Chapter 44 - The Mountie Ball

The next morning Vernon had the coach ready to go. He sat in the café drinking coffee with Bill and Jack as they waited for the ladies to get ready. "Are you sure that's all the luggage they have?" Vernon asked, "doesn't seem like very much."

"Yes, that's what they said," Bill responded.

Jack walked into the kitchen and looked into a picnic basket sitting on the table.

"Hey, don't be poking around in there," Elizabeth said as she came downstairs, "Abigail packed some food for the trip."

"Hmm, good," Jack smiled, "You look beautiful as always." He took her hand and kissed her cheek.

"Thank you, I'm so excited!"

They all got aboard the coach and Vernon began their journey.

"Okay, someone has to ask, so I guess I'll do it," Bill slapped his thigh getting everyone's attention

Jack snickered, drawing Elizabeth's gaze from Bill, "What? What's going on?"

"That's what we want to know," Bill said. "Did you forget we're going to a Ball? Did you bring your best ball gowns?"

Abigail brought her hand to her mouth, hiding her smile.

Elizabeth's eyebrows shot up, "We have that all under control."

"Well, seeing how I am the only veteran of these affairs, I will tell you that the ladies generally do wear full ball gown regalia at these Mountie Balls. So unless you are wearing pantaloons, I think you forgot something!"

Elizabeth and Abigail gasped. Abigail turned to him, "Bill!"

Jack tried to hide his laughter at Bill's remark, but Elizabeth said, "As a matter of fact, Abigail and I will have ball gowns," she leaned forward toward Bill, "to cover our pantaloons!"

Jack's smiled broadened, "So where are these gowns?"

"They have already arrived at our destination," Elizabeth shimmied in her seat.

"Oh you sent them on ahead? Very smart," Bill said.

"No, I asked Julie to purchase gowns for us and ship them to the hotel," Elizabeth replied.

Jack sat up straighter, "Nice, I like that."

"You do, why?" Elizabeth was intrigued by his happy tone.

"Well, didn't Julie select your engagement gown?"

Elizabeth nodded.

Jack smiled and swayed, "I really liked that one, so I can only imagine what she got for you for the ball." He rubbed his hands together, causing Bill and Abigail to chuckle and Elizabeth to blush.

"Oh Jack, really," Elizabeth was embarrassed.

"I can't wait to see it," Jack said, teasing but serious.

"What if you don't like it?" She teased back.

"Ahhh," Jack looked around.

"Give up Jack, you're in over your head!" Bill advised.

They all laughed, except Jack who folded his arms across his chest and looked out the window.

Bill pointed to the basket, "Is there a tin with biscuits in there?"

Abigail answered, "How did you know?" She reached in and gave a biscuit to Jack and Bill.

As the men munched, Elizabeth smiled, "While you men are eating, I have some entertainment!" She reached into her bag and proudly displayed "The Untamed Lady" book featuring the adventures of Marco!

Jack choked on his biscuit, "Wha….Why do you…have…that?"

"I thought we're two nice couples traveling together and we all would enjoy a nice story," Elizabeth opened the book.

Jack banged on his chest with one hand trying to swallow, while reaching for the book with the other hand.

Elizabeth pulled the book away, "No, I can read it Jack."

Jack put his hand to his forehead and shook his head, "Oh no…how did you get that?"

Elizabeth cleared her throat, "I found out where you were hiding it."

"Oh, don't read to us," Jack begged.

Elizabeth winked and began reading, "Marco closed his office door and walked to his carriage in the cool night air. He climbed in and pulled a blanket over his lap. A soft knock on the carriage door surprised him and when he opened the door he was pleasantly surprised to see Miss Josette Adair there, looking becoming in a dark blue gown. "May I join you for a ride in your carriage?" she asked. She climbed in and Marco shared the blanket."

"Okay, that's enough," Jack reached for the book, but Elizabeth held tight. "You stole that book from the jail."

"I did not! It's my book!" she moved away slightly.

"Oh let her read," Bill said, "passes the time."

Jack shook his head, trying to silently warn Bill.

