Chapter 36

Girls Day Out

"Jack," William said. "I know you love my little girl. I know she loves you as well."

Jack nervously drummed his fingers on the table.

"And," William continued. "Even if I wanted to, I know I wouldn't be able to stop you from marrying Beth. I can't think of a better man to marry her than you- a man who loves her more than his own life.

"I do love her more than my life sir." Jack replied. "But how can you tell?"

"You have that gleam in your eye. I had that same gleam in my eye when I was your age. I felt the same way… and still do… about Beth's mother." William answered. "So yes… you may have daughter's hand. I'm sorry I gave you such a hard time when we first met. I just don't like to admit that my little girls are not so little anymore."

Jack smiled and let out a sigh of relief. "Thank you, sir!" He exclaimed

"Hold on Jack." William continued. "You didn't let me finish."

Jack looked up at William. "Oh sorry," he apologized.

"Jack, relax." William replied. "You can have my daughter's hand... on one condition."

Meanwhile, Elizabeth and Julie were eating lunch at Landon's Diner with the Lissing Twins, Cindie and Cheryl.

"…And I opened the door to surprise him… and he was standing there… without a shirt." Elizabeth was saying.

Cindie and Cheryl were wide eyed.

"Oh honey," Cheryl said. "I wish I were in your shoes. I bet he's dreamy underneath that shirt."

"What did you do then?" Cindie asked.

"I was embarrassed and I can tell he was. I quickly left the room." Elizabeth answered.

"You mean to tell me you didn't get a good look at him?" asked Cheryl.

"Now I didn't say that." Elizabeth replied. "I'm very happy to say, that I am getting married to a very attractive man. Any normal woman would notice."

"What happened after you ran out?" Cindie asked.

"He ran out after me." Elizabeth stated. "Isn't that romantic?"

"Yes," the twins both replied, swooning.

"But he forgot to put a shirt on. Elizabeth continued. "There he was, standing mere inches from me."

"How did you handle that?" Cheryl asked.

"Well I was alright, until we went back to his room." Elizabeth responded.

"Ooh!" They exclaimed.

"Nothing happened." Elizabeth said, defensively. "Well, he did wrap me in his arms and we kissed a little." She blushed. "And I couldn't resist running my hands across his back and kissing his shoulder." She looked down at her plate of food, not believing she had just shared that with her friends.

"And you said nothing happened." Cheryl giggled. "Elizabeth, I'm so jealous. I only met him once, but that fiancé of yours really left an impression."

"Then what happened?" Cindie asked, excitedly

"Well finally he put his shirt back on and we decided I better get back to the house. When I tried to leave, the door was locked. We were stuck with no way out, short of climbing out the window. I couldn't have climbed out the window though, because it was too dark and I couldn't see."

"What did you do?" Cheryl asked.

"There wasn't much we could do." Elizabeth answered. "I mean he tried to jimmy the lock. I ended up sleeping there."

"Scandalous!" Cheryl exclaimed.

"No, no." Elizabeth said, blushing. "I slept on the bed, and he slept on the floor. He did let me borrow one of his shirts, so I could sleep more comfortably."

"Elizabeth," Cindie replied. "You have yourself a keeper. It sounds to me like he'd walk through fire for you."

"Yes." Cheryl agreed. "So tell me. What was it like sleeping in his shirt?"

Elizabeth sighed. "It smelled like him. It was almost as if he had his arms wrapped around me while I slept. I remember waking up from a very pleasant dream the next morning." She smiled.

"Wow, sister," Julie chimed in. "You didn't tell me any of this."

"Well that's why I was wearing the same dress." Elizabeth replied.

"So how did you get out of the room?" Cindie asked.

"It turns out, my father was the one who locked us in." Elizabeth responded. "Only, he didn't know I was in there too. He was unsuccessfully trying to keep us apart for the night. That morning, when I got up, I tripped and landed on Jack, just when my father walked in."

"Wow!" Cheryl exclaimed. "How did you explain that?"

"Well," Elizabeth replied. "He tried sending him to a hotel. I then told him that my being in his room was my fault. Jack told my father that he was just as much to blame for the situation as I was. My father suddenly realized Jack truly loved me and that there was no use trying to keep us apart. Now he's staying in the room next to mine."

"That's great news." Cindie said. "I knew your father would come around."

"I can't believe you have that yummy Mountie that close to you." Cheryl said. "How on earth are you going to be able to sleep?" She started fanning herself. I know I couldn't handle that."

"Just knowing he's going to be my husband soon, and that I'll have him all to myself, helps." Elizabeth replied.

When they finished their lunch, they made their way downtown where all the shops were.

"Ooh!" Julie exclaimed, pointing to the bridal shop. "Let's go in here. Elizabeth, you're getting married soon. You're going to need a dress. As I recall, there are no bridal shops in Coal Valley." She grabbed her sister's hand and pulled into Hearties Bridal Boutique. Cindie and Cheryl followed. They all looked around the shop.

Elizabeth browsed around, noticing several dresses she liked. One in particular, had a long train. It had lace around the bottom, along the neck line, and around the puffy sleeves. There were buttons shaped like little roses going down the front. Julie caught her looking at it. "You should try it on."

"It's much too extravagant for a Coal Valley wedding," Elizabeth stated sadly."

"Nonsense, sister," Julie exclaimed. "It's your wedding! Everyone will expect you to look extravagant, even in Coal Valley."

Cindie and Cheryl soon walked over to them and agreed.

"Elizabeth," Cindie said. "You would look so beautiful in that dress. You should try it on."

"If you don't, I will." Cheryl said.

Finally, they talked Elizabeth into trying it on.

Lisa, the shop clerk, and also a friend of Elizabeth, let Elizabeth in the fitting room. A few minutes later, she emerged wearing the dress.

"Oh Elizabeth, you look absolutely beautiful!" Julie exclaimed.

"Jack will think you're a knock out." Cheryl said.

"He won't be able to take his eyes off of you." Cindie replied.

"Absolutely stunning," said Lisa, who was standing next to them.

"You don't think it's too…" Elizabeth started to say.

"Elizabeth it's perfect, absolutely perfect." Julie interrupted. "You should get it. You're going to take Jack's breath away."

"I just think it's too much for a Coal Valley wedding." Elizabeth replied unsure.

"Elizabeth, that dress was made for you." Julie said. "It would be a shame if you didn't get it."

Elizabeth looked down at the rose shaped buttons. She ran her finger across them. "I do love these buttons. Alright you talked me into it. I'll take it!" She exclaimed. "I do love this dress, and it is my wedding after all, even if it is in Coal Valley." She smiled, as she returned to the fitting room return to her normal dress. She took the dress she'd chosen and a few other less formal dresses to the counter so Lisa could wrap them up. "She wanted some new dresses to take home to Coal Valley with her.

After they made their purchases, they walked out of the shop and made their way back to the Thatcher mansion. They didn't notice the man coming out of the coffee shop next door. The man looked in the direction of the four ladies walking down the sidewalk. "Is that Lizzie?" the man wondered to himself as watched the ladies walk away.

…to be continued…

Okay more cliffhangers… I promise I won't leave you hanging off the edge too long… Thanks for reading and reviewing…. A special thanks to CherylinBoston and Cindie Henrich… (The Lissing Twins)… You guys and all the hearties are awesome…. You will find out William's condition for letting Jack marry Elizabeth in the next chapter…. And who is the mysterious man? You'll just have to wait and see. 'wink'