Sorry for the long wait! As I said, traveling this month and Wifi is spotty. But for the next two weeks we are staying put in a place that should have Wifi so updates will be more frequent... I hope.
"How's this one?" Jack asked standing by a big pine tree out in the woods.
"Perfect!" Kate grinned.
"It's so big, it will take up half the sitting room." Elizabeth shook her head.
"But it's Christmas! Tis the season, we have to have a big tree." Kate said.
"And we have the room this year, we may not have the space when we get more furniture." Jack nodded.
"Won't the top hit the ceiling?" Elizabeth asked looking up.
"I'll cut it so it fits, all in favor of this tree?" Jack asked.
"Oh no! I always lose when we vote" Elizabeth sighed as Jack and Kate's hands shot into the air.
"I mean we can keep looking if you really think it's to much." Jack said putting his hand down.
"Oh hey! Your giving in because she's pregnant!" Kate frowned.
"Yes" Jack nodded making them laugh that he didn't even try to deny it.
"Oh alright." Kate sighed.
"Let's look for thirty more minutes, if we don't find one by then we will come back to this one." Elizabeth offered.
"Hey, that's a good deal right Kate?" Jack asked.
"A better deal is not having my ally siding with the enemy!" Kate muttered. Elizabeth didn't hear her but Jack shot her a look to silence her as Kate smirked.
Elizabeth put her coat on as she went to the door, noting that the bottom buttons were starting to get a little tight. She would have to ask Abigail if she had a fix for that. Elizabeth smiled opening the school house doors and ringing her cow bell in the air. They children came running up the steps, rosy cheeked their breath coming out in puffs. Soon it would be to cold for them to play outside during lunch and recess, as much as Elizabeth liked the quiet hour of the day, she also like when she could watch the children play and listen to them talking during lunch inside.
"Come on in everyone, did you enjoy your lunch? My Opal you still have jelly on your chin" Elizabeth greeted each child with a smile as the grinned back at her. Elizabeth reached out with her handkerchief to clean Opal's face before ushering her inside and closing the doors behind them.
"Hang up your coats and find your seats everyone." Elizabeth called making her way to the front of the classroom as the children chattered and put their things away.
"Younger children take out your readers and start where you left off I will be calling you to my desk to do some reading. Older children I have placed ten math problems on the board for you to do out on your slates." Elizabeth said as everyone settled into their seats.
"Hey Kate, want to stop by the pond on the way home?" James whispered as Elizabeth sat at her desk calling children up.
"Yeah sure, I can't stay to long though, We're decorating the Christmas tree after dinner tonight." Kate nodded giving him a smile.
"Great" James smiled sitting back. The afternoon dragged on but finally Elizabeth rang the bell dismissing class for the day.
"Want to stop by Abigail for hot chocolate today?" Laura asked Kate as they put on their coats.
"I told James I would walk with him, next time?" Kate asked.
"Sure" Laura shrugged heading down the stairs.
"I'm walking with James, we are going to go the long way." Kate called to Elizabeth from where she was helping the youngest children into scarfs and mittens.
"Don't be to long, it's cold, you don't want to be sick for Christmas!" Elizabeth called.
"I won't" Kate promised as they headed outside.
"Do you guys do anything special for Christmas?" James asked as they started walking through the woods.
"We cut down our Christmas tree yesterday, I think we will decorate it tonight after dinner. Elizabeth and I will make cookies together one day soon. Christmas Day is just a quiet day with gifts and being together and then a big dinner with Abigail and Cody."
"The town does a big thing to right? I think I heard Mrs Coulter talking about it the other day at the mercantile."
"Oh yes. Christmas is Rosemary's pride and joy. She lives for this time of year." Kate laughed.
"What kinds of things does the town do?"
"Well last year she put a giant tree in the middle of main street. There's usually a play all the kids at the school have to put on. There's Christmas mass of course, sometimes a party. Elizabeth usually helps out a lot but I don't think she will do as much this year." Kate shrugged.
"Mrs Coulter seems like she likes to go over the top" James chuckled.
"She does, but she means well, Rosemary takes some getting used to, but she truly does have the biggest heart." Kaye smiled
"I haven't found a soul in this town who doesn't." James said with a little smile.
"We are pretty lucky here. There's trouble every once in a while with someone passing through. But the people who live here, its one big family. That's what I like about it so much." Kate said smiling a little.
