Chapter 33

The bakery clerk was gathering a lot of attention yelling on the sidewalk. Vernon turned to Jack, "We better find Elizabeth."

Jack watched Vernon secure the coach door, "What is the woman saying… why is she saying she needs the police?" Jack kept repeating as he scanned the crowd.

"She is saying to call the police a woman has been taken…"

Jack looked toward the bakery, "Elizabeth?" He and Vernon rushed to the bakery and began searching the crowd. "She has to be here…" Jack mumbled as he rushed up the street searching.

Vernon scratched his head, "We have to get the police."

"No, we can't lose any time right now…she has to be here, she can't have gone very far," Jack walked down the sidewalk frantically scanning the crowd.

Meanwhile in the coach, Elizabeth tried to remain calm. She thought she could try to outwit these two, "You called me Miss Thatcher, that isn't my name..."

One of the men said, "Did we take the wrong one Walt?"

"Shut up you fool," the other said, then addressed Elizabeth, "We saw you in the hotel Miss Thatcher, the clerk called you Miss Thatcher," he emphasized her name each time he said it, sending chills through Elizabeth, "…related to William Thatcher, the wealthy shipping tycoon?" The man in the seat across from her asked.

"No, no….I get that a lot, but no, we aren't related," she wanted to confuse them as her eyes tried to watch the man on her right holding the revolver at her side.

"Right, don't lie, we ain't stupid," the man pushed the gun against her.

She held up the money she intended to spend at the bakery, "This is all I have, take it."

The men laughed, "You're worth a lot more than that."

Elizabeth thought about Jack, what would he do in this situation. The coach slowed and then stopped at a busy intersection. Elizabeth looked out the window and recognized the man from the carnival, the man with the blonde curls who wanted her to folk dance. If she could only get his attention. She let out a scream, the man next to her got angry, "Don't yell!"

"A bug!" She pointed over the other man's head. When they both looked, she leaned to window and the carnival man looked at her and smiled. Elizabeth mouthed, "help me" to him and he looked in the carriage, expecting to see Jack and knew right away this was not who Elizabeth should be with. He jumped to the carriage door, "There you are!" Pretending to know Elizabeth, "My lovely wife, what are you doing?" He motioned for his friends to help. Before anyone could move, the carnival men opened the coach's doors and the dancer pulled Elizabeth out of the coach and the other wrestled with the two cowboys. This all caught the attention of two constables on the corner who rushed over. Elizabeth was so grateful, "Oh thank you…thank you so much!" She hugged the man.

Jack and Vernon were only two blocks away, but the commotion caught their attention and they ran to the scene. "Elizabeth!" Jack yelled and he pulled her out of the carnival man's hold and was about to hit him when Elizabeth put her hands up, "No Jack, this man saved me!" She grabbed onto Jack, hugging him close, gasping and shaking.

Jack held her and looked at the carnival man, "What happened?"

"I'm not sure, I saw your lovely lady in the carriage, she did not look happy. When I looked in expecting to see you with her….I knew I had to rescue her." He put his hands on his chest, professing his innocence to Jack.

"Thank you," Jack said as he held Elizabeth securely in his arms. "It's okay…how did this happen? Are you okay? I thought you were going to the bakery?"

Elizabeth was shaking but nodded. "I did go to the bakery, but those two cowboys, one had a gun and made me leave with them…I didn't know what to do Jack…"

"It's okay….Let me go talk to the Constables, stay here with Vernon and….we don't even know your name…," Jack said to the carnival man, extending his hand.

"Marco….I am Marco …" He shook Jack's hand.

Jack's mouth dropped open and then he smiled and tried not to laugh, but when Elizabeth started to giggle, they both laughed.

Marco looked at them, "This is not a common name, I know…"

"Great to meet you Marco…." Jack shook his hand again vigorously, he looked at Elizabeth. "We've been hoping to meet you Marco!"

Elizabeth clung to Jack, but smiled at Marco.

"Let's all go see the Constables," he looked at Elizabeth's teary face, "will you be okay if we go over there?"

Elizabeth nodded and stood straight, trying to shake off her fear. "Marco, how did you remember me?"

"Ahh, a woman of such grace and beauty, how could I forget you?"

"You're too kind….Marco," Elizabeth clung to Jack, scrunching the back of his shirt in her hand as Jack's hand had a firm grip on her shoulder.

