The Return to Coal Valley...

As the scenery began to look more and more familiar, Elizabeth reached for Jack's hand as she continued looking out the window of the coach. Jack stared out his window, feeling energized and excited at what lie ahead for them both. He put his other hand on top of hers and looked at her. He felt so blessed to have her in his life, on the verge of becoming his wife and one day the mother of his children.

When Elizabeth turned, all bright eyed and smiles about being so close to home, she noticed his solemn look, "Jack? What is it?"

He simply shook his head, "It's nothing….and it's everything. Everything is just perfect," he squeezed her hand.

"Yes, we're close now, I'm so excited!" She practically bounced in the seat.

Jack smiled, "It will be nice to see everyone and I'm sure Abigail missed you and will be so happy to see you."

"I'll be happy to see her as well. Maybe we should have wired that we're coming home," she thought for a minute, "oh, it will be fun to surprise them."

A short time later they rolled into Coal Valley. Jack had told Vernon to stop at Abigail's Café. Jack got out of the coach first and Elizabeth was so close behind that she practically fell into his arms in her excitement. Jack laughed, "You okay? Calm down, we're here to stay!"

She gave him a quick kiss and headed for the door.

"Abigail! Abigail! We're back!"

Abigail came into the kitchen from the dining room and happily hugged her friend, "Welcome back, it's so good to see you!"

"Oh you too! It's so good to be here," Elizabeth was bouncing in her excitement. "I have so much to tell you! Is everything here okay, how are you, how's Bill?"

"Yes, everything is fine, we're all fine," she held Elizabeth's hands and then saw Jack coming into the room, "Welcome home Jack."

"Good to be home Abigail," Jack smiled, "This is Vernon, our wonderful driver, and he is looking forward to some of your fabulous cooking."

"Ma'm, a pleasure to meet you," Vernon removed his hat.

"Welcome. Now come on, sit down, tell me everything," Abigail motioned them into the dining room as she whispered to Elizabeth, "now you didn't run off and get married did you?"

Elizabeth giggled, "No, we didn't," she glanced at Jack. "We did have a wonderful time, lots of together time," she whispered and covered her mouth with her hand.

Abigail put her arm around Elizabeth's waist, "Good, glad to hear that," she whispered.

"How's Bill?" Jack asked as he took a seat.

"Fine, in fact he should be here anytime, this is his usual time to stop by for coffee," Abigail smiled.

"I have a few trunks that need to be brought upstairs…" Elizabeth said looking when Jack and Vernon laughed. "I bought some things that we need."

Abigail looked at Jack, wrinkled her nose, "Of course and I can't wait to see them."

"Oh you will…lots of them," Jack smiled.

They continued to talk over coffee and biscuits when Bill Avery came in. "I thought that coach had to belong to you, welcome back."

Introductions made and more coffee consumed, Jack wanted to head to the jail, "Elizabeth, can I see you outside for a moment please."

He took her hand, "I'll arrange for the trunks to be brought upstairs and for Vernon's lodging at the saloon," he gently touched her arm, "feels strange leaving you…"

"I know, but think of the welcome you're going to get from Rip," she rubbed his arm. "Come back for supper?"

"Of course," he kissed her cheek, "I'll see you later." He didn't move.

"Jack?"

He reached for her, but pulled back, "Okay, things to do…..I'll see you later." He began to walk away, looking back several times.

Elizabeth stayed on the porch, waving every time Jack looked back, smiling at his uneasiness of leaving her, appreciative of his attention and love. She felt the same, but as he said, there were things to do.

Back inside, she and Abigail went upstairs. Elizabeth searched her bag for a special package and presented it to Abigail. It contained a beautiful cloisonné hair comb shaped like a butterfly. "I hope you like it. I thought it might be something you wouldn't buy for yourself."

Abigail's mouth hung open as she ran her hand over the pretty colorful comb. "Elizabeth, this is truly lovely, thank you."

