Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters. All rights go to the actors, writers and creators of the show "When Calls The Heart".

(15/07/2018)

CHAPTER 37

William looked down at the paper in front of him in shock.

"Did he manage to …" William said.

William had asked her what Charles had wanted. Elizabeth had written it down on a piece of paper.

He accused me of being a temptress who had seduced the men to sign contracts by sleeping with them. He didn't want to miss out on the action. (Do not tell Jack).

"No!" Elizabeth confirmed quickly, her voice deep and croaky.

"He accused you of that?"

Elizabeth squeezed his hand once.

William's mind was reeling. From a business standpoint he would normally fire someone instantly for such a misdemeanour. If he fired Charles, and even if he returned the Kensington's money, there would be uproar within their social circle. No one had called off an engagement before based on assault. They just brushed it under the carpet. He couldn't do that to Beth. He had to get her out of it.

Elizabeth tapped his hand, bringing him back to the present. She had written more.

What are you worried about?

"Breaking off the deal."

Elizabeth's eyes went wide as she scribbled.

What do you mean? I have four more contracts that are finalised. I've reached the amount we discussed.

"Not our deal" William said motioning between her and him. "The deal with the Kensington's. I will have to let Charles go and also return their money. You've made more than enough to replace that." William smiled down at her. "I really never expected you to get any of those contracts. You really are incredible Beth."

She began scribbling again.

So I can marry Jack? You will give us your blessing?

William looked at her uncertainly. He made her a deal and as far as he could tell Jack was a decent man. Jack had managed to be here to protect his girls when he had not.

"Hang on, why was Jack even in Cape Fullerton?"

Visiting his brother, she scribbled.

"He was staying in the same hotel as you?"

Yes.

"Why?"

I asked him to.

"Why?"

Because I missed him and I wanted to see him.

William thought for a moment. Something wasn't adding up.

"Jack!" he yelled back to the door.

Jack emerged slowly. "Is there a problem?"

"Yes! Have you two already reached an understanding?" William said motioning to his daughter.

William saw the panic in his eyes, but he recovered before taking Elizabeth's hand.

"Yes, sir."

"When?"

"Three months ago, Sir."

"Beth! How could you? You led him on when you were betrothed to Charles!"

Elizabeth picked up the pen and paper again. No. I never agreed to marry Charles. He never asked me and I never said yes. It was all presumed. I was already engaged to Jack.

"I'm not happy about this, Beth." William turned to Jack. "And you …" William shook his head.

"Mr Thatcher, I love your daughter and I proposed to her when she was returning to Hamilton on what I thought was a temporary visit. I had every intention of coming to Hamilton to see her home and ask for your permission at the time. Unfortunately a two week visit has turned into two and a half months" Jack looked down at Elizabeth, squeezing her hand. "I love Izzy with everything that I am and I want to marry her as soon as possible. We would like your blessing, Sir, to get this marriage off on the right foot."

"Constable, you're a Mountie. How on earth are you planning on providing for my daughter?"

"I do earn a wage, Sir, and Elizabeth has income for the time being. We will be fine. I have already bought a house and it is in the process of being renovated. It should be ready to move into by the time we return."

William shook his head.

"Elizabeth you can't be expecting to return to Hope Valley permanently. Your home is in Hamilton. You have such a brilliant future. You can keep working at the company if you want."

Elizabeth shook her head and scribbled. I only worked at the company to get myself closer to marrying Jack.

"We have to think things through. If I get you out of the engagement with Charles, you cannot just run off and marry a Mountie. That will really damage our family's good name, if this little incident hasn't already." William waved his hand over Elizabeth's body.

"Little incident?!" Jack fumed at him. "That bastard almost killed her!"

At that moment, Julie and Tom walked into the room.

"Father?" Julie ran to William, wrapping her arms around him. "I'm so glad you're here. It was horrible. Thank goodness for Jack and Tom. They saved us!"

William looked at the man who had walked in with Julie.

"You are?" William said looking down his nose.

"Tom Thornton, Sir. Jack's brother" Tom said stepping forward, offering his hand.

William reluctantly shook it.

Jack was not happy with how this whole thing was going. He had been praying that William would finally come to his senses with Charles and agree to let Jack marry Elizabeth but it seemed William's image was too important at the moment.

As soon as Tom introduced himself, Jack saw the look in William's eyes. Even after helping his daughter's, associating with men like Jack and Tom was still not good enough for William's Elizabeth.

