.What about you I am sure Dr. Sidey is glad to have you as his nurse now" as they walked into the house she sat with her parents Sue and Alfred greeted their younger daughter and son-in low and granddaughter. Irene began to speak "Oh it was wonderful in Toronto. I lived in a small dormtory and made a few friends Toronto is very nice but no place is like dear old Sumter. I missed you all but I am happy to start work with Dr. Sidey tomorrow". Alfred gave her a reproachful look "well I never supported you Irene becoming a nurse but since it has happened my dear I am proud of you" Irene beamed and went over to her father "Thank you Papa" she kissed his cheek. The family talked of the happenings in Sumter while the eldest was away then the Barclays returned home.
Ray went to work the fields when Bee and Maud packed a basket to head to meet new neighbors. Recently the Morgan family sold their farm the elderly couple moved to live with their son in St. Catharine's they new farmer was a man by the name of Francis "Frank" Ernest he moved to the Morgan farm with his older unmarried sister Helen. Maud walked with little Bee dressed in a yellow dress to the farm she knocked on the door. It was answered by 30 year old Helen Ernest she was gruff woman with disheveled blonde hair and wild hazel eyes she glared at the callers "who are you?" she sneered Maud smiled and manage a pleasant face while trying to be nice "I am Mrs. Barclay and this is my daughter Bee we live down the road we made a basket to welcome you to the neighborhood" she handed the basket to Helen meanwhile a man appeared "Helen who is this?" he asked smiling he had blonde hair like his sister but managed nicely he had kind blue eyes Helen answered him "some neighbors that brought a basket to welcome us" she added stiffly.
He smiled at her "Were are our manners I am Frank Ernest and this is my sister Helen. He crouched down to Bee's level and asked "And who is this young lady" the little girl smiled shyly and moved closer to her step mother. Maud held her closer "This Miss Beatrice Barclay, I am Mrs. Barclay" the man stood and bowed "nice to make your acquaintance Miss Beatrice. It is an honour" he spoke in silly stately voice. Bee laughed at the man they were invited into the home and spent an hour in Mr. Ernest's company he proved he was educated man.In conversation Maud learned that the Ernest sibling were from Owen Sound were two among a family of ten on a farm there. The Ernest's had four brothers in Europe fighting in the war another brother to take over their farm Frank bought the farm in Sumter and moved away to start his new life bringing his closet sister in age Helen. During the conversation Maud turned curious "Pardon me but your sister Miss Ernest why is she with you? has never had the notion to marry?" Frank sat in his chair in the parlor with an amused smile "I brought her with me because she is my favorite among my siblings. I was never close with any of my brothers I have 6 six brothers and two sisters. I was always close to Helen . My sister Alma I can't stand her. Helen is good on the inside despite her rough edges. She loved a man once Anthony Harrison was his name. But they had a quarrel and he left for the west. It has made her a more gruff person and I know nothing of Anthony he was a friend of mine" the conversation had come to end when Helen entered the room with tea she was alright hostess except she did not speak of herself she asked few questions of Sumter's society circles . Maud went away with Bee walking down the lane she come to realize she felt sorry for Helen and understood her heartbreak has caused her bitterness towards people. When she arrived back at her own home she place Bee in her crib for a nap and went to clean downstairs when Ray entered "How was your afternoon" he asked she continued sweeping "very well we met with the Ernest's today" Ray stood coldly "The Ernest's did you not hear of Frank Ernest's reputation he is cad" he growled "Why would that matter with me?
"How do you know of this reputation?" he paced "He had to leave Owen Sound apparently due his affair with an married women" she gasped "well he is very kind man and I wish to become friends with Helen Ernest" Ray growled "You have friends why do you want to be friends with someone as disagreeable as Miss Ernest?" Maud's frustration reached her boiling point she snarled "You are being over dramatic Ray" he stood in front of her and walked closer "Your being ridiculous Maud you will see soon enough" and he stormed off.
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A few weeks later Maud received a call from the Ernest's at the Barclay farm. She was walking with Bee, Helen and Frank outside showing her guest her farm. Helen then began to speak on the walk "I must leave I have the dinner to prepare" Frank sighed "come Helen really it can wait" the elder sister shook her head "no I must go and get it ready and I have to clean the house as well" she said her goodbyes and made her way home. Frank stood near the fields by a fencing area. He looked solemnly at Maud and said "I have come to understand that your marriage to Mr. Barclay is not a love match" she was shocked by his forwardness "Yes it is true it was an arrangement ". He looked into her eyes and told her "you must be lonely here. though you have your child it can't be easy being in a loveless marriage" she looked over to her step-daughter she was playing in the field picking flowers she turned toward Frank and declared to him "It began as a loveless marriage but it is not a least on my side I love Ray he is a good man" her companion scoffed and then leaned over her "What are you doing?" she asked distressed he didn't answer her instead trying to kiss her however when he got closer out of know where he jerked back and stumbled to the ground he held his face his nose bleeding.
Ray stood over him and then shouted "get out of here clearly you haven't learned to leave other people's wives alone" the red faced man ran off running out of the Barclay lane. Maud stood frozen and looked at her husband Ray kissed her "I love you Maud. I realized that a while ago I know this marriage wasn't what you wanted do you think you could ever love me?" he asked his face showed how anxious he really was she smiled "Yes I love you Ray. I always will be yours" he kissed her again and then swung her around their daughter ran towards them giggling Ray put his wife down and picked up Bee and kissed her cheek they walked back to the farmhouse both holding the hand of their daughter.