"Here's our list" Elizabeth said handing it to Kate as they went into the mercantile.
"Front and back!" Kate cried flipping the paper over.
"We need a lot of things for the play and the party." Elizabeth told her.
"And ourselves right? We are going to get a Christmas tree tomorrow?" Kate asked.
"Yes, of course we will have plenty of time." Elizabeth assured her.
"And decorate it?" Kate pressed.
"Katie, I promise, I know I took over the town Christmas this year with Rosemary on her honeymoon, but I have left plenty of time for our own Christmas" Elizabeth assured her.
"Good" Kate nodded.
"Hey, I know I said I would make time for you and I to have our own little Christmas this year, but what do you think about Jack coming with us to pick out a tree?" Elizabeth asked tentatively as she started to fill her basket.
"Honestly, I just assumed he was coming, I have never pictured you actually chopping down a tree." Kate shrugged with a little smile.
"I could, if I had to!" Elizabeth pretended to be offended but all it did was earn her a disbelieving look from Kate.
"I just… This is our first year truly on our own without Grandmother or Abigail and I want it to be special for us. But I also want it to be special with Jack too."
"I know, I don't mind if Jack is there."
"Well I'm glad to hear that. But also there's going to be some things just you and me. No Jack." Elizabeth said.
"Like Christmas cookies?" Kate asked.
"Yes, that's on the list and I already have the recipes from Abigail." Elizabeth smiled.
"Good. How's your Christmas list coming?" Kate asked.
"Let's see, new pans for Abigail, a baseball bat for Cody, tablecloth and chair pillows for Rosemary and Lee, sewing box for Clara, new shirt, boots and winter scarf for Jack.." Elizabeth checked them off as she whispered them never knowing who was lurking around the corner of the busy store this time of year.
"And for your sister?" Kate asked.
"Oh… I knew I forgot someone!" Elizabeth cried making Kate just roll her eyes.
"Thirteen years and your still trying to get me to spill your Christmas gifts, I would think you would learn by now" Elizabeth raised her eyebrows at her.
"It hasn't been thirteen years.. I probably couldn't talk enough to ask the first two." Kate muttered.
"Ahh yes, those were the years." Elizabeth teased.
"I still have shopping to do." Kate sighed.
"What do you have so far?"
"knitted blanket for Abigail, baseball hat for Cody, ball for Rip, the needlepoint handkerchief I made for Rosemary. Oh and the new drawing pad and water colors for Jack." Kate said.
"Well you sound about done to me."
"I suppose." Kate sighed not willing to tell her the real problem.
"Come on, this is everything. Let's go home and start on dinner." Elizabeth said taking her basket to the counter.
"I don't know where your mind is today sweet girl but it is definitely not on this bread." Abigail said glancing up to see Kate absentmindedly kneading the dough as she chewed her lip watching the flames in the stove jump.
"Oh, sorry." Kate said glancing at how uneven her dough was.
"Here, I need this for the cafe, take it out on the cookie dough it needs to be rolled." Abigail took the dough from in front of Kate passing her the bowl and rolling pin.
"Abigail, did you finish your Christmas presents already?" Kate asked putting flour on the table and pulling out the dough.
"Oh yes, when you have been around as long as I have you start thinking about Christmas as soon as summer hits. I can't tell you how many years I spent sitting up until dawn Christmas Day trying to finish sewing or knitting a gift." Abigail chuckled.
"I don't know what to get Elizabeth." Kate sighed.
"Well, you girls just moved into the row house not so long ago. There must be something she needs for that?" Abigail offered.
"Trouble is, Jack got her most of the pretty things, and I can't afford anything really nice like she likes it." Kate sighed. She had made some money helping out in the cafe, and Lee had given her a whole dollar after she spent an afternoon sweeping every inch of the big saw mill before he had a big inspection. But it wasn't enough for something Kate felt was good enough for Elizabeth.
