Chapter 9 - The Trouble with Family

The attractive middle-aged woman, dressed in simple but clean clothing, anxiously handed the envelope to the man across the counter.

"How long do you think it will take to get there?"

The man glanced from the woman's worried face to the address she had written on the envelope, before he replied. "There's a train going out today. But Coal Valley's a small town. I'm not sure how often deliveries get there. Maybe five days. If you're lucky."

"Okay. Thank you, Wilbur", she said as she handed him a coin for the postage.

"I heard about what happened", he said, feeling her embarrassment.

"I'm sure the whole town has heard", she replied with sigh.

"I'm real sorry, Mrs. Thatcher."


It had been three days since their hilltop kiss. Elizabeth and Jack, both aware of their high profile jobs, tried to appear platonic whenever they were in public. Unfortunately, their glances at each other, Jack's winks from across the saloon, Elizabeth's blushing whenever he looked at her, and the handholding under the Café table had been seen by enough people that news of their relationship status had traveled swiftly through the town.

Elizabeth's female students thought it was all very romantic. Her male students didn't understand why Jack would prefer to go walking with their teacher rather than play ball with them, and Abigail, after months of watching Jack and Elizabeth skirt their feelings, was happy they were finally an official couple.

Elizabeth was in the mercantile buying some school supplies when Suzanne Gowen and Joyce Martin came into the store to look at bolts of fabric. Elizabeth was pretty sure that Suzanne had seen her, but Suzanne acted otherwise as she spoke to Joyce.

"Well, it looks like the simple school teacher has temporarily managed to attract Jack's interest."

"They have been spending a lot of time together", Joyce replied as she unrolled a bolt of pale pink cotton fabric.

"I'm sure he enjoys the diversion", Suzanne said. Her voice carried around the mercantile.

Elizabeth walked around the high shelving and approached the two women.

"Diversion?" she angrily questioned Suzanne.

"You're a school teacher. You must know what the word means", Suzanne said with a malicious smile.

"i know perfectly well what it means. I just don't understand why you said it."

"You're merely something to keep him occupied for the time being, while he's stationed in this small town", Suzanne explained airily. "Surely, you must realize that's all you are."

"Here's a vocabulary word for you, Suzanne. It's 'jealousy'."

"Elizabeth, you're a simple girl. I'm sure you're nice enough, but you are nowhere near Jack's social class. He may have fun with you now, but it's not going to last. Eventually, he'll tire of playing Mountie and hero to the town's teacher."

"Just shut up, Suzanne!", Elizabeth said irritably as she set down her items and stormed out of the store.


"She called me a diversion!", Elizabeth exclaimed to Jack, as they walked through the woods after his rounds.

"Well, you are diverting my attention", Jack grinned.

"How?", she asked hotly.

"That curl for instance", he said motioning towards her.

"What curl?" Elizabeth asked wrinkling her brow.

"The one right here", Jack said as he stopped walking. He reached over and tenderly twirled his finger around a lock of her hair which was falling down the side of her face.

"It always falls out of your hair pins by the end of the day. I love the way it spirals. I have a tendency to think about it sometimes when I should be concentrating on Mountie work", he admitted with a shrug and a smile.

Jack leaned in for a kiss, but Elizabeth placed her hands on his chest and gently kept him away.

"As much as I like you thinking about me, I don't want you being distracted when you're working", she instructed him.

"It's too late for that."

"Jack, I'm serious. I've seen your clothes. Your job is very physical. You're constantly getting roughed up and tearing something."

Jack tried to hide his smile.

"You're right, Elizabeth. And I'll be sure to be careful. But despite my city boy background, I've been riding since I was five, pheasant shooting since I was 13, and attending fox hunts since I was 15. Not to mention, -but I will -I was top of my class in school. So being a Mountie isn't so difficult for me." Jack assured her.

"Okay. Then you can kiss me", she said with a grin.

That stupid Suzanne Gowen has no idea what she is talking about, Elizabeth thought happily as Jack finished kissing her and they continued walking.

Suzanne's childish insults were forgotten by Elizabeth as she and Jack enjoyed the remainder of the evening before he escorted her home. As Elizabeth lay in bed that night, she fell asleep thinking about how happy she was that Jack was so at ease in Coal Valley. She couldn't imagine him fitting in better anywhere else.


"Jack", Elizabeth said as she looked up and saw him approaching her table the next morning. "Join me for breakfast."

"I'd love to. I was at the mercantile and Ned asked me to give you your mail. I'm not sure why he thought I'd be seeing you", Jack said a little too innocently, as he pulled out a chair and sat down.

Elizabeth smiled as she took an envelope from Jack. "I think the whole town knows we're courting. It doesn't take a Mountie's investigative skills to figure that out."

