Elizabeth and Jack rode the stagecoach back to Hope Valley in silence. Elizabeth had her hand on her stomach, once again praying the child she carried was Jacks. Jack was praying a prayer that was similar but also thanking God he had the strength to get through the trial. "And Elizabeth Father" he continued aloud "She had SUCH strength today. I am so proud of her and thankful she's my wife. Thank you for giving me such a precious gem to be my bride. Father I ask your protection on our baby. I ask that everything be alright with the little one. And for my sweet Elizabeth Heavenly Father, I ask that she is FINALLY able to put what happened on our wedding day behind her. Allow me to show her how much I love her. Amen." Jack ended, looking over at his wife. She had fallen asleep in what looked like an uncomfortable position. Jack moved to be beside his wife and wrapped her in his arms. For the first time since he found out he was going to be a father, he put his hand on her stomach and said "Hi little one, I am going to be your daddy". His voice broke for a second and then "I realize you might not have had the best start in the world, OR maybe you won't ever know. It depends on if I am your father or not, but regardless of all that I love you and your mama. Take care of her little one and STOP making her sick." Jack leaned his head back and fell asleep the rest of the journey home. Sometime later Jack awoke, still in the stage coach. He went to wake Elizabeth and noticed she wasn't there. "How long was I asleep" he muttered to himself as he climbed down calling for his wife "Elizabeth, Sweetheart where are you"? Elizabeth had gotten out and gone to doctor Carson as she wasn't feeling very well. "I am worried" she said "I am approximately 2 months along, should I still be sick"? "It's perfectly normal Mrs. Thornton" he began but she interrupted him "Elizabeth, PLEASE Carson, JUST because I am married now doesn't mean you need to call me Mrs. Thornton". "Elizabeth then, the sickness can last for the entire pregnancy. Maybe you should ask Mrs. Coulter how long she was sick" he suggested. "Thank you doctor, I think I am going to go find my husband and go lie down" she said. Along the route back to the stagecoach where she had left Jack, she ran into Abigail who grabbed her arm and whirled her around. "So how did the trial go"? Abigail asked trying to be careful what she said once she saw the look on Elizabeth's face "Oh Abigail! I am SO worried" she blurted "I am with child" "Congratulations" Abigail said interrupting.
Elizabeth continued "But you remember my wedding night, when Frank was killed? Well the child that I carry...I don't think Garrison was able to...Abigail he did penetrate me. I am scared the child could be his, but I am worried about Jack. He's taking it really hard, and I think a part of him resents me.
"Oh that's ridiculous Elizabeth" Abigail said "Jack loves you, IF Jack is upset over anything, it's not getting there before that man did the..unthinkable to you. You are a victim, and you are STILL very much in shock." "But what IF the child IS his Abigail? I heard Jack offer to raise it and treat it as his own, but what he must think of me. The look on his face when the judge said Garrison told him I wanted his...attentions I thought Jack was going to flip".
"I was Elizabeth" Jack said from behind her, startling her quite severely "but I wasn't angry with you my love. I knew you would never accept the attentions of a man like Jake Garrison. I knew it was a last minute thought to try and get out of hanging. Hello Abigail" He paused his conversation with his wife to acknowledge their friend "Would you like me to go Jack?" Abigail asked "NO, you can stay" he said turning his attention back to his wife and pulling her into his arms "Sweetheart, you are my life, you are everything to me. I realize this child is not your fault IF it is his. Though I have a feeling it IS indeed my child. I said yes without hesitating or missing a beat, not because I hope,
Which I DO, that the child is mine. But because the baby needs a solid family with loving parents to raise him or her. And regardless of WHO the father is, the child is a part of my life, my love, my all. So I love him or her already."
