Chapter 5

Elizabeth was writing on the chalkboard the next morning, speaking to herself as she wrote out the first lesson of the day for her students. She jumped as she heard the sound of footsteps, glancing around to see the Mountie walking through the saloon. 'Oh, hello.' He turned around and she continued. 'I didn't know anyone else was here.'

'Good morning.' Jack smiled, walking up to her. 'I'm staying in one of the rooms upstairs until something more permanent can be arranged.'

'I'm Elizabeth Thatcher, the new teacher here.' She introduced herself, giving him her hand to shake. 'But I guess you've probably already gathered that.'

'Constable Jack Thornton, but I guess you've probably already gathered that.'

'I'm sorry, I'm afraid I may have left you with some of my chalk dust.'

'No, no chalk dust. Now I feel cheated.'

She chuckled, turning back to the chalkboard. 'I have to be surprised that Coal Valley merits a full-time Mountie.'

'That makes two of us-' He nodded. 'My original posting was in Cape Fullerton but that suddenly changed.'

'Oh.' She turned to go through her books for the lessons. 'I imagine Coal Valley will be a little quieter for you then a busy shipping port like that.'

'Wait, you know the place?'

'Very well. My father has done business in Cape Fullerton for many years.'

'And what's your father's name?'

'William Thatcher.'

'William Thatcher?' He repeated, trying to think of where he knew the name from then it dawned on him. 'The shipping tycoon?'

'Well, I don't think of him that way but yes, I suppose he is.'

Jack thought for a moment. 'Now it's all making sense.'

'What is?'

'Miss Thatcher-' He stepped closer to her. 'A week ago I had never even heard of Coal Valley and while I was planning my trip to Cape Fullerton I was told I was being reassigned here, reassigned at the request of a very powerful man.'

'Surely you don't think-'

'What?' He interrupted. 'That a very wealthy man's daughter might by why I now have to eat coal dust for the next God knows how long? I'm absolutely sure that's why I'm here, to keep William Thatcher's princess from stubbing her toe in a town she had no business coming to.'

'To be candid sir-' Elizabeth started after him as he headed for the door. 'I think you're way off-base with that remark and just so we're clear, even if my father did pull strings to get you here, I don't need you. I can take care of my own stubbed toes, thank you very much.'

'You know, on second thought it's obvious I won't need to be here long because you won't last a month in a town like this.'

'Well, Constable Thornton, I think you'd better settle in and get used to a steady diet of coal dust.' She exclaimed. 'I'm a Thatcher. We don't run from a challenge. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have reading materials to prepare for my students. Good day to you, sir.'

'-Therefore I am strongly requesting an immediate transfer to a new post.' Jack composed a message to be telegraphed to his superiors a little while later. 'Salutations, Constable Jack Thornton.'

Ned nodded, finishing writing down the last of the telegram request. 'If that's it, I will get this sent right away Constable.'

He turned to leave as the storekeeper headed into the back room to make the telegram, stopping as something in the bin caught his eye. He frowned, seeing that it was a crumpled telegram and he pulled it out, glancing over it. 'Safety violations-' He glanced around then placed it in his pocket and headed back out of the store, making his way to the jail that was now his office.

The jail had been left pretty bare, the Pinkertons had left the day before and given him the keys. He sighed as he took his hat off and placed it on the hat rack then took a seat at the desk. Because of that woman he was stuck in a little backwards town instead of the posting he'd really wanted.

'I hope I'm not interrupting anything.'

He looked up to see a woman standing in the doorway and he stood up. 'Not at all. Come in.' The woman smiled and he sat back down again. 'Have a seat.'

'Thank you.'

'Constable Jack Thornton. What can I do for you?'

'Abigail Stanton.' She smiled as she shook his hand. 'How are you settling in to Coal Valley?'

'Oh you know, the usual. It hasn't been a very warm welcoming party.'

'Ir does get better, once you get to know people. Trust me.' She smiled again then her face sobered. 'I was wondering if you might be able to help me Constable. I've been looking after a young girl, Joanna Davis, for the last few months, since she was orphaned in the mine disaster.' She paused for a moment and he nodded, listening. 'Joanna was adopted from an orphanage by Edward Davis, when she was eight. As far as I know, she has no living relatives.'

'How would you like me to help?'

'Well, I was hoping that maybe you could tell me what the process of getting guardianship of her might be.'

Jack nodded, taking down a few notes. 'How old is Miss Davis?'

