The moment I woke up that cold bitter morning I knew something was wrong. There was a strange sensation inside of me. Something I had never felt before. I reached over to the other side of the bed, but just as my hand hit the cold empty sheet I remembered what happened.
Then I remembered. Jack.
How I got to my bed that night I don't know, how I even managed to fall asleep I still don't know how that was possible.
Yesterday night was supposed be a night of celebration, it was Dr. Shepherd's birthday and the whole town was throwing him a surprise party. Carson has been such a blessing to Hope Valley. We were all so excited to help celebrate him.
I had left my present for him at the schoolhouse and went to go grab it. Little did I know that I'm just a few minutes my life would never be the same. Abigail decided to go with me, why I don't know but I am so thankful she decided to go with me...
We had just walked out of the saloon when I heard a horse riding in. I saw the red serge and instantly thought of Jack, thought of us, how I was going to embrace him as soon as he leaps off Sergeant. I started walking towards him. I took a few steps and realized he wasn't my beloved husband.
"Sorry, I thought you were someone else." I said. The young mountie looked at Abigail and I and said. " I'm looking for a Mrs. Elizabeth Thornton. "
I loved hearing that name but there was something about his tone that I just didn't like. "I'm... Mrs. Thornton... Has he been hurt?" I felt my knees going weak and my stomach drop.
He took his Stetson off and looked as if he was trying to figure out the best way to tell me something. "Please, just tell me he is alive." At this point I could feel tears starting to come. My vision was blurring and I couldn't stand straight.
Then he said the words I had dreaded to hear, the words I had never wanted to hear in my life. "I'm sorry ma'am."
" No, no, NO! " I fell down to my knees and felt Abigail right at my side trying to comfort me. But right then I didn't want Abigail, I wanted Jack. My husband, and I had just been told he wasn't alive.
By now the the whole town had heard the commotion and started piling out of the saloon and coming to the center of the road. I remember seeing Rosemary come over to me. "Elizabeth. Please get off the dusty road and come over here, everything is going to be alright." She was wiping tears off her eyes as she was saying that. How would she ever understand the pain I was feeling knowing I would never see the love of my life again.
And that's all I remember from that dark and painful night. I don't remember being led away from the road, or somehow getting to my row house and in bed.
Jack was dead and would never come back. With that thought I rolled over to my side of the bed and started to cry.