Sundays, no matter the season's threats, always seemed warmer. Snow could be flying outside but come Sunday all elements seemed to pay their dues. Pleasant sat quietly next to her cousin through the service. Her aunt and uncle sat apart from Margaret who preferred it that way. There wasn't a moment during the service that some man or another wasn't looking at her.

As the service ended Pleasant found Alice and Margaret-Gay. Margaret-Gay of course was talking in a halo of men while Alice stood by offering kind smiles. When she saw Pleasant approaching she embraced her.

"It's becoming so embarrassing," she said resting a hand on her growing stomach. "I wish the weather were warmer. At least then I could take walks in the evening. I only ever get out on Sundays anymore."

"You look lovely, Alice," Pleasant said. "I apologize; I have been meaning to come visit you."

"Oh don't you worry yourself with that," Alice said. "You have the school to manage. I'm a mother and I know how busy children can keep you. Minas wants to hire a nanny but I want to raise my own children. Espen says it makes me seem common." The two woman looked at the man laughing with his peers. "Any advise."

Pleasant shrugged as she watched Espen tell a joke. "A box...a ship...an unknown address..."

Alice laughed, her hazel eyes sparkling. "For shame on you, Pleasant!" she said. "I didn't know you could be so cruel." She tucked a loose strand of her dark hair behind her ear. "Stranger things have happened."

"Yes," Pleasant said remembering what she had seen that night on the road. "Alice do you—"

"Schoolmaster!" Alice beamed.

Pleasant turned around as Baldwin approached them. "Afternoon, sir."

"Though we shouldn't call you that anymore with your new position," Alice said.

"It is fine until my replacement arrives," Baldwin said. "The snow is thawing on Moon Thread Hill. The first sign of spring."

"Minas has promised to take Netty, Bonnie and me on the first carriage ride," Alice said. "I know I usually go on about how much I love winter but I am awaiting spring. It can't come soon enough."

"I agree," Pleasant said. "I mean to take my students out to Stags Pond to watch the ice break and teach them about nature."

Baldwin smiled and shook his head. "You always come up with such creative ways of education."

"In my opinion sir, knowledge is a great satisfaction," Pleasant said.

Baldwin grinned. "I think I'll be quoting you to my great grandchildren when I'm, old," he said. He turned from them as Margaret approached still giddy from her male company. "But why Stags Pond? Collect Lake thaws the soonest."

"That poor excuse for a lake?" Margaret cut in. "The pond at the Purefoy's is much more lovely. Of course the house where Henry is moving doesn't have a pond. Never mind I can always have one dug."

Baldwin laughed. "Hawk Pond is near enough to you at Tucker House, Miss. Singer," he said. "And the best part is it freezes solid enough to skate one so you'll have some privacy while everyone else is on Collect."

"Well there is one thing I shall miss about winter," Pleasant said.

Margaret rolled her eyes as the conversation turned boring again. "Say," she said. "Wasn't it a certain someone who taught you to ice-skate?" she nodded to Baldwin.

"Right," he said. "I remember it was I who taught you."

Margaret laughed. "Yes, she was all legs then and spent more time on her face and backside then she did on her feet. But she's an expert now." She batted her eyes. "She had a good teacher."

Pleasant suppressed the urge to glare at her cousin. "As I did winter I shall appreciate spring," she said. "I forget each year how beautiful Moon Thread Hill is when the wild flowers bloom. When the trees of Amber Forest recover from autumn's flame and the baby animals play in the pasture at the farm. Nestled here in Natt Fristad is a true paradise. And the view of the stars from the lake—"

Margaret laughed. "That is quite enough, Pleasant no one wants to hear of stars and such, you're talking to an heir and an heiress. Oh, and that reminds me, the gazebo in the park is in terrible shape I think we need a new one."

Alice looped arms with Pleasant and left Baldwin to suffer under Margaret. "Trust me he can handle himself," she said when Pleasant looked back. "Just to let you know I am sending my own box to your class charity."

"Thank you, Alice!" Pleasant beamed. "I thought certainly you'd go with the boys' school."

Alice shrugged. "Just because I am a Monhollen now, doesn't mean this Walkup forgets where she got her education," she said. "Besides, Espen always gives money."

"There's my wife!" Minas said as he made his way toward them down the pews. "Are you ready to go, Alice?"

