Chapter 23
The town was decorated and ready for the Christmas festivities.
Jack headed down main street, dressed in his red serge, with his sleeping daughter in his arms. He had just left Elizabeth at Abigail's and was on his way to pick up something at the Mercantile.
He entered the front door of the Mercantile and almost walked right into Rosemary.
"Oh Jack, you're just the person I wanted to see." Rosemary said.
"How can I help you Rosie?"
"Well it's not actually you that can help me, it's Elizabeth. I'm hoping she can anyway."
"I'm sure she'd be happy to help out where possible." Jack said as he shut the front door of the Mercantile and they both headed further into the store.
"Tomorrow is the last day of school for the students before Christmas, and as you would know all the Mother's and myself have been filling in until we can find a suitable teacher."
"And you need Elizabeth's help?"
"I wouldn't want to burden her, but the little scallywags drove me crazy today! I'm getting desperate, I really don't know what to do with them Jack. I even tried bribing them, but it doesn't seem to work anymore." Rosemary said with a sigh.
"You bribed them?"
"Yes, but they've given up hope of me bringing the circus to town now."
"The Circus?" Jack asked surprised.
"Yes, but that's another story. My point is that I don't know what to do with them! The younger ones are so distraught not having Elizabeth there, and with Christmas coming none of them quite seem themselves."
"You know, having Elizabeth help you might not be such a bad idea."
"Really?" Rosemary asked surprised, she knew what it was like to have a newborn. Lee was looking after their son while she had been helping at the school but she was still struggling to keep up with her day to day duties.
"I'll talk to Elizabeth, she would need to bring Tilly to the school with her though."
"Oh that's fine, just having her there would be such wonderful support."
"I'll talk to her when I'm done here at the Mercantile. I'm sure she'll get back to you soon."
"Thank you so much Jack. I was so worried about asking her myself, I certainly don't want to burden her."
"I understand, it wouldn't surprise me if she were happy to help you out though."
Tilly then started to stir, and she scrunched her face up as she started to wake.
"Well I should get a move on, Tilly here will need Elizabeth soon."
Rosemary smiled with understanding and she made her way out of the Mercantile and let Jack get back to what he was doing.
Back at Abigail's cafe
"You know that daughter of yours is becoming quite popular in town." Abigail said as she looked up at Elizabeth and smiled before she continued kneading the bread dough on the table.
"She is?" Elizabeth asked somewhat surprised as she sat down on a chair at the kitchen table.
"Since the Coal Mine disaster, we haven't had a lot of new babies in town, and she is the school teacher and Constables daughter. That in itself is going to attract some interest."
"I guess so…" Elizabeth said pondering on what Abigail was sharing with her. "I know we're best friends Abigail so maybe you're being a little biased? Surely one little girl won't be of that much interest to the town."
"I am a little biased, but that little girl has big shoes to fill with you and Jack as her parents."
"I don't want people to be expecting her to live up to some expected potential just because Jack and I hold prominent positions within the community here."
"I know you wouldn't Elizabeth, and Tilly is going to grow up to be a beautiful child as she's been blessed with such beautiful parents in you and Jack. But it's a small town, people are interested. Maybe just be thankful they hold you and your family in such high esteem, and don't start to worry until you have something to worry about."
"You're right Abigail, I'm not going to worry about it. I am glad I will be in the school room and be Tilly's teacher however."
"You plan to return to teaching soon?"
"Not soon, but someday. I love being home with Tilly, but I do miss teaching, you know how much it means to me."
"I do." Abigail said and gave he a small smile.
Just then Jack walked in through the kitchen door with Tilly who sounded like she was screaming her lungs out.
"I think she's hungry." Jack said as he walked over to Elizabeth and carefully placed Tilly in her arms.
"Go upstairs if you need to." Abigail suggested to Elizabeth and she nodded.
"I need to talk to you." Jack said looking at Elizabeth.
A worried look appeared on her face and Jack noticed.
"It's nothing to be concerned about." He said trying to console her as he ran his hand down her upper arm.
"Okay." She said and they both headed up stairs to her old bedroom.
Elizabeth sat down in a rocking chair in the corner and started to nurse Tilly.