'She's twelve. She moved here with her adoptive father and brother about six months ago.'

'Mother?'

'Died when she was younger.' Abigail sighed then continued. 'Joanna's had a hard childhood, being in orphanages till she was eight then her adoptive mother's death, her father losing the ranch they lived on and her moving here then the mine disaster. I've been looking after her since his passing and I'm only now just starting to gain her trust, she's a very broken child. I would like to look after her permanently, if there is any way possible that could occur. I think she would improve if she didn't have to worry about the possibility that she might be sent away.'

'I can definitely look into that for you.' He nodded. 'It would help if I could meet her so I can assess the situation and make a recommendation, would that be a possibility?'

Abigail nodded after a moment. 'I will warn you though that Joanna isn't in a very good headspace right now, she hasn't been herself since the accident, understandably. Just-' She thought for a moment, trying to find the right words. 'Be gentle and take it slow with her when you speak with her, please.'

'I'll be gentle.'

'You could come for dinner tonight, meet her then and get a good meal.'

He chuckled. 'Yes, I'm afraid the beans and cornbread the saloon has to offer isn't exactly the best meal I've ever had. I would be glad to have dinner with you and Joanna tonight.'

'Thank you Constable. My house is the first row house on the East road out of town' She smiled as she stood up, preparing to leave. 'I'll see you this evening.'

'Hey Joanna-' Abigail smiled as she sat down beside the girl, the girl weeding her garden later that afternoon. 'How's it going?'

'Alright. The carrots won't be long till they're ready to be harvested.' She replied, placing another weed into the bucket. 'Did you take in something to show Mr. Gowan about the plank?'

She shook her head. 'No, I haven't yet. Are you?'

'I already know it's not my father or brother's handwriting-' She yanked out a weed roughly. 'No sense in bothering.' She threw it into the bucket for the chickens. 'When are they burying the men?'

'Tomorrow morning.' Abigail replied softly. 'Once they finish identifying them.'

Joanna nodded. 'At least proper goodbyes can be said now.'

'You okay honey?'

'I'm fine.' Another weed was yanked roughly from the ground. 'I'll be just fine.'

'Joanna-'

'Mrs. Stanton, please-' She turned to her, her eyes watering. 'I know you're trying to help, I know you're worried about me but you're not my mother. You're not anything. Now please, let me be.'

Abigail rose and walked away, glancing back at the child as the girl started to cry. She sighed then went into the house, slumping back against the closed door. Maybe she was trying too hard. Maybe she shouldn't bother with the child after all. Joanna's words went deep, they hurt. You're not my mother. You're not anything. She closed her eyes. Yes, she wasn't her mother. Yes, she wasn't any relation to her. She was just a woman that cared about her, but that meant nothing, didn't it?

The words hurt but she forced herself not to take them to heart. The girl was hurting, it was only reasonable for her to lash out. She reminded herself that the girl probably didn't mean them, it was only the fact that she was so hurt that was making her react in the way she was. Lord, what do I do?

Joanna stared numbly at the garden after Abigail had left and she'd finished crying, absentmindedly pulling the weeds out from amongst the vegetables. Again she reminded herself that the best thing to do was force Abigail away from her so that in the long run when Abigail finally got tired of her and sent her to an orphanage she wouldn't care. On the outside she tried to be hard and tough but on the inside she was breaking. Another tear slipped down her cheek. She wanted love, she wanted affection, she so desperately wanted to be loved and wanted yet she couldn't let herself get close to her. She had to build those walls she'd let down up again. She had to protect herself from being hurt again.

An image of the cliff flashed through her mind. Would the woman really cared if she died? Probably not, she tried to reason with herself. Abigail's concern for her was just show, she didn't really care about her, or did she? She forced the thought from her mind. She couldn't let herself get close to her, could she? It was just better for them in the long run.

Abigail glanced up from her cooking as the door opened, forcing a smile on her face as she saw Elizabeth walk through the door. 'Oh Elizabeth, just in time for dinner. Would you mind setting the table for four please?'

'Remember how you said the first few days might be a bit bumpy?' She asked as she went to get the plates. 'Well, you were right.'

She looked up at her from placing the food into a serving dish, gasping as she saw her black eye. 'Oh. Black and blue too it appears. What happened?'

'Some boys got into a tussle over the message on the wood. I stepped in the middle and caught the worst of it.'

'Never step between two coal boys when they're mixing it up.'

