Chapter 4
I stand here with the realization that another man is in love with Elizabeth. I hear her calling my name, I feel little Jack's arm wrap around my leg while looking at the man that is in love with my wife. I just stand here, thoughts racing. I had seen other men interested in her before and even love her. I have fended off Billy and even Charles who proposed to her so why does this bother me. Elizabeth is more than amazing, she supersedes anything that could be said to describe her. I understand better than most what a power her presence has over people. But Nathan is building her a house. I am overcome, I need to sit down, or do I need to take a walk. Out of the corner of my eye I see Carson walking up, "Jack, what is wrong? Elizabeth what is wrong with him? He is pale, Nathan help me get him to that pile of lumber to sit." They get me seated. Elizabeth is upset, she sits at my feet. "Carson what is wrong with him? Why isn't he responding to us?" Little Jack comes to stand between my legs, "Daddy, Daddy, up up?" as he reaches for me to pick him up. I find clarity in that moment. "Hey baby, Daddy is sorry to ignore you. I didn't mean to." I pick him up and sit him on my lap. "Jack, let Elizabeth hold him while I check you out." I shook my head no, "I want to hold my son, I need to hold my son." Elizabeth is very concerned, "Jack it will only take a moment and you can take him right back." I shook my head no again. Elizabeth looked at Carson, he bent down, "Jack, what is wrong? Does something hurt? Are you dizzy or lightheaded?" I looked at Carson, "Can you do the exam in private?" "Of course, Elizabeth, can you and Nathan give Jack and I a moment?" Elizabeth looked hurt but agreed. She stood taking Jack from my lap. "Leave him, I want him here." I said to her. "Let her take him, I can examine you more completely, as soon as we are finished, she will bring him back. Right, Elizabeth." "Yes, of course, I would never keep him from Jack." Nathan walked past me, "Elizabeth, I was needing to speak to you about the placement of the tub. Can we go look at that?" I didn't want her to walk away with him, but it wasn't an unreasonable request. "Yes, I can go look at that. Is there a problem?" "Let me just show you so you can better understand." She nodded and they walked into the house.
Carson sat next to me, "Jack, what is wrong?" "Nathan is in love with Elizabeth!" I said in a rush. I said it out loud, the new Mountie is in love with my wife. Carson looking confused, "What do you mean Nathan is in love with Elizabeth?" "Carson he is building her a house, OUR house, the house I was supposed to build her." Carson realizing the issue nodded his head, "I know it must be hard finding out that someone else is taking care of Elizabeth's needs, but I wouldn't say he is in love with her. I wouldn't even say he is doing it himself." "I would say it. Carson, I am saying he loves Elizabeth." I said in hurt frustration and confusion. "Why do you say that?" "Because I built her a school house because I loved her and knew she needed to be able to teach the kids outside of the saloon. I used my reward money from capturing the Toliver gang. I did it long before I told her I loved her. I fell for her not long after meeting her, but it wasn't easy getting us to where we are." Carson looked at me with a gentle smile and a nod, "Jack he is only helping build the house, all of the men in town help with it and he isn't paying for it. There are many contributors helping fund this for Elizabeth. It was his idea but in honor of your sacrifice and to help fulfill your dream for Elizabeth." "Carson, Lee told me that he wanted to court Elizabeth? Why would he go to the trouble to do this if he didn't have feelings for her?" "He does have feelings for her Jack." Carson said plainly. "I thought you said he didn't love her." Carson laid his hand on my shoulder, "He has affection for her in the way of friendship. That is, it, true he wanted to court her but Jack, Elizabeth is an extraordinary woman, there have been several that voiced a desire to court her, but she accepted none. She continuously explained her desire to focus on motherhood and her love for you." A wave of regret and embarrassment came over me. Of course, she would be a focus of desire for suitors. I understand the power she has over a man's heart. "Jack, honestly, I considered asking her out. She is amazing and any man in their right mind would at least consider it. Of course, not right away, everyone knew she needed time to adjust to being a single working mother grieving the loss of the love of her life. Everyone knew the bond you two shared and it's the reason I never actually asked. We always knew eventually she would move on and find love again, after all you told