Disclaimer: I do not own the characters within this story. All rights and much respect go to Crown Media, Hallmark, Brian Bird, Michael Landon, Jr., the creators, actors, and writers of the show "When Calls the Heart."
Chapter 11- Friends…Enemies- It's a Narrow Line
"Ma'am, I'm looking for Constable Thornton. I was told that he may be here…" Constable Gaffney inquired.
Elizabeth seemed confused; with it being the early part of the day, why would he assume that Jack was not working?
Before she could say anything, the Constable spoke up, "I'm sorry ma'am. I was just told if he wasn't in the jail, that I could check here."
"I expect to see him later, but I'd assume that he is on rounds right now. I'll be glad to tell him that you're looking for him; that is if I see him later," Elizabeth stated as she began to feel uncomfortable, and attempted to place the door between herself and her visitor.
"Thank you, ma'am; I'm sorry to have disturbed you. Oh, ma'am…please be careful," he stated as the door closed and Elizabeth bolted the lock.
She leaned against the door wondering what he meant by his last statement. "Jack knows these men, so they must be okay," she thought, trying desperately to convince herself. She walked through the house emptying boxes that had previously been left untouched, and soon the uneasy feeling she had disappeared.
While on rounds, Jack and Eli crossed paths…
"Eli, what are you doing out here? I thought you were heading to Toronto to escort the Gallaghers…" Jack stated.
"I'm leaving now, but I have some things I need to take care of first. I also wanted to tell you goodbye, and that I expect to be invited to your wedding to that beautiful school teacher of yours," Eli replied.
"I'll definitely invite you, but she isn't mine…She is her own person, very independent, and I like it that way," Jack responded with a smile and a far off glance which would have told anyone around that she was now monopolizing his thoughts.
"Jack, I'm happy for yo… Jack…Jack?" Eli called out.
"Oh, I'm sorry, Eli. I do get preoccupied when I think about Elizabeth," Jack admitted.
"I'm sure you do," Eli remarked.
"What about you? When are you getting hitched? I want to meet Juliet soon," Jack advised.
"Juliet and I aren't dating anymore," Eli explained.
"I'm sorry, I didn't know. I guess it has been a while since we've seen each other. Well, you'll come across the right woman when you least expect it. I sure did," Jack stated.
"No, I'm fine with how things are, and I know that everything will continue to work out the way it should," Eli remarked with a laugh. "Take care Jack. I'm sure we'll cross paths again soon."
"Bye Eli…stay safe!" Jack yelled as he momentarily considered reasons why he was riding back toward town. Assuming that he had forgotten something at the jail, Jack headed off in the opposite direction.
_
Elizabeth filled a container, and stepped out onto her porch to water the flowers that Jack had planted for her. She found herself smiling as she went from plant to plant, observing the brightly colored flowers, and taking in the new life in the form of additional buds.
"Hello Miss Thatcher," a strong voice called out from behind her causing her to drop her watering can as she spun around.
"Oh, hello Constable Stanger," Elizabeth called out.
"Is Jack here?" He asked.
"I am not his keeper. Why does everyone assume that he is here all the time?" Elizabeth replied.
"You haven't seen him?" He inquired.
"I don't know what you think, but Constable Thornton has his own life, a big part of which is his job. I assume that he is out on rounds," she stated curtly. She stepped back as he continued to approach her, invading what she considered to be her personal space. "Excuse me sir, what are you doing?"
"I was simply asking because Jack…uh Constable Thornton, had asked me to come out here and get you to bring you to him. It's important, or he would be here himself," Constable Stanger replied, backing away slightly from her space. "You're strong willed, just like my Juliet," he whispered.
Not knowing why, but feeling leery, and quite uncomfortable, Elizabeth backed toward her front door, trying her best to get inside, and praying that Jack would be returning soon. She slipped inside the door and started to close it…
"Okay, the truth is that Jack didn't send me, but he's been hurt, and I knew that you would want to be with him," he explained.