Jack did most of the talking with the Constables who determined that the cowboys were just two thugs thinking they could get some quick money. They would be held in the Calgary jail and charged with attempted robbery and kidnapping. Jack was confident the two Mounties would secure the cowboys and see that they were prosecuted.

Jack and Elizabeth were glad to be done with that and walked back to the hotel with Marco while Vernon went to secure the coach.

"Marco, how can I thank you for …well, for saving me?" Elizabeth asked.

"I still wish for that dance…" he tilted his head.

"Well we're leaving town," Elizabeth replied.

"Then we shall have our dance right here, right now," he put his hand up looking for her to join him.

Elizabeth looked at Jack, who nodded, "Go ahead."

Elizabeth took Marco's hand…and he twirled her around once and together they made a circle and then Marco bowed, "Lovely, just as I expected," he turned to Jack, "you are a very fortunate man to have such a lady at your side."

Jack smiled and glanced at Elizabeth, "I know I am and I'm grateful every day."

"I must bid you farewell. My friends and I are headed east to the next carnival to dance with more pretty ladies," Marco did an exaggerated bow.

Elizabeth smiled, "How fortunate those ladies will be."

"Ah, none will be as lovely as you," he kissed her hand.

"Okay Marco, thanks again," Jack stepped forward, extending his hand, while pushing back the bolt of jealousy that he felt when Marco kissed her hand, "have a safe trip and thank you for your help today." The men shook hands.

Marco left, Elizabeth giggled at the way he walked, swaying as if dancing. She looked at Jack, his forehead crinkled as he watched Marco leave. "Jack, don't be jealous."

"I'm not jealous, I just don't like men kissing your hand."

"Sounds like jealousy to me…" she whispered.

Jack stepped in front of her, "Okay, you're right, but Elizabeth, when that baker was yelling about someone being taken," he took a deep breath and shook his head, "I was so worried and I was angry that I didn't go to the bakery with you, I should have. I'm so sorry."

She touched his face, "Jack, I told you once before you can't be everywhere, you can't always be by my side. Those two men were nothing but cowboys thinking I was an easy mark. But you see Jack your bravery has taught me to be brave," she rested her hands on his chest, "so you saved me Jack, in an indirect way, you saved me….you're always my hero Jack."

Jack felt his heart pound not only from her closeness but her loving words and he swallowed the lump she put in his throat. He pulled her into a passionate kiss, not caring that they were out in public. Elizabeth responded briefly before ending their kiss, "Jack…"

"I know…I know…'Oh Jack really'", he took her arm and asked her a few more questions as they walked back toward the carriage.

Once settled, Jack turned to Elizabeth, "For once I'm actually quite happy to be sitting in this carriage."

She turned to him, "So am I, we can finish our kiss…" she leaned against him and kissed him repeatedly.

Vernon looked in the window and cleared his throat, "Sorry for the interruption, but are we ready to roll?"

Jack merely gave him a thumbs up, not wanting to end Elizabeth's romantic kisses, he was enjoying them. Vernon shook his head and climbed up onto his seat.

Once back on the road, Elizabeth stayed snuggled against Jack, trying not to think of the bad ending to their time in Calgary, but of the happy time they shared the night before. "Jack, what if we had gone to the Justice of the Peace last night…"

Jack smiled, "Well…I suspect we would still be at the hotel right now," he swallowed a laugh low in his throat.

Elizabeth lifted her head from his shoulder, "Why? Do they make you stay until business hours for a license or something?"

Jack just stared at her for a moment, "No…no, they don't. That isn't why we would still be there, at the hotel…in our room," he tried to make her understand.

Elizabeth's gaze was staring off , but when she looked directly into his eyes, "Oh…oh I see."

Jack gently pulled her against him, "Good…I'm glad you see," he rolled his eyes certain that she didn't see everything.

Several hours later Vernon stopped the coach. "Looks like we are riding into some bad weather, if we keep going maybe we can get through it. That okay with you folks?"

Jack assisted Elizabeth from the coach and walked up the road, "Does look cloudy, but if you think we can get through it, then that's what we should do."

Back in the coach and on their way Jack rested his chin on her shoulder and asked, "Would you read to me?'

Elizabeth blushed, "Haven't you heard enough from Marco today?"

He reached down and pulled out the book, "Nope..." he handed it to her.

