My apologies for the delay. I was getting over being sick, then I had to study for a very difficult math test… no fun! Then I had a slight block… Now hopefully, I will be back in full swing. Special shout out to CherylinBoston and LisaNY for being my cheerleaders and giving me a vote of confidence I needed, to get past my block and keep going. Thanks for being DANtastic friends.

Chapter 56

Dancing in the Moonlight

Jack and Elizabeth turned to face Abigail and Maggie. They quickly stood up. An unmistakable crimson color flushed both their cheeks.

"Well I can tell you two clearly want to be alone." Abigail said with a flabbergasted expression on her face. She turned and headed up the stairs, grinning as soon as she turned her back towards Jack and Elizabeth.

"Oh well, I best be going too." Maggie stated in a hurried tone. She abruptly exited the café, once again leaving Jack and Elizabeth alone.

"Oh goodness, Jack!" Elizabeth exclaimed, burying her face in Jack's shoulder. "How embarrassing! I knew we would get caught sooner or later. I hope your mother isn't upset."

Jack gave her shoulder a reassuring squeeze. "I'm sure she's fine. If it makes you feel better, I will talk to her."

"Okay." Elizabeth sighed. "Sounds good. I was so glad your mother was so welcoming and accepting of me as your fiancée, mere minutes after we just met. I would never forgive myself if I did anything to change her opinion toward me."

Jack placed a gentle kiss on her temple. "Trust me, Elizabeth. My mother will still love you. I'm sure of it."

"Thank you, Jack." Elizabeth replied.

"You're welcome. Are you okay?"

"Yes I'm fine." She answered. "Just embarrassed."

"No need to be embarrassed." He assured. "We love each other." He placed a soft kiss on her lips. "So we are going to kiss."

"But we shouldn't have gotten carried away." Elizabeth countered. "Especially here in the café, where anyone could have walked in and seen us. I mean what if Gowen or someone like that had decided to walk in?"

"Well Gowen knows I love you." Jack said with a grin. "So what if he had walked in?"

Elizabeth slapped Jack's arm. "Jack!" She exclaimed.

"Well I love you." Jack defended. "I don't care who knows. I'll shout it from the rooftops if I have to." He leaned over and kissed her cheek. "But I will talk to my mother."

"Thanks." She replied with a smile.

"I will talk to her a little later." Jack said with a grin. He took her hand. "But first come with me."

"Where are we going?" Elizabeth asked, as he led her outside.

"Just come on!" He exclaimed.

"But it's late, it's getting dark out." She proclaimed.

"It's not that late." He countered. "It's a lovely night out." He kissed her cheek. "And I just want to spend a little more time with you before I turn in. Is that so wrong?"

"Why?" She asked.

"Do I need a reason to spend more time with you?" He asked.

She smiled. "I don't suppose so."

"Good, come on!" He exclaimed. "I'll have you back before it's too late. I promise." He flashed his dimples, she never could resist.

"Alright." She conceded.

He led her to the lake. They sat on the underneath the stars, in each other's arms. They watched the reflection of the moon dancing on the water. She rested her head on his shoulder, while they sat in companionable silence.

"Do you know how much I love you?" Jack asked, after a few minutes. He placed a soft kiss on her temple."

"Yes." She giggled. "You tell me every single day."

"I will continue to tell you every day." He stated. "Unless you have an objection to that."

"Not at all." She replied. "I never get tired of hearing you tell me how much you love me. I imagine I never will." She started drawing circles on his thigh with her finger.

"Good," He whispered. "Because I am never going to stop telling you. I love you." He placed a kiss behind her ear.

"I love you too." She whispered.

Suddenly a bright light flashed across the night sky. Jack and Elizabeth both looked up.

"Elizabeth, did you see that?" Jack asked.

"A shooting star!" Elizabeth exclaimed excitedly.

"Did you make a wish?" He asked.

"Yes, I did." She answered. "But I can't tell you what it is. You know what they say… If you tell it won't come true. Did you?"

"Don't have to." He answered. "Everything I've ever wished for is right here, in my arms at this very moment." He gently pushed a strand of hair behind her ear and leaned in placing a kiss on her neck. He then stood up and helped her to feet. He wrapped his arms around her and placed a kiss on her lips. He began swaying back and forth with her.

"Jack, what are you doing?" Elizabeth asked.

"What does it look like?" He replied. "We're dancing in the moonlight."

"To no music?" She questioned.

"Yes," He answered. "We don't need music. We've did this before. Don't you remember?"

She smiled remembered the way they danced in the rain, in Toronto. "Yes." She answered. "We were soaked from the rain."

"You looked so beautiful that night." He announced.

She blushed. "And you looked, so very handsome. Of course you always do."

He gave her one more, sweet kiss. Unexpectedly, Elizabeth began to shiver. "Are you okay?" He asked.

"I got cold all of a sudden." She said, gripping Jack tighter.

Jack released her long enough to remove the jacket he was wearing and drape it over her shoulders. He then wrapped his arms back around her and began rubbing her arms. "Is that better?" He asked.

"Yes, thank you, Constable." She replied.

"Anytime, Ms. Thatcher." He responded. "Well I better get you home." He kissed her cheek once more. He offered his arm and they made their way back to the café.

Once at the café, he walked her inside. She removed his jacket and handed it back to him. "Thank you for letting me borrow your jacket." She stated.

"You're welcome." He said, as he accepted the jacket.

"Are you going to go talk to your mother now?" She questioned.

"I will if she's still awake." Jack responded. "She always used to turn in early. But don't worry. I'm sure everything will be okay. My mother knows we love each other. I'm not going to apologize for loving you."

