Chapter 23

Jack held Elizabeth's hand as they carefully climbed the patio steps, "Easy don't trip on that beautiful dress," he watched her as she stepped up to where he was, "Ahh, don't you have a scarf or a shawl that you could put on?"

She looked at him, "A scarf or a shawl? Why would I do that, it's so warm …?"

He brushed his hand across his own chest, "Well, just to …you know….cover up…"

Elizabeth looked down, "Oh my goodness…" She looked into Jack's eyes, "Does it look …inappropriate?"

"No…well, no…it's just…" Jack kept moving his hands across his own body, "you know…."

Elizabeth began to walk, "I'll go make an adjustment."

"Wait…" he touched her arm and she turned to face him, "I …I just don't…"

"I understand…please don't embarrass me…" she turned and hurried across the patio and into the house.

Back at the corner of the house, Richard emerged from the shadows, took the last swig from his glass and spun it in his hands, "Guess I missed the show, well I'll just have to dance with you Elizabeth and convince you that you belong here…with me." He stepped up onto the patio just as William Thatcher opened the glass doors and several guests walked out, mingling and talking. Richard made his way to the cocktail bar and guzzled another drink.

Inside, Elizabeth found Julie and whispered, "Please come to the study…now."

Julie scurried behind her sister and closed the study door, "What is it?"

Elizabeth turned around, "It's this…this dress is falling down. Help me."

Julie's eyes bulged a bit, "I told you to keep your shoulders up…or did that delectable Mountie dash you away for a romantic tryst in the moonlight?" She approached her sister to inspect the dress, "Oh, by looks of your lips it was the Mountie."

Elizabeth touched her lips, "What's wrong with my lips?"

"Not a thing if you just spent 20 minutes kissing the best looking man here and want everyone to know it," she smiled as she looked over the dress, "turn around, let me tighten this up."

Elizabeth turned, licking her lips.

"So, just how far did he tug these little sleeves?" Julie asked.

"Julie! He did not tug…anything. He's a perfect gentleman, but when he is near me, well, I guess I did drop my shoulder a bit," she looked down, "he actually lifted the sleeve," she whispered, remembering how Jack used a gentle finger to lift her sleeve.

"Oh, after he kissed all that skin you're showing!" Julie laughed.

Elizabeth spun around, "That's enough. Thank you for the adjustment." She went to the door, "And no one has to know about this."

Julie smiled, "Of course not."

Elizabeth found Jack talking to some of her school friends, "Here you are, telling all the ladies about Coal Valley?"

"Well, they've been asking me about Mountie duties," Jack said as he put his arm around Elizabeth's waist.

"Yes we have, fascinating," Angel said, eyes on Jack.

"Totally fascinating," Cindie replied, smiling at Jack.

Richard came over and stood by Elizabeth, he swayed displaying a dance move, "Elizabeth, are they playing our song?"

Elizabeth looked at him, "I wasn't aware of us having a song…"

He leaned toward her, "Well, we do now…come on."

She smelled the alcohol on his breath and when he put his arm around her, she pulled away toward Jack.

"Ah, please one dance," he looked at Jack, "you don't mind do you Jack?"

Jack felt Elizabeth's tenseness, "Out of respect for Elizabeth, yes, I do mind. I don't believe she cares to dance right now Richard," Jack stated, keeping a firm hold on Elizabeth, but being polite to Richard…for now.

Richard yanked Elizabeth toward him, "Come on Elizabeth, we could dance so well together." He put his face close to hers.

Elizabeth raised her hands to his chest, "Richard, please…"

Jack moved quickly, stepping between them, "I think that's enough," trying not to escalate the scene.

Edward approached, "Richard…lets go get some fresh air," he held Richard's arm firmly.

Elizabeth stood behind Jack's raised arm, which he held protectively up against her.

Richard yanked his arm away from Edward, "Okay, okay…." He looked at Elizabeth, "We can dance later, beautiful." He gave her a wink.

"It will be fine," Edward was very calm but firmly pulled Richard away from the group.

