Chapter 36: Christmas Day
Breakfast at Abigail's that morning was an awkward affair. Even though Hannah was thrilled to see Jack back in town, and had been silently critical of Elizabeth's "friendship" with Mr. LeRoy, she was still sad to see the married couple so at odds with each other. Elizabeth sat through breakfast mostly silent, eyes down, and only picking at her food. Jack answered the many questions that were asked of him tersely, and seemed devoid of the contentment his homecoming should have afforded him. The contrast between Abigail and Bill's easy manner, who were so happy to be together again, and Jack and Elizabeth's awkwardness, was palpable.
Bill told the table a little bit about his business meetings back East (Hannah had been told about Bill's mining venture and knew to keep it quiet). "My meetings went very well. I was able to raise a lot of money. There are even more investors than I realized who keep wanting me to buy up property out here for mining and other purposes. I just need to keep the acquisitions secret from the Mining Company. My lawyers are using a holding company to do most of the purchasing."
Hannah asked Bill, "How was it that you happened to arrive back at Coal Valley last night at the same time as Jack?" Bill replied, "Oh I got stuck in the same snow storm as the rest of the Mounties and new miners coming back west, so I joined up with them for the remaining part of the trip. They were good company, right Jack?" Bill laughed and Jack snorted. Abigail raised her eyebrows and asked, "How do you mean?" Bill continued, "Well the new miners are a rowdy bunch. It's about forty single men and they get into a lot of fights. And even though they're not supposed to be drinking, somehow they always manage to find whiskey to pass around. The Mounties had quite a time on the trail keeping the men in line. Remember big Sam, the miner who got thrown out of Coal Valley for stealing people's keepsakes? Well, he's back with the group and causing trouble again. It looks like the mining company scraped the bottom of the barrel with this lot."
Hannah asked, "Where are the miners now?" Bill answered, "They're camped out at the new mine location south of here. A few Mounties are with them. You're going to join them there soon, right Jack?"
Jack shifted uncomfortably in his seat. Jack hadn't yet told Elizabeth about his latest Mountie assignment. "Yes, I was given a short leave to come see Elizabeth, but I've been stationed down at the new mine to help keep order there. I need to get going in a day or so." Elizabeth inhaled sharply upon hearing that Jack would be leaving again. Jack glanced over at Elizabeth, concerned how she was taking the news.
Abigail looked sympathetically at the young couple and said, "Well, we're all so glad you made it back for Christmas, Jack. I assume you're both going to Christmas services later this morning?"
Jack looked at Elizabeth questioningly. Elizabeth said quietly, "I'd like to go." Jack answered, "I guess yes, we're going."
Hannah added, "And then we'll all be coming over your apartment for Christmas lunch. Elizabeth, I understand that you've made a few pies for the occasion, right?"
Elizabeth shyly mumbled, "Yes, and thank you for helping me. I hope they taste okay." Abigail quickly responded, "I'm sure they will."
Hannah asked Jack, "Did you get any of the letters I sent you while you were gone?" Jack answered, "Yes, thank you. They were much appreciated." Jack glanced over at Elizabeth. "And I received Elizabeth's many letters too." Jack added politely, "Thank you." Elizabeth let a small smile pass her lips.
Hannah rose out of her seat. "Well, I think we should all freshen up before going to church, don't you?" Hannah looked at Jack pointedly. Jack realized that he hadn't yet shaved or cleaned up from being out on the trail. Jack ran his hand over his beard and admitted, "Yes, that would be a good idea, particularly for me." Everyone chuckled at that comment, even Elizabeth.
The group stood up and started clearing the table. Jack walked to the back of the café with Abigail while Hannah talked to Elizabeth up front about the preparations for Christmas lunch.
At the back, Jack leaned over to Abigail and asked, "Abigail, how could you have let things get so out of hand between Elizabeth and LeRoy?" Abigail whispered, "I'm sorry, Jack. We tried to stop her. But LeRoy seemed to have some sort of influence over her. We never could quite figure it out. I think Elizabeth thought she needed to continue to be nice to LeRoy in order to keep you safe. He's a bad man, Jack. He targeted her – it would have been hard for any young woman to have gotten out of his trap."
Jack's face registered confusion. He pressed Abigail, "Elizabeth told me that it was her fault, that she asked for LeRoy's help." Abigail shook her head. "No Jack, it was the other way around. Elizabeth was surprised when LeRoy started paying her attentions, and when he wouldn't stop, she seemed to think she had no choice." Jack shook his head and mumbled under his breath, "I don't know who to believe." Abigail admonished Jack, "Yes you do. Trust your wife, Jack. Everything Elizabeth did, though misguided, was out of love for you."