Elizabeth sighed, carrying the plates to the table and began to place them out. 'I need to get them interested in their lessons but I've never been through anything like they've been before and I don't know how to help them.'

'When my Peter was little I was the only teacher he had-' She went back to the stove, checking the beans she had cooking. 'He was so bored during his lessons sometimes he would nod off like an old man in a rocker.'

She chuckled, returning to the cupboard for the cutlery. 'So what did you do?'

'Levity. I added a little levity to the learning.'

'Levity.'

A knock sounded on the front door and Abigail motioned towards it. 'Oh, would you mind?'

Elizabeth placed the cutlery down and went to the door, smiling. Her smile quickly disappeared from her face when she saw who it was. 'You.'

'You.' Jack repeated, nodding towards her face as he saw her black eye. 'Nice shiner.'

'It's my first actually-' She placed her hand on her hip. 'But I think I earned it.'

He took his hat off as he walked through the doorway. 'Got those bags packed yet?'

'Why? Had your fill of coal dust already?'

'Good evening Constable.' Abigail smiled, walking over to him as she wiped her hands on her apron.

'Mrs. Stanton.'

'We're glad you could make supper on short notice.'

'To tell you the truth, I'm not that popular in town yet-' He glanced at Elizabeth then back at Abigail. 'So invitations aren't exactly pouring in.'

'Well, we're very happy to have you here. Aren't we Elizabeth?'

'Happy' isn't the word for it.'

Jack glanced back at her then a painting on the wall caught his eye and he walked over to it.

Abigail smiled sadly. 'Do you like it?'

'Very much ma'am. The artist has a wonderful grasp of colour and composition.'

'You know art, do you?' Elizabeth asked, a little hint of annoyance in her tone.

'A little.' Jack nodded. 'My mother taught me to appreciate different techniques and subjects.'

'Is she an artist herself?'

'No.' He smiled. 'A teacher. A most honorable profession.' He turned back to the painting. 'In any event a very talented artist.'

'Was-' Abigail started and he glanced back at her. 'My late husband, God rest his soul.' She paused for a moment. 'I better go call Joanna in, she's probably still out weeding the garden. Excuse me.'

She checked the food left on the stove as she walked past, taking her apron off and hung it on the door before she headed out. The girl wasn't at the garden as she glanced around the yard and she headed to the stable. Joanna was there, with Aztec and she smiled sadly as she watched the girl hugging her horse. 'Joanna, it's almost dinner time. Come in and wash yourself up.'

'Alright.' She nodded, running her hand over her stallion's neck one last time. 'I'll be back after dinner boy.'

'We have a guest for dinner-' She started as the girl closed the door on the shed and they headed to the house. 'I invited the new Constable to join us, I hope you don't mind.'

'Why would I mind? It's your house.' The girl mumbled, closing the door behind herself as the woman went to check on the dinner again. She looked down at her clothes, sighing as she realised just how dirty she was and she headed into the room to get changed. She closed the door behind herself, learning against it as she took a deep breath then went to the closet. Quickly she changed into a clean calico dress and went to the dressing table, washing the dirt off her face in the basin. Taking her hair out of its braid she ran her brush through it then re-braided it and checked her appearance in the mirror. She definitely looked cleaner now.

Plastering a fake smile on her face she smoothed the front of her dress down and headed to the door, stepping into the kitchen. 'Anything I can help with Mrs. Stanton?'

'You could place this on the table-' She handed her a serving dish then picked up another and they headed to the table. 'And that's all.' She smiled as Elizabeth and Jack came over to the table. 'Joanna, Constable Jack Thorton.'

Jack smiled warmly at the girl. 'Pleased to meet you Joanna.'

'Hi.' She smiled shyly, lingering back near Abigail. 'I've never met a Mountie before.'

He chuckled as they sat down at the table. 'And I haven't met a prettier girl then you before.'

Joanna blushed, looking away. 'That's kind of you to say.'

'Shall we say the blessing?' Abigail asked and silence came upon the table as they bowed their heads for the blessing. 'Lord, we thank you for the food we have before us and the company of friends. Bless this meal and may it provide nourishment to our bodies. Amen.'

'Amen.' The girl repeated, waiting for Abigail to serve up her plate. Conversation began around the table but the girl took little notice of it when her plate was placed back in front of her, the girl pushing her food around on the plate absentmindedly.

'So, Constable-' Abigail started as she cut up her roast. 'Why the Mounties?'

