Okay, Hearties I'm back. This story was originally supposed to be a one shot but I got this idea from the photo that Jack Wagner post which caused a lot of discussion on whether or not Elizabeth was wearing a ring. I was chatting with a friend a we thought wouldn't it be funny if for some reason Elizabeth switched her opal ring she always wears on her right hand to her left hand. The rest of the chapter is just my crazy idea. Hope you like it. It's been awhile since I've posted anything so I would suggest you go back and reread the first chapter of Shepherd's Pie before reading this. So without further ado, here is my unplanned chapter two of Shepherd's Pie... Enjoy!
There was a smile that refused to escape Elizabeth's lips after she watched Jack exit her row house. She was giddy with excitement, knowing that in just a few short minutes Jack would return with the promise to spend the rest of his life with her; and with that promise he would be making her the happiest woman in the world.
She was getting happier by the minute. She couldn't wait for Jack to return. She didn't know what to do with herself. She wanted to rush and tell Abigail the good news, but knew Jack would be back any minute. She noticed that the table was still covered with the dirty dishes from the delicious shepherd's pie dinner that Jack had prepared. She stood to her feet and began to clear the table.
Elizabeth cleared the table, washed the dishes and returned them to the cupboard. She glanced at the clock. It had been nearly forty-five minutes since Jack had left. She was expecting him back by now, but he had yet to return. I'll give him a few more minutes. She thought to herself.
Another half hour passed. Elizabeth started to worry. Where is he? She wondered. She sadly cast her eyes downward and noticed a small stain on the front of her dress she hadn't noticed before. "Oh, my goodness!" she exclaimed to herself. "How could I have been so clumsy? I can't believe I dribbled on myself. I wonder if Jack noticed." She decided to rush upstairs and change into a clean dress before Jack returned. "Maybe he changed too. Perhaps that's what's taking him so long. He'll be downstairs waiting for me when I get changed."
Ten minutes later Elizabeth descended the steps. "Jack, are you here?" She called. She was answered by silence. She rushed to the door and flung it open. "Jack, are you out here?" No response except for the gentle howl of the wind. Disappointed, she slowly closed the door. She leaned back against it.
"I must've scared him off with all the talk about marriage" Elizabeth cried. Tears filled her eyes. She headed to sit down on the sofa. "He doesn't want to marry me after all." She stared at her left hand. She then glanced at her right hand where her opal ring rested. She removed the ring from her right hand and gently placed it on her left hand. Staring at the ring she sighed. "Will I ever know what this really feels like?" She asked herself.
"Elizabeth?"
Startled she faced the door, noticing Jack standing in the doorway. "Jack… uh… what are you doing here?" She struggled with the ring, trying to return it to the proper hand without him noticing.
"I told you I'd be back." Jack stared at her, his eyes drawn together in confusion. "What are you doing?"
"Nothing!" She answered quickly as she finally returned the ring to the correct place on her right hand. She stood to her feet and noticed that Jack had in fact changed clothes. He was all dressed up, wearing his blue suit. "You look handsome."
"Thank you." He walked in the house and closed the door behind him. "And you look quite beautiful." He slowly approached her and took her in his arms. He stared at her. "Are you okay? Have you been crying?" He reached up and wiped her eyes of her unshed tears.
"I'm fine, Jack." Her voice cracked. She quickly cleared her throat. "I'm fine." She said again, "now that you're here."
"Did you think I wasn't coming back?" He asked as he stroked her cheek, because I would never do that to you. Is that why you were switching your ring around?"
"You saw that?" She blushed. "I'm so embarrassed."
"Of course, I did." He placed a soft kiss on her nose. "I notice everything about you." He pulled her close and held her tightly refusing to let her go, "and there's no reason to be embarrassed. But you should know me by now. You should know I would never leave you and not come back."
"It just that you were gone so long." She buried her face in his shoulder. "I was expecting you back an hour ago. I thought you'd changed your mind, or worse, that something had happened to you."
Jack chuckled. "I wanted everything to be perfect; that's why I changed." He released her and grasped her hands, holding her at arm's length. "I see you've changed too."
"My dress was stained. I guess I was clumsy at dinner." She replied, "and I can't believe you didn't tell me." She playfully slapped his arm.
"I didn't notice." He said with a grin. He pulled her close for a kiss.
"Wait a minute." She placed a finger on his lips stopping his potential kiss. "You just said you notice everything about me."
"About you," he countered, not your clothes. You're always beautiful." He gently kissed her fingertips that were still resting on his lips.
"Jack, I love you." She whispered.
