Author's Note: This chapter is kinda long. Over 2,700 words. It was fun to write though. I hope you enjoy. :)
Chapter 14
The One
Jack still couldn't believe what Rosemary had said about Elizabeth. That morning he dressed and headed to the saloon to ask Elizabeth up front. When he arrived, he found Elizabeth drawing a picture of what looked like a squid on the board.
"Is it true you're taking another teaching job back east?" He asked, startling her.
"Word spreads fast in this town." He continued. He didn't think it would be a good idea to tell her that he had gotten the information from Rosemary.
Elizabeth mentioned she had an offer. Her family was worried about her.
"That's understandable." Jack replied. "With everything that's gone on and going on."
Elizabeth then mentioned how Jack and Rosemary had a history and a lot in common.
Jack disagreed. "That's not true." He said.
"A man doesn't propose to a woman and get over it so easily." She answered.
It's been two years. Jack thought. I was over Rosemary before I even came to Coal Valley.
"Now I need you to think long and hard about your feelings, before you make a decision you might regret." She continued.
"If that's what you want then I will." Jack answered.
"It is." She replied.
Jack didn't think it necessary to do anymore thinking, but agreed to, because she'd asked him to.
Jack then tried to lighten the mood.
"Is that a squid?" Jack asked of Elizabeth's drawing on the board.
"It's a comet." She replied defensively.
"A comet?" Jack asked. "May I?" He walked passed her to the board.
He erased the 'squid' and drew a beautiful comet as Elizabeth watched in amazement.
"I could add a constellation if you'd like." Jack said as he finished the comet.
"How bout you remove a constable before my students get here."
"What?" He asked teasingly. "So you can take credit for my chalk work?"
At that time, the children started arriving.
"Good morning, children." Elizabeth said smiling. "Be sure to admire Mountie Jack's artwork on your way to your seats. He enjoys a compliment."
"Unlike Ms. Thatcher, who is uncomfortable with compliments, Jack replied. "Even though she's quite deserving of them."
Elizabeth turned to face Jack; he noticed she was blushing.
"School is in session, Mr. Thornton." She told him. "If you'd like to speak, please raise your hand like all the other children."
The children started to giggle.
Jack couldn't resist. He smiled and raised his hand, until she nodded in his direction.
"May I be excused?" He asked.
"Yes you may." She answered.
"Thank you, Ms. Thatcher." He replied, as he walked passed her toward the door. He couldn't help but notice, she was trying to hide a smile.
Jack left the saloon to start his rounds. After his rounds he headed to the jail. He patted Rip on the head and sat down at his desk. He opened up his sketchbook to the drawing of Elizabeth he'd been working on. Until recently he'd forgotten how much he loved painting and sketching. Elizabeth seemed to bring out his love for the arts. He wondered if Elizabeth had ever realized that he had painted the backdrop.
Maybe I'll work up my nerve and confess one day. He thought.
He put some finishing touches on his sketch and closed his book.
He started to become tired. He crawled into bed and was soon fast asleep.
The following morning was Sunday. Everyone was on their way to the grove of trees for their Sunday School service. After the service everyone was going to be headed to the saloon for a town meeting. Jack had to make his rounds. When he returned he thought he'd go get a bite to eat at Abigail's. When he arrived at the café, Abigail was just getting in from the meeting. She fixed Jack some beef stew and told him what had happened at the meeting. After hearing the meeting had not gone well, Jack knew what he wanted to do.
Maybe my plan will help Coal Valley, and Elizabeth will decide to stay. He thought.
He finished his stew and told Abigail he'd be back. He went to the jail to pick up an envelope and headed back to the café. Envelope in hand, he was getting ready to reveal his plan to Abigail, when Bill Avery burst through the door. He'd been attacked while in the mine and the evidence he'd collected against Henry Gowen had been stolen. Jack set out to find who attacked Bill. After several hours of riding in the darkness, he had no luck of finding Bill's attackers. He returned to the jail to find Elizabeth sitting on the porch.
She told him she was glad he was back safely.
"Were you worried I wouldn't be?" He asked.
"No," she replied.
"Yet you're out here in the middle of the night, waiting." He said.
"If you must know," she answered "I was watching for Halley's comet."
Halley's comet?" He asked, smiling. "Do you know how many times I've heard that excuse?"
She smiled back at him. "Maybe I was a little worried." She told him.
"Just a little?" He asked, still smiling.
"Don't push it." She answered.