She thumbed through, trying to find an appropriate passage and began to read, "Marco walked across the room and every woman watched him, some swooning watching his manly stride…"

Jack laughed, "Swooning?"

"Yes Jack, women swoon," Elizabeth shut the book.

"They do? Why? What does that even mean, swooning?"

She looked at him, "It's a reaction…an emotional reaction to something…something pleasant and appealing." She didn't look at him.

The corner of Jack's mouth turned up, "Do you swoon at me?" He kissed her ear.

"Well …sometimes….I may have," she said.

"I've done a lot of swooning over you," he said.

"You have? When?"

"Recently, at our engagement party, a lot of swooning, hmmm. Then of course there's last night, I swooned," he ran his fingers up her side, "when you asked me to unbutton your dress."

She smiled, "That was more than swooning I'd say. Swooning does not involve touching and seeing things you shouldn't see," she playfully pushed his hand away.

"Well, I did see something…something I'd like to see more of, something white and silky," he whispered.

"Jack! That's not very nice."

"Then why are you leaning on me? Hmm?" He slid his hand around her waist.

"I like to lean on you, I feel safe."

"That's what my Elizabeth kiss is," he put his face closer.

"What? I thought it was a romantic kiss!"

"It is romantic, but it's when you lean on me, I like that," he whispered.

"Jack, what's come over you?"

"Okay. Sorry, I'm just teasing you," he kissed her cheek, "you can swoon over me anytime you want. Keep reading,"

"I think I've read enough," she put the book down. Jack sighed and snuggled against her shoulder and was soon asleep.

Elizabeth rested her head on his and was soon asleep herself.

They both woke to thunder, Jack looked out the window and noticed dark clouds, "What do you say Vernon, should we stop?"

"Looking for a place!" Vernon yelled back.

"This will delay us getting home won't it?" Elizabeth asked, peering out the window.

"I think so, it's pretty dark out there," Jack said.

As the wind picked up and raindrops began to fall, the coach rattled along taking a turn off the main road until finally stopping. Jack looked out the window again, "What is this…"

"What kind of place is this, doesn't look like a hotel or a restaurant," Elizabeth observed.

Vernon jumped down and opened the door, "Maybe we can stay here until the storm passes, looks abandoned."

"Does anyone live here?" Elizabeth asked.

Jack looked at her shaking his head and then checked his revolver, "Stay here, let me check the property first. Vernon, please stay in the coach with Elizabeth."

Elizabeth watched as Jack made his way to the small farmhouse, peered in the windows and proceeded inside. He was back out within a minute, "Appears to be empty, doesn't look like anyone has been here in quite a while. I'll go check the barn."

Vernon stepped out and began leading the horses toward the barn, when Jack gave the all clear, Elizabeth stepped out of the moving coach and fell to the ground. Jack rushed to assist her, "Are you okay?"

She brushed off her skirt, "Yes, thank you…you weren't there to catch me!" Jack shook his head, grabbed their bags and they went to the house. "Jack, there's barely any furniture or anything else in here, we can't stay here."

"Elizabeth, don't be a princess…..we're only here until the storm passes…It'll be fine."

Elizabeth looked at him, hands on her hips, "Very funny Constable Thornton."

He went to her, "That's right I'm your Constable, you have to do what I tell you to do."

"Oh, that shouldn't be a problem," she spun away from him as he approached her. "Except I don't do what I'm told very often."

"I already know that," he said as he watched her walk away.

Vernon knocked on the door and entered, "I think I'll take a horse and go see how far we are out we are from the next town and get us something to eat. I'll be back as soon as I can."

Elizabeth rocked on her feet, happy that Vernon was going in search of food and civilization, but nervous to be alone with Jack. She couldn't help but think about last night when he pressed her against the door, kissing her and moving his body against hers. She bit her lip remembering it. She looked up and Jack was looking at her.

"You okay?" he asked.

She nodded, "Yes, fine. It's damp in here, maybe you should start a fire."

He looked around, "Well, I'll have to go out and get some firewood, will you be okay in here, alone?"

"Yes, of course."

"I'll check for a wood box in the barn, I'll be right back," he went out the door.

Elizabeth took a small broom that lay near the fireplace and swept out the hearth, wanting to be helpful. The wind and rain seemed to be getting stronger and she went to the window to see Jack.

