In the Woods When First We Met

14. Connection

Anne shook her head. "I...I insulted his sister. I didn't mean to. Really, I-"

Anne was about to tell Gilbert what she had said about Prissy that had angered Billy so much. But she decided against it.

"I just made him angry," She finished. "It was stupid."

Gilbert said, "He still shouldn't have done it. No matter what you said."

Anne closed her eyes. "I can forget about it. Or at least, I can imagine that I've forgotten it."

Gilbert smiled at that.

Then he said, "It wouldn't be a bad idea to tell our teacher, though. He should know Billy's fighting girls now."

Anne shook her head. "Just leave it. It's over."

They sat in the still quiet for a few minutes.

"I've read about the district of Alberta," Anne finally said. "I've never seen it, though. Did you say you saw the mountains?"

"Yeah," Gilbert responded. "They're giants, giants coming out of the earth. You feel so small when you look at them. So insignificant. It's strange.." His voice trailed off as if he were miles away in thought.

"I'd like to go there someday," Anne said.

"Then you will," Gilbert said, smiling. "You seem like a pretty determined girl."

Anne looked into his eyes. "I know now that dreams can come true. I always dreamed of coming to Prince Edward Island and now I'm here."

"Where were you before?" Gilbert asked, interested in this girl.

"Halifax," Anne responded. "I...I lived with a family...the Hammonds. I cooked for them, cleaned, took care of their children."

"You were a regular little housewife, weren't you? Sounds like a lot of work to me. Did you go to school?"

Anne shook her head. "There wasn't time," she answered.

Gilbert could hear the regret in her voice.

"You'll make up for lost time," he assured her. "Just you wait, you'll be top of the class,"

Anne finally smiled at him, a real smile, because it reached her eyes.

Then she said, "On the other hand, I have a long way to go. Even the little ones are ahead of me now."

"Well, hey, if you ever need help...I'm the guy to ask, okay?"

Anne smiled again.

"Thanks," she said.

They sat there, looking at each other. Something seemed to connect then.

After a moment, Gilbert opened his lunch pail. "Are you hungry?" He asked.

Anne shook her head. "No thank you," she said.

He closed the pail. "All right, we'll wait till lunch time. I just thought you might be hungry now."

She looked down at her own lunch basket, which Gilbert had been carrying. "I've got lunch, you don't have to give up yours for me."

"You may have lunch but you don't have apples from my orchard." He took one out and held it up. "Sweetest apples around. Guaranteed. You'll have to try it later," he grinned at her.

Anne managed a smile.

"So how is it, living with the Cuthberts?" Gilbert asked.

"I like it. I like them. Matthew especially. He's kind. He doesn't talk much, but I can tell he's a kindred spirit."

"A kindred spirit, eh?" Gilbert said. He shifted and rested against the wall. "I like the sound of that."

Anne smiled at him, but she was increasingly aware of her pain.