March 31st

Beth had to leave the house no later than 7am to get to Diamond on time. She made their lunches the night before and put a pot roast with carrots, potatoes, and onions in the crock pot for dinner.

As she drove she sipped her tea and ate her saltines. The nausea wasn't horrible, but she wanted to keep it that way.

She made it with five minutes to spare so that made her happy.

"Good morning, Florence."

"Morning Beth. How are you this morning?"

"A bit under the weather but ok."

"Well, don't give it to me. I don't want to be sick."

"Don't worry. You can't catch it."

"Yes, well if I do, I'll let you know." Beth had no doubt she would. "I think you should give the history quiz today."

"Ok. I'm ready."

….

Jack sat in his truck for about five minutes before heading in. His stomach was in knots. He took a few calming breaths and then grabbed his lunch.

"Come on, Thornton! You were in the LAPD. This should be easy!" With that little pep talk, he forced himself to walk inside, adjusting his hat and belt to make sure he was presentable.

He walked in the door and stopped at the front desk.

"Morning, sir. What can I do for you?" the secretary asked him.

"Deputy Sheriff Thornton, ma'am."

"Ah yes. Good to meet you, sir. I'm Carol. Sherriff Montgomery is expecting you."

He nodded and followed her behind the desk to the hallway that seemed to lead to the offices.

She knocked on a door and walked in. "Sir, Deputy Thornton is here."

"Great. Thank you Carol." The Sheriff stood up, towering over Jack by at least four inches. "Good to see you again, Jack."

"You too, sir."

He gestured to the chair so Jack removed his hat and put it on his knee. "You get moved ok?"

"Yes, sir. All unpacked."

"That's amazing. We still have boxes to unpack and it's been five years."

"Yes, well, my wife is very organized. She wanted it to be perfect as quickly as possible."

"How long have you known your wife?"

"We grew up together so about 14 years."

"That's good. Any children?"

"One on the way. She's due in October."

"Congratulations, Jack. Children are a true blessing."

"That they are. How many do you have?"

"One. A daughter, Emily. She's grown now and insists on taking care of herself, as much as I try to fight it."

"Sounds like my wife."

"Well, let me show you around the office and get your keys to your cruiser." As they walked, the Sheriff chatted about what to expect. "We aren't a large city like Los Angeles, but we have our share of attempted burglaries, purse snatching, and sometimes domestic abuse. A lot of times, it's pretty quiet around here. Good place to raise a family."

"Good to hear, sir."

"This is the lunch room. Obviously, you aren't required to use it. Personally, I sit at the picnic table out back under the oak. Relaxing." They walked out to the back lot. "And this is your cruiser, Jack. She's outfitted with the latest software, a laptop, radar. You know, the stuff we need. Feel free to drive her to and from work or just out and about. She's yours now."

He handed him the keys and told him to take it for a spin. So Jack did. It was pretty close to the car Rick drove in LA. Same gadgets but this time it was his.

He took it to the store parking lot and took a selfie and sent it to Beth. "In my car. Can't wait to take you for a spin."

"Hi, handsome. Have a great day!"

He had a feeling it would be.

When school let out, Beth was exhausted, but happy. And then she remembered she needed to drive an hour and a half home.

She stopped at a gas station and grabbed a bottle of water and a snack to keep her awake on her drive. Then she sent Jack a text. "OMW. C U soon!"

"Drive careful. Love u."

"Love u 2!"

She got home about 5pm and walked in the door. The pot roast smelled amazing. Hopefully it tasted good.

She kicked off her shoes and texted Jack. "I'm home."

"Be home in about ten. Just leaving."

She headed upstairs and changed into a comfy pair of shorts and an LAPD t-shirt. As she came downstairs, she heard a knock on the door.

"Mrs. Thornton?"

"Hi, Mr. Wyatt, right?"

"Yes. Um, I seem to be having a problem with my car. Is your husband home?"

The question made her pause for a moment. The man, a stranger, was either really in need of help or he was trying to see if she was alone. Either one, she couldn't fix.

"He will be very soon," she said, quickly locking the screen door when he looked away.

"Would it be ok if I came in and waited for him?"

"I don't think he would like that very much." Now the guy was giving her the creeps. "Have a good evening Mr. Wyatt. I'll send Jack over in just a few minutes." She shut the door and dead bolted it and then called Jack.

"Honey?"

"Jack, how close are you?"

"About two minutes. What's wrong?"

"That Shaun Wyatt, the neighbor. He's making me nervous." She heard a siren over the phone.

"I'm coming, Beth. Lock the door."

"I did."

"I'm turning into our subdivision now." She tried to slow her breathing as she listened for his siren. "Ok, I'm here."

She opened the door and threw herself in his arms as soon as he was I side. "I'm glad you're here."

"Tell me what happened." He locked the door and took her into the kitchen.

"He knocked and said he was having car trouble and asked if you were home. I said you would be very soon. Then he asked if he could come inside and wait for you. I locked the door and told him I would send you over when you got home." She wrapped her arms around her waist and looked out the window. "Jack, this is really scary."

"I know. I'll go talk to him but in plain clothes. I don't want to make him nervous."

"Please be careful. Can't you call for back up?"

"He hasn't really done anything wrong yet, except act a little creepy. Unfortunately, that's not a punishable offense."

Jack started to walk upstairs and Beth followed him closely. She watched as he changed and then slipped his smaller pistol in the back waistband of his jeans.

"What if I'm wrong?"

"Your gut feeling is enough for me. If anything makes you uncomfortable, you get away and ask for help. I'll be back in a few."