Bill caught on, "Well, maybe we can hear more later…," giving Jack a confused look.

Elizabeth flipped through the pages, "This chapter is almost done, I'll just finish it." She cleared her throat and continued, "Josette reached for Marco's hand under the blanket and he caressed it with his thumb as he leaned forward and kissed her cheek." Elizabeth smiled at the romantic words. "When Josette turned her face to meet his lips, Marco slid his arm around her tiny waist and pulled her closer. As their lips met in a fiery romantic kiss, Marco touched her throat and lowered his hand to the lace ruffle of her gown and pushed the fabric down exposing the rise of her…" Elizabeth closed the book and took a quick breath.

"Give me that," Jack's voice was low as he took the book from her.

She moved her face toward Jack, "I didn't know it was going to say that…" she whispered.

Jack shrugged, "It's okay, let's talk about the Ball, what kind of food will they have Bill?" He slid the book beneath his thigh.

When Jack and Elizabeth looked up, Bill and Abigail sat with their mouths open, wondering what just happened. "Ahh, oh…good food…real good," Bill finally said. Abigail nervously looked down.

The remainder of the ride was quiet.

Once at the hotel, they checked in and discovered the rooms were next door to each other, however they were booked as couples. Once upstairs, the butler moved Abigail's covered gown into the other room and they all agreed to freshen up before going downstairs for some refreshment. Vernon checked into his own room and went on his way to check out the town.

Elizabeth was excited, "Shall we uncover these gowns?" she touched the sheeting fabric covering the gowns, which were on dress forms to avoid wrinkling, "I'm so nervous," she couldn't move the fabric.

Abigail was so eager she just walked over and ripped the sheet off her gown, "Oh Elizabeth! Look at this!" Her gown was dark red with elbow length lace sleeves, a squared neckline with a splattering of red beads as trim. The skirt was full but not overly big with a lace bow on the waist. "How beautiful…" Abigail ran her hand over the silky fabric and chiffon skirt.

Elizabeth slowly removed the sheeting from her gown, "Oh…." She threw her hands to her face. Her gown was red satin, sleeveless with a sweetheart shaped neckline. Beautiful pearls and glass beads outlined the curved neckline. The waist was low with a full skirt with an overlay of chiffon, with satin trimming the scalloped hemline. Elizabeth walked around the dress to see the back, she giggled seeing the lacing up the back. "This is so…so…"

"Beautiful," Abigail finished her sentence. "Just wait until Jack sees you in this," Abigail touched the bead work on the low cut bodice, "You will be a vision in this dress. Julie certainly knows how to shop."

Elizabeth was stunned, "She did this on purpose you know. This dress doesn't cover much, does it?"

Abigail had walked to the bed and opened the box, "Oh look, there's shoes and a wrap that matches your gown, its chiffon trimmed in satin," she ran her hand over the fabric.

Elizabeth took it and wrapped it around her shoulders, "This will help."

After the ladies freshened up, they went out into the hall where Jack and Bill were waiting. They went downstairs and had a light lunch and Bill and Abigail decided to walk outside. Elizabeth took Jack's hand, "I have to do a few things here, will you come with me?"

"Of course," he moved close to her, "Have I told you that I love you today?" He brought her hand to his lips.

Elizabeth blushed, "I love you too."

They walked through the lobby of the hotel before coming upon a small shop, "Oh here, let's go in here, I have to make a purchase." She pulled Jack into the shop.

Jack willingly followed, looking around, until he realized it was a ladies apparel shop. "Elizabeth," he tugged her hand, "maybe I shouldn't be in here, this is for ladies."

"Oh Jack, really," she shook her head, laughing at the way he said it like it was a disease, "it's only a shop, come on I'll only be a minute." She stopped at a counter and peered into the glass case. Jack nervously tried to appear disinterested.

"May I help you with something?" A sales lady asked.

"Yes, you may, I need to purchase a pair of stockings please," Elizabeth said.

Jack rolled his eyes.

The sales lady reached behind her and held up a pair of stockings. Jack swallowed and looked to the floor.

