Chapter 10 – The Things Men Say
Thursday, after school, Elizabeth carried a tray of food upstairs. Sabrina rarely left Paul's side; she spent the hours cleaning her husband's wounds, and pouring small amounts of water down his throat. She declared it was working, although the doctor was skeptical of any improvement because Paul still had not regained consciousness. At least he hadn't died yet, everyone else thought.
"Come in", Sabrina declared as Elizabeth knocked on the door. Jacklyn was sitting on the bed near the unconscious Paul, as Sabrina mixed up some shaving cream.
"How's he doing?" Elizabeth asked.
"Sleepy", Jacklyn said quite seriously. She carefully placed a very gentle kiss on Paul's bandaged shoulder. "Daddy has boo boos", she told Elizabeth.
"We're going to give Paul a nice shave. Sit and join us. You can tell me about your day," Sabrina said as she began putting shaving cream on Paul's face.
Elizabeth marveled at Sabrina's refusal to give up on her husband. What strength she must have to hold it all together, tending to a wounded husband, while being pregnant, watching a toddler, and being far from home, Elizabeth thought as she watched Sabrina.
Elizabeth had to laugh as Jacklyn reached into the bowl and began gently putting shaving cream on her father's face, and then patted the cream on her own little face. Sabrina laughed too. "How about if Elizabeth shaves you, Jacklyn, while I shave Daddy?"
After spending time with the LaPointes, Elizabeth went downstairs to the kitchen, where she found Abigail, crying as she stirred a big pot of soup. "I'm making potato and corn chowder" she said between sobs. "I can't stop crying, just thinking of that adorable little girl maybe growing up without a father."
That night, the only soup served at the Café was Paul's favorite.
As Elizabeth lay in bed, she thought of how Sabrina continued to be strong while everyone around her felt both helpless and hopeless. Elizabeth wished that Jack was with her; she knew that he was safe and healthy just down the street in his own bed, but she wanted the reality of feeling him, hearing him breathe, having him whisper sleepily in her ear. She wanted his arms around her.
"CRASH" It was 3:00 in the morning when the noise woke up Elizabeth. When she realized that the sound had come from the room next door, she jumped out of bed and ran to Sabrina's room, opening the door without thinking to knock. The room was faintly lit by a candle.
"What happened?!" she asked when she saw Sabrina on her hands and knees picking up broken pieces of a jug.
"Paul wanted more water, and the jug slipped out of my hands", Sabrina answered as she stood up and pushed a long curl from her eyes.
"Let me help you", Elizabeth said as she reached for the broken shards.
Suddenly she stopped, "Paul wanted more water?!" she exclaimed. Her voice made Jacklyn roll over in her sleep.
Elizabeth looked at the sleeping Paul and repeated herself in an urgent hushed voice, "Paul wanted more water?!"
"He woke up about 1:00. He's been drinking slowly and nodding back to sleep on and off", Sabrina whispered with a smile.
Three days later, Paul was finally able to get out of bed and go downstairs to eat a meal with Jack and Elizabeth. And two days after that, he was able to slowly walk the short distance to the jail.
Elizabeth entered the jail to find Jack and Paul sitting at Jack's desk looking at documents. Jacklyn sat on Paul's lap, her tiny hands gripping one of Jack's drawing pencils as she scribbled on a piece of paper.
"Hello, Gentlemen!" Elizabeth said, looking at the two men.
The change in Paul was amazing. Elizabeth remembered the first time she had seen him, pale, dirty, and weak. Now she saw the Mountie in him. He was over six feet tall, confident, smart, and quite handsome, although not as handsome as Jack, in her opinion. She imaged that when he fully recovered, he would be the epitome of a Mountie.
"I wanted to invite you all for a nice dinner tonight, if you and Sabrina are up for it", Elizabeth said, looking around.
"We'd love that. You can ask Sabrina yourself. She's out back having a good cry," Paul said as he took a pencil out of Jacklyn's mouth.
"A cry? Is everything alright?" Elizabeth asked worriedly.
"She's fine", Paul answered, somewhat preoccupied by Jacklyn, who was now trying to climb onto the desk.