Jack placed a kiss on Elizabeth's lips that made her legs melt and her head swim. She smiled at her husband unsure of what to say, but Jack wasn't done talking. "Abigail, I am going to steal my wife now if you don't mind" Jack stated and before she had a chance to do much more than nod her consent, he whisked Elizabeth away from Abigail with a "Take a Walk with me Elizabeth Thornton". "What is the purpose of this walk Jack"? She questioned, not really in the mood for his games. She knew that now that they were back, he would be leaving her to go back up North again. "Elizabeth" he said, stopping her where she was. "I have a secret I need to tell you, I don't have to go back up North. I have been assigned to Hope Valley. It's an indefinite posting and I have decided that I will accept it. There are several things that brought me to this point. Firstly, I met a very spirited young school teacher and over time decided I wanted to start courting her. My way of initiating the courtship was to paint us kissing on the backdrop to the Founders Day Play. And then there was the new school, which I paid for SOLELY to get you to stay in Hope Valley as I didn't want to lose you.
Then there was our first dance, where you danced like an Angel Elizabeth. Everything I have done and everywhere I have been has been leading me up to this moment. The moment I get to tell my wife, that I NEVER have to leave her OR our child again". This last part was said as he put his hand tenderly on Elizabeths stomach. "Secondly" he continued "I accepted because I now have a child on the way that is going to need both of his or HER parents to look after it.
And I have a BEAUTIFUL new wife that I don't want to leave". He brushed the tears that were falling from her cheeks and continued "Elizabeth, I love you. Regardless of HOW this child came to be, I will love them like they are mine.
And all of our children after. It is a part of you, so regardless if I fathered it or not, it is MY child". "Oh Jack I love you so" Elizabeth exclaimed pulling him to the ground and kissing him. Seeing that they were on their land and had some time to themselves she deepened the kiss and then pulled away breathless. "Jack, lets go to the house for a while". Jack took his wife by the hand and led her into the house. Once at the threshold he picked her up CAREFULLY remembering her delicate state and carried her inside and shut the door with his foot. He didn't put her down until he got her upstairs in their house to their room. "I assume we are thinking the same thing sweetheart"? He asked Elizabeth kissed him again deeper and more passionate while undoing his red serge jacket. "Mmhmm" she murmured fumbling with the button on his trousers. Jack was working on her corset when he felt the snag on his pants and reached down to help her, never breaking the kiss. Elizabeth and Jack then made love while he said "I hope I am NEVER too rough with you sweetheart, IF I am PLEASE tell me. All I can seem to think about is how RIGHT this feels and how right you feel in my arms." He heard a soft "oww" and stopped "Did I hurt you?" "NO, it was the baby. I moved wrong Jack, don't stop" Elizabeth said rather breathless. A while later when they were laying there Elizabeth said "Jack, thank you"
"For what?" he wondered "For being there for me and our baby. Did you know it's been 2 weeks since I found out I'm expecting? It's been 2 weeks since we have come together as husband and wife? I was worried I had lost you and you were staying out of duty" "Oh Sweetheart!" he exclaimed before uniting with her again and saying "Nothing could be further from the truth Elizabeth. I love you, you are my sun, moon and my stars. I would be so lost without you. If I have been distant, it's because I blame myself for what happened.
But I promise to try to be EVERYTHING you need and want in a husband Elizabeth. And more, I am not perfect, and I KNOW I don't deserve you. But I will try to make it up to you and TRY to deserve you EVERY DAY for the rest of our lives. Elizabeth was beyond elated that Jack was going to be home with her while she walked through this pregnancy. "Jack, I have this feeling deep down inside that this baby is going to come out looking JUST like you" Elizabeth said trying to aleviate some of the pressure "I love you Mr. Thornton and I am honored to be your wife. Especially since I KNOW I don't deserve you. I am sorry that I wasn't pure for our wedding bed Jack. But I am glad you accept me for who I am and for what happened. Now, we really should get back to our lives Jack!" Elizabeth chuckled as her husband kissed her again before getting up to dress. She got up herself and caught a glipmse of herself in the mirror "OMG"
she said "I am starting to show, Jack look at this!" Jack turned from his dressing to peer over at his wife, admiring everything about her. "You look beautiful" he said, his eyes resting on her expanding midsection "But is it common for women to show that much at only 2 to 2 and a half months along?" "I don't know, but I don't think so" she wondered silently to herself what could possibly be going on. "I am going to Abigails to grab a bite to eat Jack, I'm starving!" she said as she dressed. They headed out of their house hand in hand. Elizabeth didn't know how she could be happier. Little did she know that several more surprises awaited her this year. She eargly looked forward to the birth of her child for the first time.