What is Marriage? Hello decided to continue our favorite couple's story with this quick chapter. ...more to come...hope you like it !
Jack and Elizabeth stood in the doorway of the café, happy to be back on familiar ground and welcomed by Abigail. As they all caught up on their trip and town news, Abigail couldn't help notice that every time Elizabeth walked past Jack, he reached out to her and she would place her hand on him. There were smiles, looks, winks between them that were new, personal, held a private meaning just between the two of them, a special connection now in place and it was wonderful to witness. Abigail smiled, feeling satisfied that they had found and discovered each other and all was well.
Jack touched Elizabeth's arm, "I'll walk over to the store to see if there is any mail, I'll be right back," he lingered for a moment.
Elizabeth hesitated, "Oh…okay, I'll wait here for you and then we can…go…"
"Home…" Jack finished her sentence, smiled and headed out the door.
Elizabeth looked at the closed door.
"Ahh, it will be hard to be apart now," Abigail said, recognizing Elizabeth's feelings. "I'm happy to see you and your husband seem to be off to a good start."
Elizabeth sighed deeply, "Yes, a wonderful start," she pulled nervously at her fingers, "everything you told me…before…well, you were right, being married is wonderful and Jack is…he's so… kind…loving…I couldn't be happier."
Abigail grabbed her hands, "I knew it would be that way for you…both of you. And your beautiful jewelry, a gift from your husband?"
Elizabeth touched her sapphire necklace, "Yes, one night the earrings, another night the necklace…he's so thoughtful."
Abigail's hands slapped her sides, "Thoughtful? The man is head over heels in love and I'm sure he thought that blue matched your eyes."
Elizabeth nodded and giggled.
Jack made a quick stop at the jail, Bill slapped Jack's back, "Things are good between you and Elizabeth."
"Yes, couldn't be better," Jack smiled, "she's wonderful…" he blushed.
Bill laughed, "Well, of course, she's married to you isn't she!"
Jack shrugged, "Yeah…but I mean ...well, it's more than that. She …" he looked away.
"She likes being married?" Bill understood.
Jack nodded.
"Good, she's a special woman," Bill slapped Jack on the back again.
"I better get the mail and get back to her," Jack nodded and left the jail.
Jack entered the store, greeted Ned and was pleased to find out there was no mail.
"I trust you and Miss Thatcher had a nice trip?" Ned commented.
"Ah, yes, Mrs. Thornton and I had a wonderful trip, good day Ned." Jack laughed, turned and bumped into someone at the counter, "Excuse me Ma'm."
"Ma'm? You mean Miss," the woman turned to Ned, "what day is busiest around here?"
Jack looked to Ned, who responded to the woman, "Miss Ardell, I wouldn't say we have a busy day, would you Constable?"
Jack looked from Ned to the woman, "No, well perhaps Saturday is a busiest day, Miss…Ardell. I'm Constable Thornton."
"Hello, very nice to meet you," she offered her hand.
Jack gently shook it, "Nice to meet you too," he looked back at Ned, "thanks for checking the mail, good day." Jack nodded politely and left the store, eager to return to the café.
Elizabeth was looking out the door and smiled when she saw Jack heading back, "Here he comes, I'm anxious to get home and see all the things you've left there Abigail."
"Well, like I told you, we brought all your wedding gifts there and the photographer's photos, which are just beautiful, and other items from the wedding. They're all in the front room, we didn't go walking through your house."
"Thank you, that's very thoughtful."
"Here's a basket of food for tonight and tomorrow morning, since I'm sure you won't feel like cooking," Abigail winked.
Elizabeth's eyes grew wide as she took the basket, "No, I don't feel like cooking…"
Jack had entered the room, "Well not yet anyway, but you will have to start sometime Elizabeth." He put his arm around her, "You can do it, I know you can."
Elizabeth pushed the basket into his stomach, "Maybe tomorrow, but for now, here's your dinner…darling," she tilted her head and walked toward the door.
Jack thanked Abigail and joined Elizabeth out on the porch. "Ready to go home?" He offered his hand.
Elizabeth nodded, "Oh yes, ready!"
