Chapter 1 – Meet Jack
Eighteen year old Jack Thornton had a huge decision to make and he was struggling. Growing up the eldest son of wealthy socialite Charlotte Sims-Thornton and Thomas Thornton was not easy and Jack knew that he wanted to change things. Charlotte was the daughter and partial heir of a wealthy horse breeding family who owned Coal Creek Farms. Thomas was the son of a long time State Senator who turned to managing hedge funds since he retired. Thomas had gone on to be a top lawyer in New York. Along with their wealth, came the spotlight, Jack had always tried to shy away from the spotlight. As a teenager, Jack had started refusing to go to fundraisers and parties the last couple years. Jack would still occasionally attend horse races with the family, but refused to be a part of any pictures of owners and their families the last couple of years as well. Charlotte wasn't happy, but after a time respected Jack's decisions for privacy, but still pushed him to do things once and awhile. Charlotte didn't understand why Jack didn't want to do things. Jack understood that with his name came the spotlight, which was why when he was thirteen, he started going by Jack and not his given name of John. It wasn't that he didn't like his given name, but it came with a certain amount of recognition. To Jack, changing his name, even if it was only what people called him, was a way to forge his own path.
Jack was expected to go to college and become a lawyer, with the plan to take over his father's law firm one day. Jack wasn't sure that was what he wanted anymore. At one point, Jack had wanted to be a lawyer, but now he wasn't so sure. Maybe it was because he wasn't being given much choice or maybe part of it was just growing up. Either way, in the last few years, Jack had decided that he wanted something that was more out of the public eye or at least out of New York or at least the city. He was considering joining the military, but he also knew how his mother felt about that. Jack just wished that his family was more understanding about what he wanted. He also knew that he was part owner in his grandfather's horse ranch, so there was always that option, but it didn't seem to be enough for his parents. Whether it was his future career or the girl that he was dating, Jack found that his parents had it planned out. It was like what he wanted didn't matter.
Yes, Jack had sort of been seeing a girl his parents wanted him to on and off for the last few years, but he didn't love her and to him it wasn't serious. Their families on the other hand, probably already had most of the wedding planned. Whatever was going on, Jack wanted to be able to choose his path and find what he wanted to do. He had talked with both of his grandfathers and there were plans in the works, but he wasn't sure when they would happen. Jack had a great plan for the future of his grandfather's horse ranch, but Jack also knew that he needed some type of degree. It wasn't that he was hurting for money or probably ever would be hurting for money. After talking to his grandfathers, Jack saw the need for at least some higher education.
Jack was planning to attend Columbia University with his two best friends, Douglas Burke and Leland Coulter. Their parents had gotten them a really nice apartment down by the university where they could live. It wasn't hard since Jack's family owned the building. Jack was expected to go pre-law while Doug and Lee were both planning to go for a business degree. Jack had met Doug and Lee at some charity fundraiser when they were all about thirteen. They had been together ever since. All three shied away from the spotlight in the last few years and no one understood why. All three young men were good looking and could have had their pick of ladies. Doug had dated some, but Lee had had one girlfriend and they broke up over a year before. None of them were looking for a relationship. They all wanted to go to school and have some fun while at the same time getting their degrees. They wanted to experience things that other young men their age experienced while still maintaining their values. Most of all, the three young men wanted to forge their own paths and make their own decisions. Doug and Lee supported Jack and to him that was the most important thing. Jack was at a point that he didn't care what his parents wanted, he had made decisions and plans. He was going to follow through with them no matter what. The boys were excited about living together and not having to answer to their parents all the time.
