Chapter 21:

Dreams To Have

Elizabeth was finishing up at the school waiting for Jack to escort her home. She was humming when Jack came in several minutes later. She hadn't heard him approach so he quietly, but swiftly came up to her and wrapped his arms around her waist. Pulling her into him, he whispered into her ear.

"Hello, my Lizzie! How was your day?" He pressed his lips to her ear and then left a trail of kisses down to her cheek.

Elizabeth turned to see Charles' face. He turned her body around and held her closer. Elizabeth gasped, which was quickly silenced by Charles pressing his lips to hers. Elizabeth struggled in Charles' arms, but he held her tightly.

"Elizabeth. Stop it. I'm your husband and I am just playing with you. So, I'll ask again, how was your day?"

Elizabeth staggered back and pressed her hands to her chest. She leaned against her desk to try to collect herself. She couldn't believe it. She stared at Charles in disbelief and kept looking towards the door looking for Jack. She waited silently as she hoped that Jack would appear any at moment. She was disappointed. Jack did not come and Charles was looking at her with that ever annoying grin he always had for her. Even when they were children, he would look at her that way and she never meant to encourage his attentions. A calm had washed over her as she stood there and resolved to inform him of how gravely mistaken he truly was in calling himself her husband.

"Charles this has to stop. You are not my husband. I am engaged to Jack and we are getting married this Saturday. You were not invited as you have so ungraciously bestowed your intentions on me. I will not put up with your behavior any longer." Elizabeth stepped aside and moved towards the door.

"You were engaged to Jack, Lizzie." Charles began.

Elizabeth whirled around at the sound of her 'pet' name being uttered from his lips, from Charles' lips. 'How dare he use Jack's 'pet' name for me!' She seethed inwardly. 'This has to stop! Right now! I will tell Charles once and for all that he is never to come to Hope Valley again! He is never to contact me again.' She moved to stand in front of Charles.

"You listen here, Charles Alexander Kensington, III, I will not be bullied by you any longer. I am marrying Jack and you cannot change my mind about my resolve to spend the rest of my life with him." Elizabeth fumed.

"Elizabeth." Charles breathed quietly. "Jack is dead. He died when he was thrown from his horse. That was over two months ago." Charles tried to comfort her, pulling her close to him.

Elizabeth pulled back in disbelief. She slapped his face and turned from him.

"He is not dead! He is not dead!" Elizabeth exclaimed.

"Elizabeth!" Charles was left standing there as Elizabeth walked out of his life. Again.

Elizabeth shot up out of bed, breathless as she remembered the day that Bill showed her the telegram that told her that her world would never be the same. She didn't believe it that day. She knew that Jack was alive. She never believed the telegram. When she looked down at the floor, she saw the telegram opened. It suddenly became clear as to why she had such a horrendous nightmare. 'Dreaming that she was married to Charles, because Jack was gone...de...' She couldn't finish the thought. Even now that she knew that the telegram had been mistaken when Bill showed it to her. Knowing that the person who sent it, had no clue who was involved, but haphazardly guessed who the O'Connell Gang had shot and killed in those four days when Jack went missing.

"Constable William Avery:

The O'Connell Gang are armed and dangerous. They have killed three constables in the passed four days. Among them are: Constables Arnold George, Ellis Hubert, Horace Allen, Denny Lissing and Jack Thornton. Be advised. The O'Connell's are on their way to Cape Fullerton. We need all constables on alert.

Constable Patrick O'Reilly"

She picked up the telegram and shoved it into her writing desk. She looked out the window and saw that it was still dark. She remembered that Jack had once told her that she could come to him for the smallest of cares. She grabbed her shawl from the back of her chair and walked over to the jail. She wrapped the shawl tightly around herself as she quickened her pace. The wind was crisp. She made it to the jail and knocked on the door.

Jack came to the door to see who it was. He opened the door, surprised to see Elizabeth on the other side. Concern crossed his face as he looked into her eyes.

"Elizabeth, what's wrong?" Jack asked.

"I'm sorry to bother you, Jack, but I had a nightmare and now I can't sleep." Elizabeth explained.

"Here, come in, Lizzie." Jack took her hand and ushered her through the door.

Jack led Elizabeth to the chair in front of his desk. She sat down. Jack sat in the chair beside her waiting for her to tell him what her nightmare was about. Elizabeth was shaking visibly, putting her face in her hands. Jack moved to kneel in front of her and pulled her into his arms. He gently rubbed her back and cooed in her ear. Elizabeth rested her head on his shoulder, sobbing into his neck. She couldn't control her crying as she held tightly to his waist.

"Elizabeth what happened?" Jack asked, continuing to rub her back.

"Charles." Was all Elizabeth could say. She continued to sob into his neck.

"Charles! Charles?" Jack stiffened. "That would be a nightmare in more ways than one! Why would you dream about him?" Jack asked a bit stunned and hurt.

"It wasn't my choice, Jack." Elizabeth breathed, sitting back against her chair.

