Chapter 13: Two Steps Forward, Two Steps Back

The next evening, Elizabeth was sitting in Abigail's café having a cup of tea after dinner when Jack walked in, a leather portfolio under his arm. Jack strode over to Elizabeth and said, "I have a first draft of the design for the plaque – do you want to see it?"

Elizabeth, surprised, replied, "Already? I thought it would take a few days." Jack sat down opposite Elizabeth and opened his portfolio to show her. "I work fast – what do you think?"

While Elizabeth was looking at Jack's design, Abigail came over to the table. "Jack, it's so good to see you. Would you like some coffee? And a slice of pie?" Jack answered, "I'd like that very much – thank you."

Before Abigail turned from the table, she caught Elizabeth's eye and raised her eyebrows. Elizabeth quickly explained, "Jack is designing the plaque for the gazebo in memory of Emily." Abigail responded, "That's a great idea – good for you, Jack." Jack smiled and quipped, "I'm here to serve, ma'am." Abigail replied, "It's good to have our Mountie back in Hope Valley - I'll be right back with your pie." Abigail smiled at Elizabeth again and hurried off to get Jack's food.

Elizabeth was very pleased with Jack's sketch for the plaque, and gave him just a few minor suggestions for the design. While Jack was eating his pie, he pulled out Elizabeth's class photo and asked her to tell him about her students, which Elizabeth was happy to do. After he was done eating, Jack excused himself and returned to the jail.

The next evening Jack came to the café again, seeking out Elizabeth to show her his revised sketch. Abigail fetched Elizabeth from her room; Elizabeth, again, was surprised that Jack had made his revisions so quickly. Jack explained, "I want to finish the design and send it off to the Mountie Office in Cape Fullerton so they can start working on the plaque – it can take a few weeks for something like that to be completed and sent back to us. I want it to be ready for the dedication of the gazebo." Elizabeth smiled warmly at Jack and touched his arm. "That is very thoughtful of you. Thank you so much." Elizabeth approved the design and Jack returned to the jail to put the finishing touches on the sketch before mailing it out the next morning.

Over the next week, Jack would come over to Abigail's Café for dinner or dessert and, if Elizabeth was around, the two of them would spend time together talking and learning about each other (again). During the day, in between his rounds, Jack helped with the gazebo, which was almost complete. Often when he was working on the gazebo or riding past the school on his rounds, Jack would be impressed to see Elizabeth outside joining in games with her students during recess or enthusiastically teaching them a lesson about science or nature.

One evening, Jack entered Abigail's café looking for Elizabeth. Elizabeth, knowing now to expect Jack in the evenings, was already downstairs taking tea in the café. Jack strode over to Elizabeth, and reported, "I received a telegram today from my superior at Cape Fullerton. They are working on the plaque and should have it done in a few days. Hopefully it'll be delivered here within the week."

Elizabeth clapped her hands together. "Oh Jack, that's wonderful. And the gazebo is just about finished too. I can start planning the dedication ceremony. This will be wonderful for the town."

Just as Jack was about to sit down opposite Elizabeth at her table, the door flew open and Rosemary flounced in. "Hello Hope Valley – I'm back!" Rosemary declared dramatically to Jack, Elizabeth, and the other customers in the café. Jack slowly rose to greet Rosemary, clearly thrown off by her appearance. "Rosemary, . . hello. Uh . . . . welcome back. I thought you were, uh . . . are you here on a visit?"

Rosemary ran over and gave Jack a big bear hug. "Jack, it's so wonderful to see you!" Rosemary took Jack's arm in hers in a familiar manner and continued, "How are you? Have any of your Hope Valley memories come back?" Rosemary leaned over towards Elizabeth (who was still sitting, shocked, at her table) and whispered loud enough for everyone to hear, "Elizabeth, poor dear, I heard Jack called your engagement off. So sorry about that. You must be devastated!" All the customers in the café had stopped eating by now and were nervously watching Elizabeth, Rosemary, and Jack to see what would happen next.

Jack grimaced when he heard Rosemary's comment to Elizabeth, and looked back at Elizabeth sympathetically. As usual, Elizabeth did not know how to respond to Rosemary, and just remained sitting in her seat, her head held high but her mouth agape.

Rosemary pulled Jack with her as she exited the café. "Jack, come with me over to the saloon. Lee is meeting me there. I have so much to tell both of you!" Jack looked over his shoulder at Elizabeth again before Rosemary pulled him out the door.

Elizabeth was still sitting, a stunned expression on her face, when Abigail brought over a fresh pot of tea and sat down across from her. "Elizabeth, I'm so sorry. Rosemary can be somewhat abrupt, as you know." "And rude!" Elizabeth retorted, blinking back tears as she recalled Rosemary's comment about Elizabeth and Jack's broken engagement. Abigail patted Elizabeth's hand. "That's just her way. I believe that, most of the time, Rosemary means well." Elizabeth looked at Abigail skeptically.

"Do you have any idea why she's back in town?" Elizabeth asked. Abigail shook her head. "I don't. I'm sure we'll find out soon enough!" Elizabeth sighed and took a sip of tea.

Abigail continued, "I hope Rosemary's return doesn't throw things off with you and Jack." Elizabeth looked at Abigail quizzically and asked, "What do you mean?" Abigail, surprised, answered, "Well, I assumed since Jack has been calling on you so often . . . ."