Jack knew that he had to talk to Doug and Lee, maybe they would be able to help him with what he was going through. Since the families already had the apartment, the boys decided to move there at the beginning of July. School didn't start until the middle of August. They thought that they could get settled and into a routine before classes started. Jack was the one that convinced the others to move in in July since he couldn't wait to get out of the house. He also didn't really want to be in the apartment alone and figured that if all three were moving in, then none of the parents could say anything. None of them were particularly good at cooking, but Jack could make a few things. The guys didn't really care, since they could order out. Their parents had agreed to set up an account for the boys to use for food and things for the apartment. It had all their names on it and each family put money in. It wasn't that the families were lacking for money, granted Jack's family had more combined wealth then the other two. Heck if Jack was being honest, he had more wealth personally then either of Lee or Doug's families combined. The more that Jack thought about it, he wasn't sure about Doug's mother, since she came from money. He just wasn't sure how much was in her name and that was what Jack was talking about. Jack didn't talk about his personal wealth as most people assumed that his money came from his parents or grandparents in the way of a trust fund as well as an allowance from them.
Jack jumped when there was a knock at the door. He had been sitting on his bed with some papers. He quickly went to see who was at his bedroom door, because he didn't want his little brother, Tommy, rushing in. Jack had things sitting out that he didn't want Tommy to see and or know about and didn't want him barging him. Granted Tommy usually never knocked.
"Doug." Jack said, opening the door.
"Hey Jack." Doug said. "I was wondering if you wanted to get out. Our mothers are talking about our future and planning. I don't want to be here while that is happening. I don't care what they plan, I will not marry until I am ready and in love."
Jack rolled his eyes as he knew exactly what Doug was talking about.
"I hear you." Jack said. "I need to talk to you as well."
"Wow." Doug said. "You sound serious. Horses or car?"
"Let's take the horses out." Jack said. "Less likely that Tommy will try to follow us."
Jack stepped back into his room and let Doug in. Jack went about putting some papers away in the hidden safe that he had in there.
"What is that?" Doug asked.
"Just paperwork." Jack said. "I just don't want Tommy finding it."
"Okay." Doug said. "What don't you want Tommy finding."
"Financial documents." Jack said.
Doug nodded. He knew that Jack wasn't telling him something, but figured that he would when he was ready. Jack and Doug headed down stairs with the plan to head the stables outside of town. They planned on taking Jack's Jeep. As they got to the bottom of the steps, they ran into Jack's mom.
"Where are you going?" Charlotte asked.
"We were planning on heading to the stables." Jack said.
"Seriously." Charlotte said. "We are heading to Saratoga in three days."
It wasn't that Charlotte didn't like horses, it was that since Jack had quit jumping that she didn't see why he wanted to spend so much time riding. She could think of better things for Jack to do if he wasn't going to be a serious equestrian.
"Fine." Jack said, turning to look at Doug. "But we are still heading out, we might go to Central Park. We are not staying here."
"We need to talk before we leave for Saratoga." Charlotte said.
Jack continued to look at Doug and let out a harsh breath. He then turned to face his mother, his eyes cold as ice.
"If this is about Sarah McNeil." Jack said. "There is nothing to talk about. She is that one that chose to leave for the summer and go to college halfway across the country. I told her I am not doing a long distance relationship. She was the one that said we were over. I am not talking about it anymore. I am going to do what I need to do for myself. I am eighteen years old and yes, I may still live here, but I need to be allowed to do what I think is best for my life."
"What does that mean?" Charlotte asked.
"It means …." Jack said. "It means I am an adult and I will decide who I date and when I date."
"Fine." Charlotte said. "Just remember that your father and I are paying for your schooling and apartment."
"How could I forget?" Jack quipped.
"Enough with that sass." Charlotte said.
Doug touched Jack's arm and then looked at Charlotte.
"Mrs Thornton." Doug said. "We will be back later, if we are late I will call. Let's go Jack."
Doug and Jack took off. Jack almost stomped all the way to his Jeep. Doug had stepped in to silence Jack before he said something he would regret. Doug knew that Jack was struggling with something, he just had never seen him talk back to his mother like that. Doug waited until they were out of the driveway before turning to Jack.
"Seriously." Doug said. "I know that you are struggling with something, but talking to your mother that way."
"Sorry." Jack said. "I have tried to be nice, but she doesn't seem to listen. She only hears what she wants. I can't do it anymore."
"Talk to me." Doug said. "What is going on?"
Jack took a deep breath and pulled over.
"I think you better drive." Jack said.