He told her how sorry he was for what happened at the town meeting. He also told he he'd support her decision to stay or go no matter what. He told her she deserved to teach in a real schoolhouse.
"But I have faith that'll happen here sooner than later." He said.
"A schoolhouse doesn't really matter to me." Elizabeth replied. "It's the children."
"This town needs you, Elizabeth." Jack said. "Not just this town." He smiled at her once more. She blushed.
"It's getting late." She told him. "We should probably turn in."
"Of course," he answered.
Elizabeth stepped off the porch and walked passed him.
"Elizabeth, wait." Jack said. "Let me walk you to the café."
"Jack I'll be fine." Elizabeth replied. "It's not that far."
Jack didn't care he wanted a few more minutes with Elizabeth. He saw her safely to the café and returned to the jail.
He got out his sketchbook and opened it up. It was empty. Where was his sketch of Elizabeth? He knew that was where he'd left it. He looked around.
Where could it be? He wondered.
He noticed a wadded up piece of paper in the wastebasket.
There's no way that's it. He thought.
He reached in the wastebasket, got the paper out and opened it up. It was the sketch of Elizabeth. Someone had drawn a mustache on her face.
Now who would do such a... He thought.
"Rosemary!" He exclaimed aloud. He startled Rip. He'd been asleep in the corner. It really bothered him that Rosemary would do something like that. Elizabeth would never do anything like that.
The following morning, Jack went to talk to Adam Miller.
"Jack," Adam said, when he opened the door. "How are you?"
"Fine thanks." Jack replied. "I came to talk to you about something.
"What is it?" Adam asked.
"It is my understanding that you wanna begin construction on a new church and schoolhouse, Jack replied. "But you can't find proper funding"
"That's right." Adam answered.
"Will this help?" Jack asked, handing Adam the envelope.
"Jack, this is your reward money." Adam said. "Are you sure?"
"Yes." Jack replied. I can't think of a thing I'd rather do with that money, than build a new school."
"Now I get it." Adam said.
"What?" Jack asked.
"You're doing this for Ms. Thatcher." Adam replied. "You're hoping a new school will encourage her to stay in Coal Valley. You have it bad for the school teacher."
Jack looked at the floor.
"It's okay." Adam continued. "You can tell me. Ms. Thatcher is very lovely."
"I'm just trying to do what's best for the town." Jack answered.
"If you say so, Jack." Adam replied.
"Let's just keep this between us." Jack said. "No one needs to know I'm the one who donated the money."
"If that's what you want." Adam replied.
"Thanks." Jack replied.
Jack left and went to the lake. He liked going to the lake. It was so peaceful. It always helped him clear his head. While he was there, he kept thinking about what Elizabeth had said at the saloon.
I want you to think long and hard about your feelings...
He thought about Rosemary. How she liked many of the same activities as he did.
Maybe Rosemary and I do have a lot in common. He thought.
He then remembered how Rosie had broken off their engagement, all because she hadn't wanted to be a mountie's wife.
I'm still a mountie. He thought. What suddenly made Rosie change her mind? What if she were to change her mind again?
His mind then went to Elizabeth, his beautiful, sweet Elizabeth. She cared for others. She put other people's feelings ahead of her own. She always showed her love and support to everyone in Coal Valley.
He remembered how Elizabeth had broken heartedly told him he had to go to Cape Fullerton to follow his dream. Rosie would have never done that. Jack knew exactly what he wanted to. His decision was crystal clear.
On his way back to the jail, Jack stopped by the saloon. Rosemary was there playing the piano and singing. She started singing "You Made Me Love You." Jack couldn't take hearing that song. He got up and left the saloon. He walked to the jail, sat on the steps and started petting Rip. Rosemary showed up in a flash.
Jack told her he wanted to talk about Elizabeth. He told Rosie that his relationship with Elizabeth was the one he wanted to pursue. When Rosemary found out that Jack had not yet told Elizabeth how he felt, she told Jack she'd retain a shred of hope.
They ended their conversation, then Jack and Rip went to the jail to turn in.
The following afternoon was the town meeting where Adam Miller would reveal that an anonymous donor had donated enough money for the new church and school. Jack didn't know how Elizabeth knew he was the donor, but he was glad she knew. Maybe then she would truly know how he felt about her. Rosemary wasn't too happy when she learned Jack donated all his reward money. Everyone else was happy with Jack's generous donation.
"What better way to spend that reward money than to help the people of Coal Valley, who have all become very important to me, especially one person in particular." Jack had said.
