The Rescue

Jack continued riding along the shore, eyes glued to the river searching for the boat, "Where is she?" he muttered.

Two men came down the path in a wagon, offering to help. The other men on horseback continued their search ahead of Jack. "I see the boat!" Someone yelled. Jack pushed his horse to where the men stopped.

The boat appeared to be caught on something, bobbing in the water, back and forth in the current. "I don't see Elizabeth," Jack's voice full of panic.

"No and that boat is headed for the waterfall," one man said.

"Waterfall?" Jack's head snapped to the man, "We have to get that boat! She could have fainted and still be in the boat! She can't go over a waterfall, she'd never survive." Jack rode several feet ahead, trying to see the potential path the boat would take. The men planned their course of action to secure the boat.

Jack jumped down from the horse, barely listening to the men make their plan.

Jack watched the boat, trying to see if there was any sign of Elizabeth, when the boat suddenly lurched and began moving down the river, sloshing through the rapids. "No!"

Jack ran closer to the water, helplessly watching the boat when he suddenly felt a surge in his chest, an overpowering feeling of warmth and he whispered, "Elizabeth." He felt weak and gulped several puffs of air. He looked up to the heavens, "Please…I can't lose her."

He mounted his horse, riding up ahead of the group, continuing to watch the river for any sign of Elizabeth. The path curved and he steered the horse up a small embankment, hoping for a broader view of the river. He stopped when he felt a cool breeze wash over him but he looked around and did not see a leaf stir.

He inhaled deeply, turned and did a double take at what he saw. There near the water's edge he saw a small deer staring up at him. The deer tilted its head and Jack's mouth dropped open, "Elizabeth…." The deer continued to stare at him, until his eyes were drawn to the water. There she was… he saw his Elizabeth. Barely visible in a tangle of downed trees and rocks in the water hugging the shore. Only her head was visible, her hair wet and matted over her face, a piece of her blouse floating on the surface. Was she alive?

"Oh my…Elizabeth!" Jack leapt from the horse and ran into the water, climbing and clawing over the tree limbs and rocks, screaming her name.

The other men heard, "Wait, we'll get her," one yelled.

But Jack didn't stop and he was there, by her side, carefully untangling her from the branches, moving her hair from her face, "Elizabeth…"

He rolled her onto her back, removing leaves and branches from her legs.

"It's okay, I've got you, you're all right," he cringed at the blood on her face and her hand, and choked on his emotion relieved that she was alive while worried about how badly she could be hurt. He lifted her into his arms and headed out of the water. The others tried to help, but Jack had her, secure in his hold.

One man rushed over with a blanket, "We'll help get her back to the hotel."

Jack laid her in the back of the wagon and climbed in pulling her against him. She moaned in pain as she shivered from the cold. The wagon moved quickly down the path toward the main road and straight to the hotel. She moved, "Jack…" she said barely above a whisper. Jack held her tightly, "Shhh, it's okay, I have you now. You're going to be okay."

Once at the hotel, one man ran in to get the doctor and Jack carried Elizabeth into the lobby. People scurried around them wondering what had happened. "Please, I want to get her upstairs to our room."

Once secure in their room, Jack removed her shoes and wet clothing. He pulled a long white nightgown over her and put several blankets on her. He then let the doctor into the room and accepted a tray with a pot of hot tea from one of the hotel employees. As the doctor began his examination, Jack got a towel, rinsed it with warm water and began tenderly cleansing her face. She whimpered at the attention but Jack continued caring for her.

The doctor stood, "Just a few cuts and probably a few bruises that will surface by tomorrow, but otherwise very lucky to be okay."

"Thank you doctor," Jack shook the man's hand. "I'll just get her warm and I think she'll be fine."

They walked to the door and Jack was surprised to see several of the men who assisted with the rescue waiting in the hallway. "Thank you all very much, she's going to be okay. I'm going to take care of her now, thank you again for your help."

"We'll have some hot soup sent up later for you both," one man said, tipping his hat.

"Thank you," Jack said. He quickly returned to Elizabeth who finally stopped shivering. He sat on the bed next to her and held her, fighting his own tears that he'd almost lost her. He kissed her head, careful of the scrape across her temple, "I'm so glad you're okay…I love you so much."

She turned slightly, snuggling against him. Jack smiled, knowing by her action that she would be okay and he gave a silent prayer of thanks. After several minutes, he poured half a cup of tea and tried to get her to drink it. Her eyes fluttered open and she sipped from the cup, but put her hand up stopping him.

Jack put the cup down and put his arms around her, "It's okay. You're all right, you're safe."

"Jack….I ….I tried to get back," she cried, "I thought I could swim…I tried."

"Shhh, you did it, you saved yourself. I'm so proud of you," he ran his hand down her cheek several times, so happy to hear her words. "You did a great job."

"Jack…" She kept shaking her head.

"What? What do you need?"

"Don't make me go on a boat again," she blinked and tears slid down her cheeks.

Jack couldn't help but laugh softly, "No, never again. You won't go on a boat or near a river ever again."

She began to sob as she put her arms around his neck, pressing against him. Jack held her tightly, "Shhh, its okay. You relax." He helped her lie down.

Elizabeth slept for over an hour and Jack went to the balcony. He couldn't help but think how he almost lost her and how devastating that would have been. He wanted to clear his mind of the image of her frightened face as the boat pulled away from the dock. He shook his head and looked up into the sunshine. He pounded his fists into the arms of the chair, "How could I have let her get in that boat alone?"

"It wasn't your fault," she said, standing in the doorway.

