The warm spring air blew softly around the small town of Hope Valley. The sun shone, birds chirped and people were happily walking the main street. Everything seemed perfect.
Elizabeth was busily rushing around the café, cleaning tables and collecting dishes. With school out for a month, Jack still away in the Northern Territories and nothing much to do, she offered to help a struggling Abigail at the café. She had just finished clearing what was Bill's table when Mr Yost walked in. He had a sorrowful look on his face and held a small piece of paper in his hand.
"Miss Thatcher, this telegram just came for you from the Northern Territories. I think you should go find Mrs Stanton before you read it. I'm sorry Miss Thatcher." Mr Yost said as he handed her the paper, face down and then left the café, leaving behind a puzzled, worried Elizabeth.
Elizabeth looked down at the paper, then turned and walked out to the back room of the café. Abigail was busy rushing around the kitchen with Clara and neither noticed the woman entering.
"Abigail." Elizabeth said in a worried tone. Abigail turned and looked at the woman in front of her.
"Elizabeth. What's wrong?" She asked curiously. Concern clear on her face.
"Mr Yost just dropped off this telegram from the Northern Territories, he told me not to read it until you were with me. Then he apologised and left. I-I think it's bad news and I need you here when I read it." Elizabeth answered as a small tear welled up in her eye.
"Come upstairs with me, we'll read it up there. I'm sure it's okay Elizabeth. Come on." Abigail said as she embraced the woman slightly before leading her quickly upstairs.
The duo sat on Abigail's bed and for a moment just stared at the blank side of the paper, neither not really wanting to know the contents of the other side.
"Do you want me to read it first?" Abigail offered, breaking the silence.
"No. I want to read it first. Sorry." The younger woman stated.
"It's fine, Elizabeth. I'm here. Read it when you're ready."
"Here it goes." Elizabeth said shakily as she turned the paper over and began to read. A short moment later, the young woman broke out in violent sobs. Abigail quickly wrapped her arms around the crying Elizabeth.
"He-He's gone." Elizabeth cried in between sobs. At this point she was almost hysterical. And it hit Abigail, who quickly picked up the paper and read it.
Royal North-West Telegram.
Dear Miss Thatcher.
It is with great sadness that I must inform you that your fiancé, Jack Thornton, was killed in the line of duty yesterday. He was shot whilst taking down one of our final gangs. His belongings, horse and body, will be soon transported back to Hope Valley for a funeral and proper burial.
My greatest condolences, Deputy Chief Donald O'Connor.
Abigail gasped as she put the paper back down and pulled the hysterical Elizabeth into her lap. Tears were falling down her cheeks as the two women cried over the loss.
"You cry all you want Elizabeth. I know how it feels. You just cry. It's okay." The older woman said soothingly. The two remained this way for hours.
Three days after the telegram arrived with the news of Jack's death, Elizabeth remained upstairs in Abigail's spare bedroom. She refused to eat or do anything. She hadn't said a word since she read the letter.
Abigail tried desperately to help the poor woman but no matter how hard she tried, she just could not get Elizabeth to do anything.
A large group of Mounties arrived the day before with Jack's body and most of his belongings, including his uniform, clothes and a small wooden box. There was a small funeral and burial ceremony, he was laid to rest on the piece of land he had bought for him and Elizabeth.
All Jack's belongings were left in the room where Elizabeth was staying with Abigail. Everyone hoped it would help her if she felt he was near.
Elizabeth hadn't dared touch his things. She couldn't bring herself to accept that he really was gone.
It was later afternoon, on the way to the bathroom, Elizabeth tripped over the little wooden box of Jack's. She looked down at it, his name was engraved on the top and it was painted a light shade of blue. The colour was barely noticeable due to the amount of dirt covering it.
She slowly reached down and picked up the box. She wiped her hand over it, taking off some of the dirt. She carried the box back to the bed where she sat, staring at the box for a moment, before opening it.
A/N Hiya. So here is the prologue of Jack's Letters. I hope you didn't cry too much. Every chapter will be a letter from Jack with some filler chapters which may be added to show how Elizabeth takes the letters and how it effects her life after Jack's death.
I don't own WCTH nor will I ever.
Love you hearties. xx