"Right, Jack, Tom. Thank you for your assistance in this matter but I think it best if you leave now" William said, practically pushing Tom back out the door.

"No, I'm not leaving" Jack said, still holding firmly to Elizabeth's hand.

"Yes, you are. If you have any chance of marrying my daughter, you will be leaving right this moment."

Jack was frozen not knowing what to do. Jack promised he wouldn't leave Elizabeth's side, but if he had to leave Elizabeth so that he could marry her, maybe that was better. Elizabeth was squeezing his hand, pulling him to her. He leant down over her, his hand running alongside her face.

"Don't go" she croaked out.

"Izzy, he's your father. I have to." He gently touched the side of her face. Tears began to slip out of her eyes and he wiped them away lightly. "Sweetie, don't cry. I love you." Jack bent down and kissed her lips gently. He whispered into her ear. "I don't care what your father says. I said I would fight for us forever and I will. I'm coming to Hamilton with you and I'm going to marry you."

He pulled back, still looking at her.

"Promise?"

"I promise." Jack kissed her again, squeezed her hand and pulled away.

The next day, Elizabeth had awoken alone in the hospital room. William and Julie had gone back to the hotel to sleep before they set off that day. Elizabeth had been cleared to travel back to Hamilton. The doctor had insisted that William make sure they don't travel for too many hours at a time. The constant bumping of the car may cause Elizabeth some pain, so he advised William to take it slow. Elizabeth was relieved to be going back to Hamilton – the only reason being that she was closer to marrying Jack and going home to Hope Valley.

Julie had helped her into the car and sat close beside her, holding her hand. Elizabeth hadn't heard from Jack since she last saw him yesterday but she hoped he wouldn't be too far away. She wanted desperately to feel his arms around her. They had held hands all of the previous day but it wasn't enough. She missed him so much.

After they had been driving for almost an hour, Elizabeth found herself drifting asleep on Julie's shoulder. Her neck was already throbbing from the journey and they still had another five or six hours to go. She fell asleep and was instantly dreaming of Jack.

Jack had left the hospital the following evening and gone straight to the hotel to freshen up. He ended up falling asleep on the bed before he had even made it into the bathroom. He awoke the next morning surprised that he had slept so deeply. He noticed Tom was asleep on the sofa, clearly just as exhausted as he himself had been.

Jack got ready for the day and woke Tom. Jack had decided that he was going to ride back to Hope Valley today and then immediately jump on the stage tomorrow to head to Hamilton. He hoped that he would arrive there only a day behind Elizabeth. As Jack was waiting for Tom to get ready, he packed his bag and finished collecting all of these things. He glanced down at the table and saw Elizabeth's rings sitting there.

"How did …" his mind went back to the other night and he vaguely remembered her pulling them off as she began to storm out of the room. He hastily put them in his pocket and buttoned it up.

Tom reappeared ready to go. Jack grabbed his bag and they left the hotel.

"Jack, it was great to see you, but I better get back home. Ma can't run the ranch for too much longer on her own."

"Oh, she will be fine by herself. Don't worry about it. She will have changed everything around on you though. You know how she is!"

"That's true! I better hurry up then!" Tom hugged his brother. "Thanks for the … excitement, let's say!"

"Yes! I'm pretty sure I am never going to have a dull day married to Elizabeth."

"She truly is a wonderful woman. I can't wait for the day you write to tell me she's your wife."

"Let's just hope that day is not too far away!"

Jack farewelled his brother and instead of going to the livery, he went straight to Mountie Headquarters. He introduced himself at the front desk and was led to a room out the back. The investigating Mountie had finished up but another Mountie had taken over the case.

"Constable Michael Grayson" he introduced himself to Jack.

"Constable Jack Thornton."

"What can I do for you Jack?"

"I just wanted to follow up on a case I was involved in last night. It was the assault case of a woman by a man named Charles Kensington."

"Aaah, yes. Kensington. He's being a real pain in the ass."

"Not surprising. He's an arrogant piece of work."

"You know him?"

"I know of him. I am friends with Elizabeth Thatcher, the woman he attacked." Jack had almost said fiancé when he managed to refrain.

"Yes, his fiancé."

Jack almost shuddered. "So what is happening with the case?"

Grayson looked him over and then signalled for him to follow him. He led Jack down the corridor to where it was quiet.

"You know he is a very wealthy man?" Grayson said quietly.

"Yes."

"His father was contacted last night and already this morning we were instructed to drop the charges."

"You cannot be serious?" Jack said loudly. "He almost killed her!" he said back, trying to be quiet.

