Chapter 46 – Jack Talks to Abigail

Elizabeth left her basket from school and headed back out. Jack saw Elizabeth leave the cafe and head toward the pond. He wanted to tell her, but he didn't want to ruin things before their supper. He thought that maybe he would tell her after they ate. Jack had his own things going on and didn't see how upset Elizabeth was or he would have followed her right away. He waited a few minutes before heading to the cafe to talk to Abigail.

"Abigail." Jack called when he entered the cafe.

"In the kitchen, Jack." Abigail called.

Jack headed to the kitchen since there was no one in the cafe at the moment.

"What can I get you?" Abigail asked. "Your usual?"

"No, I am okay." Jack said.

"You don't look okay." Abigail said. "What is going on? Nervous about tomorrow? Everything is going to fine."

"I am not nervous about tomorrow." Jack said. "Well, I am, but only because I want to impress Elizabeth."

"Then what is going on?" Abigail asked.

"Can I trust you to be discreet?" Jack asked.

"Yes, of course." Abigail said. "What is going on?"

"I just found out." Jack said. "So I haven't told Elizabeth yet, but … I have received some news. I have been granted a new post – a post I've always dreamt of having?"

"Your leaving Coal Valley?" Abigail asked.

"I have orders, I need to fulfill." Jack said. "I wouldn't be gone permanently, but …."

"But you can't be sure that things will be the same when you come back." Abigail said.

Jack nodded.

"I would advise you to tell Elizabeth sooner the better." Abigail said. "But maybe give her some time. She just went for a walk down by the pond. Apparently, Julie disrespected her in front of the children and she reprimanded her in the classroom. Julie is acting like a spoiled brat and Elizabeth doesn't want to deal with her."

"Maybe I will go talk to her." Jack said. "What about Julie? I don't want to leave with her causing problems for Elizabeth."

"Don't worry about Julie." Abigail said. "I think Elizabeth can handle her, if not, I have no problem saying something."

"Okay." Jack said. "I will go make sure Elizabeth is okay."

"Oh." Abigail said. "Just what I don't want. I am in no mood right now."

"What?" Jack asked.

"Gowen just came in." Abigail said.

"Has he been bothering you?" Jack asked. "I could talk to him if you like."

"Oh, no." Abigail said. "I'm quite capable of rebuking his advances and I have an iron skillet that makes a fine weapon if need be."

Jack gave Abigail a little smile and then looked back at Gowen. When he turned back, Abigail saw the look on his face.

"Jack?" Abigail said. "Are you okay? I don't like the look on you face. Something else is going on. I am here if you need me."

"Nothing." Jack said.

"You can't tell me that." Abigail said. "I saw that look before on your face. It was when Gowen was trying to kick us out of the row houses."

"Fine." Jack said.

Jack took Abigail by the arm and lead her closer to the back door. He stood so he could see Gowen and Abigail's back was to him.

"Now." Jack said quietly. "I've done my own inquiry into this mine explosion. It appears the company may have cut some corners in order to save money, … corners that might have led to the disaster. I have also talked to other miners and there was just something off. I just don't have all the pieces yet."

Abigail's face registered shock and then frustration and finally anger. Jack put his hand on her arm to bring her back to the present.

"Abigail." Jack said. "Breathe. I don't have any hard proof yet according to my research, it should have been prevented with adequate safety measures."

Abigail let out a harsh breath.

"Are you okay?" Jack asked.

He was concerned about Abigail and what he had just said. He didn't want to add to her grief.

"It's just that." Abigail said. "It's just that my late-husband, Noah, was really locking horns with Henry Gowen for months before the explosion. He wouldn't tell me why. He didn't want me to worry but … I wonder, could this be what that was all about?"

Jack just looked at Gowen and then back to Abigail. Jack wanted nothing more then to lock Gowen away. He had slipped through Mounties hands time and time again.

"I am so sorry if I upset you." Jack said. "You need to understand that this is not something that I would normally share so early in my investigation, especially with someone who wasn't a Mountie, but I may need some help."

"Anything." Abigail said with renewed determination.

"Thank you." Jack said. "I am going to go check on Elizabeth."

Jack left Abigail to deal with Gowen. He didn't really want to leave her with him, but Jack knew that he had to make sure that Elizabeth was okay. Jack headed to the pond, and found Elizabeth on her way back.

"Elizabeth." Jack said.

"Hi, Jack." Elizabeth said.

"I stopped at the cafe." Jack said. "Abigail said you were upset, I just wanted to make sure that you are okay."

"I am okay now." Elizabeth said. "It is Julie. She sat in on class today. She was constantly interrupting me and then she shared something personal with the students, that I felt was inappropriate. I yelled at her and then she left after lunch. When I got back to the cafe, Abigail told me she was acting like a spoiled brat. I don't know why Julie is here, something isn't right. I have a bad feeling about her being here. She has a knack for finding trouble no matter where she goes. I might have been a little harsh with Julie when I yelled at her, I told her that she should go back to Father where she belonged."

