"There's a baby on the doorstep."
Elizabeth stood and went to the entrance of the school- house. It must be a joke.
But it was real.
The children were reading. "Children, continue to read." And she summoned her oldest. "Henry, can you please do me a favor?"
The baby was sleeping, wrapped in a cloth settled in a wicker basket.
The boy went to her. "Can you please go summon the doctor?"
He nodded and went off while Elizabeth looked down at the little one. She thought it was a girl but she wasn't sure because the baby was so young, probably only a month old.
The students formed around her as she knelt down and tried to look around for any note or piece of paper.
There didn't seem to be one.
A little girl piped up behind her. "Mrs. Thornton, why is there is a baby?"
She turned, concerned. "I don't know Emma. But we will find out."
And like clockwork she saw Jack coming on his horse and he quickly mounted down noticing the children gathered.
"Children, please back up. I don't want to disturb the baby."
At the word baby, Jack rushed the stairs and up to the group.
"Elizabeth?"
She put her hand up to quiet him and she watched him look down.
They knelt across from each other as they observed the little one who was still quietly sleeping.
Jack broke the silence as he whispered, "Whose baby is this?"
She gave him a look and then back down to the baby. "I am not sure. This little one was just dropped here I think."
"Like Moses?"
Leave it to Jack to make a joke. She did crack a smile. "Very funny."
Just then the doctor came up the stairs and the crowd dispersed.
"What do we have here?" as he leaned down and gently lifted the baby.
Elizabeth and Jack both stood, perplexed. "I'm not sure Dr. Harrison. One of my students said there was a baby here and as you see, it's true."
The baby only squirmed a bit and then settled in as the doctor gently looked her over from head to toe.
"Well, I will take her and look her over. Do you know of anyone that would do this?"
Elizabeth smiled as the sex of the baby and shook her head. "I'm sorry I don't."
And then Jack interjected. "I will do my own investigation."
The doctor nodded as he rocked the baby, smiling. "Ok thank you."
"I will walk with you to the office." He looked back to Elizabeth and followed the doctor out, picking up the basket.
Elizabeth gathered the children once again but remained preoccupied with the thoughts of the little one.
When school let out, she went right to the office where she found the doctor sitting at his desk.
"Oh Mrs. Thornton I didn't expect to see you."
"Um, well I wanted to check in on the baby and make sure everything is all right."
The old man took off his glasses and walked around to her. "Oh she's in perfect health. Now we just have to figure out who may have left her."
Elizabeth shouldn't have asked but she had thought about it. "Does she have a place to go?"
The doctor chuckled and led her to the small room. "My wife and I plan on taking her for the time being."
She was disappointed but she understood. "Oh of course."
He noticed. "Would you wish to take her?"
The question stunned her but as she looked down at the sleeping baby in the cradle, she thought of nothing else.
She looked back. "Really?"
He laughed and gently rubbed her stomach. "I have no objections. Your husband might be surprised but I trust he will come around."
Then it was settled. She signed a paper and gently lifted the baby in her arms. And it was wonderful.
The sun was going down as she went back outside, the baby wrapped in a few blankets, as she found herself moving slowly as ever because she didn't want to wake her.
As she reached Abigail's café she found it to be quiet which she was thankful for.
A woman opened the door for her and she slowly made her way to the back to find Abigail taking out some muffins.
And when she saw her she went wide-eyed. "My heavens, is that a baby you have?"
Elizabeth chuckled and looked down again. "It would be."
She quickly went to her and looked down. "She is gorgeous. Jack told me she was dropped off at the school house."
"She was."
Both women looked down at they cooed over the baby as Jack entered, confused.
"Elizabeth is….that?"
Abigail smiled and quickly made her way towards the customers.
He went over to her and looked down. "That's a baby."
She shushed him gently and nodded. "You cracked the case."
He chuckled and gently touched the blanket, fixing it.
They shared a quick kiss and both looked down at the sleeping beauty in front of them.
"I will go get some things from the doctor."
She looked up at him as she cradled her. "Thank you."