"Well, in my experience, the best gifts come from the heart, and I have no doubt your sister feels the same way." Abigail said.
"I just want to get her something really great." Kate sighed.
"I made her a cookbook. I wrote down all her favorites, your favorites and Jacks that I make. She has gotten much better at cooking and this way she will have it all right there every time she wants to make something. Along with a few little tips and secrets of my own." Abigail smiled.
"That's perfect Abigail! And I know Jack got her a beautiful necklace, and a fancy oil lamp for her bedside for reading, and new ink for her typewriter…" Everyone thinks of something good but me." Kate sighed.
"It will come to you, don't worry, remember it's the thought that counts. Elizabeth will love whatever you get her because it will come from you." Abigail said turning to put the bread in the oven.
"Not good enough" Kate sighed.
"I like this tree" Kate said hanging another string of cranberry and popcorn around the top of the pine tree. They had spend all afternoon in the woods finding what Jack had described as the perfect tree before he cut it down and dragged it into their little row house placing it by Elizabeth's writing desk. After some hot chocolate and a warm supper they had pulled out some decorations for their tree. Rip lay in "his spot" by the stove watching them.
"I told you it was the perfect tree" Jack smiled at her.
"It certainly smells nice." Elizabeth agreed breathing in the sent of pine mixed with the logs in the stove making the house smell like the holidays.
"How are the new houses coming?" Kate asked Jack as he reached into the little box of ordainments they had.
"It's going to be tight, but they should be done by Christmas." Jack smiled. Among all the other things going on in town this week, Jack and many of them men were building houses for the settlers who had lost everything in the flood. Right now they were staying wherever there was room, but the hope was that every family would have a home by Christmas, even if they were smaller then the row houses.
"It would be so nice for everyone to have a home on Christmas morning." Kate said.
"It will, they have lost so much, I'm glad the town was able to make it easier on them." Elizabeth nodded hiding a yawn behind her hand.
"That's what you get for staying up all night sewing costumes for the play." Kate told her.
"You have been working to hard the week." Jack said softly rubbing her arm as Elizabeth allowed herself to sink into his side for a minute.
"I just really want to make…"
"You want to make this the best Christmas for the town and the new families, I know." Jack said gently.
"But all I want is to make this the best Christmas for you." Jack told her.
"Do you have anything in mind?" Elizabeth straightened herself back up to look at him.
"Actually I do, there's something I have been meaning to ask you. And if I'm going to do it I have to do it now" Jack said. Playing with the tinsel in his hands. Behind him Kate peered around the tree making eye contact with her sister quickly wondering why Jack was acting so odd.
"Now as in, right now?" Elizabeth asked softly.
"It really can't wait. Would you do me the honor.." Jack started dropping the tinsel in his hands as he bent one knee going to the floor. Kate's eyes widened and Elizabeth thought she stopped breathing for a second.
"The great honor, of accompanying me to the Mountie Christmas Ball?" Jack asked getting back up to his feet giving her a smile.
"Oh bother" Kate muttered to herself shaking her head at Jack as Elizabeth looked a little surprised, air rushing back into her lungs.
"The Mountie Christmas Ball?" Elizabeth asked trying to wrap her brain around what he was really just asking her.
"We won't be gone long, just an an afternoon and evening. It's in Buxton this year. I will hire a horse and carriage to take us." Jack told her.
"Oh, but.. there's the dinner and pageant and.." Elizabeth said
"I promise, I'll get you back in time for everything." Jack assured her.
"Oh Jack, I would love to go." Elizabeth smiled at him. Jack grinned leaning in giving her a kiss. They kept them lighter and quicker around Kate, but they were no longer shying away from affection if she was in the room.
"Well, make sure you put some time on that list to get a new dress then." Kate said making Elizabeth laugh.
"I suppose it's to bad the dress shops aren't open in the middle of the night that's about the only time I have." Elizabeth smiled.
"You could wear anything and you would still be the most beautiful women in the room." Jack assured her.