"He definitely wouldn't be my choice." Jack scoffed.

"Jack!" Elizabeth chuckled softly through her tears. "It's just that I received some news before I came to find you and it crushed me. I couldn't believe it. I wouldn't believe it. It was too much for me to admit that it could be true." Elizabeth expressed between sobs.

"What news, Elizabeth?" Jack took her hands in his.

"Bill told me of a telegram he received regarding some Mounties." Elizabeth paused, trying not to relive those horrible moments she thought she had lost Jack. "It said that the O'Connell Gang had been killing Mounties and..." She sighed heavily, not wanting to continue.

"And?" Jack coaxed. "What else did it say?" Jack guessed he knew what was coming.

"It said that you were one of the Mounties who were killed." Elizabeth exhaled, slumping her shoulders.

"Elizabeth!" Jack pulled her once again into a comforting embrace. "I'm so sorry that you went through that." Jack looked into her eyes. He leaned in, pressing his lips to hers.

He moved his tongue with hers in a deep kiss that sent shock waves through her body. She was home again in his arms. She had been so lost those few days when she thought he had died. Then when she saw him, broken on the ground, she had felt that she would lose him all over again. This kiss was assuring her that he was not going to leave her without a fight. He would be her Mountie for the rest of his life and that wasn't going to be any time soon. Jack held her tightly in his arms as he held the small of her back. She wrapped her arms tighter around his neck as they reciprocated each tender kiss.

After several moments, Jack stepped back slightly, a concern look on his face.

"Why would this telegram make you dream of being married to Charles?" Jack asked. "It doesn't make sense."

"In my dream, Charles is the one who told me that you were..." Elizabeth paused. "I can't say it, even now..." She broke off looking at the ground as tears began to escape down her cheeks.

"You mean, he told you that I was de...?" Jack began.

Elizabeth quickly covered his mouth with her hand. She shook her head, pleading him to not utter the word. She couldn't even hear it, let alone say it. He nodded as he realized how the news of his death truly had affected her. An overwhelming feeling of love washed over him. She would have been just as devastated as he would be if he ever lost her. Jack took the hand that covered his mouth in his and kissed her palm. Tears were still falling from Elizabeth's eyes. She looked so brokenhearted. He didn't even want to think how broken she would be if he really was dead. Elizabeth wiped her tears with her free hand. Jack pulled her in, hugging her firmly, yet gently. Elizabeth let her tears flow freely. She still couldn't fathom a life without Jack. She knew that she would remain single the rest of her life if he ever...

"Hey, Lizzie. I'm right here." Jack crooned. "I will never leave you. I'll always be here for you, Lizzie. I promise for as long as I draw breath!" Jack vowed.

"Jack! I'll always be here for you. You're my dream, Jack!" Elizabeth's sobs slowly ceased. "You, promise that you will always be here when I have a nightmare or when I am worried?" Elizabeth nuzzled her head into his chest.

"Of course, I promise. I'll be here for better or worse, in sickness and in health...for the rest of my life." Jack lifted her chin to look at her. "After all we've been through you think a little nightmare could make me run away from the only woman in my world?" Jack gazed at her intently.

Elizabeth's cheeks flared a bright crimson hue. Jack chuckled and then kissed her firmly. She was the woman that he would do anything for. There was nothing on earth that would keep him from her. Elizabeth kissed him back, promising with every kiss that she would do anything for him. Promising that there was nothing on earth that would keep her from him.

Jack placed a pillow under her head and covered her with his blanket once he moved his chair as close to hers as possible. Jack nudged Elizabeth awake after several moments. He didn't want to wake her. He wanted to take her to the cell opposite his so she could sleep peacefully. It would not have been proper, so he resigned himself to wake her and determined to escort her home.

Jack was at this desk going through the last weeks reports. He couldn't wait to be done with the paperwork. His picnic with Elizabeth was today. They had been planning it for weeks. He couldn't wait to see her again. Even though he saw her six hours ago, he still felt that it had been too long since he had seen her gorgeous face.

Three o'clock finally came and Jack was just out the schoolhouse doors, ready to greet Elizabeth. He could hardly contain his excitement. He suddenly heard the cowbell. Her gift commemorating her accomplishments on the homestead. He smiled to himself. He stepped to the side to let the children exit the schoolhouse. As the last child, Emily stepped out, she looked up at him and smiled.

"Good day, Mountie Jack!" Emily beamed as she continued down the stairs.

"Good day, Emily." Jack replied, smiling at her as she caught up to her brother Miles.

He turned and saw Elizabeth walking towards him with her basket on her arm. She greeted him with a glowing smile and he repaid her with his dimpled smile that he suspected always made her catch her breath or go weak in the knees.

"May I?" He asked those two simple words that he knew she had loved from the beginning.

Those two words had been said by him countless times. He remembered the first time he had said them when she had just received a big shipment of books and clothes from her parents. The crates were too heavy for her to lift. Even though he had laughed at her predicament, he still offered to carry them into the saloon for her.