"You grew up in Hamilton and you still like it here better?" James asked a little surprised.
"Yes, Hamilton was nice, but… I thought I was going to hate it here, and turns out it was exactly where Elizabeth and I belonged. We both grew up here." Kate said softly looking around the grove where Cat Montgomery first held Sunday service their first fall here.
"You must have a lot of good memories here." James said watching her.
"I do, sometimes I think, this was always supposed to be our home. Here with Jack and Abigail and everyone else." Kate smiled.
"How was walking home with James?" Elizabeth asked as she handed Kate another ornament to hang on the tree.
"It was fine, we walked by the grove. I miss having church there."
"That was nice, we are blessed to have the school house, but the grove was lovely in the spring." Elizabeth smiled.
"How about, first nice day of spring we go on a little picnic there" Jack offered.
"Sounds good to me." Kate nodded.
"Something to look forward to through a long winter." Elizabeth smiled.
"There are quite a few things to look forward to this spring if you ask me." Jack smiled running his hand over her belly as he slipped past her to grab one of the popcorn strings.
"What are we going to do next Christmas when the baby is here?" Kate smiled.
"Put the ordainments up higher." Jack said with a little smile making Elizabeth laugh. Kate smiled watching as Jack glanced over to the stove where Rip usually lay on cold nights, the spot now lay empty and the smile fell from Jack's face a little.
"Want to come say hi to Gracie?" Kate asked as she and James walked down the road.
"Sure" James smiled.
"Let me go get a treat for her." Kate smiled heading into the house where Elizabeth was making dinner.
"There you are, did you take the long way home?"
"Yes, can I have this for Gracie, James and I are going to go say hi to her." Kate asked picking up one of the carrots Elizabeth had't cut yet.
"You walked home with James again? I haven't seen Laura around here in weeks." Elizabeth said raising her eyebrows.
"I'll talk to her about coming over tomorrow, I'll be back to help you with dinner." Kate said hurrying out.
"Let's go" Kate smiled as she and James headed to the barn. Kate whistled for Gracie stuck her head over the barn door.
"Hey girl, hi Gracie" Kate smiled petting her nose.
"She's so sweet." James smiled patting her neck.
"She is, oh I thought of the perfect gift for Jack for Christmas." Kate said.
"What is it?"
"Mr Parker's dog had puppies a few weeks ago. I bought one from him. He's going to drop it off in the barn when we are at church on Christmas Eve and I will give it to Jack Christmas day." Kate smiled.
"That's a really good idea, Jack will love that." James smiled.
"I hope so, he still misses Rip a lot." Kate sighed.
"You have such a big heart Kate." James smiled.
"Thanks." Kate felt herself blushing as James reached out taking her hand gently in his own. Kate felt her heart speed up as James took a step towards her and with out realizing it her eyes closed.
James' lips met Kate's as she closed her eyes. She was surprised by how soft he was, their noses touching only for a second, she wasn't even sure it qualified as a kiss before they heard the barn door creak open and they sprung apart. James looked horrified as Kate spun around coming face to face with him.
"Jack…" Kate was about to defend herself.
"Elizabeth!" Jack yelled not taking his eyes off Kate and James as he yelled for her. Kate sighed turning to James who was watching Jack looking like he was ready to run from him at the first move Jack made.
"Jack what it is?" Elizabeth asked hurrying over to the barn. She was met with Jack looking horrified, James looking scared and Kate turned three shades of red.
"What happened?" Elizabeth asked.
"Jack is over reacting" Kate said quickly.
"Over reacting! Elizabeth they were kissing behind closed doors!" Jack said his voice practically a screech as he turned to her. Elizabeth struggled to keep from laughing.
"James you may go." Elizabeth said turning to him.
"Yes Ma'am!" James nodded and all but ran from the back using the door on the opposite side so he wouldn't have to go past Jack.
"Jack! Must you be so dramatic!" Kate cried when he was gone.
"Dramatic!" Jack cried clearly still not sure what to do with himself.
"We weren't doing anything wrong. Now you ran James off!"
"Kate you were unsupervised…"
"Jack I'm not a little kid!" Kate cut Jack off.
"Alright that's enough! Kathryn you will be respectful to Jack." Elizabeth said firmly breaking up their argument.
