Chapter 3:

Family

Author's Note: How will the boys cope with their Pa away on an assignment. How will Charlotte cope? What about this little girl that Jack is curious about. Yes, Patricia Myers, this will link up to the other story. I look forward to connecting them! I changed the ages of Jack and Elizabeth. It bothered me that I originally made them too young. I also made Charles a little older, when he meets Elizabeth.

"Good morning, Pa!" Jack and Tom came in to the kitchen.

"Good morning, boys. How are my two favorite kids in the world?" Tom Thornton asked as he mussed up their hair.

"We're going to school!" Tom answered.

"I see. Are you that excited for your second week?" Tom asked his boys.

"It's actually our sixth week, isn't it Ma?" Jack asked his mother.

"Yes, Jack. It is your sixth week." She looked to Tom.

"Oh. Has it really been that long? All my days must roll into each other." Tom felt at a loss as to where the time had gone.

"It's alright, Pa. We feel like we just started school yesterday." Jack remarked trying to make his father not feel too bad for not noticing how time had flown by.

"Thank you, Jack. It's alright." Tom turned to Charlotte. "Well, boys if you'll excuse your mother for a bit, I need to talk to her."

Jack and Tom nodded their goodbyes and headed out the door to the school.

On their way to school, Jack looked to the house where the little girl would watch for him every day. He looked over to her window and sure enough, she was there. He smiled at her and she curtsied back.

Jack shook his head. He thought she must be bored being inside all day. He knew how she must have felt. His ma had he and Tom cooped up for hours at a time when she home schooled them. But now that they were in the city, she could afford to have them go to regular school and socialize with other kids their age. As he passed her window, something happened that he wasn't expecting. She quickly disappeared and in seconds the front door was opening and she was coming up to them.

"Wait! Wait!" The girl with the auburn hair called out, running to catch up to them. "I wanted to welcome you to the neighborhood." She smiled shyly.

"Thank you." Jack stated. 'We've been here for six weeks. We aren't exactly new to the neighborhood.' Jack thought inwardly.

He was pleased that she even took the opportunity to greet them, but he thought it was odd for her to welcome them after all this time. He thought that maybe she wasn't allowed out of the house much. This saddened him. He thought she was cute. Tom pulled him out of his reverie.

"Jack. Let's get to school. Come on!" Tom pulled on his arm.

"Well, I just wanted to welcome you." Elizabeth smiled. She started to walk away.

"Wait! What's your name?" He asked, but she broke out into a run.

Once back in the house, she looked out the window as she watched a stunned young man look after her. She didn't want to tell him her name. She didn't know him. But he was so cute that she had finally mustered enough courage, albeit in front of her house, to welcome him to the neighborhood. She didn't know what he thought of her, but she guessed that he might not like her snootie and flippant sister. So, she decided to not tell him her name. That way she would be free to like him and not dare get too close.

Jack waited to see if the young girl would come out of her house again, but after several moments, he decided that it was a lost cause. He sighed dejectedly and followed his younger brother to school. On his way to the school, he thought about the little girl who had been brave enough to come up to him. He smiled as he thought back to how that one errant curl kept blowing in her face. He had desperately wanted to take it in his fingers and tuck it behind her ear. She was quite the flirt. He had wondered how old she was. She seemed young, but not too young. He shook off the thoughts. She wouldn't be interested in him. She was from a wealthy family and he was not. Their worlds would never blend well. So with a sad heart, he approached the school and decided to put the little girl out of his mind.

Several days went by...Constable Tom Thornton followed the trail to the many people that the perpetraitor had been able to dupe into giving him their savings for empty promises. He was tired and all he wanted to do was get home. He knew that there were other constables who would be able to help, but Constable Houston had told him that it was best to not have all the Mounties privy to the ins and outs of the investigation.

Tom Thornton couldn't quite figure Clive Houston out. He seemed to have everyone's backs in their investigations, but he seemed to take a particular interest in his case. Tom Thornton wondered why. He took his papers and stuffed them into his bag. He was several days ride away from home and he still had two more families to interview. He went to the bunkhouse provided by the Constable in charge in the town he had been investigating in.

Cape Fullerton was a large town. He liked it there and had hoped to someday be stationed there. It was a dream posting for any Mountie worth his salt, but there was something special about it that he couldn't quite place. He had several comerades who had been posted here in recent years and they all reported that it was a lively town and there was never a lack of excitement and adventure.

Tom Thornton set his papers down on his desk and then went to his bed. He pulled out the pocket sized frame he kept of his family and set it on his nightstand. Tom prayed that he would be able to go home soon. There were so many families that needed his help in solving this case, but he had a family too. He had a duty, but sometimes that duty made it hard to be away from them.

Jack waited up that night in hopes that his father would come walking in the door. He had waited every night since his father had left on this assignment. He didn't know much about it. He knew that his father was helping the man in charge. The constable he hadn't even met. The man who was responsible fo sending his father away. Jack's seven years of life had taught him one thing...he didn't like the men who sent his father away. Maybe it was unfair, but he was seven. All he knew was that his dad was taken from them every few days and sometimes for even longer than that. Jack was the man of the house. That's what his father told him. He thought about the last time he saw his pa.

"Jack Thornton. I need you to do something for me." Tom Thornton began.

"Yes, Pa? I'll do anything you ask of me." Jack beamed as he saw his pa put on his red serge.

Jack had placed his Pa's hat on his head until his Pa needed it. He stood there, waiting for his father to tell him what he knew he would make Jack promise.

"Son, I need you to take care of your ma and brother while I'm away. You are now sixteen and I expect you to carry yourself properly as a young man and be an example to your younger brother." Tom Thornton explained for the umpteenth time.

