Chapter 39

Elizabeth rushed through the house as she got herself ready for school, while Tilly sat quietly at the kitchen table, watching her Mother rush around.

"I need to go now." Elizabeth told Jack as she gave him a quick kiss on the cheek as he stood at the stove cooking eggs.

"Elizabeth, you need to eat breakfast." He said, taking her hand before she hurried off. "You're pregnant remember."

"I have one of Abigail's scones to take with me. I'll eat it before the children arrive."

"Hey, wait." Jack said, gently tightening the hold on her hand as she went to make her way over to their daughter.

"I'm sorry." Elizabeth apologised, as she stopped and looked back at him.

She felt awful that she was flustered and trying to rush out the door without spending time with her little family. It made her realise she would give them a couple more minutes before leaving for the day.

Elizabeth turned towards Jack and placed her hands on his chest, she then proceeded to lean in and slowly kiss him, all while trying to show him that she hadn't forgotten him. Their kiss lingered a little longer than Jack had expected, and when she pulled away she noticed a small smile on his face.

"I'll be thinking about you today, but I do really need to go."

"I understand." Jack said, as he ran his hand down her arm and gave her a small smile. "I'll be thinking about you too."

"If any Mountie business comes up, please take Tilly over to the Coulter's, Rosemary has said she'd be happy to take care of her. If she's not home, Abigail has said you can drop her in there at any time."

"I will, trust me, I would never take Tilly out to work with me."

"I know Jack, and I do trust you. I just want to make sure you know you have help if you need it."

Jack placed a quick kiss on her cheek.

"We'll be fine. Now you go, or you'll be late."

"No go Mummy." Tilly called out with a sad look on her face as she sat on the kitchen chair. Her head only just peering over the top of the table.

"I've got to go to school to teach the children today. You're going to spend the with Daddy." Elizabeth said giving her a smile as she ran her hand through the messy trestles of Tilly's hair. She had been so busy that morning that Tilly was still in her nightwear and hadn't had her hair brushed.

"Me go to schoo?"

"When you're bigger sweet pea. I'm sure Daddy will do some fun things with you today though." Elizabeth said, and she placed a kiss on top of Tilly's head.

Tilly pouted as tears ran down her cheeks as she looked up at her Mother.

Elizabeth looked over at Jack as she felt saddened about being responsible for Tilly feeling upset. She knew Tilly had been clingy lately, ever since the night her and Jack had been snowed in at the Church, but she knew she had to get to school as she only worked one day a week. She also knew that Tilly loved spending time with Jack, so she likely wouldn't feel so insecure as the day went on.

Jack came over and pulled Tilly up into his arms.

"I think Mummy's a bit sad now too." Jack said to Tilly. "Why don't you give her a kiss?"

Tilly leaned over and placed a sloppy kiss on her Mothers cheek and Elizabeth gave her a smile.

"I'll be back later this afternoon." Elizabeth informed her before giving her daughter another quick kiss, and Tilly gave her a sad nod.

Jack then carried Tilly out to the front veranda and they waved goodbye to Elizabeth as she made her way to the school house.

Midday

Jack had spent the morning dressing Tilly, doing her hair, and trying to keep the entire house out of disarray. It wasn't such an easy feat with an active almost two-year-old, but he much rather spend his time with Tilly, than being at work.

Jack and Tilly had just finished doing some painting and Jack tried his best at wiping away the paint from her face and hands with a wet cloth. Without much success he decided to give up and he changed her into a clean dress.

"How about some lunch?"

"No lunch. Mummy."

"I know Mummy normally gets you lunch, but she's working today."

"No lunch."

"You need to eat something sweet pea, you didn't eat your breakfast today."

Tilly pouted.

Jack felt dejected, and he sat down and leaned his back against the settee.

Tilly climbed up onto his lap and made herself comfortable before resting her head on his chest and yawning.

"You wanna have a nap with Daddy?" Jack asked, feeling somewhat hopeful by her sudden display of affection.

"Mummy." Tilly said.

"I should have known." Jack said, feeling somewhat disappointed again.

Tilly placed a sloppy kiss on Jack's cheek and then rest her head back down on his chest.

"At least I know you love me." Jack whispered as he ran his hand through her soft auburn curls. "And I understand. I know what it's like to miss Mummy."

Jack watched Tilly's eyes open and close and within moments she drifted off to sleep.

An hour later Jack woke up as Tilly stirred in his arms.

"Mummy?" Tilly asked hopefully.

"Mummy isn't home yet, how about you have something to eat?" Jack suggested as he looked up at the clock on the wall and realised it was almost 2pm and Tilly hadn't eaten all day.

Tilly shook her head.

"How about we go to Auntie Abigail's? I'm sure she'd cook up some of those pancakes for you. The ones you and Mummy love so much."

