Disclaimer: ***I do not own the characters within, all rights and much respect go to Crown Media, Hallmark, Ms. Oke, Mr. Bird, Mr. Landon, and the creators/writers/actors of "When Calls the Heart". The character Rupert Sokull is mine but you can have him! ;)

Chapter 7

Later that night, after almost two weeks of heartache, awkward interactions and missing one another, Jack and Elizabeth found themselves at the saloon. Elizabeth was there researching math strategies to help a student who was struggling. Jack spotted her across the saloon as soon as he walked in.

'Enough is enough!' -he thought. He missed her and after speaking with Emily, it sounded as though she missed him too. Elizabeth's smile and wave earlier today gave him added hope; plus his dream the other night was still bothering him. Even Bill mentioned things may not be as they seem. He immediately walked over to say hello.

He took a deep breath.

"Hi Elizabeth, I see you're working late." His smile was soft but he felt determined to squash the awkwardness that had settled in between them.

"Hi, Jack! Yes, I am. How are you?" Elizabeth said a little more enthusiastically than she expected to.

"Ok. Do you have a new test that you need to try out on a guinea pig?" Jack asked as his smile grew bigger.

Elizabeth smiled, "No, not this time!" They both recalled that happier time and they locked eyes for a moment. The miners' loud laughter over at the bar snapped them out of their reverie. They both looked over to see what the commotion was all about.

"I uh, received a telegram that said there's a big storm on the way from the east." Jack said hoping to keep their conversation going.

"Really?"

"Yeah, thunder, lightning, heavy winds…" Jack explained, noticing the concern that came over Elizabeth's face.

"Oh, no, I hate thunderstorms! They make me nervous." Elizabeth said, practically cringing.

At first Jack was going to joke with her to keep the mood light, but now he wanted to give her comfort. "I'd be happy to walk you home if the storm begins by the time you're ready to leave."

'He wants to walk me home?' -she thought. Elizabeth loved that idea because it would be her chance to be with him and to finally talk. "Ok!" She said with a smile.

Suddenly Elizabeth noticed Rosemary walking over to the table and she recalled the rumor that she and Jack were seeing one another. "I'd like that but there's Rosemary and I'm sure she wouldn't like it." Elizabeth said looking down with a touch of sadness in her voice.

"I don't care what Rosemary thinks." Jack said firmly.

Elizabeth's looked up quickly, surprised by his reaction. 'They must not be together for an answer like that!' she thought.

"There you are, Jack!" Rosemary said dramatically.

"I'm busy right now." Jack said keeping his eyes on Elizabeth.

A loud commotion near the bar drew everyone's attention as some miners became rowdy. Jack excused himself to see what the commotion was all about before it got out of control. Rosemary smiled at Elizabeth and followed Jack over.

When the miners had calmed down, Tom called Jack over, "Hey Jack, I took the liberty of fixing you some tea."

"Thanks, Tom." Jack replied. A man began to make conversation with Jack about the Mounted Police. Throughout their conversation, Jack couldn't help but to keep looking over at Elizabeth. 'She is so beautiful'-he thought. He noticed that he wasn't the only man to take notice of her. 'As long as no one touched, they'd live' –Jack thought. 'I think that went well, it's a start. Things have been so awkward between us, what if we never fully recover?'

Once again the group by the bar was loud and rowdy. Someone accidently bumped into Rosemary, "My, how rude! Is that how you treat a lady?", she said to the man in front of Jack. She was hoping to get a reaction out of him; perhaps Jack would defend her honor.

Jack addressed the bar, "Calm down everyone and be respectful towards all the women present. I may not be in uniform but my authority is still the same."

Elizabeth overheard Jack's announcement to the crowd on the other side of the room and thought, 'This town is so fortunate to have a constable like Jack.' She kept looking over at him and hoping he would return.

After a few minutes, Rosemary looked over at Elizabeth and a mischievous grin came across her face. Her plan to seal the deal and separate Jack and Elizabeth for good was about to take flight. It appeared that Rupert Sokull took her bait. Rosemary was aware that Rupert made comments about being interested in Elizabeth in the past so, she sought him out yesterday to make him aware that she was available and interested in him. He was extremely pleased when Rosemary told him that Elizabeth was no longer seeing the Constable. Rupert said he didn't want any trouble with the law; he didn't share that it was because of his criminal record. Rosemary assured him, "Don't worry! Jack broke things off with Elizabeth because he wanted to rekindle our engagement. Believe me, Elizabeth is interested in you and finds you quite handsome!"

Rupert Sokull now stood next to Elizabeth as she worked.

"Oh no, Jack! Are you ok? I'm so sorry you had to find out this way." Rosemary said dramatically as she rubbed his arm.

"Find out about what?" Jack asked as he pulled away from her.

