Chapter 28

When they stopped for lunch, Elizabeth walked to the water and walked along the banks of the river. Jack helped Vernon care for the horses and then he headed after Elizabeth.

He stood and watched as she walked along the water's edge, admiring her beauty and fighting the guilt that ate at him. He turned, faced the water, arms crossed against his chest. He knew she was approaching and glanced at her.

Elizabeth was nervous, "It's a beautiful day isn't it?" She stopped near him.

"It is," he extended his hand, "would you like to go have something to eat?"

She nodded and headed back to the coach without taking his hand.

"Elizabeth…" he caught up to her, "… I'm sorry."

She looked at him, "I am too Jack, but everything is fine." She forced a smile and turned away, blinking back her tears.

"Elizabeth…" he stepped closer to her, but she ran off.

As they all sat and finished lunch, Vernon felt the tension, "Well, next stop will be a nice hotel, we can get a nice hot bath, sleep in a real bed…" he smiled trying to make Elizabeth and Jack look forward to it, but Elizabeth just looked away and Jack drank from his coffee cup. "Well, I'll go tend to the horses," he said wanting to escape the awkwardness.

Jack and Elizabeth cleaned up the small lunch campsite and climbed back into the coach. As they pulled away, Jack raised his red serge, shook it, moved to sit next to Elizabeth and laid the jacket across the seat.

Elizabeth looked at him.

He looked at her and then at the coat, "Don't want it to get too wrinkled…" he spread his hands over it, "better this way…less wrinkled." He glanced at her.

She started to laugh, "Really Jack?"

"Hmm?"

She sighed, she was on to his ploy, "I'd rather you sit next to me too."

Jack smiled and put his head back.

When they arrived at the Royal Alexandra Hotel, Jack and Elizabeth were impressed with the opulence of the facility. Vernon took care of the carriage and Jack and Elizabeth went to the front desk. "Name on the reservation please sir?" the desk clerk asked Jack.

"Thatcher, I believe it's under the name Thatcher," thinking William would have used his own name to secure the rooms.

"Yes sir," the clerk returned with one key, "will you sign the registry Mr. Thatcher," he offered the pen to Jack.

Elizabeth leaned in, "There's only one room?"

The clerk turned around, "No Miss…there are three rooms in the reservation…ahh, Mrs. Thatcher?"

"I'm Miss Thatcher and this is Mr. Thornton. Our driver will be here shortly kindly keep the third key for him."

"Very well," the clerk said and handed Elizabeth the two keys. Jack carried their bags and they headed to the second floor. Elizabeth hurried down the hall finding rooms 218 and 220. "They're next to each other." She unlocked the door and inspected the room, "Quite lovely, isn't it?"

"More than lovely. Okay, well I'll just go to my room," Jack put the bag on the bed and picked up the key.

"Jack, we can go to dinner after we freshen up. I'd like to take a bath and put on a clean dress." She was hesitant, hoping he wanted to have dinner as she felt the tension between them.

"Okay, I'll knock …on the door for you, after I do the same…" he pointed over his shoulder, feeling nervous.

"Jack?" She smiled, "can't wait to see you in your clean dress."

"Ahhh," he shrugged and shoved his hands in his pockets, "yeah, it's blue…" he laughed, showing her that dimpled smile she loved. Their laughter lightened the mood. "I'll be back for you in half an hour?"

She rocked on her toes, "I'll be ready."

Jack entered his own room feeling better, they would be able to have a nice evening without pressure. He was happy to see a big bathtub and turned on the water. "Hmm, no Gardenia Surprise…" he looked around and found something else, "Spicy Jasmine? Hmmm," he pulled off the stopper and sniffed, "wow that's spicy! Well only here one night, so why not…." and he dumped the entire contents into the bath. He stripped off his dusty clothes and climbed into the warm sudsy water. "Ahh," he put his head back and thought about Elizabeth in the bathroom next door, "wonder if she has Spicy Jasmine?" But he quickly scolded himself, "don't even start thinking about her Thornton….."

As Jack put on his blue suit, he suddenly realized, "Oh no, I hope she doesn't wear that dress…" He didn't think he could handle seeing her in that dress again and keep to his hands-off policy. When he was ready he went and tapped on her door.

"Jack, I need about ten more minutes…" She said through the closed door.

"Okay, I was wondering what color is your dress?

Elizabeth pulled away from the door slightly, "Lavender…why?"

"Just curious...," he sighed with relief, remembering her engagement party dress was not lavender. Then he wondered, "Is that like purple?"