"Jack is the one who started it!" Kate yelled
"To your room, now! I will talk to you later." Elizabeth said her tone loud and her hands firmly on her hips as she narrowed her eyes as Kate. She didn't often have to get so serious with Kate but when she did there was no messing with her. Kate crossed her arms brushing past them as she walked back into the house.
"And you need to cool down and take a breath too." Elizabeth said softly turning to Jack.
"That boy is putting things in her head. She is much to young.."
"Jack, she is growing up, we can't just blame James for this, Kate is just as at fault, even more so for the way she was speaking to you just now." Elizabeth told him.
"In the barn Elizabeth!"
"Jack, we were right outside, clearly you startled them and it was nothing more then a simple kiss. James is a good boy, and we trust Kate." Elizabeth said softly taking Jack's hand in her's.
"I trust Kate, I don't trust that boy." Jack muttered.
"Well, that's a start. I am going to go talk to Kate, can you manage to cool yourself off here?" Elizabeth asked asked him rubbing his arm trying to hide her amusement.
"Yes" Jack muttered.
Elizabeth went into the house pushing Kate's door open finding her sister sitting at her usually unused desk in her room doing homework.
"I'm sorry." Kate said softly.
"And what exactly are you sorry about?" Elizabeth asked sitting down on her bed across from her as Kate turned in her seat.
"For the way I walk talking to Jack, and for what happened with James." Kate said her cheeks turning red.
"Well, For the way you talked to Jack you need to deal with him, not me. As for James, I suppose we all knew it was headed somewhere in this direction. You know you are to young to be courting anybody of course, but James is a good boy and I trust this was the first advance that ever happened between you two?" Kate just nodded.
"Well, I do think you are to young, but I suppose, no harm done." Elizabeth said with a little shrug as Kate gawked at her.
"That's it?"
"What do you mean?"
"Your not going to get mad and yell at me?"
"No, why, should I?"
"Well, I guess I would prefer that you didn't. Especially because there's nothing to even ask about. Jack came in the very second it happened. I'm not even sure it qualifies as a kiss." Kate muttered making Elizabeth laugh.
"Well then, even better." She said making Kate smile.
"I would however like you to invite him to dinner here. If you are going to be spending more time with him Jack and I would like to know him well."
"I will." Kate nodded.
"Thank you. And you know, I am still your big sister, you can talk to me about this stuff ok?"
"Ok" Kate gave her a smile.
"Now I think I understand why you have not been spending as much time with Laura. Kate it's important you remember who your friends are as well. I know you enjoy spending time with James, but Laura has been your friend for a long time now and it's possible she may start to feel like she is not important to you anymore."
"I know, I guess I have been neglecting Laura, and Anna. I will talk to them and make sure I spend time with them" Kate nodded knowing her sister was right.
"Good, now dinner will be ready soon, in the mean time, I believe you have a conversation you have to have with Jack?" Elizabeth asked raising her eyebrows as Kate's face fell.
"Right now?"
"Right now." Elizabeth said firmly. Kate sighed standing up from her desk and putting on her coat making her way out the door headed to the barn.
Kate wondered into the barn finding Jack working on shaping something with a piece of wood.
"What are you making?" Kate asked softly.
"A Christmas present for Elizabeth, well more for the baby… Don't tell your sister, but I thought I would get started on a wardrobe for the baby. The way Clara and Rosemary are talking about making baby clothes we are going to need one sooner rather then later" Jack said as they both smiled a little.
"Jack, I am sorry for the way I was speaking to you earlier, it was wrong and awful of me." Kate said. Jack put down his tools turning to Kate leaning against his work bench.
"Thank you, I hate when you and I don't get along." Jack said.
"Me too" Kate nodded quickly.
"While we are apologizing, I would like to say I am sorry for reacting the way I did. Elizabeth and I talked and it's possible I took a page out of Rosie's book when it came to the dramatics I put on this afternoon." Jack smirked making them both laugh a little.
"You see, little shadow, you have always been my little sidekick. And now I'm about to be a father and the only reason I feel even a little bit like I can, is because of you. I sometimes miss you being the little girl who used to beg me for a ride on Sergeant and follow me around asking me when I was going to start courting her sister." Jack went on.
"I know, but you will have that again, with your baby. Your going to be a wonderful father Jack. I know you will, your the closest I ever had to one and your amazing at it." Kate said. Jack gave her a smile pulling her into him for a hug.
"Just do me a favor, no more growing up for a while." Jack said.
"Deal" Kate nodded.