Jack sat down on the edge of the bed and took in the beautiful moment between his wife and daughter, and he temporarily forgot that he had something to ask her.
"What was it you wanted to talk about?" Elizabeth asked as she noticed him quietly watching her and she gave him a smile.
"Oh." He said breaking out of his reverie.
"I happened to see Rosemary while I was at the Mercantile." Jack started, and Elizabeth wondered what direction this was going to take. "She had a very difficult day at school today."
"I can imagine, it's only a few days until Christmas. It's the hardest time of the year to get the children to concentrate or learn anything."
"Yes, and she wants to know if you wouldn't mind helping her tomorrow?"
"She wants my help?" Elizabeth asked somewhat surprised.
"She sounds pretty desperate, and the younger children are really missing you Elizabeth. She thinks it would make a big difference if you were there."
Elizabeth thought carefully for a moment before answering. She wasn't sure about what to think of returning to school so soon. She certainly wanted to but at the same time she wanted to be able to give her daughter the attention she needed.
"She knows I would need to bring Tilly?" Elizabeth asked as she looked down at her daughter sleeping in her arms.
"She does. Lee has been looking after Johnathan the few days she's been at the school but I'm sure she would be understanding of Tilly being there, she is a Mother now herself."
Elizabeth nodded, trying to process the possibility of teaching, even if it was only for a day.
"You don't want to go?" Jack asked her, her silence left him unsure of what she was thinking.
"I do want to." Elizabeth started. "As you already know, God called me to teach, but I know He also called me to be your wife, and to be a Mother. Parenting is only for such a short season in our lives Jack, and I believe God wants me to devote my time to our children during this time in our lives. It's also what I want, I couldn't imagine leaving Tilly five days a week so I could teach." Jack nodded in understanding and he continued to listen. "I know in time I will be lead back to teaching. It's my calling and it's what I love, maybe even one-day Tilly will be one of my students." She said looking down at her daughter who was sleeping again. "I want to teach, but right now Tilly needs me, and I need her too Jack." Elizabeth said with tears in her eyes.
"I understand that." He said as Elizabeth got up from the rocking chair and came and sat on the bed next to him. "So you want me to tell Rosemary no?" He asked.
Elizabeth shook her head.
"No, that's not entirely why I explained all this. One day is fine, I'm more than happy to help her, and I'm looking forward to being back in the school room with the children. I guess I just needed to share this with you because it's not something we've discussed in great length."
"I'm sorry it hasn't been something we discussed further. I guess I didn't foresee us having children so soon after being married."
Jack wrapped his arm around Elizabeth and pulled her closer.
"You don't need to apologise Jack, and I didn't think it would happen so soon either, but as we both know, this is the sort of thing happens when two people are married."
"It does." He said with a grin on his face and she shook her head at him and smiled.
"I know it was always a given that I would have to give up teaching when we had children Jack, and in some ways, it's as hard as I imagined it would be, but when I look at this sweet girl of ours I realise it's not so hard after all."
"I know I'd find giving up my job pretty difficult myself, but if I really needed to, and believed God called me to, I know I could give up being a Mountie for you and Tilly."
"I pray it never comes to that Jack, I know how important your job is to you."
"And yours is too."
"Yes, but I will return to teaching one day, and in the meantime, I have tomorrow at the school and Tilly can be with me."
"Maybe Tilly could come to work with me one day?" Jack suggested with a grin.
"I'm not so sure that's a good idea Jack…"
"I'm joking." He said, I'd never take her out, even on my rounds.
"She could go visit you in the jail though when she's a little older." Elizabeth suggested, and Jack nodded thinking it was a nice idea.
"You know in another twenty years things may have progressed, maybe she'll want to be a Mountie like her Father."
"Don't you go putting any ideas into her head Jack Thornton. The last thing I want is another person in the family putting their lives in such danger."
"I wouldn't, I'd much rather she become a school teacher, or anything else she may want to be that wouldn't be so dangerous."
Elizabeth smiled and placed a kiss on his cheek. She looked down at Tilly and wondered a little about who and what she would be like when she grew up.