They hurried to the house, where Vernon had put the last trunk inside. "You folks are all set, everything is inside waiting for you." He offered his hand to Jack, "Good luck and I'll see you soon."
Elizabeth touched his arm, "Thank you for everything Vernon," she kissed his cheek.
"My pleasure Miss….Mrs. Thornton, my pleasure."
As he drove off, Jack scooped Elizabeth up into his arms, "Come on."
Elizabeth squealed, "Are you going to carry me in every time we come home?"
"No, just this last time," he kissed her and stopped on the porch, "A bull?" He teased.
She nodded, "Yes, be my bull!"
He kicked the door open and carried her into the parlor which was brimming with items.
"Oh my goodness Jack!"
Jack gently put her down, "This is going to take a while…" he scratched his head.
Elizabeth went to the desk first, looking for wedding photos, "Jack look! Oh my, they're beautiful."
Jack viewed the photos, "They are beautiful, but you were even more beautiful in person." Jack smiled, "Look, the signs from the carriage, wonderful keepsakes."
After several hours of unpacking, Elizabeth heard Jack in the bathroom. "Jack? What are you doing?"
Jack came into the room and pulled her into his embrace, "Preparing a bubble bath for me and my wife."
"Oh," she looked down.
Jack's brow wrinkled, "No? Not tonight?"
She looked up into his eyes, "Yes, tonight….and every night. This will be our first here in our home."
"Don't worry, it will still be magical like on our honeymoon," he kissed her hand. "Meet me in the tub whenever you're ready," he whispered in her ear.
As she watched him leave, she thought how wonderful it would be to enjoy this personal experience with him in their own home. She hurried to the bedroom to remove her clothes and put on her cotton robe before heading to join Jack.
Jack lay his head back against the rim of the tub, closed his eyes and stretched out his legs, he smiled hearing Elizabeth enter the room. He kept his eyes closed as she climbed in to join him. He made a snoring sound, pretending to be asleep.
Elizabeth attacked him under the water, tickling his sides, "Oh Jack… wake up!"
Jack laughed and pulled her against him, "Oh I'm awake," he held her close as his lips found hers.
"You certainly are," she smiled. She held his shoulders, "Have I told you that I love you and that you're the best husband in the whole world?"
"No, but go ahead, tell me," he pushed a curl from her face.
"Well, I love that these big muscular arms hold me close, against you.. you're so strong…"
"And..?"
She took a breath, "I love that you kiss me, on the nose."
"Hmm," he kissed her nose, "like that?"
"Yes." She scooped two handfuls of bubbles and held them in front of him.
Jack laughed, "Gardenia Surprise," he wiggled his eyebrows.
She smiled and blew the bubbles onto his face, "Oh bubbles on dimples, irresistible!"
"Very funny….what else do you love?" He wiped his face, took the soap and rubbed it between his hands.
"I love that you thought of a bathtub for us to share," she sighed as his soapy hands rubbed her back. "How did you know to get us a bath tub?"
Jack laughed, "At that fancy store in Hamilton, a tub like this one stood out among all the smaller ones," he tilted his head, "wasn't difficult to figure out what it was for…"
"Oh, so you stood there in the store thinking of taking a bath with me, did you?" She took the soap and ran it across his chest.
"Well, I started to, but I had to squelch that idea pretty quickly," he snorted softly.
"Why?" She rubbed his shoulder.
"Because…..thinking of you and me in here…well, wasn't a good idea," he cleared his throat.
"But I thought you liked to think of that," she drew the soap down his chest past his stomach.
"I do…like to think of that…and I did like to …but…well...my body didn't…very much….thinking of that….can't think of that," he closed his eyes and exhaled through his clenched teeth, "see, like you can tell now….I'm thinking of it…"
Elizabeth's eyes grew wide at his response, "Jack…." She climbed over him, held his face and kissed his lips. "Keep thinking Jack….you just keep thinking…" She rubbed her body slowly against his.
"Hmmm," he laughed and pulled her against him.