'Yes, Constable-' Elizabeth added. 'Please tell us why someone like yourself chose such an honorable profession.'

'And while we're at it, how'd you come to be in Coal Valley?'

Jack turned to Elizabeth. 'Why don't you answer that question?'

'I'm sure I wouldn't know.'

'In that case just lucky, I guess. ' He glanced back at Abigail, observing the fact that the girl hadn't taken a single bite of her dinner yet. It wasn't from the fact that the food tasted bad, it was one of the best meals he'd ever had. His thoughts returned back to the question though but the girl's absentmindedness didn't slip past his observation. 'But as to being a Mountie that is in my blood. My father made a career out of being a peace officer and my mother told me 'never let a day go by without serving someone else.''

'My son, Peter-' She smiled, glancing down at her plate as she took a bite of her meal before continuing. 'Considered joining the Royal North-West Mounties but his father convinced him that coal mining was also a noble profession.'

'It is.' Jack agreed. 'One of the noblest.'

She nodded then turned to Joanna. 'Would you like something else to eat honey?'

Joanna shook her head, finally taking a bite of her roast. 'This is fine Mrs. Stanton, I'm just not too hungry is all.'

'At least finish off a little bit, okay?'

'Alright.'

'I'm so sorry for your loss.' Jack continued once Abigail's attention had returned back to their conversation. 'I can't imagine how hard it must have been for you to have them both go into that mine everyday.'

'Well, most days I didn't think about it, you know. I just went about my business and pretended I didn't know what they were doing or how deep into that mountain they really were. And then their shift would end-' She smiled sadly. 'And in they'd come. Sometimes laughing, sometimes grousing, always covered in that coal dust.'

Joanna was taken back with Abigail words, back to when her father and brother came home after their shift. She was the one who kept the house, kept everything running. Cooked their meals, cleaned the house, washed their clothes. Ever since her mother had died she'd taken over as lady of the house, running a house with the same efficiency and precision her mother had. Her father and Johnny would come in, she'd be at the stove and they'd both give her a kiss on the cheek and ask her what was for dinner. She'd shew them off, sometimes finding that the desert she left on the bench had less when they left. It was a little game they played, something both they and she had looked forward to at the end of the day.

'Did they ever talk about the danger?'

'He didn't need to.' Abigail continued softly by way of explanation. 'Its an unspoken contract every coal miner makes between himself and his family.'

Jack thought for a moment then looked back at her. 'Mrs. Stanton, can you tell me what you remember about the day of the explosion?'

Elizabeth turned to him. 'I'm sure Mrs. Stanton doesn't want to discuss that subject now.'

'It's okay Elizabeth, I don't mind.' She assured her then turned back to Jack. 'I remember everything.' She paused as the memories came back, staring into the distance past him as she composed herself. 'The explosion was so loud it shattered windows and rattled the whole house-'

The girl bit her lip, pushing her meat around her plate. She could remember everything too. She cleaned the house that morning, planning what she was going to make for her brother's upcoming birthday dinner. He would have been seventeen that week, she wanted to make everything perfect from him. She felt her eyes start to water but choked it back, staring at her plate as she relieved the memories through Abigail's re-telling of that day.

'Then it dawned on me what had happened. No one said a word. We didn't need to. All we could think to do was run. There are no words for what we felt. What was in our hearts. But they never came home.'

Joanna pushed her plate aside, turning to Abigail as she finished talking to Jack. She couldn't stay there, in front of them for a moment longer. It was taking everything she had to not break right there and then in front of them. 'P-Please, may I be excused?'

Abigail nodded, returning to the present as she looked at the girl. 'You may.'

'Thank you.' She got up, hurrying out of the house so quickly she almost knocked a lamp over on the way out, the back door closing loudly behind her.

'I'm sorry for upsetting Joanna-' Jack apologised as he realised he shouldn't have asked for an explanation in front of the girl. He'd thought she hadn't been listening. 'I didn't mean to.'

'She'll be okay.' Abigail replied but stood up. 'I better go check on her though, if you'll excuse me.'

'I best be on my way anyway.' He stood up as well, Elizabeth getting out of her seat too. 'It was a wonderful meal Mrs. Stanton.'

'My pleasure. I don't get to cook for company often.'

'I'll walk you out-' Elizabeth exclaimed, escorting him to the door. 'Thank you so much for coming Constable-' She closed the door behind her then turned to him. 'Was it really necessary to make her relive the worst day of her life, and with Joanna present too?'

