When Mabel returned to town that evening, it had just fallen dark. She settled Abby down for the night and walked along the deserted street towards the Boarding house. As she approached Confederation Hall she heard the sound of voices. The teacher stopped and listened. It was Mrs. Radway's town meeting. She heard one angry man yell "I won't be sending MY children to school corporal !" Then she could hear Clive's voice, but it was softer and much harder to make out his words. Mabel knew he was trying to calm the crowd and reason with them.
Hearing footsteps approaching from behind she turned to see marshal Craddock, "Maybe you should say somethin' ", he suggested.

"Not much point is there marshal ? They seem to have made up their minds about me." she said, looking down at the road.

Jack was feeling sorry for her, "How 'bout I buy you a coffee ?"

Mabel hesitated for a moment, then looking up into his eyes, she was forced to agree. She needed a friend, and she supposed Jack Craddock was the only one she had right now. They walked in silence to the saloon. It was almost empty, with the exception of five cowboys in the middle of a heated game of poker. Walking past the bar Jack ordered "Two coffee's Zack ." They continued to the back of the room.

Mabel seated herself facing the door. Jack sat himself beside her. At first she thought it a bit forward, then she realized the marshal's reason's were the same as her own. Mabel never sat with her back to the door.

They sat in silence until Zack brought the coffee. "Ma'am, I just want you to know that my wife Diane and I think this whole thing is wrong. Why...if we had children we'd be pleased to have you teachin' 'em."

"Thank you Mr. Denny." Mabel smiled." I don't suppose you'd have a job for me here ?"

Both men seemed surprised at her question. Mabel explained that she would probably be looking for new employment. They knew she was probably right. Joanna Radway had a way of stirring things up and turning the entire town on it's ear.

"Clive'll make 'em see reason." Jack assured her. "When that mountie gets ta talkin' he could bore a fella inta agreein' with 'im."

Jack and Mabel spent the next hour alone, talking. The marshal figured she was like two different people. Soft as a woman when she wanted to be, tough as a man when she had to be. He discovered that Mabel was one of three daughters born to a white father and a metis mother. She was dark complected, like her mother, and she had the desire to be like her mother's people. As a young girl, the Metis accepted her, the whites did not. During her time at Normal College when she was getting her teaching certificate it had been easy to fool people. They had accepted her, but only because they didn't know. The trouble between Mabel and her father started when she returned to Battleford to teach. He was a lawyer, at first for the Hudson Bay Company and then for the British ruled Canadian government. Her friend Gabriel Couteau was involved in the Metis uprising and much to Samuel Nestor's disappointment, Mabel supported the cause. She accused her father of being ashamed of his wife, and his daughters. Mabel remembered how her mother sat quietly during the arguement, that was her way. The husband was right, the wife's place was to always agree. She knew the mounted police were searching for Metis, many were shot without trial. So she decided to leave with Gabriel that night, her heart belonged with her friend, and if he were to die she felt her place was beside him.
They travelled the Carlton Trail to Edmonton with about 400 other Metis who were running from the North West Mounted Police. During their travels there had been a number of confrontations with bounty hunters. It was the first and only time Mabel had killed a man, of course she didn't tell this to Jack Craddock, nor did she mention Gabriel's part in the uprising, friend or not, Craddock was still a lawman.

They were drinking their third cup of coffee when Clive Bennett and Marie Dumont entered the saloon. Jack knew by their faces that the news wasn't good.

Clive removed his hat and pulled out a chair for Marie, both avoided eye contact with Mabel. Zack returned with more coffee and waited to hear the news. "Mabel, I'm sorry. I tried to reason with them, but they have some very strong opinions. I'm afraid Mrs. Radway has won."

Rising from her chair, Mabel walked across the room and out the door without saying good night to anyone.

"Is that it Bennett? She looses her job just like that?"Jack asked angrily. "I thought you told me you could handle Mrs. Radway on yer own ?"

Marie intercepted the question, "They held a vote Jack, it isn't Clive's fault." With a look of concern on her face Marie continued, "I think I'll go talk to Mabel."

She found the young woman in her room, packing. Sally Duffield was there as well, trying to console her.

"You don't have to leave right away Miss Nestor, you're paid up 'til the end of the week. Who knows, maybe you'll find another job before then." Mabel continued to remove her clothes from the wardrobe.

"Where will you go ?" Marie asked.

Mabel stopped and gave the question some thought. "I don't know, with Gabriel I suppose."

Jack and Clive were still at the saloon. "It ain't right corporal, they didn't even give 'er a chance."

"I know Jack, I wish there was something I could do." Pushing himself away from the table, Clive placed his hat on his head, and said goodnight. He would have to write a letter to the officials in Edmonton and inform them that Bordertown would need another teacher, Mabel Nestor was unacceptable.