Then he added with a smile, "Would you give her this? She could probably use another one by now", and he held out a handkerchief.
"Here, take one of mine too. She was in pretty bad shape when I got here", Jack offered, as he stood up and handed a handkerchief to Elizabeth. He used the opportunity to give her a smile and a wink.
Dumbfounded, Elizabeth took the handkerchiefs, as Jack and Paul returned to discussing work. How could they be so unconcerned?! Jack had actually flirted with her while Sabrina was apparently out back crying! Men! Elizabeth thought.
Elizabeth opened the back door to find Sabrina sitting on the steps, sobbing. She looked at Elizabeth with red swollen eyes as tears rolled down her face. Elizabeth handed her the handkerchiefs.
"Thank you" she said between sobs. "Mine's all wet."
"Are you okay?" Elizabeth asked with concern in her voice.
Sabrina just nodded as she continued to cry.
"Is the baby okay?" Elizabeth asked.
"We're fine" Sabrina answered as she wiped her tears.
"I'm just a having a little cry" she added as she shrugged her shoulders.
Her definition of "little" must be different than mine, Elizabeth thought.
"Do you know what that man said to me?!" Sabrina asked Elizabeth, as she blew her nose.
Elizabeth was afraid to ask, but was fairly sure that "that man" referred to Paul.
"I have been worried for weeks, I came all the way out here on a stagecoach, I have barely slept in a month, I have cleaned his wounds, I am exhausted and emotionally drained. I have barely held it together, and do you know what my husband said to me?!" she again demanded.
"No, . . . but you can tell me, . . . if you'd like", Elizabeth answered hesitantly.
Every time Sabrina started to tell Elizabeth what had transpired between the married couple, she would get out only a word or two before the sobs started again.
Elizabeth was at loss, so she just sat there. Men are so stupid sometimes. Paul could have said anything, she thought to herself.
Finally, when Elizabeth was wondering if it were actually possible for a person to drown in their own tears, Sabrina took a deep breath and began talking,
"Paul said that his life began the day he met me, and everything before that was nothing. . . . He said that if he wasn't married to me already, he would get down on one knee and propose to me today, and every day after that until I said yes. . . . He said that he loves me more than he thought was humanly possible . . . that I have put him under a spell and he never wants to wake up from it . . . that he could save a thousand lives and it still wouldn't be good enough to deserve me. . . . He said he will love me forever."
Elizabeth sat there mesmerized.
"WHO SAYS ROMANTIC STUFF LIKE THAT TO A WOMAN WHO IS BARELY HOLDING IT TOGETHER?!", Sabrina asked as she burst into another round of tears.
"And I haven't even told him about the baby yet!" she wailed.
Elizabeth reached into her skirt pocket and handed Sabrina one of her own dry handkerchiefs. She walked back inside, realizing that the men were right to let Sabrina have a good cry. After weeks of being strong for her husband and child, the dam had finally burst.
Jack got up from the desk and walked Elizabeth to the front door. "How's she doing?"
"She'll be fine", Elizabeth smiled.
"Women sure can get emotional," Jack said in a surprised voice.
Then he added amusingly, " She's been crying a lot. Do you remember the signs of dehydration, Doctor Thatcher?"
Elizabeth giggled.
On her way to the Café, she thought, a little selfishly, I do hope she's done crying by dinnertime so we can enjoy my cooking.
On Saturday, Elizabeth's parlor was full of conversation as Clara hemmed a dress and the women talked about men. "Shhhh, not so loud, you'll wake them", Abigail said, as the women laughed about her story of Noah asking her out for the first time.
This afternoon, the entire LaPointe family was upstairs napping. Paul was sleeping on his uninjured side, his large frame taking up most of the bed. His left shoulder was still healing, but he was able to extend his arm far enough to protectively hold both Sabrina, who lay against him, and Jacklyn who was cuddled up next to her.
Elizabeth, still laughing, went to answer the knock at the front door. "Jack, what a nice surprise", she said as she opened it and found Jack standing there.
"I thought you might have time for a walk, . . but maybe you're too busy? " Jack said as he looked into the parlor and saw it crowded with Abigail, Clara, Mary Alice, and Mary Alice's mother.