"It's not fair is it" Kate agreed.
"Alright you too, more decorating, we have thirty more minutes before we need to start working on the props for the play." Elizabeth said turning slightly pink at their compliments.
"Yes Ma'am" Kate smirked as Jack winked at her getting back to work.
Kate walked out of the mercantile for the third day in a row. She didn't know why she kept going in really. There would be no new delivery until after Christmas and the prices never changed. She couldn't afford anything really nice, and a sack of four or few cans of beans didn't exactly say Merry Christmas. Kate sighed glancing back before going down the stairs and stopped sitting a little white glass dove sitting on the tree decorating the window. Kate went back in quickly reaching for it. It was small, fit in the palm of her hand. But the detail on each feather was beautiful and clearly hand painted. It was breath taking as Kate turned it in her hands looking at the shiny black eyes that looked almost real.
"Oh Good afternoon Kate I'm so sorry!" Rosemary said walking in and almost hitting Kate with the door.
"Oh, I'm sorry that's an awful place to stand" Kate offered her a smile.
"Oh my that's beautiful!" Rosemary cried admiring the little bird in Kate's hands.
"Yes it is" Kate said flipping it over and seeing the price on the bottom. She was a whole dollar short, disappointing for sure, though not all together surprising.
"How has Elizabeth been doing planing the town Christmas. I know it's a lot" Rosemary said. The past two years it had been Rosemary's job, but this year since they had just gotten home from their honeymoon Elizabeth had offered to take over.
"It's a lot, but she is enjoying it, and it all seems to be coming together." Kate said.
"Good, you will tell her to let me know if she needs any help?"
"I will" Kate nodded putting the dove back in the window.
"Alright dear, see you later" Rosemary waved heading further into the store as Kate slipped out of the store. She looked back at the bird in the window with a sigh before going down the stairs.
"My that's an awful long face for Christmas time" Jack called as Kate walked past the jail.
"Hi Jack" Kate gave him a smile climbing the steps to sit next to him on the porch.
"What's going on Little Shadow?"
"I found the perfect gift for Elizabeth." Kate said.
"Oh really? What is it?" Jack asked.
"The little white dove in Mr Yost's store. It's beautiful, and I remember Elizabeth saying how much our mother used to love doves. But I don't have enough money." Kate sighed.
"Well here" Jack said reaching into his pocket and pulling out a few coins.
"No, you can't give me the money then it's not from me." Kate shook her head.
"Well it doesn't matter"
"Yes it does. I'm old enough to save money to get her something myself finally and thats what I want to do." Kate said firmly.
"Well alright, I suppose I can respect that then." Jack nodded.
"I will have to figure something out, Maybe if I work everyday after school I can save enough." Kate said.
"You are already working everyday after school helping Elizabeth get ready." Jack pointed out.
"Well.. I'll think of something."
"Let me know if I can help you" Jack said.
"Thanks" Kate nodded.
"I better get back to work or I'll be late for dinner. I'll see you later." Jack winked at her.
"Ok, see you later" Kate nodded stepping down from the porch and heading back down the road.
The days before Christmas were busy, School days were spent practicing for the play and decorating. The little time Elizabeth did try to spend on lessons the children seemed to excited to concentrate. After school they were helping Abigail get ready for the big town dinner on Christmas Eve, getting everything ready for the play or trying to find a quiet moment to spent with Jack and their own little Christmas.
"Where's Elizabeth today?" Abigail asked as Kate rolled what felt like the hundredth sheet of sugar cookie dough.
"She went to the mercantile for more paints for the nativity set." Kate sighed.
"You girls have been busy this week." Abigail noted.
"I know, I think we might sleep right through Christmas at this rate." Kate laughed.
"Elizabeth seems excited about the Mountie Ball."
"She is, I'm happy they get to go. but when Jack asked her to the ball, I thought he was going to ask her to marry him. He looked so nervous Abigail I swear" Kate said making Abigail chuckle.
