Chapter 3 Hope Eternal
Chapter 3
I stood there just looking at him, by the look on his face I know he realizes who I am. We just look at each other, it becomes an awkward silence. Lee speaks up, "Jack, this is Constable Nathan Grant. Nathan this is Constable Jack Thornton." I reached out and we shook hands, "It is good the meet you, I am Elizabeth Thornton's husband and little Jack's father. But I am sure you're aware of that. How do you like Hope Valley?" Nathan nodded, "Yes I knew you were Elizabeth's husband. She is an amazing woman and Hope Valley is my home now, I fell in love not long after getting here." He stumbled his words and clarified, "I fell in love with Hope Valley." I knew what he had meant but I found it curious that he felt the need to clarify it. But he didn't know I knew he tried to court my wife. I know I must understand that everyone thought that I had died but even a dead man can be jealous. "Hope Valley has that effect on people, there have been many people that came just passing through and decided to stay. Hope Valley is a wonderful place. I have missed it. And yes, MY Elizabeth is an amazing woman in so many ways." From behind me I heard Bill, "Nathan, it is time that you start packing up your things. Now that Jack is home, we will no longer need your services. I just called head quarters and told them that we no longer needed your services. I told them you would be there by night fall." Bill came up next to me patting my back, "Jack I am glad to have you home. Now we have a real law man protecting Hope Valley." I reached over and patted Bills back, "Not so fast Bill, Carson hasn't released me to return to work. He said it would take some time to build up my strength because I have been laying still so long there was still a lot that needed to improve before he would release me." I paused. "But I am not sure I will return to be a Mountie." Bill and Lee both are in shock, "WHAT?" Lee continued, "Jack this is your life's calling, your life's work. How can you walk away from the only thing you ever felt called to do?" Bill said frustrated, "Hope Valley needs OUR Mountie back", as he shot Nathan a look. "It hasn't been the same here. And Lee is right being a Mountie is all you ever wanted to do." I appreciated their support but after what I put Elizabeth through, I don't think I could do that to her again. My son needs his father and my wife needs her husband. I must consider the effect it will have on them. "Bill go call headquarters back and let them know Nathan will be staying." I could tell Bill was not happy, he had a scowl on his face that insured we knew how he felt about the situation. He looked sharply at Nathan, "Jack, you can't be serious. You are going to let HIM protect YOUR town." I smiled and nodded toward Nathan, "It has been his town for a while now. I haven't had a claim to it for quite some time and by the looks of things he has been doing a good job." Bill scuffed, "Well if it hadn't been for me following behind him, we would certainly be worse off." As Bill was still talking Lee spoke up, "Bill, now stop, you know Nathan has taken good care of us. He has been an asset in a lot of ways." Wondering what else he had done for the town, "Really? How is that? What else has he been doing?" Lee has a look of surprise and regret for saying it. "Oh, you know he just helps around. You know how we are here always taking care of one another." Bill joined searching for words, "He helps Mr. Yost unload his shipments and he does handyman work for some of the widows. Just simple things." Nathan just stood there looking as if something had not been said. Coming up the side walk Elizabeth scolded me, "Jack Thornton, why are you not at home resting? You need your rest if you are going to build up your strength." As she came and stood by me, Lee spoke up, "It is my fault, Elizabeth. I thought he could use some fresh air." She smiled, "And the first thing you do is bring him straight back to work?" All the guys shot me a wide-eyed sharp look. Uh oh, I hadn't told Elizabeth that I was considering not returning to my post as a Mountie. Confused Elizabeth inquired, "What? What am I missing?" I pull her to my side, "It's nothing, we can talk about it later." I knew that wasn't going to work but I tried anyway. "Jack, what is it?" I took a deep breath, "I am considering not returning to my post as Mountie." She quickly turned and looked at Nathan. He spoke up, "Elizabeth, I had nothing to do with this. This is my first-time meeting Jack. I would never tell a man not to do his life's work even if it caused problems for me." She took a deep breath about to speak and I spoke up. "This is my idea and no one else's. I just want to consider all my options." She was about to speak again when we heard, "Yoo-hoo, Elizabeth, Jack, look who I have." I turned and Rosemary was crossing the street with little Jack on her hip. He saw us and began to wiggle out of her arms. She giggles as she let him down, "Ok ok I am letting you down." Little Jack exclaimed, "Daddy! Daddy!" as he took off running toward me. As he got to me, I scooped him up and span him around laughing, "I am your daddy! I am your daddy!" As I came to a stop Elizabeth pulled us close with a smile, "I love seeing you hold him, but I have to admit I am a little jealous. He has never run to anyone but me that way. I guess we all have adjustments to make." She leaned in to kiss little Jack and I on the cheek. From the corner of my eye I could see how that was making Nathan uncomfortable and so did Lee. "Nathan, Rosemary and I were heading to Abigail's for lunch would you like to join us." Rosemary spoke up, "We were? I thought we were going home for…" With a sharp look and tilted head Lee interrupted, "I decided to surprise you with lunch at Abigail's." Rosemary now understanding the situation, "Oh Lee how sweet! Nathan come join us." Nathan quickly agreed. The three of them excused themselves and headed to Abigail's. Bill spoke up realizing the situation as well, "Well I need to run to the mercantile for a few things. You three enjoy your afternoon." Little Jack waved goodbye to everyone, "Bye Bye!" Rosemary looked back, "Goodbye sweetie, Aunt Rosemary will see you in a little bit." With a sigh of relief, I asked, "Do you want to go eat at Abigail's?" Elizabeth said, "No, but stay right here I have to run there and pick something up and I will be right back." She turned quickly toward Abigail's leaving little Jack and I standing there.