Jack found a woodbox with just enough kindling to start a fire. As he balanced the wood in his arm, the cover to the box slammed down on his arm, creating a gash that immediately started to bleed. Jack cringed at the pain, but wrapped the wood in a tarp and headed back to the little house.

Elizabeth opened the door, "Oh good you found some….you're bleeding!"

"I know, wood box slammed down on my arm," he dropped the wood into the firebox and pulled on his torn sleeve.

"Jack, you're wet and bleeding," Elizabeth said nervously.

"You think that water pump works?" Jack pointed to the sink in the corner as he sat on the floor leaning against the wall.

Elizabeth went and worked feverishly, finally producing a gush of water. Jack watched as she frantically looked for something to use as a compress.

"Here, let me take off this wet shirt, you can use it," he tried to unbutton the shirt but bending his arm was painful, "can you help me?"

Elizabeth rushed to him and reached for a button, "Does it hurt? Do you think you're arm is broken?" Her hands shaking as she unbuttoned his shirt.

"No…I don't think it's broken," he swallowed and looked at her.

She was being careful to undo the buttons, but not open up his shirt, "What?" She felt him staring at her.

"Just thinking, I kind of enjoy you doing the unbuttoning…" he smiled and winked at her.

Elizabeth blushed, "Jack….behave." She got to the bottom and he lifted his hips and yanked the shirt from his pants, "Oh…" Elizabeth watched, her eyes wide.

"I can't take it off with one hand," he said, "can you help me?"

She looked at him, her eyes darting around his face as her hands moved up and down and then back up, finally taking the collar of his shirt and pushing it off his shoulder. He leaned forward as she pulled the sleeve from his good arm and dragged the shirt around his back and carefully began removing the torn sleeve.

"Just pull it off, we have to stop the bleeding," he helped with his good arm.

Elizabeth wet the shirt in the sink and quickly applied it to Jack's arm. "Does it hurt?"

"No," he tried to help her. "Go in my bag, there are some medical supplies in there, can you get them please."

"Of course," Elizabeth went to his bag and trying not to touch his clothing, she found a leather pouch with medical supplies. She rushed back to Jack's side. She pulled a small packet out, put the edge in her mouth and tore it open with her teeth. She spread the ointment on his arm and then took a roll of gauze and began to wrap it around his arm. "The bleeding seems to have stopped," she said as she continued rolling the gauze around his arm. She looked at him and looked again, "What?"

"You're such a good nurse," he smiled as she tied the gauze. "Thank you for taking care of me."

She smiled nervously, "You're welcome." She gathered the supplies and looked at his chest. She suddenly remembered when he was chopping wood out behind the jail…."Oh stop it," she said out loud.

"What? Stop what?" he asked as he ran his hand down her arm.

"Nothing," she sat back on her feet and when he touched her face, she leaned close to him, "I'm so glad you're okay Jack."

He cupped his hand behind her head and drew her close for a kiss, "Me too. I'm glad I'm not out here alone."

"Alone?"

"Yeah, be kind of hard to take care of my arm by myself," he whispered.

Her eyes fluttered, "Oh you could do it, you can do anything," she smiled, sneaking at look at him.

He pulled her again and her hands went to his shoulders to break her fall. She ran her hand down his arm and over the bandage. "Is it okay?"

"Better now," he sat up and pulled her close and she hugged him, her hands on his bare back.

She pulled away, "Would you like me to get you a shirt?"

"I guess you should," he said. "Does it make you uncomfortable, that I don't have a shirt on?"

"Well, no…not at all...I just..I want you to be comfortable," she said and quickly went to his bag. She pulled out a striped shirt, "How's this one?"

"Fine," he replied, laughing to himself at her obvious nervousness.

As she helped him put the shirt on, she ran her fingertips across his skin. He couldn't help tease her and he grasped her hand and looked at her, "Is there a Justice of the Peace nearby?" He kissed her hand.

"Very funny," she pulled the shirt around him and touched his abdomen, "Oh…sorry" looking up into his eyes, she leaned in and kissed his lips, she couldn't resist him and also couldn't resist running her hand over his chest. "Jack…"

Her voice was so low and soft, Jack inhaled, "I know…I feel the same way." He kissed her and she leaned on him, pressing her body on his chest as his hand pulled her close.

Then the door blew open.