"I'd love to. Come on in for a minute. We're just finishing up. "
"Hello, Constable Thornton", Mary Alice said brightly, looking down at him as she stood on a chair. The 16 year old was wearing a dress which was obviously quite expensive, and in which Clara had put several pins.
"What's going on here?" Jack asked inquisitively as he took in the scene.
"My mother sent me a dress recently, but I really have too many. I thought Mary Alice could use it because she tore one of her pretty skirts on our class field trip to the lake", Elizabeth responded casually as she grabbed her shawl.
The entire room was surprised at Elizabeth's summary of that day.
"You mean the class field trip when a rabid dog almost killed your entire class?" Jack said with raised eyebrows.
Elizabeth gave Jack an exasperated look. "Yes, that class field trip and there's no need to exaggerate!"
Walking through the town, Elizabeth felt a sense of normalcy, as if the stress of the last few weeks had been blown away by the cool breeze.
As they passed children playing in the street, Jack remarked, ""Thank you for making Sabrina and Jacklyn feel so welcome and for helping them out. I never even got a chance to properly introduce you to Sabrina before I left town. I was in such a hurry."
"It was fine. We got along really well."
"Even from the beginning?" Jack asked, a little too innocently.
"Of course, Jack. Sabrina is very sweet."
"So, that wild talk that I've been hearing, that you thought Sabrina was my wife and Jacklyn was my daughter? That's just ridiculous gossip by deranged townspeople?" Jack asked, with a smile in his voice.
"I have no idea what you talking about", Elizabeth answered as she avoided looking Jack in the eye. My heavens! How in the world did he find out about that?!
"Well, just in case you were wondering, I do not have any children or wives", Jack chuckled.
"You'd better not have!" Elizabeth threatened, as she hit his arm. Not yet, she thought with a smile.
"Things have been so busy, I haven't even asked you how school has been lately." Jack said, as he squeezed her hand affectionately.
"I have a new student, who speaks mostly French. Sabrina's actually been helping me with my pronunciation."
"Je t'aime, Elizabeth. Vous êtes la meilleure chose qui soit jamais arrivée à moi", Jack spoke in perfect French.
Before she could say anything, he moved in to kiss her. Just as their lips touched, the rain came down. Not as a slow building rain, but as a sudden surprise downpour on a sunny day.
Holding hands, they ran to the abandoned mine entrance.
"Our favorite place." Elizabeth smiled.
"The only time I have enjoyed this mine, is when I was with you", Jack said with a grin as he built a fire, and they snuggled beside it.
"The rain looks pretty bad. We may have to stay here a while until it lets up." Jack moved Elizabeth's long hair out of the way as he placed soft kisses on her neck.
"If I didn't know better, I would think you made it rain just to be romantic", Elizabeth sighed with pleasure. "You know your kisses make me melt."
Jack laughed, "Well, I don't want you melting. It would be very hard to kiss your beautiful lips if you were a pool of liquid."
"You know what I mean! Doesn't anything make a man melt, or go weak in the knees?" Elizabeth asked curiously, as she ran her fingers through his hair.
"Mounties don't usually melt", Jack grinned.
"It would be kind of hard to ride a horse if we did", he added with a twinkle in his eye. That comment earned him a light punch in the arm from Elizabeth.
"But, . . . if I have to be honest, when you told me that you would wait 364 days for me . . . well, that . . . that made me melt a little . . ." Jack admitted as he looked down shyly,
". . . and go weak in the knees", he added softly, his cheeks getting a little red.
Feeling herself go a little weak just hearing him say that, Elizabeth pulled Jack close and began kissing him. Suddenly, she pulled back.
"What? What is it?" Jack asked, looking around, but seeing nothing.
"I wouldn't really have to wait that long, would I?! I mean, I would wait for you that long if I had to. I would", Elizabeth said emphatically but obviously very concerned.
"But I'm hoping it won't ever be that long. It won't, will it?", she asked nervously.
Jack threw back his head and laughed. "No, Elizabeth, I won't ever leave you for that long."
"Good," she said with satisfaction. "Because I can't go that long without your kisses."
