Disclaimer: I do not own the characters within; all rights and much respect go to Crown Media, Hallmark, Ms. Oke, Mr. Bird, Mr. Landon, and the creators/writers/actors of "When Calls the Heart". You inspired me to write and I'm not a writer! Feel free to use my story on the show, I'd be honored!

***Hearties, Sorry for the wait! Life! I thought after the last few dramatic chapters that Elizabeth and Jack, and you, deserved some romance. Thank you for reading and reviewing. Your reviews keep all of the writers motivated! Trust me, we run out of steam from time to time. A special shout out to "Em" in Australia and OF COURSE my Dantastic friend, Angel! Where would I be without your "daily doses" and humor? Thank you!

Episode 38

"You don't think you want to be a Mountie anymore?" Elizabeth said as she stood in shock.

"I'm seriously considering it." Jack said firmly.

Elizabeth's mouth hung for a moment, "But you pride yourself on serving and protecting the people of this town and you love what you do!" Elizabeth tried to convince him.

"Well I love you more!" Jack said as he stepped closer and touched her cheek.

Elizabeth sighed and gently kissed his lips, "I'm so touched and honored that you love me that much, but I would never ask you to give up your career for me!" Elizabeth said with concern.

"You're not, I'm choosing to." Jack said.

"How can you just turn your back on it? Your father was a Mountie!" Elizabeth said.

"And my mother and I suffered for it!" Jack interjected. "He was wounded and died from his injuries. If I'm going to be a husband and father someday, I wouldn't want a job that could take me away. I can't have my loved ones put in danger either, Elizabeth." Jack said as he raised her chin up to meet her eyes. "Mountie life is hard on a wife and a family. Believe me, I know and now I see that it also creates enemies."

Elizabeth stood straight with pride, "Well I'm not afraid to be a Mountie's wife, Jack!" Elizabeth said firmly.

"I'm glad to hear that..." Jack as he tried to hide a smile. "…but it's something that I feel I need to seriously consider. I haven't always wanted to be a Mountie, you know." Jack said.

"You wanted to be a painter." Elizabeth said as she looked away recalled that day in the mercantile.

Jack looked at her with surprise, "How did you know that?"

"Rosemary." Elizabeth said in a deflated tone.

Jack nodded slightly, "I see."

"Well she was willing to marry a Mountie and she was raised by one so obviously it can't be as terrible as you say. It's highly unlikely that you will have the same fate as your father, Jack. Who's to say that God has the same exact plan for you?" Elizabeth said.

"I know that and it's not so much about me, it's about keeping us both safe." Jack said. "I don't want anything to ever happen to you because of me and my job."

"Well it already has and we got through it, we're fine! Jack, no one is guaranteed tomorrow; God could take either of us anytime. You can't control fate." Elizabeth said as she looked away, "I don't even want to think about it..."

"Me either but I understand what you're getting at." Jack sighed as he turned away. "So you think it's a bad idea?"

Elizabeth wanted to scream yes but she knew that he had to make his own decision. She ran her hand across his back and squeezed his shoulder, "I'm concerned that you're going to make a rash decision. This is a decision will impact the rest of your life, Jack."

Jack turned to face her, "I know, either way it will have an impact on the future, our future."

"Please Jack, before you make a decision you need to consider that we have had a lot going on over these last few months. Between the trip with Clayton to Toronto, your dereliction of duty trial, Lethbridge and then capturing the gang and Barth, I think you need to take some time off and relax. I think you will be able to see things more clearly along with some prayer and soul searching, to see what's really in your heart. You could go on a trip or…"

"I don't want to go anywhere." Jack interjected.

Elizabeth held her hand up, "Or you could go to your favorite spot and camp out. Just relax and see where your heart and mind are at in a few days, a week, a month! Please consider that, Jack. I don't want you to have any regrets." Elizabeth said sincerely.

"Perhaps you're right." Jack said.

"Please promise me that you won't make any decisions about this until you've had time to think about it and weigh your options." Elizabeth said.

"I promise."

Elizabeth sighed, "Good." She smiled.

"How's your hand feeling?" Jack asked as carefully brought her bandaged hand to his lips and gently kissed it. "That really scared me, Elizabeth. I love you so much!" Jack said as he pulled her to him and hugged her.

"I love you too, Jack." Elizabeth said before she pulled back to look at him. "Of course, a kiss always makes things better." She said with a smile.

Jack smiled "Well then I have your remedy." He said as he kissed her lips before he took her good hand and pulled her with him. Jack opened the door to the livery and let go of her hand, "Grab that lantern!"

They heard Jack's horse neigh upon seeing him, "Not now, boy!" Jack said over his shoulder as he and Elizabeth looked at each other and smiled.