Doug just looked at Jack. He knew it was bad if Jack wanted him to drive. They switched seats. Then Doug pulled out and headed to the nearest drive thru to get them something. He had a feeling that it was going to be a long afternoon, but Doug was glad that at least Jack was going to talk to him. He had known for months that something was going on with Jack, but couldn't get him to talk about it. Doug had an idea of what was going on based on things that Jack had asked him to do, but he still hadn't heard it directly from Jack.
"Sorry." Jack said. "I don't want to dump you, but I need to talk to someone."
"Hey." Doug said. "You are my best friend, I am here if you need to talk. Now tell me what is going on?"
"A lot." Jack said. "First, I don't know if I want to go pre-law. I have been looking at the Army ROTC. Before you start, yes I know how my family feels about me serving. I have also been looking at the police force and yes they feel the same way about me doing that. I just don't want to be a lawyer. At least not one like my father, not that he is bad or anything. I just don't know if I want the spotlight. I have been trying to figure out what I want – not what my family wants me to do. I have talked to both of my grandfathers and we are working on some things, but they also expressed how important it is that I get some kind of degree. They honestly don't care as long as I apply myself to something."
"Hey." Doug said. "That is a lot. So talk me through this. I can see not doing pre-law, but ROTC. Where did that come from? I hate to say it, but no matter what you choose, you will always be in the spotlight unless you change your name and reject your family's money."
"I have felt that desire to serve for a while." Jack said. "I tried to talk to my family, but you know how that went. I suppose you're right about the spotlight, but that doesn't mean that I have to seek it out."
"Okay." Doug said. "I get the desire to serve. I have felt that, but I looked into the police force. I agreed that it wasn't for me after looking closer at things and talking to my dad. I think it is natural for us to want to serve. It is a protective thing. My dad explained it to me that some men naturally want to protect others and the military or the police are a natural way of doing that, but it isn't for everyone. Dad pointed out that both you and I are protectors by nature, so he expected that I would want to at least look into the force or something like that."
"It is more than a desire to serve." Jack said. "I can't explain it. … (sigh) I have lived a life of privilege and I feel that I don't deserve it. I know that doesn't make sense, but there is something about giving back. I had a teacher tell me a while ago – 'Don't go a day without serving someone'. I have been trying to live that, but I feel that my family is trying to stifle my efforts. I want to be able to do more than just give money to a good cause. I want to personally help people."
"I understand that." Doug said. "There are other ways to serve. I understand that you are the oldest and there are certain responsibilities that fall to you, but you don't have to accept them. You have a right to live your life. I just urge you not to make a rash decision. You have time. The first year is mostly general classes. So you have a year to make a final decision."
"I get that." Jack said. "I have thought about that as well. I am just afraid of what my family is going to say or do if I change from pre-law."
"Well." Doug said. "That is something to think about. I know that we don't talk about money, but if you have access to your trust fund. Don't deny you have one, we all do. I would suggest that you start moving some money, a little at a time. I have been doing that since I turned eighteen. Not a lot at a time, but enough that if my family cut me off, I would have money to start. That way I can also buy stuff without my parents questioning everything."
"I think I will do that." Jack said. "Your right, we all have trust funds. I just don't like to touch mine. Part of it is that I don't really want my parents money as it comes with strings attached. I also figured it would be for my kids later down the line, but you're right. I should start moving it just in case. I don't want to think about my family cutting me off, but I also need to figure out what is right for me about the future. I just wish that I felt like I had choices. Because right now, I feel trapped and that is frustrating. I think that was where the attitude toward Ma comes from."
"Next month." Doug said. "We will be living in the apartment. We will have more freedom. It is not like we will go crazy, but we also won't have siblings to interfere with our plans. Please don't do anything without talking to either Lee or myself. We have time. I think that going to your grandparents will be good for you."
"I promise." Jack said. "Now let's head to the park."