Tilly nodded and gave her Father a smile.

Jack then got her ready to go out and they headed into town.

Jack walked in through the kitchen door at Abigail's and spotted Abigail just as she was heading back in from the dining room.

"It's nice to see you two here." Abigail said, pleased to see Jack and Tilly. "Oh dear what's happened to you little Angel?" Abigail said, noticing the paint all over Tilly's face and hands.

"We did some craft this morning. I've come to the realisation that Tilly needs some of her own special paints." Jack informed Abigail who gave him an understanding smile.

"Well it certainly looks like you both had fun." Abigail said as Jack handed Tilly over to Abigail. Abigail grinned to herself as she noticed Tilly's dress was on back to front.

"So you came to visit me while Mummy's at school?" Abigail asked Tilly who nodded her head.

"Little Miss here hasn't eaten all day. I'm hoping we could get some of your pancakes?" Jack asked.

"I can certainly do that for my extra special customers." Abigail informed them and then looked at Tilly who was still in her arms. "How about you go play while I make you some pancakes?"

"No play, no pa cakes, want Mummy."

"Mummy will be finished school soon. Maybe after you've had some pancakes, you and Daddy can go pick up Mummy from school?" Abigail suggested, quite certain that this would already be Jack's plan for the afternoon.

Jack nodded his head in agreement, letting Tilly know that they would do as Abigail had suggested.

Tilly nodded, thinking it sounded like a good idea, and then wriggled out of Abigail's arms and went to play with the toys Abigail always left out for her.

"I don't know what to do with her Abigail, she hasn't eaten all day." Jack said once he noticed Tilly was out of earshot.

"She will eat when she's hungry, I wouldn't start to worry yet. It seems she's missing Elizabeth."

"She is. Ever since the night she spent here while Elizabeth and I were snowed in at the Church, she hasn't let Elizabeth out of her sight."

"As I'm sure you know, it was quite a shock for such a little girl. I'm sure she'll be fine once she's feeling more secure again." Abigail informed him as she continued to mix up the ingredients to make the batter for the pancakes.

"Should I be doing something though Abigail? All she wants is Elizabeth, I feel so helpless."

"That little girl wants you too Jack, you saw what she was like when you came home from your trip to Cape Fullerton. And as for feeling helpless, you're a wonderful Father Jack Thornton, you're giving that little girl everything she could ever need. Both of you are." Abigail replied empathetically as she realised Jack was feeling somewhat troubled.

"Thank you for your kind words Abigail."

"You know I would only speak the truth."

"I do. Thank you, I do feel a little better."

Jack then looked over for Tilly and realised she was no longer playing with the toys nearby the settee.

He went searching for her to see if she was hiding under the settee and couches, but she wasn't there.

"Tilly?!" Jack called out loudly starting to get worried.

He rushed off into the dining room to see if she was there.

Abigail removed the fry pan from the stove and quickly followed him.

The two of them frantically searched through the dining room. Thankfully the room didn't have many patrons so it didn't take long to search the dining room.

"I'll check upstairs." Abigail suggested, and she rushed back into the kitchen to head up stairs.

"Jack!" Abigail called out, and Jack ran back into the kitchen.

They both noticed the kitchen door was ajar. Jack made his way out the door and Abigail follow him. Jack quickly took in his surroundings hoping to find Tilly just outside.

"Where would she have gone?" Abigail asked.

"To Elizabeth…. she's gone to the Church." He said frantically, thinking of the nearby pond.

"I'll check around town and let others know, just in case she hasn't made her way there." Abigail informed him.

Jack nodded and then ran off in the direction of the Church.

In the School house

As Elizabeth finished writing on the blackboard she heard feet clamouring on the floor boards and wondered which one of her students had gotten out of their seats. She spun around to see who the offending student was, but was greeted by a tug at her skirt, and a familiar little voice.

"Hi Mummy." Tilly said with a big smile on her face as she looked up at her Mother.

"Tilly!" Elizabeth exclaimed as she lift her daughter up into her arms. "What are you doing here?" Elizabeth asked, and she looked up to the back of the Church, expecting to see Jack. Realising he wasn't there she became even more puzzled.

The school room had now become slightly chaotic but Elizabeth ignored it as she was too concerned as to how her toddler had made her own way to the school house.

"Where's Daddy?" Elizabeth asked Tilly.

"Daddy Pa cakes."

"You went to Auntie Abigail's?"

Tilly nodded her head in agreement.

Elizabeth realising she wasn't going to get much work done with her students, decided to dismiss the class. She informed the students of their slightly early dismissal and rang her cow bell.

Tilly covered her ears at the noise of the cowbell and the squeals of excitement from the older children as they grabbed their lunch pails and packed up their items.

