Chapter 11

Pastor Frank knocked on the door to the jail and entered to find Jack sitting at his desk, leaning back in his chair with his eyes closed.

"Sleeping, Jack?"

"No! Not at all. Just trying to relax."

"You nervous?"

"Sure!"

"No second thoughts, though, right?"

"Absolutely not! Why does everyone keep asking me that?"

"I don't know, Jack. Maybe because a nervous groom makes all of the rest of us nervous, too, especially with the history you two have. No one will rest easy until those rings are on your fingers."

"I suppose…"

"I came by to see if you maybe wanted to go to the saloon for a little while with me, Bill, Lee and a few others."

"As long as we don't eat there!" Jack responded, the comment made by the two ladies at the café that morning was not far from his mind.

"I figured that. I got you covered. I asked Abigail to pack us some snacks."

The two men walked across the street and joined the other men at a table. Lee left as soon as they came in and came back carrying several shot glasses of whiskey.

"Drink up, my friends!" he declared as he placed them all in the center of the table.

Everyone grabbed one as Bill stood and held his glass high. "Here's to you and Elizabeth and your life together! May you grow old and grey together with a gaggle of grandchildren about your knees."

"Here, here!" echoed the other men as Jack answered, "From you lips to God's ears!"

The next round was on Bill and he came back with whiskey, as well. Under the glare of Mr. Trevoy, Frank began to unpack the snacks Abigail had made, because he was worried that if he didn't, he might not be able to keep the promise he made to her to not let Jack get too inebriated, even though, knowing Jack, he wasn't really worried.

The men began playing darts and switched to beers. The more they drank, the worse they threw, laughing heartily with one another and making crude jokes at Jack's expense. At first he had been mortified as they made innuendos about his lack of aim and prowess, offering "tips" that would increase his likelihood to score. Lee's knowing what happened between him and Rosemary made him especially sensitive until he had enough alcohol flowing through his veins that he let go and laughed along with them.

"So, Jack… Ready for the event tonight?" Lee asked him as they were waiting for their turns.

"More than you can imagine!' Jack answered enthusiastically.

"Pretty excited about a wedding, there, Jack!"

"Oh! You meant the wedding!"

Lee's laugh echoed throughout the saloon, causing everyone to look over at them. Despite Jack's being a bit tipsy, he felt his face flame. Lee clapped him on the back.

"Jack, I'm sorry! That was really funny! But, I get it. Four years, man. You could qualify for sainthood with that kind of restraint." The other men nodded in agreement.

"Believe me, it has been really hard at times, especially since I came home, and she is not making it any easier on me, that's for sure!"

"Well, I guess it won't be too long until there will be a little Thornton joining us, then." Lee stated. "Which is good, because our baby will need someone to play with!"

Jack's brain was not working at full capacity, the effects of the alcohol still impacting his thought process. Lee looked at him and noticed that Jack was silent; stunned, even.

"Jack, are you all right?"

Jack looked up at him and said, "We are going to have children! I am going to be a father!"

Lee looked a bit perplexed. "Yes, Jack, that is generally what happens when one is married and engages in… married… activities."

"I know that logically," Jack stated, annoyed. "I just never thought about that there will be an actual baby. A baby that is mine and Elizabeth's. Made by doing… that!"

"One step at a time, friend. The baby isn't just handed to you your first time after the wedding ceremony. I should know!"

"Wait," said Jack, still not fully engaged. "Did you just say that your baby needs a playmate?"

Lee grinned. "I did!"

"You and Rosie?"

"Yup. Me and Rosie. By doing… 'that', as you put it."

"That's incredible!" Jack exclaimed, his emotions feeling just a little to big for his body due to his own excitement and the whiskey and beer circulating around in him.

"It is!" Lee agreed. "We were starting to get a bit worried. You know, we have been married quite awhile and we have been doing… 'that' quite often for a long time."

"How far gone is she?"

"About two or three months is what we think. She had sort of given up paying attention. But that means that you and Elizabeth have to hurry up and catch up!"

"We will do our absolute best!" Jack grinned, looking even more forward to sharing themselves with each other and seeing what would come to pass.

It had been Lee's turn for quite awhile and the other men had waited while he and Jack seemed to be entrenched in an important conversation, but when they heard the excitement in Jack and Lee's voices, they gathered around them.

"What's all of the commotion?" Frank asked.

"I am going to be a father!" Lee declared to the whole room. Cheers and hardy congratulations rolled out from every direction and Mr. Trevoy came out with a fresh bottle of whiskey and several clean glasses.

"This deserves a toast!" the barkeep exclaimed, pouring up a generous glass for every man. "Drink up, boys!"

"Here's to Lee and Rosemary and their impending arrival!" Bill announced. "May they have a safe delivery and a house full of love!"

"Now, gentleman," Lee said. "I appreciate the congratulations, but please, we didn't want to announce it today and detract from Elizabeth and Jack's big day. So, mum's the word until after tonight, all right?"

The rest of the afternoon passed quickly and Jack was grateful for the distraction. But, as the hour grew later, the more anxious he became in direct relation to how much he sobered up. At about four o'clock, he excused himself to leave because he could no longer concentrate properly on anything and went back to the jail. After he bathed and dressed, he paced, back and forth across the floor, his longing to see her increasing with every step. At half past five, Lee came to the jail and found a very pale and distracted Jack.

"Are you all right, Jack?" he asked, his voice thick with concern.

"No," Jack answered.

"What's wrong?" he asked. "Oh, please, don't tell you me you drank too much and aren't feeling well! Rosemary will kill me!"

"I'm fine!" Jack answered. "I may not drink often anymore, but I had enough practice in my youth: I can hold my liquor. Better than I should, honestly."