"Well I'm surprised he hasn't yet." Abigail sighed.
"Me too, Elizabeth looked like she might faint when he dropped to his knee to pick something up." Kate said making Abigail laugh.
"Well I'm sure it will happen sooner rather then later." Abigail smiled and Kate turned back to the dough just as the door opened.
"I declare the mercantile is almost all out of Christmas decorations." Elizabeth sighed putting down her full basket.
"It looks like you bought them all." Kate smiled peering into her basket full or red, green and silver goodies.
"I wanted to put more in the cafe, do you mind if I decorate now?" Elizabeth asked Abigail.
"Of course not, go ahead" Abigail smiled as Elizabeth hurried into the dining area.
"Abigail will you keep Elizabeth busy so I can go to the mercantile and buy her gift?" Kate whispered.
"Ah so you found something did you?" Abigail smiled as Kate nodded.
"Alright, I will keep her here until you come back."
"Thank you" Kate smiled picking up her heavy basket and hurrying out the back door.
"Hi Kate" Laura said coming up to her as Kate hurried past the windows hoping Elizabeth didn't see her.
"Hi"
"Are you hiding from Miss Thatcher?" Laura laughed as Kate glanced back making sure she hadn't been seen.
"I'm going to the mercantile to get her gift."
"But I thought you didn't have enough money?"
"I don't but Mr Yost said he would make a trade if i thought I had something worth it." Kate shrugged moving her basket to her other hand.
"What are you trading?" Laura asked as they stopped at the steps outside the store.
"This" Kate pulled back the scarf in her basket covering her china doll.
"Oh! Oh my goodness that's the most beautiful doll I have ever seen." Laura gasped reaching out to run her fingers over the glass cheeks and soft hair. The only dolls here were yarn and scraps of clothing.
"It's from Grandmother's. It was my favorite, it was the the only one I brought with us here." Kate said quickly covering it back up.
"Oh But Kate you can't give her away, she's to beautiful."
"I don't play with her anymore, she mostly just sits on my bed. I certainly don't need her. Besides I want to get that gift for Elizabeth." Kate said firmly. She would miss the doll for sure. It was one of the few toys she had brought with her, though she wasn't really attached to it, there was some comfort that it had sat on her bed no matter where they were living. It was a beautiful doll and she had begged grandmother for it when she was six and had it ever since.
"Afternoon ladies" Jack smiled coming down the stairs from the store.
"Good Afternoon Constable" Laura said as Kate hid the basket behind her back.
"More Christmas shopping?" Jack asked giving them a smile.
"Just one last thing." Kate said.
"You figure out what to get Elizabeth?"
"Yes, I did." Kate nodded.
"Alright, have a good day ladies."
"Bye Jack" Kate said as Jack walked away.
"Are you really sure about this?" Laura asked
"Very sure." Kate nodded glancing at the little dove in the window.
"Elizabeth!" Jack called hurrying up the steps to the school house two days before Christmas Eve. It was Friday and Elizabeth had just dismissed school for the Christmas break. There would be no school until after the New Year. To say the children were excited was an understatement. Elizabeth just hoped she could control them all at the play they were putting on Christmas Eve.
"Jack." Elizabeth smiled at him looking up from her desk.
"I just got a telegram from headquarters. The place in Buxton where they were having the Mountie Ball caught fire." Jack sighed.
"Oh dear, that's awful" Elizabeth cried.
"It was empty, no one was hurt, but it means the Christmas Ball is canceled." Jack said.
"That's to bad, I was looking forward to going." Elizabeth said softly.
"I'm sorry, I was really looking forward to taking you." Jack nodded.
"Oh Jack it's not your fault. Nothing can be done about it now." Elizabeth said giving him a little smile trying to cheer them both up.
"Next year we will go, there will be more balls I promise." Jack said.
"Of course Jack, don't look so worried. Next year things will be calmer around here and I will have more time." Elizabeth chuckled grabbing his hand making Jack smile.