The water sloshed around them as she moved and he held her. She leaned back and he touched her, caressing her smooth wet skin before she pulled him to her, pressing his face into her neck as she held his shoulders. Jack held her tightly tangling his fingers in her hair. Finally he stretched out, lay his head back and took a deep breath as she breathlessly moved over him, "Hmm, welcome home Mr. Thornton my love…welcome home."
He rubbed her arm, "Mrs. Thornton, you sure know how to use a bathtub."
Elizabeth looked down, "So do you." She lay against him as they both relaxed.
"I knew I'd like this tub," he kissed her, "especially with you in it."
She giggled softly and rubbed his chest.
After a while, Jack squeezed her shoulder, "I'll meet you in the parlor?" He kissed her and climbed out.
After Jack left, Elizabeth dried off, put on her white robe and went to the bedroom. In her big closet, she found the pink negligee Julie had given her, slipped it on and headed to the parlor. "Jack?"
"I'm out here," he said from the porch.
"What are you doing out here?" she closed the door behind her.
"Cooling off," he turned, "but whoa…that won't help me. You look gorgeous."
She wrapped her arms around his naked torso, "Hmm, it's beautiful out here."
He squeezed her shoulder and looked around, "Guess we need some furniture out here."
"Perhaps a rocking chair?"
"Hmm, a rocking chair, it has consequences," he said softly.
"Consequences?"
He nodded and took her hand. They went inside.
Later, Jack lay in bed, wondering where Elizabeth was. "Elizabeth? Are you coming to bed?"
She appeared in the doorway, "Yes, I was just making sure everything was okay for the morning." She removed her robe, revealing the pink lace negligee again.
Jack looked, swallowed and stared up at the ceiling, "What do you have to prepare for the morning?"
She climbed in next to him, "Well, I need to make breakfast for my husband." She got close to him.
"You don't have …" he stopped as her hand began caressing his chest, "you don't have to do that, I can go to the café."
She sat up, "Jack, I think I can make eggs and coffee!"
"No, I didn't mean you couldn't, I don't want you to trouble yourself," he couldn't help look at her in her negligee.
She smiled, "Jack? Are you okay?"
"Fine, here, lay down here with me," he gently guided her to his side and pulled her close.
She nuzzled at his neck and began kissing him, he moaned as her hands began exploring. "Good night Jack," she whispered.
He sighed, somewhat relieved, "Good night beautiful."
In the morning, Jack woke to the smell of coffee, he dressed, feeling good to be in his red serge once again and entered the kitchen. Elizabeth was seated at the table, wearing her robe, but her legs exposed. Jack cleared his throat and went to her, "Good morning."
She jumped up, "Good morning, let me get you some coffee….and breakfast."
She placed a plate of eggs and toast in front of him, "Oh, excuse me." She ran off.
Jack smiled for a moment, but was concerned when she returned, "Are you okay?"
"Oh yes, I'm fine."
"Maybe you should see a doctor," he hadn't tasted the food yet, "one should be coming through here next week or so."
"Maybe you should eat your breakfast," she sat across from him.
The eggs appeared okay, and Jack took a mouthful, to his surprise they were good, "Hmmm, delicious."
"Are you surprised?" She tilted her head.
"No, of course not," he smiled and subtly spit some eggshell into his hand, "what are you going to do today?"
"Unpack, clean up and cook dinner," she moved her shoulders, very proud of her plan.
"Okay then," Jack finished his breakfast and stood. "It feels strange leaving you here. I'll miss you."
Elizabeth took his arm and walked him to the door, "I'll miss you too, maybe I'll bring you some lunch," she kissed him.
He put his arm around her, "I'd like that," he kissed her, "I love you."
She responded, touching his face, "I love you Jack," and kissed him, "think of that today."
Jack smiled, "I will…"
Jack looked back repeatedly at his wife waving to him. He took a deep breath and continued to town with a joy in his step.
Elizabeth straightened up around the house and got herself ready to go to town. She hurried to the café, finding Abigail sitting have a cup of coffee. "How are you Abigail?"
"I'm fine, just resting after the morning rush, sit with me," Abigail, she poured a cup of coffee for her friend, "Must have felt nice to be home."
"Yes, it did," Elizabeth sat, "we had a nice, romantic evening. I realize every evening won't be that way, but it sure is nice."