Julie looked at Elizabeth, "Phew, Mounties' are amazing."

Jack turned to Elizabeth, "Are you okay?"

"Yes, I'm fine, thank you," she said softly, "I'm sorry…"

"Nothing to be sorry for," he touched her cheek, "can't have anyone ruining our party. Let's dance." He led her to the middle of the floor, knowing he needed to hold her in his arms and not think of Richard grabbing Elizabeth.

She glanced over the crowd, "Do you think he left?"

"You're Mountie friend Edward took care of him, I'm sure," Jack said. "It's a good thing too, about one more minute and I'd have a very sore hand about now," he smiled and spun Elizabeth around.

"Beth!" William came across the floor, "the photographer has finally arrived. Come, I want some photographs of you and Jack...and the family."

Elizabeth looked at Jack, "Julie said my lips …. Jack, do my lips look okay?"

Jack smiled and looked down, "Your lips always look okay to me."

"I better go fix my hair," she rushed across the room. When she came into the foyer, Edward was there. "Edward, where's Richard?"

Edward assured her, "He's on his way home to sleep it off."

"Thank you," Elizabeth said.

Edward walked closer, "I couldn't let him hurt you ….or ruin your party…"

"That's very kind of you," she felt awkward, "I have to get ready for a photograph, excuse me."

Edward nodded as she walked away, "I'm sure it will be a beautiful photograph." He turned to return to the party and saw Jack in the doorway. Edward cleared his throat, "Richard is on his way home to sleep off the drinks."

Jack stared at Edward, "Glad to hear that, I appreciate you stepping in and helping with that situation."

Edward reached to shake Jack's hand, "Nothing to worry about here Jack, I assure you." The two men shook hands and Edward returned to the party.

Jack watched Edward walk away while he waited to Elizabeth. "Jack? What are you doing?" she asked as she reached for his arm.

"Waiting for you," he smiled, "let's go get our photo taken. I'm looking forward to having a photograph of you in that dress," he whispered.

"Oh Jack." she tugged his arm.

William orchestrated all the photographs as the guests continued to dance, eat and drink. Jack slipped away as Julie and Elizabeth posed for photographs and went out the front door to look around. Someone approached him.

"You know Jack, she belongs here, in a city, not some little mining town filled with uncultured country people," Richard walked toward Jack.

"Now why did I have a feeling you were still here?" Jack replied. "You really need to leave because no one wants to see you here."

"Especially you, right? Elizabeth deserves better than you Mountie!" Richard walked closer to Jack.

"I'm telling you to leave, right now." Jack stated.

"Why? I belong here more than you do…." Richard stumbled a bit, taking a swig from a flask.

Jack looked for a carriage and driver to escort Richard from the property. "Let's find you a ride home."

"I'm not ready to go home…yet. I want to be with Elizabeth…she's so beautiful… and her in that dress…hmmm," Richard whistled.

Jack had enough, he turned and grabbed Richard by the lapels of his jacket. "You've really over stayed your welcome….so this is good night and I better not see you here again because if I do, you'll be seeing these hands one at a time flying into your face. Do you understand?"

Richard stumbled as Jack shoved him. "Oh take her…I…I'm going…" Richard walked toward the approaching carriage and climbed in.

Jack watched the carriage leave the property, waited a few moments to calm himself down and went back inside.

Jack found Elizabeth and took her hand. She sensed something wrong, "Are you okay?"

Jack nodded, he had no intention of telling her about his encounter with Richard, at least not this evening. He just wanted to be next to her, look at her, feel the feeling he always felt when he was close to her. She had a calming, loving effect on him and he drank it in at this moment.

At the end of the evening, Jack walked Elizabeth to her room. "Thank you for this evening. You are the most beautiful woman in the world and I love you more than anything," he said as he held her hands.

"Oh you're exaggerating…" she said.

"No," he lifted his hand, "No, there are two things I never exaggerate about. One is how beautiful you are…"

"What's the other one?" she asked.

"How very much I love you." He leaned, kissed her and held her in his arms.