Jack and Doug headed to the park. They found a place to park and grabbed the frisbee from the back of the Jeep. They headed into the park. They had been walking for about ten minutes along a lesser used path when Jack grabbed Doug and stopped him. Doug looked up and saw the same thing that Jack saw – three men confronting a girl and she didn't seem to want them there. Jack and Doug approached the group.
"Hey." Doug said. "Are you okay, miss?"
"These guys followed me." She said, "Now they won't leave me alone."
"I suggest that you boys leave." Jack said.
As the first boy who had a hold of the girl's arm turned, Jack recognized him and knew that the girl could be in trouble.
"I don't think that this is any of your business." Another boy said.
"Well." Doug said. "We are making it our business, since you are harassing this young lady. Now, I suggest you unhand her."
Jack was just under five foot ten, but very muscular. Doug stood just over six foot and was also very well built. Neither were afraid of getting into a fight, but they never were looking for one. Doug was bigger than the largest of the three boys, at least muscle wise.
As the boys were talking, the girl was able to break free from the grip of the first guy and ran to Jack. He held her behind him for safety. The three men took off and the girl collapsed into Jack's arms.
"Doug." Jack said. "Call your dad, now!"
Doug pulled out his phone to call his dad as Jack led the girl to a bench. She was sobbing, gasping for air and she was also shaking. Jack just held her trying to get her to calm down before he asked her questions. As Jack was trying to calm the girl, Doug came back over.
"Straight to voicemail." Doug said.
Just as Doug went to dial again, a couple members of the park police came up the trail.
"Do you need help here?" The first officer asked.
"Yes." Doug said. "This girl was being harassed by three young men. My friend and I stepped in to protect her. The young men took off. She broke down sobbing and hasn't said anything. I was trying to call my father, but I couldn't reach him."
"Who is your father?" The second officer asked.
"Chief James Burke." Doug said.
The first officer stepped away and got on his radio, but not far enough away that Jack and Doug couldn't hear him.
"Captain." The officer said. "I think we have a situation here, I suggest you get ahold of Chief James Burke and send backup."
The second officer approached Jack and the young woman.
"Miss." The officer said. "Would mind stepping over there with me so I can ask you some questions?"
"No!" The young woman sobbed. "I don't trust you."
Jack wrapped his arms around the young girl and tried to calm her again. He hadn't even learned her name, but he felt fiercely protective of her. He didn't like the way that the two officers were looking at him and Doug. The officer backed off and talked to the other officer. They were thinking that either Jack or Doug had hurt the young woman and she was afraid of them, Jack could see it because of the way that they were looking at him and Doug. Just as the officers were approaching Jack and the young woman again, a group of New York City Police walked up.
"Dad!" Doug exclaimed. "I am sorry, but we need your help."
"Slow down." Chief Burke said. "What happened?"
"Jack and I were walking along." Doug said. "We saw three young men harassing a young woman. One had a hold of her and she was yelling at them to let her go. Jack and I stepped in. As we were trying to talk to the boys, she broke free of their grip. She ran to Jack and the boys took off. She collapsed sobbing. She refuses to leave Jack's side. He has been trying to comfort her. One of the park police tried to talk to her, but she refused saying she didn't trust him because he wanted to take her away from Jack."
"Got it." Chief Burke said. "Talk to my other officers. I want every detail about those young men. I will talk to the young woman."
Chief Burke turned to the two park police and you could clearly see he was not happy.
"I want your badge numbers." Chief Burke said. "I don't know where you learned how to talk to a victim, but you need to remember that you need to gain their trust. If she was comfortable with someone then you should not have tried to separate her from them."
"We were afraid that one of these boys had hurt her." The first officer said.
"If that was the case." Chief Burke said. "You should have observed the situation and then waited for us. We would have been able to talk to everyone and figure out what was going on. You have just made my job harder. Also, I can guarantee you that neither of these boys would ever lay a hand on a woman. Not only because one is my son and the other his best friend, but also because they are Eagle Scouts and upstanding young men. Now, I suggest that you apologize to both young men, then report to OnePP and wait until I return."
Chief Burke watched the two men walk away. He wasn't happy, but knew that he had to control his anger at the moment and talk to the victim.
