Chapter 25 – Revelations
Realizing they would soon be missed in town, they finally agreed to make their way back. Jack helped Elizabeth to her horse and then he lifted her up in the saddle before he jumped up on his own horse. They slowly make their way back to town with Rip following them. They stopped near the back door of the cafe and Rip trotted up and flopped over near the door and went to sleep like nothing had happened. Jack quickly jumped down and secured both horses, before going over to help Elizabeth down and then quickly scooped her up into his arms and started to carry her toward the cafe. Elizabeth didn't even protest him carrying her. She just loved the feeling of being his arms and after what had happened earlier that afternoon, she didn't mind and just wanted to enjoy the feeling of his arms around her body. Just as Jack reached the first step, Abigail came around the corner and saw Elizabeth being carried by Jack.
"Can you get the door, Abigail." Jack asked.
Abigail quickly hurried over and opened the door for Jack and then stood back as he entered. Jack sat Elizabeth down on the small couch in the living area, before taking a seat next to her.
"Elizabeth, your hurt." Abigail said. "I will tell Pastor Frank that we can go fishing another day."
"That's not necessary." Elizabeth said. "It's just my knee. It is slightly bruised. Jack is just being over protective."
"Besides." Jack said looking at Elizabeth. "We need to talk to both you and Pastor Frank."
Abigail become instantly concerned, but took a moment to look at Jack and Elizabeth. They were sitting close and holding hands.
"What's going on?" Abigail asks. "Is everything okay."
"Everything is fine." Elizabeth said trying to reassure Abigail. "We just want to talk."
"Well, he should be here shortly." Abigail said. "Then you can talk to us both."
Abigail went over to the stove to put on some tea. Jack and Elizabeth stayed on the couch. She kept looking over at them.
"Something has changed." Abigail finally said.
"That is has. That is has." Elizabeth said. "But we really want to wait for Pastor before talking about what is going on."
Finally after what seemed forever, but really was only a few minutes, there was a knock at the door. Abigail went to answer it.
"I thought that we were going fishing." Pastor Frank said.
"Come in." Abigail said. "Apparently, Jack and Elizabeth said that they need to talk to us."
"Everything okay." Pastor Frank asked himself now concerned.
"I think so." Abigail said unsure herself.
Pastor Frank set his fishing gear down near Rip on the porch of the cafe, then came in and sat down. Abigail brought tea over for everyone before sitting down herself.
"Alright, you have our undivided attention." Pastor Frank said. "What's going on? Is everything okay?"
"Everything is fine." Jack said.
"Better then fine." Elizabeth added.
"Okay." Pastor Frank said. "I ask you again. What is going on?"
"We want to get married and soon." Jack said.
"What!" Abigail nearly yelled. "Elizabeth do you need to tell us something."
Suddenly realizing what Abigail meant, Elizabeth got wide eyed and blushed a little.
"NO, No nothing like that." She said.
"Then what's the big rush." Pastor Frank asked.
"If I may." Jack said. "We have spent the better part of the afternoon talking. We both know how much we love each other. We realize our fears about losing each other and have come to the conclusion that no matter what life throws at us, we are stronger together. Given the uncertainties of my job, we don't want to waste anymore time apart. We want to build a future together however long or short it may be. We trust that God as a plan and leave it in his hands."
"How do your families feel about you getting married." Pastor Frank asked.
"Well." Jack said. "My father passed away when I was a child, but I think he would approve and I know that my mother approves and couldn't be happier. After all, she rode all the way from Aberdeen, Saskatchewan just to come here and personally deliver the ring that I had asked for."
"And you family Elizabeth?" Pastor Frank asked.
"That is much more complicated." Elizabeth said.
"How so?" Pastor Frank asked.
"Well, I have to back up and explain some things." Elizabeth said. "Just before you arrived here in Hope Valley, Jack and I returned to Hamilton because my mother was ill. My father, well actually my father and older sister, didn't approve of Jack."
"Can I ask why?" Frank asked.
"That is a where things get complicated." Elizabeth said.
"Can you try and explain." Frank asked. "Until I understand a little better, I won't in good consciousness agree to marry you. I understand that families can be hard, but they are also important, especially when you are joining two young lives together."
Jack, Elizabeth, and Abigail all exchanged looks and both Jack and Elizabeth took a deep breath.
"To fully understand." Jack said. "You need to understand who Elizabeth's family is and how we both came to be in Coal Valley, now Hope Valley."
"My father is William Thatcher of Hamilton Shipping." Elizabeth said.
Abigail was visibly stunned and Frank seemed more confused.
"You said you had a privilaged upbringing." Abigail said. "But I didn't think it was that privilaged."
"Is it a matter of money then." Frank said. "I don't understand the problem."
"Her father doesn't approve because I am a Mountie and the son of a Mountie and schoolteacher." Jack said.
"My father is the owner of the largest shipping company in Canada and probably the third largest in all of North America." Elizabeth said. "He told me that I should marry for money or business, love doesn't need to enter into the equation. He sees marriage as a business transaction and you can grow to love someone.