"I love you, Jack." She whispered. "Thank you."

"Anything for you, my love." He kissed her once more and headed out the door. He walked straight to the saloon, hoping his mother would still be awake. He breathed a sigh of relief, when he found his mother sitting at table, drinking a cup of tea. "Hey mama." He said. "Care if I join you?"

"Certainly sweetie." Maggie said, motioning for him to sit down.

"I'm sorry, mama." Jack said, as he sat down.

"For what?" Maggie asked.

"For what you and Abigail just witnessed between Elizabeth and myself tonight." Jack answered.

Maggie set her tea cup down, and began drumming her fingers on the table. "Well you're a grown man." She stated, matter-of-factly. "You can make your own decisions."

"You're not upset are you?" He asked. "Elizabeth is worried, you'd be upset."

"No, I'm not upset." Maggie countered. "I know you love her." She explained. "It just surprised me to see such intensity between the two of you."

"Well didn't you love pa, just as much?" Jack questioned. "I mean did you not kiss from time to time?"

Maggie placed her hands in her lap and looked at the table.

"I'll take that as yes." Jack said with a smile.

"But your father had the utmost respect for me." Maggie replied. "He was always a proper gentleman. I hope you are following his example." She placed a hand on top of Jack's.

Jack grinned and rolled his eyes. "Of course mama. I'll admit it gets difficult at times. But I promise, I would never take advantage of Elizabeth. She is everything to me. I would never do anything to jeopardize that."

"I'm glad to hear that, sweetie." Maggie responded. "And please tell that lovely fiancée of yours I'm not upset. If she didn't want to kiss you, I would worry."

Jack let out a sigh of relief. "I will tell her mama, she will be happy to hear that. Thank you." He stood up. "Well it's getting late." He leaned over and kissed his mother on the cheek. "Goodnight mama. I will talk to you in the morning."

"Okay, dear." She said, as Jack headed out the door.

When Jack got to the jail, he quickly changed for bed, before he climbed in, he knelt down beside his bed to say his prayers. He thanked God, for putting the beautiful Elizabeth Thatcher in his life. He prayed that he would always do everything in his power to do right by her, and to be the kind of husband she deserved. After his prayer, he got into bed, pulled his blankets up around him, and drifted off to sleep.

At the café, Elizabeth was in her room changing for bed, when a knock came at the door. "Elizabeth," Abigail called.

"Yes, Abigail?" She asked. "Is everything alright?" Elizabeth was somewhat nervous. She hadn't spoken to Abigail since she had disappeared upstairs earlier in the evening. She didn't know how Abigail would feel about witnessing Jack and Elizabeth's kiss fest in the café.

"May I come in?" Abigail asked.

"Sure." Elizabeth answered, her voice shaky. She hoped Abigail wouldn't notice.

Abigail opened the door and walked inside.

"Abigail." Elizabeth cried. "I am so sorry." She didn't know what else to say.

"What are you apologizing for?" Abigail asked, with a grin.

"For Jack's and my public display of affection." Elizabeth stated. "I just love him so much, it's so easy to get carried away sometimes. I can't keep doing this, Abigail." Tears rushed to her eyes. "I don't think…"

"Elizabeth," Abigail interrupted, gripping her shoulders. "Calm down. I'm not angry. It's alright." She embraced Elizabeth in a hug. "I understand how you feel."

Elizabeth wiped her eyes. "You do?"

"Absolutely." Abigail answered. "You don't think that Noah and I got carried away from time to time?"

Elizabeth pulled back and smiled at her friend. "You did?"

"Of course." Abigail said.

"That makes me feel better!" Elizabeth exclaimed.

"But you must know, that Noah was a perfect gentleman." Abigail continued. "He never took advantage of me. I trust that Jack is treating you with the same kind of respect."

"Of course, Abigail." Elizabeth replied. "He has never taken advantage of me. He's the best man I've ever known." Thoughts of Jack made Elizabeth beam. She felt herself blush. She quickly looked at the floor.

"I'm glad to hear that." Abigail responded. "Not that I doubted Jack's love and devotion to you. He is a wonderful man and I know he loves you… so much."

Elizabeth returned her gaze to Abigail and smiled. "I know he does. He proves it every day. I love him so much too."

"I know you do." Abigail smiled. "Don't worry, alright?"

"Alright." Elizabeth replied.

Abigail released Elizabeth and turned to leave. "Goodnight." She said.

"Abigail, wait." Elizabeth called, after her.

"What is it?" Abigail asked.

"You never told me what you wanted when you came in here."

"Oh I was just making sure you were alright." Abigail answered. "Goodnight."

"Goodnight Abigail, and thank you. Sweet dreams."

"Thank you, Elizabeth. You too." Abigail said. "I will see you in the morning for your next cooking lesson."

"Alright," Elizabeth whispered, before Abigail closed the door and headed to her own room.

Elizabeth went to her bed, but she did not climb in. Instead, she knelt down by her bed and began to silently pray. She thanked God for putting the handsome Jack Thornton in her life. She prayed that she would always do right by him. She also prayed that with the help of Abigail and Maggie, she would become at the very least tolerable at cooking. She just couldn't bear the thought of her future husband starving on account of her. She knew what Jack had told her on numerous occasions, but despite, what Jack had said, she still wanted to learn to cook. She wanted to be the kind of wife Jack deserved. After her prayer, she climbed into bed. With a smile on her face, she closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep.

…to be continued…

Thanks everyone for the support… If you have time, I would love to hear from you… I encourage everyone to post a review… They are always welcome and keep the writers encouraged and motivated. Thanks again for the support.