"It can be that way, why not?" Abigail was confident.
Elizabeth smiled, "Well, I'm sure we'll make it last as long as possible, after all love is a powerful emotion. For today, I want to bring Jack some lunch and then I want to cook dinner…"
"Okay, that's something I can help with."
"Thank you Abigail, I looked at the wonderful journal you gave me with everyone's recipes, so I will be trying those…"
"But it's difficult to get started, I know. Why don't I put together a lunch basket for you and Jack, my little welcome home gift. After lunch I'll help you with the ingredients for a nice dinner, how's that?"
"You're too good to me," Elizabeth reached for her hand.
"Oh, we're good to each other," she gave her friend's hand a squeeze.
Elizabeth headed off the mercantile to post a note to her family that she and Jack arrived safely back in Coal Valley and to thank them for all they did to help with the wedding.
"Miss Thatcher!" Ned Yost exclaimed, "Oh dear…"
"Yes its Mrs. Thornton now," she gave him her teacher stare, "how are you Mr. Yost?"
"I beg your pardon, Mrs. Thornton. I am well and it's good to see you and the Constable back in town," he blushed slightly, "can I post that for you?"
"Yes please." She looked at some items on the counter, "These handkerchiefs are beautiful, where did they come from?"
"We have a new seamstress in town," Ned replied.
"We do?"
"Yes, she's a dressmaker, tailor…something we've needed around here."
"Yes we do, that's good news," she touched the fabric, "where is she?"
Ned stretched his neck, "She's actually here in the store for the time being, to get started. I guess she isn't here at the moment however."
Elizabeth looked around, "I'm sure I'll be meeting her, thank you Mr. Yost."
Elizabeth returned to the café just before lunch and headed to the jail with her basket. "Jack? I brought you some lunch."
Jack was happy to see her, "Hi, I was just thinking about you."
"Just now?" She kissed his cheek.
"Well, all morning actually," he smiled.
"I know what you mean," she said softly as she unpacked the food on his desk. "I hope you're hungry."
Jack looked at the food, "You made all this?"
"No, Abigail did. She offered, do you mind?"
Jack smiled and rubbed her arm, "No, not at all."
"I will make dinner!"
"Good," Jack tried not to sound positive. They ate in silence, although Jack noticed Elizabeth did not really eat, just moved her food around, "Elizabeth, aren't you hungry?"
"No, not really," she looked down, "I had coffee and biscuits with Abigail earlier, guess that filled me up."
Jack nodded, but took note of it. Elizabeth quickly put things back into the basket and stood in front of Jack seated in the chair. He looked up at her.
"What is it?" he asked.
She slowly lowered herself onto his lap, "Nothing, I'd just like to spend a few minutes with you," she ran her finger across his chin.
Jack was nervous, "Ahh, well, I'd like that, but I'm on duty…you really shouldn't…be …doing this." He couldn't resist her and pulled her in for a passionate kiss.
When she touched the button on his jacket, he took her hand, "Elizabeth, we can't …"
She backed away, "I'm sorry…" she stood and reached for the basket.
Jack quickly responded, "No…no, Elizabeth," he reached for her arm, "having you here with me…well, I've day dreamed about it a hundred times. Truth is, we can't…I mean, it's not right. Do you understand?"
"Of course I do, I didn't mean to get carried away," she picked up the basket and looked away.
"Wait," he went closer to her, "there's nothing I like better than being with you, you should know that by now…."
She put her finger over his lips, "Please Jack, I do know that. I'll see you later…at home." She walked to the door.
"Oh no, you don't leave me without a kiss, ever," he touched her face and gently kissed her lips. "We have a nice evening to look forward to."
She nodded, "Yes, we do." She left the jail and went back to Abigail's.
Jack was worried about her, he never wanted to hurt her feelings. He was also concerned that she wasn't eating and kept touching her tummy.
At the café, Abigail sensed something happened, "I hope you had a nice lunch with Jack."
"Yes, thank you, is the dinner ready, I want to get home and get it ready," she said avoiding eye contact.
"Elizabeth did something happen?"
"No," she tapped the basket, "Abigail…I love him so much, even more now and I want to be with him. He probably thinks I'm ridiculous…."