"How did I get so lucky to have you in my life?" He asked softly.
"I don't know, but I would say I'm pretty lucky too." Elizabeth stood up on her toes giving him a kiss making him smile.
"Walk you home?" He asked.
"That would be lovely" She smiled.
"No Christmas Ball!" Kate cried from where she was sitting on the back steps watching Jack chop wood for their stove.
"It was canceled, nothing we can do about it." Jack shrugged bringing the ax down again.
"Oh Elizabeth must have been so disappointed." Kate sighed gathering the wood chips in her apron to add to the pile used to keep the fire going at night.
"I was disappointed as well, but you know your sister, takes everything in stride." Jack said stacking another piece of wood.
"Oh but Jack she was so excited, she has her new dress from Julie and she ever bought a new hair clip at the mercantile, ordered it special because it matches so nicely." Kate sighed.
"She did?" Jack asked turning to her.
"She was so looking forward to spending the evening with you." Kate nodded.
"She didn't tell me that, she just took it so easily." Jack glanced at the house were Elizabeth was inside making dinner.
"Of course she did! She's Elizabeth, that doesn't mean she's not upset." Kate sighed shaking her head. Abigail often said men were thick headed, it looked like Kate would have to explain ever little thing to Jack.
"Well, I think I have an idea, but I'm going to need your help, and it's a secret. We only have two days so we have to move fast." Jack said.
"Yay! I love secret jobs" Kate smiled.
"Not here, come on away from the house." Jack whispered waving Kate over to the far end of the yard.
Christmas Eve came with soft falling snow. It was actually the perfect weather. Kate spent the morning helping Abigail with a few last minute things then hurried home as she and Elizabeth finally had some quiet time to spend making their own Christmas cookies filling the house with all kinds of wonderful smells. Elizabeth finished wrapping her gifts and they stacked them under the tree. Before they knew it evening was falling and they bundled up heading to the church to join the rest of the town for Christmas Eve mass and the children play. When the pageant ended and all the children had received their toy, the town moved over to Abigail's Cafe for their Christmas dinner. Kate was slipping on her coat as Jack gently tapped her shoulder waving her over silently as everyone passed the saloon she slipped in after him unseen.
"You still willing to help?" Jack asked.
"You bet" Kate grinned.
"This is a wonderful Christmas eve" Elizabeth smiled as she opened the door to the row house late that night letting her and Kate in.
"It really was, I don't think it's quite over yet though." Kate smiled.
"What do you mean it's practically midnight?" Elizabeth chuckled hanging up her coat as Kate reached into her coat pocket pulling out the little card Jack had wrote.
"Here" Kate grinned. Elizabeth narrowed her eyes at her playfully as she reached into the envelope pulling out the car.
"Elizabeth Thatcher is formally invited to the saloon." Elizabeth read softly.
"Formal attire required" Kate said softly nodding to the ball gown hanging up by the back door, the one she never got to wear to the ball.
"What is Jack up to?" Elizabeth asked.
"Oh Jack? I have no idea, you know how he gets these silly, grand, romantic ideas in his head." Kate giggled
"Katie!"
"Well I am off to bed. But, if I were you, I would wear that dress, and do your hair, and don't forget your dancing shoes." Kate smiled.
"You will be alright here by yourself?"
"Of course!" Kate sighed.
"I love you, Merry Christmas" Elizabeth sighed giving her sister a hug.
"Merry Christmas, have a fun night, see you in the morning." Kate smiled climbing the stairs as Elizabeth started to get ready.