He allowed my dream to become a teacher, he just never thought that I would actually finish. When I did, he tried to use his money and influence to get me a job at an private school. I job that I turned down twice. I agreed to go wherever the Superintendent of Schools placed me. When I got a letter telling me I was posted in Coal Valley, my father fought me on it. Finally giving in and telling me I wouldn't last and I would come crawling back. That only made me more determined to prove that I was capable of surviving out here.
This last time that I was home, he demanded that I grow up and quit playing teacher as he called it. He said that he had allowed me to have my fun in the wild west, but now I needed to do what I was told and that would be marrying the man he chose and taking my place the society circle. I told him that I was an adult and that he couldn't demand that I do anything. I told him that it was time that he respect my choices in life. He told me that if I came back here and continued to see Jack, he would cut me off. When I told him that I didn't care if he cut me off and that I was returning to Hope Valley, he refused to talk to me any further. He was barely civil to me the last few days that I was home."
"I am sorry Elizabeth." Pastor Frank said.
"There is more." Elizabeth said. "Then I received a letter the day before Jack's award ceremony from my mother informing me that my father had once again tried to use his wealth and power to force me to come home. When my mother learned of his demand to the Superintendent of Schools, she squashed it. She later learned that he turned to another means to try and force me to return home. He figured that if he removed Jack from the situation that I would cave and come back. So he contacted the Mounties and tried to get Jack assigned to a new post. I am sure that my father sent Charles here, and it was probably for more then business. I am sure that it was to check on me and report back to him. My father wants me to marry Charles to further his business. I have made it very clear that I don't love Charles and that I will not marry someone that I don't love."
"Wait, what." Jack said. "Is that why Collins kept pushing me to take any posting that I wanted. He didn't understand and almost refused to believe that I wanted to be here."
"Sorry Jack." Elizabeth said.
"Why didn't you say something before now," Pastor Frank asked.
"I know that I should have said something to you before now Jack." Elizabeth said. "For that I am sorry. But I also figured that given the choice, you would chose to stay here, stay with me."
"So I need to know." Jack said with an edge in his voice. "Was my promotion and award real or were they arranged by your father to get me transferred out of here?"
"After getting the letter from my mother." Elizabeth said. "I went to Collins and demanded to know the truth. He promised me that the award and promotion were a done deal before you ever went to Hamilton with me. He said that the offer of a new posting of your choice was my father's doing, but that all he would do was offer you a new posting with no guarantee that you would take it. It wasn't that I didn't believe Collins, but I figured it wouldn't hurt to check out what he said so I did."
Jack sat there stunned. His head was spinning, he wanted to ask a thousand questions, but his brain refused to form a single coherent question. Abigail also sat there a little stunned.
"And exactly how did you check." Pastor Frank finally asked.
"I wired my uncle and he wired back within hours." Elizabeth said. "I needed to know for certain that Jack had received the promotion and award on his own merits. I knew that anything else and I wouldn't be able to live without saying something."
"At this point, I am almost afraid to ask." Jack said. "But who is your uncle and how would he know if Collins was telling the truth."
Elizabeth turned to Jack but didn't speak right away. Her head was spinning and her emotions were reeling. She had been dreading having this conversation with him. She dreaded telling him what the real reason why she didn't tell him about her mother's letter. She wondered if he would ended things after they had this conversation. She wanted to get through this without crying, but she wasn't so sure. So she took a deep breath and looked at Jack in the eyes before speaking.
"I will tell you all, but first let me ask Jack a couple of questions." Elizabeth said. "Do you remember when you showed me the letters about your award and promotion?"
Unable to speak, Jack just nodded.
"Okay." Elizabeth said. "Do you remember who those letters were signed by? Besides the names of the Prime Minister, Lieutentant Governor and current Commissioner of the Mounties, who actually signed the letters."
"Wh.." Pastor Frank started before Elizabeth held up her hand stopping him short.
Elizabeth didn't break her gaze with Jack. She was also finding it harder to keep her emotions in check. She wanted Jack to make the connection for himself, so she would only have to explain it to the others. Jack thought for a moment, recalling the documents in his mind. He scanned them over a couple of times in his head before the signature became clear. It seemed that they sat there in silence for an eternity, but it was probably only a couple moments. But each fraction of a second that Jack took felt like an lifetime to Elizabeth.
Finally Jack nodded to Elizabeth that he remembered who signed the documents. Elizabeth still held up her hand, not wanting Abigail or Frank to speak. She waited for Jack to connect the dots. Finally it dawned on Jack.
"NO WAY!" He exclaimed. "Your uncle is … is …"
"Yes." Elizabeth said softly nodding.
Jack sat there and ran his hand through his hair a couple times and then stood up and walked over to the stairs, turning his back to the group. He stood there for a moment. Before he turned back, Elizabeth looked to Abigail and she could see that Abigail was starting to piece conversations between them together. Elizabeth looked back at Jack and just wanted him to tell her that it would be okay. Before Jack could speak, Pastor Frank did.
"Alright." Frank said. "I need to know how this is all connected. I see that Jack has made the connection and is virtually speechless."