She giggled, "Yes, a pale shade of purple." She shook her head.

"Okay…I'll go downstairs and take a look around."

"When I'm ready, I'll just come downstairs and meet you in the lobby," she said.

"Okay," he thought that was fine and proceeded down the lobby to check out the dining room. He was happy to see they featured a turkey dinner and an orchestra for dancing. "Elizabeth will like this," he said.

Upstairs, Elizabeth couldn't get her hair to do what she wanted so she finally just took a small piece and pulled it back over her ear and put a shiny clip on it. She slipped into her new lavender dress with the scoop neck and the ivory lace trim. She loved the sleeves, elbow length trimmed in the pretty lace. She dabbed perfume behind her ears and at her wrists and headed out.

Jack waited in the lobby, buying a newspaper and something special for Elizabeth and stood at the desk reading. Two men to his left were talking business and suddenly "Well, look over there, I didn't see her last night, did you?"

The other man said, "No, I would have remembered someone as lovely."

"She is a beauty. I have to see if I have a chance with her…"

It took Jack a moment but he put the paper down and turned to his right and didn't see Elizabeth. He felt relieved, thinking they most certainly were talking about her. He turned back to his paper and then heard her voice behind him, "Jack?"

He turned to his left, and saw the men behind her, "Darling…" he said loudly.

Elizabeth's eyes widened at the title as she took his arm and they walked away. "I don't believe you've ever called me that before."

"Well maybe I should," he tightened his arm, "did those men say anything to you?"

"No, I thought they were going to ask me something but they just nodded politely. Why?"

"No reason…you'll be happy to know that the dining room not only has dinner but dancing as well," he smiled. He presented her with a small corsage of purple flowers, "for you."

"Oh Jack, how beautiful…thank you."

"I'll pin it on, if that's okay," he pulled the pin from the stem and nervously lifted the material of her dress, when she exhaled he dropped the pin and it fell into her dress, "Oh no…I'm so sorry…" he moved his hands away from her.

Elizabeth's eyes were wide, "Did it fall down my dress?"

"Yes…I'm so sorry," Jack looked around, not knowing what to do.

"I'll be right back," Elizabeth scurried away to the Ladies Restroom, retrieved the pin and returned to a nervous Jack. She displayed the pin, "All fixed. Here, try again…carefully and keep your eyes on the pin this time."

Jack cleared his throat, "I didn't…I was…." He took the pin and carefully pinned the flower to her dress.

"Thank you, it's lovely," she put her hand on his arm and squeezed. She was so happy they were back in their good place.

They had a private table near a window with a nice view of the grand room and the dance floor.

"That is a beautiful dress," Jack said.

"Thank you. The corsage reminds me of our first date…."

"That was my intention," he sighed, "although I couldn't imagine if I had dropped the pin on that night." Jack smiled.

Elizabeth laughed softly, "I believe you would have run back to the jail."

"No, I don't think I would have done that…" he felt himself blush.

The waiter came to their table and they ordered the turkey dinner. The orchestra began playing soft music. Jack and Elizabeth looked at each other until finally Jack stood, "Would you do the honor of dancing with me?"

She felt her heart pound in her chest as she nodded and took his hand.

"At least this feels different," Jack said.

"Different?"

"Yes, I don't feel as nervous dancing with you now as I did that night," he said.

"True," she smiled.

Jack leaned in and inhaled.

"What are you doing?" Elizabeth asked.

"Wanted to know if you were wearing Spicy Jasmine," he said.

Elizabeth stopped for a moment, "What? What is Spicy Jasmine?"

Jack stretched his neck, "Go ahead, take a whiff…"

Elizabeth moved closer, "Hmmm, just where did you get that?"

"Didn't you have a bottle for your bathtub?"

"I'll have to check when I go back," she giggled, "it certainly smells good."

"It isn't Gardenia Surprise, but its okay," Jack said, the corner of his mouth turning up making her laugh.

They returned to their table and ate dinner. Elizabeth excused herself to visit the restroom. Jack stood as she left the table and watched her walk away, admiring her beauty and grace. He scanned the room and noticed other men looking at her as well.

As Elizabeth was returning to the dining room, she smiled thinking how nice her evening with Jack was going, their reminiscing about their first date.

"Miss Thatcher?"

Elizabeth had just entered the dining room and turned to her left, "Mr. Higgins…"

Superintendent Higgins walked over to her and extended his hand, "Well, Miss Thatcher, I never would have expected to see you here. Have you given up your post in Coal Valley?" His mouth twisted into that snarly smile that frightened her.