"Hurt…how? Where?" She gasped as she flung the door open.
"Please come with me, and I'll take you to him," Eli stated as he stepped aside and watched the expression on her face change from skeptical to worry.
"Wait here, I need to grab my shawl," she stated. Elizabeth grabbed her shawl from the table and turned for the door but stopped suddenly. "I'll be right out," she stated as she reached in the drawer and retrieved Malcolm's gun, slipping it in her bag. "It doesn't hurt to be prepared," she thought.
Elizabeth kept telling herself that she had nothing to worry about regarding Constable Stanger. From what she could tell, he and Jack were apparently friends, and her concern was now for Jack, and how badly he was hurt.
Eli stood to the side of the steps and held out his arm to Elizabeth to steady her to the ground. She chose not to take his offer, instead holding on to the railing as she descended the steps.
"Please tell me how badly he's hurt… Has he been taken to a doctor?" She asked, almost begging for information.
"I don't want to scare you, but it's bad…"
Elizabeth's heart sank and she felt tears forming as they quickly slipped down her cheeks.
Eli helped her up into his wagon, and took the seat beside her. He slapped the reins as his two horse team trotted away.
"Miss Elizabeth, where are you going?" Malcolm called out as the wagon passed dangerously close to him. "What's wrong? I hate to see her crying?" He thought.
Jack returned from his rounds and proceeded to the livery to care for his horse. His thoughts were with Elizabeth, and the quiet time he looked forward to sharing with her this evening. He started back to the jail to change, stopping off on the way at the café to pick up dinner to take to Elizabeth's.
"Hi Jack, how is your day going?" Abigail asked as he entered the kitchen.
"I'm home and I have plans with Elizabeth tonight, so I'd say my day just got a great deal better," he responded with a smile. "May I get to dinners to go, please?" He asked.
"Certainly… I have chicken and vegetables, and meatloaf with mashed potatoes and peas," Abigail offered.
"I think I'll take one of each, please," Jack stated as he sat at a table in the dining room waiting on his food. He watched as several married men from the saw mill had their families in the café enjoying dinner. He smiled at the big strong men who suddenly softened when holding their children, and he dreamed… "One day that will be us, Elizabeth!" He thought.
Abigail packaged up his food and took it out to the dining area.
Jack paid for their meals, and headed for the jail to change and freshen up.
Elizabeth became more frightened as she asked questions about Jack multiple times, but Eli continuously avoided answering them. "Is he dead?" She finally asked, finding her breath to be increasingly elusive.
"I don't think so," he responded with a flippant tone. "Not yet anyway…"
"What does that mean? Where are we going? Can't you go any faster?" She cried out her questions in rapid fire succession, as her fingers were clenched on the seat, attempting to keep herself from becoming airborne.
They went around a corner, and Eli grabbed her arm as her body left the seat. Her bag fell to the ground as the wagon continued on.
"We're almost there," he yelled back.
"Where is he? I don't see him…" she yelled as her eyes scanned the area. She was very familiar with this place. Jack had previously taken her to the valley nearby where they had enjoyed a romantic picnic. This was different; it was cave like, it was getting dark, and she was scared for herself, but more so for Jack. "Where is he?" She asked again, her tone becoming more agitated.
"Just be quiet, and come with me?" Eli demanded as he grabbed her arm, pulled her from the wagon, and dragged her toward the abandoned coal mine.
As she was pulled into the shaft, she glanced back and saw her bag was no longer lying on the bench of the wagon… "Please let go of me… Jack? Jack…where are you? I don't see him; where is he?"
Miles away, Jack was oblivious to the danger that had found its way to Elizabeth. He was excited to have a date with her, but wanted to be at his best. He bathed, shaved and changed his clothes before grabbing the dinners from Abigail's and headed out the door. The weather was comfortable, warm, but with a cool gentle breeze, so he decided to walk. Upon reaching Elizabeth's house, it was getting dark; he noticed that there were a few lights on, but not as many as he would have thought.