He smiled, touched the baby's head for a moment and then left.
Abigail helped Elizabeth prepare some milk and some puree foods that she could give the infant.
When Jack returned a bit later, the baby was awake and making noises. Abigail was holding her while Elizabeth was eating a quick meal.
"Hello my favorite ladies."
They smiled as he took the bag off his shoulder and sat down. "I assumed we might need these."
He pulled out a few bottles and Elizabeth gasped. "Perfect!"
Immediately she went and filled them while Jack sat with Abigail, looking down at the awoken baby.
"She's been a perfect angel. She's only fussed once."
He smiled and watched as her eyes looked around. "Elizabeth and I have a lot of learning to do."
Abigail smiled and rocked her. "You will be just fine…plus you have a whole town that will help."
"You are right about that."
As Jack looked down at her, he couldn't help but feel the connection to the little one.
Abigail noticed his smiling eyes and the gentle touches he would give. "I think it's your turn."
He looked at Abigail and watched her gently place her in Jack's arms.
Jack quickly wrapped her up as he smiled down at her, gently tickling her stomach. "Hi baby girl. I'm Jack. You are so beautiful."
As Elizabeth came back into the café, she smiled and felt on the verge of tears as she watched Jack with the baby. She sat down quietly and handed Jack the warm bottle.
"She might be hungry."
Jack took the bottle and gently put it to her lips and in an instant she took it and the three of them laughed.
"Someone is hungry!"
When the baby was finished, Jack gently lifted her over his shoulder and patted her back. Elizabeth gently touched the baby's hand.
"Hi pretty girl…who's the pretty girl?"
When they heard a burp, Jack gently placed her back on her back and wrapped her up while Elizabeth played with her feet.
"So I assume you might need some clothes for the little one?"
They looked at Abigail almost forgetting she was there. "Oh Abigail please don't trouble yourself."
She quickly got up. "No trouble. Besides I never got to make any girl's clothes. There's nothing more than to make a few pretty dresses."
They both smiled. "If you insist."
Just then the baby started to cry so Jack stood and rocked the baby back and forth.
"Jack, maybe we should get home and get settled. We still have to figure out who is going to take her since we both work."
At the comment, Abigail jumped in. "Bring her here. We can have a few ladies watch her while you both figure out a plan."
They looked at each other. "This almost seems too easy."
Abigail laughed as she bagged up some biscuits and cookies. "It takes a village to raise a child."
She handed Elizabeth the bags and gave her a hug. "Thank you Abigail, for everything."
"You can come by anytime tomorrow. I will be here."
They nodded as Abigail kissed the baby's cheek even though she was unhappy.
Jack kissed Abigail's cheek and left the café, just as it was starting to get dark.
With the bag slung over Elizabeth's shoulder, they made the walk back to the house.
The baby had settled so when they entered it was quiet.
Quickly Elizabeth put the bag on the table and Jack went to the other room. With Elizabeth right behind him, she gasped.
The room was all prepared with the cradle and the small dresser. There was even a lamp and blankets.
"Jack how did you have the time to do this?"
Rocking the baby back and forth, he smiled. "I work fast when needed."
The baby's cry broke them from the moment and they both looked down. "I think she needs to be changed."
Elizabeth agreed as they gently laid her on the table and pulled out the flannel diapers the doctor had given them.
Once the baby had been changed and fed again, they sat on their bed and let the baby move around and play.
"Jack, are we going to give her a name?"
He looked up and sighed. "I have to do an investigation. I don't know what I'm going to find."
She nodded and sat down next to him, gently rubbing his back and making sounds at the baby. "It's like God sent her to us. I…"
She trailed off and he looked at her. "I know. God will give us a baby. For now we take care of her but we need to keep our distance."
"Jack I already feel…" He interrupted her. "Me too. She's an angel."
They watched for a little while longer till she went to sleep. Jack gently scooped her up and carried her to the next room and put her down in the cradle.
He watched her for a little while longer before he left and went back to the bedroom where Elizabeth was in bed, writing.
