Chapter 45 – Trouble All Around
The next morning, Elizabeth was up and out early. Julie was still sleeping when she left. She had tried to wake her, but Julie refused to listen. Finally, Julie came downstairs dress in a nice dress, long gloves and a hat. Abigail was busy serving people breakfast at the cafe. Julie just looked around and sat down at a table close to the kitchen. Abigail got her some tea and breakfast. After checking with a few others, Abigail went over to Julie.
"How was your bakewell pudding?" Abigail asked.
"It was most delicious." Julie said. "My sister wrote me about your baking, and I must say she was right, everything is delicious."
"Well." Abigail said. "I consider that a real compliment."
"Best of luck today." Julie said.
"Thank you." Abigail said.
Just as Julie was leaving Henry Gowen and one of his Pinkertons came in. The smile at Julie and she left. Gowen walked up to where Abigail was clearing the table that Julie had been at.
"Well." Gowen said. "It appears that I have underestimated you Mrs Stanton. I didn't think you'd be able to cobble this together, but you have."
"Never underestimate what hard work set to a dream can achieve." Abigail said.
"There you go." Gowen said.
Just then Jack came in. Abigail had been open almost two weeks and it was the first time that Gowen had been in the cafe.
"If I may." Gowen said. "A cup of coffee and something sweet."
Gowen sat after speaking to Abigail.
"Absoutely." Abigail said. "Coming right up. Good morning, Jack."
"Good morning." Jack said.
Abigail headed back to the kitchen and Jack followed her.
"I was wondering if I could trouble you for the usual?" Jack said walking into the kitchen.
"Oh." Abigail said. "You have no idea how how wonderful that sounds. I actually have a customer who wants the usual. Oh by the way, I have everything all ready for Saturday night."
"Thank you." Jack said with a sigh of relief. "I so appreciate your help."
Abigail just smiled at Jack and took Gowen his coffee and order.
"Well." Abigail said. "Here you go Mr. Gowen."
"Ah, it looks wonderful." Gowen said. "Though I can't imagine it can be as sweet as you."
Abigail gave an awkward chuckle. Jack had over heard the exchange and did his best to not react since one of Gowen's Pinkerton men was standing by the door. Abigail walked back to the kitchen and when she got to Jack she let out a breath she didn't realize she was holding.
"Oh." Abigail said. "That man gets on my nerves."
Jack let out a little laugh and followed Abigail deeper into the kitchen.
"I can understand that." Jack said.
After having his coffee, Jack headed back to the jail. He wanted to talk to Patrick some more, something didn't feel right about his escorting Julie Thatcher. Jack wondered if there was more to it then that.
Elizabeth was having a good day at school until Julie arrived. Elizabeth had gotten the children settled and Julie's appearance got them all riled up. Once she got them settled again, she wanted to let them know about the field trip that she had planned.
"Now, children." Elizabeth said. "There are so many different kinds of insects, that we study them in different subgroups, or families. For example, melittology is the study of bees –."
"I have read that it can also be called 'apiology'." Julie interrupted.
"Thank you Julie." Elizabeth said. "But that is actually a sub-discipline specific to – honey bees!"
"Oh, well then, my … api-ologies." Julie said trying to make a joke.
Some of the children laughed, but Elizabeth wasn't amused. Elizabeth was getting frustrated with Julie and the interruptions.
"Now children." Elizabeth said. "We are going on something of a treasure hunt Monday, with all of nature's beautiful little creatures being our prizes. We'll be looking under rocks, and pulling the bark off the trees, and –
"And by 'we' …" Julie interrupted again. "She means all of you. The truth is your very own Miss Thatcher is terrified of bugs, and –."
"That is enough!" Elizabeth yelled. "Julie Thatcher, I have had enough of this behavior."
Elizabeth had used her scary teacher voice and face. The students all stopped and looked at her, they knew that this wasn't going to be good. They all were quiet. No one dared move.
"Julie." Elizabeth said sharply. "I am done with this behavior from you. I will NOT be disrespected in my classroom. If you can't keep your mouth shut and stop interrupting, you will leave me no choice but to punish you. Better yet you can leave and go back to Father where you belong. I have worked hard to be a part of this community and just because you don't like it, doesn't mean that you get to say whatever you want. Am I clear? This is my classroom and if you are going to be in it, you will follow the rules like the rest of the children."
Julie just looked at her stunned.
"Now, I may not like bugs, but I have learned to deal with things when I need to." Elizabeth said to the students. "We will be doing this together."
Once Elizabeth had her say, things went better. The children had never heard Miss Thatcher raise her voice to them in a sharp manner like that. They didn't want to upset her even more, so they did what they were asked and we on their best behavior for the rest of day.
Jack need to get to the bottom of why Patrick was there, so he decided to just get it over with and ask him. Patrick was unpacking some of his stuff that he hadn't had time to do the night before.
"So how does someone with your rank and experience end up with this escort assignment?" Jack asked.
"I volunteered for it." Patrick said.
"Why?" Jack asked laughing.
"Well." Patrick "I've been working in North Burlington and Elwood Ridge the last fifteen years. The job was everything they promised it would be. Danger, excitement, travel, along with the satisfaction of keeping people safe."
"And, what?" Jack asked. "You've had enough?"
"Never." Patrick said. "But after I met Sarah, everything changed. We got married last year. She's expecting our first child."
"Congratulations, Patrick." Jack said.
"Yeah." Patrick said. "I never thought I'd consider settling down, but life has a way of changing your priorities."
Jack had got up from his desk and was going to walk over to Patrick, but decided to lean against the front of his desk.