"I love you too. Can I have that kiss now?"
"Of course," She stepped closer and gently brushed her lips to his. She moved her hand to the back of his head, the kiss deepening.
"So," She placed her hands on his chest.
"So?" He raised an eyebrow.
"Did you get what you went to the jail to get?" She asked.
"I did." He patted his pocket, making sure it was still there.
"Well," She intertwined her fingers around his waist, hugging him close, "are you going to give it to me?"
"Who said I had anything for you?" He teased, his bright smile illuminating his dimples.
"Jack don't be mean." She countered. "I know you do. Where is it? I want to see it."
"Not so fast, Miss Thatcher," He said, his voice stern. "What do you think I have for you?"
"I don't know," She giggled. "perhaps you have something you want to ask me… a question you already know the answer to."
"I don't know what you're talking about." Jack feigned confusion, but suddenly broke into a big smile; he couldn't keep the charade going any longer.
"I knew it." Elizabeth cried. "So, are you going to ask me or not?"
He reached for her hand. "First come with me."
"Where are we going?" She questioned.
"You'll see." He smiled deviously as he guided her out the door. "Turn around." He urged once they were outside.
"What are you doing?" She wondered.
"It's a surprise." He held up a blindfold. You'll have to wear this."
"Do I have to?" She complained.
"Do you trust me?" He asked.
"With me life," She answered, "you know that."
"Then turn around." He said again. "You know I'm not going to let anything happen to you."
"If I must." She conceded and allowed Jack to put blindfold on her.
"Just stick close to me." He gently put his arm around her and pulled her toward him. "I promise I won't let you fall." He placed a light as a feather kiss on her cheek before leading her to their destination.
Jack and Elizabeth were standing inside the saloon when Jack removed the blindfold, much to Elizabeth's confusion and disappointment.
"The saloon? Jack really? This is what you blindfolded me for?" She expressed.
"The saloon is where we met." He reminded her. "I remember. There was no schoolhouse. You had to teach here. You were writing on the chalkboard when we met. You worried about getting chalk dust on me.
"This is also where you called me a princess who you had to keep from stubbing my toes, as I recall." She remarked.
"You proved me wrong quickly," He stated, "that you weren't the spoiled princess I made you out to be. You gave me a run for my money that's for sure."
"Good, Thornton." She fingered his chest. "That'll teach you not to doubt me."
He escorted her to a table in the middle of the room. Do you remember what happened here?"
"This is where I was sitting when you asked me out for chili and cornbread." She realized.
"And where you made me take that ridiculous test…" He chuckled.
"Sorry about that." She replied, "but I do appreciate your help."
"…and where I told you, you looked really beautiful," he continued, "and you were beautiful, and you're still beautiful."
She blushed, but recovered quickly. "Since we're reminiscing, this is also where you came to ask for my hand."
"I was so nervous." He responded. "I had never been that bold. I just wanted you to know where I stood, that I saw a future with you eventually."
"Even though Mounties generally don't get married," She reminded him.
"But you agreed to go to dinner with you anyway." He argued.
"That's because I wanted you to know I saw a future with you as well." She replied.
"At least we were on the same page." He stepped toward her and gave a quick kiss. "Are you ready to go?"
"Where are we going now?" She asked.
"Still a surprise; turn around." He returned the blindfold back over her eyes and took her hand.
Next when Jack removed the blindfold, they were standing outside the café.
"Ah, the café," She sighed, "I remember what happened here."
"Our first official date," Jack opened the door allowing her inside.
"The most romantic evening of my entire life," She recalled, "You sure know how to sweep a girl off her… FEET." She screamed, clearly startled when Jack abruptly took her in his arms and lifted her off the ground.
He carried her to the sofa sitting her down. "I bet you remember what happened here." Jack stated with a smile.
"Yes," she recalled fondly. "We shared a kiss after you rescued me from the falling beam in the mine."
"Like this." He leaned forward and placed a kiss on her lips much like that day.
"That's a great memory." She smiled. "Aren't you glad I suggested we didn't have to talk?"
"All your kisses are great memories for me, and talking is so overrated." He placed another kiss on her lips. "Speaking of kisses are you ready to go?" He pulled the blindfold from his pocket.
"Sure," She replied, "but since I have some idea of where you're taking me, since I was there for all of our kisses, do I have to wear the blindfold?"
Jack sighed, "if you don't want to, I won't make you." He returned the blindfold to his pocket. "But it will spoil all the fun."