"Those are very nice, but I like the kind that are a bit more sheer than those and that come up high on the thigh," she ran her finger around her upper thigh demonstrating.

Jack's eyes bulged, watching her finger outline the curve of her upper thigh pressing the fabric of her skirt, "Oh boy," he whispered as he turned and walked away. He walked along glass cases of merchandise heading for the door. He stopped at the end of the counter, waiting for Elizabeth. To his left was a corset on top of the counter, hanging on a stand. He glanced at it several times, fascinated by it. Seeing Elizabeth was still busy with the sales lady, he touched the corset with one finger, investigating the closures on the front. It swung on its hanger, causing Jack to pull his hand away. He did a double take at the lacing up the back and he snickered, "Nice to see you again," he mumbled at the intricate ribbon lacing. When the front spun back into view, he touched it looking closely at the tiny hook and eye closures that ran up the front, wondering how a woman would lace up the back and then hook the front. He now had both hands on it, opening the tiny closures and inspecting them. "Hmm," he looked it over and smiled seeing the tiny pink bow at the neckline of the corset. He tapped it with his fingertip.

"May I help you sir?"

He jumped back, "No…no, I'm just waiting…"

"Are you making a purchase for your wife?" The sales lady moved her eyeglasses to look at him more closely.

Jack nervously pointed toward Elizabeth, "She's not my wife…"

"Oh well, then for your…friend?" the women gave him a guilty look.

"Oh no…not this," Jack pointed to the corset, "No…thanks." He held his hands up before putting them behind his back.

"Well, that's a new style, perhaps your friend would like another style," the woman reached under the counter and slapped a full corset onto the glass. Jack's eyes bulged at the sight of the garment, it was much longer than the other and made of heavier fabric.

Elizabeth had completed her purchase and searching for Jack saw him talking to a saleswoman. She got close but stayed back to watch, amused at Jack's actions. She decided to rescue him, "Making a purchase?"

Jack's head turned to her, "Ahh, no…just waiting…" he leaned on the glass counter with his hand, trying to appear casual, "waiting, that's all."

"Oh?" Elizabeth glanced at his hand.

When Jack looked down and realized his hand was on the corset, he yanked it away like he was touching hot coals. "Oh …that, the nice lady here, she was showing me…I don't want to make …a purchase right now." Jack was beyond flustered, "Thank you," he mumbled to the saleswoman, "I'll wait out there," he pointed to the doorway and walked firmly out of the store.

Elizabeth looked at the saleswoman and they both shared a giggle.

Jack was pacing in the lobby when Elizabeth hooked her hand through his arm, "Jack, I didn't know you wanted to buy me a corset," she teased.

"No, I didn't," he cleared his throat.

"You're blushing," she whispered close to his ear.

"Oh Elizabeth really," he said.

She laughed.

Upstairs, Elizabeth was pleased to see Abigail had returned from her walk with Bill. "Come on, we're going downstairs."

"Why?" Abigail asked.

"For some pampering, come on."

They entered the hotel's women's salon and were treated to several luxurious treatments, finishing with beautiful upswept hairstyles with tiny flower accents.

"Oh Elizabeth, I've never been so pampered, and it's wonderful," Abigail said, "thank you so much for this, I really enjoyed it."

Elizabeth smiled, "Well, it's not every day we get to go to a Ball, so we deserve it."

"Well, it certainly is something I'll always remember," Abigail smiled.

The men prepared for the evening. Jack fixed his tie, looking out the window of his room, smiling thinking of Elizabeth buying stockings. He tugged at his collar thinking of the corsets and shook his head. "Remember never to go shopping with her again," he said.

"What's that Jack?" Bill asked as he secured a cuff link on his sleeve.

"Just reminding myself not to go shopping with Elizabeth," Jack stated.

"What's wrong with that?"

"In a ladies shop, the items are a little too ….feminine," Jack grinned, "while very nice to look at and touch, it was uncomfortable."

"You touched them? Did you make a purchase?" Bill teased.

"No, I didn't, but I don't really understand those things, they have these tiny hooks in the front, lots of them and then on the back, laces go all the way up. How do they get in and out of those contraptions?"