Elizabeth hurried out of the Church and looked towards town. She spotted Jack running towards them, and she waved her arm. She noticed he must have spotted her and Tilly as he stopped running and slowed down to a brisk walk.

Elizabeth waited at the top of the Church steps with Tilly in her arms as Jack made his way to the Church. While waiting most of her students brushed past her.

"Goodbye Mrs Thornton." Most of them chorused as they eagerly made their way out of the building.

Elizabeth politely said goodbye to them although she was somewhat distracted. Some of the girls stopped to say goodbye to Tilly, but Elizabeth hardly noticed as she was too concerned about how Tilly had made her own way to the school house.

"I'm sorry!" Jack exclaimed, still trying to catch his breath as he reached Elizabeth's side. "Tilly you scared me. I'm so glad you're alright." Jack said, as Elizabeth handed their daughter over to him, as she clearly noticed how distraught he was.

"What happened? Did she make her own way over here?" Elizabeth asked puzzled as she noticed Jack looking over Tilly like he was making sure she was okay.

Once Jack realised she seemed fine he placed a kiss on his daughters cheek, and turned his attention back to Elizabeth.

"We were at the café and I was talking to Abigail. I then suddenly realised Tilly was gone, she must have gotten out of the kitchen door." Jack informed her, still not over the shock from what had just transpired. "Don't you ever do that again Tilly, I was so worried about you."

"Want Mummy." Tilly said and she started to cry.

"I know you've wanted Mummy all day. But you know Mummy was busy working today."

Tilly looked up at Jack with puppy dog eyes as if requesting an apology. Without resisting he accepted the unspoken apology and placed a kiss on her head.

Jack then handed Tilly back to Elizabeth, knowing that was what she wanted. He could hardly blame her, he knew it wasn't wrong for a child to want their Mother. Even though she had gone about it the wrong way.

Tilly buried her face into Elizabeth's chest as she cried, and Elizabeth gave Jack a concerned look.

"She hasn't eaten all day. She's been so distraught about you not being home. I didn't know what to do so I took her to Abigail's for pancakes. She didn't even seem interested in them, and then before I knew it she was gone."

"It does look like the two of you have had an interesting day." Elizabeth replied as Jack noticed her noticing the paint on Tilly's face and hands.

"We have, she did take a nap though." Jack said, feeling he had to try and prove to himself, and to Elizabeth that he had done something right that day.

Elizabeth quietly nodded.

"I'm sorry, I should have been watching her, I didn't know she could get herself out through the door."

"Jack you don't need to apologise, it could have happened to either one of us. Please don't blame yourself."

"This could have ended a lot worse than it did though Elizabeth."

"But it didn't though. She's here and she's safe, it was all just an accident. Please don't blame yourself Jack, you're a wonderful Father."

Tilly lifted her head from Elizabeth's chest and reached out for Jack and he took her in his arms.

"See, she loves you." Elizabeth said, being aware that Jack was feeling a littlerejected by Tilly who was insisting upon attention mostly from her Mother.

Jack shrugged.

"Love Daddy." Tilly said, and she placed a kiss on his cheek.

Jack and Elizabeth smiled at the exchange.

"I love you too Tilly." Jack replied.

"Want Mummy!" Tilly exclaimed, and she reached out for Elizabeth again.

"I know, you've been telling me all day." Jack said with a slight laugh. "And I won't disagree with you, because I always want Mummy too." He said looking up at Elizabeth.

Elizabeth noticed the glimmer in his eyes and she leaned over and placed a gentle kiss on his cheek.

"We should head into town. Everyone is probably searching for this little Miss now." Jack suggested. "I'd go and take Tilly with me, but I don't think she's going to let me today."

"I'll be quick." Elizabeth said, heading back into the school house and quickly tidying her desk and packing up the last of her things.

They then headed off and shut the Church doors behind them before making the short walk into town.

"You do realise Tilly's dress is on back the front don't you?" Elizabeth said with a grin on her face as she looked back over at Tilly who was in Jack's arms once more.

"No… the buttons don't go at the back?"

"Not on this one."

"I guess I should know more about lady's fashion now, after all I'm lucky enough to live in a house full of ladies." Jack said giving her a smile.

"You did come from living alone in a jail…" Elizabeth said teasingly.

"I still have lots to learn so it seems." He admitted a little more honestly, and it surprised Elizabeth.

"Don't be so hard on yourself Jack. You're a wonderful Husband and Father. Today may not have been the best day at proving this, but we all have days where everything seems to go wrong, and I can account that you're always a good Father and Husband every day, even when others or even yourself don't happen to agree."

Jack held Tilly in one arm and with his free hand he took Elizabeth's and brought it up to his lips. He then looked over at her and he saw a small smile play out on her face.

He then held her hand by their sides as they made their way into the town to find Abigail and the others, to inform them to call off the search for Tilly.