Chapter 34

The cabin door blowing open startled Elizabeth and Jack and she reluctantly moved out of his embrace and went to close the door.

"Is it just the wind or is a bear trying to come in?" Jack asked, laughing softly.

Elizabeth closed the door, keeping her hand against it, afraid to go back to Jack, afraid what his kisses were doing to her. She turned to see him sitting against the wall, his shirt unbuttoned, his hair slightly mussed. He took her breath away. She slowly walked back to him.

His voice was low and enticing, "Now that you've shut out the howling wind, I believe you still have some swooning to do…come over here."

She smiled at him, "No more swooning Jack…we have to behave," she scolded him, "every time we're alone, seems it leads to….one thing."

Jack nodded, knowing she was right, "I know, but I've been thinking about that…"

"Oh, I'm sure you have!" She grinned.

"No, no, I mean…well, once we're back in Coal Valley we won't have much alone time, so I think we need to enjoy it while we can. Don't you agree?"

"Yes, I suppose I do agree," she squinted at him as he touched her cheek.

"So come here and hold me, I need comforting, I'm injured," he frowned and held his injured arm.

"Oh Jack," she moved closer, "you're just trying to get my sympathy."

He put his arm around her, "I am injured! You make me feel better, but if you don't want to…" He turned away.

She took hold of his chin, "Now you're trying to make me feel guilty!"

He laughed softly and put his hand up in surrender.

She moved closer and ran her hand down his neck and under his shirt, "Well, you do have to heal properly, so I suppose I should check on that."

"Absolutely," he pulled the shirt back, exposing his chest.

"Oh! And I should make sure you don't get feverish," she whispered and touched his forehead.

"Wouldn't want that, so yes, check …" he said softly, "please check."

Elizabeth bit her lip as she ran her hand down across his chest. She suddenly pulled away and stood up. She walked near the sink and looked out the window.

Jack was confused for a minute, but got up and walked to her, "Elizabeth, I didn't mean to make you feel uncomfortable, that was wrong of me."

She shook her head and continued to look out the window, "I love you Jack and you bring out such strong feelings in me. Feelings I've never felt before," she turned to face him, "and maybe it's normal for a couple to be…close," she reached for him but pulled back, "I know we're going to be married and it's normal for us to want to be together… but …"

He rubbed her arm, "Shhh, you don't have to say anything else. I love you so much, I just feel right when you're near me, when you tell me you love me." He moved closer and whispered in her ear, "When you touch me, I feel your love and these are private times between only you and me. I guess people may say it's wrong, but I don't think so, it shouldn't be wrong," he looked down for a moment and then looked directly into her eyes, "but I would never disrespect you, I hope you know that."

Elizabeth blinked back tears, "Of course I know that, but it does make you wonder why it's wrong to show affection?" A tear ran down her cheek and she looked up, "Why is it wrong to show you how much I love you?" She gently touched his bandaged arm, "Oh Jack...we really need to talk about a wedding date."

"When we get back to Coal Valley, one of the first things I plan to do is meet with Adam about our house. I want to get it completed as soon as possible. Then we can plan the wedding."

"Our house…" she smiled, "I can't wait to see it."

He looked around the run down room they were standing in, "Something just like this I figure…" one side of his mouth raised, waiting for her reaction.

Her smile faded quickly, "What? Oh Jack, you're such a tease." She turned and looked out the window again.

Jack stepped behind her, putting his arm around her and resting his chin on her shoulder, "We're going to have a wonderful life Elizabeth, I promise you that. I'll do everything I can to make sure you never want for anything and a day won't pass that I won't tell you that I love you," he took a deep breath, "I know you'll be a wonderful mother to our children and I can't wait 'til you're my wife." He placed a tender kiss on her neck.

Elizabeth leaned back on him, resting her head against his, unable to speak after his loving words.

They stayed together at the window for a moment.

Elizabeth finally turned to face him, blinking back her tears, "You know Jack, for someone who used to have a hard time saying what was in his heart, now you really say it all so beautifully." She kissed him.

The sound of a horse interrupted them and Vernon came bounding into the house. "Got some food and the weather looks good up ahead," Vernon waved the parcel he held and then noticed Jack's arm, "What happened to you?"

"Wood box got me," Jack closed his shirt, "but thankfully my pretty nurse Thatcher here bandaged me up," he looked to the fireplace, "and we never started the fire."

"Well not that fire," Elizabeth whispered.

Jack's eyebrows shot up and he smiled at her.

Elizabeth grinned and took the bag from Vernon, "Oh what is it, meatloaf sandwiches and carrots!"

"Yes, and I have a jug of lemonade too," Vernon was proud of his find. The three sat and ate.