"This will pay for the cooking lessons you'll continue to give me…" Elizabeth's voice was meek as she expected Abigail to laugh.

"You don't have to pay me for cooking lessons, but really, this is so beautiful," she said, "now does the fact that you're mentioning cooking so soon tell me that you and Jack have set a wedding date and it's to be soon?"

"Not exactly, but we did become much closer on this trip," she felt herself blush.

Abigail noticed, "Really? Is everything okay?"

Elizabeth nodded, "Yes…it was nothing inappropriate, and it was difficult at times to…to…restrain ourselves and separate from all the emotion but we're definitely closer. My family gave us a glorious engagement party and well, Jack and I snuck away for some private time," she rubbed her engagement ring, "and my dress really got Jack's attention and well, Abigail, maybe sometime you and I could have a talk…?"

Abigail smiled, "Oh I see. Of course we can talk, whenever you'd like. And Elizabeth, I'm sure it wasn't the dress that got Jack's attention, but the beautiful woman wearing the dress. But for now, let's get unpacked and maybe we can take a walk, you must want to move after sitting in that coach!"

Elizabeth nodded and smiled, Abigail always knew what to say and do.

At the jail, Jack was petting a very attentive Rip, while Bill updated him on happenings in town. "The only other thing is that there have been rumblings of a gang of robbers in the surrounding territory. I've inquired about them, but have yet to hear anything more. I only sent a wire yesterday, so I'm sure we'll hear something soon. Hopefully they've decided not to come to Coal Valley after hearing the Tolliver gang was captured here, but we could still get orders at some point to assist in the search."

Jack nodded, "I'll read the report later."

"So, I'm very glad to see that things between you and Elizabeth seem to be good and moving forward."

"Yes, very good and moving forward very fast" Jack pet Rip once more and then sat at his desk opposite Bill.

"Fast?"

"Well let's just say we had a lot of private time and I feel it strengthened our relationship," Jack grinned.

Bill smiled, "Ah ha, not to mention what I'm sure it did to your resolve. The wedding will be soon…does it have to be?"

Jack looked out the window and then realized what Bill meant, "Oh no, nothing like that…well almost like that…a few times. I took control…I was in control…"

Bill laughed, "Jack, you don't have to tell me, I remember what it was like."

Jack grinned, "It's almost unbearable at times. How can a woman do that?"

Bill leaned over the desk, "It's the love you have for that woman, it just takes over," he sat back, "Jack, I know you don't have your father around, and if you ever need to talk things over, well, if I'm not being too presumptuous, please feel free to talk to me, ask me …anything."

Jack looked down for a moment and then nodded, "Bill….there are moments when my body, my head and my heart are all in different places…telling me different things."

Bill nodded, "Oh yes, and a woman will continue to do that to you Jack, probably for the rest of your life. I think they're made to do that…and there isn't anything you can do about it! Come on, let's go for a walk, you must need to stretch your legs after riding in that coach."

The men walked and Jack told Bill about some of the events he and Elizabeth experienced on their trip. "Sounds like you need a rest from the trip. Glad her family was okay with you there," Bill said.

"They were wonderful really. We went into the city several times. I even bought Elizabeth a very special surprise, but I have to wait to give it to her. We ordered furniture for our home too. Hopefully I'll get to talk with Adam soon and get the house built."

"He's started it, some engineers from Calgary were here and they started with the foundation and some other things, I haven't been up there, but I think they were here for about a week."

"I can't wait to see what they've done," Jack said.

The men walked outside and Jack filled Bill in on details of Toronto, Calgary and Winnipeg. Bill was fascinated by Jack's recounting of Elizabeth's kidnapping and attack from Higgins. "It's a good thing you were there Jack," he said.

"Never a dull moment, not with Elizabeth," Jack smiled, "But yes, I'm very glad I was with her."

"Well, lets head to the café so you can be with her now," Bill said.