"You may." She simply replied.

Jack took her basket in his arm and offered his free arm to her. Elizabeth accepted it and they walked out towards the lane of trees which were covered in pink blossoms. Elizabeth sighed contentedly.

Once at the end of the lane, Jack set the basket down and took Elizabeth in his arms for a deep kiss. He pressed his lips to hers, but they suddenly felt different. He pulled back slightly, only to see Faith looking at him with a puzzled look on her face.

Jack quickly released her and suddenly he awoke from his nightmare, back at the jail. There was a knock on the door. 'Great. Who could this be?' He thought as he walked over to open the door.

"Faith!" Jack exclaimed. "What are you doing here?"

"I'm Dr. Burns' new nurse." Faith offered. "I'm here to see about renting an office since the town is growing and could use an infirmary. Dr. Burns said that you could use a doctor and was thinking about expanding his practice to Hope Valley." Faith explained. "Didn't you get my telegram?"

"Uh, no, I didn't, Faith." Jack looked over towards the schoolhouse then at the clock in his office.

"What is it?" Faith asked. She followed his gaze.

"Oh, it's just that it's almost three. School will be getting out now and escort Elizabeth home every day." Jack explained with a broadening smile.

"That's wonderful. So, Elizabeth still lives here. That's nice." Faith trailed off as she saw that Jack was no longer listening. She stepped aside to let him go down the jail steps.

Without a backwards glance, Jack quickly walked to the schoolhouse to pick up Elizabeth. 'What is Faith doing here?' He thought inwardly. 'What will Elizabeth think? How am I going to explain it to her?' Jack continued his inner monologue as he approached the schoolhouse. The children came running out as the cowbell sounded.

There she was, basket in hand right behind the children. Jack smiled as she walked up to him. She smiled back, but it quickly faded as she caught sight of Ned Yost approaching.

"Not him again." Elizabeth breathed.

"Who?" Jack asked as he turned around. He couldn't help but laugh at her response to Ned Yost coming with what appeared to be a telegram in his hand.

"Good afternoon, Constable, Miss Thatcher." Ned Yost handed the telegram to Jack. "I'm sorry, but this arrived yesterday and it had been lost in my stack of outgoing telegrams." Ned explained.

"That's alright, Ned. Thank you." Jack replied opening the telegram. It was from Faith. 'So this is why I didn't get it before she came.' He thought to himself.

"Is it Official Mountie Business, Jack?" Elizabeth asked.

"No, it's private." Jack responded, immediately regretting his choice of words.

"Oh, 'private'." Elizabeth replied, quickly grabbing it from his hand. Jack tried to get it back from her, but Elizabeth ran down the stairs. She looked back at him with a smirk, but she lost her footing and started to fall.

Jack was by her side in a second, holding her by the waist. He held her like that for a few moments. Elizabeth smiled her thanks.

"I believe that is the third time I have caught you in my arms." Jack's dimpled smile spread across his face.

"I believe it is, Constable." Elizabeth replied trying to stand up.

"Not so fast, Miss Thatcher. I believe you have something of mine." Jack looked at her knowingly.

"What do you mean?" Elizabeth smiled, feigning ignorance.

"Actually, I believe that you have two things that are mine?" Jack arched his brow, leaning in to cover her lips with his."

Jack's tongue moved against Elizabeth's for several moments. As they kissed, Jack opened one eye and reached for the telegram in Elizabeth's hand. He tried to take it, but she knew what he was doing and clenched it tightly, moving it behind her back. Jack leaned back slightly as he helped her stand back up.

"Elizabeth!" Jack said in his breathy tone. "You still have one more thing that is mine." He motioned towards the telegram.

"Oh. What was the first?" Elizabeth smiled coyly.

"I think you know, Miss Thatcher." Jack smirked. "I just collected it for several moments, I might add."

"Jack!" Elizabeth exclaimed, playfully hitting his arm. "I'm not ready to give this to you. I want to know what is so 'private' that you can't share but is not 'official Mountie business'." Elizabeth held the telegram tightly behind her back.

"Please, Elizabeth." Jack held out his hand. "It's important." He implored, reaching for the telegram.

She turned away from him and quickly read it.

"Faith is coming?" Elizabeth looked at him expectantly. "Is she here now?"

"She arrived just before I came here." Jack admitted.

"Were you going to tell me?" Elizabeth asked, holding the telegram in her hand, looking into his eyes.

"I haven't had the chance, yet. I didn't know what the telegram was about for sure. I know now." Jack defended himself.

"I'm not sure I like that she is here, Jack." Elizabeth admitted.

"Elizabeth!" Jack exhaled. "You're the one. You're the only one." Jack took her in his arms and kissed her lips softly, willing her to trust him.

'Besides, dreaming of Faith doesn't mean anything, or does it?' Jack thought as he kissed Elizabeth.