"No, Mr. Higgins," she ignored his extended hand and stepped back, "In fact I am on my way back to Coal Valley after visiting my family…and I'm very eager to get back there."

"That's nice," he scanned her head to toe, "and that coal town hasn't been the worse for you, you are strikingly beautiful. Won't you share a cocktail with me?"

"No thank you," she stared at him, "if you'll excuse me." She turned to walk away.

He grabbed her arm, "Oh don't tell me you have hard feelings? I could get you moved from Coal Valley, if you'd be friendly to me…"

Jack was watching Elizabeth's interaction and while initially thinking it looked friendly, he rose from his chair when he saw the man grab her arm and Elizabeth's startled expression.

"Elizabeth, is everything okay?" Jack came close to her side, his eyes on Higgins.

"Jack," she pulled her arm free, "this is Superintendent Higgins, from the school board."

"Constable Jack Thornton," Jack stated continuing to stare the man down.

Higgins' mouth curled, "Well, Miss Thatcher and I are old acquaintances…Constable." He looked back at Elizabeth, "wonderful to see you and hear that you are enjoying Coal Valley. Have a nice evening." He turned slightly out of Jack's sight and winked at Elizabeth, making her sigh in disgust.

Elizabeth turned and headed back to the table, Jack watched to ensure Higgins left the room and then followed Elizabeth back to their table.

"What was that all about?" Jack asked.

"That was about a very rude man," Elizabeth took a drink from her water glass, "he is a total chauvinist and shouldn't be in the teaching profession."

"Ahh, doesn't believe in female teachers?" Jack asked.

"Not as teachers, no," she folded her napkin, sighed and looked at Jack. She did not want to tell him about Mr. Higgins and his advances and her naivety dealing with him. "I don't want to talk about him anymore, would you dance with me?"

Jack smiled, "Anytime …you know that." They walked to dance floor and he held her a bit tighter sensing her uneasiness.

Jack looked at her, her beautiful dress obviously made of the finest fabrics, the shiny clip in her hair, the opulent dining room. "Elizabeth, I hope you don't miss this life…I won't ever be able to give you all this."

She looked into his eyes. "Jack, I don't know why you are saying this, but no I don't miss this life. I have discovered a new strength in myself and built a new life…a life with you that makes me very happy," she squeezed his shoulder.

Jack started to pull her closer but resisted, "I'll work the rest of my days to make you happy."

She smiled at him, "Right now I just want to get back home and be happy with you. I love you Jack."

Jack swallowed, "I love you too, so much."

Later, as they walked back upstairs, at Elizabeth's door Jack said, "I'd like to check for Spicy Jasmine," Jack smiled.

"What?" She handed him the key.

He unlocked the door and went into her bathroom, "Yup, right here," he shook the bottle.

"Okay Mr. Thornton, I'll be sure to be spicy tomorrow morning before we leave," she laughed.

Jack's eyebrows raised, "I'll be sure to check and make sure."

They walked to the door and he kissed her cheek, "Good night have a nice rest." He reached for the doorknob.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa," she pulled his sleeve, "Don't I get my Jack kiss tonight?"

He looked at her, "Jack kiss? Just what is your Jack kiss?" he asked.

She stepped closer and put her fingers on his lips, "It's when your lips touch my lips," she took his hand and put it on her back, "and your hands go around me like this, and you move your head in a circular motion…" Before she could go further, Jack played out her words.

When she stepped back and bit her bottom lip, Jack asked, "Well? Did I do that okay, your Jack kiss?"

She nodded, shyly looking up at him.

"Good, now you can give me my Elizabeth kiss…"

Her eyes grew wide, "Just what is that?"

He took her hand and placed it on his back, "It's when you dig those amazingly strong fingers of yours into my back, pulling me close and you lean against me and put your lips to my lips and…."

"And?" she wondered what was next.

"And you make my heart soar by making that little sound of satisfaction escape from your mouth," he crinkled his nose, "can you demonstrate for me?"

She smiled, "What happens if we combine them?"

He pulled her into his arms and they kissed.

"Hmm, that was very special,...works very well as a combination," he backed away. "Good night," he touched her face and left her room.

He entered his own room, kicked off his shoes, removed his jacket and laid across the bed, thinking about the lovely evening he and Elizabeth just shared. He could still faintly hear the orchestra music as he drifted off to sleep.

A short time later, Jack was awakened when he heard the sounds of breaking glass and Elizabeth's screams.