Chapter 16

Recognition

By: Randi Elkins

As I stood in front of the mirror dressed in my red serge, I reflected on my conversation with General Collins. I know he is right, but it still doesn't feel right to get an award when Susan lost so much. The recruits that were saved wanted to recognize Arnold and me for what we did. I also understand General Collins' point that it would be disrespectful to Curtis and Caleb to refuse the award. As I stood lost in my thoughts, I felt two little hands wrap around my leg, "Hi Daddy!" I looked down at Jack's smiling face. "Hey there, where did you come from?" "He is running from his mama so that I can't get him dressed for your ceremony," Elizabeth said. She was out of breath and obviously a little put out after trying to dress him. "See, honey, I told you Daddy was going to wear his uniform, and we have to look good too. Daddy is such a brave man that he is getting an award. Don't you want to look nice for daddy?" she said, trying to convince little Jack he needed to wear something different than his everyday clothes. "Yes, don't you want to look nice for Daddy? Don't you want to wear your dress clothes today?" I said as I picked him up. Little Jack shook his head, "NO! I want to wear what you are wearing!" Elizabeth's eyes grew a bit larger, and I could tell that his words surprised her. I acted as if I hadn't noticed, "You can't, Daddy is a Mountie, and only Mounties get to wear the red serge. You want to wear this handsome outfit mama has for you." I took the outfit from Elizabeth, sat little Jack on the bed and dressed him. I put some of my hair paste in his hair, much to Elizabeth's disapproval, and brushed it back like I wear mine. I took him, and we stood in front of the mirror, "Now look how handsome you are all dressed up." He smiled looking at me through the mirror, "I look like you, daddy." He said as he ran his fingers in my hair. Elizabeth smiled wide, "Yes you do you are my handsome boys." Elizabeth was still in her nightdress because it has taken her so much time to try to dress little Jack. "I need to go into town before the ceremony, why don't I take Jack with me? It will give you a chance to get dressed in peace without us boys being in the way." She smiled that radiant smile of hers, "That sounds wonderful. I will meet you in front of Abigail's office 20 minutes before the ceremony." Little Jack and I kissed her goodbye and headed into town.

Little Jack and I were greeted by Ned as we walked into the mercantile, "Good Morning Constable Thornton, what can I get for you?" "Ned, why did you just call me 'Constable Thornton'? I have lived here as constable for years and not since my first year living here have you called me that." A smile spread across Ned's face, "Well Constable I figured that a lawman with such honors as yours should be treated with the utmost respect." I shook my head and smiled, "Ned from now on please continue to call me Constable or Jack but never call me Constable Thornton again." Ned chuckled, "Yes sir, Constable Thornton. So, Jack what can I help you with." "I had ordered a brooch with Katie last week for Elizabeth, and I wanted to see if it had come in. I wanted to surprise her with it since she has been so amazing about me returning to post. And now she is pregnant I think she deserved something special. It is an opal and diamond butterfly brooch. The inscription on the back is a quote from her book. 'For what is life, but a bittersweet mix of sadness, wonderment, hope, and joy.'" Ned turned to the shelves behind him, "Let me see. It seems like I saw a package with your name on it, with a note not to give it to Elizabeth. Here it is, do you want to look at it first?" I couldn't contain my excitement, "Yes please!" Ned opened the box, and it was perfect. It was worth every dime I spend on it. The wings were opal, and the edges were lined in diamonds. Ned flipped it over to show the inscription. It was absolutely perfect. "That is precisely what I wanted. I had the brooch made special just for her. Julie met with the jeweler to make sure it was something Elizabeth would love." I put it in my pocket as little Jack ran to me with a peppermint stick. "Please Daddy?" "Of course, but you can't eat it until after the ceremony. Let Mr. Ned bag it up for you, how much do I owe you?" "2¢," Ned responded.

A crowd had gathered outside the mayor's office for the ceremony. Caleb and Curtis were there with their wives. Susan was there speaking with General Collins. I scanned the crowd but didn't see Elizabeth. I saw Rosemary and Abigail talking, so I went to see if they had seen her. Just as I made it to them Elizabeth appeared from around the corner. She is stunning. I walk to meet her. "Elizabeth you are stunning!" I told her. She is smiling. I lean and kiss her cheek. "Jack Thornton you know how to make a lady blush." She said with a smirk. We walked back to the gathering to join the others.