"Yes, sir!" Jack saluted his father. He held back tears because he knew that his Pa would want him to be strong for his Ma and his brother, Tom, his name sake.

Tom Thornton turned to his youngest and beckoned him to come closer.

"Pa! Don't go!" Tom spoke through his tears. "I'll be good! I promise. Don't leave us!"

"Tommy, I'm not leaving because you did something wrong. You're just as responsible at thirteen, Tommy." Tom pulled his son in for a hug. "I'm going because it is my duty. I love you all so much." Tom's eyes were misty as he looked up at his wife.

"I'll always do my best to get back to you, but you must all take care of each other while I'm gone." Tom pulled Jack into his arms and Charlotte wrapped her arms around her troop of men.

Jack Thornton shook himself out of his reverie as he heard Tom call out from their room down the hall.

"What is it, Tom?" Jack asked him as he came into the room.

"When is Pa coming home?" Tom asked.

"I've told you, Tom. We don't know when he'll be back." Jack sighed as he sat by his brother. "Remeber that you have to be brave? For Pa's sake?" Jack reminded his brother.

"But, I don't think I can be as brave as you, Jack! I'm only thirteen. You're so much braver and wiser than I could ever be." Tom gushed.

Jack embraced his brother and after several minutes, Jack tucked him in and told him what he told him every night.

"It will be alright, Tom. No matter what happens, I'll always be here and I'll always be your big brother." Jack turned out the lights and closed the door so just a sliver of light could break through.

It was eight o'clock when Elizabeth had been waiting by the window for the two boys to walk by. She waited particularly for the cute boy with the cowlick. She didn't know why she was so excited to see him every day. He didn't say much and the two times she did talk to him, he seemed to be quiet or not interested in talking to anyone or maybe it was just her. She shook off that thought. It didn't matter. She would continue to be pleasant. She would not tell him her name, but she would definitely greet him whenever he walked by.

It was quarter after eight. She waited, but the boy didn't walk by her window. She didn't know why. She thought maybe he was sick. Why else would he not come by to get to school. She suddenly heard the bell ring. That settled it. He must be sick. She turned away from the window and went to start her dreaded allocution lessons. She sat in the chair at the big desk her father had ordered for her to study in. She opened her book and then her mind wandered to the young boy who had that ready smile and those dimples. She thought about nothing else for the rest of the morning.

"Elizabeth Thatcher!" Her father came into the room.

"Yes, Father?" Elizabeth shook herself out of her reverie.

"I have been calling you for the past ten minutes." He scolded her. "Get your coat. We are heading to the office.

"Why, Father?" Elizabeth asked as she grabbed her coat.

"You are now, fourteen and old enough to see what I do at the office." Mr. Thatcher advised her. "I decided that it is take your daughter to work day and you need to meet someone." Her father replied, pulling her with him.

At the office, Elizabeth waited in the big chair. She didn't know why her father had brought her along. She did, however, appreciate getting out of her allocution lessons, but what on earth was she here for? Who was she supposed to meet?

It was half passed nine, when a tall skinny boy came into her father's office. Elizabeth looked at him. She was suddenly shy. He looked cute, but there was something different about him. He had kind eyes, but he seemed stiff. She smiled and curtsied just as she had greeted the cute boy with the cowlick.

"Hello." The young boy greeted her. "My name is Charles Kensington the III." He bowed his head.

"Hello." Elizabeth replied, stifling a laugh. She didn't realize that boys could be so snootie at a young age.

Charles stepped closer to her and offered her his arm.

"My father is working with you father. Maybe we could take a walk." Charles paused. "I mean just down the street. We won't be far."

"I guess it would be alright. I am rather bored in here." Elizabeth agreed and took his arm.

On their way to the door, William Thatcher saw them walk out. He nodded to his partner and they were please that Charles took the initiative to take her for a walk. They gave each other an accomplished look. They had a plan for these two.

Tom Thornton finally came home from his long journey. He made some progress on the case, but he desperately wanted to get back to his family. Constable Houston had given him three days off. He was grateful for the time with his family. He did, however wonder why the Constable was so generous. It bothered him a bit, but not enough to grouse about it.

Jack came to the door and when he opened it, his eyes lit up. He flung his arms around his pa's neck and Tom picked him up. Tommy came running in just as Tom set Jack down. He hugged his youngest son and then went into his room to see if Charlotte was there.

"Hello, Char." Tom greeted as he saw his wife at their desk.

"Tom!" Charlotted dropped what she was doing and ran into her Tom's arms. She kissed him soundly.

Jack and Tom who had followed their father into the room both exclaimed, "Yuck!"

Tom broke away slightly from Charlotte. He looked at Jack and told him to go get a snack for he and his brother.

Jack took Tom by the hand and went to the kitchen.

In their bedroom, Tom pulled Charlotte back in for a deep kiss. Their lips melded together and Charlotte melted into her husband's arms.

Several moments later...

Tom and Charlotte came out of their room and Charlotte started on dinner. Tom went to the living room to play 'Mountie' games.

Charlotte watched her men play as she waited for the roast in the oven to cook. She leaned against the door frame and sighed. She lifted a prayer up for her family.

"Dear Lord~

Please keep my men safe. I pray that this will be the home where our boys can grow up to be wonderful young men. Please keep Tom safe as he investigates this case.

Amen."

Tom walked up to Charlotte, pulling her into his embrace.

"I have some news." Tom began.

"Oh. Do you have to leave in the morning?" Charlotte asked dejectedly.

"No, actually. I was given the next three days off." Tom explained. "Lets explore the city."

"Oh yes, Tom! We need some family time!" Charlotte exclaimed.

Author's Note: Thank you for following my little story...Tom's investigation will pick up soon. Stay Tuned.