It wasn't but just a moment and she returned with a picnic basket. She approached with her radiant smile showing, "Take a walk with me." Did she just use my line on me? I haven't said that to her in a long time. I gave a big smile with a smirk insuring she knew I knew she was using my line. Playing her part, "Is there a reason for this walk?" She continued to smile, "You will have to wait and see." She giggles and I soaked it in because I have missed that giggle so much. I nodded with a smile and we began to walk. I put little Jack on my shoulders, and he squealed with excitement. Elizabeth said quickly, "Oh Jack be careful!" She went in to mama mode quickly, I just smiled because I always knew she would be an amazing mother. And I had never seen that side of her. "I will, I promise, I am not going to drop him." She realized she was over reacting, "I know you won't. I am just not use to someone else playing with him like that." I pulled her to my side, "Mama I promise to take good care of our son. I thought you had to work this afternoon?" She smiled, "I did but Rosemary offered to teach a music lesson this afternoon so I could spend it with you and little Jack." We walked a while just holding hands with little Jack still on my shoulders. I have missed our walks so much and now we have our son to join us. I couldn't help but thank God for this moment. My mind slipped to Arnold and how he will never get to experience this type of joy. While I cherish these moments, I also feel guilty for surviving. Elizabeth interrupted my thoughts, "After the first of the year before school started Little Jack and I went to Hamilton to visit with Mother and Father. Viola and Sir Lionel came with their children. We were all so excited to be together for Julie's wedding…." Her words dropped off. "Julie got married? Elizabeth that is wonderful that you all could be there. Who is the lucky guy? Did he have as hard of a time getting your father's blessing as I did?" She stopped and looked at me. "What? What did I say? Is he not lucky to have married Julie or did he not get your father's blessing?" Elizabeth stepped close, "Jack, she married Tom." "What? She married my brother Tom?" I said in complete shock. Elizabeth smiled big, nodding her head, "Yes, and with Father's complete blessing." How in the world did Tom get Mr. Thatcher's blessing? Complete blessing? Did he not have to convince him like I had? "Really complete blessing? Tom didn't have to convince him like I did? Tom married Julie?" Elizabeth raised her eyebrows smiling as little Jack tasseled my hair with a giggle. "Yes, his complete blessing. Julie and Tom reconnected at our wedding, Julie invited him to her art show in Hamilton. He went much to the disapproval of father. Tom went and apologized to father for all that had happened before. He told father about all his success in Cape Fullerton. Father was impressed but would have never showed it. After that Julie and Tom saw each other when they could. Then Tom found a position in Hamilton. They courted for 2 years and Tom slowly won over father, and he now works for fathers' company. And not long ago I received word that Julie was expecting their first child." I am in shock. I stand there a moment. I take Jack off my shoulders handing him to Elizabeth. "Jack, are you okay? Do we need to go home so you can rest?" I shook my head no and walked a few steps in front of them. After all of that my baby brother is now married to a Thatcher. A smile spread over my face. Elizabeth's look of concern became a look of happiness. "I knew he could do it. I knew he could do anything he set his mind too, my baby brother is married and about to be a father. He is married to a Thatcher none the less. Elizabeth this is wonderful! I just wished I could have been there with him." She giggles, "You are married to a Thatcher as well if you don't remember." I smiled and came close, "Of course I remember but you are different now than you use to be. You are a Hope Valley woman now. You aren't in the high society world now, you are a small-town teacher that's married to a Mountie." As a smile spread across her face, "Constable Thornton I wouldn't change a thing." She leaned in and I kissed her. We began walking again, I got lost in thought. I am so happy for Tom. We came to the corner of the land I had bought. "Do you still own the land?" "Of course, how could I sell the land we planned to build our home and life together!" As we topped the hill there stood a house that looked to be under construction. She was having a house built? How could she afford this alone? She would have never taken her father's money. Wait? This is the house I was going to build her. This is the house I had plans for. I turned quickly and in excitement, "You are having our house built? How can you afford this own your own? Who is building it for you?" Elizabeth put little Jack down and he took off running. She took my hand pulling me close. "Well Lee is honoring the price for the lumber he gave you when you first got the plans. Nights and weekends some of the men in town are working on it. It is taking a long time because there isn't a real crew working on it. But it is almost finished." We walked to the house. I stand in amazement that my dream for Elizabeth was standing before me. I walk to the porch, I stand at the door looking in. Excited and sad, excited Elizabeth was going to have a house fitting for her and sad because I wasn't the one building it for her. She came to stand beside me; little Jack is running between the studs laughing and playing. Elizabeth in a solemn voice, "Jack I need to tell you something about the house." From behind me there was an unfamiliar voice, "Jack, what do you think about the house. We have been working on it as much as we can. We want to get Elizabeth and little Jack in it as quick as possible." I turn and Nathan is walking toward us with is toolbox in his hand. HE was building Elizabeth OUR house. I looked at Elizabeth. She said, "That was what I wanted to tell you. While I was in Hamilton, Nathan went to the town and convinced them to build me the house to honor you. Lee still had the plans and he and Nathan worked out payments for the lumber. Abigail and Rosemary did fund raisers to help with the cost, I used my savings, and the Mounties gave a small amount to help with the cost of living since we wouldn't have your income. The kids are so sweet coming to run errands and assisting where they can. Nathan heads up construction." I stand there stunned. The man that wanted to court my wife is building her a house, building her the house I was going to build her… he is building OUR house. This isn't a small gesture. Building a house for someone is a major act of affection, it is done when you love someone… I would know, I built Elizabeth her school house.