Chapter 9

Julie

"How's your chicken and dumplings, Jack?"

"Wonderful as usual, Elizabeth. You take such good care of me."

"I like to think that we take care of each other."

Smiling, Jack says, "So when are you going to tell me the latest about Julie?"

"Well, she got hurt on her way here. You know she's still so involved with the Girl Guides of Canada. If you can believe it, she still likes to go camping with the local troops. She planned on coming to our party but you know, Julie, she figured that she could go on a camping trip on her way here, and on the trip she fell and broke her leg getting off of a horse! She's in the hospital for the next week or so. But she and daughter Catherine plan to come for a visit once she's healed."

"Is she okay, though?"

"Yes, I guess she'll be fine. She broke it in two places and she's in a large cast. But Catherine is with her."

"Do you want to go visit her in the hospital?"

"No, Jack, I don't think so. By the time we'd make the arrangements, she and Catherine will probably be here. I do look forward to spending some time with them. Sometimes I still can't believe that Julie has spent most of her life with the type of adventure that involved camping outdoors!"

"But she came to Coal Valley by herself…well, with a Mountie escort."

"Yes, and I was shocked even at that, Jack! I never thought she'd go anywhere without her inside plumbing and her hairdresser. But she proved me wrong! I always thought that she would move to the center of the fashion industry, to Europe or enjoy traveling to exotic places. But Julie decided that if I could make it here in Coal Valley, then she could teach other girls how to survive in the wilderness herself!"

Jack chimed in, "I guess taking care of Nate Tolliver at that shack in the woods inspired her…"

"Actually, I think it did, Jack. And the fact that I could survive without indoor plumbing and a hairdresser! I'm sure Julie wouldn't let me outdo her! I think the Tolliver situation really shocked her…how easily she was fooled. She was determined to help prepare young ladies in the ways of the world. Julie was always a go-getter and once she sets her mind to something…Can you believe she actually helped to found the first Canadian Girl Guides Company in Toronto almost forty years ago? And that in 1920, she became the Chief Commissioner of the Dominion of Canada Girl Guides. And she keeps going at her age… still participating in the Trefoil Guild, organizing group meetings, fundraising, and enlisting citizens to join in the Guiding experience. And she spends time on marketing the Girl Guide Cookies..."

Jack chimed in, "I remember when Girl Guide Cookies were only 10 cents a bag. Now they cost a dollar. I sure like those chocolate mint cookies."

Elizabeth chucked, "You mean the delectable Mountie Mints?"

"Excuse me? Is that their name?"

"No, but that's what Julie and I call them."

"I'm not sure I want to know this story…"

"Oh, Jack, sisters like to have secrets, you know that. And we were both married to Mounties, you know."

"Yes, but delectable Mountie Mints? Really, Elizabeth? I think I'm entitled to be in on that secret…"

"Well, if you must know…

As you recall, Julie met her husband James while she was on a camping trip with the Girl Guides in 1917. James just happened to be one of the Mounties that was working in the area of Niagara Falls when Julie desired to share her love of adventure with Uncle Wesley, and some Girl Guides and their parents. The girls were excited to earn some badges on this trip.

The first couple of days went well. But on the third day, there was a terrible storm and the closest place for the group to spend the night was the home of Mountie James. And fortunately for the campers, James had extra room in his cabin which you know is quite unusual for a Mountie. Usually, they have a very small place. When the group made it to eh cabin, you know Julie. She took the initiative to get the kids and their parents situated, and then sat down with Uncle Wesley and James and made some tea. Well, it didn't take long for Julie and James to get into an argument about the proper way to prepare for inclement weather. It didn't matter to Julie that James had been a Mountie for almost ten years; she was insistent that she knew more about it than he since she had been camping with the Girl Guides for five years!

Well, the storm didn't let up for days, so they all had to stay inside the cabin and figure how to adapt. But Uncle Wesley noticed that even though James & Julie argued over silly things, they couldn't keep their eyes off of each other. James shared with Wesley that he never intended to settle down because he liked the adventure of being stationed all over the country. Little did James know that Julie was just like him – always wanting an adventure. When a heart calls your name, Jack; they were meant for each other. Just like us.

As the local Mountie, you know that James had to do his rounds regardless of the terrible weather. On the third day it got really bad, and Julie couldn't sleep because James hadn't come home at dinner time. By 10 p.m., Uncle Wesley and the rest of the campers went to bed but Julie was concerned for James. So she made some tea and waited up for him, and he didn't return until midnight. When he came in the door, he was soaking wet and was shivering. He so appreciated the fire and hot tea that Julie prepared for him. That's when it all began, Jack. When they spoke that night, Julie expressed that she was going stir crazy being holed up in the house. James said that he expected the weather to improve the next day and he asked Julie if she would like to go on a walk before she headed home.

James was right about the weather improving. When everyone woke up the next day, it was beautiful outside. So the campers needed to pack up and return to their homes and to check on their families. While everyone was getting their belongings together, James and Julie want on a walk to the lake.

James said, "Julie, it was nice having you around the past couple of days. I know that we didn't exactly see eye-to-eye when we first met, but you impressed me with your knowledge of the outdoors and how you like adventure, and I would love to call on you if you are interested."

"James, I would very much appreciate you calling on me. And yes, I do love adventure."

"And you know the rest of the story, Jack, within six months, they were married."

"And where do the Mountie Mints come into the story?"

Elizabeth chucked, "Oh, yes, sorry, Jack, I got side-tracked talking about James and Julie. When I went to Toronto for Julie's Bridal Shower, the first night we stayed up all night drinking tea and eating those Girl Guide chocolate mint cookies. I talked all night about you and Julie talked all night about James. We compared notes about our Mounties, you could say. We were like silly school girls that night. The funny thing is, being the adventurous type, I was surprised how nervous she was about the honeymoon. So, I shared with her how wonderful it was between you and me."

"What exactly did you share, Elizabeth?"

Elizabeth kissed Jack and said, "Don't worry, Jack, just girl stuff. I didn't share anything too intimate."

"Well, that's good to know, because I was pretty nervous myself on our honeymoon."

"Really, Jack? I recall things going quite well…"

"Sorry, Jack, I keep getting side-tracked. Back to the 'delectable Mountie Mints'. When Julie first came to Coal Valley, she asked me, 'what's really going on between you and that delectable Mountie?' So, each year when the Girl Guide cookies come out, Julie would ask me if I bought any delectable Mountie mints."

"I see. Well as long as I can be the subject of your enjoyment!"

"Jack, you will always be the subject of my enjoyment! But it's funny how things don't always end up the way they're imagined. Did you know that before I left for Coal Valley that Julie said that I'd end up an old school marm never taking any chances in life and love?"

"Well, I'm so happy that you took a chance in life and love with me, Elizabeth. I just love the life that we've made together. I can't imagine my life without you and our family."

"Jack, you have made my life complete. Since the time we met, except for a few bumps in the road, I can't imagine even one day without you. You have been the most amazing husband and father."

"Elizabeth, would you like to go for a drive with a delectable Mountie tomorrow? Perhaps we could discuss a few of those "bumps in the road"…

To be continued…