Chapter 7

Shooting Yourself in the Foot

On Sunday after church, the whole family went out for lunch before they all needed to leave for home. Jack & Elizabeth enjoyed having their family together over the weekend for their 40th wedding anniversary. Jack and Elizabeth enjoyed spending extra time with Jacob, Emily's son, the week prior and it allowed them to share stories of their past. Jacob always loved reading and listening to their stories. [An Interesting note: Eventually, Jacob would become a book distributor, get married and have a daughter named Janette, who would marry and become Janette Oke, a famous author. It likely all started with Jacob's excitement for Jack and Elizabeth's life stories and he passed that love along to Janette who actually used some of Jack and Elizabeth's stories in her books.]

Before they all left, Jacob asked Grandpa Jack, "One more story, Grandpa? Did you ever shoot anyone?"

Jack smiled and said, "Okay, Jacob, one more story. Did I ever shoot anyone? Well, that's an interesting question to ask a Mountie. I don't think you ever asked me that question before.

Jacob, being a Mountie required me to be prepared to use my firearm at any time. I always had a loaded revolver on me at all times (while I slept it was close by) and I always kept my rifle with me when I was on my horse or in my patrol car. I spent a great deal of time at target practice because the expectation was that you may only have one chance to shoot your intended target; you never knew what type of arsenal the other party had.

Before I talk about my shooting someone, perhaps we could persuade Grandma to help me tell the story about the Tolliver Gang in 1910. Elizabeth?"

Elizabeth looked at Jack and said, "If we must, Jack. I'd prefer not to relive that day but, yes, I will help tell the story. Let me first say that just prior to the Tolliver Gang coming to town, your grandpa and I went out on our first real date, a wonderful night of dinner and dancing. In fact, that is when we starting courting. We were so in love already but grandpa had just gotten notice that he was going to be transferred to Cape Fullerton, the post that he'd always dreamed about. He told me that he wanted to stay in Coal Valley for me, but I convinced him that he needed to take his new post. I loved him so much and I didn't want him to resent me for holding him back from the post that he wanted."

"Yes, right after I asked grandma for that first real date, Constable Patrick O'Reilly escorted Aunt Julie to town for a visit. As I was speaking to Patrick later that evening, he handed me transfer papers to Cape Fullerton. I wanted to tell grandma right away but I had waited so long to start courting her and I didn't want anything to spoil our date. We had such a good time on our date - I didn't know how to tell her. We both had fallen hard for each other at that point, and I didn't know what to do. Your grandma convinced me to go to my dream post but as I've stated before, I knew that was a mistake right after I left. I couldn't stop thinking about her."

"In the meantime, Aunt Julie had been exploring the countryside and found a man named "Nathaniel who had been shot in the woods. Being the free spirit that she was, Julie was determined to take care of him and over the course of a few days, she thought she was in love with him. Julie nursed him back to health and he left town promising to come back for her. Right after he left town, Julie shared some information about Nathanial's background, that he had done some bad things in the past, but that he was trying to turn his life around. I told Julie that not all men have honorable intentions. Being concerned, I marched Julie over to the jail to tell Constable O'Reilly. Unfortunately, he wasn't there and was out doing rounds, so we left a note for him."

"In the meantime, on my way to Cape Fullerton, I came across several groups of Mounties all looking for the infamous Tolliver Gang who had been described as ruthless bank robbers. During a conversation with a group of Mounties, one of them said to me that Nate Tolliver had been shot and his horse was found in a little mining town called Coal Valley. Jacob, I bolted on my horse so fast, I had to get back to make sure your grandma was okay. It took me 10 hours to get back but when I got to Abigail's to check on grandma, Abigail had been tied up and she told me that grandma and Julie had been kidnapped at gunpoint!

Jacob, I can't begin to tell you how frightened I was at that point. You remember, I still hadn't told grandma how I felt about her. I was so afraid of losing her, that the Tolliver gang would harm her. All I could think about was protecting and letting her know her I felt about her. But I was never one for words and when I left for Cape Fullerton initially, all that expressed was that I would write to her. And I tried to write that first day but I couldn't find the words that were in my heart. Upon learning that she was kidnapped, I was beside myself. I was desperate to find her and at least let her that I cared about her. No academy training could prepare you for a situation like the Tolliver gang, but God helped me. I prayed for wisdom and courage and Patrick and I devised a rescue plan for grandma and Julie.

You know, Jacob, your grandma is very brave. We sort of rescued each other that day. You see, there were only two of us Mounties, Patrick and me, and we didn't know what to expect if and when we found them all. I prayed that grandma and Aunt Julie would be okay. You see, the Tolliver Gang were holed up in a little shack and they had grandma and Aunt Julie tied up. Since there were only two of us and we didn't know what to expect, we devised a plan to make it appear as though there were more Mounties. Fortunately, it was late at night and pitch black outside, so when we arrived at the shack, I said, 'Nate Tolliver, you and your men come outside with your hands up!'"