She stopped him and kissed him, holding his head between her palms. "Please be careful."

"I will."

Somehow this situation made her more nervous than knowing he was on the streets of LA.

After about ten minutes, Jack came back to the house, locking the door behind him.

"Beth?" She walked in and sat next to him on the couch.

"What happened?"

"I told him my name and that I understood he had come to visit a few minutes ago. He confirmed. Then I told him that he made you uncomfortable and that I would appreciate it if he wouldn't come visit when I was not home. I told him the way he would know was if my police cruiser was out front."

"What did he say to that?"

"He said that he was sorry he made you uncomfortable and that he wouldn't come over any more. Then, he complimented me on my gorgeous wife and I almost punched him." She laughed and kissed his cheek.

"I'm glad you didn't punch him."

"Oh, I really wanted to. I'm going to look into getting an alarm system installed. If this ever happens again, you just hit the panic button and they will call you to make sure you are ok. If you don't answer, they will dispatch the police."

"Ok."

"Now, I also think you should not answer the door unless you know who it is."

"I agree."

"Especially looking as good as you do right now."

"This old thing?" she teased, walking away with a little extra swing in her hips.

He rushed after her, making her squeal as he picked her up in his arms. He kissed her softly and then put her down again. "Somehow, you're even more beautiful pregnant than when you weren't."

"We will see how you feel in about seven months when I can't see my feet anymore."

He wrapped his arms around her and sighed into her hair. "I love you, baby. I just want you safe."

"I will be. I have my big, strong, deputy sheriff husband to protect me." He held her for another moment and then stepped away.

"So after dinner, we are going for a ride."

"Cool. I can't wait."

Later, they drove around the town, getting the lay of the land, so to speak. Then he took her to the station and handed her the keys to the truck. "Can you drive it home? I don't have to drive my own vehicle anymore."

"Really?"

"Yeah. They give me a gas allowance and everything."

"Nice. You have a good job, babe, and you seem happy."

"I am. Its certainly different than LA."

It certainly was different. She never felt uncomfortable to be alone in LA. Now, she was afraid.

For the next week, Shaun didn't show up, so she started to feel better. Then, someone knocked on the door one morning and she hid in the kitchen on the floor. She waited for a good half hour before she got up, got dressed and left the house. She drove to Hope Valley to the lake house.

"Beth, honey, good to see you!"

"You too." She hugged Charlotte and then burst into tears.

"Oh, honey, what's wrong?" Charlotte grabbed her hand and led her to the living room. "Did you and Jack have a fight?"

"No."

"The baby?"

"No, the baby is fine."

"What is it?"

"I feel stupid now that I'm here."

Tom walked in and sat down. "What's going on?"

"Our neighbor, that one from moving day. Last week he came by when Jack wasn't home. He made me so uncomfortable. I called Jack and he hurried home and asked him not to come by unless his police cruiser is there."

"Did he come again?"

"I don't know. Someone knocked on the door this morning so I hid in the kitchen. This isn't fair! I shouldn't be afraid in my own house."

"Of course you shouldn't."

"So I waited and then I left and drove here."

"Did you tell Jack you were coming here?"

"I forgot. Oh boy." She pulled out her phone and texted him. "At your parents house."

He called her a moment later. "Beth? Honey did something happen?"

"Someone knocked and I sort of panicked."

"It was probably the alarm company. They told me they were coming by today. I forgot to tell you. I'm so sorry, Beth."

"The alarm company? Oh, well, I can go back home, but being alone scares me right now."

"We will go with you," Tom volunteered.

"Are you sure?"

"Of course."

"Ok, I'm going home. Which alarm company is it?"

"Ryland Securities. Let them know what happened and set up another appointment that way you know when they are coming."

"Ok. Sorry about all this, Jack."

"Don't apologize, babe. This is not your fault."

….

An hour later, Beth, Charlotte, and Tom pulled into their driveway. "Thank you for coming with me. I feel silly but so much safer."

"Of course we came, dear. You should not feel scared in your own home."

They walked in the front door and Beth immediately locked it. "Make yourselves at home. I'm going to call the alarm company." She walked back in a moment later. "Dad? They want to come on Wednesday morning, but that is when Jack and I have a doctor appointment. Would you be able to be here at 9 in the morning?"

"Of course. We will both come," he told her.

"Ok, my father-in-law and mother-in-law will be here to let you in. Thank you so much. I'm sorry about this morning….ok, thank you."

She sat down and rubbed her hands over her face. "Two days, sweetie. Two more days and you can feel safe again," Charlotte told her.

"Yeah. Thank goodness."

….

Beth was super grateful for Jack's parents. They made her feel so good, helping her to forget about creepy neighbor guy and concentrate on the baby she was growing inside.

By the time Jack came home, dinner was ready and on the table.

Beth walked in to say hello to Jack. "Hi, babe," she said, wrapping her arms around his neck.

"Are you ok? I'm so sorry I forgot to tell you about that appointment."

"I'm just fine. Your parents kept me company today and the new appointment is Wednesday at 9."

"Isn't that when we go to the ultrasound?"

"Yeah. Your dad and mom are going to be here since we can't."

"Good."

He still looked worried. "Jack, I'm alright." She led him to the dining room. "Are you hungry? I made chicken and dumplings."

"It smells amazing. Let me go change."

Jack sat down ten minutes later and held out both of his hands. "Let's say a blessing." Beth took one and Charlotte the other as they bowed their heads.

"Dear Lord, thank you for this food and this family. Thank you for keeping my Beth safe…."