"Oh, I don't know about that," she teased, "I think it's pretty fun to look at you, and I can't do that with a blindfold over my eyes." She placed a quick kiss on his cheek.
"I won't make you wear it this time." He remarked. "Are you ready?" He offered his arm.
She placed her hand in the bend of his elbow allowed him to escort her through the back door of the café.
Twenty minutes later, Jack and Elizabeth were standing at the opening of the mine. He took her by the hand and led her inside.
He helped her sit on the blanket he'd already left there. "Do you remember what happened here?"
"I accidently let Rip out of the jail." Elizabeth recalled. "We came here to find him. We had to wait out the storm in this very spot."
"We had a lot of things to work out then." Jack said. "Who knew that the old coal mine during a storm would be the perfect place for us to talk?"
"Call me crazy," Elizabeth stated, "but I'm glad the storm caused us to be stuck here… together."
"You're right." Jack teased. "You are crazy."
Elizabeth slapped his arm. She looked around. "I could have been killed in here."
"I wasn't about to let that happen!" Jack exclaimed. "We were arguing. We were looking for Rip in opposite directions. But when I heard you scream, I knew that no matter what we were going through, I didn't want to lose you."
"Did I ever thank you for saving my life?" Elizabeth questioned.
"You didn't need to," Jack stated. "Like I said I didn't want to lose you, I would have done anything in my power to save your life no matter what."
"Well thank you for taking care of me," Elizabeth placed a hand on his face, "and for checking my knees."
"Well I'll take any excuse to look at your knees I can get." Jack snickered.
Elizabeth blushed.
"Do you remember what else happened here?" Jack asked.
"How could I forget?" Elizabeth smiled at the memory. "You told me you loved me the for the first time."
"I wanted to tell you long before that though."
"Why didn't you?" She asked. "I waited a long time to hear you tell me."
"You know how hard it is for me," Jack remarked, "but when I thought I was going to lose you to Charles or that falling beam, I knew I had to tell you I loved you, because nobody knows what tomorrow will bring. I might've never gotten another chance."
"That's how I felt when you had pneumonia," Elizabeth replied. "that's why I refused to leave your side."
"And you've been right by my side ever since." Jack stated.
"And I'll be right by your side from now on." Elizabeth grasped his hand and squeezed it. "You're my heart, Jack Thornton."
"And you're my heart, Elizabeth Thatcher." He stood to his feet and reached down to help her up. "Are you ready to go? There are still a couple more stops to make."
"Where to now?" She wondered.
"Just come on." He didn't want to give anything away.
Their next stop was the church. Elizabeth placed her hand on Jack's chest. "If it weren't for you, capturing the Tolliver gang and receiving that reward, this church wouldn't be here."
"The town would have gotten a church eventually even without my reward money." Jack replied modestly.
"But the truth is it's here now because of your donation."
"Yes, I did donate the money but the church is really here because of you." Jack insisted.
"Me?" She asked, "What do you mean?"
"Do you think I would have given the building of the church a second thought if you didn't need somewhere to teach other than the saloon?" Jack questioned. "I donated that money for you. How do you not know that? I wanted you to stay."
"I was never going to take that job you know." Elizabeth responded. "I loved this town too much. My students. Abigail. You."
He turned to face her and pulled her close. "I'm glad we're on the same page." He leaned in to kiss her lips. "We have one more stop."
"I'm not even going to bother asking where." Elizabeth chuckled. "Because you won't tell me."
"Now you're catching on." Jack reached in his pocket and pulled out the blindfold. "But you'll have to wear this for the final surprise."
"If I must," she reluctantly agreed.
"Yes, you must." He gently put the blindfold on over her eyes. He guided her to their final destination of the evening.
"Now I know you remember this place." Jack removed the blindfold.
They were standing in a grassy meadow, very familiar to her. "Where, you told me I was the only one," She recalled fondly, "and where we shared our first kiss."
He leaned toward her and kissed her, much like he did the first time, "And our last kiss..."
"Our last kiss?" Elizabeth was rather confused.
"Yes, our last kiss," He confirmed. He reached in his pocket, "our last kiss in our courtship," He pulled out the small box, "because our next kiss will be our first kiss in our engagement," He dropped to one knee, "if you'll have me."
Elizabeth let out a squeal and covered her mouth.
"What do you say?" He smiled up at her. "Will you marry me?"
"Yes!" She answered enthusiastically. "You knew the answer even before you asked. I love you, Jack Thornton."
"I love you too." He gently slipped the ring on her hand. He stood to his feet. He wrapped his arms around her and they shared their first kiss… as an engaged couple.