The next morning, Elizabeth found her father drinking coffee in the kitchen, "Good morning, did you sleep well?" she asked.
"Yes, just fine. It was quite comfortable. I'd like to spend some time with Jack today, do you think he'd be agreeable to that?"
"Yes, of course he would, although he will be on duty. It should be quiet however, so he can show you around." Elizabeth smiled and poured herself a cup of coffee. "Where's mother?"
"Out for her usual morning walk, hope she doesn't get lost," he grinned at his daughter.
The morning sun was bright as Kate Thatcher walked along the main street of Coal Valley taking in the sights. People politely nodded to her and she smiled in return. As she headed back to the café she turned her attention in the direction of an unfamiliar noise and there was Jack Thornton chopping wood out behind the jail. She stopped for a moment to watch. She had to admit that Julie was right when she said that Jack was, how did she put it, a perfect specimen of a handsome, virile man. She smiled and then, feeling a bit embarrassed, glanced around to make sure no one was watching. She then fanned herself with her glove and continued on her way.
William Thatcher was telling Abigail how wonderful her baking was when Mrs. Thatcher came in. "My dear, how was your walk?
Elizabeth asked, "Did you enjoy the scenery Mother?"
Kate Thatcher put her gloves on the chair, "Yes, you have some….interesting…sights here in Coal Valley and very attractive scenery Elizabeth." She tried not to smile.
"We should all go on a picnic, you would enjoy the mountain views from the meadow," Abigail said.
"Oh there are nice views right here in town," Kate had to smile at her own comment.
"I am going to find the good Constable, will you show me where he serves and protects?" William put his hand out for Elizabeth.
"Of course Father," she took his hand and they left the café.
Jack was putting on a clean shirt when he heard the door open and the Thatchers walk in, "Good morning Elizabeth, Mr. Thatcher. How are you today?"
"Very well Jack," Mr. Thatcher looked around the jail and then knelt to pet Rip.
Elizabeth smiled at Jack, "I think my father wants you to show him around."
"I'd like to see where you two plan to live," Mr. Thatcher stood.
"Well, we haven't figured that out quite yet." Jack replied.
"Where do you live now Jack?"
"Right here in the jail," Jack said.
"Here?" Mr. Thatcher looked around, "what if you have prisoners?"
"Fortunately we haven't had many prisoners needing beds. Despite what you've heard, we have a low crime rate here in Coal Valley."
"Where will you live?" Mr. Thatcher asked, ignoring Jack's comment about the low crime rate in Coal Valley.
"Elizabeth and I are planning to build a house." Jack replied.
Mr. Thatcher smiled, "Really? You're a builder? Because I know she isn't."
"Father, of course we won't actually do the building, we know someone here in town who in fact built the church and school earlier this year. He even drew some plans." Elizabeth looked at Jack.
"Yes, I can show you the plans," Jack pulled the drawing from his desk and unfolded the paper onto his desk.
"Hmm, looks nice," he looked at Jack, "I'm impressed, very nice."
Elizabeth smiled, "It's beautiful and will be even more beautiful once it's built, right Jack?"
"Yes, we hope it will be finished late spring," Jack didn't know how Mr. Thatcher would feel about that timeframe.
"I see," William Thatcher looked at his daughter, "is that when you plan to marry?"
Elizabeth looked at Jack who answered, "Yes sir, it is. That's what we would like."
"We'll have to talk to your mother about that Beth," he stared at Jack initially and then turned to Elizabeth.
"Of course," Elizabeth answered nervously, "but it is possible," she wanted to change the subject, "would you like to see the school?"
"No, not now. I'd like to talk to Jack some more," he took his daughter's arm, "you go back and talk to your mother and look through all the dresses and shoes she brought for you. Jack and I will see you for lunch." He kissed her cheek and almost pushed her out the door.
Elizabeth looked back at Jack, "we'll see you at the café."
"Jack, I'd like to talk to this man who is going to build this house," he picked up the drawing.
"I'll talk to him and set up a meeting," Jack said, staring at him in disbelief at the way he pushed Elizabeth out of the jail. "Would you like to walk and look at the town?"
"Fine," he pointed to the door, allowing Jack to lead the way."
They hadn't walked very far when William Thatcher stopped, "As we told you at dinner, we are very grateful to you for taking such good care of Elizabeth. She wasn't exactly raised for this lifestyle and her mother and I worried about her surviving out here."
"Elizabeth is smart and resourceful and she has handled things very well here." Jack said proudly.
Her father laughed, "I expected her to come running home you know," he looked at Jack, "I suspect you being here helped keep her here."
"Mr. Thatcher, did you request me to be stationed here in Coal Valley to look after Elizabeth?" Jack almost held his breath waiting for a response.
Mr. Thatcher stared at him for a moment, "I give you credit Jack, yes I did request you to be here to watch out for her. Her mother and I feared for her safety. She fought us against having a Mountie accompany her here, so I wanted someone stationed here to watch her," he started walking, "thank you for doing that."
