Chapter 14: Decisions, Decisions

That night, while Elizabeth was having dinner with Charles at Abigail's café, Elizabeth noticed that Abigail seemed jumpy. When Abigail came over with their desserts, Elizabeth asked, "Abigail, is everything okay?"

Abigail smiled nervously and replied, "Yes, everything is great. I received a telegram today that Clara is finally coming back to town after visiting her relatives. I can't wait to see her – it's been over two months. She'll be staying upstairs in the extra bedroom, I hope that's okay."

Elizabeth replied, "Of course – I can't wait to see her either!"

Charles asked, "Shouldn't she have arrived on the afternoon stagecoach? How is she getting here?"

Abigail answered, "Clara's train was late, so she missed the stage. Jack offered to go to Buckstown with a horse and buggy to pick her up this evening. They should be back soon." Abigail excused herself to go assist other customers.

Charles turned to Elizabeth and said, "Thank you for a lovely dinner, Elizabeth. Do you have time tomorrow to see me before I leave."

Elizabeth replied, "Yes, tomorrow is Saturday, so there's no school. How about if we have a picnic lunch out by the lake? I'll pack some sandwiches."

Charles smiled and replied, "That sounds delightful. I'll check out of the saloon in the morning and wait for you there."

Elizabeth said excitedly, "Now that summer is almost here, the weather has been beautiful. Our last day of school is next week, and then the students are out for summer vacation."

Charles put his hand over Elizabeth's and asked, "You'll come back to Hamilton for the summer, won't you?"

Elizabeth slowly pulled her hand back and looked down at the table. "Yes, at some point. I want to enjoy the nice weather here in Hope Valley for a bit before I return home. I'll be back in time for Viola's wedding, of course."

Charles smiled at Elizabeth hopefully. "I'll be waiting for you in Hamilton. As you know, I'd be happy to be your escort to all the festivities surrounding Viola's wedding."

Elizabeth sighed and replied, "Thank you, Charles. I'm already worn out just thinking about all the parties, lunches, and dinners that my family will be hosting the week leading up to the wedding."

Elizabeth continued, "I worry, though, about my students forgetting their lessons over the summer. I was thinking I could use the time over the summer to work one-on-one with some of the children who need extra help."

Charles replied sternly, "I know you're very devoted to your students, but everyone needs a break, Elizabeth, both them and you."

Elizabeth nodded and admitted, "You're probably right. I just know I'm going to miss them when I'm gone."

Charles replied, "Yes, and your family misses you too. You have responsibilities to them as well, especially with Viola's wedding."

Elizabeth agreed, "Yes, I know that. Sometimes I feel so torn between my responsibilities here and my family's expectations of me."

Charles reached out and took Elizabeth's hand in his, as he said quietly, "You don't have to be torn anymore. Come home, Elizabeth. It's time. You're not obligated anymore – you can come home."

Elizabeth looked at Charles, frowning, and slowly pulled her hand back again from under his. "I'm not sure we see eye to eye about this, Charles. Hope Valley is also my home, and I love teaching here. I admit, though, that I've been thinking about what may come next, now that I've been teaching here for a while. Returning to Hamilton is an option, but I want to consider all my options, including staying out west."

Charles smiled, thinking he had won this round. "I'm sure you'll come to the right conclusion. Besides, I know you can't wait to have more Cherries Jubilee at the Regency Club," Charles quipped. Elizabeth grinned at Charles, grateful for the humor. Charles took a bite of his dessert. "I have to say, though, that Abigail's desserts are quite good." Elizabeth smiled broadly at this compliment of her good friend and took a bite of her dessert as well.

Later that evening, as Elizabeth was getting ready for bed, she heard a horse and buggy outside on the street approaching the café. Elizabeth peeked out her curtains and saw Jack helping Clara out of the buggy and Abigail rushing out to hug Clara. Abigail and Clara started walking towards the café, with Jack behind them carrying Clara's luggage. All of a sudden Clara stopped and turned back towards Jack with a big smile, saying something to Jack that made him smile too.

As Elizabeth watched Clara and Jack together, she felt a tug at her heart and quickly closed the curtains. "That is no longer any of your concern," Elizabeth chastised herself. "Jack Thornton can smile at whoever he wants, and it's none of your business," Elizabeth repeated to herself.

Elizabeth sat down at her vanity and started brushing her hair, trying not to remember how Jack's smiles used to make her own heart melt. "My problem is that I remember too much, while he remembers too little . . . or rather, nothing at all," Elizabeth thought angrily to herself, brushing her hair vigorously. "Maybe Charles is right, maybe it is time to move on," Elizabeth wondered sadly.

The next morning, when Charles came down from his room above the saloon, he saw Jack and Pastor Frank playing a game of darts. Charles frowned, recalling the last time he and Jack had played darts, which had not ended well.