Bill walked over and slapped Jack's shoulder, "That my friend, will be answered when you make that beautiful woman your wife."

"Ahh haa," Jack grinned.

"And it's not as hard as it appears," Bill whispered, "at least taking them off." He gave Jack a wink.

The men waited in the hallway, Jack pacing. "Will you relax," Bill said.

"I'm good," Jack stopped at a mirror and touched his hair.

Abigail came out of the room first, "Well, aren't you two handsome."

Jack smiled and then looked at Bill who immediately walked to Abigail, "You look so lovely, beautiful gown on a very beautiful woman." He took her hand.

"Thank you Bill, I do feel like a princess," she shrugged slightly.

They took a few steps and Abigail turned, "I think Elizabeth is afraid to come out."

Jack looked at them, "Why would she be afraid?" He turned to head to the room to get her but she was there, just a few feet away, waiting outside the door. Jack's feet stopped beneath him, but his body didn't and he lunged forward, "Whoooa."

Elizabeth was breathtaking in her red gown, her hair up, a shy smile on her face. She took several deep breaths as Jack stared at her. "Jack, you look so handsome."

Jack composed himself and walked to her, standing just to her side, so he could whisper in her ear, "How did I get so lucky?"

"I want to look nice for you, so you're proud to have me on your arm," she said softly as she looked down.

Jack looked away in disbelief, "You could wear my uniform and I'd be proud to have you on my arm. You're just beautiful," he kissed her cheek.

"Thank you," she whispered.

"Ahh, except that I'll be fighting off Mounties all night long," he turned and held out his arm.

"You two are sure to be the loveliest ladies in the entire ballroom," Bill said as he gestured for Jack and Elizabeth to lead the way, "Let's go have a wonderful evening."

The large ballroom was filling up with couples, "Lots of red," Abigail said. "What a beautiful room, love the decorations. Look at all the white flowers Elizabeth." The round tables had white tablecloths, red napkins and silver vases with white flowers.

"It is beautiful," Elizabeth was pleased to see that almost all the women were wearing ball gowns, all in various shades of red. She squeezed Jack's arm as he lovingly covered her hand in the crook of his arm. He was the most handsome Mountie in the room and she looked up lovingly at him. They found their table and were thrilled to see Constable Patrick O'Reilly seated with them.

"Patrick!" Jack was pleased to see him. After introductions of Patrick's wife Sarah, they all sat and enjoyed pleasant conversation as the room continued to fill with guests. Patrick showed off a photograph of their adorable baby boy, Ethan, and proposed a toast to an enjoyable evening.

As the orchestra played, Jack leaned toward Elizabeth, "Would you care to dance with me?"

Elizabeth smiled, "There's no one else I want to dance with."

On the dance floor, Jack smiled as he took her in his arms, "I feel laces," he pressed his fingers on her back, "oh, and little buttons," as he glanced around the room, "makes me a little nervous," he laughed softly.

Elizabeth giggled and looked away.

"You look so beautiful," he said.

"Thank you…this is such a nice evening."

"Yes," Jack swallowed and moved his hand on her back. "I have to tell you… when I was a small boy and my father was home, I used to run around wearing his hat pretending I was a Mountie, rounding up bad guys and even fighting cattle rustlers," he laughed softly, "but in all my pretending to be grown up I never dreamed about being with a beautiful woman…being in love. I don't think I ever thought of that until I met you, until I fell in love with you."

Elizabeth began to gently shake her head, knowing some of Jack's past.

"No…I mean really felt it in my heart…what real love must be…what love is. I can picture our life…our future. I know that I don't want to be without you. My heart revolves around you now." He looked down.

Elizabeth licked her lips, fighting her emotions from his words, "Jack…"

"I know I'm not the best at expressing my feelings, but I was thinking about that earlier getting ready for this, I never expected to be doing this," he looked into her eyes and looked away.

"Jack, you express your feelings …in all the right ways. You have my heart, and always will. I love you so much," she felt her voice waver as she blinked back tears.

He pulled her closer and whispered in her ear, "I love you ….oh how much I love you."

