Chapter 50

"Mrs. Thornton! When….how…..it's nice to see you again," Elizabeth pressed her hands nervously into her skirt, darting her eyes between Jack and his mother.

Jack saw Julie sliding something behind her back, "Mother wanted to surprise us…looks like she did."

Julie stepped next to Elizabeth, "Mrs. Thornton, we were only discussing the Mountie Ball…"

"Shhh, Julie," Elizabeth put her hand on her sister's arm.

"Yes," Abigail slid her book behind the chair and approached Mrs. Thornton, wanting to help Elizabeth, "and it's a wonderful surprise. So nice to see you Mrs. Thornton, let me get you a cup of tea." Abigail led Jack's mother into the dining room allowing Jack to deal with Elizabeth and Julie.

Jack walked to Elizabeth and took her arm, "What's going on?"

"Oh Jack, I'm so sorry, Julie just…well, never mind. It's so nice that your mother has arrived."

Jack sighed and looked at Julie.

Julie took the hint in Jack's staring silence. "Oh, well, I'll go have tea with Abigail and Mrs. Thornton," Julie scurried to the dining room.

Jack looked at Elizabeth, "What are you doing?"

"We were just talking…"

"About us?" Jack leaned closer, concerned that she was sharing details, "I'm a little surprised."

"No, please…not about us…," Elizabeth sighed trying to calm her anxiety, "we were just being silly, please don't be upset."

Jack nodded and then looked around and seeing they were alone, he gave her a quick kiss, wanting to calm them both down. "It's okay….I was surprised to see her too, guess she was able to come a little earlier than she expected. I think she wants to help with the wedding preparations," Jack smiled touching her arm tenderly.

"Oh, well I'm happy to have her help," Elizabeth touched Jack's face, "its happening Jack. Julie, now your mother….no backing down now, Constable."

"I'll never back down, I wish I was marrying you tomorrow," he kissed her cheek, "I'm so ready to marry you Miss Thatcher."

Elizabeth bit her bottom lip for a moment, and then looked up into his squinting eyes, "Let's go sit with your mother."

Jack blinked and smiled, feeling his heart pound. He took her hand and they went to the dining room together.

Mrs. Thornton was listening to Julie's animated tale of the upcoming wedding and all the details and plans she had in her own mind. Jack and Elizabeth quietly joined them at the table. After polite chat, Abigail stood, "Julie will you help me in the kitchen please?"

"Oh, is it something fun?" Julie practically jumped out of the chair.

"No, but I'm sure you'll make it fun, excuse us," Abigail nodded to her guest.

"So," Mary Thornton, put her tea cup in the saucer, "Elizabeth, tell me more about Jack's antics in the hotel room," she raised an eyebrow and stared at Elizabeth.

"Oh, well, I …" Elizabeth looked at Jack, "I was just exaggerating for my sister…I mean, Abigail and I shared a hotel room, not Jack and I…."

Jack coughed, "Of course we weren't in the hotel room…"

Mrs. Thornton smiled, "I understand. While I believe in passion, I think it's best to hold off on that until after the wedding," she looked at her son, "don't you?"

Jack clenched his jaw, "Yes, of course."

Elizabeth stared down at the table, "I'm so sorry…" she felt on the brink of tears.

"It's fine my dear," Mary touched Elizabeth's hand, "I'm glad you love my son. Now, let's talk about that wedding shall we?"

Elizabeth looked up at a smiling Mrs. Thornton, "Yes, I would so appreciate your help…if you want to of course."

"Of course I want to, I'll do whatever I can, but while we're here alone, I'd like to talk to you both about a wedding gift."

"Oh mother, you don't have to do that," Jack said.

"Jack, if you think my son is getting married and I will not celebrate the occasion with a gift for him and his bride, you are mistaken," she reached into a bag near her chair, "I have secured a four night stay for you both at Banff Springs Hotel, which is only a few hours from here by coach and offers a variety of wonderful amenities you'll be able to enjoy. I hope you both will go and enjoy it as my guests." She handed an envelope to Jack, "This has all the information you need."

