Chapter 21

New Beginnings

It was getting late. Jack didn't want to leave Elizabeth's side. He knew he had no choice. He wouldn't be allowed to stay in the hospital over night. He kissed her gently. "I'll see you tomorrow, my love." He said, caressing her hand.

"Don't you have to return to Coal Valley?" She asked, concerned. "I don't want you losing your job on account of me."

"Elizabeth," he said, looking in her eyes. "I'm not leaving without you. Don't worry. Nothing is going to happen to my job. Besides, the only reason I was assigned to Coal Valley, was to keep an eye on you. So I'm doing my job." He smiled, teasingly.

Elizabeth giggled. Jack leaned over and kissed her again. "I'll get a room tonight." He said. "I'll be back first thing in the morning." He released her hand and reluctantly left.

Once outside, Jack walked passed a woman who was holding a small baby. He nodded toward her and kept walking.

"Excuse me." The woman said.

He stopped and turned around.

"You're probably going to think I'm crazy." The woman continued. I couldn't help but notice the red serge. Are you Constsble Thornton?"

"Yes ma'am," Jack answered. "Do I know you?"

"No," the woman replied. "But I believe you know my husband. I'm Sarah O'Reilly.

"You're Patrick's wife?" He asked surprised.

"Yes," Sarah answered

"It's nice to meet you, Mrs. O'Reilly." Jack said.

"Oh please call me Sarah." She replied. "And this is Olivia ." She said of the little girl in her arms. She turned Olivia so Jack could see her.

"She's beautiful." Jack said, smiling.

"Thank you, Constable Thornton." Sarah replied.

"Well," Jack said. "If I'm calling you Sarah, I'd appreciate it if you'd call me Jack."

"Deal," Sarah replied.

"I hope everything is alright." Jack said. Olivia's not sick or anything she?"

"No," Sarah answered. "Why do you ask? Oh you mean because we're at the hospital. Olivia's fine. I actually came looking for you."

"Why are you looking for me?" Jack asked. "How did you know I'd be here?"

"When Patrick heard about the stagecoach accident, he was determined to go tell you himself." Sarah answered. "He just knew you'd show up in Cape Fullerton as fast as you get get here. Patrick told me all about you and Elizabeth. He mentioned how crazy you were about her."

Jack smiled. "I only knew Patrick a short while." He said. "And somehow, he knew exactly what I would do upon hearing the news about Elizabeth."

"You're a man in love." Sarah replied. "Patrick assured me that he would have done exactly the same thing if it had been me or Olivia on that stagecoach. But Patrick told me when he last saw you that you had not yet told Elizabeth how you felt."

"That's true." Jack answered. "But I'm a little surprised at how much Patrick has told you."

"He was trying to explain to me why he had to go all the way to Coal Valley to tell you about the accident. "Sarah replied. "I hope you don't mind."

"Not at all," Jack answered.

"So," Sarah asked. "Have you told Elizabeth how you feel yet?"

"As a matter of fact, I have." Jack answered, smiling. "I told her tonight."

"Good!" Sarah exclaimed. "Because if you hadn't, I was going to tell you to march back to her room and tell her, now!"

Jack chuckled.

"Anyway," Sarah continued. "Patick told me to find you to tell you that, before he left he, received permission from superiors and he would cover your posting in Coal Valley, until your return."

"Thanks for the information, Sarah." Jack replied. He started to walk away. "If you'll excuse me, I'm tired. I need to find a room for..."

"That won't be necessary." Sarah interrupted. "That's another reason I came to see you. You, and Elizabeth, when she gets released, are staying with me, until Elizabeth is well enough to travel home. It was Patrick's idea. And there's plenty of room, if you don't mind a crying baby."

"Thank you, Sarah." Jack replied. "That's very generous of you and Patrick." Jack smiled.

Sarah led the way to a quaint cottage, that was much bigger on the inside than it looked on the outside. There was a large bedroom that was attached to a smaller bedroom, which were Sarah and Olivia's rooms. There was also a room for Jack and a room for Elizabeth, when she would join them.

Thank you, Sarah, for your hospitality. "Jack said. "But I'm extremely tired. I'm gonna go ahead and turn in." He went straight to his room and fell fast asleep.

The following morning, Jack woke up to the smell of breakfast cooking. After the delicious breakfast Sarah had made, Jack made his way to the hospital. When he got to Elizabeth's room, he was relieved to see her up amd walking around. When Elizabeth saw him, she stopped and smiled. She walked over to him. He took her in his arms. "How are you feeling today, sweetheart?" He asked.

"Much better, still a little sore." She answered. "I'm glad to be walking on my ankle. Dr. Krakow said I could be released today. But I still have to take it easy."

"That's good news." Jack said. "And Don't worry, I'm not letting you out of my sight." He leaned in and kissed her lips softly. "Ah Elizabeth, I love you so much."

"Alright you two lovebirds, break it up." Dr. Krakow said jokingly as he entered the room.

Elizabeth blushed.

"Well Ms. Thatcher," Dr. Krakow continued. "I only allow sick people to use the hospital beds, so I'm kicking you out. Remember you still have to take it easy for a few days.

"I will, doctor." She replied. "Thank you."

"Don't worry, Doc." Jack said. "I'm gonna take good care of her." He took her by the hand and led her outside.

Once outside, Jack took Elizabeth in his arms. "I bet you're happy to be out of the hospital." He said. Does your family know what happened?"

"I guess I'll have to send them a telegram." She replied. "They don't know anything yet. They weren't expecting me until tomorrow."

"When you're up to it," Jack told her. "I'll see you safely to Toronto, before I head back to Coal Valley."

"Jack," she replied. "I want to go home."

