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Chapter 5

"Lee!" Rosemary called from the front window of their row house. "Merciful heavens — I don't believe this. Lee, hurry before he's gone!"

"Darling, what on earth?"

"It's the new Mountie — he's moving into Elizabeth's house!"

Lee gave a deep belly laugh. "Rosie, honey, you must be dreaming. Elizabeth would never …!"

Despite his scoffing words, he joined her at the window — if for no other reason than to convince her she needed to meet with Carson and have her eyes checked.

"Well, I'll be …" Lee said. "You're right. He's carrying suitcases straight to her front door."

"Do you think she needs money and has to take in a boarder? How much is the town paying her? Perhaps it's not enough to support both her and that sweet little boy, not to mention hiring Laura to care for him."

"Maybe Laura's still there," Lee suggested.

"No, I saw her at Yost's a short time ago."

"Did Laura mention the Mountie, or say how Elizabeth might be doing?"

"She didn't say a word." She scowled. "That young lady is infuriatingly tight-lipped."

Lee pondered. "I suppose we could convene the town counsel and discuss the issue of Elizabeth's salary."

"Yes, you should. But right now, we have to go over there and stop her," Rosemary declared, throwing a cape over her shoulders. "What is she thinking!"

"Hold on. He's setting his suitcases on the porch and knocking on the door. Would he do that if he was moving in?"

"Oh, Lee, we can't wait until he moves in — we have to intercept him before Elizabeth makes the worst mistake of her life. Imagine what the town gossips would say about a man living with our schoolteacher!"

Lee gave her a look that, if she'd seen it, indicated he was gazing at the chief gossip of them all.

"Maybe we're jumping to conclusions," he said, watching as Elizabeth answered the door, and a young girl ran out to hug the man in uniform. "Oh, thank goodness — they're not alone." He dropped the curtain.

"Who is the child?" Rosemary wondered.

"You don't know?" Lee asked. "These walls are paper thin. You should have heard his entire history by now. His place of birth. Life story. Parents' names, grandparents, great-grandparents, second-cousin on his mother's side …"

"Hush! I was away from the house all afternoon, and Elizabeth speaks much more softly now that little Jack is here."

"Right. That's the reason." He smiled.

"Are you ready?" she asked.

"Ready?" he repeated.

"Ready to march right over there and stop her!"

"Oh, I don't know …"

"He's taking the suitcases inside!" she squealed. "If we don't go now, it'll be too late."

"As you wish, darling. But I have a feeling we're making a terrible mistake."

"Oh, pooh. If you're too cowardly to risk making a mistake, you're too cowardly to reach for the stars. That's what I always say."

Lee furrowed his brows. "When have you ever said that."

She tapped her temple. "In my head. I always say it in my head."

"That may be the most frightening thing I've heard all day," he muttered, donning a jacket.

"Oh, I almost forgot my emergency biscuits for when I come calling."

She hurried to the kitchen and plucked a tin from the cupboard. After a glance over her shoulder to ascertain that Lee was following, she led the way out the door.

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"As you heard, Mrs. Thornton has made us a very generous offer, Betsy," Nathan said. "And I'm inclined to accept it. But I want you to be in agreement, too. Your safety and happiness are what matter most."

The child nodded but didn't reply.

"Elizabeth!" Rosemary's voice from the other side of the front door was almost drowned out by her equally loud knocking.

Startled, Elizabeth jumped, waking little Jack from his slumber on her shoulder.

"Honestly," she muttered, placing her son in the Mountie's arms. Throwing open the door, she said, "This is not a good time, Rosemary. We're having a meeting."

"But Elizabeth, I'm only taking you up on your suggestion that I — that we — become better acquainted with Hope Valley's new representative of the law." She held out the tin, completely preventing Elizabeth from shutting the door.

Behind his wife, Lee raised his brows and looked apologetic.

Elizabeth glanced at Nathan, who was already standing. He appeared ready for a formal greeting, with the exception of the baby in his arms who was fascinated by his shiny uniform buttons.

Betsy stood closely at his side and seemed unnerved by the loud lady at the door.