her to, but it is intimidating trying to compete with the man we all knew was her soulmate." I looked at Carson a little surprise he thought about courting Elizabeth but grateful that he was so honest. "Thank you for being so honest with me. I guess it is hard for me to think about Elizabeth loving another man, any man not just Nathan, But Carson he is building her our house, the exact house I was going to build her." Carson shook his head, "No Jack he is simply heading up the project. Everyone in town has been a part of the process. All the men in town have helped with it. Even Pastor Frank took time away from the children's hospital to come back for a week when we first got started. Mounties that had been under your command came for a weekend to help. Elizabeth wouldn't take her father's money to pay for the house, so he and Tom came for a few days to work just so they had a part in this project done in your honor. Nathan is doing this to honor you. He isn't a bad guy. He and Elizabeth are friends but nothing more. You don't have to worry about him. He is a good guy just wanting Elizabeth to have a part of her dream since she didn't have you." I felt so small and insecure. Why did I jump to such a conclusion especially of a fellow Mountie? But then I remembered how Nathan got uncomfortable when Elizabeth kissed me on the cheek. Why would that bother him if he didn't have an interest in her? "Carson, I appreciate you telling me all this. I am embarrassed for jumping to conclusions, but I do have a question. When Elizabeth and I were standing in front of the jail today she kissed me on the cheek, and it made him uncomfortable. Why would it upset him if he didn't have romantic interest in her?" Carson smiled, "Jack Nathan accepted Elizabeth's decision not to court but for a while after he was hurt and embarrassed but then he accepted it and they became very good friends. But Elizabeth hasn't courted at all, so my guess is that seeing her kiss your cheek maybe felt like a jab. No one has seen that part of Elizabeth since your accident. We were starting to get worried about her because it had been 3 years and she showed no interest in courting at all. I even went to talk to her about it. It wasn't healthy that she held so tightly to your memory that it kept her from moving on. She deserved to be loved and little Jack needed a man in his life." I guess Carson is right, Nathan was just being a good guy and Elizabeth should have moved on already. But I am glad she hadn't since I am here now. Elizabeth walked up holding little Jack's hand, "Is everything ok? Are you finished with the exam?" Carson nodded, "Everything is fine, Jack was just surprised about the house." I nodded and stood pulling Elizabeth close. I am fine. I just didn't expect to see our house standing. It is coming together wonderfully." Nathan walked out, "Elizabeth I did the measurements and the tub should fit right where you want it." I walked up to Nathan and offered a handshake he reciprocated. I shook his hand, "Thank you for heading up the construction of the house. It is nice of everyone to help Elizabeth build the house I was going to build for her. Since I am not working, I think I will take over construction if you can catch me up on the progress." Carson spoke up, "Jack I can't release you to do that type of manual labor. Your muscle and joints need to rebuild themselves." I knew he was right because my body was hurting from being out so much today, but I wanted to finish our house. "Carson I will be fine, I need to do this for Elizabeth." "Jack don't overdo it. Carson would release you if he thought you were ready. Take it easy until Carson feels like you are ready." I looked at my wife and could see the concern on her face and knew I couldn't do anything else to make her worry but surely there was something I could do. I pulled her close, "Ok I will, don't worry I will follow doctors' orders. But is there anything I could do to help with the house. I should be a part of this after all it is my house." Carson said, "If you are determined to do something you can help Nathan run the work site, make sure the right materials are delivered to the right spot and as long as you aren't lifting heavy objects you can help with the nailing up of the walls but ONLY if you have someone as support for you. Jack, I think you will find that you will get tired quicker than you use to, but a little work will help you rebuild your muscle mass." Nathan spoke up, "I will be his support person, that is what Mounties do, we cover each other's backs. Jack does that sound okay to you?" I don't know if I am ready to become buddies with him but before I reply Elizabeth spoke up. "That would be wonderful you can get to know each other, and Nathan can get you