"Whatever she does, I'm going to be proud of her." Elizabeth said looking down at her daughter.
"I know she'll make us proud because she's your daughter."
"And yours." Elizabeth reminded him. Jack smiled, and Elizabeth placed her hand on his cheek and ran her thumb over his dimple.
"She's going to be just as beautiful as you are." Jack said as he leaned in and gently kissed her on the lips. "She has your eyes…" He said looking into Elizabeth's eyes. "Your auburn hair…" He ran his hands through her hair. "And your beautiful smile." He said as he ran a finger over her bottom lip.
Elizabeth felt his finger lingering on her lip, she looked down at his lips before returning meeting his gaze and she blushed.
"After being married to you for a year, I'm glad I can still make you do that." He said noticing the colour in her cheeks.
Elizabeth gave him a small smile and leant over a gave him a quick kiss on the cheek.
"She has your eyelashes." Elizabeth told him as she pulled back and looked into his eyes.
"Huh?" Jack asked surprised.
"Tilly. She has your long eyelashes." Elizabeth said looking down at Tilly and then back up at Jack and she admired his eyelashes.
"My long eyelashes are a good thing?" Jack asked, and Elizabeth nodded.
"Very good." She told him, her voice sounding soft.
"This is news to me." Jack said with a grin on his face.
"And I could get lost in those eyes of yours." She said looking into his eyes.
"I think I've noticed that a time or two." He said with a smile. "As I do with yours." He said looking back and meeting her gaze.
"I love your eyelashes, and I love you Jack Thornton."
"I love you too sweetheart." He said as he leaned over and kissed her again.
Their lips lingered gently on each-others as they momentarily got lost in each other.
"Elizabeth…" Jack said as he slowly removed his lips from hers. "Maybe we should head downstairs, Abigail is going to wonder why we're taking so long."
"You're right, and I need to go speak to Rosemary."
The two of them got up off the bed, Jack took Tilly from Elizabeth's arms and they headed back downstairs to the café.
Later that afternoon at the Coulter's row house.
Rosemary headed towards the front door of the house after hearing a knock. She was more than pleased to discover Jack, Elizabeth and Tilly on the other side of the door and she welcomed them in.
"Wow, you've really outdone yourself this year." Elizabeth said as she looked around the row house and noticed it had been decked out in Christmas decorations and lights.
"I figure I better get it up this year, next year Johnathan will be walking around and it's going to be a big problem then."
"Well it looks amazing Rosemary. I haven't done a thing with our house yet."
"It hasn't been that long since you moved into your new home and you have a newborn, I'm not surprised."
"I think I'll leave you two ladies to talk." Jack said.
"Lee's out the back if you'd like to see him." Rosemary suggested.
"Thanks." Jack said, and he headed out the backdoor and left the two women to talk.
Just then Rosemary spotted Johnathan wobbling on the floor as he tried to sit up on his knees and reach out towards one of the Christmas trees.
Rosemary's eyes widened, and she rushed over to him and scooped him up in your arms.
"You little scallywag." She said, and she looked over the tree and found a soft decoration. She pulled it off the tree and handed it to him to play with as she carried him back over to where Elizabeth was standing with Tilly.
"Looks like it's already going to be a problem." Elizabeth said.
"It does." Rosemary said with a sigh and she kissed her son on the cheek and then looked back up at Elizabeth. "So, I'm guessing you're here because Jack spoke to you about my request?"
"I am." Elizabeth started. "And while I'm not by any means planning to teach in the near future, I am more than happy to help you out tomorrow. In fact, I'd really love to."
"Oh, you have no idea how relieved I am to hear you say that!" Rosemary exclaimed, and she wrapped an arm around Elizabeth while juggling Johnathan in the other arm.
Elizabeth smiled and returned the hug as best she could with a baby in her arms also.
Out the back of the Coulter row house.
"So, you finally built the gazebo." Jack said as he walked over to the gazebo and started to inspect it.
"Rosemary's been very patient waiting for the new house, and the theatre. I thought the least I could do was get this gazebo done."
Jack nodded as he understood all too well.
"It looks amazing. I'm sure she's very pleased."
"You have no idea." Lee said.
