Chapter Two

Their things were all packed in crates, and they had said their good-byes – tearfully on Elizabeth's part. All week a silence and estrangement had existed between them. Jack wondered how much she resented him for these events.

"What will it be like in our new town?" Elizabeth broke the silence of their last meal in their first home.

"It's hard to say until we get there. It will definitely be more remote than Hope Valley – not an easy journey to a big town like Hamilton. The people there will mostly be Indian. Our living quarters will not be so...modern." He did not meet her gaze as he told her these things.

"A tent?" Elizabeth gasped in surprise. This was not a possibility she had considered.

"It's possible. I don't know." He took a slow bite of bread. "Elizabeth...you can stay here. It's not too late. My assignment may only be a few months and I can come back to visit as often as possible..."

A quick hand on his stopped him and he finally looked her in the face and saw the hurt in her expression.

"Jack...is that what you want?" She choked. "To leave me? To be apart for months?"

He quickly turned her hand so that he could hold it in his own.

"Of course not! I just thought maybe you'd prefer to be here – with more comforts and friends you love."

"Jack, the only comfort I need is you. I knew what possibilities there might be in marrying you, and I'll stand by your side. And don't forget, it is my dream to move north. I will simply miss the children and the widows here."

Her reassurance strengthened Jack and filled him with new resolve.

"I'll always be here for you, Elizabeth."

It seemed that most of the town of Hope Valley was gathered to see Jack and Elizabeth off on their journey. They were traveling with a caravan of supplies to the new posting at Fort Red Deer. The belonging there were taking with them were carefully packed into one of the loaded wagons. The crowd made it even more difficult to leave it all behind.

The journey north took them over three days. They were not able to ride the entire way - at times they traveled by foot, and at times by barge. After they left Hope Valley, they didn't see another town until they reached their new home. At first there had been occasional cabins belonging to hunters and trappers, but after that, no civilization for the past two days.

Elizabeth's feet ached from walking and her backside was sore from riding for long stretches followed by sleeping on the rocky ground at night. She already missed female friends. Their two traveling companions were men and they didn't talk much.

Although the view of the mountains and wilderness was breathtaking as they ventured north and saw the leaves changing colors as a sign of the changing season, new fears filled Elizabeth's mind – mostly questions of the unknown.

Jack was proud of Elizabeth for being so strong on their journey. She never once complained, although they were all feeling the stiffness and aching that accompanied such travel. The nights were also dipping into cold temperatures and although they slept by the fire, Jack always took a shift of the night watch and could only curl up tightly next to her for warmth for part of the night.

By the end of the third day – they were all happy to see Fort Red Deer.

Elizabeth was glad to have Jack by her side as they dismounted and headed toward the general store. The small cabin was the only modern building in the village. Wigwams were laid out in a circular shape which included the store in its pattern. Everyone Elizabeth saw was Indian and they had stopped and stared as the caravan had approached. Elizabeth felt her face grow hot from being watched, and was glad to head inside the store with Jack.

They found a man inside from back east who was a trapper-turned-store-owner. He was polite, but lacked warmth and friendliness. He dealt with the men while Elizabeth looked around the store. It did not carry many of the items she was used to finding in Hope Valley. Only basics stocked the shelves and very few of even these. Considering the customers, this made sense. Indian women knew how to use their natural resources and not rely on the store for their needs. She would have plenty to learn from them.

Finally, Jack finished his business with Mr. Wainwright, the store owner, and took her hand.

"We'll head to the cabin now." He told her.

"Oh!" Elizabeth smiled with relief. She had known that a tent would be a possibility and figured that one of the wigwams would be theirs.

"Constable Birch will be there tonight, but will be leaving for his new post in the morning."

Elizabeth nodded. After three days of sleeping on the trail with two other men, she wouldn't mind sharing a real building for one more night.

The mountie's cabin turned out to be just a bit beyond the wigwam village, closer to the edge of the woods. Elizabeth noted a few other cabins nearby and hoped there might be a few women like her living there. She had smiled at the Indian women as they had walked to the cabin, but they had only stared in response. She knew not to take it seriously, but it had been disheartening.

The cabin was small – one large room with a kitchen and a small sitting area with a fireplace. A bedroom was off to the side. The constable had already packed all of his things and they were stacked by the door. The rooms looked very sparse.

"I was surprised to hear the new constable had a wife." Birch looked critically over Elizabeth. "I don't think anyone posted here has ever brought a woman with him."

"Well, Elizabeth has a strong nature and was just as eager to go north as I was." Jack placed a defensive arm around her. Though she was glad to hear the confidence in his voice, her own wavered and she wished they could be alone on their first night here and speak openly to each other.

After a simple dinner, Elizabeth retired to the bedroom. The men were discussing the details involved in passing the post off to Jack, and she was weary from traveling. Thankfully, Birch had given them the bedroom and agreed to take the couch on his final night.

By the time Jack came in, he found her fast asleep, still in her day clothes and boots. She did not even stir as he gently unlaced her boots and slid them off, or when he settled in next to her.