Elizabeth chimed in, "And I shouted, 'Jack, there's four of them and they're all armed!' At that point, Nate Tolliver and his gang put guns to our heads, led us outside the front door, and said to grandpa, 'I got your woman, Mountie, so I don't think I'll be taking orders from you."

"And I said, 'there's a dozen Mounties in these woods and they got their rifles aimed at all of you right now.' I dropped my weapon and told Tolliver that they should do the same. At that point, as they all stood on in front of the porch, Patrick shot one of the gang and I ran up to Nate Tolliver and pushed him to the ground away from grandma. With my gun pointed at him, he told his gang to drop their weapons. After I cuffed Tolliver and was walking away, Nate reached down to pull a knife out of his boot, and grandma shouted, 'Jack, he has a knife!' I turned around and slugged him to the ground."

"I ran over to grandpa and asked him if he was hurt and he said no. We hugged each other for a long time, both of us so relieved the other was okay. What a drastic turn of events that day from being kidnapped and so afraid, to being in grandpa's arms. I went from the worst state of fear to feeling safer than I had my whole life. Sometimes life really throws us curveballs, Jacob, doesn't it?"

"Jacob, I didn't shoot anyone that night, but I had to be prepared for anything. Being a lawman is far more than using a gun. It requires you to be prepared for anything; using your gun should always be a last resort."

Jacob piped up, "But did you ever shoot anyone, grandpa?"

Jack looked down and said, "I'm afraid so, Jacob. Over a thirty year career, a Mountie is likely to shoot at least one person. When I first became a Mountie, I was so eager to chase pirates and whiskey runners in Cape Fullerton. How naïve I was. Little did I know, Jacob, that people looking to do bad things live everywhere, not just in the big cities. Some people like to hole themselves up in the backwoods to stay out of sight. Well, that happened in Coal Valley several times over the years.

Back when your mom was little and your uncles had just been born, there was a new family that moved to town. They kept to themselves pretty much, didn't come to town except to purchase supplies. They didn't frequent the other town businesses and they didn't attend church. I was suspicious of them from their arrival. Periodically, when I'd do my rounds, I'd go out to their house and there was always several people outside as thought they were standing watch.

One morning, I had taken your grandma to town with your mom who was three at the time, and your uncles, who were six months old. I dropped her off at Abigail's for some breakfast. Abigail always loved seeing the kids and Mary Avery and your mom Emily were close in age so they loved to play together. Well, your mom and Mary started running in the restaurant and ran out the front door. Naturally, grandma went after them. About that same time, I was sitting in the jail and I heard a gunshot coming from the Mercantile. As I came out of the jail, I saw grandma running down the street after your mom and Mary, heading straight to the Mercantile. I screamed at them to go back to Abigail's immediately and to lock the doors. I made sure they were safe and headed to the Mercantile.

As I approached the Mercantile, I decided it best to enter through the back. I could hear things being thrown around in the store, so it appeared that someone was robbing the store. I looked around the corner and I saw two guys with guns. Hickam was lying in blood behind the counter - he had been shot in the arm. I looked around the corner and shouted, 'put your guns down and your hands up!' One of the guys shot at me and missed, and I shot both of them. I hit one in the shoulder and one in the chest. Once they were both down, Hickam shouted that he was bleeding but that he'd be okay. I asked him to get the doctor while I stayed with the robbers. Miraculously, both men survived the shootings. The doctor treated them and they were transported to Cape Fullerton where they stood trial. We had found out they were whiskey runners and they had charges against them in several territories. Eventually, they were hung for their criminal acts."

Elizabeth said to Jack, "Always my hero! Well, except for the time you shot yourself in the foot. Can you share about that, Jack?"

Jack looked at Elizabeth with a puzzled look and Elizabeth started laughing. Elizabeth said, "Actually, Jack shot himself in the foot numerous times, only there were no bullets involved! Let's see, there was the time when we met and you told me that I was a princess and that you were sent to babysit me in case I got a stubbed toe! Oh, and how about the time you came and told me that you didn't want me to go trekking out into the woods with Billy Hamilton and that you weren't jealous! And one more, how about the time you told me that I wasn't a fool exactly, but that a woman my age was an easy target, implying that I was desperate!"

Jack sighed and said, "I guess that's all true, everyone. I didn't have a way with words. I did shoot myself in the foot numerous times. But your grandma couldn't resist my charm nor my kisses, right Elizabeth, and I eventually won her over!"

Everyone laughed and Elizabeth pinched Jack and gave him a smile. As everyone left, Jack and Elizabeth thought about how quiet it would be over the next couple of weeks until Emily and Rachel would come for a visit.

That evening after Jack & Elizabeth said their nightly prayers together, Elizabeth said to Jack, "Now, tell me again how I couldn't resist your charm nor your kisses…"

To be continued…