Chapter 21 – Finding a Quiet Place
After Jack left Lee, he headed to the saloon to see if he could find Collins. When he wasn't there, Jack decided to head to the jail and do a quick morning report and put a couple of thoughts down on paper for the speech. When he entered the jail and found Collins, Bill, Rushman and McGinty all in there.
"I think I am going to need to build a bigger office." Jack joked.
"Need something." Bill asked.
"I was just going to make notes from the morning rounds, and then about the problems at the mill this morning." Jack said. "Then I was going to see if I could put a few thoughts to paper for my speech."
"What happened at the mill." Bill asked concerned.
"I rode over there to let Hickum know that Lee was awake." Jack said. "When I got there, some of the men were laying around and giving him a hard time. I had Hickum get each man's name and let them know that they would be docked a half day's pay. I also reminded them that in times of need this community pulls together and if they can't be trusted to do what is expected of them, they can be easily replaced. I also let Hickum know that one of us would be out there randomly until Lee was back on his feet if he needed anything. When I got back to town, I went straight to Lee and let him know."
"Lee okay with everything." Bill asked.
"Yes." Jack said. "He was grateful for the help. He knows that Hickum is great with books, numbers and contracts, but the men don't respect him and tend to try to push him around. Sounds like Lee will be back in the office in town on Monday, but will need to be off his feet for at least a week or better. He has been looking to hire a foreman to oversee things at the actual mill, but hasn't found the right man. If you have any ideas, he would welcome it."
"I might know someone." Bill said. "I will talk to Lee and then my friend and see if he wants to come check it out."
"Well, I am going to grab my notebook, sketch pad and go over to Abigail's to work." Jack said. "I will be there if anyone needs me. As far as I can tell, the schoolhouse is done, but I will check later. Lee is resting and I assume the other Mountie's won't be arriving until this afternoon or evening. I will talk to Abigail about having a supper for all that are here. Does anyone need anything before I head over to the cafe."
"We are good." Collins said. "We were talking about some cases in Benson Hills. I was also answering a few questions about the Garrison gang and Avery here was sharing what he knows about the gang. He chased them for awhile a couple of years ago before they went underground."
Jack looked at his watch and then the group in his office. "It is just after ten, I am sure that Abigail will have lunch ready in about an hour and half. I know for a fact that she has roast beef and sweet potatoes on the menu."
Jack went to Abigail's to work. He wanted to make some notes about morning rounds, Lee and what happened at the sawmill, that way he could write the full report later. He also wanted to try to gather some thoughts about the speech that he had to give the next day. He sat at the table in the far corner hoping that it would be quieter. When Abigail checked who had come in, she went to grab Jack some coffee before approaching.
"Looking for a quiet place to work?" Abigail asked as she poured him some coffee.
"Yeah." Jack said. "There is so much going on and I still have to write this speech for tomorrow. I don't like doing speeches and I don't think I really did anything that special."
"Well." Abigail said. "Maybe highlight, how you were just doing your job. Good news about Lee though."
"Really good." Jack said. "I was worried for a bit. It will still take him a while to be fully healed, but the doctor said that he could go back to work on Monday if he stays off his feet and lets his leg heal."
"Well." Abigail said. "Even better news."
"I was going to ask you a huge favor." Jack said. "How would you feel about closing early and having a special dinner here for me and the other Constables coming in for the ceremony."
"Sure." Abigail said. "What do you want."
"Whatever is easy." Jack said.
"How many." Abigail said.
"Let me think." Jack said. "Collins, Rushman, Bill, McGinty, Carver, McDillion, Elizabeth, Ma, you and me. That's ten, but knowing Collins there may be a few other Mounties. Let's say plan on fifteen to twenty."
"Okay." Abigail said. "Lets say seven then."
"Good." Jack said. "I will let everyone know."
Abigail left Jack to work and she went to the mercantile to see what she could get to make for supper. She was hoping for a couple of chickens but could make due with just about anything. Jack worked on his report and then tried to put a few thoughts down on paper about the speech, but his mind drifted to Elizabeth. He wanted to work things out with her, but there was just so many other people that needed his attention at the moment and he still needed to work out what he was going to say to her. He didn't understand why this had turned into something so hard. When they had been up on the ridge and it was just the two of them, it was so much clearer and so much easier.
Elizabeth had taken some things over to the schoolhouse and was working at her desk. She had so much that she wanted to do, but her mind kept wondering back to Jack. She loved him and wanted a future with him, so why was it so hard. She knew that her biggest fear was losing him, but she knew that if she told him that he would offer to quit the Mounties and she knew that she couldn't let him do that. She knew that he would grow to resent her if he did that. They needed to talk, but with all the other Mounties here plus his mother, it was hard to get anytime alone. She hoped that they would have time over the weekend.
Lunch time rolled around and Rushman and McGinty made their way over to the cafe to get something to eat. Jack was still there and he told them about the supper that he had planned. They sounded excited and agreed to spread the word to the other Mounties as they came into town. Jack said he would talk to Collins and Bill. Jack also knew that he would have to find Elizabeth and his mother to invite them. After eating with the guys, Jack excused himself and went looking for Elizabeth. He found her at the schoolhouse.
"I am having a special supper tonight at Abigail's and I want you to join us." Jack said.
"Who's all coming." Elizabeth asked.
"All the Mounties coming into town for the ceremony tomorrow." Jack said. "In addition, I have asked Abigail to eat with us and I am inviting my mother and now you."
"Okay." Elizabeth said. "Do I need to dress up."
"No." Jack said. "You look amazing no matter what. I am sure that the Mounties will all be in their red serge, I think that Bill will wear a suit coat and Ma, I am not sure."
