SEPTEMEBER 25, 1861

Javier was sitting at a table in the Silver Spoon watching his wife work. Even though Serena and Daniel said that she could go back to work, she wasn't supposed to be carrying heavy items. Javier knew that Charlie wouldn't let Lilly hurt herself, but he still felt the need to watch over her, and Charlie didn't mind. He understood.

Javier over heard some people talking about orphans and inquired about them. He found out that Kathleen was watching them all until they found out what to do. He was also informed about the situation with the abuse.

When he told Lilly, they decided that they would go and see the children. If one or two wanted to live with them, they would see about adopting. They told Simon about their plans, and he decided to go along.

After arriving at the schoolhouse and informing Kathleen why they were all there, the schoolteacher took them to see the children. Kathleen picked up a one month old baby that she had taken a shine to. "I intend to keep her if the judge will let me. Her name is

Susanna, but if I can legally adopt her, I will name her Kathleen Susanna."

After talking with all of the children, and finding out some of their backgrounds, Lily realized that she might be able to help some of the girls. One of the little girls' parents had been killed in a fire. She couldn't imagine how horrifying it was for the little girl, Sarah Michelle, to see her family burn right before her eyes. She also felt sorry for Anne Marie who had seen her mother killed by her boss.

Javier thought it was awful that Earc Joseph's mother, who had been a saloon girl, had been killed by a jealous lover, and it sadden both Javier and Lilly that the others didn't even know who their parents were; Rhonda Maghan and Thomas Gatalyn, and of course the two infants.

After getting to know them and after a brief discussion, Lilly and Javier figured that they could only take a few children instead of all of them like they had wanted to. So they let the children decide who would come live with them until the trial. Except Lilly and Javier did decide to take in the two infants, a baby girl and a baby boy.

Aslan Gbriele, who was ten years old, chose Simon to live with. Simon thought Javier had turned out pretty good, and maybe he could help this youngin' to become a good man, so he would try and adopt him.

As all of them headed out of the schoolhouse, Charlie and Grace arrived.

"Aw, this is my day for visitors, good afternoon Grace, Charlie," Kathleen stated. Simon, Javier and Lilly greeted the newlyweds, too, before ushering everyone into the wagon.

On the way home with all the children crowded into the back of the wagon, with Lilly holding the baby girl, and Javier holding the baby boy, Simon drove with Aslan seated beside him. Simon grinned as he heard his son and daughter-in-law discussing names for the babies. Finally, Lilly and Javier came to an agreement on naming the little girl baby, Lilly Anne, but they would call her Anne. As for the baby boy, they were thinking about calling him Peter. Simon Peter would be his legal name.

Meanwhile back at the schoolhouse, "We've heard about some children who could use a good home." Charlie told Kathleen.

"Well, you've come to the right place." She told them.

Earlier that day Charlie and Grace had seen a boy and girl together walking around town, and Sheriff Teaspoon had informed them that they were brother and sister, that their parents had been killed, and along with some other orphans, they were now staying at the schoolhouse until something was figured out.

"Uncle Teaspoon told us about them," Grace said.

"We saw the two twins who are sixteen. Teaspoon said they are the perfect age to be apprentices, but too old to be adopted." Charlie trailed behind the ladies as they entered the schoolhouse.

"That's true. They're names are Adriane and Paul. They are sixteen, but they look more like thirteen year olds. I guess it's because they grew up in an orphanage. They probably weren't treated as well as they should have been. Adriane, Paul, would you come here, please. This is Charlie and Grace Montgomery."

Kathleen left them alone for a while, and after Charlie and Grace talked with the duo they found out that the boy wanted to own a restaurant, and the girl wanted to be a seamstress, so they decided that the twins could come live with them and learn the trade. When

Kathleen joined them, they told her that they would like to make a good home for the twins, and she was happy for them. She had feared that no one would want to look after the twins since they were almost adults, but now here were the Montgomery's alleviating that fear.