"Earnt you some brownie points huh?" Jack asked, and Lee nodded. "Well you really better get a move on with that house and theatre then."
The men both shared a laugh just as they saw the ladies with their children exit the back door of the row house and walk towards them.
"It's wonderful." Elizabeth said to Rosemary as she noticed the gazebo.
"Lee did an amazing job with it." Rosemary said.
Lee gave Rosemary a smile upon hearing her words and he wrapped an arm around her and pulled her closer.
Elizabeth and Jack gave each other a small smile as they noticed the exchange between their two friends.
"We should go, we need to get this little pumpkin to bed." Jack said referring to Tilly as he noticed the sky starting to darken as the sun was getting close to setting.
"I will see you tomorrow, at the school house." Rosemary said to Elizabeth.
"You will, I'm looking forward to it."
"So am I."
They all said they're final goodbyes and Jack and Elizabeth started to make their way home.
The next morning
Elizabeth stood at the stove preparing breakfast when Jack came up behind her and surprised her.
He wrapped his arms around her waist and looked over her shoulder to see what she was cooking.
"Can I help you with something?" Jack asked as Elizabeth turned around to face him.
"No, I'm fine. Breakfast will be ready soon." She said.
He gave her a quick kiss and she smiled.
"Are you looking forward to today?"
"I am." She said as she played with a button on his serge. "I'm really looking forward to it."
"Good." He said with a smile as he noticed her hand busying itself on his button. He looked down at her and tried to get her to meet his gaze. She lifted her eyes up to his and smiled. "Can I come have lunch with you at the school today?"
"I'd love that Jack." She said with a smile. She then remembered the eggs on the stove and she quickly swung around to check on them.
"I'm going to go clean my boots before we head off." Jack told her. She nodded as she continued to attend to the eggs and Jack headed out onto the front porch.
Elizabeth then heard her daughters cries from over in the parlour, and Rip started to howl. She removed the eggs from the stove top and heard Rip's paws hurrying across the floorboards. Rip reached her side as she started to make her way towards the parlour.
"I'm coming boy, I heard you both." She told him as she continued towards the parlour, and Rip closely followed her.
Rip stood at Elizabeth's side and watched her pick Tilly up from out of the cradle.
"Hey baby girl, I'm here. What's wrong?" Elizabeth asked and as she pulled her daughter into her arms and gave her a kiss on the forehead. "You just wanted Mummy huh?" She said noticing Tilly's cries had stopped.
She rocked Tilly in her arms and she noticed Rip whining at her feet.
Jack then entered the parlour and made his way over to Elizabeth.
"You a little jealous boy?" Jack said looking down at Rip and giving him a quick pat.
Rip enjoyed the attention from Jack but then he went back over and sat right at Elizabeth's feet.
"Seems his more interested in attention from you."
"I think he has a soft spot for Tilly." She told him.
"I've started to think that myself." Jack said before returning his attention back to Rip again. "Sorry old boy but we are all going out today."
Rip whined but then headed back over to his favourite spot near the fire and lay down.
At the School house
Jack placed the cradle at the front of the room near the blackboard for Tilly to take a nap in. Elizabeth placed her daughter down in the cradle as she slept, hoping the children wouldn't keep her awake from her naps during the day. She noticed Jack had put the green little blanket in there that he had bought in Hamilton and also Brownie, and she smiled.
Elizabeth headed over to the front of her desk and Jack followed her as they noticed the children start to file into the school room.
The children were eager to greet her and Jack and the classroom started to get quite noisy, she was surprised Tilly was sleeping through it all.
"Can we see Tilly?" Emily asked excitedly.
"You can when she's awake." Elizabeth told her.
"I should head off." Jack suggested, and Elizabeth nodded.
Jack and Elizabeth started to make their way down the back of the Church just as Rosemary entered.
Rosemary noticed the array of children and she greeted Jack and Elizabeth hello before heading to the front of the school house and requested the children they all take their seats.
"I'll be back in a moment." Elizabeth told Rosemary and she nodded.
Jack and Elizabeth exited the Church and closed the doors behind them.
"I'm going to miss you." She told him as they stopped at the top of the steps.