"A honeymoon?" Jack took the envelope, "Thank you mother, very much. It will be a wonderful trip I'm sure." He looked at Elizabeth.

"Thank you," Elizabeth said, "Such a lovely, thoughtful gift." She looked at Jack, her eyes fighting tears again, only now tears of happiness.

"It's important to begin your marriage on a happy note and being away will give you privacy and let you have some new adventures together," Mary sipped her tea, "do you know how to fish Elizabeth?"

"Fish? No, I've never done that," she smiled.

Jack took her hand, "We'll have to take a little boat ride and have a fishing lesson."

"Good...and Jack tells me your parents have not arrived as yet," Mary said.

"No, not yet. Although Julie tells me they have already left, so they could be here soon," Elizabeth said. "They are bringing things for the wedding and our new house."

"I look forward to seeing your house. I've brought some things as well, but we can do all that later. I understand from Abigail that you've been taking cooking lessons and reading cookbooks."

Jack squirmed slightly, concerned with what Elizabeth might say about her new favorite past time.

Elizabeth smiled, "Yes, Abigail has been most generous with her time and has taught me many things," she glanced at Jack, "and cookbooks have enhanced my knowledge as well."

Jack breathed a sigh of relief at Elizabeth's perfect answer and gave her a wink.

"That's wonderful, I hope to have an opportunity to enjoy something you create. For now, Jack I'd like to walk a bit since I've been sitting on that rickety stagecoach for so long. Can we go for a stroll? I'd like to talk to you."

Jack looked from his mother to Elizabeth, "Yes…yes, we can walk," he stood and offered his mother his arm.

"I will see you later my dear," Mary said to Elizabeth.

"Yes, have a nice walk," she looked at Jack.

Jack kissed Elizabeth's cheek, "I'll be back."

Once outside, Jack and his mother strolled down the main road, "I don't suppose you want to show me your house without Elizabeth."

"No, but if you want to see it, I don't think she'd mind," Jack said.

"No, I suppose I can wait," she squeezed her son's arm as they walked, "I'm so happy that you'll soon be married. Are you nervous?"

"A little, but I've never more confident of a decision in my life. I can visualize my future with Elizabeth, she's the perfect person for me mother."

"I know that Jack. I can tell how much you care for her and she obviously feels the same way."

"Your gift is most generous and I'm sure we'll enjoy time there," Jack said.

"Well son, I have made some good investments and want to assist you to start your marriage in a good way. You have to do all you can to have a successful marriage, it's very important. I know you're a good man Jack."

Jack nodded, "Thank you mother."

At the café, Elizabeth hurried around the kitchen, putting cookies on a plate and then folding tablecloths.

"Elizabeth, you need to calm down," Abigail was concerned for her.

"I'm fine. I just hope Mrs. Thornton doesn't think I've lost my mind and think I'm a….a…." Elizabeth sighed and sat down in a chair.

Abigail laughed softly, "What? A floozy? Why would she think that?"

"A floozy? Why would you choose that word? I don't feel comfortable talking to her," Elizabeth sighed again.

"Elizabeth, you've only just spent ten minutes with her. Don't worry, things will calm down," Abigail said. "Things will be fine, she's happy to be with Jack and you."

"I hope so. I just have to keep Julie away from her," Elizabeth said.

"Away from who?" Julie entered the room.

"No one, just behave Julie," Elizabeth scolded her younger sister.

"I always behave," Julie said.

"Yes, sometimes good behavior and sometimes very wrong," Elizabeth commented.

Elizabeth was still in the café helping Abigail when Jack returned some time later.

Jack approached Elizabeth in the kitchen, "Can we take a buggy ride?"

She looked at him, "Yes, that's a wonderful idea."

"I'll go get the buggy and be waiting for you," he kissed her cheek.

Elizabeth went upstairs, changed into her lilac dress, brushed her hair and dabbed some perfume behind her ears. She was ready to spend some time with Jack. She came downstairs and slipped out the kitchen door.

