Parle-moi (Talk to me)
 Part two
Author's note: As promised, I don't take too long. Here is the second part. I hope that you will like it.

Thank you to all who have read and thanks for the reviews: woolenslipper, Guest, Heartie78, ladypatpatriot, LisaNY, RebekahWrites, Mary JO Vincent, Aguiliarabrianna. It means so much to me I always am so happy to have your feedbacks.

I will try to quickly publish the third and end of this story

The next day, Jack was racing to get back home to his beloved Elizabeth. He was happy to be back as he missed his Elizabeth very much and couldn't wait to take her into his arms and kiss her. He came into an empty house. He went outside to look for her. He walked around the house, and found her near the stack of wood. She loaded the last log into the basket and was about to lift it, when Jack rushed up from behind her and picked it up.

"Elizabeth! This is too heavy for you!" Jack exclaimed.

The young woman turned around and when she looked at him, a wave of exasperation seized her.

"If you had done what you promised you would before you left, husband, then I wouldn't have had to." Elizabeth replied coldly as she walked away, leaving Jack confused by her response.

He didn't expect a welcome home like this, she neither said hello nor did she kiss him. It wasn't like his wife, at all. He tried to ignore her behavior. 'What's wrong with my wife? When can I get her back?' He thought inwardly. 'I have to talk to her. We cannot allow the sun to set on our anger.' They have had some fights during their courtship, and when they didn't talk, it made matters much worse.

He took the basket and followed his wife inside. She was sitting at her desk. He slowly approached her.

"Elizabeth..." He touched her shoulder, inquiring hesitantly.

"I have some work to do!" She replied curtly.

He stepped back, saddness taking sweeping across his features, but she didn't see it as she was looking at the paper that she was grading.

"I am going to the jail. I have paperwork waiting for me." He simply announced as he was going out of the house. She didn't respond.

He was lost. He wasn't prepared for a reaction like this from his wife. It was the first time since their courtship that she was so distant and cold with him. He didn't expect such a welcome after the several days that they were apart. He galloped to the town to clear his head. He preferred not to stay in their house, maybe some time alone would enable Elizabeth to return to her normal charming and loving self.

He stayed late at the jail, avoiding everyone in Hope Valley, including his wife. He needed to be alone and to concentrate on his work. He stayed indoors so that no one knew he had returned.

When he returned home, Elizabeth had shut the house up. There were not lights on, even the porch light was off. Elizabeth was already sleeping so he prepared himself for bed as quietly as he could. He slowly lied down not to wake her. He looked at her back, sadly. But he didn't know that she wasn't asleep. She was awake, anxiously awaiting his return.

Then the tears silently escaped from her eyes, she was feeling so guilty. She was crying for their baby, for her and especially for him. She knew that she had hurt him, but she was feeling so bad and she
didn't know why she had rejected him, what to do with herself. She had missed him so much, but she had to restrain herself. How was she going to make amends? To confess her dreadful secret? How was he going to react and more importantly, how was he ever going to forgive her?

The next morning, Elizabeth woke up very early to avoid her husband. She secretly left the house without so much as a word or note to see Dr. Burns. She wanted some answers regarding her miscarriage before she went to school.

When she arrived in town, she went immediately to the cabinet where Dr. Burns was standing. He looked up and saw her come in.

Back at the house, Jack woke up and was surprised to find the place next to him empty. He thought that she was maybe preparing breakfast, but when he entered the kitchen, it was empty as well. He checked the bathroom and the office, but there was no sign of his Elizabeth. He was really angry with her for leaving the house and not telling him where she was going.

The saddness overwhelmed him as it did the previous day when she rejected him, not once, but twice. Elizabeth's behavior concerned him deeply as it was the first time that their arguing had lasted this long. He decided to get ready and go to the cafe for breakfast, so he could get advice from Abigail. He knew that something wasn't right and he wanted to know if she had noticed anything wrong with Elizabeth or had spoken with her about what was bothering her.

Jack arrived at the cafe a half an hour later, surprised to find that it was empty. Abigail turned in equal surprise as he approached her. He asked her for the usual and she looked at him in astonishment.

Meanwhile, Elizabeth was leaving Dr. Burns's office, her eyes flooded with tears. When she saw him through the window, her tears spilled over her face, as she frantically ran to the schoolhouse to seek refuge.

Abigail stood in front of Jack as he sat down. Her face was etched with concern.

"What's wrong, Jack?" She inquired.

That's when he told her what had happened. She in turn relayed the fight between Jared and Gabe, her visit at their home and Elizabeth's strange behavior. For a long time, Jack was silent.

"You have to talk to her, Jack, or it will only get worse." She finally stated.

"I know, Abigail." Jack acknowledged. "I have been trying to, but she has shut me out, twice. I must confess that I let her shut me out. I was shocked and lost. She has never acted like this, before. This behavior is not like my Elizabeth." Jack explained, placing his face in his hands. "I'm worried that something is wrong." He expressed.

"I can understand and I am too. Try something else. Take her on a ride and a picnic today after school. It will be a good surprise and don't let her push you away." Abigail advised him.
"You're right. Thank you for your help." He put his hand on hers, squeezing it with a smile. Then he put on his hat, waved goodbye and headed back to the jail.

To be continued …