*Knock, knock, knock…
*Knock, knock, knock…
"Elizabeth, it's me; you can open the door now…" Jack called out as he stood at the door with his arms full. "Elizabeth, it's me…open the door," he called out again. "Okay, your point is made; you don't have to ask who it is…Please let me in!" Initially thinking this was a joke, Jack was smiling at her determination. The longer he stood outside, the more concerned he became. Then he thought, "Maybe she thought we were meeting in town for dinner." He turned and headed back toward town.
Jack approached Abigail's Café when he was stopped by Ned Yost…
"You received a telegram today, Constable. I knew you'd want to see so I took it to the jail. One of your visiting Constables took it and placed it on your desk," Mr. Yost advised.
For Ned to come out at night to tell him about the telegram, Jack could only assume that it was important. Having been to the jail earlier, but only to clean up and change, Jack turned away from the café, and headed for the jail.
"Finally…" Constable Gaffney called out as Jack entered the jail.
"Finally…what?" Jack responded as he went immediately to his desk, shuffling papers as he searched for the telegram.
"I've been looking all over for you; I think we have a problem here," he stated.
Jack found the telegram mixed in with some other papers, "Uh huh," he stated as he began to rip open the envelope…
"Constable Thornton… I don't know where you received the information that you provided, but it is inaccurate. Please know that given your involvement in the Gallagher case, we will inform you immediately once they are apprehended. Constables Beckham and Gaffney have been assigned to provide you with additional security.
Stay safe,
Commander Hollander"
Jack dropped the telegram on the desk; his eyes were fixated on Constable Gaffney, although it was as if he was looking right through him.
"Constable, what's wrong?" Constable Gaffney asked.
"Where's Constable Stanger?" Jack asked.
"I haven't seen him. I was looking for him earlier, but never found him," he responded.
"I'll be back," Jack stated as he opened the door.
Constable Gaffney recognized the concern in Jack's eyes, "I checked on your girl earlier. She was fine."
"Elizabeth…what were you doing checking on Elizabeth?" He asked, as he turned around and closed the door.
Constable Gaffney stood from his chair and approached Jack, "Sir, I have concerns about something, and I simply wanted to make sure that Miss Thatcher was okay."
"Concerns…what concerns? If you know something, you need to tell me," Jack's blood pressure was rising, and his patience was waning.
Constable Gaffney looked down… "I've only been a Mountie for a short time. I don't want to make a mistake, and say something until I'm sure."
"If Elizabeth is in danger, your mistake will be in not telling me…" Jack demanded but gave him no time to answer. "TELL ME…" Jack yelled.
"I don't want to say anything until I have the proof I need. I don't want to be responsible for ruining a man's career," Constable Gaffney explained.
"Ruin a man's career…what man?" Jack demanded.
"I'm concerned about Constable Stanger. I think there is more to the Gallagher's escape than we know, and I believe that Eli is a party to it," he stated.
Jack exhaled hard, finding this thought impossible to believe. "It's impossible… I've known Eli for years… I can't believe that he would be a part of anything the Gallagher's have done. His life has always been his job…he loves being a Mountie."
"Maybe so, but he also was known to visit them in prison, and…"
"And what?" Jack asked.
"Did you know that there was also a Gallagher sister?" Constable Gaffney asked.
"Yes, but she was very young," Jack advised.
"No, well yes, there was a very young sister, but there was also a girl in between Sam and Robert. Her name is Juliet," Constable Gaffney explained.
"Wait, Eli's old girlfriend's name is Juliet…" Jack remarked.
"Not old girlfriend…his wife…!"
Jack turned back toward the door, "I have to go find Elizabeth."
"I saw her earlier, and she was fine," Constable Gaffney reported.
"But I was just out there, and she wasn't home," Jack stated as he ran out the door, and into Malcolm, who was entering the jail as Jack was exiting.
"Sorry Malcolm," Jack stated as he brushed past Malcolm and headed down the steps.
