Mrs. Rachel Lynde, formerly of Lynde’s Hollow, just where the main road to Avonlea dipped low, skirted by alders and a small burbly brook, which ran nearby and then coursed through the leafy woods of her youth. Mrs. Rachel Lynde, formerly of Green Gables, where that capable lady had resided with her dearest friend, Marilla Cuthbert, until her untimely death several years ago, and assisted in the raising of two orphaned children, the adorable Dora and exasperating Davy Keith. Mrs. Rachel Lynde, currently a resident of the Rose Cottage, co-existing with her childhood friend-cum-nemesis-cum-kindred spirit (if indeed Mrs. Rachel believed in kindred spirits, which Anne Shirley-Blythe seemed to endlessly natter on about, even as a young woman, married proper), Henrietta King. Mrs. Rachel Lynde, notable housewife, pillar of the Church Aid Society and Foreign Missions Auxiliary, unofficially acknowledged leader of the ladies Sewing Circle and of the Avonlea Church Sunday school, mother of grown children, grandmother of many, widow of Thomas Lynde. Mrs. Rachel Lynde, known far and wide as a most capable creature, with the amazing ability to manage her own concerns and those of other folks in the bargain, and proud to pronounce that she had no tact and was well know for that, now found herself in the most remarkable conundrum. Mrs. Rachel Lynde had a suitor.

Of all things bright and beautiful, Hetty had taken off for parts unknown, so unannounced and unprecedented as to leave the entire town with wagging tongues. Not alone, mind you, no. Hetty had dragged her niece Felicity King, on the very advent of her wedding to banker Stuart McRae, along on this suspect journey to South Carolina. Although Mrs. Rachel herself knew full and well that it was not necessarily Hetty dragging Felicity as it were. It seems as though a specter of the past had come to haunt the perceived future happiness of Miss Felicity King from the deep Caribbean brine. Gus Pike may or may not be alive. Rachel kept a fevered prayer that he was indeed alive and that Felicity, Gus and the errant Hetty would soon make their return home.

Rachel found herself in the unusual position of needing advice.

It began as a day no different than any other late spring Avonlea day. The sun rose, birds sang, and the tide began to roll outwards toward the vast sea, surrounding Prince Edward Island, the jewel of the Maritime Provinces.

Mrs. Rachel Lynde arose early, as was her custom for near 50 odd years, although she'd never admit to such a number. Bustling about the kitchen of Rose Cottage, she efficiently set the kettle on for tea, and went about making the toasted bread to go with Mrs. Barry's special rhubarb jelly. Reaching behind the old pie safe, she felt for the wire contraption hanging so clandestine on a hook set for that very purpose.

Using the bread toasting invention, created by her brother-in-law, Jasper, never quite set well, with Hetty King, and yet it always seemed to manage to toast both sides of the bread a warm and even brown, in Rachel's estimation.. As soon as the jelly was spread on the bread, now deemed the exact acceptable shade one would desire of toasted bread, and not to far after the tea kettle set about making its protesting whistle, Rachel Lynde set about to the business of breaking her fast.

It was quiet for the moment, in another hour that young hellion Davy would be up and 'Wanting to know' far into the day.

The Courting of Mrs. Rachel
A short story, written in the tradition of Lucy Maud Montgomery and based on her characters from the ‘Anne’ and ‘Avonlea’ novels; and also the characters of Sullivan Entertainments television series, “Road to Avonlea”.
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