Jack stood alone in the saloon lit only by candles he had placed around the tables. Kate had helped him push them to the side and Abigail had given them all her red and white table cloths to cover them with. It wasn't like the mountie ball, not even close. Jack had this amazing picture in his head and he was not able to pull it all off with only a few days and the few things around town. He had done the best he could, Kate had assured him it was perfect, but he just wanted to make it perfect for Elizabeth. This was supposed to be a big night for them and he was disappointed it didn't happen the way he had pictured. Mostly though, he was just glad to be spending some time alone with her. There was a knock on the door and it creaked open before Jack could move to open in. Elizabeth stood in the doorway in a beautiful black and white ball gown, full skirts, her hair hanging curly and long down her back, blue eyes twinkling in the candle light. She was breathtaking, Jack always thought so, but now he could just look at her grinning what he was sure was a goofy grin as she gave him a smile.
"What is all this?" She asked softly glancing around the saloon.
"Welcome to the Mountie Ball" Jack smiled.
"Oh Jack" She sighed.
"I didn't want to miss out on a night of dancing with you, even if we weren't leaving Hope Valley."
"It's perfect" Elizabeth whispered as Jack turned on the music and turned back to her.
"I have to admit, I was a little nervous about dancing with you in front of other people." Jack said softly taking Elizabeth's hand in his running his thumb over her knuckles.
"What ever for?" Elizabeth asked.
"Well, I can hold my own with the two step but I'm no good at the waltz" Jack said.
"Waltz is easy." Elizabeth smiled.
"Maybe for someone who grew up with dance lessons."
"How about I show you then" Elizabeth said softly starting the music on the victrola she stepped closer to Jack.
"One hand goes here, and the other at my waist." Elizabeth said taking Jack's hand in her's and placing his other on her hip before putting her hand on his shoulder.
"I like this dance already" Jack said his voice low as he watched Elizabeth closely, playfully tugging her a little closer.
"Jack, your not paying attention." Elizabeth said softly truly not caring about dancing now.
"That's where your wrong." Jack said softly bending his head to kiss her. He dropped her hand as both his arms went around her waist before one went snaking up her back into her hair. She ran her fingers over his smooth freshly shaven cheeks. They lingered in a deep kiss only breaking apart when they needed air.
"We couldn't have done that at the Mountie Ball" Jack said softly making her laugh.
"Alright show me again, I do intend to dance with you tonight." Jack said composing himself a little.
"Oh Jack." Elizabeth just laughed setting in his hands again.
Christmas morning came early, not that anyone was complaining, really.
"Merry Christmas!" Kate smiled as Elizabeth came down the stairs wrapping her shawl around her.
"Good Morning! Merry Christmas" Elizabeth smiled kissing Kate on the cheek.
"I warmed some scones from Abigail for breakfast, how was the ball?" Kate asked.
"Magical, thank you for helping." Elizabeth sighed with happiness.
"It was all Jack, I just lit come candles and moved the tables out of the way." Kate shook her head.
"I almost think it was better then the real ball. It would have been nice to go. But truly I just wanted to spend time with Jack and dance and dress up, I got to do all those things."
"Remember when we used to go to the Christmas Ball in Hamilton?" Kate asked.
"Yes, I used to think that was the best thing about Christmas, now I know its not." Kate nodded her agreement as there was a knock on the door and they both turned as Jack came in.
"Merry Christmas" he smiled.
"Merry Christmas, just in time for breakfast!" Kate smiled setting the table.
"Merry Christmas." Elizabeth gave him a soft kiss on the cheek going to greet him as he put a few packages under the tree.
"It's not much" Jack shrugged.
"It's perfect, you didn't need to do anything." Elizabeth told him softly.
"Well, it's our first Christmas together, I want it to be special" Jack said making her smile.
"It is special, because we're together, the three of us. And after breakfast we will open gifts and join everyone at church, and then have a feast with Abigail and Clara and Cody. This is the best Christmas I could ever ask for." Elizabeth sighed slipping her hands into his big ones.
"Me too" Jack nodded.
"Me three" Kate smiled.
"Come on! Something smells wonderful then I want to get to these presents" Jack teased her as they all gathered around the table.
"Christmas is about more then presents JAck! It's about being grateful." Kate chuckled.
"And we have so much to be grateful for." Elizabeth smiled.