"So, what is it, then?"

"I just want to see her, Lee. I haven't seen her all day!"

"Not too much longer, Jack. Half and hour and it's show time!"

"You sound like Rosie!" Jack laughed.

"I guess she rubs off on me a bit, doesn't she?" Lee chuckled. "Let's head over to the church and wait there."

"Lee, where is she?"

"I think she is at Abigail's. Why?"

"Lee, I have to see her. I have to know that she is real, that this is truly happening and not just another dream. I keep waiting to wake up to a cloud of blowing snow."

"There is no way that those women will let you within 100 feet of her! In fact, I think they may come after me with pitch forks and torches if I dare suggest it."

"Please, Lee," Jack begged. "I don't have to see her. I just… I just want to talk to her; to hear her voice."

Lee heard the anguish in Jack's voice and made a split-second decision. "Wait here!" he said. "I will go over there and ask Abigail if there is any way we can let you speak to her where you won't see her."

"Thank you!" Jack sighed, instantly feeling calmer already.

Lee ran across the street and Jack waited on pins and needles for what felt like eternity. Finally, at twenty to six, he came back.

"Here's the deal," he stated. "Rosemary was fit to be tied and flat out refused!"

"But… Wh," Jack began to interrupt.

"But," Lee emphasized, "Abigail intervened. I am taking you there now. You will stand on the side of the staircase and once you are situated, they will bring her down the stairs. You cannot turn and look at her, Jack. I don't want to get murdered in my sleep by my wife. Promise me! You know she would do it, too!"

"I promise," Jack said solemnly.

He followed behind Lee, feeling like he was having an out-of-body experience. Abigail opened the door and smiled at him, which he returned nervously. He then looked around and saw other faces, Clara, Bill and Rosemary, the later glaring at him like he had committed some horrible faux pas at a Hamilton dinner party.

"Hi, ladies," Jack said feebly.

"You had better not look at her, Thornton!" Rosie growled.

"Yes, ma'am," he joked back at her, giving her a salute.

Once he was situated, standing against the wall on the side of the staircase, where her descent would be hidden from his view, he heard Abigail go up the stairs and knock on the door that had been hers when she lived there. He closed his eyes and gathered himself as he heard her footfalls on the steps and held his breath.

When she stopped, he said, "Elizabeth?"

"Yes. Jack? Are you all right?"

"I am now," he answered her. He felt awkward with everyone around them and he pleaded with his eyes to Abigail to give them just a moment alone.

"Let's all go into the café!" Abigail said brightly.

"Not on your life!" Rosemary retorted.

"Rosie!" Lee said sharply, as he started to laugh. "They are both adults. Good grief, give them a minute's peace. We will be right over there!"

Once Jack watched them move into the other room, he took a deep breath. "I just had to talk to you, Elizabeth. I had to tell you I love you, because I know once I see you in there, I won't be able to form a coherent sentence. So, here goes: I love you, Elizabeth Thatcher and thank you for agreeing to be my wife."

"I love you, too, Jack," she whispered back to him. His longing to kiss her was overwhelming; he knew he had to do something.

"Elizabeth, give me your hand," he told her and she reached hers out of the stairwell, as he reached his out behind him and clasped hers with his. He saw Rosemary start to walk back into the kitchen, her face set with irritation, until Lee grabbed her elbow and pulled her back. Jack shot him a grateful look.

He squeezed her hand and felt an overwhelming need to pray. So, he began to speak.

"Our dear Lord, Elizabeth and I will come before Thee shortly to join our lives together in what we pray is the light of Thy blessing. Please watch over us and guide us. Please protect us and help us to always remember Thy love for us. Bless our home that it may always be filled with joy and love in each other, our children and our love for Thee. In these things we pray, Amen."

Elizabeth said nothing, but he heard her sniffle and he smiled, giving her hand a squeeze.

"Thank you, Elizabeth," he said. "I feel much better now."

"I love you, Jack Thornton," she whispered.

"I love you, too. I will see you in just a few minutes! Now, go back upstairs so that I can get to the church on time!"

He smiled as he heard her ascend the stairs and for the first time noticed that everyone else in the room was looking at him, Rosemary, Clara and Abigail all wiping their eyes.

"Jack Thornton, you beat all!" Rosemary told him. "Now we are all going to be late because we will have to fix our faces!'

"Come on, lover boy!" Lee told him, clapping him on the back. "You are making the rest of us look bad!"

Jack felt more at peace in the few minutes leading up to the wedding than he had felt all day. As he stood beside Frank and Lee, watching their fellow citizens of their beloved adopted town filter in, he realized he had never felt such an affinity for any other place he had ever lived. These people were his friends and neighbors. They had encouraged, cajoled and supported his and Elizabeth's relationship since before they realized themselves that they had one and now they were all there to witness the culmination of years of both heartache and joy.

He looked around and saw the effort everyone had put forth to pull together a wedding in just a few short days and their affection for the couple was apparent in every stitch and tuck that decorated the pews, walls and pulpit. Elizabeth's students sat patiently as they awaited their beloved teacher's entrance and Jack could see the adoration and pride in their eyes. As he scanned the room, several of the children caught his eye and would smile at him, completely at ease that he would be the one who would hold her heart forever; they approved and Jack chuckled to himself that it made him feel better knowing that they entrusted someone they cared about so much to him. When he glanced at Opal, she smiled shyly at him and hugged her bear tighter into her chest, then timidly waved to him. He raised his hand and discretely waved back.

Then, the doors opened and Cat began to play the piano. He smiled as first Rosemary, then Abigail came down the aisle and stopped on Frank's opposite side. Directly after, he heard the congregation rise as his gaze was fixed on the vision standing at the threshold and then everything went blank.