Jack was relieved, "I will tell you that at first I did not want to be here in Coal Valley Mr. Thatcher, but I fell in love with your daughter. She did amazing things when she first came here, she helped this entire town with her intelligence and her caring."
"She is intelligent and she has a big heart," he put his hand on Jack's shoulder, "and I don't want that heart to be broken, ever."
"I love your daughter. I have no intention of breaking her heart." Jack stated.
"Have you ever been drunk? Tell me about the last time you were drunk Jack." Thatcher stopped and stared at him.
"What?"
"Haven't you ever been drunk?" He asked.
Jack looked around, wondering why William Thatcher would be asking him such a question, when he had just told him that he loved his daughter. "I don't drink Mr. Thatcher."
"You must have had a drink at some time in your life," he looked at him and started walking again.
Jack exhaled, "I've tasted whiskey, gin and probably some bootleg concoction, but I didn't care for it then and have never had any interest in trying it again. At the Academy we did have champagne at a celebratory dinner once and I liked that, but I'd be the last person you would find at a saloon drinking."
"Good," he slapped Jack on the back, "glad to hear that."
"Mr. Thatcher, you've asked me if I smoke and now drinking…."
"Jack, do you have a vice? A flaw? That's what I'm wondering about. No one is perfect. I'm certainly not, don't have a lot of patience," he tilted his head, "I just wonder what your vices are."
Jack's thought carefully before responding, "I guess patience is my issue as well." Jack wasn't going to play games with this man.
Mr. Thatcher turned and started walking back toward the jail. Jack shook his head and followed him.
Back at the café, the ladies made lunch and when Jack and William returned they all ate. Elizabeth noticed Jack's silence and as soon as she had the opportunity she pulled him aside. "Is everything okay?"
She always made him feel better, "Yes, but I really need to take a walk, can we slip away?"
"Yes, let me talk to Abigail." Elizabeth replied.
Jack excused himself from the group and went outside. Moments later Elizabeth joined him. "Abigail and Bill are going to entertain them."
"That's nice." Jack took her hand, "let's walk."
Elizabeth felt the tension in Jack as she briskly walked to keep up with his pace. When he finally stopped, he turned and pulled her into his arms.
"Jack? Did my father upset you?" She hugged him as tightly as he was hugging her.
He buried his face into her hair, "No, but he knows how to make someone feel uncomfortable."
"I'm sorry," she rubbed her hands on his back, trying to relax him.
Jack stepped back, "Elizabeth, my heart is yours, you know that."
"Oh dear," she stepped away. She was afraid he was going to say that his talk with her father didn't go well.
Jack walked to their bench and sat, "please, come here and sit with me."
Elizabeth sat, put her hands on her lap and looked at Jack.
"I now understand where you get your stubbornness. Your father is very ….very…. he really made me uncomfortable."
"You said that already, what did he do…," she gave him a questioning look, "specifically?"
Jack stood, hands raised, "First, he asked me if I wanted a cigar, then he asked me when the last time I got drunk was…!" He shook his head, "all these bizarre questions."
"I'm sorry Jack, he's trying to get to know you," she said.
"No, he's trying to get me to say something stupid so he can tell you not to marry me."
Elizabeth smiled and then started to laugh.
Jack turned and looked at her, "What's so funny?"
"Jack, he isn't trying to get you to say something stupid. He's only seeing if you will stand up to him and answer him truthfully."
Jack sat down, still shaking his head.
Elizabeth touched his face, "Jack, look at me. He isn't going to tell me not to marry you." She moved closer to him, "I think he knows better than to even try to tell me that. He knows I am just as stubborn as he is," she pushed a few stray hairs off Jack's forehead, "and he must know from the way I look at you that I am in love," she leaned against him, her face against his.
Jack smiled, loving her statement. "I told him I loved you," Jack whispered, his voice low.
"Did you?" she whispered in his ear, "I bet he was glad to hear that," she kissed his ear softly.
Jack tilted his head toward her, "Hmm, I guess," he closed his eyes as Elizabeth kissed his ear again. For the first time all day he felt relaxed.
"I'll be sure to tell him how much I love you too," she brushed her lips across his ear and then down against the soft skin of his neck and made a soft sound.
Jack growled and rolled his head toward her and mumbled, "What are you doing to me?" He touched her hair as she continued her teasing kisses. "Elizabeth…" He took a deep breath, moved and captured her lips with his.
Elizabeth ran her fingers through his hair while kissing him, then pulled back slightly, "Jack?"
"Hmm?"
"So, when was the last time you were drunk?" she whispered and bit her bottom lip.
He opened his eyes, "Ha, very funny."
"I guess we should head back," she said, an apologetic look on her face.
"Sure," Jack smiled, "round two of the Thatcher Inquisition…can't wait."