Chapter 26 – Making a plan
Elizabeth turned to Frank and Abigail. She knew that she had to explain. By that time, Elizabeth could see that Abigail was starting to make the connection.
"Sorry about that." Elizabeth said. "I needed Jack to make the connection himself. I feared telling him thinking it would be a deal breaker, but now I have no choice but to tell you the story. When I do, things will be much clearer. I think. It will give insight into my father's dislike of Jack, beyond social standing."
"Elizabeth it can't be that bad." Abigail said. "Just tell us."
"Abigail, remember when Jack first got here." Elizabeth said. "And how unhappy he was to be here. Remember the supper at the row house when you asked him how he came to be in Coal Valley."
"Yes." Abigail said. "He made it out to be like you knew more then what was said. I also remember you telling me later that your father had a Mountie assigned here to make sure that you were safe. What does that have to do with anything."
"There is more to the story." Elizabeth said. "I have never told anyone the whole story and it is related to what Jack just learned. I guess it is time for the whole truth to finally come out."
"Wait a second." Frank said. "Your father had him assigned here and yet is upset that you fell in love with him."
"My father only requested that a Mountie be assigned to Coal Valley." Elizabeth said. "He had nothing to do with who actually got assigned here. I think that I need to start differently. Let me back up and start further back and it will make more sense. My father has an older sister, Elizabeth Rose. Their father had passed away, so when Elizabeth Rose had a suitor who wished to marry her, out of respect for the family, this man went to my father to seek approval. My father refused to give his permission and outright forbid the marriage. Elizabeth Rose chose to marry this man anyway as they were deeply in love.
To this day, my father refuses to accept or even acknowledge their marriage. He refused to accept their children, my cousins. I only know my aunt and uncle, because Elizabeth Rose chose to stay in contact with my mother despite my father's attempts to stop it. It was because of my aunt's marriage that my father took a serious dislike of his brother-in-law's job. Not that he didn't respect the job, he just hated it and virtually anyone connected to that job. At some point, my father decided that his brother-in-law might be useful in certain situations, but tends to about it in the wrong way."
"So who is your uncle and why did that render Jack speechless." Abigail asked.
"Well." Elizabeth said. "My uncle is Wynn Delaney Sr, current Deputy Commissioner of the Mounties."
"Okay." Frank said. "I still don't quite understand what that had to do with Jack getting assigned here and why that might be a deal breaker."
"Jack I am so sorry." Elizabeth said. "I never wanted you to find like this. What Jack has connected is that the Deputy Commissioner is in charge of signing off on all postings, if not choosing assignments outright and he is the reason that Jack was assigned to Coal Valley."
"I don't think that there is anything else that you can say that will surprise more then I already am." Jack said. "But continue."
"Why do you think that would be a deal breaker?" Frank asked.
"When Jack found out who I was and who my father was." Elizabeth said. "He felt manipuled to come here to 'babysit a princess who had no business coming out here' and he didn't mind reminding me of that fact. He got over his anger when he saw that I was capable of living out here. I figured that when he learned of my uncle, he would once again be furious with me."
"Mad, no." Jack said. "Confused, yes."
"Jack please come back and sit down." Elizabeth said. "I don't want to fight about this. I get that it is massive news, but I didn't ask that it be done. I was angry with my father that he did what he did."
Jack came and sat back down, but as far as he could from Elizabeth while still being on the small couch.
"I don't want to fight about this either." Jack said. "I just need to wrap my head around it. It would be one thing, if your uncle was just another Mountie, but to be Deputy Commissioner. I don't think that I have ever meet an Deputy Commissioner before. There wasn't even an Deputy Commissioner at graduation from the academy. There are only five current Deputy Commissioners in the entire country and last I checked there were like only twelve living former Deputy Commissioners. When you consider that there are thousands and thousands of Mounties from Constable to Inspector, so Deputy Commissioner is pretty big. Yet, I still sense that you aren't saying something so just spill."
"Okay." Elizabeth said. "We have established that my father didn't want me to come out here and when I forced the issue, he went to my uncle and demanded that a Mountie be assigned to Coal Valley basically my protection. Now Uncle Wynn, is not one who likes to be dictated to especially by my father. Wynn, also a little concerned for my safety way out here decided to honor my father's demands.