"Aw, Jack…he wants your attention!" Elizabeth giggled as she hung the lantern on a nearby hook.

"We just got back to town besides; you have my attention right now." Jack said he pulled her into his embrace.

Elizabeth hugged him tightly and breathed in his scent at his collar. "I'm glad we were able to spend time together tonight, Jack. I missed you today and just wanted to spend time with you after everything that happened yesterday…and last night. I just wanted, needed to feel safe and secure with you, just like this." Elizabeth admitted as she snuggled closer. Elizabeth closed her eyes as she felt Jack kiss her temple.

Soon their lips came together and they quickly became lost in each other. A little while later, Elizabeth could hear voices close by and her eyes flew open. "Jack?" she whispered.

"Mmm" he said while he kissed her neck.

"Voices…people." She said breathlessly.

Jack groaned as he pulled back. "No one will see us here." He said as he returned to her neck.

"Jack!" she giggled as she pushed him back slightly. "Perhaps we should head back. What time is it anyway? I'm sure it's getting late because my hand is beginning to throb so the aspirin is wearing off."

Jack sighed reluctantly, "Ok."

"There's always tomorrow!" Elizabeth said with a smile as she kissed him and began to move away.

"Does that mean I can pick up where I left off?" Jack said as he wiggled his eyebrows.

Elizabeth laughed, "Jack!"

He kissed her good hand and tucked it into arm, "Good night, boy!" he said before they headed back to the saloon.

"Thank you for being honest with me about everything tonight. I'm glad that we were able to talk and get things out in the open tonight but, please just tell me what's on your mind from now on." Elizabeth said.

Jack nodded.

"You wouldn't want the tiger to show up again, would you?" Elizabeth said playfully as she raised an eyebrow.

Jack laughed, "No ma'am…I'll try my best."

They were surprised by the sudden sound of the crowd in the saloon. They both moved to look through the window. "Looks like a busy night." Jack observed.

"Crowded! I'm sure Tom will be happy. It should be interesting to try to fall asleep with all of this noise tonight." Elizabeth sighed.

"That's the reason why I moved into the jail!" Jack said.

Elizabeth smiled, "Well, I love you. I'll see you tomorrow." Elizabeth said as she stepped toward the door.

"Wait! I want to walk you to your door." Jack said as he put his arm out for her.

Elizabeth couldn't help but smile as she took his arm, "You're such a gentleman."

They walked into the saloon and had to weave through the crowd to make it to the staircase. Along the way they heard random parts of conversations which included a lot of profanity. They made it up the staircase and to the door of her room. Jack looked over the crowd, "This is no place for a lady like you, Elizabeth."

"Jack, Rosemary stayed here when she first came into town; it's fine." Elizabeth said.

"Yes, and she has since moved out of here for a more suitable living arrangement." Jack said. "I'm going to see Adam tomorrow to check on his progress."

"No need, I saw Adam earlier and he said he won't be back to finish for a few days. Mr. Gowen has some work for him that he needs to tend to."

Jack sighed, clearly unhappy to hear that.

Elizabeth sighed, "Please consider that vacation, Jack. I really think you need it to think things over. I'll see you tomorrow."

Suddenly a glass flew against the wall and shattered as fists began to fly in the room below. Jack and Elizabeth both flinched from the noise. Jack turned to Elizabeth, "I have to go! Lewis will be down the hall if you need anything. Keep your door locked! Good night!" Jack said before he turned and rushed downstairs to break up the fight.

Elizabeth watched from above as Jack broke the men apart. She noted just how good he was at taking control of the situation, how he commanded presence from everyone in the room and swiftly escorted the trouble maker out. Jack was good at his job. She prayed that God would guide him in his decision but knew she would stand by his side no matter what.

Jack woke early and did his morning rounds. He met Lewis on the front porch of the jail. "Hey, buddy!" Lewis greeted Jack.

"Good morning!" Jack said as he tied his horse to a post. "How was the rest of the night at the saloon?"

"Just fine although I'm sorry I missed the brawl you broke up." said Lewis.

"Yeah well, Mr. Sanford had a little too much to drink and needed to sleep it off." Jack said.

"Want to head over to Abigail's? I saw a pretty teacher walk over." Lewis said.

Jack tried to hide a smile, "There will be time for that. First I need to talk to you about something."

"Ok, let's go inside." Lewis said as turned to walk into the jail.

Jack added more wood to the wood-burning stove before he sat down at his desk.

"What's up?" Lewis inquired.

Jack inhaled deeply, "I'm considering resigning my commission as a Mountie."

Lewis' stared at Jack for a moment before a smile quickly grew, "Oh, you're good! That's funny Jack!" Lewis said as he stood. "You're still trying to get back at me for that trick I played on you in Lethbridge, aren't you? Nice try!"

