Welcome to Avonlea

Chapter 17

Anne came in our room quickly. "Anne, what are you doing?" "I need paper." "Why? So you can write so Gilbert of this lie Nate brought up." "It's not a lie." "Then, he should have some gold with him. I read the book too and it seems odd to me that there would be gold in the middle of a farming field." "You don't understand. This can help all of us." "Yes. A hundred and fifty dollars from each landowner. How much money do you think he would get from each of them? Thousands!" "I'm still writing to him. You have to have some paper left." "No. It's why I had to slow my writing down. I'm on my last one until we can go to either Carmody or Charlottetown." She frowned in frustration. "Wait. Maybe Nate has some. If he sent the sample, he had to of wrote a letter." "Anne. We don't even know if this is real. He didn't show anything but a paper saying there's gold here. No sample, nothing." "I'm still going to. What if this will get him to come back? Don't you want him to?" "I do. But not this way, understand false pretenses." She stomped out of the room. I would need to use up what paper I had quickly because I know she'll search for it.

I sighed when I stared at the last page and smiled. Setting it down to dry, I went over to my satchel and was wanting to be ready. Anne was dead set on sending a letter to Gilbert and was willing to do anything. I looked over to her bed and saw the paper from under her pillow. Going over and pulling it out. It had a different feel, thicker than what I used. My fingers ran over it and felt something strange. I lifted to get a better look but couldn't make it out. Going over to the window and holding it up again. My mouth opened a little. A seal was pressed into the paper that said New York City. I thought of Anne going to Nate's room to get a paper. Grabbing one of my own. I left my room listening, he had left some time ago since everyone wanted him to lead the dig sight. I quickly went in and looked around but seeing none of what he would of brought his stuff in. I went to the closet seeing it was partially opened and saw a chest. Kneeling down, I went to open it but stopped seeing the latch was down. Instead of a lock, it was a link to a chain with a string. Looking around and saw it was attached to something. Taking it off carefully not breaking the string, I opened the chest and looked. Seeing the embosser, I took it out and tested it. The results came back just like the paper Anne had. I looked some more and was taken aback. There were other pieces to replace the one in the embosser. Looking at them. There was one for California, Colorado, Ontario. He really was lying. Putting everything back and closing the lid. I carefully put the link back on and made sure the string didn't break and left the room. I needed to talk to Matthew. He'd know what to do.

"Matthew?" I found him in the barn. "Over here Lydia." I walked over to where he was feeding the milking cows. I held out the paper. "What's this?" "Feel here." I moved his other hand over the seal. "What is it?" I looked out the barn doors before moving closer. "You can't give the money to Nate. They're lying. I found a embosser in his room but he had others from other states and one in Ontario." He looked at the paper again then to me. "I know it's not right to go through people's things but... I didn't believe them from the start. I don't trust them." He nodded. "I understand." I looked at him worried. "Really?" "Yes. Now off with you. You have school." I kissed his cheek. "Thank you for believing me." I ran to get to school.

I stopped next to Anne trying to breathe. "Lydia. What took you so long?" "I wanted to speak with Matthew before I left." "About what?" I got my milk out and put it in the stream. "How he's feeling. I'm worried he might get himself too excited about this." "Lydia. Him and Marilla said they didn't want to be part of it. Not at the moment." "But if they do?" "You were so against it at first. You called him a liar." I blinked a few times standing up. "Lydia. What if it's true? We would be set for life." I looked to Diana and saw she looked so hopefull about this. "Fine. I didn't want them or anyone else spending the money until he had physical proof and not a piece of paper." Diana looked at Anne. "What?" "He let her look but didn't see anything. He even described it to her." "Maybe it was a different sample." Anne spoke up. My eyes closed before looking up. "All right. I'll give him the benefit of the doubt, for now." I walked away needing a moment to myself. I paced while thinking but jumped almost screaming seeing a boy staring with wide eyes. I put my hand on my chest. "I'm sorry. You scared me. I didn't know someone was back here." "It's fine." I looked him over. "You must be new. My name's Lydia." "Cole." "Wait a moment." I moved to get a better look and smiled. "Well, you certainly matured. I wouldn't be surprised when I hear the girls during lunch about you." Hearing the bell, I sighed. "Schooling awaits. I'll see you inside." I turned and left him. He seemed nice but I wasn't going to fall for anything a second time.