"Thank you, you want to see this wardrobe?" Jack asked.
"Of course" Kate smiled as they turned back to what he was working on.
"Hi" James said sneaking up behind Kate as she sat on the steps to the school house the next morning. Kate jumped a little making him laugh as she turned to him.
"Hi" She grinned.
"So… did you get in trouble at home after yesterday?" James asked softly going to sit beside her.
"No more then I deserved. I was awful to Jack after he surprised us." Kate shrugged.
"Speaking of which, should I be avoiding our constable for a while?" James whispered.
"What for?" Kate giggled.
"Well he seemed pretty mad."
"Jack wasn't mad. He was just surprised. And then he said things about not wanting me to grow up and such. But I think your safe to walk the streets of Hope Valley." Kate smiled.
"Good." James sighed.
"Elizabeth did ask that you come to dinner one night soon though. Maybe after Christmas? Apparently it's important I not hide boys in the barn." Kate said softly.
"Dinner?" James sighed.
"I know, but Jack and Elizabeth are actually really fun. I promise, it won't be like having dinner with your teacher. Please? It's important to me." Kate asked.
"Alright I will." James nodded giving her a smile.
"Thank you." Kate grinned as Elizabeth came out ringing her bell.
"Come on everyone, last day of school before your Christmas break." She smiled as the children came running over.
Christmas in Hope Valley was as wonderful as always. There was the children play, and the big party, and carols in the church. Christmas morning they woke up to a blanket of snow on the ground as Jack built the fire high and they sat around it eating breakfast and opening gifts. Jack smiled watching his girls tease each other over breakfast closing his eyes for a minute enjoying their time now, and imagining next year when there would be a little baby with them Christmas morning. Jack found himself both enjoying the present and so looking forward to the future. This year was so different then last year. Last year Christmas had been rushed as he tried to spend as much time as he could with Elizabeth before leaving her again to go back to the war. This year the greatest gift he could receive was to just be home and with his family.
"Wait I have one more gift!" Kate cried as Elizabeth settled into Jack's side in the sofa was a cup of tea. Their gifts open and scattered on the floor in front of them.
"Where is it?" Elizabeth asked as Kate was putting on her coat and boots.
"In the barn! I will be right back!" Kate slipped out the back door and through the window they saw her running into the barn.
"What is it?" Jack asked turning to Elizabeth.
"I haven't the slightest idea, but now we know why she insisted on taking care of all the barn chores this morning" Elizabeth smiled. A minute later Kate hurried back into the house carrying a large box and placing it on the floor in front of Jack.
"Merry Christmas Jack." Kate smiled.
"For me?" Jack asked surprised sitting up as Elizabeth pushed over so he could lean forward, giving her sister a questioning look.
"Yeah, you got me Gracie, I wanted to repay the favor" Kate smiled as Jack undid the bow on top.
"You fit a horse in here?" Elizabeth laughed. Just then she and Jack jumped as the cover popped off on it's own as soon as the bow was loose. Jack quickly took it off and a little yellow puppy popped it's head out.
"You got me a dog?" Jack cried. Elizabeth had tears in her eyes as Kate grinned watching Jack lift the puppy from the box and it licked his face.
"Sure, every farm house needs a good watch dog. Her name is Willow" Kate said.
"Oh Kate, this is the best gift ever" Jack said pulling Kate into a warm hug as Elizabeth reached over petting the puppy.
"I know you miss Rip and no one will ever replace him. But you need a dog for work and around the farm." Kate said.
"I do, thank you so much Kate this is wonderful" Jack smiled at her putting the puppy on the ground. Willow sniffed around for a minute before settling on the rug right in front of the fire place. They laughed watching her already falling asleep.
"That was a wonderful gift Kate" Elizabeth smiled pulling Kate to sit next to her as she settled into Jack again.
"It was, this has been a wonderful first Christmas in our new house. And next year will be a wonderful Christmas with our new baby" Jack said as Elizabeth smiled rubbing her belly.
"As long as you two don't get into the habit of buying each other animals as gifts. We will be over run with them!" She smiled as Kate and Jack smirked at each other.
"Ehh sorry love, I can't agree to that deal."
"Neither can I, I was thinking a cow for Jack's birthday." Kate said.
"Oh! I was going to get you that for new years" Jack cried and they all laughed.
"You two will be the death of me" Elizabeth shook her head laughing.