Jack looked at Lewis seriously, "Sit down."

The smile quickly left Lewis' face. "What? You can't be serious! You just got a raise and a promotion!"

"Considering everything that happened with Barth and Gowen targeting Elizabeth and I, I just think it would be wise to consider her safety and my own. I want to build a life with her, have a family someday. Being a Mountie has created enemies, it will take me away at times and it could take me away for good if I'm killed in the line of duty." Jack said.

"You could be killed by a fall from your horse, Jack. Does that mean that you will never ride again?" Lewis asked.

Jack pursed his lips and looked away.

"So what, are you going to go be a miner now? It's a noble profession but you could be killed in the mine like all of those poor husbands and fathers who perished in the explosion." Lewis said. He looked at Jack and could see he wasn't happy. "You know what you need? A vacation! You've had a lot going on and..."

"Elizabeth said the same thing." Jack interjected as he reached down to pet Rip.

"Well, my Lorelei always says that if you hear something more than once that God is trying to tell you something." Lewis said.

Jack smiled slightly, "My grandmother used to say that."

"She sounds like a wise woman, Elizabeth too! You need a vacation!" Lewis said. "Go on a trip and go fishing or do whatever you want. I'm here and I can watch your post." Lewis said. He could tell that Jack was about to protest. "At least think about it."

Jack exhaled, "Ok, I'll think about it. In the meantime, let's head to the café because I'm starving." Jack said as he stood to leave.

"Mmm…me too!" Lewis said as he secured his hat and followed Jack out.

Elizabeth sipped her morning tea while she thought about the last few days. She thought about Jack and his decision. She also recalled wearing the Mountie uniform herself and Jack commenting on her ability to fill it out. She blushed as she put the tea cup down and stood. She recalled that he told her to walk like a man. Elizabeth began to pace with her hands awkwardly on her hips when Abigail walked in.

"Is everything all right?" Abigail asked as she set a plate on the counter.

"Huh? Oh nothing! It's silly, really." Elizabeth said a she slowly began to do it again.

Abigail watched her friend and tried to figure out what she was doing. "Amuse me!" she said.

Elizabeth scoffed, "It's just…do I sway my hips when I walk?" She said as she held her hands at her hips and took a few steps.

"Yes!" Jack said from behind them.

Abigail smiled as Elizabeth spun around quickly. "Jack!" she said as she tried to recover and act as though she nothing was happening. "Good morning!"

He smiled, "Good morning."

"Here you go, Jack!" Abigail said with a smile as she handed him a cup of coffee.

"Thank you! Constable Lewis is in the dining room and I know he would love a cup." He said.

"Coming right up!" Abigail said as she moved back into the dining room.

Jack walked over and sat next to Elizabeth. "I told you that your walk is feminine and I like it."

Elizabeth tried to stifle a smile, "You shouldn't surprise people like that!" she pretended to be annoyed as she folded her arms.

Jack smiled, "Yeah but then I miss all the good stuff!"

Elizabeth couldn't help but smile as she turned back to him and leaned in for a kiss but Jack stopped her. "Whoa! What's this?" Jack said as he moved her hair to examine her neck.

"Jack, you can't do that here!" she said referencing his attention there last night.

"Oh!" Jack said as realization hit him. "I'm so sorry!" he said as he tried to hide a smile.

"Sorry about what?" Elizabeth said. "What's wrong?" Elizabeth said as she touched her neck.

"Um…" Jack said.

Elizabeth became concerned and moved to a mirror to look. She gasped when she saw her reflection, "Oh my goodness!" she said as she touched the mark on her neck. "Jack Thornton! You gave me a hickey!"

"I'm sorry! Well, I'm sorry I left a mark I'm not sorry for…" Jack began but Elizabeth interjected.

"And that will be the last time!" she said quite flustered as she moved to her purse to retrieve her compact. "Oh my goodness! What will people think?" she said as she put powder over it.

Jack couldn't help but laugh a little. "What will they think?"

"Well they will know that we…we…" Elizabeth said as she patted more powder on it.

"What? That we were kissing? We've been courting for a while, I think they know." Jack said as he moved closer to her.

Elizabeth spun around and squinted her eyes, "You!" she said as she patted a big dollop of powder on his nose.

Jack smiled and pulled her into a hug, "I'm sorry I left my mark, but I'm kind of proud of it." He said just to get her going.

Elizabeth looked at him wide-eyed "Out!" she said as she pushed him to the door.

Jack laughed the whole way, "I told you I prefer to show you how I feel rather than telling you."

Elizabeth fixed him with a look as she closed the door but made sure that he saw her smile.