Jack smiled back, and looked hungrily at Elizabeth's plate of pancakes.

"It's from my mother", Elizabeth said as she used a knife to slice open envelope and pulled out the thin sheets of paper.

Elizabeth began quietly reading the letter as Abigail brought Jack a cup of coffee.

"Oh my lord!", Elizabeth exclaimed. She looked wide-eyed at Jack.

"What is it?"

"My sister. Julie's run away and joined the circus!"

Jack set down his coffee cup.

"Julie's your younger sister. The one that tends to get into trouble?", he asked. From what he remembered, Elizabeth had become something of a second mother to the girl after their father died and Mrs. Thatcher had been overwhelmed.

"Yes. And now she's done it again! Apparently some men called the Ringling brothers have a circus traveling across North America, and Julie and some friends went to see them. Julie went back to see the acts three nights in a row, and on the fourth night, she packed a bag, told our mother she was going to live a life of adventure and thrills and left!"

"What does your mom want to do?", Jack said as he reached across the table and took a forkful of Elizabeth's pancakes.

Elizabeth pushed the plate over to him. "Take them. I can't eat."

Elizabeth set down the letter and looked at Jack in disbelief.

"She wants me to go after Julie and bring her back."


Four hours later, Elizabeth was anxiously packing her few clothes for the trip. The advertisement which her mother had enclosed listed the circus' schedule of venues, and Elizabeth was planning on being in Hamilton the day after the circus arrived there. Elizabeth had already booked stagecoach and train tickets for tomorrow, sent a telegram to her mother informing her that she would be going after Julie, and left instructions with town mothers about school lessons.

Elizabeth was going down the stairs in search of a missing handkerchief when Jack walked into the parlor from the kitchen.

"Jack", she said when she saw him.

"Elizabeth, I'm going with you."

"To Hamilton?"

"Yeah, I need to make sure you get there safely."

"Are you sure?"

"Positive. Plus I get a chance to catch up with my family. I can take some leave now. So don't even think of giving me an argument."

"I wasn't planning on it", Elizabeth said gratefully.

"I'm so worried, Jack", she said as she crossed the room to him.

"Hey... It's gonna be okay. Don't worry", Jack assured her as she moved into his arms.


Elizabeth tossed and turned all night. She knew that Julie could be a handful and Elizabeth had no idea if Julie would listen to her and come to her senses. The Thatcher women could be headstrong, but at least Elizabeth looked before she leaped. Unfortunately, Julie didn't.

On the long train ride, Jack explained that he had sent a telegram to his family telling them to expect their arrival.

"Mother will have a guest room made up for you."

Elizabeth tried to protest, but Jack had refused to listen to her argument that she could stay at a hotel. Elizabeth was secretly grateful. As nervous as Elizabeth felt about the prospect of staying at the Thornton home, she had to admit that she would have been more nervous staying a hotel in the city by herself.

"I'm glad you're with me. Thank you", Elizabeth said as she rested her head on Jack's shoulder. Before long, she had fallen asleep from the rhythm of the train's movement.

A few hours later, the train whistle announcing their arrival at a station along the way, woke up Elizabeth. The 15 minute stop to allow for new passengers gave her and Jack time to get off the train and stretch their legs. When Elizabeth came out of the ladies room, she saw Jack coming out of the station's restaurant carrying a paper bag and holding two bottles.

"I got us some lunch", he said holding up the bag.

Once they were settled back in their seats, Jack handed Elizabeth a napkin and frankfurter.

I'm glad you're with me. Thank you", Elizabeth said as swallowed a bite and looked at Jack.

"You already said that", Jack replied as he reached across and wiped a smear of mustard from her face.

"I know. But it's true." Elizabeth said as she smiled at him, and was rewarded with a kiss.


Elizabeth stayed close to Jack as they moved through the crowd of people hurrying through the bustling Hamilton train station after their long train ride.

"Jack Thornton!", a man's voice rang out.

Elizabeth watched as a well-dressed man in his late twenties approached Jack and shook his hand.

"Joe Hardy! How are you?", jack asked pleasantly.

"I'm fine, but I heard you were stationed in some dusty little coal town".

"I am, but I'm thoroughly enjoying it. Joe, this is Miss Elizabeth Thatcher."

"Charmed, Ma'am. Well Jack, aren't you lucky to have met such a pretty lady on the train. And I assume you offered to carry her bag in exchange for her telling you her name. "

Jack laughed. "She's a friend of mine from Coal Valley. She's meeting a relative here in Hamilton and I'm showing her around."

The sound of the train whistle caught Joe's attention. "That's my train! I've off to Calgary. I'm meeting some guys from our school days. Will, Frank, Steve will all be there. Wish you could join us. "

"Maybe another time. Tell everyone I said hello."