"So we can be on our way?" Jack asked.

"Yes, if you two are okay, we can head to Coal Valley." Vernon poured lemonade for them.

"I'm ready," Jack reached for Elizabeth's hand, "I have a house to build."

"Yes, and then a wedding to plan and a honeymoon!" Elizabeth was so happy.

"Our honeymoon will be right in our house," Jack said.

"No silly, a honeymoon is a trip you take with your new spouse, we have to go somewhere," she took a bite of her sandwich.

Jack looked at Vernon, who raised his eyebrows and shook his head. The two men grinned at Elizabeth's definition of a honeymoon. Jack then asked, "Where are we going to go?"

"I don't know, but please not back to Calgary…" Elizabeth replied. "We could go to New York and visit my sister!"

Jack frowned, "New York? How are we going to get there? I can't be away from my job for that long, neither can you!"

"Okay, then you think of some place," she took a sip of lemonade.

"We're going to have a new house, we can stay there," Jack took a bite of his sandwich.

"We aren't going away?" Elizabeth asked.

"Elizabeth, after this trip, I want to stay home," Jack pleaded.

Vernon put his sandwich down, "Is this going to be like when you two talked about the chocolate cake?"

Elizabeth's mouth turned up and she looked at Jack and they both laughed. "No. I guess Jack is right, we can stay home." Elizabeth smiled.

Vernon picked up his sandwich, "Good, cuz I can't follow all these crazy discussions you two have and Miss Elizabeth, a honeymoon is anyplace you are with the person you love."

Elizabeth's shoulders slumped, "Oh Vernon, you're so right."

"Good, then we can come back to this lovely place," Jack said, looking out the corner of his eye at her.

"Ick…" Elizabeth took another bite.

After cleaning up, they prepared to get back on the road.

Elizabeth sat in the coach waiting for Jack to climb in. "Are you going to make it or are you so injured that you need help?" She asked sarcastically with a look to match.

He jumped into the coach and sat beside her, "I'll live, but if you want to take care of me I'll let you..."

"Always," she kissed his cheek.

Once they got back on the main road, "Elizabeth, will you read to me?" Jack asked.

"Oh no, I've had enough of Marco for a while."

"No, I don't want to hear about Marco either. How about you read to me from your journal?" He watched for her reaction.

She turned her head, "My journal? I am not reading to you from my journal Jack Thornton."

"Why? What's in there?" He wanted to tease her.

"I've told you before, it's a private journal."

"Did you write in there about falling in love with me?" He tilted his head.

She couldn't resist his sweet look, "Yes, I did."

"Just read that part to me," He put his head on her shoulder.

"Jack!" She pushed away, "I'm not reading that to you."

"Why, it's about me isn't it?"

"Stop asking, I am not reading it to you…it's all packed in the trunk anyway."

"Okay, then just tell me about it, when did you fall in love with me?"

"It didn't just happen all at once…it happened over time," she looked at him, "you just grew on me."

Jack smiled, "That's good. You know what I was thinking of…"

"How to get into the trunk?"

"No…remember when we saw the comet? That was so special," Jack put his head back on the seat.

"Yes it was, remember how we walked down past the row houses and so many people were out watching the comet."

"Yes, they knew about it because of you, you're such an incredible teacher. I told you the town needs you…"

"You should have told me that you needed me too," she ran her fingers over his hand.

"I did tell you…but you decided to go in for the night."

"You were thinking of your feelings and deciding…" she exhaled thinking about that time.

"I decided way before then …" he touched her face and turned her to face him, "there was never a doubt in my mind."

She looked into his eyes, "I know but part of me was afraid that she would change your mind."

Jack shook his head, "No, like I told you, I never felt for her the way I feel for you. I wake up and you come to my mind. All day I wonder what you're doing. At night I dream of the day we'll be husband and wife."

She kissed him, "I'm so glad because if you chose her I would have to hate you."

Jack chuckled, "I don't think you could hate anyone."

"Yes I could," she smiled.

Jack whistled, "Okay, I think I know what you're saying."

"Stop talking Jack. Just kiss me," she leaned on him.

Jack sighed and pulled her close, enjoying her kisses. "Tell Vernon to hurry up, I gotta build that house!"

Dear Friends: Thank you all for your kind comments and words of encouragement. I'm thrilled that you are enjoying this story of Elizabeth and Jack. I want to give a special thank you to Cindie Henrich who suggested the "coach conversation" topics for this leg of their trip back to Coal Valley, she has been a motivation for me in writing about their adventure and I really appreciate her support and friendship. So many of you have made this a fun experience and I appreciate everyone who takes the time to read and comment. Let the adventure continue ...Cheryl...