"I will." Elizabeth said. "And only because you asked."
"Thank you." Jack said.
He left Elizabeth to finish her work. He still hadn't figured out what to say for his speech, but he wanted to ride out to the sawmill and check on things there and then he wanted to see if he could find his mother and talk with her for a bit. He walked back to his office and when he got there is was empty, so he sat for a few minutes and enjoyed the quite. He was just getting ready to head to the sawmill when there was knock at the door. When he opened it, he mother was standing there.
"Glad I found you." Charlotte said. "I feel like I have hardly spent time with you."
"Sorry." Jack said. "It has been a crazy week. I did want to tell you about the supper tonight."
"Abigail told me." Charlotte said. "I think that it is a wonderful idea. I have really enjoyed getting to know Lizzie. She seems like a wonderful person, but she is scared to open her heart to you. She is afraid of loving you and then losing you. She would never ask you to leave the Mounties, like you would never ask her to give up teaching, so you need to find a way to reach her. Until you can talk through her fears with her, she will hold you at arms length. I am telling you this, because I see the way that you look at each other and know that there is love there. Find a way to get her alone and talk to her. Maybe wait until the other Mounties leave. I think it might be easier this weekend when everyone is gone. I know she surprised you coming back and the homecoming wasn't what you thought, but don't give up on her."
"Thanks Ma." Jack said. "I won't."
After Charlotte left Jack, he rode out to the sawmill and check on Hickum. Things looked to be better then when he had visited that morning. He went back into town and brushed Sergeant and gave him a couple of treats. Then he walked back to the jail to work on paperwork and try to have some quiet. He didn't like when Collins was in town, he was constantly on edge. He wanted to be able to relax and didn't think that would happen until after tomorrow.
By the time that Jack was finished with his reports and had put some words to paper for his speech, other Mounties were arriving into town. The children were all super excited. They had never really had a chance to interact with other Mounties when they came to town, so having all these Mounties in town was exciting. Jack looked down toward the saloon and saw four additional Mounties in addition to Rushman and McGinty. Just as Jack was heading out to meet some of the other Mounties, two large supply wagons come into town. They both pulled up to the mercantile and as Ned Yost came out he looked overwhelmed. He wasn't expecting the second wagon. Jack walked over to see if Ned needed help. Jack quickly realized that much of the second wagon was marked books. Jack gave a quick whistle and as the other Mounties looked up, he waved them over.
"Hey guys," Jack said. "Mind helping – I have a feeling much of the second wagon is stuff for the new school and church. Ned, you direct them, I will run get a wagon to take stuff over to the school. I was planning on taking the stuff out of the saloon this afternoon anyway."
Jack left to get the wagon and the other six Mounties started unloading. When Jack returned. They figured out what was heading to the schoolhouse and loaded that into the wagon. Jack was right, most of the second wagon was stuff for the schoolhouse. When the supply wagons were empty and on their way. Three of the men stayed and helped Ned get stuff into his storage room, while the other three went with Jack to unload the wagon and then grab the stuff from the saloon. Elizabeth was still in the schoolhouse working and was surprised when she head boots on the steps. She was even more surprised to see Jack and three Mounties unloading a wagon.
"Where would you like these ma'am" Carver said.
"Along the wall there is fine." Elizabeth said.
They unloaded the crates and then jumped in the wagon and Jack pulled up to the saloon. As they walked in, Jack saw that all the school stuff was neatly stacked along one wall. They quickly loaded the stuff into the wagon and went to the schoolhouse. They unload those crates as well and by that time the other three Mounties had arrived at the schoolhouse and were opening crates. When Joe McGinty saw a letter addressed to Elizabeth attached to one book on top of a crate he opened, he quickly grabbed it.
"Ms Thatcher." Joe called out. "I have a book with a letter addressed to you. Thought that you would like it right away."
"Thank you Joe." Elizabeth said. "It is from my mother. I wondered were all these books came from."
"I thought you said that you ordered some school supplies." Jack said.
"I did." Elizabeth replied. "About fifteen readers, a dozen slates, three maps, two Latin books, two science books and maybe two dozen workbooks. That should have been two, maybe three crates tops. I count over a dozen and that doesn't include what you brought over from the saloon."
"I thought you said that your father cut you off." Jack said confused.
"Father yes." Elizabeth said. "Mother and Aunt Agatha on the other hand, they fully support me. I guess they figure that I am going to teach out here, they will make sure that these kids everything that they will need to finish school."
"Guess I will be building an additional storage shed." Jack joked as the group finished opening crates and had come to stand near Jack and Elizabeth.
"Thank you guys." Elizabeth said. "It's going to take me a while to sort this all out. I will see you all for supper."
"Sorry guys" Jack said. "This is Ms Elizabeth Thatcher, schoolteacher and love of my life. Please introduce yourselves."
Jack enjoyed watching Elizabeth blush. He knew that would happen, especially with the other Mounties in the room, but he also did it because he didn't want any of the other guys getting any ideas.
"Captain Scott Rushman, Benson Hills."
"Constable Matthew Carver, Benson Hills."
"Constable William McDillion, Benson Hills."
"Captain James Taylor, Buxton."
"Constable Timothy Price, Buxton."
"And you know Constable Joe McGinty." Jack added.
Elizabeth shook each man's hand as they went around and introduced themselves. She was surprised that even the two captains didn't look all that much older then she and Jack. She figured that none of them were over the age of thirty. She hoped that she would have a chance to talk to some of them more that evening at supper.
The six Constables turned to walk out of the building leaving Jack and Elizabeth alone for a moment.