"Won't you be too busy to think about that?" Jack asked.
"I'm never too busy to think about you." She said reaching out for his hands.
"I'm going to miss you too." He said and placed a quick kiss on her cheek. "I'll see you for lunch."
Elizabeth nodded, and Jack made his way down the steps and started to make his way towards town.
He looked back over his shoulder and noticed her watching him with a smile as she swung her hips and her skirt twirled a little.
"You expect me to leave you when I see you like that?" He said as he turned around and headed back up the steps towards her.
She grinned but didn't say a word.
He looked around to make sure no one was around and placed a kiss on her lips.
"I love you Elizabeth Thornton."
"I love you."
He placed a gentle kiss on the back of her hand before he slowly descended the stairs.
She watched him go and every so often he looked back over his shoulder at her.
She smiled and waved before making her way into the Church to start the school day.
Elizabeth struggled throughout the day, even with Rosemary's help it was hard to hold the children's attention. They were excited about Christmas being right around the corner, and the fact that Tilly was there didn't help. They all wanted to see and touch her.
Elizabeth stood at the blackboard and looked down at her daughter in the cradle who had just woken up. Tilly flailed her arms around as she spotted her Mother and Elizabeth gave her a smile.
Elizabeth looked up at Rosemary who was sitting in the pew with some of the girls and helping them with their work.
Elizabeth picked up Tilly and looked back at Rosemary, and Rosemary nodded to her with a known understanding.
"Children you can take your lunchbreak now." Elizabeth said, and the children eagerly rushed out of their seats, grabbed their coats and lunch pails, and headed outside.
Elizabeth and Rosemary decided to allow the students an extra long lunch break, it was the last day of school and it was somehow futile trying to force them into doing their lessons. With juggling looking after Tilly and trying to teach, Elizabeth just did not have the ability to be more creative and grasp the children's attention towards the lesson.
Elizabeth went out to the back room to feed Tilly before returning outside where she sat on the Church steps next to Rosemary.
"I don't know how you did this every day Elizabeth."
"Well it's not always Christmas time, and it doesn't help having Tilly here."
Some of the girls made their way over and sat down on the steps with Elizabeth and Rosemary so they could see Tilly.
"She's a happy baby." Hattie said as she noticed Tilly's gummy smile.
"She is." Elizabeth replied.
"Can I hold her Mrs Thornton?" Opal asked.
"She's a little small for me to pass her around to all of you. When she's older you can have a hold though." Elizabeth informed her.
Elizabeth watched Opal hold up Brownie for Tilly to see. Tilly squealed happily, and Elizabeth noticed the excitement on Opal's face. Elizabeth had been so proud of Opal when she had given Brownie to her when she was unwell during her pregnancy. It was nice to see Opal so pleased that Tilly was enjoying her bear.
"I think Constable Thornton is coming." Cody called out.
Elizabeth looked up and quickly spotted Jack's serge off in the distance as he made his way towards the school house.
Elizabeth noticed the children rush over to Jack as they were excited to see him.
"That husband of yours is good to you." Rosemary said giving Elizabeth a smile.
"He is." Elizabeth said as she kept her eyes on Jack.
"Good afternoon ladies." Jack said as he sat down on the step next to Elizabeth.
Tilly smiled recognizing her Father and Elizabeth placed her on his lap.
"How has the day been?" He asked as he looked down at Tilly and gave her a smile.
"Hectic." Elizabeth told him as she sighed. "And yours?"
"Thankfully quite uneventful."
Elizabeth pulled out their lunch and handed Jack some sandwiches.
"I forgot what those days are like." Rosemary told him, and Elizabeth nodded in agreement.
"I'm going through a mountain of paperwork, so I can't say I'm enjoying myself. So being here is a welcome relief." He said as he placed a kiss on top of his daughter's head.
Later that afternoon
Elizabeth was relieved when she walked in the front door of her house. Tilly was crying and she put her things down before heading upstairs to the bedroom.
She changed Tilly and then picked her up and brought her into the bedroom. She lay her down on the bed and Elizabeth lay down on the bed next to her exhausted. She nursed Tilly and her cries finally ceased. After the day's events Elizabeth was glad to have some quiet time and she felt quite relaxed laying on the bed with Tilly.