Jack looked over at Elizabeth, who was talking to his mother. Jack said tensely, "If that's the case, then I shouldn't have let LeRoy get away with it this morning. I should have taken him down when I had the chance." Abigail cocked her head at Jack, "And then gone to jail? Lost your Mountie commission? Left Elizabeth essentially a widow the rest of her life? Jack, you did the right thing. LeRoy won't be bothering Elizabeth anymore - no one in town will allow that to happen now."
Jack shook his head – so many conflicting emotions were roiling his mind. Jack walked back to the front of the café to fetch Elizabeth. Elizabeth could see that Jack had a look of concern in his eyes. Elizabeth asked softly, "Is everything okay?" Jack nodded, "Yes, I'm fine, we can go now." Jack took Elizabeth's hand as they said their goodbyes. Elizabeth smiled gratefully at Jack, thrilled that he was touching her gently again. The others saw that gesture too and smiled at the young pair as they left. Abigail turned to Hannah and Bill and grinned as she joked, "Newlyweds!"
A little while later, Jack and Elizabeth joined Abigail, Bill, and Hannah at church. As the townspeople streamed in, many of them nodded to Jack or clapped his back to show solidarity with him – they had all heard about or seen Jack's confrontation with LeRoy in the morning. Many of the children ran up to hug their Mountie Jack and tell him how happy they were he was back in town. Jack's demeanor softened, as the joy of being home for Christmas and surrounded by loved ones seeped back into his heart.
As they entered the church, Jack felt Elizabeth tense up at seeing the uniformed mining managers standing at the back of the church, though thankfully LeRoy was nowhere to be seen. Jack put his arm around Elizabeth and said, "Don't worry – no one is going to hurt you now." Elizabeth leaned her head ever so slightly against Jack's shoulder, taking comfort in his embrace.
During the service, both Jack and Elizabeth prayed fervently, as they both wanted peace and love to filter back into their hearts and home. Jack held Elizabeth's hand at many points during the service. Elizabeth started to feel a sense of normalcy returning to their relationship.
Afterwards at their Christmas lunch, Jack complimented Elizabeth often on her cooking, with approving looks from Hannah and Abigail. Elizabeth smiled and said out loud, "Maybe I'm starting to get the hang of this!" Everyone chuckled and agreed.
As they were opening gifts, Elizabeth shyly handed Jack the package she had wrapped for him. As Jack took off the wrapping paper, he found a beautiful leather bound drawing journal, just the right size to fit in his knapsack. Elizabeth said, "This goes with the drawing set I got you in Silverton." Jack smiled and said, "It's wonderful, thank you."
Then Jack retrieved a small box from his knapsack and handed it to Elizabeth. "This is for you," he said, looking into her eyes meaningfully. Elizabeth looked at Jack and then opened the box. Inside was a gold heart necklace almost exactly like the one Elizabeth had gifted to Kalapuya, the Indian Chief, in return for the furs and moccasins the Indians had given them. Elizabeth gasped - she was amazed to see a heart pendant virtually identical to the one she had worn so often over the years. Jack got up and asked, "May I put it on you?" Elizabeth nodded and allowed Jack to place it over her head. Abigail, Hannah, and Bill smiled when they saw Jack gently move Elizabeth's hair aside to position the necklace just so on the front of her dress.
After gift giving, the group sang Christmas songs and ate more dessert. Soon, Abigail, Hannah, and Bill got up to go – they wanted to give the young couple time to be alone before Jack had to leave town again. Elizabeth hugged and thanked them all, as they told her what a wonderful job she had done with her first big meal at the apartment. Elizabeth appreciated their words of praise.
After the group had left, Elizabeth turned to Jack and said excitedly, "I think it went very well, don't you?" Jack smiled and answered, "Yes, it was wonderful. You did a great job pulling it all together."
Jack then gathered Elizabeth in his arms. "I'm so sorry about last night," Jack bemoaned. "I shouldn't have been that harsh with you. I owe you an apology." Elizabeth shook her head and looked up at Jack. "No, I'm the one who should be apologizing. I betrayed your trust in me. Please believe me when I say I'll never do that again." Jack leaned down and kissed Elizabeth gently. After that kiss, there was another, and another. Jack and Elizabeth were done with apologies . . . it was now time for love.