"Charles, I heard you were in town, it's good to see you again," Jack called out to Charles. Charles walked over to Jack and the two men shook hands. "It's good to see you too, Jack. How are you feeling these days?" Charles asked politely. Jack replied heartily, "I'm fine. My retraining at Cape Fullerton went well, and now I'm back on duty." Charles looked Jack up and down and said, "Well, you certainly look the picture of health." Jack smiled and said, "Thank you. And thank you again for visiting me at the hospital in Hamilton." Charles replied, "Of course."

Charles looked around the saloon for a place to sit to wait for Elizabeth. Jack asked, "Are you leaving today?" Charles replied, "Yes, on the afternoon coach, but I'm having lunch with Elizabeth first." Jack held out a dart to Charles and asked innocently, "Want to join us for a quick game of darts while you're waiting?"

Charles looked at Jack in shock, his eyes wide. Pastor Frank put his hand on Jack's arm, shaking his head. Tom the bartender stood aghast, his mouth agape. The customers already drinking at the bar slammed down their mugs and stared expectantly at the two men. Customers eating at tables rested their silverware on their plates and waited for Charles' reaction. The entire saloon went silent. Jack looked around, surprised, and asked, "What's the matter? It's just a darts game . . . ."

Charles glanced nervously at the saloon door. Jack asked incredulously, "Does Elizabeth have an issue with darts?" Charles stood up and took off his jacket. "No, no, it's fine. Just a quick game, though, before she comes." Charles eyed Jack and asked, "You may or may not remember that I'm pretty good at the game." Jack shook his head and replied evenly, "I don't remember, but that's not a problem – I'm pretty good too." Charles grinned, rolled up his sleeves, and picked up a handful of darts.

Everyone at the saloon gathered around the two men, hoping to see a rematch of the epic darts game Jack and Charles had played months ago when they were faux battling over Elizabeth. For about ten minutes, the boisterous crowd cheered them on, as Jack and Charles kept hitting their targets. Then, the saloon door opened and the word "Charles!" reverberated like a chime throughout the room.

There was Elizabeth, red-faced, standing angrily at the saloon door holding a picnic basket, her eyes ablaze. "Charles, how could you do this? You promised me!" Elizabeth sputtered, furious. Charles, startled, threw his dart askew as he turned towards Elizabeth – the dart whizzed past the Pastor's ear and hit a wall far afield of its target. (The Pastor touched his still-intact ear and commented, "Whoa – that was close!")

Charles grabbed his jacket and ran over to Elizabeth, trying to make amends. "I'm so sorry, Elizabeth. It was just a quick game while I was waiting for you. It meant nothing, I assure you!" Elizabeth glared first at Charles, then at Jack, and then at the others in the saloon, then turned her back on all of them and stormed out the door, Charles rushing after her.

Jack looked around at everyone, shocked at Elizabeth's outburst and Charles' fearful reaction. "What on earth is going on?" Jack asked. "It's only a dart game, for goodness sake!" The Pastor came over and put his arm around Jack. "Jack, unfortunately, it's never only a darts game when it comes to you, Elizabeth, and Charles." The Pastor sat Jack down at a table, and gently revealed to him the history and significance of the darts game to the young trio.

After much groveling on Charles' part, Elizabeth, of course, forgave Charles during their picnic lunch, and saw him off pleasantly at the afternoon coach with a quick peck on the cheek. Abigail was sweeping her porch and waved to Charles as he took off in the coach. Elizabeth walked over to Abigail, and the two women smiled at each other.

Abigail raised her eyebrows and asked, "So . . . do you and Charles have an understanding now?" Elizabeth frowned. "No, Abigail, we're just friends. I'm not ready to . . . my heart isn't completely . . . . " Elizabeth looked down at the floor. Abigail touched Elizabeth's arm and said, "I understand. It's probably too soon yet for you to be thinking about such things."

Elizabeth raised her eyes and admitted, "I appreciate Charles' attentions, I do. But, I'm still so uncertain about my future. Charles and my family want me to return to Hamilton for good. But I don't know . . . I like it here in Hope Valley . . . I like being out west. If I return to Hamilton, I'll be set on a path I'm just not sure I want to take anymore. I'm rethinking things . . . my life goals, my priorities."

Abigail replied empathetically, "That's fine, Elizabeth. It's good that you're thinking about what's important to you, and what kind of life you want to live. You take your time . . . there's no rush. So long as you know you're always welcome here."

Elizabeth hugged Abigail gratefully, and continued, "Yes, but will you help me steal that darts board and throw it into the lake?!" Abigail threw back her head and laughed. "Sorry, Elizabeth. Then you'll be thrown in jail and come into even more contact with Jack – I'm not sure that's what you want at this point!"

Elizabeth sighed dramatically and retorted, "There's no getting away from Jack in this town, is there?" Abigail resumed sweeping and answered sweetly, "I suppose not." Elizabeth huffed and strode into the café. Abigail smiled to herself and added under her breath, "Let's hope not."