Abigail helped Elizabeth unpack and as they were about to head out for a quick walk, Bill and Jack came down the street to the café.

"How about some dinner?" Jack smiled.

"Well, I think that is a good idea," Abigail replied.

Discussions continued through the meal and when Bill stood, "I think I'll call it a day. Good to have you both back safe and sound," he smiled at Jack and Elizabeth. "Good night…Abigail, thank you for the nice dinner."

"You're welcome Bill," Abigail stood and picked up several dishes and headed to the kitchen as Bill walked out the café door.

Jack and Elizabeth looked at each other, questioning what just happened. "I should help Abigail," Elizabeth said as she picked up dishes.

"Of course," Jack folded his napkin, but he overheard Abigail refusing Elizabeth's help.

"No, I can do these dishes, it isn't much. You and Jack need to take a walk. Go…I'll see you later."

Elizabeth returned to the café, threw her hands up, "I … let's go take a walk."

Jack knew she wanted to talk and he led her out the café door.

"What was that all about?" Jack asked.

"I'm not exactly sure," she took Jack's arm, "did Bill say anything to you?"

"No, nothing," Jack replied.

"I'll try to talk to her later, but for now…do you know what I would like to do?" She moved closer and squeezed his arm.

Jack stood straighter, "Please tell me…"

"Go check on our house."

Jack shook his head, "That's exactly where we're headed." They walked a little faster until they reached their special grove of trees. "Wait…" Jack pulled her aside and kissed her, "Elizabeth before we see our house for the first time, I want you to know that no matter what, I love you and can't wait to be your husband…"

Elizabeth touched his face, "Jack…I love you too….I'm excited to see our beginning."

"Me too," he kissed her cheek.

They walked up and around a small hill and there it was, a partial frame, two fireplaces and a wagon filled with lumber and building supplies. Jack and Elizabeth looked at each other with big smiles and then rushed over to inspect their future home. They were silent as they both wandered around the construction site. Elizabeth touched the stones on a fireplace, thinking of times they will be sitting there in front of a warm fire. She looked over at Jack, imagining him caring for the fire as she waited for him to sit by her side, as his wife. The thought made her feel so happy and content. She walked toward Jack, and looked at him. He was crouched down, spreading his hands out in front of him. He then stood and did the same thing a few feet away.

Elizabeth smiled, "What are you doing?"

He turned his head, "Can't you tell?" He stood, his eyes staring at her, as he walked to her. "I'm tucking our children into bed…" He looked over his shoulder, "I can see it so clearly, them all safe in their beds after we've fed them. You're in the kitchen finishing up things so you can get ready to spend your evening with me…"

Elizabeth swallowed and tried to control her breathing, "That's such a beautiful scene Jack," she took his hand, "our children…safe and sound because they have a wonderful, brave father who keeps them safe... keeps us all safe."

Jack moved closer, "Ahh, well they have a wonderful mother. A beautiful mother who I'll be kissing a lot."

"You will? They probably won't like that," she crinkled her nose.

"Then we'll do that in private," he whispered and walked her to the other fireplace, "here in our bedroom."

"Oh, is that what this is?" She asked softly as she looked around.

Jack nodded, noticing her shyness and how she pulled back slightly. He put his hand gently on her face, "You think you'll like it?"

She looked into his eyes, "Yes, I suppose... it will be a beautiful room..."

Jack chuckled softly, "I'm sure it will be."

Elizabeth nodded, "I'll like it more with walls and a roof."

Jack nodded, "Yes, that will help. It will be wonderful and we'll make wonderful memories here," he stepped closer, "we'll be so happy we won't ever want to leave this house," he looked up and around.

"We can't stay in here all the time," she moved closer.

"Maybe not all the time, but I think at first we're going to be in here a lot…."

"What are we going to do?" Her voice was low as she ran her hand down his cheek and rested it on his chest.

"Oh, I'll think of something." He pulled her into his arms and kissed her. She sighed, leaned against him and returned his kiss.