"Constable…"
"It will have to wait," Jack yelled.
"Why did you make Miss Elizabeth cry?" Malcolm yelled; a statement which stopped Jack in his tracks.
Jack spun around; he closed the distance between them, "Have you seen Elizabeth?"
"She left her house with one of your Mountie friends. They rode away in a wagon, and she was crying," Malcolm explained, "I kept hearing her saying your name…what did you do to her? She's so sweet, and you should be nice to her."
"Do you know where they went? Think Malcolm; this is very important," Jack asked, the thought of her in the hands of the Gallagher brothers shook him to his core.
"I started following them, but I lost them somewhere around the old coal mine. It started getting dark and I didn't have my weapon," Malcolm responded.
That's probably a good thing," Jack remarked.
"But I found this," Malcolm remarked as he held up his gun for Jack to see.
Jack took the gun from him and placed it on the table, "Where did you find this?"
"It was in this on the ground at that sharp bend before the coal mine," Malcolm stated as he held up Elizabeth's bag.
"That's Elizabeth's…Take me to where you found this," Jack stated as he rushed to the door with Constable Gaffney, and Malcolm at his heels. Malcolm grabbed the gun and secretly slipped it in his waistband as he ran by.
They mounted their horses, and Malcolm led them to where he had found the bag…
"The abandoned coal mine is just around the bend. Malcolm, you stay here…" Jack demanded as he and Constable Gaffney headed down the road toward the entrance.
As they approached the mine, Jack saw a wagon hitched to a post outside. They stopped outside, leaning up against the mountainous walls and listened…
"I told you that someone would figure this out. You may be a Mountie, but you aren't as bright as you think…"
"Be quiet, I got her here, didn't I…?"
"Yes, but where is Thornton? The plan was to get Thornton, not these two…"
"This is his girl. He'll be here…"
"How do you know? We can't wait here forever…"
"Her neighbor followed us. Don't worry, he'll bring him, and you'll get your chance to take him down…"
Jack heard voices, but the only one he recognized was Eli's. He could only assume that the other voices belonged to Sam and Robert Gallagher.
Jack pointed to the parallel path as Constable Gaffney headed around to the back side. Jack edged closer to the opening; the room was dimly lit by several lanterns, but he was able to easily make out the silhouettes of Elizabeth, and Constables Beckham and Everett. The Constables were tied up back to back, but Elizabeth was free, situated in between Sam and Robert Gallagher.
"Thornton is a lucky man to have someone as lovely as you on his arm…"
Elizabeth's mind was spinning; trying to think of anything she could to get out of her current situation, "I think you must be mistaken… Constable Thornton and I are only friends."
Jack had more serious matters to worry about, but he did feel the sadness that she must have felt hearing her refer to their relationship as friendship. He observed Constable Gaffney on the back side of the area, and they were waiting for the right time to surprise them. He felt his gut tighten, as one of the Gallagher brothers edged over closer to Elizabeth.
"Well then, if you are just friends, maybe we could…"
Fearing for Elizabeth's life, Jack nodded to Constable Gaffney. As they edged closer with their weapons drawn…
*BANG…BANG, two shots rang out as Malcolm, refusing to follow Jack's orders, rushed inside, slipped and fell as his gun discharged.
Everyone's attention was drawn behind them toward Constable Gaffney, as the gunfire, and subsequent screams took each person by surprise. Jack rushed in, pushing Elizabeth out of the way, and tackling Eli in the process. They both stood, struggling with each other, each one attempting to gain power over the other. As Jack and Eli fought, Constable Gaffney held Sam and Robert at bay.
With only one gun between them, and each one fighting for it, Elizabeth screamed…"JACK!"
The gun went off, and both men fell to the ground. Initially, neither man moved... As everyone stood frozen, Jack rolled off of Eli still holding the smoking gun.
"JACK," Elizabeth screamed as she ran passed Eli and knelt down beside Jack.
