Of Miners and Skunks

Synopsis: Jack doesn't like the miners…or maybe he just doesn't like one in particular? Jealous!MountieJack makes a comeback.

Each chapter will be a moment in the time of the Billy Hamilton Saga!
I always liked the idea of Jack being jealous about Billy and everyone was able to admit it except for him.

Disclaimer: Thank you to Janette Oke and Hallmark for the amazing characters. I just get to play with them!

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Jack paced outside of Abigail's row house. The minute he considered charging in and warning Elizabeth about Billy, he changed his mind.

But then all he could picture was them walking together, side by side, Billy whispering into her ear, Elizabeth blushing – his jaw clenched.

The last thing he wanted to do was hurt her. This guy was bad news.

Making up his mind for the final time – he had changed into his uniform even though he was technically off duty because he wanted to seem like the type of man Elizabeth would listen to – he took the steps two at a time and knocked smartly on the front door.

When Abigail answered he was half relieved, half disappointed. At least Abigail wouldn't shut the door in his face before he could get a word out. Without speaking, he entered, and he could swear his heart stopped when he saw Elizabeth sitting there at the kitchen table, looking for all the world like she belonged there.

When Abigail excused herself, he barely noticed. He was too worried, too confused by his conflicting emotions, too stressed about not getting his point across. If there was a time to keep his wits about him in front of Elizabeth, this was it. Unfortunately, it had never been that easy for him when it came to Elizabeth.

As Elizabeth came closer to him, Jack was slightly put out that she didn't give him her normal welcoming smile, but then again, he was more agitated than he was willing to admit.

"Glad to see you got home safe and sound from your walk." There. That wasn't offensive, was it?

"Billy happens to be a perfect gentleman."

Jack inwardly winced. He already knew that this talk was not going to go well. Here it goes. "Actually, that's why I'm here. I don't think you really know who Billy Hamilton is." He has blisters! He's a back-stabbing, two-timing, poetry-spewing, freakishly handsome, nice smelling, hand-kissing, date-stealing SKUNK.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Look, I had my suspicions about whether he is all he says he is." Oh boy, that did not go over well.

"Based on what evidence?"

"I'm not at liberty to say." He touches you. He has blisters. Who has blisters?! He wants to kiss you! "But I just want you to be cautious. I prefer you not go out walking alone with him into the wilderness." Take me with you.

Elizabeth laughed in disbelief. "It wasn't a trek to the Amazon Rainforest. I was just showing him around Coal Valley. He says I'm an excellent guide, by the way."

"I'm sure he did. Flattery can get you anywhere."

"Flattery," Elizabeth repeated slowly, "You think I'm in search of flattery?"

The tone of her voice should have been enough to warn Jack that a storm was approaching, but he was focused on the shade of her eyes. Have they always been that blue? Wait, what did she say?

"No." It was Jack's turn to be confused. "I'm just saying he threw down the hay where the goats could get at it – "

"You're calling me a goat?!"

Man overboard.

"Pardon my imagery, I'm not a student of poetry, but – that's the basic idea!"

There was a slight pause as they stared at each other.

"Jack, are you jealous?"

"Jealous?" Yes. The sudden thought made him hesitate. "I don't have to be…jealous to be concerned."

"Well you need not concern yourself with me, or how I spend my time." Just like that, he was dismissed. "Billy happens to be someone with whom I share an interest."

We don't share interests? The thought squeezed Jack's heart. Before he could make a reply, she beat him to it.

"Good evening."

Jack nodded, and kept his voice low as it started to break. "Ma'am."

Now he was more determined than ever to prove he was right.

The dirty, hand-blistering, smooth-talking, nice-smelling, good-looking, hand-kissing, date-stealing miner skunk.