They continued dancing and were pleased to see Abigail and Bill also dancing.

Bill smiled at Abigail, "Are you having a nice time?"

"Wonderful, from the dress, the pampering," she looked up at him, "and the best part, the company."

Shortly after they returned to the table, food was served. Elizabeth pushed the food around her plate.

"Is something wrong?" Jack noticed.

"No, I don't think I have room for food," she touched her tummy and sipped her champagne. "If you'll excuse me," she got up and headed to the ladies rest room.

"Excuse me," Jack followed her, "Elizabeth, are you okay?"

"Yes, I'll be right back," she pointed.

"Okay, I'll wait for you here," he stated.

"I'll come back to the table," she assured him.

Elizabeth went to the ladies room and looked in the mirror, adjusted a few stray pieces of hair and smoothed her dress, pleased with Jack's appreciation of her dress. She left the room and was about to enter the ballroom when a man approached her.

"Excuse me, are you looking for someone?" He asked.

She looked at him, "No, I was just returning to my table," she smiled politely.

"It's a beautiful evening isn't it? The room is so nice," the man said.

"Yes," she took a step, "excuse me."

"Oh, I'm Constable Amendola, they asked me to act as a host here this evening…"

"Oh I see, well, it's a lovely event."

"You make it lovelier. Can I get you some champagne?"

"No thank you, I really should go back to my seat," Elizabeth smiled.

"Oh, this is Constable Edelman," he slapped the shoulder of a man who walked over beside him. "This is…I don't even know your name..."

Before Elizabeth could open her mouth, Jack was at her side, "You ready to go sit down?" He stared at the two Mounties, easily recognizing them as the trouble makers from the training at Sanders Station.

Edelman let out a laugh, "This beautiful woman is with you Thornton?"

Elizabeth glanced up at Jack and could feel the tension he emitted. She stepped behind him.

"Have a lovely evening Constable, Ma'm," Amendola said, "Come on, let's get out of here," he slapped Edelman with the back of his hand, "I am not fighting with him or anyone else tonight and neither are you."

Jack stood his ground and watched the two walk away. He didn't move until Elizabeth slid her hand up his arm, "Jack? Let's go…"

Jack sighed and looked away before turning to her, "I'm with you," he touched her cheek.

At the table, Bill never looked away from Jack, "Everything okay?"

Jack nodded at Bill, "Yes, I believe so."

"Good." Bill said.

Elizabeth picked up her champagne glass, "Please join me in a toast to the brave and handsome Constables here this evening." She looked lovingly at Jack.

Jack picked up his glass, "I hope you mean just at this table."

She giggled, "Of course I do," she leaned close to him, "and especially this one at my side."

After a few more dances, Jack was embarrassed by a presentation of plaques by the senior officers. He and Bill received a plaque for the capture of the Tolliver gang. The two men went to the stage area and received their plaques. Elizabeth and Abigail proudly applauded. The two men then were called again for the case of the Northwest Pacific Mining Company disaster. They came back to the table with those two plaques. "I didn't expect this," Jack said as he laid the plaque on the table.

"They're well earned and will look wonderful displayed on the jail wall where everyone in Coal Valley can see them," Elizabeth touched his arm, "I'm so proud of you."

"Let's dance," Jack took her hand and they went to the dance floor. "You know, I don't like thinking of the Tolliver case. They could have hurt you," he looked down, "I don't know what I would have done…"

"It's a good thing you came to my rescue," she moved closer.

"The thought of him touching you…" he shook his head and felt his jaw clench.

"Nothing happened, so don't think bad thoughts," she whispered in his ear, "let's take a little walk, it's warm in here."

They stopped at the table and Elizabeth took a sip of champagne, before taking Jack's arm.

"I forgot my wrap, can we go to my room and get it and we can walk outside," she tugged Jack's arm.

"Okay," he followed her.

She opened the door to the room, "Oh, it's warm in here too, can you open the window please." She reached for her wrap on the bed and fell to the floor.

"Elizabeth!" Jack rushed to her side.