He attempted to shield her from the sight before them, as Eli lay mortally wounded with a chest wound. He stood, and took Elizabeth, leading her to one of the shaft openings, "Stay here," and he returned to Constable Gaffney, placing handcuffs on Sam and Robert Gallagher, and releasing Constables Beckham, and Everett.
Later, with the prisoners secured at the jail, and Eli's body removed from the scene, Jack sat with Elizabeth on the front porch of her house. He could feel her body shaking, and wanted to do what he could to ease her.
Elizabeth attempted to remove the visions of what she had just experienced. Feeling his arms around her, pulling her close helped, "Please don't leave…"
"I'm not going anywhere," he responded as he tenderly kissed her forehead.
"I was so scared, Jack," she admitted.
"You're okay, Elizabeth. I'll never let anything happen to you," he promised as his fingers slipped under her chin gently lifting her lips, meeting his perfectly.
Her lips parted slightly as she sighed…his lips captured hers as she moaned and her taste flooded him. They sat outside in silence; Jack held her tightly, as their bodies slowly rocked back and forth. Jack smiled as he glanced down and found her asleep, safely snuggled into his body. Their body heat was providing the much needed warmth from the chill of the evening air. He slowly stood, picked her up, and carried her to her bedroom. He laid her on the bed, and covered her with the comforter she received as a housewarming gift from Abigail. He wanted to be nearby in case she needed him; so he slipped back out onto the porch where he took a seat on her top step. He had quickly found with Elizabeth that the more time he spent with her, the less time he wanted to spend apart from her.
As the sun began to rise, Elizabeth stretched. She pulled the cover away and upon seeing herself still dressed, quickly remembered the events of the night before. She realized that even with the dangers of his job, she was very fortunate to have Jack in her life, but was saddened at the fact that their time together was all too short.
She fixed a cup of coffee, grabbed her journal, and headed for her front porch swing. As she opened the door, she was pleasantly surprised to find Jack curled up on the porch sound asleep. She retrieved a blanket, covered him, and took her seat on the swing. She glanced down at his relaxed form, listened to his smooth rhythmic breathing and smiled. She opened her journal, flipped to the next blank page and began to put her feelings down on paper…
"How is it possible for some people to enter this world with complete love in their hearts, only to have their souls darken with age, experiences, and entitlement? They spew hatred, choosing to justify their actions by holding others accountable for that which they decide to do. Such a shallow existence; spending a lifetime not knowing the true joy of a simple walk around a beautiful lake; feeling inner peace when providing an act of kindness for another, or taking in the beautiful colors of a magnificent sunset with that special someone. Feeling such hatred keeps one's heart full of anger, unable to experience complete love for another; only concerning themselves with their own wants and needs.
Fear of the unknown and fear of the unexpected can be just as frightening as the fear of one's own feelings. Often times they are one in the same, making you feel like a prisoner in your own body. Our choices, initially led by those in higher places, lead to our experiences, shaping our decisions as we shift from infancy, to adolescence, to adulthood. We then make the choice to be rude, critical, selfish, and mean spirited, or kind, encouraging, empathetic, and selfless. We make the choice, and we are the ones who should be responsible for the outcome.
Here's a thought… Just think how free we would be if our feelings were not hidden, allowing us to be an open book; no questions; no misunderstandings; just the knowledge that what we say is truly what we feel…what we mean…"
"Elizabeth…"
She stopped writing as she glanced over to see Jack still asleep. His breathing was deeper, yet rapid. Initially he seemed restless. Elizabeth watched him momentarily as his body calmed, and a smile covered his face. With his eyes remaining closed, and still asleep, she listened to him talk…
"Elizabeth, I love you," she heard him clearly say. The next several sentences were garbled and unclear, but by his tone, and the smile that remained on his face, she felt that they were made with love in his heart.
Elizabeth sat her journal down on the swing, giving him her full attention…
"Elizabeth, will you marry me…?"
She softly gasped… "Yes," she whispered. "If only you'd ask me when you're awake…!"
To be continued…