"Now, now…don't think negatively, this is all new to both of you."
Elizabeth shrugged, "I know and he knows I love him."
"And he loves you, but you know he's very serious about his work and dedicated to his job. That's the way he is, just like he's serious about you and dedicated to you too."
"Right, you're right," Elizabeth hugged her friend, "Thank you for the baskets."
"Enjoy your nice romantic evening," Abigail opened the door, "now get out of here!"
Elizabeth hurried home and, after tying on a new apron, put the meatloaf and potatoes in the oven. She went to the parlor and looked at the wedding photographs, remembering that special day. She then looked at the journal the women gave her and read their notes, feeling so blessed. Soon she was asleep.
Jack stopped at the café, "Abigail, isn't Elizabeth here?"
"No Jack, she went home a few hours ago to make dinner for you," Abigail said proudly.
"She did? I better go make sure everything is okay," Jack looked worried.
"Now, don't worry, she'll do fine."
"I hope so," Jack nodded and left.
As he approached the house, he sighed and shook his head reprimanding himself for thinking the worst, that their house would be burned to the ground. However when he opened the door the smoke was overwhelming. He hurried to kitchen where Elizabeth was waving a towel at the open the window.
"Elizabeth! What happened?"
"Jack! I cooked!"
"I can see that!" He waved his hand to clear the smoke from his face. He smiled at the sight of her, half her hair was down, half up. He couldn't tell what was on her apron but he noticed a cloth wrapped around her hand. "What happened to your hand?"
She quickly put her hand behind her back, "It's just a small burn…its fine."
"Let me see," Jack reached behind her, unwrapped the cloth, "you need something on this. We better go to town, come on."
Elizabeth pulled away, "No, I'll be fine." She fought her tears.
Jack waved his hand again, "Well, I want that hand taken care of and we can't stay here with all this smoke. Come on, we can eat at the café," he pulled her behind him as he headed for the front door.
"Wait, at least let me take off this apron," she untied it and laid it across the chair.
Jack pushed her hair back, "That's better."
"I must be a sight," she tucked a piece of hair behind her ear, spreading flour across her cheek.
Jack smiled, "A gorgeous sight," he kissed her nose, "come on."
Abigail was washing dishes after the small dinner crowd dissipated. She was surprised to turn around and see Jack and Elizabeth in the doorway, holding hands. "Oh dear, what happened?"
"We're here for dinner," Jack said as if it were a normal occurrence.
Abigail smiled, "Fine," her eyes went to Elizabeth but received no response. "Have a seat."
"Thank you," Jack said as he led Elizabeth to a table and held out a chair for her.
Abigail quickly returned with two dinners, "You have the place to yourself."
"Nice," Jack rubbed his hands on his thighs, "Elizabeth wasn't up to cooking tonight."
Abigail's eyebrows rose, "I see," she wasn't going to tell Jack the truth. "Well Jack, you'll just have to wait to taste her home cooking and I'm sure it will be wonderful."
"Oh I already know it is, she made scrambled eggs this morning and they were great, once I spit out the shells…" Jack cringed as soon as he let the words slip.
Elizabeth looked up at him and then at Abigail, "I can't do it! We need to hire a cook!" She got up and ran to the door, "I'm a terrible wife!"
Abigail's eyes were wide as Jack jumped up and ran after Elizabeth.
Elizabeth ran to the end of the porch and held the post, while holding her tummy.
"Elizabeth, wait…you're a wonderful wife….wait, are you okay?"
She fell into his arms, "No Jack, I'm not," she couldn't tell him she ruined the food that Abigail prepared, she didn't want him to know.
He held her and whispered, "Elizabeth, do you think you're pregnant?"
She pushed back, "Pregnant? Of course not, how could that happen!"
Jack smirked and pulled her back into his arms, "Well, you know this past week I've made a lot of deposits…"
She pushed him away, "Jack! I'm not pregnant! I'm sore from that bruise! Don't even think about being pregnant because….because I probably can't do that either!" She ran from the porch and headed for home.
"Oh boy…" Jack scratched his head, unsure what to do….