"Yes, dear," Alice said taking her husband's arm. "I'll talk to you later, Pleasant, enjoy the rest of your Sunday."

"Take care," Pleasant called after the couple. She looked around the church taking count of her students. When she felt someone hug her from behind she turned around. "Mamie, I am so glad to see you!"

Mamie grinned. "Mrs. Berry says I can have Sundays off now," she said. "Mr. Monhollen was by the other day and he said that no one has the right to keep another from Jesus. Can I fetch your coat, Miss?"

Pleasant took Mamie's hand. "Why don't we fetch our coats together," she said leading her over to the closet. She quickly selected her coat and stepped out so Mamie could get hers. "There is no one else inside," she said when the girl hesitated.

"I don't need to go in," Mamie said. "I don't have a coat."

Pleasant frowned. "But what about the coat you have been wearing to school."

"Oh, I hung too near the fire and it got burned up," Mamie said. "Mrs. Berry says I can't have another until next year."

"The nerve of that woman," Pleasant mumbled. "Well we can't have you cold, Mamie."

Mamie smiled. "I'll be fine, Miss. Day," she said. "Everyone says spring is coming."

Pleasant forced a smile then stepped outside with Mamie following her.

"May I come over and visit with Polaris later?" Mamie asked.

Pleasant paused at the horse and looked down at the thirteen year old. "Don't you want to rest?"

"I like you and Polaris a lot more than rest, Miss. Day," Mamie said petting the horse. "He's my one true friend."

Pleasant smiled. "Mine as well," she said and climbed into the saddle.

"I'm going to be a fine lady, just like you some day," Mamie said.

Pleasant paused as she gathered the reins. "You said Mrs. Berry gave you the day off?" she asked and Mamie nodded. She climbed down from the saddle and took the reins over Polaris' head. "Climb on."

Mamie's brown eyes grew big. "You want me to get up there?" she asked. "But it's so high."

"It only looks that way," Pleasant said. "It's like...it's like...ice-skating! It's one of those things you have to get used to."

Mamie approached slowly. "I don't know..."

Pleasant bent down. "There is nothing to be afraid of, Mamie," she said. "You remember that Polaris is your friend. He'll protect you."

"He will?"

"Yes."

"Honest?"

"I promise it," Pleasant said. "A lot of people don't know it but this horse saved my life once. It's why I could never give him up."

Mamie looked down at her worn boots then looked up at the horse. "I think I'm ready."

Pleasant smiled and helped the girl into the saddle, helping her get her legs in the right place. "Now keep your balance."

"You're going to walk all the way back to Heliotrope Row?" Mamie asked in astonishment.

Pleasant laughed and looked back at her. "It's not too far," she said. "Besides whenever I have a great journey ahead of me I let my imagination take wind. We are pioneers heading west. If you look to your left you can see buffalo roaming."

Mamie squinted her eyes. "Miss. Day, all I see is Stag's Meadow and the old tamarack."

Pleasant laughed. "Imagination, Mamie!"

Mamie giggled. "Oh I see. There is a really big reddish one at the front. They don't look too friendly."

"Buffalo never are," Pleasant said. "We'd best take caution. And remember to keep quiet else you'll cause a stampede."

"We wouldn't want that!" Mamie laughed. "We'd be crushed."

"Indeed," Pleasant said as they reached the road. "Look out for the eagle. He just may be strong enough to carry you away."

"No, Polaris will protect me!" Mamie said. "But wolves may be too much for him." The two continued on their exposition laughing and spinning wild animals out of logs and stones.

From the doorway of the church Baldwin and Havelock watched them go.

"I have to hand it to you, brother," Havelock said. "I haven't seen students like their teacher since we were children. Most of them have never stayed on this long."

"Then I made the right choice in the end, then."

Havelock snorted. "Don't brag about it," he said. "Well I'd better get back to the farm."

"You won't come to dinner at Mother's?" Baldwin asked as his brother descended the steps.

"I can't," he said. "The animals will need to be fed and there is yet a ton of work to be done."

Baldwin nodded. He knew how dinner at their parents' could go when Espen was in a mood and for some reason it was always Espen and Havelock that had the row. "Take care," he called after him and Havelock gave a wave. He turned back to the road where Pleasant and Mamie were and smiled. Yes, he had made a good decision.