August 16, 1915
"You nervous for your first day?" Jack asked Gabe.
"A little I guess. I'm trying not to be."
"Don't worry, Kid. You'll have this down so soon, you'll be able to do it all on your own."
Gabe's eyes widened. "You're kidding."
"Not in the least." Jack patted Gabe on the back. "Once you've worked here a couple years, I want to leave it with you. I'll go work for Lee. Elizabeth and I are wanting to start a family soon. I want a more reliable job to allow me more evenings at home."
"I understand that." Gabe paused. "Hey Jack, how did you know Elizabeth was the one? Did you know right away?"
"We had a season where our feelings for each other were very hot and cold. But we got through it. We both just had to come to the understanding of what we really wanted. And in actuality, we both wanted each other."
Gabe nodded.
"You got a girl?"
Gabe blushed and grinned. "Promise not to tell?"
"Mountie word on it, not a word to anyone."
"Cassandra Garner."
"You couldn't have picked a better girl Gabe."
"I've liked her for the past five years. We're both 20, I'll be 21 next month, she'll be 21 in January."
"No need to rush. Elizabeth was 30 and I was 32 when we got married. Teenage marriage isn't for everyone, neither is waiting until your 30's. Lots of people go somewhere in the middle."
"Well, she's finishing up her teaching degree and I have my Mountie job and we're both in Hope Valley. It might be a good time." He chuckled. "She and I kissed each other by the sweetheart tree five years ago. Call me crazy, but I knew it was her even then. Something just told me, 'One day, that girl is gonna be your wife.'"
"I guess I can understand that. I felt the same way about Elizabeth. But Buddy, it doesn't always go by your time clock, just so you know."
"I know. And I'm willing to wait. All I want is her."
"She's a sweetheart that's for sure. I remember thinking how she was one of the lucky ones who didn't lose her…" Jack stopped his words dead in his tracks. "I'm sorry."
"It's okay. I'm glad she didn't have to go through that hurt." Gabe said. "It really did hurt. I'm glad she didn't have to experience it."
Jack paused, afraid he had said the wrong thing to his young friend.
Gabe cleared his throat. "But this telegram isn't gonna mail itself. I'm gonna run over to the store and have Mr. Yost send it." He tried to hide a yawn. He wasn't used to this whole 'beginning work at six in the morning' thing.
"Thanks Gabe, I'll have coffee ready when you get back." Jack grinned.
"Thanks." Gabe smiled.
He walked into the Yost's store. He saw Cassandra at the counter.
"Hi Cassandra," He smiled.
"Hi," she muttered. She looked up. "Oh Gabe, I'm sorry."
Cassandra looked like she had been crying. Without even thinking, he put an arm on her shoulder. "Cassandra, are you all right?"
"Romeo is missing yesterday. I hope he's okay. I hope he doesn't get bitten by a rabid animal or killed." Her voice trailed off. She didn't want to cry in front of him.
Gabe loved the dog that belonged to Cassandra and her family. "I have to send out this telegram and then I'll run over to the jail and see if Jack will let me help you look for him."
"Would you? Oh Gabe, I would really appreciate that."
"I'll see what he says."
Gabe read the telegram to Mr. Yost and then returned to the jail.
"Hey Jack, do we have anything really pressing today?"
"No. Why? You trying to quit early on your first day?" Jack grinned.
"Well Cassandra's dog is missing and I would help her look for him if you don't need me."
"Sure, go on. Have fun." The elder Mountie smiled.
"I just hope we find him."
"Good luck."
"Thanks."
Gabe went back outside where Cassandra was waiting. "Can we stop by my house first?"
"Sure." She replied.
They went inside. "What are you going to do?"
"Getting my gun, just in case we run into something dangerous."
Once he loaded the gun and made sure the safety was on, he and Cassandra walked the three miles out to her house.
"Daddy is already looking around. He's up north. Mama is to the east."
"Great, I'll take the west if you want to take the south."
Cassandra nodded.
After searching until 8:00 in the evening when the sun was almost down, Cassandra sat on the ground and began to cry.
Gabe came up to her.
"Cassandra, I found him." He smiled.
"Romeo!" she exclaimed, jumping up and hugging the dog.
She stood up. "Gabe, thank you! Where did you find him?"
"He was out west of the house a couple miles."
"Don't you ever run away again, Romeo." Cassandra scolded the dog before hugging him again.
She turned from Romeo. "Thank you, Gabe." She hugged him.
"What are Mounties for?" he grinned.
"It is so hard to believe that you're a Mountie now."
"And that you're gonna be a teacher in a year… we're growing up. We always talked about when we were grown up. Well, I guess that's now."
She laughed. "It came faster than we thought."
He nodded.
"Can I walk you back into town?" Cassandra asked after a pause.
"Oh no, that's fine."
"Are you sure? The least I can do to thank you for finding my dog is take you to Abigail's. I'd pay."
"Well I would enjoy the company, but I'm paying."
"Oh no you aren't." she grinned.
"Try and stop me."
The playful arguing continued as the two walked into town.