"Anyway." Patrick said. "I'm getting too old to be chasing bad guys. It's your turn to round 'em up and put 'em in jail. Tell me everything I need to know about Coal Valley and you are free to go. This is for you."
Jack's face changed as Patrick was talking. Jack walked over and took the envelope that Patrick was holding out toward him. Jack knew what it was and he was stunned. He couldn't believe it, not now.
"Thanks." Jack said softly.
Jack pulled out the paper, he didn't have to read it know, but he did anyway.
"I've been reassigned." Jack said.
"Yes." Patrick said.
Patrick walked out of the cell where he was putting his things and saw Jack's face.
"You do want to go?" Patrick asked.
"It's just …" Jack said. "I've sort of settled in here and made my peace with this place. I put in for this request so long ago, that I had almost forgotten about it, when it didn't come right away. Well … I didn't think it would. I figured I was going to be here and now I like it."
"Request?" Patrick said. "We must have different definition of request. I heard it was demand to be transferred that you made. You should be lucky – last guy I heard demanding to be moved is spending his time in the Northern Territories."
"Well." Jack said. "When I first got here, I won't deny that I wanted to leave. This place wasn't what I signed up for. I was also sent here under …. Well, I was told I was to investigate the mine explosion even though I have no experience. When I got here, I found the more likely reason that I was here and I was angry."
"It looks like you have a decision to make." Patrick said. "Wait? Real reason? Now, I need to know what you mean."
"William Thatcher." Jack said. "He was the one that had a Mountie assigned to Coal Valley."
"That doesn't change things." Patrick said. "You still have a decision to make. Those orders came from Deputy Commissioner Delaney."
"I know." Jack said. "So did my original orders to come here. I just don't like wealthy people using us as their personal police – if headquarters had been honest with me, it might be different. I don't like being lied to and I don't like being used. That was how I felt when I got here."
Patrick looked at Jack, he knew Jack had a point about the wealthy using the Mounties, but he didn't mind the escort duty, as he would get paid either way. Patrick had dealt with his share of people like the Thatcher's and he had gotten use to it, especially stationed where he was. Patrick could also see how Jack might look at things differently when he was told one thing and found out something different when he got here.
Jack took a deep breath, walked back to his desk and slammed the papers down. He then sat down and tried to figure out what he would do. The first thing that popped in Jack's mind was William Thatcher must have learned that him and Elizabeth were spending time together and this was his way to stop them. Jack had to stop himself from going down that path. He didn't care who Elizabeth's family was, if they were meant to be together, then they would. He just had to keep believing that.
The rest of Elizabeth's day went well. Julie left the shortly after lunch. Elizabeth was glad. She spent some time talking to the students about what she expected of them when they went out looking for insects. She also spent a little time on appropriate behavior when they were speaking to adults. The message was clear to the students and they understood. Elizabeth dismissed them and told them to have a good weekend. She reminded them to be back twenty minutes early on Monday. After picking up the classroom, Elizabeth headed to the cafe. She needed to talk to Abigail about Julie. Elizabeth was so upset, she wanted to send Julie back to Hamilton immediately.
"Abigail." Elizabeth called when she walked in the back door.
"Just a minute." Abigail called back.
After a moment, Abigail came back into the kitchen. She looked at Elizabeth and knew it wasn't good. She didn't even have to ask, she went and got two cups of tea ready. Abigail had a feeling she knew what this was about. She had been there when Julie stomped in earlier all huffy.
"I don't know what to do." Elizabeth said sitting down. "I had to reprimand Julie earlier and then she left."
"She stomped back here pouting." Abigail said. "She went upstairs and hasn't come back down. I swear, I haven't seen someone act that spoiled – ever. What happened?"
"I was telling the children about the field trip on Monday." Elizabeth said. "I was going to take them to look for insects. Julie keep interrupting me and then she told the children that I was terrified of bugs. I will admit that I don't particularly like bugs, but I can put that aside for my students. Julie had no right to disrespect me in my classroom and I told her as much. She is acting like a spoiled brat and I can't deal with it, although this not the worst I have seen Julie act. But you are right, she is spoiled and it is my parents fault."
"No, you had every right to say something." Abigail said. "You can't have her talking to you like that or the student will start to think that it is okay to act like that."
"I know." Elizabeth said. "We had a talk about that this afternoon after Julie left. I just don't know why she is here. She acts like everything is an adventure or worse a romance novel. I just have a bad feeling about her being her. Julie seems to be able to find trouble no matter where she goes. The problem is that she has never been held responsible for her actions. She thinks she can do and say whatever she wants. She has actually said that she is pretty and rich so others should just do for her and my father allows her to act like that."
"Do you want me to talk to her?" Abigail asked. "I don't want to upset you anymore, but do you think that Julie is here expecting you to go back with her? The only reason I ask, is because I have seen you upset when you have gotten the last few letters from home."
"No like it would matter." Elizabeth said. "Julie doesn't listen and just does what she wants. I don't know, maybe. Father has his own ideas about things and right now, I am not following HIS plan for MY life. But this is my home now. I am not going anywhere. I don't care what my family wants. It matters what I want and I want to be in Coal Valley."
"Well." Abigail said. "I will keep an eye on her. Try not to worry. You have the right to make your own decisions. You relax tonight and think about your supper with Jack tomorrow."
Elizabeth looked at Abigail.
"Julie told me this morning." Abigail said.
"Of course she did." Elizabeth said. "I just can't shake this feeling that something bad is going to happen."
"Don't borrow trouble." Abigail said.
"I need to think." Elizabeth said.
"Go for a walk down by the pond." Abigail said. "Then when you get back, we can have supper."
"Thank you." Elizabeth said. "I think I will do that."