Her fingers traced patterns on his neck as she moved them slowly, gently, caressing his skin. "I love you." Her words and touches tempting him.
He moved his lips to her ear, "I love you" he whispered as he kissed her ear lobe. His hands touched her hips, lightly pressing on her as he moved them along her waist, moving upwards, sending shocks through her body.
As she kissed him, he struggled out of his coat, his lips never leaving hers. He bunched up his coat and held it behind her head. Gently, slowly, he leaned her down, until her back was on the ground, her head resting on the pillow made by his coat.
He leaned over her, putting his weight on his forearms. Their legs became intertwined as their kisses continued. Her hands moved along his back, enticing him.
He began placing soft kisses along the neckline of her blouse.
"Yes", she sighed.
Jack lifted his head and gave her a puzzled look, "Yes, what?"
"Yes, in answer to your question", Elizabeth responded as her hands roamed his shoulders.
Jack was even more puzzled. "I didn't say anything."
Elizabeth giggled. "Yes, you did. Earlier. Weeks ago. You said that I am exactly the kind of woman who needs this Mountie by my side. And then you asked me if I would rather have you on top of me."
"And the answer is yes", Elizabeth said seductively as she pulled him into a kiss.
His heart was pounding, her pulse was racing, as they felt the desire to be with the other. Their kisses intensified, their hands moved along each other's bodies. Both of them were aware that they wouldn't be interrupted in the coalmine. As Elizabeth's hand moved inside his now unbuttoned shirt, Jack rolled off her and onto his back. Exhaling heavily, he groaned, "We've got to stop".
"We're just kissing" Elizabeth said innocently.
"We're doing a whole lot more than just kissing," Jack said as he raised his eyebrows at her.
"I'll behave if you will" she said, in a voice that most definitely sounded like she wouldn't.
She rolled on top of him. Her lips almost, but not quite, touching his. "My turn on top", she whispered provocatively, in a voice that made Jack surrender.
He couldn't keep himself from touching her, kissing her, especially when she whispered like that. Her lips were soft and warm against his.
Suddenly he jerked himself out from under her and began slapping her leg frantically.
"Ouch. Ouch. JACK, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!"
Jack's expression went from concern, to relief, to exasperation, to love, all within seconds.
"We can add this to your long list of walking disasters", he said with an amused look, as he pointed to her long skirt, which was smoldering from the fire.
"Oh, dear", Elizabeth shuddered as she looked at her burned skirt and thought of what could have happened.
"I may have accidently gotten it too close to the fire when I rolled on top of you", she said sheepishly.
"So, technically, it wasn't a walking disaster, it was a rolling disaster; that's your defense?", Jack asked chuckling.
Elizabeth giggled at Jack's comment.
Jack looked at her. Her hair was disheveled, her lips were slightly swollen from the kissing, her clothes were wrinkled and scorched. He thought she looked beautiful.
Elizabeth gave Jack a beguiling smile. "At least I'm your walking rolling disaster."
"Yes, you are. You most certainly are mine", Jack said as he pulled her into a deep kiss.
THE END (for now)
Dear Readers,
I couldn't stay away from Jack and Elizabeth! I have written a few sequels to this story. Please check them out and let me know what you think of them.
"Jack and Elizabeth Vignette Two - The Cold Winter" is the next story. Find out how our handsome Mountie and his beautiful walking disaster cope with the winter.
"Vignette Three - the Test - Don't Fail me now" is the most romantic.
"Vignette Four - Gypsy Woes" is the most light-hearted, in my mind.
"Vignette Five - Blind Faith" has drama, suspense, new friends, and lots of powerful love.
"Vignette Six - Wedding Dust" is the romance of getting married and the hours afterwards.
"Vignette Seven- The Rules of being a Wife" is about Elizabeth's and Jack's first weeks as husband and wife.
"Vignette Eight - Changes" :The mystery of who shot Elizabeth
"Vignette Nine - The Lingering Scent of Lavender" - A mysterious presence affects Elizabeth
"Vignette 10 - Snowfall" - A one chapter story involving the newest Thornton
"Vignette 11 - Wishes and the Necessary Vessel" - Elizabeth needs to be more careful with her choice of words!