Elizabeth pulled her skirt to reveal the buckle of her shoe attached to the bed cover, which was now half off the bed. She giggled, "My shoe is taking the blanket with me," she looked at Jack.

"Its okay, let me see if I can unhook it," he carefully moved the blanket to access the buckle.

"Oh, I'm wearing my new stockings, aren't they nice?" She took his hand and tried to put it on her ankle.

He pulled his hand away, glancing at her ankle and calf, "Yes, nice…" he looked at her, "I think you had a little too much champagne."

She sat up straighter, "I'm fine…don't say that."

"There, you're free," Jack stood and offered her his hand.

She rose and stood in front of him, "I feel happy," she said softly.

Jack nodded, "Yup, I thought so…" He noticed the glow to her face, her half smile, the sparkles coming from her dress. He nodded and went to the window to open it.

Elizabeth followed, "I'm fine Jack." She leaned on the window frame, "The air feels so good, aren't you warm?"

"A little," he stared out into the evening sky, not wanting to look at her knowing it would be difficult to not pull her into his embrace.

"You can take your jacket off if you'd like," she said.

Jack knew he had to get them out of there, "No, I'm good. Let's take that walk."

She moved closer to him, "Just take off your jacket, then we can take our walk."

"I'm okay this way," Jack touched his chest.

Elizabeth moved closer, "It's okay, here, I'll help you," she reached for the buttons of his jacket.

Jack tried to take her hands, "Elizabeth ….stop, that's my vest."

Elizabeth giggled, "You're so handsome in this suit."

"Thank you," he buttoned just as quickly as she was unbuttoning. "Let's go take that walk."

She touched his face and kissed him, "I just wanted to kiss you while we're alone."

Jack took a deep breath and responded to her kiss, he put his hand on her waist and kissed her several times. The feel of her hands on his face moved him and he moved his hand up her back and cupped the back of her head in his hand. She leaned back, grabbing the drapery as she stepped back, causing the drapery and the rod to crash to the floor.

"Are you all right?" Jack stepped back pulling her with him. "Elizabeth, it's a good thing that didn't hit you! We better go and get someone from the hotel to fix that."

Elizabeth just kept looking up at where the drapery used to be, "How did it fall?"

"Must have been loose to begin with," Jack said, "come on, we have to tell them."

Elizabeth started to laugh, "Are you going to turn me in Constable?"

"No…but they need to fix it."

"Okay," she couldn't help but laugh at Jack's concerned look. They hurried down the hall and once in the lobby, Jack explained to the desk clerk what happened.

Meanwhile Abigail and Bill headed to the room, Abigail's new shoes were hurting and she wanted to change them. "Thank you Bill for coming with me," she opened the door to the room she shared with Elizabeth, "Good heavens what happened in here?" They both stood and looked at the bed with the coverlet on the floor, the drapery on the floor and the curtain rod on the floor near the window.

Bill shrugged, "I don't know," he walked to the window, "I don't think anyone would have climbed in."

Just then Jack and Elizabeth came to the doorway, "Oh, Elizabeth forgot her wrap," Jack said.

Abigail looked at them, "Oh, someone's been in here and knocked the the curtains off the wall!" Then she noticed Jack's vest buttoned incorrectly.

Elizabeth put her hand to her mouth to conceal her laugh, "We did that, it was an accident."

"Oh….really?" Abigail's suspicions grew and she slowly walked behind Elizabeth.

Jack noticed Abigail looking at the back of Elizabeth's dress and he sighed, knowing she was checking the lacing.

"Everything okay Jack?" Bill asked.

"Yes, fine." Jack said.

Bill leaned toward Jack, "Then you better re-button that vest, must have put it on too quickly."

Jack looked down at his vest and quickly turned to fix the buttons as he said, "We're going for a walk outside." He picked up Elizabeth's wrap and took her hand, "we'll see you later."

In the hallway Jack and Elizabeth passed two hotel employees with a toolbox and overheard, "…some guests were having a little too much fun in their room I guess…"

Jack rolled his eyes and took Elizabeth's hand as they headed for the stairs. Jack needed air and wanted to be alone with Elizabeth...

To Be Continued...