"Elizabeth, you look lovely," Jack was leaning on the buggy and assisted her up into the rig. Once seated next to her, he looked at her, smiled and clicked the reigns.

Elizabeth slipped her hand in the crook of his arm and sighed, content to be with the man she loved. They rode in silence until they were out just passed their home. Jack stopped the buggy just inside the tall grass at the edge of the road. He turned to Elizabeth and took her hand, "Thank you for so eloquently describing your cooking education to my mother earlier," he rubbed his thumb across her hand.

Elizabeth smiled, "You mean thank you for not telling her how to baste?"

Jack swallowed a chuckle, "Yeah…"

Elizabeth moved closer, "Well, I'm really learning a lot from that cookbook…"

Jack stared at her hand, "Really?"

"Yes," she moved her thumb around his palm, making him smile.

"Like what?" he cleared his throat, not looking at her, "What have you learned?"

Elizabeth dragged her lips across his cheek, "Seasoning…"

Jack closed his eyes, "Seasoning?"

"Ah ha, very important," she kissed his cheek and stayed there.

"I can understand that," he glanced at her and took a deep breath.

"Yes, adding spice makes everything…well, spicier," she giggled as she kissed his ear.

Jack leaned his head toward her, enjoying her kisses, "Spicier…I like that."

"I thought you might," she kissed the skin below his ear.

Jack slipped his hand around her waist and pulled her closer, sighing as she kissed his neck. He moved his head against hers, "You smell so good…"

"Thank you…I guess I have some seasoning too," her voice was soft and low.

Jack smiled and kept one hand around her waist and with his other hand, reached up and ran his fingers through her hair, past her ear to caress her cheek, "I love you…and your seasoning…" he whispered.

"I love you too," she touched his face, "especially when I've added spice."

Jack laughed, "Add all the spice you want," he looked into her eyes.

"I know you'll help me with my recipes," she bit her lip.

"Yes, we'll create wonderful things together," he whispered.

She nodded. "Jack?"

"Yes?" he continued caressing her cheek.

"If you don't kiss me, I'll scream."

He grinned and pulled her against him, lifting her off the seat with one strong tug and crushed his lips to hers, causing her to whimper as she reached around him and held him tight. She ran one hand through his hair as he swayed, pressing his lips against hers, enjoying their closeness. She giggled as she felt his fingers moving at her waist, making sure he had a good grip on her and keeping her close. She leaned back slightly and he leaned right along with her, moving his shoulders closer to her.

She pulled back from their intimate kiss, "Jack…" she was breathless.

His breathing was heavy and he held his hand up, "Elizabeth…God gave me these hands to touch you, hold you in my arms…"

Elizabeth put her hand against his and their fingers clamped down, "I know…I trust those hands so completely."

Jack looked down, understanding he had to control his strong feelings and desires. He looked up and brought her hand to his lips, kissing it and holding it at his lips for a long moment.

Elizabeth smiled and nuzzled at his shoulder. They held each other close for a long while.

Jack finally spoke, "What are you thinking about?"

"How nice this is." She moved slightly.

"Yes, it is nice," he sighed, "I know the next week or so will be crazy, but soon we'll be able to do this whenever we want."

She looked up at him, "Yes, in our own home…in our own bed."

He looked into her eyes and growled at the thought she placed in his head, "you do things to me."

She pursed her lips and looked away, unable to tell him that he did the same thing to her. He kissed her and held her close. A big boom sound and the sound of horses broke their sweet kiss.

"What was that" Elizabeth asked.

"I don't know," Jack said as he looked back in the direction of their house, "but let's go see if we can find out." He picked up the reigns and they headed to the house just a short distance down the road. "What in the world?" Jack slowed the buggy to a stop. At their house there were three large wagons, weighed down with huge crates.

Jack touched Elizabeth's hand, "You stay here, I better see what's going on." He jumped from the buggy and went into the house, only to emerge a few moments later, "Elizabeth! Look who I found…"

"Father!" Elizabeth's slapped her hands against her face.