Now understand, Uncle Wynn could have decided to assign any Mountie that he wanted out here. Wynn looked through many Mountie personnel files and found a Mountie that he felt was most compatible with me and a Mountie that I would maybe fall in love with. He didn't do out of spite to you Jack. He might have done it out of spite to my father, but not you Jack. So when you all but demanded new orders, he figured that he had been wrong about us and granted your posting to Cape Fullerton.
When you came back to save Julie and I, he figured that you did care. He also was impressed with you. You defied orders to return to save us, but not only that, but the creative you used to actually capture the Tolliver gang. I will tell you this, Uncle Wynn is even harder to impress then you Jack. So when the paperwork came across his desk for the promotion and award, he had no hesitation in getting it approved."
Jack sat there and didn't say anything. He took his hand and ran it through his hair and then let out a little laugh. He then stood up and started to pace. Elizabeth was starting to get worried, she was afraid that he was really mad.
"Jack." Elizabeth pleaded. "Please say something."
"I don't think there is anything I can say." Jack said.
Elizabeth dropped her head. She looked at the ring, that Jack had put on her finger not more then two hours before. She stood up and walked over to Jack and handed the ring back to him.
"I will tell Uncle Wynn to let you go wherever you want." Elizabeth said.
Jack was stunned. She watched her go back to the couch and tears silently roll down her face. He quickly walked back over to Elizabeth and dropped down in front of her.
"I asked you once." Jack said. "I will ask you again, because apparently you didn't believe me. Elizabeth Thatcher will you do me the honor of marrying me. Will you build a future with me as my wife. I mean it, I want to marry you and I never want you to think I didn't."
"Yes. I will still marry you." Elizabeth said. "So you are really okay with all this?"
"As much as I can be." Jack said. "Part of me still feels used, but your uncle was right. We are perfect for each other. So whatever reason that I was assigned to Coal Valley, it lead me to the greatest gift – You."
"Alright." Pastor Frank said. "Now that we have established that there will be a wedding, when do you want to get married."
Jack and Elizabeth looked at each other and then to Abigail and then finally to Pastor Frank.
"Honestly." Jack said. "If it were up to me, I would say today. But I don't want to deny Elizabeth the wedding that she deserves. So what do you think?"
"I don't need or want anything big or fancy." Elizabeth said. "I just want to have Jack as my husband. What do you think Abigail? Think you can pull a wedding together by Christmas?"
"Christmas." Abigail said. "Okay wow."
She got up and went to look at the calander, then came back to sit down.
"So Christmas is a Sunday this year." Abigail said. "So were you thinking the weekend before?"
Before answering, Elizabeth turned to look at Jack. They exchanged a look and both understood what the other was thinking, so together they turned back to Abigail and Frank.
"Christmas Eve." They said together.
"How about we split the difference and say the 23rd." Frank said.
"Done." Elizabeth said before leaning over and kissing Jack's cheek.
"Okay, wow." Abigail said. "That gives me just over six weeks to get things together."
"Abigail." Jack said getting her attention.
"Yes Jack." Abigail said.
"Do what you need to do," Jack said. "But Elizabeth and I would like to try and keep this quiet as long as possible."
"Yeah." Elizabeth said. "With everything going on with my family, I don't want to give my father time to come up with ideas. Also, I know what I want and I really don't want everyone's input. I know that they mean well, but this will get much bigger then I want if other people start getting involved. I want a simple wedding, with a simple reception afterward. I was thinking about an afternoon wedding, so that people can still go home and finish last minute things for Christmas if needed. If you are okay, just doing a light lunch type reception, that would be great. Jack and I will handle most of the rest of the details ourselves. Once things are more set, we will let people know … maybe."
"If that is what you wish." Abigail said. "I won't say a word to anyone, but you know that word is going to get out. Jack you need to inform your, never mind. But Elizabeth you do need to let the Superintendent of schools know. As the actual person that you signed your contract with, I have no objection, so there shouldn't be a problem with the school. I know that some schools don't want young married teachers."
"You have my word that I won't say anything to anyone." Frank said. "Now Abigail. I think these two need some time, so how about that fishing."
Frank and Abigail stood to leave and Jack and Elizabeth waved to them. After they left, Elizabeth went to the drawer and got a piece of paper and a pencil. She needed to make a list of everything they needed.