He got in beside her and settled in, watching her write. "I always wonder what you write in that."
She looked to him and smiled. "Keep wondering."
He laughed and kissed her cheek, shuffling down the bed and placing his head on the pillow.
"If she cries, I will get up first."
She smiled and closed the journal. "Thank you. Goodnight my love."
She turned off the light and the room was dark. She settled in beside him and rubbed his arm for a moment before turning to her side.
Both of them got up a few times to feed and change her. By the time the early morning came around, they were both pretty tired.
Jack made a warm bottle while Elizabeth got ready for school.
She emerged and went to get the baby where they put her in a too big flannel dress.
Jack laughed when she came out of the room. "I think she's going to need some new clothes."
She gave him a look and took the bottle from him. "Thank you for your astute observation."
He kissed her on the lips and went to change.
When he emerged Elizabeth had her wrapped in a blanket and the bag by the door.
"I can drop her off this morning and can you check on her at lunch?"
He nodded, grabbing the bag and hat by the door. "Of course."
They exchanged a smile before walking down the path to the main road, where he left her, helping her with the bag.
"Be good today."
He kissed her forehead and then his wife before heading to the jail.
Elizabeth took a little while to leave Abigail's and realized she would be late. As Abigail wrapped her and fed her a bottle, she shooed Elizabeth and she left reluctantly.
As the children filed in to school, Elizabeth gave them smiles and a few hugs. The first lesson was spelling and Elizabeth found it hard to concentrate and the students noticed.
"Mrs. Thornton you aren't listening."
She turned and smiled. "I'm sorry Emma, what was that?"
The girl laughed. "You already asked us how to spell those words. You asked Jake to recite them."
She shook her head and nodded. "You are correct Emma. I'm sorry."
"Are you ok Mrs. Thornton?"
She smiled and went around the desk. "I'm am. Sorry children, I didn't get much sleep last night."
Ryan raised his hand. "Was it the monsters?"
Elizabeth laughed and went over to him. "No honey, Mr. Thornton and I are taking care of the baby that was left here and she cried a lot."
Ryan smiled and the girls giggled. "Are you going to keep her?"
She stood and addressed the group again. "No girls. We are just keeping her for just a little while."
At the thought Elizabeth grew sad but kept it to herself. It was then the boys jumped up. "Time for lunch!"
She smiled again and nodded. "So it is. Ok, children, be safe and have fun!"
With the classroom empty, she cleared the blackboard and started to prepare the next lesson plans when a Mountie came through her door.
"Afternoon Mrs. Thornton."
She smiled and noticed he had a special bundle in his hands.
"Afternoon. What do you have here?"
He approached slowly and looked down. "I thought you might like a visit from your two favorite people."
She smiled and took the baby from his arms. "Wonderful!"
The baby cooed and she gently rocked her back and forth while Jack fixed her blanket. "Her eyes seem to get bigger by the minute."
He looked down and agreed. "They are so blue. Makes me think of the ocean."
Elizabeth gently slung the baby over her shoulder and rubbed her back while Jack made funny faces on the other side.
The baby responded with a wail of joy and babbling. They both laughed and then the kids started to shuffle back in. "Already time for afternoon lessons."
Gently Jack took her and suddenly there was an audience around them. "Hello children. Mountie Jack was just leaving."
One of the little girls piped up. "Mrs. Thornton and Mountie Jack, can we see her?"
Jack smiled and gently lowered her to their level. "Now be gentle, she's very little."
The girls cooed and gently touched the baby's feet while the boys went to their seats.
"Ok children, Mountie Jack has to take the little girl back to Abigail's cafe. She will come back for a visit."
The girls nodded and went back to their seats while Jack smiled at Elizabeth and gently raised the baby's hand. "Bye Mrs. Thornton."
She laughed and watched the two of them leave.
By the time the day ended Elizabeth was exhausted. The boys got rowdy and the girls were talking to each other so much that Elizabeth didn't feel like she got much done.