"Friend of yours?" Elizabeth asked as they made their way to the taxi stand.

"We went to school together and we belong to the same club. He likes to play more than work and luckily his family has enough money to allow that", Jack responded.


When the taxi pulled into the long drive leading to the Thornton home, Elizabeth realized that Jack's family had more than enough money to allow Jack to play instead of work. Somewhere in the back of her mind, a tiny thought came to her. I hope being a Mountie isn't just something he needs to get out of his system.

I hope I'm not just a temporary diversion.

Elizabeth looked at the large gracious home with its manicured lawn, so foreign from the small house in which she had grown up, and wondered how Jack, so reasonable and down-to-earth, could have grown up here. She was instantly struck by the kind of man he must be to prefer working in the wilderness than living in this ivy covered stone mansion.

As they climbed out of the taxi, the front door to the home opened, and a handsome man, somewhat younger than Jack, came out to greet them.

"You're here. Good to have you home, Jack", he jovially said as the men hugged.

"Jack! My boy is home!", a woman exclaimed as she came hurrying out the front door. She put her arms around Jack, who returned her hug and gave her kiss on the cheek. Jack's mother's had a pretty face which was glowing with happiness. Her hair was pinned back with elaborate pearl encrusted hair combs. An expensive stylish dress accentuated her slender figure as she kept her arms around Jack.

"I'm your boy too, mom. You don't have to make it so obvious that Jack is your favorite", Tom said with a chuckle.

"I love both my boys!", the woman said good-naturedly, but it was clear to Elizabeth that Jack held a special place in her heart.

"Mom, Tom, this is Elizabeth Thatcher", Jack said as he motioned to her.

"Nice to make your acquaintance", Tom said as he looked at her and then gave Jack a knowing smile. Elizabeth recognized it as Tom's indication that he approved of her looks.

"Good to put a face to the name. I understand you're the teacher of Coal Valley. Education is a big interest of mine." Elizabeth noticed that as Mrs. Thornton spoke, her eyes were taking in Elizabeth, head to foot, trying to assess what sort of woman her son had brought home.

"Come along boys and Elizabeth." Mrs. Thornton gestured them into the house.

The foyer was large, larger than Elizabeth's bedroom back home. A circular cherry wood table stood in the center of the room, bearing a vase of long stemmed yellow roses, and an elaborate Persian rug covered part of the floor. Paintings in gilded frames lined the wall of the grand staircase.

"I'll have Ashley show Elizabeth to her room before we have tea so she can freshen up", Mrs. Thornton remarked. Elizabeth noticed a pretty brunette woman in a maid's uniform coming down the staircase and approaching them.

"Miss, where are your other bags?", the young lady, whom Elizabeth assumed was Ashley, asked.

"Just this one", Elizabeth said matter-of-factly.

"I apologize. I thought you were staying with us for several days", Mrs. Thornton remarked curiously.

"I am."

"And only one bag?" Mrs. Thornton looked shocked at the idea.

"Just the one", Elizabeth repeated, although suddenly she was self-conscious about it.


Tea at the Thornton mansion had been dignified.

The trip to the circus was a disaster.

Jack and Elizabeth had enjoyed their quick tea with the family before taking a car across town to the circus grounds. Jack had escorted Elizabeth past the tents, the cages of animals, and the trailers, before leaving her to have a private talk with Julie.

Thirty minutes later, when Elizabeth came out of the brightly painted trailer, the frustration was evident on her face.

"She's impossible! Incorrigible! She has no purpose in life. She thinks it's totally acceptable to run away from home and get a job walking on the high wire at a circus! The high wire!", Elizabeth exclaimed to Jack as they took the car to a small Italian restaurant.

"Give her a day or two to realize that it's not as glamorous and exciting as she thinks."

"A day or two? She'll probably fall off the wire and break her neck just to cause me more grief", Elizabeth said angrily.

Jack laughed. "From what you've told me about Julie, she always causes trouble and finds a way out of it. Give her a day or two. In the meantime, you can spend your time thinking about me."

"You're incorrigible, Jack", Elizabeth said with a shake of head, but she still smiled at him.


Elizabeth woke up the next morning lying between smooth sheets, covered by an expensive blanket, of the Thornton's guest room bed. She lay in bed, looking around the large room until the knock on the door caused her to sit up.

"Come in", she called as she put on the slippers and robe which had been thoughtfully provided to her.

"Good morning, miss."

"Good morning, Ashley". Elizabeth had immediately taken a liking to the young maid when she had met her yesterday.

"I came to see if your dress for tonight's dinner party needs pressing"

"Oh, yes, thank you. It's there in the closet."