"About Elizabeth and Mr. Sokull, of course." Rosemary said confidently.

"What? What about them?" Jack said, looking confused.

"They've been seeing each other. I'm sure you're upset but it's for the best that you find out now." Rosemary lied.

"Wait, Rupert Sokull? They're not seeing each other!" Jack said.

Tom rushed over, "Um, Jack…Sokull is talking to Elizabeth." Tom said nervously.

Jack immediately looked over to where Elizabeth was sitting and saw a man talking to her. "Is that him?" he asked as his brow furrowed.

Across the room, Elizabeth felt as though someone was staring at her. She looked up and saw Mr. Sokull looming over her as he stood next to the table. 'Oh no, go away!' -she thought. This man gave her the creeps. He made her uneasy, mostly from the way he looked at her.

"Miss Thatcher, you look especially beautiful tonight." Rupert said in a gruff voice.

Elizabeth froze for a split second then she stood, "Thank you" she said as she attempted to put her books back.

Rupert stepped to the side and blocked her way. "May I have the next dance when they change the record?" he asked.

"No, thank you. Excuse me." Elizabeth said nervously but he blocked her way again. He was standing so close to her that she could smell the alcohol on his breath and realized he was drunk.

"That's too bad, Miss Thatcher. I could dance with you all night. In fact, I'd dance you right up to my room." He winked and touched her arm. Repulsed by the impropriety of his insinuation and his touch, Elizabeth stepped back.

Jack didn't like the way that Rupert was smiling and leaning in so close to talk to Elizabeth. 'Calm down!'-he thought but when he saw Elizabeth stand and try to walk away, only to have Rupert block her way, his jaw tightened. Jack watched as Rupert blocked her again and then caressed Elizabeth's arm. He saw Elizabeth recoil and he flew into action. Keeping his eyes fixed on the scene, Jack moved passed Rosemary, pushed a few miners and chairs out of his way, as he weaved through the crowd to get to Elizabeth.

After being blocked twice, Elizabeth turned around to walk the other way but Rupert grabbed her wrist, spun her around and pulled her into an embrace. Elizabeth's heart was racing with fear as she struggled to get free. "Hey come on now, I hear you're available and interested and I'm very interested in you." Rupert slurred as he moved in just inches from her face in an attempt to kiss her.

Elizabeth struggled to break free from his hold. "Please, let go of me!" Elizabeth said with a terrified look on her face.

Seeing Rupert's hold on Elizabeth, Jack saw red and launched himself at the man. "Let go of her!" Jack yelled as he broke Rupert's hold on Elizabeth. Jack felt as though he was in a primal mode, no he was in bear mode. He wanted to tear this man apart. Rupert fought back, but Jack quickly gained the upper hand as he fought and tackled the man. He pinned Rupert to the ground, "How dare you touch her!" Jack yelled.

"Jack…Jack! I'll take it from here." Bill said as he placed a firm hand on Jack's shoulder, snapping him back to reality. "I'll book him for harassment?"

"Yeah and whatever else you can throw at him!" Jack said sharply trying to catch his breath. He took a calming breath, leaned in close to Rupert and said, "If you ever lay a finger on my Elizabeth again…may God help you! Do I make myself clear?" Jack said strengthening his hold to cause more pain. "Do I?"

"Ow! Yesss!" Rupert practically squealed. His shoulders and arms felt as though they were on fire because of Jack's hold.

Elizabeth stood there frozen trying to calm her racing heart. She gasped when she heard Jack refer to her as 'his'. For a brief moment hope sprang into her heart. He certainly didn't react that way when that rowdy miners bumped into Rosemary.

Bill nodded to Jack as he took over the hold and moved Rupert towards the exit. "Tom I'll be at the jail if you need me. I think the Constable will be busy." Bill said with a small smile.

Jack turned to Elizabeth and could see that she was visibly shaken. "Elizabeth, are you ok?" he said as he walked over to her.

All she wanted to do was to jump into Jack's arms to feel safe and comforted. "Jack…" her voice cracked as she took a step towards him, but she suddenly became aware that they had the entire saloon's eyes on them. She took a calming breath and found her voice, "Constable, would you please escort me home?"

Jack nodded knowing they'd talk outside away from prying eyes, "Of course, Miss Thatcher." They quickly walked toward the doors of the saloon anxious to be alone.

Rosemary simply stood with her mouth open wide; her plan totally backfired. She didn't expect Rupert to act so badly and she didn't expect a typically mild mannered Jack to react so strongly. 'He must really be in love with her' -she thought. It was obvious, this game was over. She had wasted an awful lot of time in this small town. She headed upstairs to her room to think.

