Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters. All rights go to the actors, writers and creators of the show "When Calls The Heart".

(6/07/2018)

CHAPTER 21

Lee was walking down the street toward the saloon. He was lost in thought and didn't see Rosie approach him.

"Lee? Is everything okay?"

Lee was surprised at her comment and immediately angered.

"No, Rosemary do you have any idea what you have done?"

"I wrote a story based on fact, that's all" she spoke quietly.

"No, that is not all! You twisted the truth and hurt people."

"You're just mad because I quoted you in the article."

"Believe me, I am mad about many things in this situation!"

"Oh Lee. Everything will be fine." She waved her hand as if she were swatting away a fly.

"You said your story was based on fact, but you manipulated the truth. You know very well that Izzy was not courting Jack to avoid the law! That case was closed! You knew that!" Lee yelled at her. He could see people milling about on the sides of the street listening to their conversation, but he didn't care. At least they would know the truth.

"I … well … yes but it was much more interesting this way."

"Sure, except now it's not news but a made-up story! What has Elizabeth ever done to you?"

"Well nothing. She is actually quite nice" Rosie mumbled, looking down at her feet.

"So what is all this …" Lee pulled the article from his pocket " … and I quote 'Elizabeth Thatcher is a strong independent woman who treats her employees like equals'?"

"Well, she is and she does. I was trying to compliment her!"

"She is a Thatcher! No one is her equal! Not even me! Her father is here now, dragging her back to Hamilton. You have no idea what the implications of this are." Lee was waving the paper in her face. "He wants to close the mill!"

"But the town needs the mill …" It seemed the lightbulb finally went off in Rosie's head, because all of a sudden she looked alarmed.

"Of course it does! Beth's heart and soul went into that place and the town depends on it. So because of you chasing a story, you have single-handedly exposed Elizabeth's identity, probably put her in danger, caused a confrontation between a father and daughter, undoubtedly destroyed Jack and maybe even his career, most likely closed the mill and in the process ruined an entire town and its inhabitants. Well done!"

Rosie's mouth formed an "o" but she stood there speechless, probably for the first time in her life.

"You need to try and fix this." Lee walked off, leaving her standing in the street.

Elizabeth went to her room and put her hat away. She looked in the mirror. There was no way she could go speak to Jack dressed like this. She pulled off what she was wearing and changed into a plain white top and pale blue skirt. She unpinned her hair and brushed it out so that it curled down her back. Glancing back in the mirror, she thought she looked much more like herself.

Elizabeth went to the top of the stairs and peered down. She couldn't see anyone. She snuck down the stairs, looking towards the dining room hoping her father wouldn't see her. She could hear his voice talking to Abigail. She snuck towards the back door and slid out before he could see her.

Elizabeth went around the back of the café where there were no windows and walked slowly along the back of the buildings. She walked up beside the jail and went around to the front door. She knocked and turned the knob, but it was locked. That most likely meant Jack was in there and didn't wish to be disturbed. She glanced up the street and saw her father leaving the café. She turned and quickly ran back around the side of the jail. I cannot believe I am sneaking away from my father in my own town. This is unbelievable.

Elizabeth didn't know where to go. She walked toward the lake and ended up walking to the schoolhouse. She opened the door and went and sat at her desk. She was restless but decided she may as well write out some lesson plans for the next few weeks. If she was forced to leave tomorrow, she didn't know when she would be coming back.

It was a few hours before the door opened and Elizabeth saw Pastor Frank enter. He was surprised to see her at her desk.

"Miss Austen. What are you doing here on a Saturday?"

"That is a long story. By the way my real name is Elizabeth Thatcher, Pastor."

"Oh right. Miss Thatcher. I didn't mean to disturb you. I can come back."

"Nonsense. I'm sure we can be in here at the same time. I'm just finishing off some lesson plans. I won't be much longer."

"Only if you're sure."

Elizabeth nodded to him, so he closed the door behind him and walked toward the front of the room.

"Actually, Pastor Frank, maybe I could ask you something?"

"Just call me Frank."

"Ok Frank. I'm just Elizabeth" she smiled. "I told everybody in town my name was Miss Austen so no one would know I was a Thatcher. It was to avoid being taken advantage of, but some people are upset that I lied to them. I don't know what to do."

Frank sat down in the front row. "Did you explain your reason for changing your name?"

"No, he won't talk to me."

Frank smiled at her. "You're talking about Mountie Jack."

"How did you … never mind." Elizabeth shook her head.

"I've heard quite a bit of gossip today. You are the talk of the town right now." Frank smiled at her.

"Great. Thank you" Elizabeth said sarcastically.

Frank just laughed.

"You have to explain everything to him and tell him how you feel and then just give him time. If you two are meant to be together than nothing will stand in your way. Jack might have lost faith in you, but he will come to realise your heart is true if you did everything you did for a good reason."

"That is good advice. Very wise." Elizabeth smiled at him.

Frank stood and came around to pat her on the shoulder.

"It will all work out. Have faith."

"Thank you."

Frank continued to the backroom of the church. Elizabeth felt exhausted. She still hadn't fully recovered from her illness and after the events of the day she wanted to just go home and sleep. I still have to pack. And I have to find Jack before I go. Elizabeth finished up the last lesson plan and left them all on her desk in order with a note on the top for whoever would take over her classes.

It was late in the afternoon when Elizabeth began to walk back home. No one else was around but she heard a noise and looked up to see Jack chopping wood at the back of the jail. She took a deep breath and walked toward him. His back was to her, so he didn't see her approach.

Elizabeth waited until he had finished cutting up one of the logs before she spoke from behind him.

"Jack."

She saw him freeze momentarily, before he continued what he was doing, reaching for another block of wood and standing it up. He swung the axe down hard.

"You lied to me."

"I know I'm sorry. I tried to tell you."

He picked up the splintered pieces of wood and threw them in the pile. He kept his back to her.

"You didn't trust me. I would have done anything for you."

"I do trust you. It's just every time I tried to tell you something happened." From the picnic on the hilltop, to the broken pier, to her illness it had been a full week of attempting to tell him. She felt terrible.

"I shared everything with you. After only three weeks I was feeling things for you that I never thought I would feel for any woman."

"Jack, please just listen. I am the same person. The only thing that is different is my last name. That's it!"

"Enough Izzy, or Elizabeth or whatever your name is."

"Jack please. I need you. I'm sorry, truly I am. I don't want to lose you."

"You're a Thatcher."

"So?"

"A Mountie and a Thatcher cannot be together. You know that."

"I know no such thing. Be honest here Jack, you wouldn't have courted me if you knew my last name? That's a bit superficial isn't it?"

"Izzy, I could never give you that life! What were you thinking?!"

"Jack, please don't do this. I love you." Tears had welled in her eyes and she was holding them back as best as she could.

Jack stood there, still avoiding looking at her.

"It's over Izzy. If you loved me, you would have told me."

Elizabeth was frozen in place. She couldn't say anything else. She had given him everything she could.

"I've put in a transfer request. I will leave you and this town to their games. You all lied to me. Abigail, Shane, Lee, Faith. You all knew and I was too stupid to realise. Even Rosemary figured out who you were. I'm a damn Mountie and I didn't figure it out! What does that say about me and how good I am at my job? You've made me the laughing stock of the town!"

"No Jack. They kept my secret. I'm truly sorry. I don't know how to fix this."

"You can't. It's done. Goodbye Izzy." Jack picked up his axe and walked back toward the jail, leaving a pile of shattered wood on the ground.

The tears began to fall. Elizabeth couldn't stop them now. She stood there crying as Jack walked away.