"Uh, of course." Elizabeth reluctantly stood aside and waved them in. "Constable Nathan Grant, you recently met the Coulters. They live next door. Lee and Rosemary, you know Constable Grant, and this is his niece, Miss Betsy Grant."

Rosemary shoved the biscuit tin into Elizabeth's hands and marched right up to the Mountie.

"It's a pleasure to see you again," she said, holding out a hand he couldn't take until he shifted Jack to his other arm.

Once little Jack saw "Auntie Rosemary," he reached out to her, wearing a big, toothless grin.

Rosemary happily took him and stood aside to allow Lee to greet Elizabeth's guests.

"How fortunate we saw you walking by," Rosemary said as the men shook hands. "We hope you're settling in nicely."

"Please take a seat, everyone, and I'll …" Elizabeth picked up the tin and went to the kitchen for a tray, hesitant to leave Nathan at Rosemary's mercy. A pleading glance at Lee was met with a shrug of his shoulders.

"I understand you've been boarding at the saloon since you arrived, constable," Rosemary continued.

"Yes, we have rooms there," Nathan said without elaborating.

Rosemary's gaze was drawn to the suitcases sitting to the side of the door. They stood out like a sore thumb, but Nathan said not a word.

"Here we are," Elizabeth said, bringing in the biscuits, along with tea on a tray. "They look — delicious, Rosemary. How thoughtful of you."

"You're very welcome." Rosemary took one as Elizabeth passed the platter. "Oh!" she said as she bit into it. "They may be a bit, um, crunchy."

Lee, too, grimaced after his first bite. "You might want to save these for young Jack's first teething biscuits," he said.

Rosemary gave him a stern look, and the two managed to finish their portion — albeit loudly, and with numerous sips of tea.

"Don't worry, Rosemary," Elizabeth soothed with a smile. "I'm envious of your skills in the kitchen, so I'm relieved to know you can have an off day, too."

"So, Elizabeth." Rosemary took another sip and coughed lightly. "I couldn't help but notice the suitcases standing by the front door. Are you planning a trip?"

"No, of course not," she said. "I wouldn't leave my students in the middle of the school year." She touched Betsy's shoulder from her seat next to the child.

"Oh. Then you're taking them to the saddler for repairs?"

"Honey," Lee interrupted. "It's not our place to inquire."

"They're mine," Betsy blurted, tucking her hand into Elizabeth's. "I'm coming to stay with Mrs. Thornton."

Elizabeth did her best to put on a very matter-of-fact expression. "Little Jack and I are very happy to welcome you into our home, Betsy."

"Until Mrs. Cooter came over …"

"Coulter," Rosemary corrected, shuddering slightly.

"… I didn't know your first name was Elizabeth. That's my name, too."

"I thought it might be. It worked out perfectly, didn't it? We Elizabeths should stick together."

"Yes." Betsy smiled. "And I want to be a teacher, just like you."

"I'm honored, sweetheart," Elizabeth enthused. "I hope you still feel that way after your first day of school." She laughed softly.

"School is very important here in Hope Valley," Rosemary affirmed. "I, myself, have taught the class from time to time."

She smiled in response to Betsy's slightly horrified expression.

Lee apparently noticed. "Mrs. Thornton is our official teacher — Mrs. Coulter only fills in when necessary. I'm sure you'll enjoy the class and all the new students you'll meet."

Betsy grinned. "Another thing about living here, it'll be like I have a baby brother."

She waved at the little one in Rosemary's arms, who responded to the attention by waving his fists, one of which caught his "Auntie" in the chin.

"Oh! My goodness, you have a strong punch," Rosemary teased. "You're sure to be a mighty Mountie yourself one day."

It was Elizabeth's turn to wear a horrified expression, and then she caught herself.

"Little Jack can be whatever he wants to be," she said.

But she was incapable of keeping the look of sorrow from her eyes.

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See Chapter 6

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Thank you to all who have offered enthusiastic reviews of my story!

My heart goes out to those who prefer to read stories about Elizabeth and Jack.

I know that his loss will forever be felt.

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If you enjoyed this story, please check out my fan fiction about "Chesapeake Shores."

Search fanfiction . net for writer "Annette Zoaps"

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