Jack walked in the front door and was surprised to come home to a quiet house. He wandered around the house until he found Elizabeth and Tilly lying on the bed asleep together. He noticed Tilly's hand resting on Elizabeth's chest as they slept, and he smiled. He left them to sleep and he headed back downstairs.
An hour later Jack headed back upstairs to check on his girls. He carefully sat on the side of the bed next to Elizabeth.
"Elizabeth." He whispered.
He noticed her eyes flutter open. She looked down at Tilly sleeping and then rolled over to look up at him.
"How long have I been asleep?" She asked carefully sitting up so as not to disturb Tilly. She noticed it had started to get dark and that Jack was already out of his uniform.
"I got home an hour ago and found you both asleep."
"I feel like I could have slept the rest of the night away." She said trying to tidy her hair as she noticed tendrils of hair falling down the side of her face.
"You look beautiful." He said, noticing her concern for her hair. "I love your hair like this." He said as he ran his hand through her hair.
"It's a mess."
"Then I love your messy hair." He said leaning in and placing a kiss on her lips and she smiled. "I have a surprise for you."
"You do?"
Jack nodded, and he stood up before taking her hand and carefully pulling her up from the bed.
Jack picked up Tilly and carefully placed her in her cradle before returning to Elizabeth's side.
"You need to close your eyes."
She complied willingly, and Jack guided her out of the bedroom.
They got to the stairs and he carefully helped her make her way down. She almost came falling down on top of him halfway down, so he swooped her up in his arms and carried her the rest of the way.
"Jack, what are you doing?"
"Carrying you."
"I realise that." She said. She smiled and kept her eyes closed as he continued to carry her throughout the house before he carefully placed her back down onto her feet.
"You can open your eyes now."
Elizabeth opened her eyes and she realised she was standing in the parlour and saw a large tree had been placed at the front window.
"Jack, this is beautiful, when did you have time to do this?" She asked, her voice sounding excited and he smiled.
"I got through my mountain of paper work, so I had some time."
"You have been quite busy then."
"Keep your man busy and he won't be in a tizzy, right?" He said with a grin as he placed his thumbs into his suspenders.
Elizabeth grinned and wrapped herself around his upper arm and leaned into him.
"I'm not going to wait around for another family of spiders." He told her, and she laughed.
"Thank you for the tree Jack, it's beautiful." She said looking up at it.
"I thought since it's our first year in this house we would definitely need a tree. Also, Abigail has suggested that if you want to have Christmas here we could, and you wouldn't have to worry as she's insisted on doing all the cooking."
"That would be wonderful Jack, I'd love to have Christmas here in our new home."
"Well it was Abigail's idea, so you have her to thank."
"I will, and I will be helping her with the cooking where I can." Elizabeth told him.
She was quite pleased about the idea of spending Christmas together as a family with their friends in their new home.
Jack wrapped his arm around Elizabeth's waist and they both looked up at the tree.
"It just needs decorating now." He said.
"Maybe when Tilly is awake we could decorate, even though she can't participate I'm sure she will enjoy watching."
"Yes, she'll be eager to want to get her little hands on all those decorations."
Elizabeth nodded and smiled at the idea. It was nice to have a child in the home to celebrate Christmas with.
Elizabeth rested her head on Jack's shoulder and placed her hand over her mouth as she yawned. She was still tired after the long day, and the long nights with Tilly keeping them awake.
"How about I cook us supper tonight and you rest?"
"That would be amazing Jack."
Jack placed a kiss on top of her head before he made his way into the kitchen.
Elizabeth sat down on the settee in front of the fire and started to relax. She found Jack's sketch pad on the nearby side table and she picked it up and slowly looked through the pages. She found a drawing of herself with Tilly sleeping on her chest. She smiled to herself as she looked over the sketch and knew that Jack had obviously spent time to observing them, and taken a lot of care and time in sketching the picture.
She then heard her daughters cries from upstairs and she got back on her feet and headed upstairs.
To be continued...
I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Please leave a review if you can as I love to hear from my readers :)