"I know, Elizabeth." He said. "I just told you, I'm going to see you safely home."

"No, Jack." She answered. "You don't understand. I want to go home, to Coal Valley. I want to go home with you."

"If you're sure, Elizabeth." He replied. "I'll be glad to have you come home with me."

"I'm sure." She answered. "I'll tell my family when I wire them."

Jack smiled. He was happy that Elizabeth wanted to go home with him. He didn't know how he would have said goodbye if she had decided to continue on to Toronto.

"Well I better take you to send that telegram." Jack said. "So you can go get some rest."

After Elizabeth sent her telegram, Jack led her to Sarah's cottage.

"Jack, where are we?" Elizabeth asked, when they arrived.

"Oh you don't know do you?" He asked. "Come inside, I'll show you." When they walked in the living room through the kitchen, they found Sarah on the sofa, holding Olivia in her arms.

"Hello, Sarah." Jack said smiling.

"Hi Jack." Sarah replied, looking up. She looked past Jack to Elizabeth. "And this must be Elizabeth."

"Yes," Jack answered. He turned to Elizabeth. "This is Sarah O'Reilly, Patrick's wife. This is where we're staying."

"Nice to meet you." Elizabeth said. She then noticed the baby. She walked around Jack and sat on the couch next to Sarah. "And who is this?" She asked.

"This is Olivia." Sarah replied. "How are you feeling?" She asked. "I hear you've been through quite an ordeal."

"I'm feeling much better." Elizabeth answered. She was still looking at Olivia. "She's so beautiful. May I hold her?" She asked.

"Certainly." Sarah replied, handing the baby off to Elizabeth.

After seeing Elizabeth with Olivia, Jack's mind began to wander. She's gonna make a wonderful mother someday. He thought. He pictured Elizabeth with lots of children running around. He suddenly realized he was daydreaming. Snap out of it, Thornton. He thought. You just told her you loved her yesterday. It's much too early to be thinking about babies.

After watching Elizabeth with Olivia a few minutes, he walked over and joined them on the sofa. "Elizabeth," He asked. "Will you be okay here with Sarah for a little while? I have something I have to do."

"Sure Jack," she replied. "Don't be gone too long." Elizabeth wondered what Jack was up to.

"Don't worry, Jack." Sarah said. "I'll take good care of her."

"Thanks." Jack replied. He kissed Elizabeth on the cheek, stood up, and left.

Olivia started to get sleepy. Sarah took her from Elizabeth and put her down for her nap. "I'm actually glad Jack went out." Sarah said, when she returned. "Now we can have some girl talk." She smiled.

Elizabeth returned the smile. "I'd like that." She replied.

"So tell me about that handsome mountie of yours." Sarah said.

Elizabeth blushed.

"It's okay." Sarah continued. "It's just between us girls." She said, smiling.

"Jack is wonderful." Elizabeth said, with a smile on her face. Thinking about Jack always made her smile.

"I can see he's wonderful." Sarah replied. "And it's obvious he's crazy about you. When did you first feel drawn to him?" She asked.

"Honestly," Elizabeth answered. "I felt drawn to him the first time I saw him arrive in Coal Valley. But when we met, we couldn't stand each other. Then we became friends. I believe I started having feelings for him when they had the miner's dance in town. I wanted him to ask me to the dance. But he didn't. Then he told me that if the mounties had wanted him to have a wife they would have issued him one. So i thought he wasn't interseted."

"But he proved you wrong." Sarah replied.

"I think it was more like he proved himself wrong." Elizabeth answered, smiling.

"Your Jack is very handsome." Sarah said.

"Yes he is." Elizabeth agreed. I've never told him this, but his smile... his dimples, make me go weak at the knees. She blushed. She'd never told anyone about how crazy she was about Jack's smile. She just met Sarah, yet she was talking to her as if she'd known her her entire life.

"You really love him, don't you?" Sarah asked.

"Yes I do." Elizabeth replied, smiling.

Suddenly they heard the door open, and footsteps enter the kitchen. They immediately stopped talking. They looked up when they saw Jack enter the room.

"Well did you ladies have a nice chat while I was out?" Jack asked. Elizabeth and Sarah exchanged glances and started giggling.

"What did you talk about?" Jack asked.

"Oh nothing important," Elizabeth answerd with a big smile on her face.

"Fine! Jack exclaimed, teasingly. "Don't tell me! He reached for her hand and kissed it, then looked at her and smiled.

How she loved that smile!

Sarah went to check on Olivia, leaving Jack and Elizabeth alone in the living room.

"So I got something for you, while I was out." He told her, caressing her hand.

"What?" She asked.

Jack walked into the kitchen and returned with a dress box.

"Jack what is this?" She asked

"Open it and find out." He replied

She opened the box to reveal a beautiful blue dress. "Aw Jack, it's beautiful." She told him. "What is this for?"

He took her hand. "Elizabeth Thatcher," he said. "I'd like to invite you to join me for supper tomorrow night. The presence of your company will be really appreciated." He smiled, remembering the way he nervously walked into the saloon and told her to consider this an act of courtship.

"I appreciate your lovely invitation, and I accept." Elizabeth replied, smiling as she remembered that particular dinner invitation as well.

"I bought you the dress for you to wear tomorrow night." He told her. "I chose blue. I love the way blue looks on you. It brings out the color of your eyes." He leaned over and placed a kiss on her nose.

She smiled. "I love you, Jack." She said.

He leaned in once more and kissed her lips. "I love you too, my love." He kissed her again.

Jack sat back on the couch. Elizabeth leaned against him, placing her head on his chest. He stroked her hair.

"I can't wait for tomorrow night." He said.

...to be continued...