Chapter Fourteen

"You really should consider it." Marie and Elizabeth were in the Jackson's medium sized kitchen. There were cupboards that ran along a good portion of the west wall and wrapped around onto the north wall, going from one end to the other when it came to the north side. A counter ran along side the same walls, the sink being in the middle of the counter on the west. The dinner table sat in the middle of the room. The two women were actually standing next to the kitchen sink; supper was over, and Tabitha had gone to the bedroom she and her mother would be sharing that night. They had no idea where Phillip and Nick had gone. The two women had been discussing Tabitha, the school for the deaf and for Elizabeth to take the young girl and leave their mountain home.

"And how would I get there? Sure, I could get her out of these mountains, but what do I do then?" Elizabeth moved away from the sink and, pulling a chair away from the table, sat down. Maria didn't hesitate to join her.

"I have no means of supporting either one of us and no place to live until I can get her into the school for the deaf." Elizabeth continued once her friend was seated. "If we're to be in that boat, I'd prefer to have it be late spring or summertime. At least, we could sleep outside until I got something else."

"No need for either of you to do that," Nick made both women jump as he entered the kitchen. He apologized for startling them. "I just filled your wood box outside." He went onto to say he'd heard enough to know they were talking about Tabitha and the need to send her to school. "I've been wanting to talk to you." He looked at Elizabeth, not surprised to see her unease-not after the revelation Mr. Jackson had given him. Please," He gestured towards the entrance separating the kitchen from the living room.

"There's no need to leave this room." Maria spoke up as she stood up. "I have a project waiting for me up in my room. I was putting it off only I might as well use some time to finish it." She turned around and walked out of the room.

For a moment there was complete silence in the kitchen. Only when Nick sat down on the chair previously occupied by Marie did Elizabeth speak. "I don't know what you have in mind only you've done a lot in just bringing me and Tabitha here-even if it did wind up being unnecessary seeing how that other bear took care of our original problem. There's no need for you to get involved any further. I'm sure your family is worried sick about you. You need to go home. Tabitha and I will be fine whenever we leave for the valley. I'll find a way to provide for my stepdaughter and I until I can get her to the school." The whole time she was speaking, Elizabeth was sitting straight up with a determined look in her eyes. However, Nick still saw past the determination and saw the valid concerns she refused to voice.

"I don't doubt you'd do your best-probably even succeed." Nick rested his arms on the table. "Only why put yourself or Tabitha through more than you have too? Let me help you."

"Nick, I do appreciate your offer, your willingness to help, but…" Elizabeth squirmed slightly struggling to confess what she had been keeping from him only to be shocked when Nick stopped her.

"You're a Kegan in my eyes, not a Hyatt." Nick leaned slightly forward.

Elizabeth's eyes widened, and she felt shock waves go through her. She hadn't thought he had a clue as to who her relatives were. It's not like…her train of thought stopped abruptly as she thought about where they were. "Phillip and Marie told you?" There was a definite sound of annoyance in her voice as she stiffened.

Nick couldn't help but smile. "Phillip did. He looks upon you like he would a daughter. He saw the way I watched you come into the house and was trying to convince me not to pursue you as a wife, thought we'd both wind up badly hurt. Don't be upset with him. However, the issue that we need to deal with first is Tabitha's education. Just don't tell anyone I actually put those priorities in the right places. My normal pattern is to simply dive in without thinking." Nick chuckled.

Elizabeth, who knew how the Jacksons felt about her, let out a long sigh and did her best to relax. While it was flattering to think Nick Barkley was actually interested in her, she still worried. "Cass may behind bars-and Cliff has no real backbone - only your family…after what Cass tried to do to your brother, what he did to your sister-in-law…" her voice trailed off as sadness crept into her eyes.

Nick reached out and laid his hand on top of her hands-which she had clasped on the table. "You had nothing to do with that. My family is not going to stop me from helping you and Tabitha get on to your feet-as it were. After all, if it weren't for your kindness, I'd have frozen to death." Nick didn't doubt that one for a moment. It wasn't like he'd known for sure where any cave might be. "I will be forever in your debt for that one."

A grateful smile spread across Elizabeth's face. "There was never a debt to pay. Even if there had been one, you've traveled with myself and Tabitha to make sure we got here all right which would have erased it."

Again there was silence for moment. It was only broken when Nick again asked her to allow him to help… and to seriously consider allowing him to court her afterwards.

Finally, for Tabitha's sake, Elizabeth accepted the first part. "Your help with Tabitha would be a huge blessing, I admit. However," she said as she pulled her hands out from under his hand. "I can only promise to think about the courtship."

Nick more than understood. Pushing his chair back, he stood up. "Phillip knows the way to the path that leads to an actual road, one that leads down into the valley. Do you?"

"Not from here," Elizabeth shook her head. "Jason and I always used the paths and road near our cabin…the one you must have been on when you stumbled upon our home, along with the area between our home and the Jacksons. I would stay here with Marie and vist her while our husbands trapped and hunted in this area of the mountains. "

"Well, we're leaving around seven. Phillip says, barring any more storms, we should be on the path within the hour. After that, the road attached to that path is only two hours away. Hopefully it won't be too bad, and we'll be in Hayden by noon." Nick walked out of the kitchen just as Tabitha walked in. Within minutes the young woman had been told about the help Nick would be giving them.

A wide smile spread across the young girl's face and her eyes started sparkling. Without having to sign a word, her stepmother could tell what thoughts Tabitha was having. "Stop that." Elizabeth signed as she stood up-even as the corner of her mouth turned slightly upwards.

"Stop what? I innocent." Tabitha's eyes were laughing as her eyes continued to sparkle.

"Sure, sure." Elizabeth told her stepdaughter to go up to the room they'd be sharing. "Morning comes early."

Tabitha, who had remained standing, started to leave only to turn around and ask, "If you not marry him, maybe he wait for me?" The question got her name sign being made very forcefully and telling her, again, to stop it. The reprimand only had the young girl silently laughing all the way to the bed she'd be using that night.