Before Elizabeth could return to her lovely family, she would make a special trip to visit Charlotte and congratulate her on the engagement.
Charlotte ushered her daughter in-law into the kitchen where she was trying her hand at a new dish, though Elizabeth had no idea what it was judging from the immense foam brimming at the rim of the pot.
"Elizabeth, don't you look positively beaming! You are glowing; how's the second baby coming along?" Charlotte chuckled as she patted Elizabeth's shoulder and her shocked reaction. "Honey, there is no other explanation, it is as plain as day that look you have plastered on your face."
Elizabeth ducked her head slightly and giggled to herself. "Charlotte, you are observant!"
"That response sounded as if you were wonderfully surprised!" Elizabeth blushed.
"Well, I can't say I am that surprised at the turn of events." Charlotte let out a big laugh at her daughter in-law's response.
"You know I have never been one for pleasantries, so I will briefly offer tea or coffee and food."
Elizabeth patted Charlotte's shoulder. "Never mind that, I'll tell you all about the little one from what we know."
"Do you feel if it's a girl or boy? I wouldn't know the difference, seeing how I ended up with two rascals." Elizabeth grinned.
"I really have no idea since I've only had Hazel, but it would be so nice and perfect to have a little boy looking the spitting image of Jack." Charlotte laughed softly before observing her daughter in-law.
"He did the best thing marrying you; I can see how much love you two have for each other, even when he might get moody." Elizabeth self consciously twirled her hair, dwelling on her husband.
"Oh Charlotte, I'm the moody one, especially this past week or so!"
"Then the two of you are perfectly balanced in that regard. And I can also see plain as day that you are tired from being out on the town, and would very like to retire and see Jack and Hazel."
After chatting briefly about the engagement, Charlotte gave Elizabeth a kiss, and set her on her way back to her wonderful family. She sighed as she followed the old ruts back to the log house while the sun took its time setting. She let her hand skim the long sheaves of wheat waiting to be harvested, and closed her eyes at the feel of the last rays of sun warm her face. She grinned at the rabbit scurrying across towards the pond, and gazed almost wistfully towards the schoolhouse before setting her sights on where she belonged.
Upon entering her humble abode, she was greeted by a sleepy Rip who ambled over from his rag rug in the corner of Jack's study. She marvelled anew at what she and her husband shared together. She breathed in leather from Jack's uniform nearby on the rack, and took in the rich woodsy scent of the house, breathing in some delicious aroma along with it.
She tiptoed around the corner and titled her head at the sight before her. Rip strolled towards Hazel lying on her stomach on the warmest wool blanket in the house, her bottom lip stuck out in a pout as her little hands curled and uncurled as though in a dream.
"Elizabeth, I didn't expect you to be back so early," Jack whispered as she rounded the sofa and slid down one of the arms into her husband's lap.
"I really couldn't stand to be away from such an adorable and sweet tempered baby such as the one on the floor right there, sleeping like an angel." Jack smirked, on the verge of laughter.
"Do you know how many songs I had to sing for her to get her down for a nap?" Elizabeth looked upwards as if an answer would appear, a hint of a grin on her lips.
"How about three?" Jack stared into her eyes, causing her to lose track of her thoughts altogether. It seemed as though she was a nitwit these days, and had issues forming logical sentences.
"Does it really matter?" She slid right against him, her arms slung around his neck.
Jack titled his head and felt the warm press of her lips on his, enough to make her slightly dizzy. "thirteen" as he moved her hair around her neck, and kissed her so hard she felt like swooning.
A low growl interrupted their reunion, followed by a pitter patter towards the door. Whimpers commenced at the same time.
Elizabeth groaned at the sounds. "Jack, I really hope those whimpers are coming from the dog, and not the baby."
He rose from the sofa and threw on his grey coat for rounds on chillier mornings, promising her that Rip and he would be back in less than a minute. Dazed, Elizabeth fell back onto the sofa and sprawled out, smiling so much at the ceiling she thought it was be stuck permanently.
Two more whimpers following a screeching cry brought Elizabeth to her feet. She cooed to her daughter who had her shape and colour eyes while so many other features were from Hazel's papa. She relished picking her bundle of joy up even as her daughter grew fussier. Once in the rocking chair, feeding, she quieted down and fell asleep in that same position.
"I kept some casserole on the stove, hopefully it's not cold by now." Elizabeth groggily opened her eyes while Hazel refused to move from her clingy position.
"Oh it doesn't matter if it's cold, I could eat a horse right now." Jack shook his head as he pulled out a plate. One could never predict about women and their eating habits.
Later that night Elizabeth spent time in the bath, saying it was pure heaven and glorious as Jack emptied the last bucket of piping hot water to the tub.
"Hazel's resting with the hound dog protecting her," Jack stated with feigned confidence.
"I'm afraid we won't get to do this anymore with more children around." Elizabeth swirled her hand in the bubbles rising from the lavender bath concoction.
"Well, we'll just have to think of other ways to spend time together, and make sure the dog isn't dressed up by one of our kids or the walls have been drawn all over."
Elizabeth giggled. "Jack, just because Hazel has some things to learn doesn't mean our children will not be well behaved!"
He received a splash before answering. "You may be right, but only because no son or daughter of ours would want to face our wrath. Just imagine having a Mountie as a father and the only schoolteacher as a mother. If you didn't obey the one, you were going to get it from the other!"
"Well you certainly do make a good point there Constable. Now I have a better point to make."
Jack eyed his wife, knowing fully well what it entailed. "Are you going to stand out there talking or have some fun in here with me?"
He there his hands up, and soon after joined Elizabeth while Rip guarded the door. Elizabeth wasn't sure at all how she could love her partner more and more each day, but it always happened to her delight.