'I'm inquisitive. I gather information. It's part of who I am.'

'It's insensitive but apparently that's part of who you are too.'

'You won't have to deal with me for very long.' He met her gaze. 'I put in for a transfer request and I am hoping for a quick response.'

'Good.' She exclaimed smuggly. 'Because this town does not require the services of a second rate mountie who runs from a challenge.'

'I hardly consider this town a challenge.'

'Really? It seems to be that a town whose church burns to the ground and whose mine explodes, killing half the town's population would warrant investigation.'

'In the short time that I am forced to stay here, Miss Thatcher, I fully intend to investigate all suspicious events that have taken place, which was why I was asking questions tonight.'

'So you think you can see something or talk to someone for a few moments and deduce all sorts of facts that everyone else has missed?'

'Sometimes.'

'How clever.'

'I knew after just two minutes of talking to you that you weren't wearing your own shoes or dress-' Jack started, the woman turning back to him from heading into the house. 'And that you weren't disappointed when you found out I was coming for dinner tonight.'

'How could you know that?'

'You're walking on the outside of your feet to compensate for your shoes pinching and your dress is three inches too short, and a little tight around the waist.'

She gasped, insulted. 'And not being disappointed about seeing you at dinner?'

He smiled smugly. 'That was just a guess.'

'How dare you! I never-'

Abigail walked quietly into the stable, hanging her lanturn up on a hook as Joanna cried into her horse's mane. She walked over to her, gently placing her hand on the girl's shoulder. 'Honey-'

'I m-miss them s-so much.' She sobbed, turning to the woman as she placed her arms around them. 'Why? Why? Why did Pa go back into the mine, he knew it wasn't safe.'

'Ssssh, it's okay honey.' She ran her hand over the girl's hair, holding her head against her chest. 'It's okay.'

'I t-told him not t-to go back in there. I-I knew s-something b-bad was g-going to h-happen but h-he wouldn't listen. H-he said he h-had to make m-money to take c-care of me-' Tears were streaming down her face. 'I-It's my f-fault.'

'No, no honey.' She soothed. 'It's not your fault, it's not your fault. It's not your fault at all.'

'It i-is. It is.' The girl protested. 'I-I was a-another mouth t-to feed, a-another body t-to clothe. I-It is my fault.'

'Joanna, listen to me-' Abigail pushed the girl back, her hands on the girls shoulders as she looked into the girls eyes. 'It is not your fault he died in that mine, it is not your fault. You can't blame yourself, it's not your fault.'

Joanna stopped sobbing, looking up at her as her tears still ran down her cheeks. 'Why are you doing this for me? Why are you worried about whether I blame myself or not? Why do you care if I live or die?'

'Because I care about you Joanna.' She replied gently but firmly. 'You listen to me. You have been through a lot, I know that and I can understand that you are grieving, that you are hurting. Right now you have to trust me though, I need you to trust me. You can't blame yourself for what happened, you are not to blame. It is not your fault, in any way. Anyway at all.' She touched the girls chin gently. 'Joanna, I care about you a lot. You are a gorgeous, beautiful, talented, strong young woman. You have been through Hell and you are still here. I have been through Hell and I am still here. We need each other. I need you and you need me. Life goes on Joanna, we have to move forward. We can't stay in the past. My Noah wouldn't want that, neither would your father. Joanna, you can get through this but you need to let go of blaming yourself. It is not your fault.'

'Mrs. Stanton-' She started, throwing her arms around her and held her tight. Finally after some time she'd stopped crying, just resting against her. Her voice was barely a whisper when she spoke again, her face buried against the women's blouse. 'I'm scared. I'm terrified.'

'I know you are but it's going to be okay.'

'No, it's not. I can't let you in, I can't let my heart get broken again. I can't risk being hurt.'

'What are you talking about honey?'

'I'm scared of being sent back to an orphanage-' She looked up at her. 'Don't you see? I'm scared of having a family again only to have them taken away from me.'

Everything started to fall into place and Abigail began to make sense of the girls actions. 'I'm not going to send you away sweetheart, I want to look after you.'

'But I can't risk it. What if you don't want me anymore? People always get tired of orphans and then they ship them back to the orphanage.'

'I promise you Joanna that won't happen.' She kissed the girls head gently. 'I won't send you away, not now, not next week, not next year.' She paused for a moment. 'I love you too much honey.'