"I don't see it, Miss." Ashley said after she had crossed the room and opened the closet door.

"My dress isn't in the closet?"

"Other than a simple day dress, there's just your traveling dress, Miss."

"Yes. I thought I could wear it tonight for dinner."

"Wear this one?", Ashley said trying to hide her surprise as she held up Elizabeth's traveling dress.

"Yes. That's the one", Elizabeth answered pleasantly.

"No?" Elizabeth asked, now suddenly worried. She had never been to an elaborate dinner party, and Jack had assured her that it was nothing special. Just dinner in the dining room with some family friends, he had said.

"Of course, miss. My mistake. It will be lovely. I'll iron it for you."

Ashley frowned as she walked down the hallway carrying Elizabeth's dress. This wouldn't do. It wouldn't do at all. Ashley had been the maid to a number of guests in the Thornton home. Some pleasant. Some rude. But none that were so sweet and so very desperately in need of help in this situation as Elizabeth.

Ashley stopped outside of Tom's room. She knew he hadn't gone down for breakfast yet. She paused just a brief moment before knocking. If Tom couldn't help somehow, Elizabeth was going to have a very rough evening with the other guests.


"Jack, did you see her dress when you showed up yesterday?" Tom asked as he sat on the edge of a study chair after breakfast.

"Not particularly. But she always looks nice and well-groomed."

"Well groomed? She's not a horse, Jack," Tom said in disgust at his brother's lack of insight into women.

"That's not what I meant", Jack said dismissively.

"I'm sure she dresses very nicely for Coal Valley. But it's not good enough for a dinner party here. This isn't your little saloon or Café or wherever the heck you eat in that town of yours."

"Tom, she doesn't care about fancy dresses and neither do I."

"I know women. She'll feel uncomfortable wearing a simple farm town dress tonight.

"It's not a farm town. It's a coal town, Tom. That would be why they call it 'Coal Valley'", Jack said as he rolled his eyes at his brother.

"Jack, it's not just family. The Beachems will be here, as well as the Stevensons and the Middletons."

"So?"

"So, the women will smile and make comments like 'What a sweet dress, did you make it yourself?' or ' My, what a pretty dress; I forgotten that was the style last season.' Or, 'What a nice color. It blends in with everything.'"

Jack looked at Tom with raised eyebrows. "How do you know so much about women?"

"My dear older brother, while you've been settling for your good friend, Lady Suzanna, as your escort for functions, I have been enjoying the company of many, many, many young ladies. I know women. I'll fix this."

"No meddling, Tom", Jack said sternly.

"Me? Meddle? I never meddle. I invest emotionally in your well-being. And when my older brother brings home a lovely lady, and he's hopelessly unaware of the needs of the opposite sex, I would be derelict not to get involved. Don't worry. I'll handle it."

"That's what I'm afraid of."


Three hours later, Elizabeth found herself at Hamilton's finest ladies boutique standing in front of a saleslady and an array of evening gowns.

"Tom, this store is too expensive. Can we please go somewhere else?"

"I'm sorry, Elizabeth, but this is the only store I know of. It's where my mother always buys her dresses. And it's really not that expensive. Besides, you're not paying. I am."

"But, Tom—"

"No arguing. Consider this as you doing me a favor."

"How is you buying me a dress, me doing you a favor?" Elizabeth asked in confusion.

"Jack would deck me if he found out I was responsible for you not having a dress. He thinks you're in your room taking a nap right now."

"It's not your fault the maid damaged my dress."

"If I hadn't been flirting so shamelessly with her while she was ironing, she wouldn't have scorched it. So it's entirely my fault."

A saleslady, who had initially frowned when she saw Elizabeth's simple dress, now eagerly escorted her to a back room. Her arms were laden down with several of the store's most expensive stylish dresses which the saleslady would be thrilled to sell.

"You're not going to dock her pay are you? Please tell me you're not. I'm sure it was just an accident", Elizabeth worriedly asked as she poked her head around the corner.

"No, of course not. Like you said, it was just a simple accident. These things happen", Tom said dismissively. "Now please, try on the dresses."

My goodness, I've had it easier getting women out of their fancy dresses than getting this woman into one, Tom thought incredibly with a shake of his head.


"What do you think of the girl?", Jack's mother asked her husband as they prepared for the evening.

"Dear, stop worrying. I'm sure she's just something to keep his attention while he's in that sleepy little town."

"I'm not so sure." It was evident by her voice that Mrs. Thornton was worried.

"You've invited the Beachems. One look at Lady Suzanna and Jack will forget all about that simple girl."

"Did you see the way that 'simple girl' looks at our son?"

"I have", he said with a sigh. "And that is somewhat worrisome", Mr. Thornton responded with a frown.

Up Next: The Dinner Party