Jack stood, "Are you okay? Can I get you anything?" He took her hands, "Come sit with me."

"I'm okay, just glad to be on dry land," she tried to smile as she sat beside him. She squeezed his hand.

"No more boating for you," he smiled, looked down for a moment, "I'm so sorry. When I saw the fast current, I should have just turned around, we should have left then...it's a good thing you jumped out of the boat."

She swallowed, "I didn't jump, I fell out of the boat. I thought of jumping, but I was afraid I would drown. The boat hit something and tilted way over to the side and I just slid right out. Before that I tried to row Jack, I really did, but the boat wouldn't go in the direction I wanted. Once I was in the water I tried to swim and then…well, that's all I remember."

He put his arm around her, "I'm so sorry. Thank goodness you're all right."

"Jack, how did you find me? I wasn't in the boat."

"Elizabeth, it was ….it was….I hardly know how to explain it," he slapped his thigh, "I was looking at the river, I could see the boat, but it didn't look like you were in it. I looked everywhere, and I didn't see you anywhere. I was so panicked, I knew I had to find you, but I didn't know what to do, but I continued riding along the river, searching. Then I saw a deer…"

"A deer?"

"Yes, a small deer, just standing there on the shore. I thought I was seeing things, this tiny deer just looking up at me. I felt a calmness come over me…like a love wash over me, through me…it was your love Elizabeth," he squeezed her hand, "then I looked to the water and I saw you."

Elizabeth blinked her tears, "Oh Jack…"

"The little deer must have run off when I charged into the water after you," he pulled her close, "but that little deer helped me find you."

She put her head on his shoulder and cried. A knock on the door interrupted them. Jack stood, "I'll get it, stay right here."

Two hotel employees were at the door, one pushed a cart that had various covered dishes and the other had beautiful flowers in a large vase, "For Mrs. Thornton, sir."

"Thank you," Jack stepped aside and allowed them in.

Elizabeth came in, "Oh how nice, thank you."

"When you're finished your meal, just leave the cart in the hall, and let us know if you need anything else."

"Thank you," Jack closed the door after they left. "Are you hungry?"

"A little," she looked at the cart, "it smells so good."

They sat and Jack was pleased to see her eat. "Would you like to take a warm bath?"

She looked up at him.

"Alone…I mean a private bath…"

"It's not that," she smiled, "I don't want to get near water right now."

"Oh, of course…sorry," he felt foolish for suggesting it.

"Maybe we could just take a walk outside?"

"Sure, sounds perfect."

Elizabeth took her things into the bathroom to dress. Moving very slowly, already feeling achy she looked at her leg and her side and saw the beginnings of bruises, "Jack, come here please."

Jack entered the bathroom to see her sitting on the chair in front of the mirror, her chemise dropped down her arms. She pointed her toe and showed him a bruise on her leg and moved her arm revealing a bright red mark on her side. "Oh no," Jack crouched in front of her, gently running his hand across the mark on her side, "the good news is they'll just fade away in a few days," he tried to be positive.

She looked at him and nodded. "You're the only one who will know they're there." She leaned forward and kissed him, "Thank you for taking care of me."

"I'm mad I broke my record," he said.

"What?"

"I wasn't there to catch you, I broke my record," he smiled and his eyes twinkled.

She fought tears, "I forgive you…just don't let it happen again." She tried to smile.

"Never," he kissed the mark on her side and she ran her fingers through his hair. He wrapped his hands around her waist and continued kissing her side. Elizabeth appreciated his tender touches, his lips on her skin. She touched his face and he looked up at her. She caressed his face and he kissed her palm. He reached around and softly massaged the skin of her back. She sighed, enjoying his attention. "Jack…."

He looked up at her again, blinking through wet eyelashes, "Yes?"

"Make love to me…" she whispered, caressing his face.

"Are you sure?" He swallowed, looking over her, not wanting to hurt her.

She nodded, running her hands through his hair.

He picked her up in his arms and carried her to the bed. He lifted her leg and tenderly kissed the bruise before standing and removing his clothing. He lay down beside her and she turned to him, "I love you."

"I love you," he kissed her, overwhelmed with emotion that she was okay.

His kisses were sweet and soft, his movements slow and loving. Every touch was gentle and lingering. Elizabeth hugged him tightly as he kissed her neck and she sighed happily feeling his breath in her ear. She was so glad to feel him close. Time faded away and didn't matter, she was safe in her husband's loving arms, relishing in his attention, his love for her and their connection. She pressed her hands into his back as he gently loved her. She fought tears of happiness of being with this man she loved so deeply. Jack felt a tear in his eye as he kissed his wife, grateful she was in his arms, safe and loving him. He vowed to protect her and now he wanted to show her how much he loved her. He softly whispered in her ear how much he loved her, running his fingers gently down her side and happy at her response to his love.

Later, Jack brought her hand to his lips, Elizabeth rubbed her leg against his. "You know, that is the first time you've ever said that to me," he whispered.

"I needed you….I needed to feel your love," she touched his face and nestled her head on his shoulder.

"You'll always have that," he kissed the top of her head, "always…" He squeezed her arm, "I like that you said that."

"I feel so close to you," she whispered, running her finger across his chest.

"I know, me too," he kissed her again. "If anything had happened…if you would have…" Jack felt his jaw clench.

She rose onto her elbow and looked at him, "My thoughts were of you Jack…of getting back to you."

"Thank heavens you're safe."

She put her arm across his chest, "I am now…here with you."

Jack reached for her nightgown and helped her put it on. "I just want to hold you in my arms."

"It's the only place I want to be," she snuggled against him and hugged him, "this is where I belong."