Chapter 2
That night after dinner, while his men were chatting way around the campfire. Jack pulled out his drawing of Elizabeth. As he traced the words on the back, he tried his hardest to imagine her voice in his head saying the words. "JACK!" Jack jerked his head up to look at the soldier who had yelled his name. It was Cole Jackson. "We wanted to know if you had a girl back home. What were you thinking about?" Jack smirked. He joined the group and showed the drawing of Elizabeth. "That's my fiancé, Elizabeth. She's a teacher in Hope Valley. She's got the biggest heart in the world. Her best friend, Abigail owns a cafe. She makes the best food on this side of the boarder." "When did you propose?" It was John Billings. "About three days ago; the night before I left." Some of the men shook their heads while others patted Jack on the back. "Sorry, man," a few of them muttered. "Elizabeth is strong. I wouldn't have come unless I knew that she would be taken care of and Abigail's like her big sister so I know she'll take care her. She knows how to reach me if anything goes wrong." Who did they send to Hope Valley when you left?" "I didn't let them send anyone else. The man I needed already lives in Hope Valley. Bill Avery, one of my superiors took over for me and he'll ride out here if he really needs my help." "I trust him and he knows everyone there. It would be easier to have someone everyone trusts then to have someone that they don't know there and who probably doesn't know how to handle things." The young men nodded along. It made sense. " How did you and Elisabeth meet?" Jack laughed as he recalled how he had been dragged to what was then Coal Valley. "Well, a very wealthy man named Mr. Thatcher can into Headquarters one day and told me that he needed a Mountie escort for his daughter to a place called Coal Valley. They assigned me to the case even though I really didn't want it. But they said that if I did this one assignment, I would be able to go to the assignment I really wanted- a job in Cape Fullerton." When I arrived, I knew that I was going to absolutely hate it. I had to break up a fight before I even got to town! But then when I did, I went to meet this teacher. The school was in the Solon! And the teacher, she was way out of her depth. She came from the city; Hamilton to be exact. Sh didn't look like she had worked a day I her life. She was in a dress that looked like a ball gown!" He laughed shortly. "She was so independent; at least she thought so. Her first night, she burned down her house! But in the end, she pulled through. Abigail let her stay at her house for a while and she got the children to listen to her in the end. She became a part of the community. She's what keeps the people of Hope Valley together." Michel Belese the youngest in the group turned to the others. "Man, I wish I had a girl like that back home." The others agreed. "Maybe, when this is over, you can come with me and meet her. She's amazing!" His men looked at each other and said in unison, "He's a goner." "Hey! Just for that, tomorrow: fifty push-ups." They all groaned but went into their tents for the night. They knew that they would be getting up early the next day and they needed to get their sleep so they could be prepared for anything Jack threw at them. Jack smirked at his soldiers retreating backs. They were right; he couldn't deny that. Now that he was alone, he looked up at the starry night sky and whispered, "I love you so much, Elisabeth. Pleas, God keep her safe. Keep everyone in Hope Valley safe." He had stated doing this every time he left for an over night trip. It made him feel close to her and he hoped that in some way, Elisabeth knew he was okay. The sharp pain he'd felt she. He had first left home yesterday morning, came back. He missed her so much it physically hurt. As he layer down to sleep for the night, he placed his picture if Elisabeth under his pillow. She would be with him one way or another. Tomorrow, he would train his men on how to win this war so he could run back to his home.