caught up on the Mountie business." I didn't want to upset her, so I reluctantly agreed. "That sounds good, just let me know when you are off duty and we will work around that schedule." Nathan shook his head, "If you would like we can get started tomorrow after my morning rounds." I agreed, "That sounds great. I will see you tomorrow." Nathan looked at Carson, "Is he well enough to ride a horse?" Carson stood there for a moment, "Yes I guess so as long as they are in small increments." "Great, Jack, how would you like to do rounds with me tomorrow in an unofficial capacity?" Nathan asked. Why does this guy want to spend so much time with me? "I am not sure that is a good idea, like Carson said I shouldn't do too much too quickly." But before I could finish my thought Carson spoke up, "Jack I think it is a good idea if you do it a little at a time. You need to get back in the habit of doing rounds so you are ready when I release you back to work." Elizabeth with optimism, "That would be wonderful Jack. It gives you and Nathan a chance to get to know each other as well." "Elizabeth, I explained that I am considering my options and not returning as a Mountie might be one. After all it looks like Hope Valley has been in good hands while I was away" I said a little frustrated. "You aren't returning as our Mountie Jack?" Carson said in surprise. "Jack but you are our town hero, nothing against you Nathan but Jack had protected Hope Valley very well before the accident. He is our hometown hero. You have to be our Mountie." I understand everyone's surprise and I will miss being a Mountie, but I have to put Elizabeth and Jack first, "I understand Carson, but I am just considering my options. I haven't made a definite decision." "Jack you don't have to make a decision right now. We can talk more about it when we get home, but I think it would do you some good to do rounds with Nathan." Elizabeth was trying to support and encourage me, so I agree to do rounds with him. "Ok Nathan, I will take you up on that offer I will do rounds then we can come work on the house. Elizabeth, I think it is time to head home. I am tired, it has been a busy day." As we departed, I put Jack on my shoulder and took Elizabeth's hand as she greeted them goodbye.
We had walked a little way up the path, I kept thinking about Nathan and if Carson was right. Had he really settled on being Elizabeth's friend. I needed to know how Elizabeth saw the situation, but I didn't want her to think I was jealous. "Nathan is a nice guy, isn't he? It is wonderful that he took so much interest in providing you and little Jack a better home." She stopped and looked at me, "Jack we are just friends, no different than Lee and I or Bill and I being friends. Just friends. I have been focused on raising our son and teaching the children of Hope Valley. My heart was broken when I lost you. I wasn't sure I could go on and then I found out we were having a child and I knew what my new purpose was. I want to be the best mother I could raising him the best way I could, ensuring he knew as much about you as possible. Yes, Nathan expressed his interest in courting, but I had no interest and made it clear that little Jack was my focus. When I went to Hamilton for the wedding and came back, they already had the foundation of the house built and were raising the walls. There was no way to tell everyone that had worked so hard that I didn't want the house, but the truth is I didn't want it. I didn't want to live in the house you had planned for us without you, but everyone was being so generous. How could I say no?" I took her by the hand and kissed it, "I am sorry for asking, I just know how you stole my heart and I am sure I am not the only one. It was just hard realizing that someone else was building you our house." She smiled and nodded as we began walking again. From a distance I could see someone on our front porch. As we got closer, we could tell it was a woman, she didn't look familiar to me, "Do you know her? Is she new in town?" Elizabeth with a puzzled expression, shook her head no, "I don't know her." As we got to the house Elizabeth asked her, "Hello, can I help you?" The young woman probably about Elizabeth's age came off the porch to stand in front of me. She looked a Jack and smiled with sadness in her eye. "You must be Constable Jack Thornton," she looked at Elizabeth, "and you must be his wife Elizabeth." Perplexed I said, "Yes, Ma'am, can I help you with something?" "My name is Susan Cartwright. Arnold Baker was my fiancé." WHAT? I had been told Arnold didn't have any one living. That's why no one realized who I was while in the hospital. Why hadn't she come forward before now? I looked at Elizabeth and we both stood there shocked by this revelation.