Elizabeth interrupted Abigail and explained, "Jack hasn't been calling on me. We're just friends now, which is fine. Jack just likes to have someone to talk to in the evening." Abigail raised her eyebrows disbelievingly. Elizabeth added, "In fact, one of the things Jack likes to talk about is where he is going to be reassigned on his next Mountie duty. Jack has made it very clear that his stay here in Hope Valley is temporary." Abigail frowned at this news.

Now it was Elizabeth's turn to pat Abigail's hand. Elizabeth consoled Abigail, "Don't worry, Abigail. I told you both Jack and I needed to make a fresh start. I'm just glad that we're friends again." Abigail smiled sadly and said, "Well, then, here's to renewed friendships." The two women chuckled as they clicked their teacups together.

The next day, as Elizabeth was leaving Abigail's to walk to the schoolhouse, she heard Lee calling to her, "Elizabeth, wait up!" Lee crossed the street and started walking with Elizabeth on her way to the schoolhouse. "Charles is coming to town this afternoon on some business. He telegrammed me and asked that I let you know." Elizabeth replied, "Thank you, Lee. That's helpful – it will be great to see him."

Lee continued walking with Elizabeth and added, "I'm sure you've heard about Rosemary coming back to town." Elizabeth nodded and replied sarcastically, "Yes, Rosemary made her presence known last night at the café." Lee explained, "Rosemary regaled Jack and me last night with tales of her theatrical exploits in Hamilton. Rosemary claims, though, that she got tired of Hamilton - she wants to know why I haven't yet built her a theater here in Hope Valley!" Elizabeth rolled her eyes, but couldn't help grinning at Rosemary's chutzpah.

Lee chuckled and said, "I don't know who has amnesia worse – Jack or Rosemary! Rosemary acts like nothing has changed between us these last few months, like we're supposed to pick up exactly where we left off."

Elizabeth replied knowingly, "That sounds familiar."

Lee hesitated, then added. "I can't help it, though – I'm thrilled she's back and if she agrees to stay for a while, I probably will build her that theater." Before Elizabeth could chastise him, Lee hurried on, "I know, I know . . . I'm a glutton for punishment. But the heart wants what the heart wants."

Elizabeth shook her head sympathetically and said, "Lee, I'm not going to tell you how to live your life. I just don't want to see you get hurt . . . again." Lee responded, "Well, when I weigh the pros and cons, I'd rather be hurt than live without her at this point. I'm still hoping we can work things out."

Elizabeth touched Lee's arm sympathetically and said, "I hope you can too, I really do." Lee cocked his head at Elizabeth and asked, "And you? How are you these days?" Elizabeth straightened her back and replied, "I'm fine, no need to worry about that." Elizabeth's tone put off any further questioning from Lee, so he said his goodbyes and left.

Later that afternoon, as Elizabeth was cleaning up at the end of the school day, she heard footsteps at the schoolhouse door. "Elizabeth . . . ." Charles strode down the aisle towards Elizabeth and looked at her intently. "I'm so sorry about you and Jack. You've been through a lot these past few months." Elizabeth needed a few moments to compose herself before replying, "Thank you, Charles. I'm fine now, truly. I admit that . . . I was feeling down . . . but, now . . . well, I'm so glad you're here." Elizabeth planted a smile on her face, trying to convince Charles (and herself) that her heart had healed.

Charles gathered up Elizabeth's hands in his and said, "If there is anything I can do . . . . You know how I feel about you. It's probably too soon . . . but please know that I . . . ." Elizabeth interrupted Charles, and said kindly, "I know, Charles. You don't have to say anything. I just want to focus on catching up while you're in town – what's been going on in Hamilton?" Elizabeth asked in a cheery voice.

During this exchange, Jack was riding by on his rounds and had decided to stop off at the schoolhouse to apologize to Elizabeth for leaving her so abruptly the evening before when Rosemary arrived. Jack tied up his horse at the post and bounded up the stairs towards the open schoolhouse doors. At the top of the stairs, Jack stopped suddenly when he saw Charles and Elizabeth standing face-to-face, talking intimately, Charles holding Elizabeth's hands in his. Jack quickly moved to the side of the porch so he wouldn't be seen.

Jack ran down the steps, untied his horse, and hoisted himself up. As Jack galloped away, he determined (again) not to think about Elizabeth as anything more than a friend. "Good for them!" Jack thought to himself, assuring himself that Elizabeth and Charles as a couple made a lot of sense – no use getting involved with a woman now that Jack was resolved to focus solely on his Mountie assignments.

After a while, Jack abruptly stopped his horse and jumped off. Jack ran over to a nearby tree and leaned against it, breathing heavily and feeling nauseous. Jack also had a splitting headache. Jack knew these physical ailments meant that memories were starting to come back to him – the doctors had explained that to him when he had experienced similar bouts of illness at the hospital and during his retraining. But in this case, Jack resisted his memories – he didn't want to remember, because remembering would throw him off course from what he had determined was best for him . . . and for Elizabeth.

"No, NO!" Jack said to himself, beating his hand against the tree. Jack leaned his back against the tree and lowered himself to the ground, trying to overcome all the strange emotions and feelings that were starting to flood his body. "No, I won't give in to this . . . " Jack insisted, pounding one fisted hand into the other.

Jack's horse, which had been quietly eating grass, looked up at Jack with big, brown eyes, wondering whether Jack was talking to him. Getting no response, the horse happily returned to his grazing, and the contrast between the contented animal and the discontented one was readily apparent.