"Beth!" William Thatcher and Jack went to the buggy, "I wanted to surprise you."

Elizabeth stepped out of the buggy, reaching for Jack, and stumbled on her skirt sending the two of them tumbling to the ground.

"Well, I'm glad to see that some things haven't changed," William laughed as he helped his daughter up.

Jack stood, reaching for Elizabeth, "You okay?"

"Yes…I'm just fine, thank you," she touched Jack's arm and then turned to her father, "What are you doing? How did you find our house?"

"I've always told you it's good to have Vernon around, he's in the house right now. I wanted to get as much of these things unloaded as possible," William pointed to the wagons.

Just then Vernon emerged, "Good evening folks."

Elizabeth looked at him, "I suspected you were a spy for my father."

"Guilty…but only on your behalf," Vernon smiled.

"And you!" Elizabeth turned to Jack, squinting accusingly at him.

Jack put his hands up defensively, "I didn't do anything…but we should get this job done."

Elizabeth hugged her father, "Where's mother?"

"I dropped her off at the café and if we don't get back there she'll be worried, so I agree with Jack, let's get the job done here."

The men worked to get the crates unloaded and the wagons back to town. Elizabeth was walking around trying to see what the crates held. She gasped as she walked around a larger crate, surprised to see Jack there, his arms folded across his chest. "Jack! You startled me!"

He gave her a look, "Don't be snooping around."

She sighed, "Aren't you going to tell me what's in all these crates?"

"No, because I'm not even sure myself," he took her hands, "we'll start unpacking them tomorrow."

"Okay, lets head back to town," she turned.

Jack pulled her back, "Wait, we didn't finish what we were doing before."

Elizabeth looked around, "What were we doing?"

"This…" Jack pulled her to him and kissed her.

She responded by running her hands across his back and leaning against him. His arms were holding her tightly, until finally she pulled back slightly, "Oh Jack, we need to go back."

"I know, but I can't resist you," he gently touched her face.

She gazed up into his eyes, "Okay Romeo, let's go back to town…before the fact that I also can't resist you either comes pouring out of me."

Jack rolled his head, "Oh…" He moved his face close to hers, "Let it pour…"

She held his face and kissed him.

He chuckled softly, leaning on a crate, "Our future surrounds us," he slapped a crate, "in all these boxes, our life. Exciting isn't it?"

Elizabeth nodded, "Yes. Are you ready?"

Jack smiled, looked down, licked his lips…. "I am…because I know it's the right thing to do. I know without a doubt that I want you to be my wife," he took her hands, "we may have some difficult times now and then, but as long as you're by my side, I know we'll be fine."

Elizabeth sighed, "Jack…that's so sweet."

Jack touched her neck and ran the back of his finger across her collarbone, causing her to close her eyes. He kissed her softly.

She turned to the side, "We better go." She fought the tingly feelings he gave her.

"Okay, as much as I'd like to stay here, let's go," he said.

Back in town, William Thatcher entered the café to find his wife and daughter Julie seated in the café parlor, talking with Mrs. Thornton who was seated on the settee. Abigail had just placed a pot of tea on the table. "Jack and Beth should be here any minute, they spoiled our surprise by finding me at the house," William pulled a kitchen chair next to his wife.

"Isn't their house lovely father?" Julie asked.

"From the little I saw, looks fine. A bit small, but it looks solid," William said.

Jack and Elizabeth entered the café and after kisses, hugs and handshakes Jack's mother patted the seat cushion on the settee, "Join me here dear, sit down." As she scooted over, her other hand reached into the cushion and she pulled something out, "Oh, my, what's this? A book, 'Marco's Midnight Passion'…oh…interesting."

(Dear friends, the wedding is approaching...so please drop me a note to tell me what you think...the romance will be kicked up a notch for our favorite couple...Hope our hearts can take it! Thanks for reading and reviewing, always appreciated!)