Once outside, Jack ushered Elizabeth just to the side of the saloon so they could have some privacy away from prying eyes. Neither could wait to walk all the way to the café, they had to talk now.

"Are you ok?" Jack asked with concern as he looked her over. He noted that she was holding her wrist. "He hurt you?" He asked as he lifted her wrist, brought it to his lips and gently kissed it.

Elizabeth couldn't hold back any longer and she hugged him. "Thank you, Jack! I was so scared! I was just minding my own business and then he…"

"I know! It's ok, you're safe. I won't let anyone hurt you." Jack whispered in her ear as he held her tightly.

She took comfort in his embrace for a moment. "I see that, I think everyone in the saloon knows you won't let anyone hurt me." Elizabeth said shyly.

Jack pulled back, "I'm sorry if that embarrassed you Elizabeth, but to see Sokull with his hands on you like that…I can't help myself when it comes to you." Jack said.

"I've missed you so much, Jack! I can't do this anymore! I can't just be friends with you. Is there any chance we can resume our courtship? Unless of course your feelings have changed or you rekindled your relationship with Rosemary?" Elizabeth asked because she just had to be sure.

"Of course not! My feelings for you haven't changed, they're just as strong. I've never felt for anyone the way I feel about you, Elizabeth. That's how I know that we are meant to be together." Jack said.

Elizabeth smiled but continued because she had to get everything out. "I don't want anyone getting in our way anymore, especially us! We have to face life's obstacles together…united! I want to face life's obstacles with you."

"I want that too!" Jack said.

They smiled at one another. "I have to agree with you. I've never felt so strongly for anyone either. I've certainly never envisioned a future with anyone before you." Elizabeth said.

"Really?" He said, surprised.

"So, are we courting again?" Elizabeth asked hopeful.

"Yes, but I want to hear more about the how you envision your future with me." Jack said, with a mischievous smile.

Suddenly feeling shy, Elizabeth said "Well…" she looked down but suddenly felt determined. 'Be bold! This is your future…' Abigail's words came back to her. Looking directly into his eyes, Elizabeth said "In my dreams…my children have your eyes."

"Is that so!" Jack said surprised.

Elizabeth looked down, "Yes..." she whispered.

"That's funny because in my dreams they have your eyes." Jack said as he grinned.

They smiled at each other, slowly leaned in and kissed. "I love you, Elizabeth." Jack said softly.

"I love you too, Jack!" she said as they leaned in and kissed again.

Thunder could be heard in the distance as the storm was rolling in. The wind kicked up as lighting streaked across the sky. "Come on, let me walk you home." He said as he released her. He then held his arm out for her to take. "Stay close though, I may need you to protect me from this storm, they make me nervous." Jack joked as if they had never broken up.

"Jack! That's not funny, I can't help it." Elizabeth swatted his arm with a smile. "I know it's only a warm and cold air mass colliding but I've seen lightning strike causing fires and serious damage. It's scary!"

"Fair enough." Jack said as they began to walk.

A bolt of lightning followed by a loud crash of thunder made Elizabeth jump. She held onto Jack a little tighter and he stopped walking. "I'm sorry!" she said as she pulled back.

Jack just smiled at her, he secretly loved it when she did that. "So, you're scared of spiders, snakes, bugs, thunderstorms…" Jack said as they resumed walking.

'Mice too' –Elizabeth thought but she wasn't going to reveal that. "Jack! It's not fair that you know my weaknesses. Don't you have any?" Elizabeth said.

Jack stopped walking, "You're my weakness, Elizabeth." He said as he placed his hand on her cheek and looked into her eyes. "I'd do anything for you! I don't know what I would do if anything ever happened to you. I'm so thankful that I was there tonight." Jack said seriously. "And for the record, I'm not making fun of you! I'm just trying to make sure I know exactly what's going to get you to jump into my arms." Jack said playfully with a smile.

"Oh…" Elizabeth smiled as she felt a blush rise to her cheeks. 'Thank you God!' -Elizabeth silently prayed. They continued walking to the café, happy and relieved to be putting the last two weeks behind them.

They arrived at the café but they were not ready to leave one another. They walked up the steps and looked at each other. "Well, I guess I'll see you…" Jack started but Elizabeth cut in, "Would you like to come in for tea, or a pastry, or…water?"

Jack smiled at that, "Water?"

"I…I don't want you to leave yet." Elizabeth said with a small smile.

"Good, I'm not ready to leave you. I've missed you." Jack said.

"I've missed you, too." She said.

They smiled and walked in. Elizabeth moved to put a pot of boiling water on and Jack reached for the pastries.

Meanwhile in the jail, "She set me up!" Rupert Sokull said to Bill.

To be continued...

***Hearties, here's to hoping that you all had what I like to refer to as a "Happy Heartie Sigh" with J & E's reunion.