As she dismissed them, she said her goodbyes and made sure they had their folders with their homework, all while trying to prepare for the next day as fast as she could so she could head straight to Abigail's.
She finished in record time and headed over to Abigail's to find a small group of women in the corner huddled.
Mrs. Lawson looked up. "There she is."
The group of women turned and smiled. Elizabeth took a seat.
"I hope she wasn't too much trouble."
The women all smiled and looked down. "Not one bit. She was a perfect angel."
Elizabeth smiled and looked up when Abigail came in. "Oh hello Elizabeth. These group of women decided to take over and take care of this little one."
They all laughed and helped Abigail put the cups on the table.
A little while later after the women dispersed and the baby changed and sleeping quietly in Abigail's arms, Elizabeth made some soup and sat quietly.
It was dusk when Jack entered. He looked worn down but his face lit up when he saw them sitting on the sofa.
"Evening."
He sat in the big chair and Elizabeth quickly stood. "Would you like some soup?"
He nodded as she gently squeezed his arm as she passed by.
"Long day Jack?"
He nodded and moved next to Abigail so he could look at the little one as he touched one of her feet. "It was. But it's better now."
They exchanged smiles and Elizabeth came back with his soup. "Sorry it's a little cold."
He smiled. "That's fine." And then he moved away from the baby so he wouldn't spill any of the soup.
"So Jack I know this isn't a happy subject but any leads on who dropped this little girl off?"
He took a few sips. "Not yet. I have put up flyers and sent telegrams to all the nearby towns. It might be awhile before we hear anything."
Elizabeth hated to think it but she knew she had to be realistic but she said nothing but she felt Abigail's hand on hers. "It's God plan to what happens."
She looked up and nodded. "I know."
When Elizabeth and Jack got back to the house, they changed her and fed her and Elizabeth sung to her while she rocked her back to sleep.
Jack watched and smiled as she put her down gently. He came over and wrapped his arm gently around her waist and pulled her close as they both looked down.
"She's perfect isn't she?"
She leaned into him and nodded. "Jack, I already"
He cut her off softly. "I know. Me too. Let's get some sleep. She will be getting us up soon enough."
Elizabeth chuckled and they both went to bed, tired but happy. He wrapped his arms around her and whispered, "I love you" in her ear.
They both awoke a few times, Jack first and then Elizabeth. She settled down soon after and when the sun came up, Elizabeth was wide awake, making eggs.
Jack entered the kitchen, sleepy and hair a mess. She laughed and went to him, smoothing his hair. "What are you doing up?"
She went back to the stove and poured the eggs on a plate. "I know it's early but I couldn't get back to sleep. I have a bottle warming."
He sat down and ate his eggs at a frenzied pace. "Glad I made extra."
He looked up. "Sorry."
She smiled and put more eggs on another plate. "Don't apologize. I'm just glad it's Saturday."
Just then a cry pierced the room and Jack stood while Elizabeth reached for the bottle. "Thank you."
Jack fed her and changed her before he put on a white shirt and blue shorts. They were a little big but they worked. Elizabeth cleaned the kitchen as he did so and then the three of them sat outside on the small porch in the rocking chairs, watching the sun -rise.
"Beautiful day."
He reached for her free hand as she held the baby in her lap.
It was quiet for a moment before Elizabeth spoke. "Jack, would it be horrible if we gave her a name?"
He looked to her, feeling a bit nervous but hopeful. "I would like that."
They spent the next hour trying to decide on a name while sharing some laughs and some passionate no's.
"Irene?"
She nodded an emphatic no.
"Edna?"
He laughed. "Not on my list."
The baby started to fuss so Jack took her and she settled down again.
"What is your mother's middle name?"
He rubbed the baby's back while he rocked. "Rose."
She looked out on the land and smiled. "I like that."
He agreed. "I do too."
Elizabeth paused and then looked to Jack intently. "Rose Marie."
He chuckled. "I think we have a winner."
She gasped in excitement and looked over to see the little girl fidgeting happy in Jack's arms. "Hello Rose Marie."