Jack couldn't believe Rosemary. After their conservation the night before, why would she make everyone think he was referring to her when she knew good and well he was referring to Elizabeth? He wad certain Elizabeth knew and that was all he cared about. Henry Gowen interrupted anyway, claiming Noah Stanton had known about the poor working conditions on the mine. This upset Abigail, who stormed out of the saloon. Elizabeth ran out after her.
After the meeting, Rosie went to the jail to see Jack. She insinuated that she would be leaving on the stagecoach the following day. Jack was glad Rosie had finally realized that her relationship with Jack was in the past.
The next day, Circuit Judge Jedidiah Black arrived on the stage coach. He was to preside over the case against Henry Gowen. The trial was to begin at eight sharp the next morning.
After welcoming the judge into town, Jack went to the jail. After Rosemary had ruined the portrait he'd first drawn, he decided to draw another. This time the portrait would be of Jack and Elizabeth together. When he finished, he wrapped it. He thought it would be the perfect gift for Elizabeth. When school was out, he walked over to the saloon. Elizabeth was getting ready to clean the board.
"Elizabeth." Jack said. She turned to look at him.
"Take a walk with me." He continued.
"Is there a reason for this walk?"
She asked.
"There is." He answered.
They went to his favorite spot, where he presented her with the portrait of the two of them.
"You made this?" She asked, after she opened it.
"A little hobby of mine," he answered. "It's a lot harder for me to say what's in my heart. Guess I'm not as brave as everyone thinks."
"Yes you are." She replied.
He took the portrait out of her hand and laid it on the ground.
"Elizabeth, I have thought long and hard about us as promised, he continued. And I keep coming back to the same conclusion... You're the one. You're the only one. And I know that I said I'd support you whatever you decided to do but.. I didn't mean it.
He looked at Elizabeth. She was smilimg.
"Don't go." He said.
"I'm not going anywhere, Jack." Elizabeth replied, as she gently grabbed his hand. "This is where I belong."
He leaned in and pulled her closer and closer. Their faces got closer and closer, until finally their lips touched. His heart began pounding in his chest. He heard Elizabeth make an 'mmm' sound. The kiss deepened. He pulled back slightly. He didn't want to make her think he was taking advantage of her. To his surprise she leaned closer and their lips touched once more. They pulled apart and looked in each other's eyes. Jack was thrilled. The kiss was amazing. He wanted to kiss her again.
He grabbed her hands.
"Do you know how long I've wanted to do that?" He asked nervously.
"How long?" She asked.
"Well I have a confession to make." He replied.
"What is it?" She asked.
"Do you remember the backdrop for the FD play?"
"Yes." She answered.
"I know who painted it." He replied.
"Really? She asked. Who?... Wait... Jack... It was you wasn't it?"
Jack nodded. "I wanted to tell you when I called you back to the jail that day." He said. "I wanted to kiss you then. That's why I painted the image on the backdrop. Part of me was hoping that you would see the image and then you'd realize it was me who painted it and then you would have known how I felt about you."
"I did think you were acting nervous that day." She replied. "I didn't know why. It does make sense. I watched you draw that beautiful comet, and you gave me that beautiful portrait you drew of the two of us. I also heard Rosemary tell Dottie Ramsey at the mercantile that you had once wanted to be a painter. If I could have just put two and two together, you could have kissed me sooner. She smiled. He smiled back at her. He couldn't resist. He leaned in and kissed her again. He picked up the portrait took her by the hand. They headed in the direction back to town.
"I'll have to remember to thank him." Jack said.
"Who?" Elizabeth asked.
"Your father, for having me reassigned to Coal Valley." He replied.
She looked at him and smiled.
"My mother told me God had a plan for sending me to Coal Valley." He told her "I'm glad I accepted God's plan for my life. God gave me you. You're God's plan for my life." He smiled at her and noticed tears in her eyes. He squeezed her hand. He walked her to the café. He kissed her hand before releasing it. He then walked over to the jail.
That night while he was drawing yet another portait of Elizabeth, Jack heard a lot of chatter in the street. He soon learned everyone was excited to see Halley's comet in the sky. He walked outside to see the comet. He saw Elizabeth coming out of the café. They smiled at each other across the way. He barely even noticed Halley's comet. Several moments passed. After everyone else had went inside, Jack and Elizabeth were left alone in the street. He walked over to her, looked around and gave Elizabeth Thatcher a gentle kiss, before returning to the jail. He went to bed that night with a smile on his face.
... to be continued ...