"You had a right to say something." Jack said. "She had no right to disrespect you or share something personal with your students."

"Abigail said pretty much the same thing." Elizabeth said. "Still … I can't shake this bad feeling I have about Julie being here."

Jack took Elizabeth's arm and lead her to a couple of fallen logs. He had her sit down and then sat with her.

"Tell me about it?" Jack asked.

"Well." Elizabeth said. "Besides, Julie always seeming to find trouble … I don't know."

"Take a deep breath." Jack said.

Elizabeth closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

"Now slow down." Jack said. "Tell me what you are feeling?"

"I don't know." Elizabeth said. "My family wasn't happy I came here. I know that my father was betting that I wouldn't last a month. The longer I have stayed, the more … the more their letters became demanding that I return and as my father said 'quit playing teacher' but I told them I signed a contract and I had to fulfill it. Father said he could pay my way out of the contract.

They want me to come home and be a lady of society. I have never wanted that. It was part of the reason that I became a teacher. I wanted a way to provide for myself, outside of my family's money. My aunt keeps reminding me that I am an adult and they can't force me to do anything. The worse that they can do, it cut me off. Granted, I am sure that my father could find other ways to make my life difficult."

"So what does this have to do with Julie?" Jack asked.

"Several things." Elizabeth said. "Most of all, I have a feeling that Julie was sent here either to try and convince me to go back with her by reminding me what I have missed. Or most likely she was sent her to get detailed reports on everyone to report back to my father about what I am doing and who I am spending my time with. What he would do with that information, I don't know.

The thing is, the more I talk to Julie and see the way that she acts, the less that I want to go back. I never liked the whole trappings of high society. I mean I put up with them when I lived at home. Don't get me wrong, there are things I wouldn't mind to make things easier, but I don't want to live in Hamilton or like that anymore. Would I like electricity and indoor plumbing? Sure, but I also know I can live without those things. I like it here and no one in my family can understand why."

"Okay." Jack said. "Try not to let Julie get you. Stand your ground when it comes to her disrespecting you. Don't worry about what she is telling your father. Your aunt is correct, you are an adult and you are free do what you chose."

"Thank you." Elizabeth said. "You always know what to say."

"Are you worried about tomorrow night?" Jack asked.

"No." Elizabeth said. "I am excited to spend some time with you. Honestly, I don't care what Julie says. She has a way of exaggerating things, so I am sure my father will take that into account. Julie has no idea how real life works. She treats things like a romance novel or an adventure. She doesn't think before she says or does things, hence why she is always finding trouble. The problem is that Father has never made her face the consequences of her actions."

"Well." Jack said. "How old is Julie?"

"Eighteen." Elizabeth said.

"Then …." Jack said. "You are not responsible for her actions. If she causes trouble, or brings trouble then she will be treated like an adult. There is not much that your father can do about it. The law is the law. He may not like it, but I don't care who it is, I will put her in a jail cell if she breaks the law."

Elizabeth laughed.

"What?" Jack asked.

"You don't know my father." Elizabeth said. "He has basically taught Julie that he has enough money that he can make pretty much anything go away. Julie has told me that she is pretty and rich, so people should just do stuff for her. Although, I will keep in mind what you said – I would like to see what Father would do if you locked up Julie."

"Wow." Jack said.

"See what I mean." Elizabeth said. "Some of my younger students act better then Julie and no matter what I say, it doesn't seem to make a difference because Father has always gotten her out of trouble without having to face consequences."

"Do you want me to say something to her?" Jack asked.

"No." Elizabeth said. "Wouldn't matter anyway. She sees you the same way as Father – a servant she can boss around. Or worse – a guy she can flirt with to get what she wants."

Jack just looked at Elizabeth.

"For her information." Jack said. "The only people I take orders from is a superior officer and last time I checked, your father was not one. As far as the other thing, it won't get her far with me. I have no tolerance for that kind of behavior."

"I know." Elizabeth said. "I am just telling you what they are thinking. You know I don't think that way."

"I know." Jack said. "Let me get you back to the cafe. I need to head over to the saloon tonight. I still need to impress upon some of the newer miners that they can't push me."

"Thank you." Elizabeth said. "Be safe tonight."

"I will." Jack said. "It is more of a show force."

Jack stood up and helped Elizabeth up. They walked back to the cafe together, talking about little things. Jack was still worried about Elizabeth. He knew that he had to tell her about Cape Fullerton, but he also didn't want to ruin things before their supper. He was also now concerned about leaving Elizabeth while Julie was there. When they got back to the cafe, Jack looked down the street and didn't see anyone. So he took Elizabeth's hand and kissed it.

"Until tomorrow night." Jack said. "Try to have a good night."

"Good night." Elizabeth said. "See you tomorrow."

Jack waited until Elizabeth went into the cafe, before he headed back to the jail.