"Jack come help me with the list." Elizabeth said.
When Jack walked over, he saw that Elizabeth had written church and pastor and checked both off. Other things on her list were dress, flowers, rings, maid of honor and best man.
"Slow down there." Jack said. "I think you are missing one big thing on that list."
Elizabeth checked her list and then looked at Jack then back at her list.
"I think the first thing we should do is figure out where we are going to live after Christmas." Jack said.
"Yeah." Elizabeth said. "Missed that one. So what do you think."
"I was thinking that at least for starters, we could get a row house." Jack said. "I want to eventually build you a house, but there is not enough time right now. I also would need to save up a little more money."
"I think a row house is perfect." Elizabeth said. "I think that Abigail's old one is still sitting empty. I will go check on that tomorrow."
"Now we need to order rings." Elizabeth said. "What do you want?"
"I have rings." Jack said. "They came with the engagement ring from my mother."
"Are you going to wear a suit or your uniform?" Elizabeth asked.
"I was hoping that you wouldn't mind if I wore my uniform." Jack said. "What about a dress for you?"
"I already have a dress that would be perfect." Elizabeth said. "I picked it up in Hamilton and was saving it for Christmas anyway. By way the way, I love the way that you look in your uniform, so that would be perfect. Also since I know that you will be in your red serge, it will make the flowers easier."
"So I have a few ideas for the best man." Jack said. "I have to ask are you sure that you are okay with a short turn around for the wedding? Okay that your family won't be there? I don't want to wait, but I would if it meant that you got the wedding you wanted."
"You are what I want." Elizabeth said. "Besides, I don't think I could wait until my father came around."
"I think I will wire Ma," Jack said. "See if she can come for the wedding and Christmas. Anyone you want to invite?"
"Working on it." Elizabeth said. "I just don't want to say anything, right now. If it works, I want it to be a surprise. But either way, I will just be happy to have the community there."
"What do you want to do for our vows and the reading." Jack asked.
"I was hoping that we could do a mix of traditional vows and our own." Elizabeth said. "We each say something and then there would be the reading and then we would do a shorter version of the traditional vows, then the exchange of rings. How does that sound?"
"Sounds good." Jack said. "Now the reading. Give me a piece of paper and we will each write our favorite passage and then we will go from there."
"I like that idea." Elizabeth said getting another paper and pencil.
Each took a moment to write what their favorite passage was.
"Okay ready." Elizabeth said. "We flip them over at the same time."
"1 … 2 … 3 …" Jack counted and they flipped the papers on three.
Both had written 1st Corinthians 13.
"Well that was easy." Jack said.
"It is amazing how we can be so different and yet so much alike." Elizabeth said.
"Now I have a favor to ask you." Jack said. "It has been a busy and exciting day, but you have school tomorrow, would you please go rest for a little bit."
"On one condition." Elizabeth said.
"What is that." Jack teased.
"I need a kiss." Elizabeth said.
"That one is easy." Jack said. "I could kiss you all day."
Jack got up and come over, helped Elizabeth to her feet and then gently cupped her cheek before leaning in for a deep passionate kiss that left them both breathless. After which, Jack watched Elizabeth head upstairs. Jack then left out the back door. He took both sets of reins and after got on Sergeant, lead Elizabeth's horse back to the livery. He took time to care for both horses, before he returned to the jail. He was glad that they agreed on things. He still knew that there would be a lot to do, but he couldn't wait to make Elizabeth his wife. Jack was also thinking about maybe getting away for a few days between Christmas and New Year's. He knew Elizabeth would be off school, but the weather could make travel hard. He was thinking even a couple nights in Buxton or Union City wouldn't be that bad.
Elizabeth got upstairs and thought about climbing into bed, but she was so excited. She also wanted to get a letter off so she could post it in the morning. She also knew that she wanted to write about their day in her journal. She chose to write in the journal first. When she had written all about what happened in the mine, she then wrote about the rest afternoon with Abigail and Frank. Finally, she took out a few sheets of stationary and got her letter off. She was going to send a wire, but knew that she could put more down in the letter. Elizabeth knew who she wanted to give her away, and she hoped that it would work. As she thought about what a surprise that it would be for Jack, the smile on her face only got larger. With the writing done, Elizabeth went to lay down and surprised herself that she was tired.