"Thank you for joining us today. I have two Mounties that would like to tell you about why you all are gathered here." General Collins said as he began the ceremony. He motioned for Curtis and Caleb to come up. "Thank you, General Collins. Today Caleb and I wanted to insure that the heroic actions of Constable Arnold Grant and Constable Jack Thornton were not overlooked. Because of these men Caleb and I are here. Their brave efforts insured that we were able to make it back to our families, we were able to marry our sweethearts and start our own families. Arnold sacrificed all of that for us that day so today we want to present Miss Susan Cartwright, his fiancé with his award for bravery and sacrifice. Miss Susan would you mind joining us here on the platform." Susan joined them as tears streamed down her face. "Miss Susan, we know you what Constable Grant's actions of bravery cost you. We give our condolences which can never be enough for what you lost. Sometimes it is forgotten the sacrifices the families of Mounties make." Curtis handed Susan the award, and quietly she simply said, "Thank you. Arnold would not want the recognition. I know he felt he was doing his duty." She left the platform and stood beside Abigail. Abigail wrapped her arm around Susan as she cried.

"Now we want to recognize Constable Jack Thornton for his bravery that day. He pushed me from harm's way saving my life. When I heard of what happened to him and the mix-up, I went along with Caleb to General Collins requesting the chance to honor him. At night lying in bed I can still feel his hands against my shoulder and side as he pushed me out of the path of the mudslide. Constable Thornton will you join us on the platform." As I joined them, I noticed Elizabeth was crying. Caleb handed me the award. "Thank you so much for this, and like Arnold I felt I was doing my duty, but I don't want to downplay the honor that this is. It is an honor to serve, and it is an honor to sacrifice so you could live the life you dreamed Curtis. As I stand here today, I also have someone I want to honor." Elizabeth and the crowd were obviously puzzled. "Elizabeth will you join me?" Her eyes widened, and her cheeks grew pink. As she came on the platform she leaned in and whispered in my ear, "What are you doing?" I simply winked at her.

"Today I want to honor my wife, Elizabeth. The day of the accident, she sacrificed just as much as any of us. She would be told I had died. We had only been married for a short time, and her world fell apart. Not long after my death she discovered she was expecting our first child. After the accident she lost me and became a single mother in a short time. She was grieving while pregnant, she gave birth without me and she began raising our son, Jack Thornton, Jr. alone. She became a hero to my son, she handled herself with grace and dignity. She insured little Jack would know about me and how much I loved him even though I had never met him. So today I want to present her with this." I reached in my pocket and drew out the brooch. I opened the case showing it to her. She gasped, "Oh, Jack!" "On the back I had an inscription of a quote from her book. 'For what is life, but a bittersweet mix of sadness, wonderment, hope, and joy.' This quote to me represents Elizabeth so well. The negative things of life get little acknowledgment and that is how she lives. She doesn't focus on the negative. She focuses on wonderment, hope, and joy." Elizabeth was crying, and the crowd was clapping loudly. I took the brooch out of the box and placed it on her coat. "I don't know what to say to this besides I didn't do it alone. Living in Hope Valley means you don't go through anything alone." General Collins stepped up on the platform. "Jack that was beautiful and as it has been said the families of Mounties don't get enough credit. Please join us in the Saloon for a reception, so everyone has a chance to speak with our honorees."

The saloon was full when we got there. As we walked in everyone began to clap. Susan and Elizabeth were embarrassed by all the attention. Then everyone came to greet us. Susan stayed close to Elizabeth. Near the end of the line I saw Hickman looking at Susan. As he got to me, he shook my hand but never really took his eyes off, Susan. I leaned in and whispered in his ear, "Why don't you ask if she would like something to drink?" Shocked that I had noticed him staring at Susan, "Ask who? What are you talking about?" I smiled wide at him, "I see you looking at Susan. Introduce yourself and ask if she would like something to drink." "I couldn't do that right now. She was just honored for losing her fiancé." "It isn't a date; it is something to drink and some Hope Valley hospitality." He smiled wide at me and shook his head in agreement. He approached Susan and fear suddenly covered his face, so I stepped up, "Susan this is Michael Hickman, we affectionately call him Hickman. Would you like to get something to drink with him?" Susan blushed and looked at Elizabeth. Elizabeth nodded toward Hickman. Susan smiled, "Thank you, that would be nice." Hickman smiled at me, and they headed toward the punch bowl.