"I know, but the request has come from high up. There's nothing we could do."

"This cannot be happening!" Jack said to himself. "You know he will just try again!"

"I'm sorry."

"I am going to write an official complaint. I was there. I saw what he was doing to her!"

"It's his fiancé. He can just say it was consensual."

"It wasn't!" Jack yelled. "I can't waste any more time here. Thank you for the information Grayson."

Jack took off and ran to the hospital. He raced down the corridor to Elizabeth's room. Both beds were being stripped by a nurse.

"Mr Thornton?"

"Where is Miss Thatcher?"

"She's gone home."

"Already?"

"Yes, her father insisted on leaving today."

Jack turned and fled the hospital.

The Thatcher's stopped overnight in a hotel. Elizabeth had been in so much pain. Julie had been listening and insisted on stopping overnight and her father had finally relented. He had got them two rooms and had settled into his and left Julie and Elizabeth in the other. Elizabeth had immediately stretched out on her bed.

"Beth, are you okay? I have your pain medication here. Maybe you should have some and it will help you sleep tonight."

"Thanks Julie for looking after me." Elizabeth's voice was still croaky and her throat was a bit sore but she could at least talk. That was something.

"That's okay. I'm just so glad you're alright. I was so scared, Beth."

"I know. You did so well. I'm so proud of you!"

Julie handed Elizabeth the medicine and a glass of water.

"How did you let Jack know to come to the hospital?" Elizabeth asked after swallowing the tablets.

"He didn't tell you?"

"Tell me what?"

"Jack broke the door down and took out Charles. He was the one that saved you."

"Really?"

"Yeah. We had been trying to get the door opened for a few minutes and the next minute Jack was behind me and he just kicked the door open with his foot. Nearly blew it off the hinges. Before anyone could react he had lunged at Charles and tackled him off you and then punched him in the face."

"Oh my goodness." Elizabeth sat there trying to imagine Jack saving her like that.

"I was terrified at the time but seeing Charles' shocked face and Jack beating him up like that … best thing I've ever seen" Julie grinned at her.

Elizabeth smiled at her. "That would have been good to see."

"How are your bruises feeling?"

"They are getting there. My face is much better today and at least I can open my eye again."

"How's your throat?"

"Really sore still."

"Does it still hurt to talk?"

"A little."

"Then you better stop talking!" Julie giggled.

"I wonder where Jack is."

"He won't stay away for long. Trust me. He is probably already in Hamilton."

"You think?"

"Yes! You two are like magnets – you are drawn together."

"I'm going to marry him next week."

Julie began squealing and jumping up and down.

"Please let me come. I won't tell anyone! Please."

Elizabeth nodded and Julie threw her arms around her.

Julie, Elizabeth and William arrived home at midday the next day. Elizabeth was glad to be back somewhere familiar. As she was helped out of the car, her mother was at the door.

"Beth, dear, are you okay?"

"Yes, Mother."

"Look at your face and your neck. What on earth happened?"

"Grace, let's go inside." William led his wife back inside and Julie helped Elizabeth.

"I need to rest" Elizabeth croaked out. Grace began to fuss but Julie immediately began to lead her to her room.

Julie waited until Elizabeth was settled.

"I will just go get you some tea. That will help soothe your throat. I will be right back."

Julie left Elizabeth's room and went down to the kitchen. As she was walking back up with a tray of tea, the butler saw her.

"Miss Julie. You had an urgent telegram arrive yesterday."

"Oh thank you. Just place it on the tray there. My hands are full."

Julie proceeded up the stairs and into Elizabeth's room. She placed the tray down and poured her sister a cup of tea. Elizabeth was sitting back on her bed and looked the most comfortable she had in a few days.

Julie sat down in the armchair and picked up the telegram off the tray. She opened it and read it and her mouth fell open.

"Julie. Are you okay? What is it?"

Julie didn't know what to do. She knew she should tell Elizabeth but at the same time she wanted to protect her.

"It's a telegram."

"For you?"

"Yes"

"From who?"

"Jack?

"Why is Jack writing to you and not me?"

"He was probably worried that your mail might be intercepted by Father or something."

"What did he say?"

"Here." Julie handed her the telegram and watched her expression change to one of fear as she read the words:

JULIE THATCHER. CHARLES RELEASED TODAY. GOT ON TRAIN. PAID OFF MOUNTIES FOR RELEASE. COMING ASAP. DON'T LET E OUT OF YOUR SIGHT. JACK